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Claire Lombardo

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Same As It Ever Was: A Novel Hardcover – June 18, 2024

by Claire Lombardo (Author)

4.3 742 ratings

Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction

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NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NAMED A BEST BOOK BY PEOPLE AND PARADE • The New York Times bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had (“wonderfully immersive…deliciously absorbing”—NPR) returns with another brilliantly observed family drama in which the enduring, hard-won affection of a long marriage faces imminent derailment from events both past and present.

“Infidelity, dysfunction, secrets – this family novel delivers."—The New York Times • "Lombardo has such a fine eye for the weft and warp of a family’s fabric." —The Washington Post • “Witty and insightful...a powerful exploration of marriage, motherhood, and self.”–Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

Same As It Ever Was showcases the consummate style, signature wit, and profound emotional intelligence that made The Most Fun We Ever Had one of the most beloved novels of the past decade. Featuring a memorably messy family and the multifaceted marriage at its heart, Lombardo’s debut was dubbed “the literary love child of Jonathan Franzen and Anne Tyler” (The Guardian) and hailed as “ambitious and brilliantly written” (Washington Post). In this remarkable follow-up—another elegant and tumultuous story in the tradition of Elizabeth Strout, Ann Patchett, and Celeste Ng—Lombardo introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters, this time by way of her singularly complicated protagonist.

Julia Ames, after a youth marked by upheaval and emotional turbulence, has found herself on the placid plateau of mid-life. But Julia has never navigated the world with the equanimity of her current privileged class. Having nearly derailed herself several times, making desperate bids for the kind of connection that always felt inaccessible to her, she finally feels, at age fifty seven, that she has a firm handle on things.

She’s unprepared, though, for what comes next: a surprise announcement from her straight-arrow son, an impending separation from her spikey teenaged daughter, and a seductive resurgence of the past, all of which threaten to draw her back into the patterns that had previously kept her on a razor’s edge.

Same As It Ever Was traverses the rocky terrain of real life, —exploring new avenues of maternal ambivalence, intergenerational friendship, and the happenstantial cause-and-effect that governs us all. Delving even deeper into the nature of relationships—how they grow, change, and sometimes end—Lombardo proves herself a true and definitive cartographer of the human heart and asserts herself among the finest novelists of her generation.

Print length

512 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Doubleday
Publication date

June 18, 2024
Dimensions

6.43 x 1.56 x 9.57 inches
ISBN-10

0385549555
ISBN-13

978-0385549554
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

NAMED A BEST FICTION OF 2024 PICK BY PEOPLE

""One of those big, grown-up existential novels about parenthood and marriage and teenagers and friendship and family life. . . Like [Jonathan Franzen and Anne Tyler's] best works, Lombardo's finds the vast and epic and universal via specific attention to family life. But there is also something new to it, something that is both easy reading and profound at the same time, specifically on feelings of failure and abandonment, all of it cleverly brushed with wit and humor."
–Matt Haig, The Guardian

“If you’re looking for a summer read with substance that doesn’t skimp on entertainment value, this is the perfect pick for you. . . Masterfully constructed and thoughtfully observed, this clinches Claire Lombardo’s status as one of the best domestic drama writers on the scene.”
–TheSkimm

"You need to read this....Claire Lombardo is the new Anne Tyler, with teeth."
–Ericka Waller, author of Dog Days

“Infidelity, dysfunction, secrets – this family novel delivers. . . Poignant, punctilious. . . [Lombardo] refashions domestic drama into something rich and strange, with echoes of Lorrie Moore’s sardonic humor and Jonathan Franzen’s dissection of class. . . In less skillful hands, Same as It Ever Was would lose control over its transitions and veer toward soap opera; yet like Franzen’s Marion Hildebrandt, or Faye, the narrator of Rachel Cusk’s Outline trilogy, Lombardo gives us a woman whose inner life is knotted and revelatory. . . Same as It Ever Was is a brave, nuanced book, lulling us with its rhythms but taking risks when we glance away.”
–Hamilton Cain, The New York Times

“Lombardo’s witty, sympathetic take on motherhood exudes the sharp scent of fermented apple juice and a full diaper… Lombardo has such a fine eye for the weft and warp of a family’s fabric. She understands the chemistry of that special epoxy of irritation and affection that keeps a marriage glued together. One finishes Same As It Ever Was with the satisfaction of knowing this complicated woman well — and the poignant disappointment of having to say goodbye.”
–Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“This is one of those beautifully written, keenly observed novels where not that much happens — other than, you know, life itself — but also so much happens. . . Claire Lombardo has written a whole cast of characters so detailed, so specifically themselves, that you almost feel you could reach out and touch them.”
– Samantha Balaban, NPR

“A capacious, tender family drama and ode to marriage. . . Lombardo is a writer who lavishes attention to her characters. . . Same As It Ever Was is a fine-grained portrait of a woman determined to learn how to be a mother, wife, daughter – and person. It builds to a moving climax, encompassing along the way unexpected weddings, funerals, reconciliations, and losses. Like life itself.”
–Christian Science Monitor

“Lombardo continues her astute and entertaining observations about messy family dynamics and the imprint they leave on us. . . with wit and a keen eye for the complications of modern life.”
–The Minneapolis Star Tribune

“An engrossing story of maternal complexity and a reminder of the myriad ways the past can quietly inform the present.”
–Bookpage

"Masterful."
–People

“Pitch-perfect. . . Lombardo is compulsively readable and consistently funny, and it’s impossible to look away as Julia continues to self-sabotage. This domestic drama hits all the right notes.”
–Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

"Lombardo loves her characters, taking time to peel back each of their layers through the time-lapse structure of the novel and her rich descriptions. . . A sure bet for fans of Richard Russo and Jane Smiley.”
–Booklist

“Sparkling. . . Readers will be torn between their instinct to race to the finish and their desire to savor every page.”
–Publisher's Weekly Summer Reads

“Witty and insightful...a powerful exploration of marriage, motherhood, and self.”
–Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

About the Author

CLAIRE LOMBARDO is the author of The Most Fun We Ever Had, which has been optioned for television by Reese Witherspoon. She lives in Iowa City, where she has taught at the Iowa Writers' Workshop and Grinnell College and works part-time as a bookseller at Prairie Lights Books.

www.clairelombardo.com

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Doubleday (June 18, 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385549555
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385549554
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.43 x 1.56 x 9.57 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #122 in Family Life Fiction (Books)
- #160 in Women's Domestic Life Fiction
- #255 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 742 ratings

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Claire Lombardo

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CLAIRE LOMBARDO earned her MFA in fiction at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her debut novel, THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD, debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List, and has been translated or is forthcoming in over a dozen languages. Claire has worked as a social worker and currently teaches fiction writing. She was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois, and now lives in Iowa City, Iowa.

THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD is currently being adapted as a series to be produced by Laura Dern and Amy Adams and written by Lombardo.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

742 global ratings

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Julie Merilatt

Excellent follow up to The Most Fun We Ever Had

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2024

Verified Purchase

I found there was a lot to relate to in this book because, like Julia, I have an English degree, I’m married to an engineer, I live in a nice Chicago suburb, and I had a strained relationship with a parent. The narrative shifts between Julia’s current situation and her past. Current: a steady marriage to Mark, son Ben who is a graduate student, a high school senior Alma, and a really comfortable life. Past: a troubled upbringing with her mother Anita, her early years as a wife and mother, and her friendship with matronly Helen, who takes Julia under her wing when she most needs it.

Julia is far from perfect and she struggles to maintain a façade of calm and normalcy when sometimes all she wants to do is mentally collapse. Her mom Anita is insufferable and it’s no wonder Julia is so fragile. Mark is the exact opposite, a composed and steady influence, despite Julia’s missteps in their marriage. I adored Helen and was sorry when Julia jeopardized their friendship. Yes, Julia is a basket-case, but she is so believably insecure and pessimistic and vulnerable. This was a great follow up to Lombardo’s debut.

8 people found this helpful

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Cat

An emotional read that captivates you to the end

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2024

Julia is preparing to celebrate her husband Mark’s 30th birthday. Her oldest son, Ben, drops a bomb that he and his girlfriend are pregnant and they're getting married. Her daughter, Alma, is in that horrible stage of teenage angst, meaning she hates her mother with a passion.
Julia has fought depression her entire life. Her saving grace has been the constant love of her husband, but at one time it was the close friendship she struck up with a total stranger, Helen. She sees Helen in the grocery store after many years. The gamut of emotions Julia feels are slowly unwrapped and displayed to us as we watch her ponder the past, question many decisions she’s made, and discern why she’s never truly ever been happy.
Still waters run deep, and Julia’s formative years explain a lot about her depression. Her story is terribly sad at times, quirky and quick-witted at others. The talent of an author to create a fictitious person with so much depth and feeling is an impressive art. Claire has breathed life into Julia, and we are standing right beside her as she’s growing up. So much is relatable, and her emotions become our emotions. This, to me, is the true art of an excellent author. I look forward to discovering more of Claire’s worlds that, for now, are still in her creative mind.

One person found this helpful

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Wendy Scaggs

Oh My Goodness!!!!!!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2024

Verified Purchase

I am 1/3 way through this EXCELLENT BOOK!!!! This is not a book you can” skim” or hurry through. I swear… EVERY sentence… heck.. every WORD , affects the story line. All I can say, so far, is this is one of the most REAL .. HUMAN.. stories I have ever Read/ FELT. Ok. Gotta go back to the book. 👏. So…. I finished this AMAZING book yesterday… I felt like I’d lost a family member …. I read a LOT… THIS author is so in touch with… well…LIFE ….Please take the time
To ENJOY this special family saga. All the flaws .. the love .. the sorrow.. ALL of it. I am
Better for reading this.

3 people found this helpful

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Joanie W.

Good story but exhausting writing style

Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024

Verified Purchase

The story and characters are engaging, even if it’s difficult to like the protagonist very much. But the near-exclusive use of run-on, stream-of-consciousness, parenthetical-within-parenthetical sentences makes the story almost impossible to read. You have to keep going back a page or more to where the sentence breaks off with a dash to piece together the flood of thoughts or figure out who’s talking or being referred to. I’m sure the author thought this was an effective mechanism to reflect the insecurity of the main character, but I’d argue that the same characterization would have come through clearly with the sentences broken up and far fewer parenthetical, overly punctuated phrases in use. With this writing style, the book felt way too long for the story being told because of the tedium of the prose. If you take the time to dissect any given sentence, you will find original, creative descriptions and characterization, but you’re likely to miss these good parts of the writing, because you’re likely to skip chunks of text for temporary relief.

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CC

Read to the end, Please

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2024

Verified Purchase

I began reading this 500 page book and early on I thought no way. I didn't like how it began, I didn't like the lead character, I didn't care about her life, I didn't like the unnecessary big words mis-placed throughout. I almost put the book down and quit several times along the way. But, I paid good money for this book so I carried on. I am so glad I did. I somehow felt like my best friend had left town for good when I turned the last page. I have all these feelings inside me right now. I love the insights of this author. If you get this book, please read to the end. You will not be disappointed.

12 people found this helpful

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Deedi Brown

An incredible work of character and interpersonal family dynamics

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2024

Claire Lombardo’s The Most Fun We Ever Had is one of my favorite books of all time, so when I heard she had another 500-page family drama coming out, reader, I squealed.

This story is about a middle-aged woman named Julia. She’s married with two kids, one of whom is unexpectedly getting married after his girlfriend got pregnant, and the other of whom is about to graduate high school. We flash back and forth between past and present, first to a damning inflection point in her marriage and then even further back, to the childhood that led her to become estranged from her mother and mistrust her own capacity for all kinds of relationships.

The Most Fun We Ever Had was more of my KIND of story because it broke your heart via beautifully loving relationships and family dynamics, whereas this book was about much messier relationships and the lingering impact of trauma and betrayal. Julia is also often unlikeable, even though it’s easy to sympathize with her. So those 500 pages felt a biiiit sloggier for me this time around. But still, there’s no denying that Lombardo is an absolute master of character and relationship work on the page. She’s not afraid to give us a chunky book that dives deep into those interpersonal dynamics and really excavate their complicated layers. Her ability to create characters so vivid that they break your heart is top-notch — and at the end of the day, that’s the mark of a great literary fiction novel for me.

6 people found this helpful

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