Shannon's Reviews > Same As It Ever Was

Claire Lombardo has done it again! Her debut, The most fun we ever had (a recent Reese's Book Club pick) was one of my very favorite reads when it came out but this latest family drama about one woman's struggles with her mother, marriage and motherhood was utterly captivating, relatable, messy and oh so raw.

I empathized with the main character Julia so much, especially the sections of the book where she finds new motherhood isn't what everyone has made it out to be. Her relationship with her own mother was less than ideal and they have very little contact over the years causing Julia to seek friendship elsewhere, coming in the form of an older woman, Helen.

While long, (over 18 hours on audio) this was excellently narrated by Emily Rankin and is perfect for fans of authors like Ann Napolitano, Illona Bannister, Joyce Maynard and Catherine Newman. If you enjoy insightful books about life, love and growing older, this is one not to miss! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!