Claire Lombardo presents Same As It Ever Was

In her ambitious sophomore novel, SAME AS IT EVER WAS —another elegant and tumultuous story in the tradition of Elizabeth Strout, Ann Patchett, Celeste Ng, and Jonathan Franzen—Lombardo introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters, this time by way of a singularly complicated protagonist, showcasing the consummate style, signature wit, knife-sharp dialogue, knotty familial bonds, and profound emotional intelligence that made her debut such a breakout family drama.

After a youth marked by upheaval and emotional turbulence, Julia Ames has found herself on the placid plateau of mid-life. But Julia has never navigated the world with the equanimity of her current privileged class. Having nearly derailed herself several times, making desperate bids for the kind of connection that

always felt inaccessible to her, she finally feels, at age fifty-seven, that she has a firm handle on things. She’s unprepared, though, for what comes next: a surprise announcement from her straight-arrow son, an impending separation from her spikey teenaged daughter, and a seductive resurgence of the past, all of which threaten to draw her back into the patterns that had previously kept her on a razor’s edge.

SAME AS IT EVER WAS traverses the rocky terrain of real life, exploring new avenues of maternal ambivalence, intergenerational friendship, and the happenstantial cause-and-effect that governs us all. Delving even deeper into the nature of relationships—how they grow, change, and sometimes end—Lombardo proves herself a true and definitive cartographer of the human heart and asserts herself among the finest novelists of her generation.

Claire Lombardo is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Most Fun We Ever Had, which was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick and has been optioned for television by Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern. She has taught at the Iowa Writers' Workshop and Grinnell College and lives in Minneapolis, MN.

About Events at M&Q:

These are guidelines only, and if you have questions about the most up to date information, you can always call us at 612-822-4611.

Q: Do I need to register?

A: Please do if at all possible! Use the registration button above. Registering ahead of time helps us with scheduling, book ordering, and other decisions that are made several weeks prior to the event. The more info we have ahead of time, the better.

With a registered list, we can also easily and directly communicate event updates such as postponements or cancellations.

If you are unable to sign up online, please call or visit the bookstore and register with a bookseller.

Walk-ins are always welcome, but seating decisions are made based on registered attendance and seating priority is given to registered attendees first.

Q: Are in store events free?

A: Yes, Magers & Quinn events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Q: Are masks required?

A: Masks are not required to browse in the store or at most events. Some events may come with a request for masking for the health and safety of the author. If so it will be noted here whenever possible.

Q: How should I get there?

A: Please see our Directions & Parking page for the best tips on getting to Magers & Quinn.

https://www.magersandquinn.com/directions

Host or Publisher Magers & Quinn Booksellers