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Every Now and Then
For fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and This Tender Land.
A heartfelt coming-of-age story about three young girls searching for adventure during the summer of 1960 from the New York Times bestselling author of Whistling in the Dark.
The summer of 1960 was the hottest ever for Summit, Wisconsin. For kids seeking relief from the heat, there was a creek to be swum in, sprinklers to run through, and ice cream at Whitcomb's Drugstore. But for Frankie, Viv, and Biz, eleven-year-old best friends, it would forever be remembered as the summer that evil paid a visit to their small town--and took their young lives as they'd known them as a souvenir.
With a to-do list in hand, the girls set forth from their hideout to make their mark on that summer, but when three patients escape from Broadhurst Mental Institution, their idyllic lives take a sinister turn. Determined to uncover long-held secrets, the girls have no idea that what they discover could cost them their lives and the ones they hold dear.
Six decades later, Biz remembers that long ago summer and how it still haunts her and her lifelong friends in Every Now and Then. A story about ties that bind forever, the timelessness of guilt and grief, and the everlasting hope for redemption.
A heartfelt coming-of-age story about three young girls searching for adventure during the summer of 1960 from the New York Times bestselling author of Whistling in the Dark.
The summer of 1960 was the hottest ever for Summit, Wisconsin. For kids seeking relief from the heat, there was a creek to be swum in, sprinklers to run through, and ice cream at Whitcomb's Drugstore. But for Frankie, Viv, and Biz, eleven-year-old best friends, it would forever be remembered as the summer that evil paid a visit to their small town--and took their young lives as they'd known them as a souvenir.
With a to-do list in hand, the girls set forth from their hideout to make their mark on that summer, but when three patients escape from Broadhurst Mental Institution, their idyllic lives take a sinister turn. Determined to uncover long-held secrets, the girls have no idea that what they discover could cost them their lives and the ones they hold dear.
Six decades later, Biz remembers that long ago summer and how it still haunts her and her lifelong friends in Every Now and Then. A story about ties that bind forever, the timelessness of guilt and grief, and the everlasting hope for redemption.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2020
About the author
Lesley Kagen
10 books670 followersLesley Kagen is a mother of two, a grandmother of two, an actress, narrator, speaker, essayist, and the award winning, New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including her newest, EVERY NOW AND THEN. She lives in a charming small town in Wisconsin in a hundred-fifty-year-old farm house with her dog, Gracie.
More about Lesley and reading guides can be found at: www.lesleykagen.com and www.facebook.com/LesleyKagenBooks.
More about Lesley and reading guides can be found at: www.lesleykagen.com and www.facebook.com/LesleyKagenBooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
October 13, 2020
Every Now and Then by Lesley Kagen
While the synopsis of this story likens it to Where the Crawdads Sing and This Tender Land, I think a much more apt comparison would be to the book, Ordinary Grace. Both take place in the early 60s and we have kids doing what they always do during a very hot summer. In Every Now and Then, three eleven year old best friends are starting their summer with their to-do list of accomplishments that they plan to check off before the summer ends. We are seeing the events of this summer through the eyes of Biz, who doesn't always understand what is going on but can often intuit that what is said is not what is meant.
Biz's dad is the town doctor and her mom's sister has helped raise Biz since her mom died shortly after childbirth. The three girls usually hang out at Biz's home, in their red tree house, where they sleep every night of the summer. The girls call themselves the Tree Musketeers and despite the eagle eye of Aunt Jane May, the girls manage to (usually) harmlessly tread almost everywhere that Biz's aunt tells them not to go. The girls have things to do, places to go, and they can't let anyone stop them from their self appointed missions.
Viv's family runs the local funeral parlor and beauty shop...the white beauty shop, the black side of town has their own beauty shop. Frankie, has a black mother and white absentee father, but the townsfolk think she is a relative of the Italian family that has taken her in and hires her mother as their housekeeper. The family, Frankie, and her mom would be run out of town if some of the white folks knew that a black girl was living on the white side of town. Luckily Frankie can barely pass as a dark skinned Italian although some residents are suspicious of her heritage. Despite the prejudices of some townsfolk, Frankie, Viv, and Biz spend a lot of time in the black part of town, visiting Frankie's mom and uncle and their other friends.
Another favorite place for the trio to go, during the summer, is the Broadhurst Mental Institution, where the girls have made friends with the more gentle patients, those who are allowed to spend some time in the yard. Each girl has their favorite person but they care about all of the patients they meet. It's there that they discover something is afoot, that something bad might happen, but Biz, our narrator, doesn't really know what to do about what she knows.
All three girls are smart, precocious, and excel at different things in life. Adults and the things that they say and do perplex the girls but by the end of the summer, they will have a better understanding of many things that confused them when the summer started. This will be a year of mental and emotional growth, of better understanding of the harsh realities of life. But these girls are not going to let the prejudices of the town stop them from the friendships they cherish or stop them from trying to help those who often receive the least attention.
Publication date: October 6, 2020
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
While the synopsis of this story likens it to Where the Crawdads Sing and This Tender Land, I think a much more apt comparison would be to the book, Ordinary Grace. Both take place in the early 60s and we have kids doing what they always do during a very hot summer. In Every Now and Then, three eleven year old best friends are starting their summer with their to-do list of accomplishments that they plan to check off before the summer ends. We are seeing the events of this summer through the eyes of Biz, who doesn't always understand what is going on but can often intuit that what is said is not what is meant.
Biz's dad is the town doctor and her mom's sister has helped raise Biz since her mom died shortly after childbirth. The three girls usually hang out at Biz's home, in their red tree house, where they sleep every night of the summer. The girls call themselves the Tree Musketeers and despite the eagle eye of Aunt Jane May, the girls manage to (usually) harmlessly tread almost everywhere that Biz's aunt tells them not to go. The girls have things to do, places to go, and they can't let anyone stop them from their self appointed missions.
Viv's family runs the local funeral parlor and beauty shop...the white beauty shop, the black side of town has their own beauty shop. Frankie, has a black mother and white absentee father, but the townsfolk think she is a relative of the Italian family that has taken her in and hires her mother as their housekeeper. The family, Frankie, and her mom would be run out of town if some of the white folks knew that a black girl was living on the white side of town. Luckily Frankie can barely pass as a dark skinned Italian although some residents are suspicious of her heritage. Despite the prejudices of some townsfolk, Frankie, Viv, and Biz spend a lot of time in the black part of town, visiting Frankie's mom and uncle and their other friends.
Another favorite place for the trio to go, during the summer, is the Broadhurst Mental Institution, where the girls have made friends with the more gentle patients, those who are allowed to spend some time in the yard. Each girl has their favorite person but they care about all of the patients they meet. It's there that they discover something is afoot, that something bad might happen, but Biz, our narrator, doesn't really know what to do about what she knows.
All three girls are smart, precocious, and excel at different things in life. Adults and the things that they say and do perplex the girls but by the end of the summer, they will have a better understanding of many things that confused them when the summer started. This will be a year of mental and emotional growth, of better understanding of the harsh realities of life. But these girls are not going to let the prejudices of the town stop them from the friendships they cherish or stop them from trying to help those who often receive the least attention.
Publication date: October 6, 2020
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
October 31, 2020
All my reviews can be found on my blog, Bantering Books, at https:www.banteringbooks.com.
3.5 stars
The 1960s fascinate me. The music, the art, the clothing. The peace and love vibe. To me, it always seems like it would have been a fun time to be young, wild, and free.
But then I think about how the decade is also one of the most tumultuous and pivotal in American history. For alongside the peace and love of the era, there was great social unrest and racial divisiveness. And I wonder what it was really like to be alive back then and experience it all.
Sadly, I realize that it may not have been so different from what we’re facing today.
And I wish I could write, “Just look how far we’ve come.” But I can’t. Not yet. There is still too much work to be done.
I have faith that one day, however, I will write those exact words . . . and proudly smile as I do so because they will finally be true.
Wow. My intro took a heavy turn. I didn’t really plan to go where the words ended up taking me, but so be it. I think I will leave it. It comes from my heart and speaks my inner truth.
Now, on to the book and back to the 1960s. It’s the real reason I am here, after all.
In her latest novel, Every Now and Then, Lesley Kagen rewinds time and gives us an authentic glimpse of what life was truly like in the summer of 1960, as seen through the eyes of three young girls growing up in Summit, Wisconsin.
Frankie, Viv, and Biz, all eleven years-old, have been the best of friends for as long as they can remember. Having made their to-do list for the summer, they are thrilled to begin seeking out one adventure after the next. With visions of swimming, ice cream, and Fourth of July celebrations dancing in their heads, the threesome knows that a summer to always remember is ahead of them.
Unbeknownst to the girls, though, their picture-perfect summer is about to turn stormy when three patients from a local mental institution break free. Upon the patients’ escape, an evil enters the town of Summit, and the childhood innocence of the three friends will be stolen away, never to return.
First and foremost, I would like to begin this review by strongly emphasizing that Every Now and Then is an enjoyable, heartfelt read. It is a lovely, often humorous, coming-of-age tale of the three girls, and Frankie, Viv, and Biz are delightfully endearing. The dynamics of their friendship are complex and tightly woven, and it is a joy to observe the girls’ interactions and love for one another.
Also, Kagen does a nice job of evoking 1960s small-town America. Summit almost feels like a character in and of itself, living and breathing. Whitcomb’s Drugstore, the Rivoli Theatre, Mud Town, and Earl’s Club are all vividly created on the page, instilling a strong sense of time and place.
But Every Now and Then isn’t just the story of Frankie, Viv, and Biz’s friendship and their coming of age. The novel tackles racism, mental illness, and homophobia. Familial relationships, a bit of light romance, and a central mystery are thrown in for good measure as well.
There are also many, many characters to learn and keep straight. Tracking who is who is at times a bit confusing.
And the unfortunate result of all this is a bit of a messy, cluttered narrative. The novel constantly bounces around from plot thread to plot thread, never digging deeply enough into any aspect of the story. Kagen has taken on too much, I believe, and she is unable to give all the various strands of the narrative the full attention that is deserved.
Furthermore, Kagen’s writing is a little rough around the edges, with long, sometimes awkwardly-worded sentences. I often would get lost and lose my place mid-sentence, having to then go back to the beginning to start over and read again.
Plainly put, the novel has too much happening in it. There are far too many balls in the air. Too many characters. Too many lengthy, convoluted sentences. And I think in this case, a lot less would have made for a lot more.
On the whole, however, Every Now and Then is still a very compelling and pleasantly heartwarming read. I happily award it three solid stars, with an extra half-star for the simple fact that I enjoyed the novel immensely.
My sincerest appreciation to Crooked Lane Books and Edelweiss+ for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
3.5 stars
The 1960s fascinate me. The music, the art, the clothing. The peace and love vibe. To me, it always seems like it would have been a fun time to be young, wild, and free.
But then I think about how the decade is also one of the most tumultuous and pivotal in American history. For alongside the peace and love of the era, there was great social unrest and racial divisiveness. And I wonder what it was really like to be alive back then and experience it all.
Sadly, I realize that it may not have been so different from what we’re facing today.
And I wish I could write, “Just look how far we’ve come.” But I can’t. Not yet. There is still too much work to be done.
I have faith that one day, however, I will write those exact words . . . and proudly smile as I do so because they will finally be true.
Wow. My intro took a heavy turn. I didn’t really plan to go where the words ended up taking me, but so be it. I think I will leave it. It comes from my heart and speaks my inner truth.
Now, on to the book and back to the 1960s. It’s the real reason I am here, after all.
In her latest novel, Every Now and Then, Lesley Kagen rewinds time and gives us an authentic glimpse of what life was truly like in the summer of 1960, as seen through the eyes of three young girls growing up in Summit, Wisconsin.
Frankie, Viv, and Biz, all eleven years-old, have been the best of friends for as long as they can remember. Having made their to-do list for the summer, they are thrilled to begin seeking out one adventure after the next. With visions of swimming, ice cream, and Fourth of July celebrations dancing in their heads, the threesome knows that a summer to always remember is ahead of them.
Unbeknownst to the girls, though, their picture-perfect summer is about to turn stormy when three patients from a local mental institution break free. Upon the patients’ escape, an evil enters the town of Summit, and the childhood innocence of the three friends will be stolen away, never to return.
First and foremost, I would like to begin this review by strongly emphasizing that Every Now and Then is an enjoyable, heartfelt read. It is a lovely, often humorous, coming-of-age tale of the three girls, and Frankie, Viv, and Biz are delightfully endearing. The dynamics of their friendship are complex and tightly woven, and it is a joy to observe the girls’ interactions and love for one another.
Also, Kagen does a nice job of evoking 1960s small-town America. Summit almost feels like a character in and of itself, living and breathing. Whitcomb’s Drugstore, the Rivoli Theatre, Mud Town, and Earl’s Club are all vividly created on the page, instilling a strong sense of time and place.
But Every Now and Then isn’t just the story of Frankie, Viv, and Biz’s friendship and their coming of age. The novel tackles racism, mental illness, and homophobia. Familial relationships, a bit of light romance, and a central mystery are thrown in for good measure as well.
There are also many, many characters to learn and keep straight. Tracking who is who is at times a bit confusing.
And the unfortunate result of all this is a bit of a messy, cluttered narrative. The novel constantly bounces around from plot thread to plot thread, never digging deeply enough into any aspect of the story. Kagen has taken on too much, I believe, and she is unable to give all the various strands of the narrative the full attention that is deserved.
Furthermore, Kagen’s writing is a little rough around the edges, with long, sometimes awkwardly-worded sentences. I often would get lost and lose my place mid-sentence, having to then go back to the beginning to start over and read again.
Plainly put, the novel has too much happening in it. There are far too many balls in the air. Too many characters. Too many lengthy, convoluted sentences. And I think in this case, a lot less would have made for a lot more.
On the whole, however, Every Now and Then is still a very compelling and pleasantly heartwarming read. I happily award it three solid stars, with an extra half-star for the simple fact that I enjoyed the novel immensely.
My sincerest appreciation to Crooked Lane Books and Edelweiss+ for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
March 21, 2021
***NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK A GREAT SUMMER IS COMING READ***
This novel was especially fun for me since I live 20 minutes away from where Ms. Kagan places the story. The Rivoli theater and other places she mentions are still there, so I really had a feel for the atmosphere in this book. I loved the feeling of children being more free in the 60’s, being able to cruise their neighborhoods on their bikes, stop for ice cream at the local shop and I remember decorating bikes for the annual 4th of July parade.
This novel is told through the eyes of Biz as an older woman reflecting back on that fateful summer.
The three girls, Viv, Frankie and Biz are 11 years old, that in between, middle school, age when girls are really trying to figure out who they are. These girls are lucky enough to have a fantastic tree house where they spend their days and nights throughout the summer. The first thing they do is make a list of all that they want to do this summer. Of course it includes many things that Aunt Jane May has forbidden them to do.
This summer is one of the hottest on record in Summit, Wisconsin and school is even let out a week early because of the heat. The girls spend time swimming in the creek, playing cards, etc. One of the things that the girls love to do is visit the mental hospital not far away. There are patients who pose no threat that are allowed out into the yard and the girls have visited some of them, talking through the fence. They each have their favorites. Of course these visits have been forbidden by Aunt Jane May.
Everyone’s summer is turned upside down when news that a child killer, Wallace Hopper will be transferred to Broadhurst. They also hear news from one of their adult friends, Jimbo, that there are some questionable things going on in the basement of the hospital. This of course makes the girls that much more interested to find out exactly what is going on at the hospital.
When the girls manage to break into the basement of Broadhurst after three mental patients escape they discover some horrors that will forever change them.
To give any more of the plot of the story will ruin the read so I will leave you with that brief synopsis.
Ms. Kagan has a gift for speaking in the voice of children and she pulls it off very well in this book. There are many serious issues discussed in this book including racism, homophobia and mental illness.
At the end of the summer these girls will have learned that evil doesn’t just exist in the monster movies that they watch at the Rivoli, but in real life!!!
This is an easy to read, coming of age, adventure story. It is great escape reading and I enjoyed going back to the 60’s once again.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
This novel was especially fun for me since I live 20 minutes away from where Ms. Kagan places the story. The Rivoli theater and other places she mentions are still there, so I really had a feel for the atmosphere in this book. I loved the feeling of children being more free in the 60’s, being able to cruise their neighborhoods on their bikes, stop for ice cream at the local shop and I remember decorating bikes for the annual 4th of July parade.
This novel is told through the eyes of Biz as an older woman reflecting back on that fateful summer.
The three girls, Viv, Frankie and Biz are 11 years old, that in between, middle school, age when girls are really trying to figure out who they are. These girls are lucky enough to have a fantastic tree house where they spend their days and nights throughout the summer. The first thing they do is make a list of all that they want to do this summer. Of course it includes many things that Aunt Jane May has forbidden them to do.
This summer is one of the hottest on record in Summit, Wisconsin and school is even let out a week early because of the heat. The girls spend time swimming in the creek, playing cards, etc. One of the things that the girls love to do is visit the mental hospital not far away. There are patients who pose no threat that are allowed out into the yard and the girls have visited some of them, talking through the fence. They each have their favorites. Of course these visits have been forbidden by Aunt Jane May.
Everyone’s summer is turned upside down when news that a child killer, Wallace Hopper will be transferred to Broadhurst. They also hear news from one of their adult friends, Jimbo, that there are some questionable things going on in the basement of the hospital. This of course makes the girls that much more interested to find out exactly what is going on at the hospital.
When the girls manage to break into the basement of Broadhurst after three mental patients escape they discover some horrors that will forever change them.
To give any more of the plot of the story will ruin the read so I will leave you with that brief synopsis.
Ms. Kagan has a gift for speaking in the voice of children and she pulls it off very well in this book. There are many serious issues discussed in this book including racism, homophobia and mental illness.
At the end of the summer these girls will have learned that evil doesn’t just exist in the monster movies that they watch at the Rivoli, but in real life!!!
This is an easy to read, coming of age, adventure story. It is great escape reading and I enjoyed going back to the 60’s once again.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
October 7, 2020
Every Now and Then you find a gem of a book - this is one of them!
Summit Wisconsin, the summer of 1960, eleven-year-old friends, friends Frankie, Viv and Biz who have dubbed themselves the three musketeers. Theses curious girls have their list of things they want to do for the summer - hang out in a tree house, eat ice cream, watch monster movies and basically do everything they are told not to do. It should have been a carefree fun summer. Friends finding things to do, fun to had, moments to be shared, memories to be made.... but what happens when evil comes to town? When one summer can change things forever?
As the summer progresses, they learn about mental health, racism, and class. It is also a coming of age tale which focuses on friendship, growing up and brings back the nostalgia of living in a small town. The characters are vivid and interesting. The girls have distinct personalities, and the story is told by Biz, a best-selling novelist, who is looking back on her life and that summer.
Beautifully written, charming while at the same time dealing with heavy subjects. This was my first book by the Author, but it will not be my last. This book checks a lot of the boxes: there is mystery, friendship, suspense, entertaining, endearing, heartwarming and thought provoking.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Summit Wisconsin, the summer of 1960, eleven-year-old friends, friends Frankie, Viv and Biz who have dubbed themselves the three musketeers. Theses curious girls have their list of things they want to do for the summer - hang out in a tree house, eat ice cream, watch monster movies and basically do everything they are told not to do. It should have been a carefree fun summer. Friends finding things to do, fun to had, moments to be shared, memories to be made.... but what happens when evil comes to town? When one summer can change things forever?
As the summer progresses, they learn about mental health, racism, and class. It is also a coming of age tale which focuses on friendship, growing up and brings back the nostalgia of living in a small town. The characters are vivid and interesting. The girls have distinct personalities, and the story is told by Biz, a best-selling novelist, who is looking back on her life and that summer.
Beautifully written, charming while at the same time dealing with heavy subjects. This was my first book by the Author, but it will not be my last. This book checks a lot of the boxes: there is mystery, friendship, suspense, entertaining, endearing, heartwarming and thought provoking.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 13, 2020
EVERY NOW AND THEN is a sweet coming of age story that takes place in 1960. 11-year old best friends Biz, Viv, and Frankie are ready to start their summer activities in Wisconsin. This consists of sleeping in the hideout (Biz’s treehouse), decorating their bikes for summer festivities, getting themselves into trouble but trying to hide it from Biz’s Aunt Jane May (who is like an Aunt to all three of them), and much more.
The difference this summer is that their obsession with the Broadhurst Mental Institution deepens, and they find ways to talk to the patients. When three of the patients escape, it will forever change their lives.
I really enjoyed reading this, which is different from my normal genres. The atmospheric writing made it easy to feel like I was in the year of 1960, walking down the main street and seeing the movie theater marquee for “Psycho”, and going to Whitcomb’s for a brown cow on a scorching summer day.
This is a slow-moving story that didn’t instantly grip me. I was able to set it down without rushing to pick it back up, but eventually I became invested in the lives of Biz, Viv, and Frankie...and the other characters around them.
The story touches on important issues like racism, mental health, and homophobia. The pace picks up towards the end as things take a sinister turn, and the difference in vibe is a bit jarring. Still, I was hooked and eager to see how everything would come to a head. I appreciated that the book discussed what happened in the years after that long-ago summer. It wraps up very nicely.
I also got vibes of the 90’s movie, “Now and Then”. Obviously the titles are very similar, but there are similarities in the plot as well. The movie is a coming of age story set in 1970, and has a dark and mysterious plot point as well. Luckily, I love that movie.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Alcove Press, who sent me a physical copy in exchange for an honest review.
The difference this summer is that their obsession with the Broadhurst Mental Institution deepens, and they find ways to talk to the patients. When three of the patients escape, it will forever change their lives.
I really enjoyed reading this, which is different from my normal genres. The atmospheric writing made it easy to feel like I was in the year of 1960, walking down the main street and seeing the movie theater marquee for “Psycho”, and going to Whitcomb’s for a brown cow on a scorching summer day.
This is a slow-moving story that didn’t instantly grip me. I was able to set it down without rushing to pick it back up, but eventually I became invested in the lives of Biz, Viv, and Frankie...and the other characters around them.
The story touches on important issues like racism, mental health, and homophobia. The pace picks up towards the end as things take a sinister turn, and the difference in vibe is a bit jarring. Still, I was hooked and eager to see how everything would come to a head. I appreciated that the book discussed what happened in the years after that long-ago summer. It wraps up very nicely.
I also got vibes of the 90’s movie, “Now and Then”. Obviously the titles are very similar, but there are similarities in the plot as well. The movie is a coming of age story set in 1970, and has a dark and mysterious plot point as well. Luckily, I love that movie.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Alcove Press, who sent me a physical copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2020
I read and enjoyed a book by Lesley Kagen several years ago called Whistling in the Dark. When I heard she had a new book out compared to some of my other historical fiction coming-of-age favorites with a touch of mystery, I had to read it. Every Now and Then did not disappoint!
Set in the summer of 1960 in small town Wisconsin, Every Now and Then is the story of eleven year old best friends, Viv, Biz, and Frankie. Unfortunately, that summer won’t be remembered for its fun.
There’s a local psychiatric hospital “mental institution” where the girls visit and care for all the patients, even though this was taboo in their small community.
Every Now and Then is a story of friendship addressing many important issues of the 1960s, including racism, homophobia, mental illness, and coming-of-age during this time of change. I enjoyed the girls and their smart and caring personalities. I loved that they forged their own paths and thought for themselves. Overall, I found this a warmhearted read with a compelling storyline, and I’m definitely looking forward to more books from Lesley Kagen.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Set in the summer of 1960 in small town Wisconsin, Every Now and Then is the story of eleven year old best friends, Viv, Biz, and Frankie. Unfortunately, that summer won’t be remembered for its fun.
There’s a local psychiatric hospital “mental institution” where the girls visit and care for all the patients, even though this was taboo in their small community.
Every Now and Then is a story of friendship addressing many important issues of the 1960s, including racism, homophobia, mental illness, and coming-of-age during this time of change. I enjoyed the girls and their smart and caring personalities. I loved that they forged their own paths and thought for themselves. Overall, I found this a warmhearted read with a compelling storyline, and I’m definitely looking forward to more books from Lesley Kagen.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
August 14, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
No one writes a compelling coming of age story quite like Lesley Kagen. I have been a big fan of the author's work since reading Whistling In the Dark back in 2007. Every Now and Then takes readers back to the summer of 1960 in Summit, Wisconsin where three childhood friends set out to have an unforgettable summer. But for Frankie, Viv, and Biz, nothing can prepare them for the evil that will shatter their innocence.
I loved all the characters in this story and I must say that they wormed their way into my heart. Although her child narrator may have difficulty understanding everything and everyone around her, Kagen tackles subjects such as interracial marriage, mental illness, homophobia, and class differences which helped situate me into the context of her story's time period.
This beautiful story won't hit bookstores before October, but I just couldn't resist making this one of my summer reads.
Goodreads review 14/08/20
Publication Date 06/10/20
#EveryNowandThen #NetGalley
No one writes a compelling coming of age story quite like Lesley Kagen. I have been a big fan of the author's work since reading Whistling In the Dark back in 2007. Every Now and Then takes readers back to the summer of 1960 in Summit, Wisconsin where three childhood friends set out to have an unforgettable summer. But for Frankie, Viv, and Biz, nothing can prepare them for the evil that will shatter their innocence.
I loved all the characters in this story and I must say that they wormed their way into my heart. Although her child narrator may have difficulty understanding everything and everyone around her, Kagen tackles subjects such as interracial marriage, mental illness, homophobia, and class differences which helped situate me into the context of her story's time period.
This beautiful story won't hit bookstores before October, but I just couldn't resist making this one of my summer reads.
Goodreads review 14/08/20
Publication Date 06/10/20
#EveryNowandThen #NetGalley
October 10, 2020
*Many thanks to Madeline at Alcove Books and Lesley Kagen for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 10.6!*
From the very open of this book, I was simply buried in 60's nostalgia! The "Tree Musketeers" (Elizabeth, known as Biz, Frankie, and Viv) love heading to the theater to catch monster movies and getting into as much mischief as the watchful eye of Aunt Jane May will allow. Their white picket fence and apple pie existence in their small town gets turned upside down, however, when the goings on of the local insane asylum Broadhurst catch their attention and the girls get tangled in a mystery more dangerous than they ever could have imagined. Can the girls band together to protect some newfound friends...and can they live to tell the tale?
Kagen has a gift for transporting her reader back to the past, and the beginning of this book especially really took me from my current town and a tumultuous time in history back to a 'simpler' time, although as we soon learn, nothing is as quaint as it initially seems. I really enjoyed all of Kagen's characters, but for me the only struggle was that there were so many. The girls were all so unique and interesting, but I think it would have been fun to hear even more about their backstories and also more about some of the friends they made along the way. I also liked the mystery element of the book, but personally I would have liked to see it start a bit sooner so the conclusion would have been more dramatic. The other highlight of the novel for me was the conclusion, as I love when authors jump forward in the future to let us know where their characters have ended up and the Epilogue proved a very fitting end for this trio.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who grew up in the 60's or who just would like to feel the summer breeze in their hair and the hear the soft pop of fireworks from the town's Fourth of July celebration echo in their minds! 3.5 ⭐
From the very open of this book, I was simply buried in 60's nostalgia! The "Tree Musketeers" (Elizabeth, known as Biz, Frankie, and Viv) love heading to the theater to catch monster movies and getting into as much mischief as the watchful eye of Aunt Jane May will allow. Their white picket fence and apple pie existence in their small town gets turned upside down, however, when the goings on of the local insane asylum Broadhurst catch their attention and the girls get tangled in a mystery more dangerous than they ever could have imagined. Can the girls band together to protect some newfound friends...and can they live to tell the tale?
Kagen has a gift for transporting her reader back to the past, and the beginning of this book especially really took me from my current town and a tumultuous time in history back to a 'simpler' time, although as we soon learn, nothing is as quaint as it initially seems. I really enjoyed all of Kagen's characters, but for me the only struggle was that there were so many. The girls were all so unique and interesting, but I think it would have been fun to hear even more about their backstories and also more about some of the friends they made along the way. I also liked the mystery element of the book, but personally I would have liked to see it start a bit sooner so the conclusion would have been more dramatic. The other highlight of the novel for me was the conclusion, as I love when authors jump forward in the future to let us know where their characters have ended up and the Epilogue proved a very fitting end for this trio.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who grew up in the 60's or who just would like to feel the summer breeze in their hair and the hear the soft pop of fireworks from the town's Fourth of July celebration echo in their minds! 3.5 ⭐
December 5, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up
All it took was a comparison to This Tender Land and a recommendation from William Kent Krueger to draw me in. It’s summer in 1960, Summit, Wisconsin. Frankie, Viv and Biz are 11 years old and have that half baked understanding of the world, especially Biz and her lack of understanding about sex. They’re always determined to see what they can get away with, whether it be sneaking into a town meeting, visiting the grounds of the local mental hospital or crossing the tracks to Mud Town.
Kagen sets the stage for small town 1960 - the horror films such as The Fly or The Snake Pit, the prejudices and expectations about how everyone should act, the heat (pre-air conditioning). She sometimes goes a little overboard in the aw shucks language. But she does get right the interactions of the three girls, how they can love each other and keep each other's secrets while still fighting on an almost daily basis.
The story is sweet and endearing. As Biz says multiple times, if the girls can get along despite their diverse backgrounds, maybe there’s hope for the town.
The story is also totally predictable. The twists can be seen coming from miles away.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a paper ARC of this book.
All it took was a comparison to This Tender Land and a recommendation from William Kent Krueger to draw me in. It’s summer in 1960, Summit, Wisconsin. Frankie, Viv and Biz are 11 years old and have that half baked understanding of the world, especially Biz and her lack of understanding about sex. They’re always determined to see what they can get away with, whether it be sneaking into a town meeting, visiting the grounds of the local mental hospital or crossing the tracks to Mud Town.
Kagen sets the stage for small town 1960 - the horror films such as The Fly or The Snake Pit, the prejudices and expectations about how everyone should act, the heat (pre-air conditioning). She sometimes goes a little overboard in the aw shucks language. But she does get right the interactions of the three girls, how they can love each other and keep each other's secrets while still fighting on an almost daily basis.
The story is sweet and endearing. As Biz says multiple times, if the girls can get along despite their diverse backgrounds, maybe there’s hope for the town.
The story is also totally predictable. The twists can be seen coming from miles away.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a paper ARC of this book.
September 21, 2020
4.5 Stars
This is a book that has been promoted as being for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and This Tender Land, - the similarities, for me, only in that there are young people who, in both the innocence of young-bordering-on-teen-years, and the slightly more innocent times, in this case the summer of 1960 in Summit, Wisconsin. In a slight twist on theme it is probably closer to The Summer That Melted Everything, as evil does pay a visit.
It’s the hottest summer on record when Frankie, Viv, and Biz along with the entire school have been released from early for the year since the sweltering heat has made it impossible to conduct classes for teachers and students, alike. These three girls have been friends for so long they know the ins and outs of each other's thoughts, and can anticipate what they’ll say or do next. They spend all their summer nights sleeping in the tree house in Biz’s yard, referring to themselves as the Tree Musketeers, watching scary movies at the theater in town, sneaking out to go to Mud Town – where they were forbidden to go after dark, not that that stopped them, or watching the residents at the Broadhurst Mental Institution and making friends with some of them. Life seems relatively simple and safe in this quiet corner of the world. At least until it doesn’t.
’But there’s going to come a time when they, too, will understand that the border between now and then is much more like a cobweb than a brick wall and when the past come to haunt it doesn’t ask our permission to do so.
There is an aura of suspense, tension that grows slowly and unevenly, interspersed with the typical summer days of a childhood of those times in a small town, and the somewhat typically overactive imaginations of three young girls that leads to a story that builds with tension as the ending nears.
Pub Date: 06 Oct 2020
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Alcove Press
#EveryNowandThen #NetGalley
September 17, 2020
This book follows three 11 year old girls, Viv, Frankie and Biz during an exciting summer of the 1960s. I loved the personalities of each of these girls, each strong and funny and certainly precocious. I loved that it was set in the 60s, a simpler time with better family values, in my opinion.
This book reminded me of a blend of Goonies, Stand by Me, The Wonder Years and The Sandlot or at least my memory of them. A coming of age story about friendship, family and a bit of young love during a turning point in their lives.
Highly entertaining, cute, and innocent with a little intensity towards the end.
Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book reminded me of a blend of Goonies, Stand by Me, The Wonder Years and The Sandlot or at least my memory of them. A coming of age story about friendship, family and a bit of young love during a turning point in their lives.
Highly entertaining, cute, and innocent with a little intensity towards the end.
Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2020
At first glance one might assume Every Now and Then is a coming-of-age-tale about three feisty adolescent girls who succumb to the intrigue of a small town mystery, and it is. But more importantly, this is a book about the "other"; from the color of one's skin or sexual proclivity to an individual's presumed mental acuity. Lesley Kagen inhabits her young characters in a way that sends the reader reeling back through time until you forget where her young protagonists leave off and your eleven-year-old self begins. So, too, will those of us who grew up in small town 1960s distinctly recall the discernible line between "us" and "them" as poverty and race define privilege and prejudice.
Every Now and Then is a slow reveal, drawing you in through exceptional storytelling, with plenty of heart and humor to keep you turning the pages.
Every Now and Then is a slow reveal, drawing you in through exceptional storytelling, with plenty of heart and humor to keep you turning the pages.
October 5, 2020
The summer of 1960, and a powerful heatwave has overtaken the small town of Summit, Wisconsin. Three friends, Viv, Frankie, and Biz, 11-year-olds who call themselves the Tree Musketeers, are bold, sassy, smart, curious--and their imaginations run wild in the blistering heat. They love listening to gossip, spying on adults, and willfully disobeying their Aunt Jane May. They are also fascinated with the Broadhurst Mental Institution, touched by the plight of the patients, naive about the darkness and pain of what happens there--until it threatens all of those they hold dear.
Lesley Kagen excels in writing nostalgic coming of age novels, with young voices so clear and genuine. Their slang, their youthfulness, their innocence, their determination to do what they believe is right--at least in their own young minds. Readers are placed directly into the time and the place, with not only pop culture references, but also with allusions to the underlying issues of the time--racism, the treatment of people with mental illness, homosexuality--that create an underlying tension in the story.
The story is told from the point of view of Biz, who is looking back in time to that life-changing summer when she was 11 years old. Her recollections are written with warmth, humor, honesty, and poignancy--there were many times I laughed out loud, and just as many times my heart cracked a little in sorrow.
Lesley Kagen excels in writing nostalgic coming of age novels, with young voices so clear and genuine. Their slang, their youthfulness, their innocence, their determination to do what they believe is right--at least in their own young minds. Readers are placed directly into the time and the place, with not only pop culture references, but also with allusions to the underlying issues of the time--racism, the treatment of people with mental illness, homosexuality--that create an underlying tension in the story.
The story is told from the point of view of Biz, who is looking back in time to that life-changing summer when she was 11 years old. Her recollections are written with warmth, humor, honesty, and poignancy--there were many times I laughed out loud, and just as many times my heart cracked a little in sorrow.
December 30, 2020
Another book with a rather slow start that picks up around the halfway point and ends with a feeling that your heart has been ripped to shreds.
School has let out for the summer in Summit, Wisconsin (I would have sworn the setting was Alabama or Mississippi though), and three 11-year-old best girl friends, Biz, Frankie, and Viv (who call themselves the "Tree Musketeers)," are looking forward to their summer adventures. The girls use Biz’s tree house to plan their escapades, but they are always under the watchful eye of Biz’s Aunt Jane May. Despite that, they always seem to find a way to sneak out to the nearby Broadhurst Mental Institution and watch the patients outside. Influenced by horror films, the girls are fascinated with the fact that criminally insane patients are housed at the facility. Using their friendships with several "people of color" who work at the facility, the girls make friends with some of the residents at Broadhurst. After a child killer becomes a patient at Broadhurst though, the facility captures their imagination and interest even more; but that interest takes an ominous turn when three patients escape on the fourth of July. Tensions sizzle and their adventures bring them face to face with danger and a harsh reality as to how others of different race or with limited mental capacities are treated.
The book shines a bright light on issues of mental health, homophobia, and racism in the 1960's. The pace really picks up toward the end, and the conclusion is thought-provoking and satisfying. I loved all three of the girls' characters. Despite the fact that, at the tender age of eleven, they clearly don't understand all that is happening around them or the things they overhear, their personalities really shine through and give the reader glimpses into what they will become as adults, which I really appreciated.
Overall, a coming-of-age tale that also aptly addressed social issues. The book was beautifully written and thoroughly captivated me, although at times I wished the plot moved a bit faster. 4 stars.
School has let out for the summer in Summit, Wisconsin (I would have sworn the setting was Alabama or Mississippi though), and three 11-year-old best girl friends, Biz, Frankie, and Viv (who call themselves the "Tree Musketeers)," are looking forward to their summer adventures. The girls use Biz’s tree house to plan their escapades, but they are always under the watchful eye of Biz’s Aunt Jane May. Despite that, they always seem to find a way to sneak out to the nearby Broadhurst Mental Institution and watch the patients outside. Influenced by horror films, the girls are fascinated with the fact that criminally insane patients are housed at the facility. Using their friendships with several "people of color" who work at the facility, the girls make friends with some of the residents at Broadhurst. After a child killer becomes a patient at Broadhurst though, the facility captures their imagination and interest even more; but that interest takes an ominous turn when three patients escape on the fourth of July. Tensions sizzle and their adventures bring them face to face with danger and a harsh reality as to how others of different race or with limited mental capacities are treated.
The book shines a bright light on issues of mental health, homophobia, and racism in the 1960's. The pace really picks up toward the end, and the conclusion is thought-provoking and satisfying. I loved all three of the girls' characters. Despite the fact that, at the tender age of eleven, they clearly don't understand all that is happening around them or the things they overhear, their personalities really shine through and give the reader glimpses into what they will become as adults, which I really appreciated.
Overall, a coming-of-age tale that also aptly addressed social issues. The book was beautifully written and thoroughly captivated me, although at times I wished the plot moved a bit faster. 4 stars.
May 28, 2020
As a lifelong fan of Bradbury's DANDELION WINE, I've felt that no one could ever write a better "summer in a small town" piece of fiction. Lesley Kagen has proven me wrong. This is the coming-of-age story you've been looking for your whole life.
October 7, 2020
A coming of age story that has something for everyone in it. The story goes through the summer of 1960 with the Tree Musketeers. It's got the general fiction feel good, mystery and thriller, a wee bit of romance, detective and the Victorian insane asylum. Definitely a recommend, hard to put down so prepare for a beautifully written "story".
July 20, 2020
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this book. It's amazing and I can't stop thinking about it. Can't wait for it to be released so I can tell everyone about it! Do yourself a favor and pre-order now. Kagen's books always haunt me a long time after I turn that last page.
September 27, 2021
This was a bit beyond average coming of age story that I much enjoyed. Three young girls encounter a mystery that draws them into the drama in ways they don't expect. As they deal with their fears and the tensions that plummet their small town into danger, they learn valuable lessons about respecting others and supporting one another despite their differences.
Secrets played an important role, when to share and when to keep them. Even the adults learn this lesson too. One example is Frankie, one of the girls in the story. She is both African American and Caucasian and is passing as white. Her friends know this and cooperate in the secret for her safety. When the girls make national news, there is concern that her true identity will be revealed by a reporter. Her parents decide to be brave and reveal their secret marriage despite the bigotry that exists in their small Wisconsin town and let the chips fall where they may.
Nicely done story not exactly covering new ground or told in an unique manner. One of the young girls is the narrator, now a famous novelist. Ironically, there were a few sentences that were nonsensical and thus the story could have used better editing. I read one sentence six times trying to figure out what was left out and never did reach a conclusion. Overall, this did not impact the story, just interrupted the flow for me.
Of course, the other two young girls became famous in their own right, too. One a famous actress and the other a civil rights attorney. I actually wish the narration has been told by Frankie, her cleverness would have brought more delight to the story I think.
I read it in one day and enjoyed the journey, while there were a few humorous moments, that made me smile, I don't think I'll remember much about it. It was promoted for fans of This Tender Land and Where the Crawdads Sing on Amazon frankly, I wasn't nearly as enamored with it as I had been those. I think Publisher's/Booksellers should reconsider making such comparisons or at least how they make comparisons, as it builds expectations that are not met for most readers, of course, it sells books so I doubt they'll make adjustments. Just sayin' when I was in sales and as a bookseller I didn't want to oversell, since sometimes that results in buyer remorse. Just my two cents, I would recommend it on its own merits but don't see it achieving that status with most readers. Your mileage may vary.
Overall an entertaining read just right for a palette cleanser after a heavy read.
Secrets played an important role, when to share and when to keep them. Even the adults learn this lesson too. One example is Frankie, one of the girls in the story. She is both African American and Caucasian and is passing as white. Her friends know this and cooperate in the secret for her safety. When the girls make national news, there is concern that her true identity will be revealed by a reporter. Her parents decide to be brave and reveal their secret marriage despite the bigotry that exists in their small Wisconsin town and let the chips fall where they may.
Nicely done story not exactly covering new ground or told in an unique manner. One of the young girls is the narrator, now a famous novelist. Ironically, there were a few sentences that were nonsensical and thus the story could have used better editing. I read one sentence six times trying to figure out what was left out and never did reach a conclusion. Overall, this did not impact the story, just interrupted the flow for me.
Of course, the other two young girls became famous in their own right, too. One a famous actress and the other a civil rights attorney. I actually wish the narration has been told by Frankie, her cleverness would have brought more delight to the story I think.
I read it in one day and enjoyed the journey, while there were a few humorous moments, that made me smile, I don't think I'll remember much about it. It was promoted for fans of This Tender Land and Where the Crawdads Sing on Amazon frankly, I wasn't nearly as enamored with it as I had been those. I think Publisher's/Booksellers should reconsider making such comparisons or at least how they make comparisons, as it builds expectations that are not met for most readers, of course, it sells books so I doubt they'll make adjustments. Just sayin' when I was in sales and as a bookseller I didn't want to oversell, since sometimes that results in buyer remorse. Just my two cents, I would recommend it on its own merits but don't see it achieving that status with most readers. Your mileage may vary.
Overall an entertaining read just right for a palette cleanser after a heavy read.
November 9, 2020
In the summer of 1960 in a small town in Wisconsin, Elizabeth “Biz” and her best friends Viv and Frankie decide to create a list of adventures to accomplish before school starts. What lies ahead is a summer none of the eleven year old girls will forget. Every Now and Then is a lovely, poignant coming-of-age story.
Biz lost her mother when she was an infant. Her father is the town doctor and her mother’s sister, Aunt Jane May, has been raising her. Her father has built her an elaborate treehouse which is where the three girls have their sleepovers and plot their days. Their innocent adventures had included going to scary movies and treats at the soda shop but things get more complicated when the girls start to ask questions about some mysterious activities at the nearby Broadhurst Mental Institution. They also become more aware of the racism within their community. Frankie lives in the home of a wealthy Italian man and his sister as their orphaned relative to insure that the community does not find out that she is actually the mixed-race daughter of their black housekeeper. The girls start to understand that there is a distinct difference in how people of color are treated within their community. The girls’ adventures put them face-to-face with some harsh realities and dangers.
This was a captivating story. I enjoyed being taken back to a time when best friends were your whole world and you could take your bike and wander freely for hours and hours. There is a nice sense of nostalgia while dealing with some real social issues. This is not a book to rush through. Take your time. It’s worth it.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Alcove Press and author Lesley Kagen for an advance copy.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Biz lost her mother when she was an infant. Her father is the town doctor and her mother’s sister, Aunt Jane May, has been raising her. Her father has built her an elaborate treehouse which is where the three girls have their sleepovers and plot their days. Their innocent adventures had included going to scary movies and treats at the soda shop but things get more complicated when the girls start to ask questions about some mysterious activities at the nearby Broadhurst Mental Institution. They also become more aware of the racism within their community. Frankie lives in the home of a wealthy Italian man and his sister as their orphaned relative to insure that the community does not find out that she is actually the mixed-race daughter of their black housekeeper. The girls start to understand that there is a distinct difference in how people of color are treated within their community. The girls’ adventures put them face-to-face with some harsh realities and dangers.
This was a captivating story. I enjoyed being taken back to a time when best friends were your whole world and you could take your bike and wander freely for hours and hours. There is a nice sense of nostalgia while dealing with some real social issues. This is not a book to rush through. Take your time. It’s worth it.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Alcove Press and author Lesley Kagen for an advance copy.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
November 15, 2020
❐ Overall Rating 3.5 | 5 Narration
❐ Literary Fiction
❐ Coming-of-age
❐ With a splash of mystery
❐ Three friends and their adventures in the Summer of 1960
First off, I love the cover and I loved Hilary Huber's narration...in fact, I always love her narration. Those two things are what sealed the deal for me to give this book a try.
This book is compared or likened to Where the Crawdads Sing and I can see that. They both have a historical setting of the 1960s. Both have a splash of mystery. Also, they both deal with prejudices. Plus, they both have a kind of slow-burning pace, with really memorable endings. Although, WTCS has more going on throughout the story to keep you invested in the story, overall. ENAT doesn't really have that...at least I didn't feel that it did.
While the ending got a little intense and was even a little bit jaw-dropping...I just didn't feel that it was worthwhile enough to make me forget how bored I was with the story up until the ending. I'm certain there will be lots of readers/listeners who love this story just the way it is, though.
❐ Libby Listen through my Library
❐ Length ➯ 9H 1M
❐ Plot ➯ 3.5/5
❐ Characters ➯ 3.5/5
❐ The Feels ➯ 3/5
❐ Mystery/Thrills ➯ 2.8/5
❐ Ending ➯ 4.3/5
❐ Literary Fiction
❐ Coming-of-age
❐ With a splash of mystery
❐ Three friends and their adventures in the Summer of 1960
First off, I love the cover and I loved Hilary Huber's narration...in fact, I always love her narration. Those two things are what sealed the deal for me to give this book a try.
This book is compared or likened to Where the Crawdads Sing and I can see that. They both have a historical setting of the 1960s. Both have a splash of mystery. Also, they both deal with prejudices. Plus, they both have a kind of slow-burning pace, with really memorable endings. Although, WTCS has more going on throughout the story to keep you invested in the story, overall. ENAT doesn't really have that...at least I didn't feel that it did.
While the ending got a little intense and was even a little bit jaw-dropping...I just didn't feel that it was worthwhile enough to make me forget how bored I was with the story up until the ending. I'm certain there will be lots of readers/listeners who love this story just the way it is, though.
❐ Libby Listen through my Library
❐ Length ➯ 9H 1M
❐ Plot ➯ 3.5/5
❐ Characters ➯ 3.5/5
❐ The Feels ➯ 3/5
❐ Mystery/Thrills ➯ 2.8/5
❐ Ending ➯ 4.3/5
April 14, 2020
Every Now and Then by Lesley Kagen. Thanks to netgalley and alcove press for the e-arc for an honest review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Three best friends have a summer they’ll never forget in their small town in the sixties. Enthralled by the local mental asylum, they gossip with the staff and spy on the patients. All this changes when three patients escape into their town.
Every Now and Then doesn’t come out until October, but when the ARC was sent to me, I couldn’t wait. This was exactly the book I needed. Coming of age stories are my favorite genre, and this was one of the best of it’s kind. You really get into the mind of the characters and remember the innocence, adventure, and thrill life was at that age. The blood-sister friendship between the characters, their banter, and love-fights are so heartwarming. Like my favorite coming of age books, there’s so much humor involved with the girls and their worldview. Add in the adventure and excitement of a small town asylum in the sixties... Kagen has hit it out of the park again, like she did with Whistling in the Dark. You’re going to want a copy of this in the fall, and some tissues because you’re left with tears from this heartwarming tale.
“A warm breeze ruffling oak boughs on a moonless night or the late rain rumbling down the tracks or a dog barking two streets over can be all it takes to bring back the long-ago summer evil paid a visit to our small town and took our young lives as we knew them as a souvenir.”
Instagram reviews - @stacy40pages
Three best friends have a summer they’ll never forget in their small town in the sixties. Enthralled by the local mental asylum, they gossip with the staff and spy on the patients. All this changes when three patients escape into their town.
Every Now and Then doesn’t come out until October, but when the ARC was sent to me, I couldn’t wait. This was exactly the book I needed. Coming of age stories are my favorite genre, and this was one of the best of it’s kind. You really get into the mind of the characters and remember the innocence, adventure, and thrill life was at that age. The blood-sister friendship between the characters, their banter, and love-fights are so heartwarming. Like my favorite coming of age books, there’s so much humor involved with the girls and their worldview. Add in the adventure and excitement of a small town asylum in the sixties... Kagen has hit it out of the park again, like she did with Whistling in the Dark. You’re going to want a copy of this in the fall, and some tissues because you’re left with tears from this heartwarming tale.
“A warm breeze ruffling oak boughs on a moonless night or the late rain rumbling down the tracks or a dog barking two streets over can be all it takes to bring back the long-ago summer evil paid a visit to our small town and took our young lives as we knew them as a souvenir.”
Instagram reviews - @stacy40pages
February 20, 2021
This is the story of Biz, novelist, who revisits the summer of 1960 when she was eleven years old in small town Wisconsin and their lives were changed by the escape of three patients of a mental institution. This unique book is both page-turning thriller and evocative coming of age story.
October 7, 2020
Every Now and Then is a unique story. It is enmeshed in the 1960's - - in the freedom of families to allow children to ride on bikes from sunrise to sunset, where the biggest concern for many is what pie to enter in the 4th of July contest, what color nylons to wear and what to fix for dinner. It is also a time where racism was prevalent, along with preconceived notions of women's roles in society and intolerance for anyone who didn't follow the standard beliefs of sexual orientation. It was the best of times and the worst of times.
In the midst of this tumultuous time in history, this story is set. It centers around three young girls who are entering into summer vacation with big hopes and plans. What they don't know is that by the time fall rolls around, their perception of the world will be forever changed.
This is a slow moving story. I enjoyed the nostalgia of the setting, but did sometimes feel that the plot was dragging on a bit. That is just me, I'm sure. I prefer a quicker moving story. That said, I still enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written with very detailed descriptions.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. I chose to voluntarily review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
In the midst of this tumultuous time in history, this story is set. It centers around three young girls who are entering into summer vacation with big hopes and plans. What they don't know is that by the time fall rolls around, their perception of the world will be forever changed.
This is a slow moving story. I enjoyed the nostalgia of the setting, but did sometimes feel that the plot was dragging on a bit. That is just me, I'm sure. I prefer a quicker moving story. That said, I still enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written with very detailed descriptions.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. I chose to voluntarily review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
October 13, 2020
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
𝐎𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩.
It is the summer of 1960 in Summit, Wisconsin and Frances “Frankie”, Vivian “Viv” and our narrator Elizabeth “Biz” have just been set free from the shackles of St. Thomas Aquinas… their school. Summer is on and the raging heat wave is a warning of everything that is about to befall the town, and the girls. Growing up with her widower father and raised by her mother’s older sister Aunt Jane since infancy, Biz and her friends are protected under the umbrella of Jane’s love and order, when they aren’t running around scheming.
Some things are already changing between the friends as they are shedding their youth, right on the edge of twelve. Spooking themselves with films featuring monsters doesn’t have the same terror it once did, after-all big girls don’t believe in such non-sense. Monsters, however, come in many disguises and without the warning of scary music. As the “tree musketeers” attempt to honor Biz’s mother in the ‘hideout’ built in her memory high in the oak tree, the girls spend the night planning their summer antics. Top of the list, visit Broadhurst Mental Institution and sneak into it’s chamber of horrors. After-all, Biz knows there may even soon be a child killer there, if rumors heard a the beauty parlor can be trusted.
If they behave like feral cats, Aunt Jane is there to set them straight and remind them how to be respectable. If that doesn’t work, Viv’s Granny Cleary’s holy water may do the trick. The three also plan to spy on Aunt Jane and her romantic life. Jane’s ripe old age of 37 certainly doesn’t make her prime for torrid love affairs, but she’s a convenient target of surveillance. Summer means escape from all the adults and structure, it means root beer floats, games of kick the can, and whispered secrets. The girls are just beginning to understand that other world of adult knowledge, like Biz declares, they aren’t total ignoramuses but what they don’t know may well entrap them in situations far bigger than their britches.
With the transfer of Wallace Hopper to Broadhurst, the town in furious with the possibility that the child killer could escape, seeing as how other patience freely roam the grounds, much to the consternation of the townsfolk. Could dangerous patients lead to the institutions closure, and what is the new doctor all about? Biz, Viv and Frankie have their favorites among the mentally ill patients, but when they meet one in particular they are shocked because he does not fit the mold. They are intrigued by him and every secret that awaits them hiding in the shadows of Broadhurst. When one of them promises to help him out, they are caught up in scandal that is about to unfold.
Escaped mental patients, mean Elvin Merchant and his traps, the summit witch, questionable medical treatments, racism; when the girls break into the chamber of horrors they let out secrets that will remain with Biz for life, secrets that will help her to one day become a best selling author. They learn that monsters can come in the guise of professionalism, that sometimes even well meaning parents can fall prey to untold horrors. It is always those in power who control the narrative, but those who are brave that can write the ending. Secrets swirls in the darkness, the biggest secret of all may well involve their own sweet Frankie.
There is a lot going on but the story is incredibly engaging. With youth slipping away, it’s a painful coming of age but Kagen does a beautiful job writing about a time when children were free to roam the streets and stick their noses in places they really don’t belong. It’s a strange ‘between things’ age, when curiosity can outright cost you your life, and experience is hard earned. Nothing is as it seems and it will take immense courage to fix what they’ve stumbled upon. None of them will be the same after. It’s a good read that turns in many directions, humorous one minute, heartbreaking the next. Revelations of a different time, what drove people to make life altering choices, and what it costs everyone in the end.
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Alcove Press
𝐎𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩.
It is the summer of 1960 in Summit, Wisconsin and Frances “Frankie”, Vivian “Viv” and our narrator Elizabeth “Biz” have just been set free from the shackles of St. Thomas Aquinas… their school. Summer is on and the raging heat wave is a warning of everything that is about to befall the town, and the girls. Growing up with her widower father and raised by her mother’s older sister Aunt Jane since infancy, Biz and her friends are protected under the umbrella of Jane’s love and order, when they aren’t running around scheming.
Some things are already changing between the friends as they are shedding their youth, right on the edge of twelve. Spooking themselves with films featuring monsters doesn’t have the same terror it once did, after-all big girls don’t believe in such non-sense. Monsters, however, come in many disguises and without the warning of scary music. As the “tree musketeers” attempt to honor Biz’s mother in the ‘hideout’ built in her memory high in the oak tree, the girls spend the night planning their summer antics. Top of the list, visit Broadhurst Mental Institution and sneak into it’s chamber of horrors. After-all, Biz knows there may even soon be a child killer there, if rumors heard a the beauty parlor can be trusted.
If they behave like feral cats, Aunt Jane is there to set them straight and remind them how to be respectable. If that doesn’t work, Viv’s Granny Cleary’s holy water may do the trick. The three also plan to spy on Aunt Jane and her romantic life. Jane’s ripe old age of 37 certainly doesn’t make her prime for torrid love affairs, but she’s a convenient target of surveillance. Summer means escape from all the adults and structure, it means root beer floats, games of kick the can, and whispered secrets. The girls are just beginning to understand that other world of adult knowledge, like Biz declares, they aren’t total ignoramuses but what they don’t know may well entrap them in situations far bigger than their britches.
With the transfer of Wallace Hopper to Broadhurst, the town in furious with the possibility that the child killer could escape, seeing as how other patience freely roam the grounds, much to the consternation of the townsfolk. Could dangerous patients lead to the institutions closure, and what is the new doctor all about? Biz, Viv and Frankie have their favorites among the mentally ill patients, but when they meet one in particular they are shocked because he does not fit the mold. They are intrigued by him and every secret that awaits them hiding in the shadows of Broadhurst. When one of them promises to help him out, they are caught up in scandal that is about to unfold.
Escaped mental patients, mean Elvin Merchant and his traps, the summit witch, questionable medical treatments, racism; when the girls break into the chamber of horrors they let out secrets that will remain with Biz for life, secrets that will help her to one day become a best selling author. They learn that monsters can come in the guise of professionalism, that sometimes even well meaning parents can fall prey to untold horrors. It is always those in power who control the narrative, but those who are brave that can write the ending. Secrets swirls in the darkness, the biggest secret of all may well involve their own sweet Frankie.
There is a lot going on but the story is incredibly engaging. With youth slipping away, it’s a painful coming of age but Kagen does a beautiful job writing about a time when children were free to roam the streets and stick their noses in places they really don’t belong. It’s a strange ‘between things’ age, when curiosity can outright cost you your life, and experience is hard earned. Nothing is as it seems and it will take immense courage to fix what they’ve stumbled upon. None of them will be the same after. It’s a good read that turns in many directions, humorous one minute, heartbreaking the next. Revelations of a different time, what drove people to make life altering choices, and what it costs everyone in the end.
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Alcove Press
June 15, 2020
Every Now and Then by Lesley Kagen is a fun and moving coming of age story that touches on both personal as well as societal growth. I ultimately rounded my rating up because I enjoyed spending time with the characters so much.
I'm not a big fan of saying a novel is like another one, I think it sets up expectations that can work against a book as often as for a book. In particular I find making comparisons based on extremely limited factors (girl, strange neighbor, race elements, etc) to be absurd at best. Like saying every story with a young couple from opposing families is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, it falls under a broad category of a R&J type story but it is not s retelling of it. A story with a young girl and racial issues is not, not even close in this case, a retelling of To Kill a Mockingbird. But people do what they must to illustrate their (faux) literary chops.
This is a story that is at once both a coming of age story and a small town drama, albeit one with some dark undertones once all is said and done. Like any such novel a lot will depend on how well you enjoy spending time with the protagonist(s). There is usually a bit of clunkiness when trying to couple an adult telling a story from their youth and incorporating the thoughts of that character as a young girl. That is evident here in some places but on the whole Kagen balances the young girl's voice and the adult's voice very well.
While there are not a lot of big surprises, as in “I never saw that coming,” there are enough viable options that as each reveal is made the reader is still taken in by the element of surprise for the characters. There are clues all along for most of the “surprises” while a couple are of the type that simply can't be definitively deduced until we are told. But those are not the big ones, so we are not kept in the dark in a deceptive manner in order to keep the mystery alive, more like just a supporting element that helps to make everything fit together.
I highly recommend this to readers who like coming of age stories that develop the characters at an even pace then once they are established the action begins ratcheting up. As I mention above, one aspect a reader can't know for sure until they start reading is whether or not they will enjoy the characters. Notice I didn't say like the characters, I'm not even sure what that means, you don't know them. But spending time with someone is largely independent of liking or not liking. I like people I don't enjoy spending time with while there are people I don't like (but also don't dislike, it takes a lot for me to actively dislike someone) that I actually enjoy spending time with.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
I'm not a big fan of saying a novel is like another one, I think it sets up expectations that can work against a book as often as for a book. In particular I find making comparisons based on extremely limited factors (girl, strange neighbor, race elements, etc) to be absurd at best. Like saying every story with a young couple from opposing families is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, it falls under a broad category of a R&J type story but it is not s retelling of it. A story with a young girl and racial issues is not, not even close in this case, a retelling of To Kill a Mockingbird. But people do what they must to illustrate their (faux) literary chops.
This is a story that is at once both a coming of age story and a small town drama, albeit one with some dark undertones once all is said and done. Like any such novel a lot will depend on how well you enjoy spending time with the protagonist(s). There is usually a bit of clunkiness when trying to couple an adult telling a story from their youth and incorporating the thoughts of that character as a young girl. That is evident here in some places but on the whole Kagen balances the young girl's voice and the adult's voice very well.
While there are not a lot of big surprises, as in “I never saw that coming,” there are enough viable options that as each reveal is made the reader is still taken in by the element of surprise for the characters. There are clues all along for most of the “surprises” while a couple are of the type that simply can't be definitively deduced until we are told. But those are not the big ones, so we are not kept in the dark in a deceptive manner in order to keep the mystery alive, more like just a supporting element that helps to make everything fit together.
I highly recommend this to readers who like coming of age stories that develop the characters at an even pace then once they are established the action begins ratcheting up. As I mention above, one aspect a reader can't know for sure until they start reading is whether or not they will enjoy the characters. Notice I didn't say like the characters, I'm not even sure what that means, you don't know them. But spending time with someone is largely independent of liking or not liking. I like people I don't enjoy spending time with while there are people I don't like (but also don't dislike, it takes a lot for me to actively dislike someone) that I actually enjoy spending time with.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
September 5, 2020
A whirlwind of a story that was thoroughly enjoyable.
Relive your childhood, or the childhood you wish you had, with Biz, Frankie, and Viv – three 11-year-old girls not quite on the cusp of their teenage years (well, except for Viv who, to her besties’s increasing annoyance, has become super boy-crazy as of late). Come along with the “Tree Musketeers”, self-named after their tree house hideout, as they rollick and romp through the hot summer in the 1960’s small town of Summit, Wisconsin.
*A big thank you to Lesley Kagen, Alcove Press, and NetGalley for providing a free Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.*
An ode to a good old-fashioned school break in an All-American town, the “Tree-o” while away their time trying to solve nonexistent mysteries, eating ice cream, decorating their bicycles, and hanging out in their tree fort. Although they’ve been warned off, they also can’t resist the allure of the local insane asylum with its patients who are periodically allowed to wander the asylum grounds and have become the girls’ friends. But no one could predict the dark happenings at the asylum and the danger to the whole town lurking undetected.
I’m rating this one as a four for a well-developed novel that kept my attention and certainly earned a score of “(I) really liked it”, if not quite up to my, admittedly very high, standards to earn a five-star “It was amazing” marks. All in all, a solid effort, and a truly nostalgic tale – a slice of the proverbial American pie served up in an entertaining read.
#EveryNowAndThen
#LesleyKagen
#AlcovePress
#NetGalley
Relive your childhood, or the childhood you wish you had, with Biz, Frankie, and Viv – three 11-year-old girls not quite on the cusp of their teenage years (well, except for Viv who, to her besties’s increasing annoyance, has become super boy-crazy as of late). Come along with the “Tree Musketeers”, self-named after their tree house hideout, as they rollick and romp through the hot summer in the 1960’s small town of Summit, Wisconsin.
*A big thank you to Lesley Kagen, Alcove Press, and NetGalley for providing a free Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.*
An ode to a good old-fashioned school break in an All-American town, the “Tree-o” while away their time trying to solve nonexistent mysteries, eating ice cream, decorating their bicycles, and hanging out in their tree fort. Although they’ve been warned off, they also can’t resist the allure of the local insane asylum with its patients who are periodically allowed to wander the asylum grounds and have become the girls’ friends. But no one could predict the dark happenings at the asylum and the danger to the whole town lurking undetected.
I’m rating this one as a four for a well-developed novel that kept my attention and certainly earned a score of “(I) really liked it”, if not quite up to my, admittedly very high, standards to earn a five-star “It was amazing” marks. All in all, a solid effort, and a truly nostalgic tale – a slice of the proverbial American pie served up in an entertaining read.
#EveryNowAndThen
#LesleyKagen
#AlcovePress
#NetGalley
January 1, 2021
The 1960 summer in Summit, Wisconsin was sweltering and for Biz, Frankie and Viv it was also an unforgettable one. Best friends forever, the eleven year old girls are bound together by their love of horror movies and a quest for adventure. In small town Summit the girls are allowed a level of freedom not found in today's society. They find themselves drawn to the Broadhurst Mental Institution, fascinated by the patients housed there. Risking the wrath of Biz's Aunt, they begin to interact with the patients deemed harmless. What they don't anticipate is the ramifications of their curiosities.
As Biz reflects back on that memorable summer she is able to fully understand the prejudices, cruelties and injustices perpetrated by small minded people. But she also cherishes the lasting bonds of life long friendships, the kindness of others and discovering the goodness in strangers.
A blend of mystery and coming-of-age, a wonderful story that captured me from the start.
4.5 stars.
As Biz reflects back on that memorable summer she is able to fully understand the prejudices, cruelties and injustices perpetrated by small minded people. But she also cherishes the lasting bonds of life long friendships, the kindness of others and discovering the goodness in strangers.
A blend of mystery and coming-of-age, a wonderful story that captured me from the start.
4.5 stars.
October 13, 2020
Lesley Kagen’s exquisite novel, EVERY NOW AND THEN, has everything I look for in a novel ~ memorable characters, a richly drawn town teeming with secrets and a mystery that kept me flying through the pages. Kagen’s trio of best friends, Biz, Frankie and Viv left an indelible imprint on my heart. Don’t miss this timeless, beautifully crafted coming of age story.
April 6, 2022
This is a new author to me, but I will state right up front that I’ll read more of her books.
This book is engaging from the moment it starts. It is a coming of age story of three eleven soon to be twelve year old girls in the summer of 1960. They spend most of there time out in their tree house, or riding their bikes all over the neighborhood of their small town. They call themselves the “Tree Musketeers” or “blood sisters”. (Maybe you recall becoming “blood sisters with your best friends by cutting your finger and commingling your blood!) But the narrator, who is one of “blood sisters”, is telling the story fifty some years later.
The author has all the silly antics of young rambunctious, curious and mischievous girls down to a tee. She has provided fun little personalities for these three girls and their kibitzing makes you laugh out loud. I so enjoyed the writing. It was witty and laughable, yet appropriately descriptive, really quite a literary charmer. And, of course, as all young girls, they shared and kept many secrets. The summer was full of lively adventures for the girls.
The story moves along quickly with the girls fluctuating from well-behaved and compliant, to rebellious and impish. The author does a fine job of demonstrating the characters of the three girls. The other characters are sufficiently developed to aid in the progression of the story. Then about 80% of the way through the story, “something” happens. Naturally, you knew these little angels would fall from grace and get tangled in something that needed explanation. Although not unexpected, the writing style suddenly changes to accommodate the mysterious mood. As the action plays out and the story is disclosed, an entirely different feel to the story emerges. Confessions all around, truths revealed, lessons learned, and forever memories are created. The theme of love and friendship pervades throughout. Importance of family closely follows.
The sixty something year old narrator then fills you in on what became of the Tree Musketeers following that life altering summer. She also gives you an update on the other bit players in the story. This part of the book really provides some necessary closure and rounds out the author’s storytelling.
Reading this story was akin to watching a movie as it vividly plays out. A real complete package and truly fine storytelling. More than four stars but not quite five, but for reasons I just can’t seem to name.
From the prologue: “…..the border between now and then is much more like a cobweb than a brick wall and when the past comes to haunt it doesn’t ask our permission to do so.”
-and- “Memory is a shallow grave…..”
This book is engaging from the moment it starts. It is a coming of age story of three eleven soon to be twelve year old girls in the summer of 1960. They spend most of there time out in their tree house, or riding their bikes all over the neighborhood of their small town. They call themselves the “Tree Musketeers” or “blood sisters”. (Maybe you recall becoming “blood sisters with your best friends by cutting your finger and commingling your blood!) But the narrator, who is one of “blood sisters”, is telling the story fifty some years later.
The author has all the silly antics of young rambunctious, curious and mischievous girls down to a tee. She has provided fun little personalities for these three girls and their kibitzing makes you laugh out loud. I so enjoyed the writing. It was witty and laughable, yet appropriately descriptive, really quite a literary charmer. And, of course, as all young girls, they shared and kept many secrets. The summer was full of lively adventures for the girls.
The story moves along quickly with the girls fluctuating from well-behaved and compliant, to rebellious and impish. The author does a fine job of demonstrating the characters of the three girls. The other characters are sufficiently developed to aid in the progression of the story. Then about 80% of the way through the story, “something” happens. Naturally, you knew these little angels would fall from grace and get tangled in something that needed explanation. Although not unexpected, the writing style suddenly changes to accommodate the mysterious mood. As the action plays out and the story is disclosed, an entirely different feel to the story emerges. Confessions all around, truths revealed, lessons learned, and forever memories are created. The theme of love and friendship pervades throughout. Importance of family closely follows.
The sixty something year old narrator then fills you in on what became of the Tree Musketeers following that life altering summer. She also gives you an update on the other bit players in the story. This part of the book really provides some necessary closure and rounds out the author’s storytelling.
Reading this story was akin to watching a movie as it vividly plays out. A real complete package and truly fine storytelling. More than four stars but not quite five, but for reasons I just can’t seem to name.
From the prologue: “…..the border between now and then is much more like a cobweb than a brick wall and when the past comes to haunt it doesn’t ask our permission to do so.”
-and- “Memory is a shallow grave…..”
September 5, 2020
I'm so grateful for the wonderful reviews and blurbs from authors and booksellers and, fingers crossed, you'll fall in love with the "Tree Musketeers," too. Coming your way on October 6th!
"Kagen skillfully spins a nostalgic tale...This fast-paced and suspenseful outing will captivate Kagen’s fans and do much to win her new ones.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Filled with secrets, lies, and all the truth of what is to be human, especially in a small town, Every Now and Then is a story every heart will embrace.”
—William Kent Krueger, New York Times Bestselling Author of Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land
“Every Now and Then hits it out of the park with Kagen's trademark folksy vernacular, larger-than-life escapades...and characters who mix the innocence of their age with a certain grown up wisdom...Every Now and Then is for everyone who loves a good story.”
—Jill Miner, owner of Saturn Booksellers
"Using true-to-life regional language, Kagen offers us a delightful, entertaining book with very serious undertones...I certainly recommend this book!”
—Nancy Simpson-Brice, Book Vault
“A complete winner. It reminded me of the best parts of To Kill A Mockingbird, and the wonderful friendship displayed by Kate DiCamillo’s three amigos in the Raymie Nightingale trilogy. Filled with all the charm of a 1960's small town, Every Now and Then also tackles issues of racism, homophobia, and gender that are topical today. Biz, Frankie, and Viv are sure to steal any reader's heart.”
—Pamela Klinger-Horn, Excelsior Bay Books
“With a grace reminiscent of Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides, Lesley Kagen paints a tragic and evocative picture of a childhood summer disrupted by tragedy in 1960s Wisconsin...Both a memorable coming of age tale and suspenseful page-turner. Longtime and new fans of Kagen will delight!”
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris
“Lesley Kagen’s Every Now and Then ticks all the best boxes...This novel is delightful and the perfect summer read.”
—Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is
“Kagen’s trademark blend of childhood curiosity and hidden mysteries shines in this richly imagined coming-of-age adventure.”
—Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
"A rollicking good read!”
—Ellen Marie Wiseman, bestselling author of What She Left Behind and The Orphan Collector
“A poignant, beautifully told story...with characters that leap off the page, mysteries both innocent and evil, multi-leveled humor and twists you never see coming, this novel is delightful and unputdownable - I can’t recommend it enough!" —Jane Healey, bestselling author of The Beantown Girls
"Kagen skillfully spins a nostalgic tale...This fast-paced and suspenseful outing will captivate Kagen’s fans and do much to win her new ones.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Filled with secrets, lies, and all the truth of what is to be human, especially in a small town, Every Now and Then is a story every heart will embrace.”
—William Kent Krueger, New York Times Bestselling Author of Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land
“Every Now and Then hits it out of the park with Kagen's trademark folksy vernacular, larger-than-life escapades...and characters who mix the innocence of their age with a certain grown up wisdom...Every Now and Then is for everyone who loves a good story.”
—Jill Miner, owner of Saturn Booksellers
"Using true-to-life regional language, Kagen offers us a delightful, entertaining book with very serious undertones...I certainly recommend this book!”
—Nancy Simpson-Brice, Book Vault
“A complete winner. It reminded me of the best parts of To Kill A Mockingbird, and the wonderful friendship displayed by Kate DiCamillo’s three amigos in the Raymie Nightingale trilogy. Filled with all the charm of a 1960's small town, Every Now and Then also tackles issues of racism, homophobia, and gender that are topical today. Biz, Frankie, and Viv are sure to steal any reader's heart.”
—Pamela Klinger-Horn, Excelsior Bay Books
“With a grace reminiscent of Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides, Lesley Kagen paints a tragic and evocative picture of a childhood summer disrupted by tragedy in 1960s Wisconsin...Both a memorable coming of age tale and suspenseful page-turner. Longtime and new fans of Kagen will delight!”
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris
“Lesley Kagen’s Every Now and Then ticks all the best boxes...This novel is delightful and the perfect summer read.”
—Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is
“Kagen’s trademark blend of childhood curiosity and hidden mysteries shines in this richly imagined coming-of-age adventure.”
—Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
"A rollicking good read!”
—Ellen Marie Wiseman, bestselling author of What She Left Behind and The Orphan Collector
“A poignant, beautifully told story...with characters that leap off the page, mysteries both innocent and evil, multi-leveled humor and twists you never see coming, this novel is delightful and unputdownable - I can’t recommend it enough!" —Jane Healey, bestselling author of The Beantown Girls
Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews