Loving Olive Kitteridge, I decided to go back and read the previous books written by the author on Lucy Barton. The character is so different than Olive, but I connected and warmed up quickly. This entire story took place over the pandemic and lockdown which was more of a turn off going in, but I found her portrayal of the emotions captivating.

In the beginning, it was very easy to get hooked on this book. After a while, I started to get a bit annoyed of the main character,Lucy. She seemed to complain a lot about almost everything. The ending wasn’t amazing. Left you wondering if William was truthful to her or if he was still hiding secrets and his own agenda. The most exciting chapters were at the very end relating to her daughters, which I wish were outlined more in the middle for a longer period of time. Overall, it was an easy read.

I love that I can still hear it in my head after reading the book.

It didn’t hold my attention like Strouts other books have. I still enjoyed reading it but the flow was different.

I feel the effects of the pandemic every day. I did not remember the lock down and my feelings at the time. This book reminded me of the foreboding. I hope it never happens again, but I’m afraid it will.

Strout’s conversational tone draws the reader into her mind so completely that you feel like her character’s most trusted confidante. There is no doubt that the novel reflects many Americans’ fears, frustrations, and loneliness during the dark days of the pandemic, yet Lucy makes it through tough times, and so did we all. “Better, not bitter.”

of security during the pandemic, of a dead second husband, as a mother of two adult daughters, and as a woman entering old age is a theme of Lucy by the Sea. This story felt so real I found it heart wrenching at times, particularly when Lucy, who wants so much to understand her loved ones, acknowledges the gaps in her understanding. A beautiful, sad, wise book.

While I liked the story itself, I was not particularly fond of the style of writing. It felt like I was reading a YA novel.

This is me and all the things I have thought about put into words. It will be you, too. From the first day that we learned about lockdown, through the isolation, through the horrible murder of George Floyd, getting a vaccine, and witnessing the attack on the capitol, this story is each of us. The pandemic overturned everything. I went from a middle aged woman to an old woman. My grandchildren became adults. That’s not all. This book is about love and letting go. It’s about reflection and acceptance. And motherhood. A must read!

Strict’s writing is excellent. Recommend highly.