Claire Lombardo Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Claire Lombardo is an American author popularly known for her 2019 debut novel, The Most Fun We Ever Had. The novel was positively received, became a New York Times bestseller, and was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. According to Claire, the book was initially intended to be a short story but had a change of heart.

Lombardo attended the University of Illinois Chicago and later the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her second novel, titled Same as It Ever Was, was published in 2024.

Family is a cornerstone of our lives. It provides us with support through both good and bad times. But no family is without flaws. In fact, those closest to us- our siblings and other relatives- often have the power to hurt us the most. Claire Lombardo’s debut novel, The Most Fun We Ever Had, dives deep into the intricate and sometimes painful dynamics of family relationships.

Lombardo conveys the love, tension, and complexity that characterize familial connections with a mastery that is truly remarkable. She creates a family that is both distinct and approachable via her vivid narrative. She demonstrates to us that every flawless exterior conceals a rich tapestry of unsaid pleasures and difficulties.

On July 9th, Prairie Lights was packed to the brim, with attendees standing in the back and even sitting on the floor near the front. The occasion was special, reflecting the strong community support for Claire Lombardo. After graduating from the Writers’ Workshop in 2017, Lombardo has made significant contributions to the local literary scene. She is now a creative writing instructor at the university and an Iowa Young Writers’ Studio fiction instructor.

To celebrate her novel, neighbors, friends, and former pupils came together. The excitement of the audience demonstrated Lombardo’s influence on the community as a writer and educator. The varied group who gathered to offer their support was clear evidence of her capacity to inspire and connect with others.

The plot of the book is about Marilyn and David Sorenson’s journey from their ardent courtship in the 1970s to the present, in 2016. Right now, Grace, Wendy, Violet, and Liza, their four kids, are still at odds with one another.
Each daughter faces unique challenges. Wendy, a blunt widow, copes with her grief through alcohol.

Stay-at-home mother Violet is obsessed with living the ideal life. Liza, who recently became pregnant, finds it difficult to deal with her emotions toward the father and the child. The youngest, Grace, has a secretive existence that the other members of the family are unaware of. Jonah Bendt, the son Violet put up for adoption when she was twenty, arrives, upsetting the family and causing a string of turbulent incidents. Every family member is forced to face their history and present as a result of Jonah’s presence, which uncovers latent conflicts and unsolved concerns.

The narrative skillfully veers between the past and present, incorporating flashbacks of a young Marilyn and David into the present. During a reading, Lombardo revealed that she had not originally intended to include these memories. She started writing them as a way to get to know the characters better, but she ended up being enamored with David and Marilyn’s tale. By providing insight into the past, these flashbacks enhance the current familial relationships in the book. As the reader explores deeper into the parents’ romance, it becomes abundantly clear how their connection affects their daughters, which gives the events taking place additional depth and poignancy.

The interactions within the novel span a spectrum from sharp and cutting to tender and affectionate, creating a familial fabric that feels both intricate and relatable. Real emotions are conveyed through dialogue, where certain statements hold different meanings for each character, resonating deeply with their individual perspectives.

The sisters’ exchanges are laden with cattiness. This serves almost as a form of currency between them. Each chapter brims with snarky remarks and subtle judgments that echo the dynamics of many sibling relationships. This relatability is what makes this novel unique, as Lombardo illuminates the private lives of one family while inviting readers to reflect on their own familial experiences.

The Most Fun We Ever Had delves deeply into the tangled web of family life through themes of sisterly banter, the complexities of parental love, unexpected pregnancies, and a myriad of other familial dramas. Lombardo skillfully paints an honest and thought-provoking portrait of our closest relationships and captures the messy yet beautiful dynamics that define family bonds.

Same As It Ever Was continues Lombardo’s signature style. NPR highly praises the book for its immersive storytelling and absorbing qualities. Her debut novel celebrated as ambitious and brilliantly written by the Washington Post, introduced a complex family and intricate marital dynamics that resonated with readers. Dubbed the literary love child of Jonathan Franzen and Anne Tyler by The Guardian, Lombardo’s ability to weave together humor, emotional intelligence, and compelling narratives shines through once again in this remarkable follow-up.
At the heart of this book is the protagonist, Julia Ames, who, after a troubled youth filled with upheaval, finds herself in the serene plateau of mid-life. Despite her current stability, Julia has never experienced life with the calm calmness of her current privileged status. She has navigated numerous personal crises and yearned for connections that seemed perpetually out of reach. Now, at fifty-seven, she finally believes she has a firm grip on her life.

Julia Ames faces unexpected challenges that disrupt her sense of stability: her straight-arrow son’s surprising announcement, her spikey teenage daughter’s impending separation, and a resurgence of past temptations threaten to unravel the careful balance she’s finally achieved.
Lombardo’s novel delves into the complexities of real-life relationships and carefully navigates the themes of maternal ambivalence, intergenerational dynamics, and the unpredictable chain reactions that shape our lives. Through her narrative, Lombardo skillfully explores how relationships evolve, transform, and sometimes come to an end, establishing herself as a masterful navigator of the human heart and solidifying her place among today’s most talented novelists.