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
All stars
Most relevant
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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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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Really enjoyed this book, great story telling and descriptions. Very true representation of motherhood and the complexity of marriage

Wonderful telling of normal life

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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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The performance was great and loved getting to know the characters but felt it was much too dragged out.

Good story but over long

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