Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper for allowing me to read an ARC of The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book! The love of family and friends. Strong women who learn it's okay to accept help. The Midwestern setting. All of it!

This story also realistically addresses PTSD, alcoholism, and grieving.

I look forward to reading more from Claire Swinarski.

Told between the viewpoints of a widowed grandmother, searching granddaughter, and broken young man, The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County is filled to the brim with Midwestern charm and comfort. Esther Larson has been making meals for funerals for longer than she can remember. Charitable works are her forte. However, this goes one step too far when she falls for an online scheme. Iris Larson works alongside her family and friends to help her grandmother save her home, but also looks toward her own future and what might lie in store for her. Cooper Welsh is merely a visitor from Chicago hoping to say a quick farewell to his step-mother as she is buried in her hometown. While the tragic events of a funeral bring these three together, love, community, and good food keep them bonded.

This was a sweet and cozy novel that I enjoyed very much. The relationships between grandmother and granddaughter had me reflecting on my own relationships with elderly members of my family. The discussion and exploration of PTSD was valid and a worthwhile narrative as it impacts many people, but did feel a little rushed in the end. Overall this is a book I would recommend to folks wanting to feel warm and happy inside.

Characters - 7/10
Atmosphere - 7.5/10
Writing - 8/10
Plot - 8/10
Intrigue - 7/10
Enjoyment - 8/10

The Funeral Ladies are a group of women that have been providing comfort food for the families in their church for decades. For Esther Larson and her friends, the work they do is sacred. She takes pride in the effort she puts into each meal, and helping her people through life’s transitions is where she finds purpose. Now, Esther has fallen on hard times, and a younger generation will have to step in to save the day.

Esther is not the MC of this story- that honor falls to her granddaughter, Iris, a freelance graphic designer just out of college and trying to find her way. Iris and Cooper, who with his famous TV chef dad and younger sister, has unexpectedly ended up renting her not quite ready Airbnb cabin, come up with the idea to publish a community cookbook to raise money to help her grandmother.

This book delivers on the cozy small-town vibes I was hoping for. It also delves deeply into the topic of PTSD and how it affects sufferers and those that love them.

I 100% came for the colorful cover and cozy vibes. I liked each of the characters, especially the relationship between Iris and Esther. The sense of place in this novel is spot-on: I’ve never been to North Woods Wisconsin except in literature, but I can feel deeply what it’s like to be there.

I feel like some of the pivotal scenes for Iris and Connor that develop the threads of his trauma and how it affects their relationship were sort of glossed over. I would have liked to spent more time experiencing their feelings for one another deepening and then developing the resolution to their conflict.

Still, this book was exactly what I was hoping it would be and I enjoyed it. The characters, plot, and setting are totally relatable and left me with a warm feeling like homemade mac and cheese. 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publish date: March 12, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins/Avon for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was very excited for this book, as I am from Northern Minnesota and as someone from northern Minnesota, I disagree that “Northwoods” Wisconsin is southern Wisconsin. I was expecting somewhere along the shore of Lake Superior. Which isn’t a huge deal, but that was something I was bothered by. Overall, the story was interesting and the characters compelling- they were realistic portrayals of rural Wisconsinites. I personally wasn’t a huge fan of how preachy the book got at times, but the message was there. I also wish the focus was more on Esther and less of Cooper, but it was decent read nonetheless.

It was a sweet book and a good read if not entirely unrealistic. The characters met and fell in love I felt like in the span of a day. There wasn’t much action mainly just cooking and funerals, but it did showcase ptsd and I feel like the author did a good job of adding that aspect in. The plot was a little thin at times, and the characters didn’t have a lot of depth but they were likable.

"𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬."

☆☆☆☆/5

Read if you like:
Steel Magnolias & Fried Green Tomatoes
Cross-generational closeness
Small town community
Second chance romance
Humor
Multiple POV x 3
Mental health rep

Synopsis: This tale unfolds as a story of love and commitment within a small-town community. Esther and the Funeral Ladies work tirelessly to comfort mourners through the soothing power of food.

Unfortunately, Esther falls victim to an internet scam, endangering her home. Her Gen Z granddaughter, Iris, and the community unite to prevent the loss, but the question remains if Esther will allow their intervention.

Amidst changes in the small town, Iris, fiercely loyal, sees everyone move on when Cooper and his half-sister arrive as mourners. As they arrive, she feels she may have found a way to ease her unhappiness and has found the missing piece of her heart.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this book very much! What resonated strongly with me was the tight-knit and devoted relationships among Esther's family and friends, coupled with the well-placed humor throughout. The writing was smooth and well-crafted, prompting my eagerness to return home from wherever I was just to continue reading!

There are some intricate and weighty themes, but it is refreshing that some of them involve mental health representation. I encountered only one issue, which may be subjective and didn’t diminish the overall excellence of this book.

There are also mentions of faith and religion, but again, not a deterrent.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @avonbooks for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. And thank you, @claireswinarski for these wonderful characters!

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski was a captivating story.
With relatable and endearing characters.
I really enjoyed the setting. Being in a small town in Wisconsin was a great change of scenery.
I thought it was well written and it held my attention so that’s something.
I will most definitely pick up Swinarski’s next title.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Avon for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The first thing that drew me to this book was the beautiful cover. Then, the description of 'a grandmother, her granddaughter, and a mysterious young man work to bring a community together' sounded like a fun uplifting read. I love the idea of 'The Funeral Ladies', the power of women, friendship and community coming together through food to help other families and the community. I was excited to read how that would unfold.

Esther Larson has been cooking for funerals in the Northwoods of Wisconsin for seventy years. Known locally as the “funeral ladies,” she and her cohort have worked hard to keep the mourners of Ellerie County fed.
I would have loved more interaction of the funeral ladies, but I enjoyed all the characters in the book from the Grandma's to the Priest and the younger generation getting involved. Lots of great characters and the family bond is great.
A few parts felt a little disjointed where I had to go back a couple pages and re-read something to help it make sense.
The story deals with some heavy topics, but is filled with wisdom. Some trigger/content warnings would be helpful for the beginning of the book. Flashbacks, PTSD, emotional abuse, and alcoholism are also prevalent.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend. I give it a 3.5 - 3.75 rounded up to a 4. I can't wait to see this book in person once it goes to print.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books/Harper Voyager for the ARC, and @claireswinarski
#NetGalley #TheFuneralLadiesofEllerieCounty #ClaireSwinarski #AvonBooks #HarperVoyager

I loved the book. Growing up in a small town I can relate to the characters. My grandmother being heavily involved in church brought back home. It is a lovely read.

This charming book set in northern Wisconsin is easy to read, with complex characters facing challenges that readers will relate to. The author draws on recent headlines and weaves the storyline between facing personal challenges and tugging at your heartstrings. I really enjoyed it and think our readers will too!

You don’t know, do you? You don’t know you were empty until you’re suddenly full.”

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. But 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.

This book has all the makings of a Hallmark movie, on paper, but don’t dismiss it as soapy or bubbly, despite the romance imprint. The Funeral Ladies is a tender, lovely book about complex topics - PTSD, the continued utility and infantilization of the elderly - swirled with the simple: love, community, hope.

** Thank you to Avon Books for a review copy in exchange for an honest review. **

The book covered a lot of great topics, and I loved Esther’s POV. I wish the book focused more on the actual funeral ladies instead of Iris and Cooper. Overall, very enjoyable and easy to read, shows the charm of a small town and the importance of community. I would have liked the ending to be a bit better developed.

I loved the premise of this novel and thought it was charming at times. I didn’t care for the storyline about PTSD though. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Claire Swinarski's middle grade fiction, so requested this ARC expecting the same depth. This one, however, wasn't my favorite. I didn't hate it either. I'd describe the novel's tone as a cross between the Christian movie, Fireproof, and a Christmas Hallmark. The tone doesn't lend itself to the surprisingly generous amount of profanity littering the dialogue, The characters, outside of Esther, are cliche. The plot is predictable. Still, I willingly sunk into the story each time I picked up the book. Ellerie, WI is a dream. I have friends who will love this book, but I'm not recommending it to everybody.

"The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County" is a story of family. Family by blood and family by choice are treated equally in this story. This story follows Esther, a widowed grandmother, and her family as well as the family of superstar chef, Ivan Welsh. When Ivan and his children, Cooper and Cricket, arrive in Ellerie under horrific circumstances, the Funeral Ladies ensure they feel welcome through this tricky period.

Esther, too, has her own share of trouble and must lean on her family for help. Her daughter, Fran, and granddaughters, Iris and Olivia, will stop at nothing to help sweet Esther. These women are all very close and will always look out for each other, even if it means saying something that could be upsetting to family.

As the story progresses, we see some deeper topics and themes such as PTSD, sickness, abuse, alcoholism, and grief.

My initial draw to this text was that it takes place in the Midwest. Having been born and raised in Missouri, I appreciated the consistent attention to detail of the Midwestern culture. If it's summer, it's only natural to be outside on a dock with a beer in your hand. The small details of different cheese types and choosing to include specific county names when discussing the summer cabin culture. Besides the physical setting, the people reminded me of home. The community feeling of the Midwest, especially in summer, is unmatched. Swinarski perfectly captured how strongly people care for their friends and families. Esther has lived in Ellerie for the majority of her life at this point and has had the same friends since she was young, and even her Grandchildren are familiar with these women. This moment struck a special chord in my heart thinking about my own Midwest Grandma and her friends who have watched me grow up.

This book suprised me in a really good way. I went in expecting a fairly lighthearted story about Midwestern grandmas. The characters were beautifully rounded and created to change and grow. I felt like I knew every single character because of Swinarski's clear development of each of them.

Between the love, the heartbreak, the joy, and the tears this book really covered all of the bases for me. Although the characters had their own troubles, I could count on the Funeral Ladies to always cheer me up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Claire Swinarski for allowing me to read the ARC of this text. I'm counting down the days until March 12, 2024!

I really hope this author writes a sequel to this story because I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters.

Esther Larson knows the only way to make a good pie is with your hands.

This is how you are introduced to the main character. Three generations of Larson women live in Ellerie County, Wisconsin: Eighty two year old widow, Esther; Mary Frances, who is a side character but a very supportive one; and Iris, the tech savvy Gen Z who owns an AirB&B.
The story is mostly from the POV of Esther and Iris. The author does a great job of showing the generational gaps such as Esther being a devout Catholic in a small town and active in several community groups, for example-the funeral ladies. Whereas Iris has friends that are Instagram famous and has her own freelance business.

We meet Cooper, the third POV as he and his half sister and father try to find the church for his stepmother’s funeral. Here he meets Esther and she offers Iris’s Air B&B as a place to stay.
Cooper’s story is filled with trauma and heartache. His father is a celebrity chef and very distant. His mother abandoned him and his stepmother was killed in a car accident. His only goal is to make sure his half sister knows she is cared for and loved. However, Cooper has his own struggles with PTSD and tries to battle it alone.
The subject of PTSD and mental health are heavily discussed which I greatly appreciate that the author goes as deep as she does.

Esther feeling lonely falls victim to a money scam and is on the brink of losing her home. Her family tries to figure out how to get the money back without hurting Esther’s pride even further. Iris suggests she get the funeral ladies together to make a community cookbook after Cooper finds an old copy at the storage unit of Annabelle’s and sell it for the holiday season. At first Esther refuses the help but eventually agrees and even has fun putting the book together with her granddaughter.

Iris and Cooper end up spending a lot of time together and falling in love but it’s not enough to keep the darkness away. Cooper leaves to focus on himself to be able to be the best for his sister and the love of his life. Esther also sees the darkness and does not want this life for Iris because she too loved a man who saw trauma and had his own struggles.

Love is choices.

I definitely recommend this book and think it would be great as a book club book.

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County struck me as an appealing story - I’ve liked books with similar themes by Lorna Landvik and J. Ryan Stradal, but, I had a hard time with this one. There’s almost too much going on - there’s the title’s chief funeral lady, Esther, but her story didn’t seem like the main plot, so readers may find themselves disappointed or confused about the story the book wants to tell. Certainly the characters are compelling, but I didn’t find myself anxious to pick this book back up and moved on to other books before returning to finish this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

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 spent 50 years experencing life together. Especially funerals, where they provide comfort food for the grieving families.

Esther, known for her community service, faces a challenge when she loses $30,000 to an online scam, leaving her too embarrassed to ask for assistance.

Iris is a freelance graphic designer who bought and refurbished a cabin as a rental home for tourists coming to the lake.

Upon discovering that Esther might lose her cherished childhood home, she concocts a plan for the funeral ladies to create a community cookbook, the proceeds of which will help prevent Esther from losing the house she holds dear.

Devastated by the loss of his stepmom, Annabelle, Cooper finds solace in the opportunity to leave the city. Seeking an escape from the trauma of his paramedic past, this quaint little town becomes a haven.

Iris met Cooper when he and his stepsister needed a place to stay. Offeirng him the rental, an immediate connection sparked between them. They both fell hard and fast. Unfortunately, Cooper couldn't outrun his past trauma and when his PTSD is triggered, he becomes a different person.

This book is ultimately about family. At times it's a difficult read because it deals with tragedy, PTSD, and violence. But it's also an incredible story. Because family is the nucleus of who we are together and alone.

As always I like to find a quote that causes introspection or promotes conversation:

"It was exhausting, trying to convince all these people that sometimes love didn't look like a pat on the back. That sometimes it looked like telling hard truths you didn't want to hear."

I adored The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County. Thanks to @netgalley @harpercollins and @claireswinarski for the advanced e-book copy. I can't wait until March 12, 2024 when I can purchase the hard copy.

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County is a nice book. It was enjoyable to read! I give it 3 out of 5 stars because it didn’t blow me away. It’s not that I disliked it, it’s a sad yet heartwarming story. It just didn’t grab me and hold my interest.

I find when there are lots of characters in a book I struggle a bit to keep everything straight and none of them get strongly developed.