If you like:
-redemption stories
-awesome grandmas
-Wisconsin (especially Up North)
-casseroles and those who make them
-strong communities
-heartwarming stories
-niche and hilarious Lutheran/Catholic comparisons

Then definitely check out this book! While there were a few moments where the plot lines felt cluttered, I was impressed by how the author captured the Midwest and loved spending time with these characters!

This book kinda ripped my feet out from under me, to be honest. I expected a cute and humorous small-town story that mixed heartwarming family content with a side romance. And, ya know, I got all that… but I also got slapped in the face with a whole lot of trauma, heartbreak, and more sad plot points. In general, that isn’t a bad thing, but given that I wasn’t expecting this and went into it for a cute light read, it was a bit much.

The novel has some incredibly deep and real discussion of both grief and PTSD, both of which I think many books could serve to do better with. I appreciated that immensely, and really enjoyed the scenes among the funeral ladies and other characters that allowed me as a reader to see how they all grew around their grief. I also just loved the character of Katharine Rose, and wanted to give her a hug at all times.

That being said, there were a few things that really took me out of the story and reduced me to a frightful number of eyerolls. For example:
- Every character fucks up in some way (some big and some small), and their internal monologue seems to acknowledge that they know that, but no one acts on trying to correct their behavior till nearly the last 50 pages. Sure, it’s realistic insofar as people can be in denial about their struggles, but it created an infuriating reading experience to just want to shake them all and say “GET HELP!” (looking at you two, Esther and Cooper)
- Ivan’s arc felt a bit rushed, and I would have enjoyed that being stretched or deepened a bit more, as it held my attention a lot more than the other side stories
- Iris continually mentioning she is Gen Z. As a 26yo myself, I can confirm we are actually a cusp between Gen Z and millennial lol, but that’s neither here nor there. Either way, you don’t need to mention it nonstop
- Iris also having this perennial chip on her shoulder about being wayward and not having a glamorous job or knowing what she’s doing with her life… while owning a house at 26. Sorry not sorry, but no one owns a house in the year of our lord 2024 at 26 unless they’ve got generational wealth or some extreme luck. Couldn’t really bring myself to have sympathy for her lack of career passion when she owned multiple properties; it just felt out of touch

The combination of the shockingly somber story plus the irritating little things noted above brought my rating of the book down. I enjoyed it generally speaking, but the marketing presented this as a cozy Midwest comedy, and while some of those elements were there, there was something missing for me personally. Overall, I give this 3.25⭐, rounded simply to 3 here!

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Don't let the cute cover and sweet summary fool you. This book is not a lighthearted read at all which I must admit hindered my enjoyment of it. I don't like being duped by a darling cover.

The story does have endearing and funny moments as character deal with death, old age,community, illness, PTSD, faith (specifically Catholicism), infidelity, family drama and online scams.
There is a fair occurrence of crass language but the romance is closed door and sweet.
Those who are foodies will enjoy all the food references as well as the recipes included at the end.

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to review this one.

I enjoyed this different read, it is told from 3 different perspectives. It had a few different things going throughout the story. Just be aware of a few different triggers going on; PTSD, grief and loss, and scams. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Publishers for the opportunity to read it was a nice change of pace.
3.5 stars

First things first -- I really liked this book, but it is SAD. There were so many moments while reading that I thought, maybe this book will turn around and have an HEA. And then something else bad happened. Content warnings for PTSD, alcoholism, death of a parent, cancer.

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County tells the story of Esther, a family matriarch and "funeral lady" who cooks food for funerals in their small Wisconsin who gets scammed by someone on the internet's fake sob story and loses enough money that she might lose her house, Iris, her granddaughter who is determined to figure out a way to help Esther keep the house, and Cooper, who is in Ellerie for his mom's funeral, along with her little sister and his dad (who hasn't been present at all in the last few years) and who is also struggling with PTSD from being a paramedic at a parade where there was a shooter. Their stories, plus Cooper's sister and dad's stories, and the stories of the other funeral ladies, are woven together so beautifully. Esther's late husband also had PTSD from Vietnam (though of course that wasn't what it was called), and when she sees Iris and Cooper falling in love, she tries to intervene in some way, because she knows what it's like to care for a partner with PTSD. Cooper's dad is a famous Food Network chef, and when Iris comes up with the idea to sell a cookbook full of recipes from Ellerie County to raise money so Esther can keep her house, Cooper wants to help -- and he wants his dad to help, too.

I did cry while reading this book, but I also laughed. There were some things that were so funny, and moments that were so sweet and tender. So many ways that showed the closeness of family, including your chosen family. But, wow, this book was a tough read. It ends on a slightly hopeful note, but it is tough. So know that going in, and take care of yourself while reading, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with an eARC of The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun read!
Definitely a story that makes you think of your grandmother.
There are many characters to keep track of!
The story is told in 3 POV’s which I found confusing in the beginning of the book.
I enjoyed reading this book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. This is my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski in exchange for an honest review.

Esther, a widowed grandmother and soon-to-be great-grandmother, is scammed out of $30k by an anonymous person online, putting her home at risk of foreclosure. Her granddaughter Iris, in an attempt to save the family home, proposes a community cookbook written by Esther and her other "Funeral Ladies", who make food for funerals in the community. At the same time, we are exploring the life of Cooper, a visitor to Ellerie County with worsening PTSD and an estranged relationship with his father, on his journey to treat his condition.

This novel gave off cozy, grandmotherly vibes in many ways. I appreciated the perspective on relationships between couples and between communities across generations.

However, I was overall dissatisfied with the book. I loved the small town, country feel of the overall novel and the plotline of the scammer + cookbook solution, but I could have gone without the Iris/Cooper plotline(s). I felt like there were two different ways the plot could have gone that would have been way better than the plot that was chosen. It could have been a book focused on Esther and her Funeral Ladies fixing Esther's problem with the scammer by way of the community cookbook and the community's involvement, with Iris and Cooper's relationship happening in the background, OR it could have been a book where Esther and her Funeral Ladies band together to investigate the scammer situation and the whole community gets involved.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Publishers and Avon & Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review an absolutely delightful book, The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County, by Claie Swinaski. The opinion expressed is my honest review. It is a wonderful story about: family, commitment, perseverance, grief, friendship, PTSD, recovery, faith and above all love. The characters are so real that I felt I knew them when the book ended; the storyline captivated my interest and my heart, and I did not want it to end.. The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County is a heartwarming story, a breath of fresh air in these challenging times. 4 stars.

I love this cover!!!

As i was reading this book, it definitely was not what i expected. There is several different things going on in this book...... PTSD, Romance, Death and a scam with a woman getting doped out of $30K and what they are doing to save her house.

As the story goes on it definitely gets interesting. I would recommend and will read more from the author.


Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Growing up in the south as a pastor's kid, I have seen many funerals. I also know that Esther's belief that, "there is very little a warm casserole and a piece of cherry pie can't fix," is one that I too hold. I have a MAJOR soft spot for elderly people and this book filled my heart with so much emotion! Grief, loss, and the feeling of being left behind by life are theres in this novel. There is such a sense of community in small towns when there is a loss, and Swinarski does a beautiful job of representing that in this work.

What to expect:
* Themes of grief and loss
* 3 POV’s
* Talk of PTSD


Massive thank you to NetGalley, Avon & Harper Voyager, as well as author Claire Swinarski for this ARC! *All opinions are my own*

This was great! I did get a bit bogged down at times at its sniping against certain political parties as well as the idea that you don't have the power to change anything politically but, otherwise, I loved this book. The characters felt real, the setting was wonderful and the sense of food and community will keep me coming back to read this one again. I would definitely recommend, especially if you like books by J. Ryan Stradal (one of my favorites!).

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County comes out next week on March 12, 2024, and you can purchase HERE!

But they all knew her. They'd known her for years as sweet Esther, Esther with the good piecrust, Esther who could sew any button back on their blouses and drive the homework they forgot to school. Not Esther with a brain. Esther with desires. Esther who had thoughts about welfare and gun control and school shootings. Hazel listened, and she didn't pat Esther's hand and ask if she needed anything from the fridge. There was something so nice about talking to someone who wasn't going to see you run out of breath on a walk around Turtle Pond. Hazel told stories, too-funny ones, about her nights out with her friends. Until she got into trouble. Well, Esther should have warned Hazel. Or her mother should have. But nobody did. Esther owed it to her, really.

This was such a fun read! I love the style of writing, the characters, and the meanings. A huge part of the book is the emphasis on family and community and supporting each other.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the way the author immerses the reader in the world. Instead of pausing every few lines or paragraphs to explain a place or person, the author just says the name of a place or person and we learn from context clues about it, or we just get a name for effect. I didn't know for a while what "Moose Junction" was, but it became clear that it was an area nearby.
Another thing I loved was how she writes characters' internal thoughts. The ways that the characters think to themselves and <spoiler> in some cases of Cooper calming himself down and reassuring himself </spoiler> , are incredibly similar to how I talk to myself in my own head.
I had the hardest time with stomaching some of Esther's parts, specifically <spoiler> her pride that won't allow her to accept help, her "that's not the way things are done" out-dated attitude, and her judgment of younger generations </spoiler> . I like Esther as a character, and empathize with her issues such as <spoiler> getting older and the assumptions people make about older people as well as deteriorating health, having lost a husband, having had a severely traumatized husband </spoiler>, but it was difficult for me as a person who does not agree with some of what she says/thinks to read those thoughts.
I also thought it was super interesting and valuable to include <spoiler> trauma and coping with trauma </spoiler> in the book. It really emphasizes the complexity of people and their value as people regardless of past experiences.

I enjoyed The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County. I wasn’t expecting for it to take back in time when after a funeral, you had the mourners in the church hall. You will be invested in the characters in the book and how they support each other. A wonderful small town story. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager. This is my own opinion.

This book covers many facets of life, staying in a small town, the impacts of PTSD, the support of women to each other, the power of food and family recipes, the secrets to a good recipe and the importance of opening yourself up to others. This book is told from 3 POVs: Esther, the beloved grandma; Iris, her granddaughter and small town enthusiast; and Cooper drawn to town for his stepmom's funeral who then falls in love with Iris.
Esther and her friends have made countless casseroles, pies, and cream of something sides for the funerals of Ellerie County for as long as they have called the Northwoods of Wisconsin home. They are the behind the scenes helpers, keeping life smooth. When Esther falls for an internet scam that leaves her family home in peril, the Funeral Ladies - and Esther’s family - rally together. They have an unexpected help in Cooper Welsh, the son of a Food Network star and beloved daughter of Ellerie, home for his mother’s untimely funeral. When Cooper strikes up a relationship with Esther’s granddaughter Iris, Esther sees the beginnings of her own love story with her husband - complete with very familiar complications. I enjoyed the story and the vivid descriptions of Northern Wisconsin showing the beauty of our country.

Thank you to @NetGalley, @claireswinarski and @avonbooks.

When I saw this book recommended by another reviewer, I immediately knew I had to read it. I am always drawn to novels set in my own state of Wisconsin, and I absolutely love community cookbooks. This story brought back memories of the family funerals I've attended through the years with food prepared and served lovingly by the church ladies. The trend in recent years is turning to food catered by local restaurants. It just isn't the same! I enjoyed reading the local cultural details, but was a bit bothered by geographical discrepancies when it came to Northwoods Wisconsin. My book club tries to include books of local interest and also books with recipes, so this book would fit both criteria. However, some readers made want to avoid the trigger topics of PTSD, mass shootings and financial scams. Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for an advance copy to read and review.

This book was not what I was expecting by reading the synopsis. I expected a relatively light read with much good gossip between the funeral ladies. What I did get was a book that was mostly about PTSD, a romance, a lot of death,(and not just of the counties people) and an elderly woman who gets scammed for about $30,000 and what she is going to do to save her house. Religion plays a rather large part in this novel, but not to the point where the book is only about religion.

It was an interesting read, but it was not light and would not be recommended as a beach read.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager, the author, and NetGalley.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I am going to start by saying that this was not what I was expecting. I was thinking this would be a fun and light multigenerational story, and it started out that way, but then it moved into some heavy territory with death, PTSD, and mass shootings. That was unexpected, and probably what kept this from being a five-star read for me. With that said, I did truly enjoy a majority of The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County.

Right from the start, I adored Esther. She was that type of salt-of-the-earth person who I could not resist. She believed in being kind, working hard, and giving back. That came in handy when Esther found herself in a terrible situation. Now she was in need, and it was wonderful the way everyone in the community rallied to help her.

If I had to pick some of the standout elements in this book, the community focus would make my list. This was one of those precious small towns where everyone knows everyone else's business and will be there to lend a hand when needed. They repay kindness with more kindness and never forget those who helped them in their time of need.

I also adored the family focus. Esther, her daughter, and her granddaughters were quite close. Their love for their family shined, over and over again in this story, and the bonds they shared were something to be jealous of. There was also a strong found family vibe that warmed my heart. It was lovely the way the town embraced Cooper and his family and were there for them in their time of need.

I will admit, I came for a story about midwestern old ladies, and oh, how I loved those ladies. The story ended up a bit heavier than I had anticipated, but in the end, this was a very hopeful tale about love, loss, family, friendship, and healing which touched my heart.

I was captured by the premise of this book immediately! It made me think of the women at my grandpa's childhood church who pulled out a whole spread for his funeral reception despite his not having attended their church since he was in his 20s. The characters were vibrant and each had such distinct personalities. I loved seeing the pull of place take a really starring role, exploring how that might look from generation to generation.

Overall, I really loved this book. It was easy to read and compelling. The ending felt a little rushed to me but it could just be because I wanted to keep spending time in Ellerie County!

I loved how this book looks so light and fun, and it is in some ways, but it contains so much more. I really enjoyed everything about this. The plot, the characters, the wide range of topics... I think this is going to be a really popular book with wide appeal.

I enjoyed everything about THE FUNERAL LADIES OF ELLERIE COUNTY and my only mild complaints involve a wish for more. Author Claire Swinarski has written a book about families, real and created, struggling to deal with death in a small Midwestern town where food prepared by neighbors is the answer to almost every need. The food is the kind prepared for generations by loving hands with plenty of elbow grease, local ingredients and modest written instructions. When a much-loved neighbor falls victim to an Internet scam, the small town cooks decide to create a cookbook fundraiser to help her out. As they gather recipes to include in the cookbook, and discuss the value of including favorites and getting sponsors, the story takes on other issues. This is a good book with a few twists and turns. I only wish it had included some of the recipes. It seemed odd not to have them. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.