Same as It Ever Was cover art

Same as It Ever Was

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Same as It Ever Was

By: Claire Lombardo
Narrated by: Emily Rankin
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About this listen

 'I FINISHED THIS WONDERFUL BOOK IN FLOODS OF TEARS' JESSIE BURTON
'SUCH A PLEASURE' CLARE CHAMBERS
'WITTY AND INSIGHTFUL' BONNIE GARMUS

At fifty-seven, Julia Ames finds herself with an improbably lovely life. She has a husband she loves, two happy children and a contented existence in the suburbs.

She's unprepared, though, for what comes next: a surprise announcement from her straight-arrow son, a soon-to-be empty nest, and a seductive resurgence of the past - all of which threaten to derail Julia's hard-earned peace.

Wise, witty and deeply moving, this brilliantly observed domestic drama asks what it takes to make - and not to break - a family.

'A FAMILY SAGA TO SAVE AS A TREAT AND DEVOUR WHEN YOU SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE' INDEPENDENT
'LOMBARDO IS THE NEW ANNE TYLER, WITH TEETH' ERICKA WALLER
'A BIG AMERICAN NOVEL TO GET TOTALLY LOST IN' CLAIRE POWELL©2024 Claire Lombardo (P)2024 Penguin Audio Family Life Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Marriage Heartfelt Witty
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The story was very very hard to get into kept taking us back childhood /growing up relationship with her mom then in the present time husband
and children

Julie story and her perception of parenthood

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Perhaps I listened to this book too soon after her other book ‘ The most fun we ever had’, which I really enjoyed. Some of the characters in this book could have been lifted from her other one or vice-versa. Both books were about family life and both travel back and forward through time and some relationship issues were very similar.

Although it trotted along back and forward there was no real meat on the bones of an actual story. The main character wasn’t very likeable and I found myself getting irritated by her. I almost gave up due to the depressing first few chapters but persevered and it was an easy enough listen after a while.

I didn’t really care what happened to the characters in this book like I did with the earlier book.

Narration was excellent.

No real story

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A great follow up to her great debut most fun we’ve ever had. A family saga following the life of the mother Julia and how her childhood and relationship with her mother shapes the way she raised her children, her marriage with her husband and friendships. This book is beautiful and yes it’s too long.

Loved this

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Great writing style that reminds me of Ann Napolitano's writing style. I really enjoyed the alternating chapters between present-life Julia at 57 and past Julia at various points in her life! The audiobook performance is great as well!

Great writing style!

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This was a brilliant book - the plot line in all likelihood the experiences of a modern average family, but handled with gorgeous attention to detail, articulate language, humour that made me giggle during car journeys but most of all, a recognition of the human condition and our ability to fall and rise again. First time of reading this author but will be shortly moving to her earlier book and keenly seeking out the next. Thoroughly recommended 👌

Amazing book - hours of brilliance

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I’m afraid I found this self indulgent and slow . The story could have been told in far less words without spoiling it . I wanted to finish it so it wasn’t that bad but I admit to feeling bored with it

Disappointed after write up

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I have looked forward to this novel wver since reading Claire Lombardo's first novel and I wasn't disappointed. The interior dialogue of the main character combined with the interactions and dialogue between her and others felt more real than I knew writing could feel. The author has a way capturing the unspoken truths that exist without most of us even notice. I loved the characters and story, but only slight unhappiness is with how the novel finishes but I suspect this is a subjective and perhaps unpopular opinion. What an incredible author though, will now await the next!

Mesmerisingly beautiful writing

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Hight expectations after The Most Fun We Ever Had and this did not disappoint. Beautiful writing and complex characters. Great audio performance.

Another beautiful read

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This book touched me and I was upset when it finished. I could relate to the story and see myself in the main character, which made me think about the book for days after I finished it. Beautiful!

Touching read

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The story i round hard to follow, roo many caracteres through différent période if Time , Even though the main rage ambiente on the whole ' thé char acter and diálogos were clearing but after a fer listening hours i got a bit lost

À bit too long

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