Same As It Ever Was focuses on a nuclear family and the secrets that have shaped their lives.

This was my first Claire Lombardo book and I was very impressed. She is a beautiful writer and she created an incredibly intricate story with this book.

Be warned that this book is very long and pretty slow paced for the most part. I did find myself a little bored through the first half of the book. However, the story is told in alternating timelines, so you slowly start to put things together and really understand why this family is the way that they are. As I started to get towards the end and things were becoming clearer, I found myself getting a lot more invested. The main character is pretty insufferable, but by the end it feels justified based on what she's been through.

This book really focuses on trust and how you can both build and destroy it in a family setting. It definitely makes you think, and it should be a good read potentially for book club discussions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC!

A chunker of a novel, Claire Lombardo's follow-up to her smash debut THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD seems like a logical next step. It's another family drama, surrounding a nuclear family throughout a few decades. It focuses on regret, secrets, parenting, and trust.

It's not the easiest book to dive into. I would say my biggest complaint with it is that it is slightly overwritten at almost 600 pages. We get a ton of backstory, moving through time with each chapter. Lombardo's writing is fantastic, but I often found myself skimming because there were just so many words! (ha!)

The themes of the book are what make it special though. Julia was a reluctant mother, suffering from trauma from her own neglectful mother growing up. Though she finds the man of her dreams, she has a tough time adjusting when her son is born and makes some critical missteps in trying to feel more like herself again.

It's a beautiful book, and I especially liked fast-forwarding to when Julia is 60 and her children are grown, dealing with their own issues of parenthood and maturity. If you loved her first book, this is a must read as she is only getting better.

I received an uncorrected proof of this book, and the views I’m expressing are my own.

Wow! I read Lombardo’s previous novel, The Most Fun We Ever Had, and liked it very much. Like that book, the core of this novel is the complexities of a long-term marriage, and it has rich characters and fine writing. What I liked even more was the structure - in the first section of the book, the narrative switches between the present-day, 25-years-married couple, and that same couple at a much earlier point in their marriage, when their first child was a pre-schooler and the wife, who is feeling lost, becomes friends with a fascinating woman unknown to the husband. So, at first I thought the story would be about the process of the wife eventually getting herself sorted out. But…that’s just the beginning. The complications of that plot prove to have reverberations that last, the book continues on, into both the deeper past of the husband and wife and her complicated childhood, as well as the complications of family events involving her son, now 24 years old, and her daughter, who is 18 and getting ready to leave the nest for college.

There are layers and layers here, and a richness of story and character and place and theme that kept me immersed until the end. Lombardo pulls it off beautifully, and I was left deeply impressed by her ability to take “ordinary” people and weave such a wonderful tale about them. It is one I’ll be thinking about for some time to come.

Highly recommended.

Loved it! Hard to describe Claire Lombardo's writing but it's unmistakeable. Adored The Most Fun We Ever Had, which had a large, appealing but dysfunctional family at its center. This also has family, with one character, past and present, at its center. I devoured the story in 3 days (and this is a thick one--500+ pages--it's a messy, meandering (time jumps all over the place) exploration of motherhood, marriage, friendship, fidelity, trauma, mental health, poor choices, connection, redemption. Lombardis the master of deft prose, pacing, and nuanced clarity of characterization, and I don't think mc Julia's story could be told, as she has done, with a less-skilled writer.

I was immediately drawn to Claire Lombardo’s upcoming release because of the title, Same As it Ever Was, for the simple fact that it is a Talking Heads reference. I’ll admit that I had no expectations, but assumed I would appreciate a writer who shares my taste in music. I was not disappointed!

This novel was an unexpected rollercoaster of emotions that frequently flipped between the past and present for the protagonist Julia Ames. At first I was a little thrown by the shift in timeline but got my bearings as we began to see how Julia’s past had brought her to the present day and how each relationship in her life transformed.

Lombardo really captured the complicated relationships we have with our parents, our children, our spouses, and even ourselves. It was a reminder at how messy our lives can be, for the simple reason that we are all just humans, trying to find our way.

I was excited to read Same as it ever was by Claire Lombardo because I loved her first book, The Most Fun we ever had. I was specifically looking forward to domestic/family drama. I was disappointed. This can best be described as a coming-of-middle age book that focuses on female existential angst. I could not feel empathy for the protagonist. Sure, I could relate to a lot of her troubles and thoughts, as a middle-aged mother myself; however, not on the scale that she struggled. It is difficult for me to enjoy a story if I cannot connect with the protagonist. Alas, that was my trouble. It would have been easier had the author chose to share the focus on other characters, like Helen. I do appreciate the opportunity to experience this book in advance of publication, thanks to DoubleDay and NetGalley.

Pros- character development, last few chapters

Cons- too long, too many unlikeable characters

I wanted to love this book, I really did (TMFWEH is one of my favorite books), but it took me nearly three months to trudge through it. I disliked Julia (and nearly every other female character) almost immediately although I do think CL is a master of character development.

Sometimes the word choices seemed pretentious. Was that intentional, I don’t know, but it did seem fitting of the characters.

The closing chapters were amazing. They really saved the book for me. So many emotions packed into those last pages 😢

3.5 stars rounded down (but I still eagerly await CL’s third novel!)

This is a hard review for me to write - I wanted to love it but I only liked it. It deals with some very serious and somewhat sad relationships that many people have. Not all families are the same and not all deal with things the same way - this story tells of a woman who just doesn’t know how to function in life - she feels like she need “directions” for everything - friendships, family relationships, parenting and even socializing. Maybe she’s an introvert, it’s not discussed. But as she ages she seems to become a little more comfortable with who she is and her place in the world. I liked how it ended, it was sad but sweet.
Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for the digital ARC.

Great family drama, it was paced well and kept me engaged throughout. I really enjoyed the depth of the characters. Highly recommend!

A beautifully, compelling story of self discovery and acceptance. While the characters weren't always likable, they were real and faced real life dilemmas and problems. A great read that will stay with you for a long while.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great read. It kept me engaged and I finished it easily. The characters were developed and the story line was great.

Oh gosh, I loved this book. I, too, am a woman of a certain age with an adult child and a teenager and reading about Julia, her challenges, her past, her relationships with her children and friends and her spouse - it all spoke to me so deeply. The Most Fun We Ever Had is one of my favorite books and Same As It Ever Was has also made the list. It was emotional and tender and simply beautiful.

This book wrecked me. 🩵🥹
How did the author capture so succinctly the complicated nature of relationships? The transient experience of emotions and unreliability of perception? How did she make me nostalgic for a time that hasn’t yet occurred in my life? I’m so impressed by her writing and how she can tell one woman’s story while tackling matters of life like estrangement, betrayal, mental illness, motherhood, marriage, and class all so profoundly. I was misty eyed for a bit following its conclusion and it’s going to stick with me for sure.

Thanks @claire_lombardo @doubledaybooks and @netgalley for the chance to experience this gem early.

#bookreview #arc #justread #booknook #booklover #bookworm #newbooks #fiction #bibliophile #read #books #reader #bookstagram #instaread #readersofig #sameasiteverwas

A very compelling way to show how we humans view the world. Although, the story is based on a woman's view of the world, it is astonishing how she reads it and creates the scenarios in her head that she believe is true but is not, and how she creates an inaccurate view of others lives and thoughts and reacting badly to those thoughts.
A lot of the story made me very anxious because it reminded me of bad decisions that I made in my own life due to my own stories I created in my head that weren't true and that cause bad outcomes. I also felt for how Julia's childhood created distrust of many people around her, even though some of people around her deserved better from her. I loved the honest view of Julia's life and how she never believed she deserved the life or happiness she had.
I love ever character of this story, and I especially loved Helen a great person who gave from the heart and forgave Julia her many flaws. I also loved Julia's husband Mark who forgave Julia a transgression few could, but he cared enough to try. One last character that was very much a part of Julia's life, and I found compelling, was her mother that created a distrust in Julia early on and effected every relationship Julia had and it isn't until later in the story that the Julia and her mother reconcile with each other because again they were misreading what the other believed and acting on that belief and it isn't until they start talking and find out that their beliefs were flawed that they can solve their problems. An amazing story that I couldn't stop thinking about after I finished it.

I want to thank Doubleday Books | Doubleday and NetGalley for an advance copy of this story that shows that what we think is always true.

QUICK TAKE: It’s so, so good. Still thinking about it. Yes, that’s right: Claire Lombardo -author of the fantastic Chicago sister story THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD- is back with a complex, nuanced story of one woman’s journey of self-discovery when her complicated past is dredged up in the wake of reconnecting with an estranged friend. Fans of Nathan Hill’s WELLNESS and Jonathan Franzen’s CROSSROADS will absolutely devour this sprawling story, full of complicated female characters, juicy soap, laugh-out-loud humor, and domestic drama that had me completely captivated.

Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo is a surprisingly touching story about Julia Ames and the relationships that have shaped her life. On its surface, it is a slice-of-life story that most adults can relate to: troubled childhood leads to poor choices in adulthood and the inevitable examination of life and its meaning. Yet Lombardo pushes out the floor and ceiling to reveal unexplored nuance and depth that is highly appreciated in this world where auto-pilot is the default method of getting through the day and contemplation seems a luxury.

The novel opens at a pivotal point when Julia and Mark Ames are preparing for their daughter to graduate and their son to get married. These big milestones lead Julia to reflect on her life, including her childhood and relationship to her mother, as well as her marriage to Mark and her character is revealed through these moments of reflection. I especially appreciated the flawed nature of our protagonist and how the author’s honest portrayal of her makes her so relatable. I saw myself in her moments of failure as a wife, daughter, and mother, but also completely identified with her need to be redeemed. Having made some of her same mistakes but living with a different outcome made me incredibly eager to read what could have happened in an alternate universe.

Even those who do not relate as closely to what Julia goes through will find the pacing pleasing and the characters absorbing (a special nod here to Helen Russo and Alma Ames). Lombardo is incredibly adept at painting the human experience (especially that of a mother) on the page with such clarity and realism that at times it feels like pressing on a bruise. And, as in life, we see that pain goes hand in hand with humor and levity and grace. This is a family that you will not want to leave once the story ends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the ARC. Same As It Ever Was makes its debut June 18.

I was a big fan of Lomardo's debut, The Most Fun We Ever Had, but this book really showcases how far her writing has grown and evolved. The style and plot of this book immediately reminded me of Wellness, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so I was very excited to dive into this one.

I love this writing style, more literary than plot-driven, describing the mundanities of life as well as its life-altering events with eloquence and nuance. The details of the story slowly unfold and are revealed to the reader in a measured and intentional manner.

The character of Julia is relatable and flawed, and many of her actions are due to her overwhelming feeling of loneliness, despite her privileged circumstances.

This is the best depiction I've ever seen of marriage and adult friendships. The dialogue was so authentic and relatable, and these characters were portrayed in such realistic and genuine way.

This title was fantastic - I was left with a book hangover when I finished. Lombardo’s first book was good, but I liked this one better. Read more similarly to Ann Patchett, Lily King, etc.

After a difficult childhood and a challenging period as a new parent, Julia finally finds herself steady in her mid-50s. This is quite a departure from earlier periods, when Julia often made choices that threw her life into chaos. But when her beloved and always steady son makes a surprising announcement just as her daughter is about to leave home and an unexpected person from her past reemerges, Julia experiences the same unsteadiness that marked her earlier life and threatens to result in the same upheaval that Julia thought she had long ago left behind.

This is a moving and perceptive exploration of family and the long reach of the past. With unforgettable characters, this is a novel you will not soon forget.

The Most𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘍𝘶𝘯 𝘞𝘦 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘏𝘢𝘥 is one of my favorite novels, so I was eager to get my hands on Lombardo's sophomore effort, 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝗪𝐀𝐒 (Pub 06.18) Thanks to my dear friend @jamie who not only picked up a bound galley but got it personalized to me from the author.

As eager as I was, it took me over a month to read. Not because I wasn't enjoying it, but it took a beat to get into, so stick with it. Once I hit my stride I still read it slowly because the writing, story and characters required my undivided attention. It also required a hefty supply of book darts.

I adored it. This sweeping literary family drama packs a punch. It's a touching, complicated and introspective story about long standing relationships- being a daughter, wife and mother.
You've heard the phrase that encourages authors to "𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸." But Clare Lombardo disrupts this thought with her uncanny ability to write about things she "doesn't know" with profound depth and understanding. She masterfully crafts characters who deploy statements that deeply resonate with me on multiple levels. She takes an observant perspective of seemingly universal imperfections of people and unfurls the motivations with deft nuance. It blows my mind.

You know what else blows my mind? The last 15 pages left me gutted with tears running down my face . . . at the dentist office.

"Isn't that part of what defines every relationship? That mixture oh how much you need someone and how much they need you back? It's never an equal amount. And it fluctuates- ideally it does- because both of those things are exhausting in their own right. You needed me more than I needed you then, maybe, but that doesn't mean that I didn't need a friend too."