The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski is a captivating literary masterpiece. From the very beginning, this book envelops readers in a comforting embrace, skillfully employing food as a powerful symbol of communication. It introduces a remarkable sisterhood of women, who have been inseparable since their youth, residing in the charming confines of a small town.

This book was a roller coaster from start to finish. This book was so quick and it is so easy to just lose yourself into the world. It was much darker and dug into some deeper issues than I was expecting. I was expecting just a fun lighthearted read but this is the kind of book that stays with you. This was my first Claire Swinarski, but it will not be my last.

A lovely novel about a Midwestern community that felt like it could have been my family- a heartwarming book!

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County is a book that reminds me of my extended family and life in a small Midwestern town.

This book is about Esther, her granddaughter, Iris, and Cooper who moves is in town to bury his step-mother. However, in my opinion, there really is a fourth main character - the entire community.

When Esther falls prey to a scammer and loses a large amount of money, her beloved home is in danger of being lost and the community, led by Iris, comes together to save her and her home.

Of course, Iris and Cooper have a love story, but the main story is how a good community takes care of it's own and the love - through the funeral dinners, for example - is just a way that love is shown.

I really enjoyed this book and am going to recommend it to my book club when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I'm giving this one 3.75 stars, rounded up. PTSD, emotional relationship abuse, cancer, alcoholism, death and grief trigger warnings.

A quick, heartwarming story of a small town in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. I found myself relating wholeheartedly to the feel of the location, being a Midwesterner who has grown up with northern cabin vacations myself. I could absolutely tell the author was from the area also–mentions of various city names, Kwik Trip, all the cheese (though literally everyone knows this is what Wisconsin is known for lol), Spotted Cow (you KNOW this is THE Wisconsin beer!!), and of course, the good ol' Culver's. It's little things like that that make me more appreciative of a book, that the author understood and acknowledged the location in which they set their book.

I honestly didn't know what to expect after reading the book's description. But hey, I love food and I love complex family stories, and along with the beautifully illustrated cover, I was sold, and ended up pleasantly surprised. Three generations of Larson women, and each have such distinct personalities. Esther absolutely is the stern, yet warm grandmother figure you'd expect. Very much set in her ways, but is always there whenever someone is in need. Fran, Esther's daughter, isn't a main character, but serves as a supportive figure to both Esther and her own daughter. Which brings us to Iris, the pretty remarkable Gen Z (this is something that is mentioned a bit too often IMO, but pretty on point for Gen Z–they do like to remind us all of their generation) granddaughter of Esther. A freelance graphic designer and owner of her own home + a cabin Airbnb she's renovating on her own? Wow, goals. This next brings us to Cooper, our third and final POV of the book, who is brought to Ellerie County due to the death of his stepmother Annabelle(personal opinion but I hate whenever I see this name in books–that darn doll's face always pops up in my mind), with his sister Cricket and famous chef but absent father Ivan. Cooper suffers from PTSD, and we see the consequences of that throughout the book. The PTSD was written very well in my eyes, and was extremely tough to read through. Such a complex thing that could have been glazed over, but was given the gravitas it deserves.

I'll be honest, the first thing that drew me into this book was the cover. As a graphic designer and illustrator, I thought it was so beautiful! However, after reading this book, I feel like I would have loved to see the cover mimic the simple, brown and green one of the Funeral Ladies' cookbook? A little missed opportunity to me. The writing style was also very matter-of-fact, which isn't necessarily bad, but not usually my favorite. I would have also loved an epilogue to this story! I feel like that would have pushed my review a little higher.

Overall, enjoyed this read. And a very special thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books/Harper Voyager for sharing this advanced copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Funeral Ladies provide meals to mourners after funerals. A celebrity's wife was tragically killed in a car accident but had wanted to be buried back home in Wisconsin.

I'm not sure what I was expecting. It gets complicated. Of course grief could be a trigger, but I wasn't expecting PTSD to also be included.

As a Midwesterner, I really wanted to like The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to a new-to me author. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for the advance read copy of The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for approving my ARC request.

Probably between 3 and 4 stars, decided to round down. Providing feedback to publisher. .

I enjoy stories about small towns with women of a certain age and The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie county fits that bill perfectly. The ladies of the town are excellent cooks who are in charge of the funeral luncheons at St. Annes. Not only do they cook together they are long time friends who are known to gather and share a nip or two of their beverage of choice as they discuss what's going on around them, When they learn that their long time member, Esther has fallen for an on-line scammer to the tune of $30,000.00 they all jump in (along with Esther's family) to gather money to save Esther's lakefront home.

I enjoyed this book. The Wisconsin scenery, the small town close knit group of friends, Esther's family - especially her granddaughters meld together in a believable way. The famous chef and his off spring who rent an airbnb make up a good part of the plotline.

Trigger warning for PTSD due to a random shooting as well as Vietnam conflict flashbacks, The difference between treating PTSD in today's world compared to how it was in past is spot on,

I will certainly read more by this author and thank #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for a fair and honest review.

I related strongly to the story about living in a small town and the closesness of the people and how people help one another. I lived in a big city and I now live in a small town and you can't compare the two.

It's an important story about not letting pride get in the way of healing and when you keep problems a secret or try to ignore the problems it may end up making it worst, and its when you let the ones who care for you help the problem becomes less overwhelming.

I loved the warmth of the characters who banded together through all sorts of sorrows; death, disease, scammers and PTSD and when the problems were to much to handle they sought help and each other for comfort. Even though one of the characters is a celebrity figure, who has not always been there for the ones he loves, the towns shows him that everyone messes up and that you do the best you can. That love is in everything you do.

I want to thank Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon and NetGalley for an advance copy of this comforting and beautiful story about togetherness, love and helping one another.

So, friends, do you know what you’re doing on March 12 of next year?

Let me tell you.

You’re going to get a package on your doorstep. And you remember, “Oh, yes, today is the day my pre-ordered book comes! Faith Elizabeth Hough loved this one so much I just couldn’t resist the chance to have it the day it comes out.”
​
You tear open the packaging, and pull it out. The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County, by Claire Swinarski. It is gorgeous. “Just as beautiful as Faith said it was!” you think. But you’re a smart, experienced reader, so you won’t be swayed by something so superficial as a gorgeous cover. (You’re totally swayed, but your secret is safe with me.)

So you think, “I’ll just read a page or two to see if it’s as good as she said. Then I’ll make a cup of tea and really settle in.”

You open the cover and slip into the world of Ellerie County, Wisconsin, a place where the winters are snowy and cozy and the sumers are spent on the docks and the people come together to help one another through thick and through thin. A place so vivid it’s almost a character in its own right. But the characters! The characters are even better. There’s Esther, who reminds you a bit of your own grandmother, with her steadfast faith and the perfect pies and casseroles she whips up with her “Funeral Lady” friends for each and every funeral at the town’s little Catholic church. There’s Iris, her granddaughter, who is thoroughly modern with her Instagram savvy and her business plans, but who also is happy to fill in for her mom’s hour of Eucharistic Adoration every week. You get excited right along with them when Ivan Welsh, the Food Network celebrity chef, arrives in town for a funeral, along with his sassy teenage daughter and kind but haunted son, Cooper.

​At this point you realize you’ve made some good choices in your life, because somehow a cup of tea has appeared in your hand and you don’t even remember how it got there. (You’ll thank them later.) You enjoy each sip, even while wondering what that chai would taste like with a hint more cardamom, or perhaps accompanied by a slice of apple pie. But you can’t dwell on it long, because Esther's kind heart got her in trouble, and Iris has a plan to help, but it’s kinda crazy and she might be falling in love with Cooper, and he’s got issues to deal with and what’s going on with Ivan, anyway, and can Esther’s good heart and perfect pie crust really save the day?

Somewhere mid-description of a gorgeous culinary creation by either a midwest grandmother or a Food Network celebrity, you realize you probably should eat something (and, for some of you, make a meal for those wonderful little humans that have been uncharacteristically self-directed in their play or schooling all day). You prepare the meal with exquisite attention to each detail, because your reading has reminded you that the little details matter and that food is a pretty darn good way to show love.

After your meal, you’re dying to get back to the book—but you pause. Because it’s also made you think a little more carefully about the time you spend with those little humans or other people around you. You muse, “If I take anything away from this book, it’s going to be that we have to be there for one another. We have to love and we have to forgive, but first we just have to show up. With a casserole or a book to read or arms open for a hug.” So you choose the right thing, and you hug your humans, and you just might slip into bed and read under the cover until you turn the very last page.

Sometime around March 13, you order a few extra copies, because The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County is the perfect choice for your brilliant idea of a three-generational-book club with your grandma and mom and sisters. While you’re on the computer, you think, “I should send a quick note to thank Faith for convincing me to click on that pre-order link back in September. What a difference it made!” But instead you remember what Faith said, and you send a quick email off to the author, Claire Swinarski, thanking her for the time and energy and heart she put into writing such a beautiful book. Because imagine what a bleak March 12 it would have been without the chance to lose yourself in a perfect pie and a midwest town and your new favorite story.

Besides, Faith might be busy re-reading her shiny new copy, if she's not making a pie.

Written like a love letter to Midwest ladies of a certain age. The love of food, community, and family really shines through this book, and the drama, while it isn't too earth-shattering keeps your attention to see how it resolves. The pacing is slow and leisurely, much like a late fall evening around the bonfire.

Thank you, Netgalley and Avon also Harper Voyager, for granting me access to the copy of this book.

This book at first felt like a warm hug, the usage of food as symbolism and communication, a group of women who love each otherㅡbest friends since young, lovely ladies live in a small town. I enjoyed the 30% of it so much that I will want to move to Ellerie County.

However, the charm slowly faded away as the book got deeper. It gradually lost the spark about the funeral ladies as the focus shifted and I was not really enjoying it.

The book was beautiful, neatly told a story about women friendship, women in a family, women, grief, and how to handle trauma, but some scenes felt too rushed, too sudden and it ruined my experience. But I still like the book tho!

Ps. I am now hungry.

As a born and raised Wisconsin girl, I saw so many parts of myself and the people I love in the rich characters of this book. This book tells the story of a community, big and small, and the love within it - the love that is so warm and welcoming and the love that is difficult and painful too.

My biggest complaint as a Wisconsin girl was trying to figure out the geography of where the fictional Ellerie County is - the real towns mentioned did not add up to a place in the Northwoods!

A lovely and charming novel!

As other reviewers have pointed out, this story is not quite as simplistic or light as it might first appear. There are some serious issues the characters are dealing with, including gun violence. You don't really expected that from the cover or title, but it's handled really well by the author.

I especially admired the sense of community that shines through these pages.

Readers who also enjoy cooking will have fun with the cooking aspects of the story.

The characters are charming, and I enjoyed their journeys.

I received a complimentary e-galley from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my review; all opinions are my own.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

This book is about Esther, who is a funeral lady. She is part of a group of women who provide food for families at funerals in town. Esther has fallen victim to an internet scam and lost a large amount of money. With the help of her granddaughter Iris and the other funeral ladies, they put together a cookbook to raise money for Esther.
Iris strikes up a relationship with Cooper who is in town to bury his step-mother. Cooper is suffering with PTSD from a mass shooting that he was in.
I thought this book was going to be more of a light hearted read. It actually deals with a lot of heavy subjects.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book for review.

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski is about a group of individuals that live in Ellerie, a small town in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Esther Larson has been cooking food for funerals for seventy years with a group of "funeral ladies." She makes an internet friend but realizes that she was scammed out of $30K. Her granddaughter Iris is desperate to help her while also wanting to focus on her own goals of opening a vacation home in the area. Previous resident Annabelle Welch has passed away and her husband Ivan (a celebrity chef), Cooper (adult step-son), and Cricket (teenage daughter) arrive in Ellerie for the funeral and end up staying longer than expected. Readers follow the story of these folks in this slice-of-life type book as the Welsh's try to heal following their loss and other trauma they have experienced and as the town rallies to support Esther by creating a community cookbook to sell.

I didn't know what to expect with this book. I chose to read it because the title and cover caught my eye and I thought it would be interesting. Overall I enjoyed reading this book. The author has a specific way that she writes and it took me a little bit to get used to it but I thought it was an effective style for this story. The characters were interesting and I felt invested in learning about their lives and struggles. With a few exceptions, in general the story does not get very deep. There are some potentially difficult topics that are addressed in this story that readers might want to be aware of (cancer, alcoholism, PTSD related to gun violence) but I thought they were explored in a very realistic way. I also appreciated the multi-generational POV. There is a bit of a love story but it is clean.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting me a free advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review. This book is expected to be published on March 12, 2024

It’s hard to really say what this book is about. I thought it would be a light hearted read, but it is not and anyone reading should look carefully at the trigger warnings. Namely it focuses heavily on characters dealing with PTSD gun violence. It isn’t dark though, it also centers the stories of different generations of women and the power of community. And the power of cooking! I think it’s a portrait of life in small towns all over the country where the church ladies believe everything can be cured by a good casserole.

I feel like there are several places it could have gone that it just didn’t and that left the book feeling a bit uneven. I would have liked more focus and detail on the cookbook rather than Coopers story. Overall though the character all felt very real and familiar and that kept me reading.

Trigger warnings for depictions of PTSD from war and gun violence.

Wow! This was a great book! Esther, an 80-something widow sends a big chunk of money to an online scammer. She’s in danger of losing her home. Her friends, the funeral ladies, her granddaughter, and Ivan welsh, a top chef with a popular tv cooking show and his son Cooper all come together to put out a cookbook to save the house.

“So why was the sunny optimism still stubbornly clinging around? It was the power of the funeral ladies. When you’d seen what they’d seen, Esther knew— death after death after death, wars and divorces, oxygen tanks and new hips, burnt pasta bakes and fingers scalded by boiling water — you could t not hold a larger perspective”

4.75 ⭐️ Rounded Up

I read this book in one sitting because I could not put it down. I feel like there is a lot to say and the easiest way is a list:

1. There were more laugh out loud moments then I could count. Like, husband looking over wondering if I’m good type of laughs. Which was much needed amongst the deeper conversations.

2. The multigenerational aspect and POV’s truly make this book what it is. Not only do you have the relationships between the 2 FMC’s and their families which are seemingly “normal”; but you have the multigenerational aspect of the MMC’s family which has a lot more trauma and toxicity(?)

The age differences and how well portrayed the author wrote each generation was SO good. You feel like it is YOUR mom, YOUR grandmother.

3. I love the subtle hints dropped about Esther, the grandmother, having her own identity outside of the person the community and family has seen her as for years. It made me stop and think.

4. FMC expresses that she had no interest in packing up + moving away from her family. We see it so frequently in writing where the MC wants to run away and never look back, or was brought back but has to be convinced to stay. Nope, Iris knew she wanted to be around her family in her hometown and never wavered. Breath of fresh air.

5. As someone who is not religious (although raised Catholic) I can honestly say even though religion played a decent part in the characters lives; it never felt like I was reading something “preachy” and I appreciate the MMC being up front about not really believing either.

- .25 ⭐️ because even though I understand drinking plays a big part in the story, the culture, the environment.. I would have rather not seen the few mentions of drinking and driving. This is something that should never be normalized so I feel those should have been left out, or acknowledged further in regards to how irresponsible and wrong it was.

Overall, I can’t think of someone who I would not recommend this too. I think everyone will love it and will definitely be buying a hardcover for my shelves!