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

by Claire Lombardo (Author)
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.
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  1. Print length
    512 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Doubleday
  4. Publication date
    June 18, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    6.43 x 1.56 x 9.57 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0385549555
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0385549554
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

Witty and insightful says Bonnie Garmus

Masterful writes People Magazine

You need to read this says Ericka Waller

This family novel delivers writes The New York Times

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
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Claire Lombardo

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 stars
1,045 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the characters relatable and honest. They also say the book is breathtaking and a breathtaking tale of a woman's life. However, some find the book tedious to read.

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CharactersReadability
6 customers mention "Characters"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters in the book relatable, honest, and breathtaking. They also describe the book as remarkable, beautiful, and complicated.

"...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…...." Read more

"...Relatable, honest, breathtaking tale of a woman’s life . I get it and I will always remember Julia and Mark and tiny lady Suzanne too...." Read more

"A beautiful examination of what love is, or should be, or is assumed to be, or is ultimately determined to be, depending on who’s deciding...." Read more

"...The last pages are heart breaking, sweet, and so very real...." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book tedious to read due to the prose and long read.

"...parenthetical-within-parenthetical sentences makes the story almost impossible to read...." Read more

"I bought this after a glowing review in NYT. It’s a long read when the main character is so dully self absorbed and can’t appreciate anything...." Read more

"Very tedious to read. Sentence after sentence describes how the main character is unhappy, depressed, or feeling emotionally inadequate...." Read more

"It’s very hard to read a book when you really dislike the main character." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Wendy Scaggs
5.0 out of 5 stars 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.
10 people found this helpful
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2LZ
4.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommened
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2024
Life is messy, and despite our good intentions, life remains messy. We make mistakes. We inadvertently, or perhaps, at times, deliberately, hurt others, but, we also shine and we also learn and try to be, and do, better. We have suffered heartbreaks, but we have risen from despair too, and been better and stronger, for it.

Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo is a love letter to the highs and lows, joys and sorrows of life, and I loved it! This won’t be a book for everyone. It is not a fast-paced thriller. It is not action-packed. It is a quiet story, but powerful.

It is a novel about a woman, Julia, looking back on her life, and how one older, soon-to-be friend, Helen, a perfect stranger at the time Julia needed her most, impacted her life in the very best of ways, and how Julia never forgot her kindness throughout the stages of her life. Helen is most definitely my favorite character, but she was not alone.

Julia recalls the good, the bad, and the ugly, her adult self scrutinizing her younger past. A difficult, painful childhood shaped who Julia became as a young adult: lonely, isolated, lacking confidence, but wanting to belong. Julia is raw and blunt, not always likable, and she understands that she doesn’t see and feel things the way most people do. She is truly on her own, until she meets Mark, who evens out her rough edges and supports her unconditionally. Theirs is a love story, not a romanticized, steamy, love affair for the ages, but one that is more realistic, honest and true. They have problems, but they also have a long history together of forgiveness and love. The reader gets a glimpse into Julia’s life as a child, teenager, college student, married woman, new mother, mother of adult children and empty nester. It is a full and robust story of her life. I defy you not to find at least one relatable character or situation; I found so many. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.
4 people found this helpful
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Julie Merilatt
5.0 out of 5 stars 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.
10 people found this helpful
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Joanie W.
3.0 out of 5 stars 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.
7 people found this helpful
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jane shipe
5.0 out of 5 stars how does she know so many of us this well?
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
Claire Lombardo writes with stunning acuity in to my psyche and probably yours. Relatable, honest, breathtaking tale of a woman’s life . I get it and I will always remember Julia and Mark and tiny lady Suzanne too. And Anita deserves no grace: period.
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Top reviews from other countries

Sandra Adilman
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read!
Reviewed in Canada on July 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
A very well written and interesting, complicated plot - would recommend this book to friends.
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