This was a quick and thoughtful read. Elizabeth Strout writes amazing characters. Divorce is still a raw subject for me but I appreciated how she handled it.

I love Elizabeth Strout, so I was excited to get to enjoy the newest! As always, it's thoughtful and deep and moving. I will say, while Strout's books are all technically standalone, I think the most is gained from reading them in order (depending on the universe). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

A quietly powerful novel about isolation, connection, and resilience during the early days of the pandemic. Lucy’s voice is introspective and vulnerable, making the small moments feel profound. It’s not plot-heavy, but deeply emotional and reflective. Beautifully written.

Elizabeth Strout has taken the strangeness and fear felt by the majority during the early days of the covid lockdown and channelled them into LUCY BY THE SEA. Lucy is sheltering in a small Maine community where the isolation is complete. A deeply emotional story that so many of us recognize as part of our own experiences.

Great twisty read, perfect for a rainy weekend read!

Kept me guessing all the way through.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Lucy By The Sea by Elizabeth Strout

About a divorced couple stuck together during lockdown and the love, loss, and hope that animate us even as the world seems to be falling apart.

It was okay. Sharing the feelings and losses that occurred during the COVID-19 panic.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. You can find yours here: https://www.amazon.com/Lucy-Sea-Novel-Elizabeth-Strout-ebook/dp/B09VWWN5BJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36G5Z1JKG4USP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QL406rJ29c_dVNUIxywlXMD_TTGCXfsuvlok29pRoI2oonDGXCgFUuHwaTFgnLbvhpLasdvo9DGl_C0N1YM4mDnyJ9dVsKV604JAntDlXj8JqgRujrD2QxwQkxK5V_kEsP70Ejd8gi2GhTXXqSLv4CaFoMnZowy92Oi9lmSeWz7LIiWO-X3g2lsmGmtRGeiRy7qmmTL_NDfwKN5GW3V1lZHdUOHdPb1SRZW8BcB5GZQ.cDOswSdHW7Q7lzyBQqBMIFRFOgM7c6Hu4i4zOq6GbqM&dib_tag=se&keywords=lucy+by+the+sea+elizabeth+strout&qid=1721598447&sprefix=lucy+by+%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-1

Lucy by the Sea is a 2022 novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout. It is the fourth book in her Amgash series, following Olive Kitteridge, My Name Is Lucy Barton, and Anything Is Possible.

The novel is set in March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic is beginning to spread around the world. Lucy Barton, a writer living in New York City, is summoned by her ex-husband, William Gerhardt, to come and stay with him in his empty beach house in Maine. William, a parasitologist, is concerned about Lucy's health and safety, and he wants her to be away from the city as the pandemic worsens.

Lucy is reluctant to leave her life in New York, but she eventually agrees to go to Maine. She and William spend the next several months together in the beach house, isolated from the rest of the world. As the pandemic rages, they are forced to confront their past relationship, their present circumstances, and their hopes for the future.

Lucy by the Sea is a poignant and moving novel about love, loss, and hope. Strout writes with her usual empathy and insight, capturing the fear, isolation, and uncertainty of the pandemic years. The novel is also a testament to the power of human connection, even in the darkest of times.

One of the things that makes Lucy by the Sea so special is its realism. Strout does not shy away from the difficult aspects of the pandemic, such as the fear, the grief, and the loneliness. But she also finds moments of beauty and hope in the midst of the chaos.

The novel is also notable for its complex portrayal of love and relationships. Lucy and William are a divorced couple, but they still care deeply for each other. Their time together in Maine forces them to confront their past and their present, and it ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of each other.

Lucy by the Sea is a powerful and unforgettable novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a must-read for anyone who has experienced the pandemic, or for anyone who has ever loved and lost.

Here are some additional thoughts on the novel:

Strout does a wonderful job of capturing the feeling of isolation and uncertainty that many people experienced during the pandemic. The novel is full of small moments of fear and anxiety, which add to the overall sense of suspense.
The novel also explores the power of human connection. Even though Lucy and William are isolated from the rest of the world, they find ways to connect with each other and with the natural world around them.
Lucy by the Sea is a hopeful novel, despite its dark subject matter. Strout believes in the power of love, resilience, and the human spirit. The novel ends on a note of optimism, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better future.
Overall, Lucy by the Sea is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel. It is a must-read for anyone who has experienced the pandemic, or for anyone who has ever loved and lost.

I haven't jumped at books that cover the pandemic, but I couldn't resist an Elizabeth Strout novel that did. Strout is an excellent and this was no exception, Lucy and William's story (and a few other characters make an appearance) is quiet and introspective. Lucy by the Sea is a lovely few hours well spent in their company.

“It is a gift in this life that we do not know what awaits us.”

This is my third Elizabeth Strout's book and just like the other two, the story grips me in a way that's quite hard to explain. Elizabeth Strout's writing is very gentle and comforting. Even though I am much younger than the characters, I feel very connected to them. The story felt so personal and poignant.

What to say about this one? I will tell you this: it’s not any different than the others. The voice of Lucy is true to her previous incarnations. Olive is mentioned a couple of times. That is what I know.

The story is truly dark, there’s nothing pleasant about it. It is set during the pandemic with mentions of BLM and the attack on the capital. That is it.

None of these characters are likable, there are trigger warnings aplenty here. If you are not in the right headspace then pick this up at a later time. After 2 dark reads, I definitely need to turn to lighter fare.

Oh and the simplistic dialogue, almost juvenile. If this is what it’s like to age into my 70s God help me.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.
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Lucy Barton returns in this fourth edition to the Amgash series, Lucy reflects on the virus which resulted in a pandemic. She thinks about how this unexpected event was scary and created a lot of uncertainty. People were wearing masks and needing to maintain “social distancing” from others. It was such a reminder of the Flu Epidemic in 1918. Although William is her ex-husband, he has always remained her closest friend. He takes her to a house on the Maine coast to help alleviate her worries. Everyone needed to “lock down” where they were to avoid transmission or vulnerability to the virus. All this together time provides a unique opportunity to reminisce on the past both good and bad such as their kids and infidelities. They discussed people in their lives over the years and how far they have come from meager beginnings. Together they conclude how their lives have changed over the years and their shared memories sustain their continued connection.

Very affecting early COVID novel about the abruptness of departure from normal life during an epidemic, and the inexplicable isolation that follows.

I really enjoyed this book, no doubt Elizabeth Strout is a brilliant passionate writer. I wasn’t sure I was ready to read a pandemic book but she does such a great job and the characters really capture your interest.

I tried multiple times to read this book but I couldn't get into it. I was so excited because everyone is talking about it but it just wasn't for me.

First let me start off with I have read other books by Elizabeth Strout and love them. However, I had difficulty connecting with this one. It read more like someone’s personal journal written during the COVID lockdown.
Thank you #NetGalley, #PenguinRandomHouse, #ElizabethSrout and #LucybytheSea for the novel for my honest review.

Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout was a book I wasn't even sure I wanted to read. I have read other pandemic books and was sure Strout couldn't capture what I was looking for. I wasn't sure I could be entertained by a divorced couple forced to live together in Maine. But I gave it a shot. Chapter one turned into 10. I found my self wondering what Lucy and William were up to as I settled back down to read another few chapters. Lucy by the Sea read more like a memoir to me than a fictional story. I was intrigued from chapter one on. Strout captured exactly how we were all feeling during the pandemic; the uncertainty, death, fear, isolation, and family. It all brought back so many memories to me. Strout also had some very wise advise throw into the story, I loved hearing about Lucy and William's day to day lives. It didn't even dawn on me that I knew Lucy and William from Strout's previous work, Oh William. I now need to go back and see where the Lucy story begins.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Lucy Strout, and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 5 stars for me.
#LucybytheSea #NetGalley

I really struggled to get through this book, but there is *something* about Lucy and this Amgash series that just manages to stick with me long after I’ve read it. This review is months delayed (sorry!) but I think I would have rated it lower had I reviewed it right away. Did I love this book? No. Would I read another book about Lucy and Amgash? Yes, absolutely. 100% Can I put my finger on why? Not really-but I can tell you it REALLY makes me think about every interaction and relationship I have, so Elizabeth Strout is doing something right.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I enjoy Elizabeth Strout's writing and I really like the character of Lucy. I started reading this latest book featuring Lucy and went in blind. I had no idea that the story took place during the pandemic. I don't think I properly prepared myself.

I think we gravitate towards Lucy because she speaks plainly and it feels as if you're just listening to a friend.

Strout deftly captured the feelings of the world, I think, when she write about the first stages of the lock-down in this book. But there really isn't much of a story here. I normally enjoy the simplistic writing style and Lucy's mannerisms but here, she and William (her ex-husband) come across as a bit pretentious and privileged.

The events of the book are poignant as we have all been there, but I just didn't enjoy this as much as the previous Lucy books.

This is the fourth Lucy Barton novel I have read, and I have enjoyed all of them for the beautifully written, character-driven stories. At the start of the Covid 19 pandemic Lucy is taken from New York City to a small town in Maine by her ex-husband William to keep her safe. During isolation she reflects on past regrets, grief, fear, and her connections with her family.