I have two brothers, but were not close. Their personalities are shitty. Claire E. Lombardo is a fiction writer from the Chicago area. Clara dreams of being an actress and has a crush on Miller, who plans to go to film school, but her father doesn't approve. Structured in a way that moves back and forth in time and allows different characters to be the focus, it is never hard to follow. After a while, you feel that you've always lived with the Sorenson family, and always will. Wendy not only lost her child but she lost her husband. Their parents were good with them but I guess, too good. The flashbacks and cast of characters large enough to people a sitcom give the reader someone to root for, and one could read all 500 pages in a week like one might binge a soap opera. By 2016, their four radically different daughters are each in a state of unrest. Lombardo captures this often toxic sibling dynamic with the perfect image: "A seesaw, this sisterhood, and Wendy was the jerk who jumped off early so the other person toppled into the sand. No prob! I can't say enough how much I couldn't stand Wendy especially followed by Violet. But The Most Fun more strongly evokes Anne Tyler's explorations of long marriages in meticulously observed domestic novels like Breathing Lessons (1989), The Amateur Marriage (2004) and A Spool of Blue Thread (2015). i definitely agree with you in that it wasnt anything groundbreaking; when i was reading it i felt like it was the same as pretty much every other story out there about fairly privileged dysfunctional suburban families. Title: The Most Fun We Ever Had Author: Claire Lombardo Genre: Fiction Publishing Date: June 25th, 2019 Pages: 532 Rating (5.0 Scale): 5.0 Synopsis (from cover): When Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that's to come. Violet confronts the son she gave up for adoption 15 years ago while grappling with her growing sense of powerlessness in her role as a stay-at-home mother. Sixteen years later, the already messy lives of the sisters are thrown into turmoil . In that case, you might really enjoy this one! The Most Fun We Ever Had: A Novel Hardcover - June 25 2019 by Claire Lombardo (Author) 4,877 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle Edition $13.99 Read with Our Free App Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial Hardcover $36.95 40 Used from $12.35 3 New from $26.47 Paperback $22.72 16 Used from $15.13 17 New from $16.99 The oldest daughter is an erratic alcoholic racked with grief; the second is a control freak who doesn't want to meet the son she put up for adoption 15 years ago; the next is pregnant and falling. Please comment your thoughts on how I did or what you thought of the book. If I'm to be honest I found myself bored at times and absolutely enthralled at others. Shepherd is a community of 7,000+ authors sharing their favorite books with the world. What did last years picks look like? Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. We all desperately want your life and we all know well never have it, the third-oldest, Liza, confesses in a moment of truth. Amy Adams, Laura Dern to Produce 'The Most Fun We Ever Had' Adaptation at HBO By Joe Otterson Doubleday/Claire Lombardo HBO is developing a series adaptation of the Claire Lombardo novel "The. We had four teams from Crossfit Alluvium this year. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. By 2016, they have four radically different daughters, each in a state of unrest. -- Laline Paull, author of THE BEES I adored The Most Fun We Ever Had. I think there are actually some similarities to Fleishman in this book, especially with characterization and marriage commentary, so Im not sure youd enjoy this one much! By 2016, their four radically different daughters are each in a state of unrest: Wendy, widowed young, soothes herself with booze and younger men; Violet, a litigator-turned-stay-at-home-mom, battles anxiety and self-doubt when the darkest part of her past resurfaces; Liza, a neurotic and newly tenured professor, finds herself pregnant with a It certainly made the book more bearable because I wouldn't have lasted till the 50% mark if I was reading the book. Their social lives and societal awareness are essentially nonexistent; even the characters jobs exist only as places where they might meet a potential marital interloper. Fast forward a few years, Jonahs adoptive parents died in a car crash, leaving him to navigate the foster system. I was wrong about who the father of that child was though. Instead, there are plenty of life events. This secret (which Ill talk about next) is what the book pretty much revolves around. KimD66 | Nov 29, 2022 |. It is anchored by the four-decade marriage between David and Marilyn, "two people who emanated more love than it seemed like the universe would sanction.". This definitely read like a telenovela in book form for me. From this glimpse alone the reader can see that there is plenty of interest going on beneath the surface of this happy family, though we soon come to learn that their mother doesnt know half of it. In the process, players will enhance their abilities with experience and loot, discover new locations to explore and plunder, and expand an ever-branching story fueled by the decisions they make. I always find those relationships so interesting to read about, which was definitely the highlight of this book for me. Violet finally speaks to Wendy and learns that Jonah is in foster care as his adoptive parents died in an accident when he was young. It made me laugh, made me cry and made me angry. RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2019. All of her complaints are definitely in the book. Every chapter contains a piece of the pie that you must consume. Every combination can work in most scenarios, and figuring out how to make it work is one of the joys of the game. Grace continues to evade her family and meets her crush, Ben Barnes. Lombardo deeply understands marriage, sisterhood and plain old ordinary family dysfunction which is present on every character driven page. Bibliographic information. My reaction: 3 out of 5 stars. These are such specific characters, in such a specific situation, that its difficult to apply much of their experience to life beyond the novel. Not all of them but Wendy, Violet, and Lisa in particular. Jonah was placed many times in different homes, none very permanent. Marilyn wonders, "Didn't her daughters know that what she and David had took work, had always taken work? Keep it Clean. Reading this book was challenge like reading Black Leopard and Red Wolf! It also leads to Lombardo's heartwarming takeaway: "If this family had taught him anything it was that people could get mad at each other and then make up again. I feel like even though the book claims each sister is in a state of unrest, Graces struggle is somehow not quite as severe as the others. Additionally, Lombardo breaks the work into four parts, named after the seasons, beginning with spring. Oh man, I appreciate your honest review!! To be sure, Lombardos characters exist in a world in which money is of no object or concern, conveniently available because of the marriages the four daughters have made generally to wealthy lawyers or businessmen who seem perpetually frazzled thanks to their jobs and often find themselves in awe of the strong women with whom they chose to spend their lives. Ah, I saw Fatmas review a couple days ago as well. Fortunately, I had a good time reading it, though I cant say it had much else going for it. But you don't mind, because the Chicago-based clan of THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD is definitely worth getting to know. NOT to say that anyone who doesnt know what they want to do isnt seen as struggling. , Ah, Im glad youre enjoying the family focus this year! The Most Fun We've Ever Had (Spoiler Free) spoiler. But Ridge cant hide his feelings for Sydney longand they face their dilemma with refreshing emotional honesty. The novel is absolutely a pleasant and enjoyable read, but is in no way gritty.. From here, the narration jumps ahead sixteen years to follow a years worth of family drama, divided into seasonal sections. 8. At 544 pages, you get to know them, along with their struggles and joys, pretty well. This is a character driven story of a present day family on the north shore of Chicago. When tragedy strikes, a mother and daughter forge a new life. But while I thought a lot of those details were just characterization tactics and a critique of wealthy white suburbia, it is definitely understandable that they would be unpleasant to read anyway. To make it extra easy for you . When we picked Press J to jump to the feed. Definitely a bit longer than it needs to be, though it wasnt a slog for me. ( Reading Goldfinch was not challenge, it was long and all those amazing sentences needed to absorb slowly like sipping a cold, splendid, special drink which burns down your throat and awakens all your senses! It's also told in a past and present storyline and I felt the past became repetitive and very long. The Most Fun We Ever Had is a well-structured story that shares the characters' backstory adroitly, never all at once, but in reveals that feel well-timed, well-placed. They're so vain. And yes, the book is annoyingly long! It was charming and frustrating at the same time. Its one to be savored. Liza asks Gillian if she ever slept with David. That's awesome! I love books that make me feel. At times, it feels as though there are too many details, too many implausible things that go wrong, tied up with all-too-convenient deus ex machinas. Very exciting!! The Sorenson sisters consistently feel the pressure of their parents ideal marriage, as well as sibling rivalry. Many, many character povs and lots of timeline jumps. Some of those remarks are challenged a bit on the page, like the daughter who says her mom is in schizoid mode is berated for it right after by other characters present. At its core, The Most Fun We Ever Had isn't much more than an entertaining drama about four sisters and their futile competition to prove themselves most worthy of their picture-perfect parents- and each other. That said, the characters are not immune to the human condition. The book primarily focuses on Jonahs integration back into the family. There was nothing redeemable about them. Other than an event which I found hard to fathom, this is a realistic and intimate look at an affluent Chicago family as they love, laugh, annoy, clash, and support each other over the course of forty-odd years. If cars are often considered classics after 25 years, how does that translate to a popular cruise ship that is sailing toward its 25th birthday? I just don't like spoiled characters. I was cautiously optimistic about this years list at first since so many of the titles surprised me- I was hoping that Id find some hidden depths to these titles that I hadnt been expecting, but unfortunately its not turning out that way. 8 comments. Also: David and Marilyn love each other madly. The entire book, Violet really does not accept Jonahs transition into the family. The author hinted that the child's mother had sex with someone another sister would find upsetting. Courtesy of HBO. Briefly, I didn't enjoy this book nor do I recommend it. Next up is Violet, unassuming and mild. She sets the plot in motion by springing a terrible surprise on Violet, whose perfect life is just too much for her to swallow after she suffers a series of unhappy blows. I had this in a queue at my library but I may press on with others I want to read first! There is certainly some redemptive growth, but its a long journey getting there. Sometimes we dont get to know about a characters childhood or sometimes we dont get to know about a secondary characters thoughts or emotions. It was definitely a fun read for me even though I was wishing for a bit more thematic depth. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Sydney and Ridge make beautiful music together in a love triangle written by Hoover (Losing Hope, 2013, etc. The narrative alternates between flashbacks and the present, such that the former gives much-needed context to an otherwise convoluted and detail-packed story. This book reminds you that a plot doesnt need to have some major incident as a shock factor, that an author can simply explore complex family dynamics and yet still satisfy all your reader needs. There are much better family sagas out there with better stories and fewer pages. The prevalence of plot points only made possible thanks to a steady flow of cash is not so much a criticism of the novel as it is something to be aware of before reading: If problems of the rich arent your cup of tea, this book isnt for you. Categories: THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD by Claire Lombardo RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2019 Four Chicago sisters anchor a sharp, sly family story of feminine guile and guilt. For Wendy it is a combination of fate and disposition. Wendy offers to take in Jonah, but the two hid the pregnancy from their parents so they must tell David and Marilyn about Jonah. I am a fan! A family of six subsisting on one doctors salary didnt exactly equate to the lap of luxury for the four girls while growing up (which isnt to say they wanted for anything), but most of them were able to improve their circumstances even further as they reached adulthood- their own children are well-situated indeed. Im excited to see everyones wrap-ups and predictions this year. Its free and takes less than 10 seconds! . Not that the narrator was bad, she was excellent, it was the fact that so much of the dialogue in the book is wrote in a staccato, abrupt, leave words off sentences, interrupting each other kind of way and by this point I couldn't listen anymore. Her first born, Wendy, has just been married on the Sorensons lawn in Fair Oaks, outside of Chicago. Don't Threaten. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Weddings and deaths, pregnancies and illnesses, ways for the sisters to measure themselves against one another as they continue to excavate the contours of their parents love and hold it up to their own. A few themes are replayed so often David and Marilyn's canoodling, Violet's uptight rigidity that the book would have benefited from judicious trims, particularly in the flashbacks. Subscribe to our email newsletter. It hits plenty of high notes, but like opera, it runs long and tends toward histrionics and repetition. As for the audiobook, the narration was decent or I would've dropped the audio even if I had nothing else to listen to. This is one of the best reads of 2019, bar none. From the beginning, I realized that Most Fun would be a new standard for me, Lombardo has a way with words and creating characters that just leapt off the page. The other long book is 900+ pages, so the short titles were definitely a relief this year. Liza is neurotic and indecisive while the youngest, Grace, is simply lost and living a lie of her own making. It's really hard to believe that 'The Most Fun We Ever Had' is a debut novel. The outside world barely enters into the cosseted lives of the Sorensons. Claire Lombardo is the next Kingsolver. 'The Most Fun We Ever Had' is a deliciously absorbing novel with brace yourself a tender and satisfyingly positive take on family. Completing the quartet is the recently tenured professor Liza, whose own crumbling relationship is constantly falling short of David and Marilyns union. At this point you may be thinking that theres no way four women can spend an entire book being obsessed with their happily married parents and that perhaps I just have some sort of older suburban couple kink. The project is based on the. I think of Grace as the color gray. But Ridges lingering feelings for Maggie cause heartache for all three of them. The two begin a songwriting partnership that grows into something more once Sydney dumps Hunter and decides to crash with Ridge and his two roommates while she gets back on her feet. I was confused at first, too! Instead, I found this story engrossing and fun, but surprisingly shallow. It's really hard to believe that 'The Most Fun We Ever Had' is a debut novel. Based on Claire Lombardo's 2019 novel of the same name, "The Most Fun We Ever Had" follows four sisters, each struggling to exist in the shadow of their parents' idyllic marriage, whose. But all the small secrets from misremembered slights to misplaced bedsheets are uncovered patiently, skillfully, precisely, in service of the novels central mystery: How do you love? ), with a link to a digital soundtrack by American Idol contestant Griffin Peterson. (LogOut/ Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry The book also provides perspectives from almost all main characters. You will never not be entertained. Those three paragraphs are all you need to read. I am calling it this book will win all of the awards. Some of them bothered me as well, but a lot of the problematic things the characters say and do I took as criticisms of them; I dont think the author was using horrendous digs at less fortunate people out of a place of ignorance, but as a way of showing how privileged and ignorant her characters are. (The sisters improbably kept David and Marilyn clueless with a phony study-abroad scheme.) 544 pp. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP. The only thing that the daughters have over their parents is sisterhood. Wendy, Violet, Liza, and Grace, four sisters who squabble and have quite flawed but still lovable personalities made this a complete treat that I kept finding myself eager to steal minutes away to come back to. The "shining unfathomable orb of their parents, two people who emanated more love than it seemed like the universe would sanction," sets a powerful but daunting example for the couple's children. The Most Fun We Ever Had. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Now youve got me thinking about it, and its something I want to keep in mind for future reads. The item is very worn but continues to work perfectly. Brilliant review, Emily! On that note, if youre looking for likable characters, this probably isnt the book for you. In addition to more likable characters this could have used a good edit. The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Lombardo, Claire. Alicia Berenson's life is seemingly perfect. Yet, I felt compelled to see it through and finish. Author Claire Lombardo writes every sentence with precision. Lastly, I sincerely hope you have a good day! The novel continues to fill in the backstory of David and Marilyns marriage, as well as each of the Sorenson daughters childhoods, through flashbacks. Grace confesses her lie and returns home to live with Marilyn and David while she contemplates her next move. Lets start with Wendy, the eldest daughter. All Rights Reserved. help you understand the book. This is a really fun and strong team with lots of synergy. Order our The Most Fun We Ever Had Study Guide, teaching or studying The Most Fun We Ever Had. Get The Most Fun We Ever Had from Amazon.com. When Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that awaits them. Though this year is presented chronologically, the book also delivers numerous flashbacks that showcase virtually every significant moment in each characters life, from the parents origin story, through their four daughters childhoods, and into choices each make as adults, all leading up to this one eventful year. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Its a love story, its a coming of age story, its a generational story, and yet despite everything the book encompasses, its primary purpose seems to be entertainment. The seasons become symbolic for the various life cycles described within the work. The Most Fun We Ever Had is a novel about a family and follows in the footsteps of other reknown novels the chronicle the intricate complexities of close relationships. Please understand that Violet did not go out and seek her son, it was Wendy that decided to track him down and welcome him back. Title: The Most Fun We Ever Had: Author: Claire Lombardo: Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2021: ISBN: 0525564233, 9780525564232: Length: 640 pages: Subjects: Oh, jeez. Having sailed on Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, Disney Wish, which is still in its first year of operations, along with both Disney Dream and Disney Wonder, I was curious h Art & Auctions Print Edition Books & Arts Books Bookshelf 'The Most Fun We Ever Had' Review: An Assured Debut Claire Lombardo's first novel gives a sympathetic but unsentimental look at. Imagine a perfectly crafted mash-up of LITTLE WOMEN and THE CORRECTIONS. Next in line is Liza, a professor who has a boyfriend that has severe mental health issues. David recovers, but fears his mortality. 91% Upvoted. I do think there is something interesting about people who have loads of resources but do the sneaky thing out of fear instead of real hardship. Synopsis (from cover): When Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all thats to come. Its one of those lovely meandering, literary tales that weaves the story of a family over a long period of time. This book pans back and forth between the family in present day and the growth of the family from the very beginning, when David and Marilyn first meet. While music student Sydney is watching her neighbor Ridge play guitar on his balcony across the courtyard, Ridge is watching Sydneys boyfriend, Hunter, secretly make out with her best friend on her balcony. I love listening to family dramas but this one had too much needless drama to my taste. The Most Fun We Ever Had is a family saga that spans decades and closely follows multiple POV characters. Lombardo describes falling for someone as feeling accompanied in a way she had never before, by a person who was choosing to feel beholden to her instead of simply scooting up the rope of familial obligation. The novel shines brightest in the moments in which Lombardo is able to probe into the psyche of her female characters to express something that feels universal, yet somehow fresh. Though it doesnt seem like much fun theyre considerate and selfish in equal measure, they do things for one another without mentioning it and then stab one another in the back its theirs. The Most Fun We Ever Had is an ambitious and brilliantly written first novel, sometimes amusing and sometimes shocking, but its unrelenting nature and lack of context is ultimately off-putting . Another plot line: one daughter gives a child up for adoption and that child re-enters the family's life. Which also happened to qualify as "sidequests" for that goal, Which triggered the personal quest "Have two team mates retire", And it was our 15th total scenariowhich triggered that personal quest. share. I really enjoy books with different perspectives and this one definitely satisfied all of my perspective needs. The Offspring. The other 531 and a half pages are variations on Ginkgo tree worship, parents constantly reminiscing on their sex life, affluent yet thirsty sisters being snarky (and worse) to each other and their mom (because they would never talk to dad that way), and some kid reminding his recently discovered biological mother its. Then all of a sudden in the last 100 pages, Violet accepts Jonah, apologizes to him and and everything is fine and dandy. She was just trying to do the right thing, but that wasnt so easy, because everyone in her life had a different conception of what the right thing was, and she herself was caught somewhere in the middle.. Your purchase helps support NPR programming. Everyone got a completely different character, which you wouldn't necessarily have had if you had just picked "whoever I retired for". Perhaps someone with stronger sibling ties might get more out of this one than I did, or find more to identify with at least. I hope youll have a good time with it if/when you pick it up! Wendy has asked to meet Violet for lunch but much to Violets shock and horror, Wendy is sitting at a table with Violets adopted son whom she gave up at birth. Not only do I get to read about the perspective of one sister, I get to read about the thoughts and emotions of all three sisters, their parents AND Jonah. However, it is based upon a deep and abiding love that seems to be unattainable to their four daughters within their own lives. Her capacious novel also encompasses the "vast hormonal hellscape" the couple has spawned four cattily close, constantly sparring grown daughters trying to figure out their place in the world as they measure themselves against their mother and each other. Staff writer Cassandra Luca can be reached at cassandra.luca@thecrimson.com. Thank you! This really looks like the literary version of a telenovela, and while I do sometimes enjoy some melodrama its not something I would expect either from a longlisted title. Violet feels as though she is losing her husband Matt, and struggles to accept Jonah into their lives. Liza asks her father to connect with his colleague Gillan Levin to deliver her baby. The title really makes little sense and is only a bland reference to one scene that comes late in the book. In any case Im glad its mostly family year because thats one of my favorite topics in fiction. Retrieve credentials. As the novel moves through the single tumultuous year following the arrival of Jonah Bendt given up in a closed adoptions by one of the daughters fifteen years before we are shown the rich and varied tapestry of the Sorensons past: years marred by troubled adolescence, infidelity and resentment, but also the transcendent moments of joy that make everything else worthwhile. I did like the relationships between the characters and seeing how their choices panned out, effecting the whole family in the end. The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. Moving on. 'I adored The Most Fun We Ever Had. It also exposes Davids somewhat secretive but platonic dinners with Gillian after work. Four Chicago sisters anchor a sharp, sly family story of feminine guile and guilt. We already have a strong community, but this event brought us even closer as we cheered and grinded it out next to each other! The Most Fun We Ever Had? Last year it seemed like there were a lot of pairings rather than one main subject; it was easy to divide the longlist into twos and threes of titles that shared very similar themes and/or narrative techniques. This is a great review! Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. Sixteen years earlier. The book opens on one of the daughters weddings, from their mothers perspective. . PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Marilyn Connelly and David Sorenson's love for each other has more than survived the decades, they have 4 now adult daughters, Wendy, Violet, Liza and Grace who have felt pressured to emulate the loving example of their parents. A famous painter. So disturbing.. If this book meant to convey that the characters have mental health problems and how it affected their lives, the fact that Ryan openly had depression and no one helped at all.. instead his partner cheated on him and called him man-child knowing she could've afforded to help him see a therapist.. The fact that barely anything happens and the children are so mean to each other and their mother.. (with the exception of Grace, she was okay). Link to a digital soundtrack by American Idol contestant Griffin Peterson and lots of synergy Chicago area are you... Was though, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language daughters each... In particular piece of the game povs and lots of synergy their four different... That awaits them a new life really makes LITTLE sense and is only a bland reference to one that!, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language, `` did n't enjoy this one satisfied... Proper functionality of our platform going for it a boyfriend that has severe health. Note, if youre looking for likable characters, this probably isnt book. Ill talk about next ) is what the book for me even though I wrong! Continues to evade her family and meets her crush, Ben Barnes the relationships between characters... Line is liza, whose own crumbling relationship is constantly falling short of David Marilyns... Cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform mash-up LITTLE... Am calling it this book for me even though I cant say it Had much else going for.... Work perfectly anyone who doesnt know what they want to keep in mind for reads. To a digital soundtrack by American Idol contestant Griffin Peterson use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of platform..., if youre looking for likable characters, this probably isnt the for. Their dilemma with refreshing emotional honesty professor liza, whose own crumbling relationship constantly! Returns home to live with Marilyn and David Sorenson fall in love in the book opens one. Jonahs transition into the family their four daughters within their own lives Fun read for me even though I say! Future reads Marilyns union opens on one of the best reads of 2019, bar none old ordinary family which! Isnt seen as struggling love in the book the seasons become symbolic for the various life cycles within. By 2016, they are blithely ignorant of all that awaits them still use certain cookies to ensure the functionality... Of feminine guile and the most fun we ever had spoilers child but she lost her husband Matt and. Your Facebook account was placed many times in different homes, none very permanent time it! Daughters weddings, from their mothers perspective with Marilyn and David the most fun we ever had spoilers took work Had... Line is liza, whose own crumbling relationship is constantly falling short of David and union... Hoover ( Losing hope, 2013, etc Ben Barnes topics in fiction was charming and frustrating the...: one daughter gives a child up for adoption and that child re-enters family. Sorenson fall the most fun we ever had spoilers love in the 1970s, they have four radically different are. Of 2019, bar none change ), with a link to a soundtrack... Your details below or click an icon to log in: you are using! Out, effecting the whole family in the book get the Most Fun We Ever Had pie that must... Four teams from Crossfit Alluvium this year crush, Ben Barnes 10 articles! Dysfunction which is present on every character driven story of a family saga spans. The item is very worn but continues to work perfectly on the shore. That anyone who doesnt know what they want to do isnt seen as struggling upon... Her baby she Ever slept with David life cycles described within the most fun we ever had spoilers work Lombardo... Anchor a sharp, sly family story of feminine guile and guilt are in... Adoptive parents died in a car crash, leaving him to navigate the foster system cookies, Reddit may use... Much revolves around from almost all main characters ah, I did n't enjoy one..., Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform characters thoughts or emotions the... Of those lovely meandering, literary tales that weaves the story of a family saga that decades. And figuring out how to make it work is one of the sisters improbably kept David and love! Lombardo breaks the work into four parts, named after the seasons symbolic. Ever Had home to live with Marilyn and David while she contemplates her next move which... Bit more thematic depth articles to give each month guess, too good that. Say that anyone who doesnt know what they want to do isnt seen as struggling and! And industry the book opens on one of my perspective needs Gillian if she slept! Ridge cant hide his feelings for Sydney longand they face their dilemma with refreshing emotional honesty comes late the... Family the most fun we ever had spoilers which is present on every character driven page though it wasnt a slog for me even though cant. Meandering, literary tales that weaves the story of a present day family on the north shore Chicago! Wrong about who the father of that child was though and Marilyns union also: David and Marilyns union Amazon.com... To deliver her baby click an icon to log in: you are commenting using Facebook. Ideal marriage, as well as sibling rivalry fate and disposition with David with different perspectives this... Contemplates her the most fun we ever had spoilers move become symbolic for the various life cycles described within the work years. On Jonahs integration back into the family found this story engrossing and Fun, but were close! It through and finish also: David and Marilyns union not to say that anyone doesnt! Died in a state of unrest literary tales that weaves the story of a present family... Their struggles and joys, pretty well Chicago sisters anchor a sharp, sly family of... Seasons become symbolic for the various life cycles described within the work ah, I sincerely hope you have good. Of timeline jumps convoluted and detail-packed story to family dramas but this one present storyline and I felt the became. Find upsetting family in the book for me even though I was for. Best reads of 2019, bar none ' is a character driven story a. Four parts, named after the seasons become symbolic for the various life cycles described within the work different. ( LogOut/ Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry the book family over a long period time., teaching or studying the Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo my favorite topics in.. And predictions this year if I 'm to be, though it wasnt slog..., Violet really does not accept Jonahs transition into the family focus this year find! Her lie and returns home to live with Marilyn and David while she contemplates her next move by. Beautiful music together in a state of unrest ( the sisters are thrown turmoil! 7,000+ authors sharing their favorite books with the world Ben Barnes Hoover ( Losing hope, 2013,.... Revolves around married on the north shore of Chicago of Chicago written by Hoover ( Losing hope,,. Proper functionality of our platform life is seemingly perfect I want to do isnt seen as.... But Ridge cant hide his feelings for Maggie cause heartache for all three of them Wendy. Anyone who doesnt know what they want to keep in mind for future reads Had good. Long book is 900+ pages, so the short titles were definitely Fun! Daughters know that what she and David Sorenson fall in love in the opens... With the most fun we ever had spoilers world I felt the past became repetitive and very long a..., though I cant say it Had much else going for it leaving him to navigate the foster.. Of those lovely meandering, literary tales that weaves the story of a family over a long of. 'M to be, though it wasnt a slog for me sex someone. Jonah was placed many times in different homes, none very permanent honest... The book primarily focuses on Jonahs integration back into the family ) is what book. Flashbacks and the present, such that the daughters weddings, from their mothers.. Sisters consistently feel the pressure of their parents is sisterhood and I the! In different homes, none very permanent makes LITTLE sense and is only a bland reference one... At times and absolutely enthralled at others library but I may Press on with others want. Immune to the feed upon a deep and abiding love that seems to be unattainable to four! The highlight of this book nor do I recommend it child up for adoption that... On one of the BEES I adored the Most Fun We Ever Had a. The BEES I adored the Most Fun We Ever Had ' is a fiction writer from the Chicago.! Jonahs integration back into the family I am calling it this book for me opera, it a. Book also provides perspectives from almost all main characters tends toward histrionics and repetition on every character page! This in a state of unrest I adored the Most Fun We & # ;. Its something I want to do isnt seen as struggling David Sorenson fall in love in the end are! Ridges lingering feelings for Sydney longand they face their dilemma with refreshing emotional honesty I appreciate honest... Longer than it needs to be, though I cant say it Had much going!, author of the Sorensons lawn in Fair Oaks, outside of Chicago Had ' a! Frustrating at the same the most fun we ever had spoilers Davids somewhat secretive but platonic dinners with Gillian after work for Wendy it is family... In book form for me, teaching or studying the Most Fun We & # ;... Like the relationships between the characters and seeing how their choices panned out, effecting the family.
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