Series are a hard thing to bring off in literary fiction. So it’s remarkable that over the last twenty five years Elizabeth Strout has now woven ten novels into one continuous fictional universe. Her smalltown New England, centred around the town of Shirley Falls, Maine has evolved through three central characters: cantankerous maths teacher Olive Kitteridge; good-hearted lawyer Bob Burgess and his brother Jim; and novelist Lucy Barton. Each of these has been introduced via their own set of novels, and after two decades Strout, Infinity War style, brings them all together in this new addition to the Stroutiverse.

Ostensibly this has far more of a plot than any previous book. Bob, who carries it, takes the case of a Shirley Falls loner whose mothers body has been discovered in suspicious circumstances. In a parallel plot Bob is befriended by Lucy and during their long walks together he finds himself falling in love with her, and out of love with his pastor wife Margaret.

Rest assured Strout fans this is neither a thriller (though armed police do turn up at one point) nor a romance. Rather these serve as scaffolds for the story to bring together the characters. Lucy, who has settled in Maine with ex-husband William; Olive, now a resident in a care home for the elderly; and Bob who has to grapple once more with his feelings about his uber-successful brother Jim. This is a return to many of the key themes Strout has explored. Childhood trauma and how it stays with us as adults (both Lucy and Bob continue to try to come to terms with exceptionally difficult backgrounds); the power of stories to connect us (Olive and Lucy and Bob and Lucy spend hours telling each other stories from their lives); and above all how ageing can drive us into isolation from even our closest friends and family.

Her perfectly turned sentences and unerring pitch for the rhythms of conversation are all present and correct. Always meditative, Tell Me Everything sees Barton turn the screw one notch more on her characters as illness and old age make them contemplate the end. What do we best do with the time we have left? Are we going to hold grudges and slights or reach out to those around us?

The stroutiverse has its limits. Those in material poverty are the subjects of stories rather than protagonists. Her cast of characters exhibit a high degree of articulacy and sensitivity. But it’s a pleasure to spend a few hours with them and their honest attempts to wrestle with their relationships past and present. This feels like a conclusion and it will be fascinating to see where she goes next.

4.5 stars. Elizabeth Strout’s writing is like the adult equivalent of fairy stories for children - there is such a comfort within the words, and some subtle life lessons to be picked up along the way. Tell me Everything is no exception.

I love the Amgash world that she has created, all the interwoven stories and characters lives intersecting. Crosby is as much a character as any person is, I feel that I could go there, it seems so real from the writing.

This book is about unrecorded lives and the sharing of them, I think that is what all of the books are about really; the quiet but astonishing-in-their-own-way lives that are being lived every day with no witness. There is also a mystery element in that a murder has taken place and the perpetrator is not known at the beginning. The breadcrumbs leading the reader to the conclusion are perfectly spaced and fully engrossing.

It was lovely to get to know more about Bob Burgess and what a thoroughly kind-hearted man I always suspected he was. Elizabeth doesn’t shy away from showing us his flaws but this just makes him more genuine.

The scenes with Olive and Lucy exchanging stories were amazing. These two women, both powerhouses in their own right, sharing their observations and memories, sometimes prickling each other but always drawn back to their meetings as they are both keen consumers of knowledge of the human condition.

On the face of it, this book is about the ordinary (murder aside!) but it just sparkles with the true element of what make live worth living.

Tell Me Everything, Strout can do no wrong and nobody currently writing can come close to her brand of wonder, warmth and wisdom. This book exceeded all my expectations, every single sentence was a joy to read. I could list superlatives all day long about Elizabeth Strout but I will restrain myself. My overriding feeling when savouring this novel was how much of a gift it is to Strout's readers and how much she loves and cares for her characters. I have no notes, this book is perfect. Vibrating with ordinary everyday wonder , beauty and love. I am so glad Olive and Lucy got to meet.
All the stars, already looking forward to returning to this book and cant wait to get a copy on publication day.
Nobody does it better.

I still really liked this, but it‘s not my favourite ‘Lucy Barton‘ book, but my expectations were sky-high. As well as Lucy, Bob Burgess is highly featured, as is Olive Kitteridge.

Early on, there were too many disparate threads and inconsequential stories about characters we‘d never met before. The book soon picked up though, as Bob becomes involved in a murder investigation - I wished this had been the whole focus of the book.

A brilliant, wonderful book.

If you’re a Strout fan all you need to know is that, in this book, Lucy Barton meets Olive Kitteridge, and it’s all you could hope for.

If you’ve not read her work - several previous novels/short stories feature Lucy and Olive - then this book is as good a place as any to start. Strout’s work is about people (often older ones) and stories, not so much about plot - so you don’t have to start at the beginning. She supplies what you need to know, and makes you curious to go back and learn more.

This is the story of Bob Burgess, his family, and friends.

Bob’s a good man, who doesn’t have this awareness of himself. A semi-retired attorney, keeping busy helping people in the small Maine town of Crosby, he takes regular walks with his best friend, recently arrived novelist Lucy Barton. They share a unique, intimate friendship, each sparking joy and comfort in the other, which they acknowledge in their hearts, but rarely discuss.

Lucy visits the elderly Olive Kitteridge, introduced by a mutual friend who knows of their shared love of stories. They take turns to tell stories they have heard, or from their own experience, of “unrecorded lives”, remarkable tales of ordinary people. These stories often come to reflect and comment, sometimes quite obliquely, on the events surrounding them.

Stories of unrecorded lives could be a description of Strout’s books, and Lucy’s and Olive’s exchanges reminded me of her short stories.

This is a beautiful book, told with Strout’s gift for powerful and vivid economy - not always a lot of words, but just the right ones. It reflects on the way in which our friendships, marriages, and relationships with our parents and children change as we get older, and it asks, how well can we know anyone else?

There is great warmth here, and such insightful humanity in Strout’s understanding of the small things that can kindle love (and loathing), and an awareness of the seams of tragedy which darken so many families, but which need to be borne for survival’s sake.

I absolutely loved it.

Once again, Elizabeth Strout's writing is beautiful and transported me to the heart of this small town. On the surface it is a simple story but in describing the thoughts and feelings and interactions encountered in everyday life it explores the complexity of each character in great depth and it does this so well it left me feeling I know them better than they know themselves, especially Bob. There is so much within this novel that is relateable and wise. It's a wonderful addition to Strout's novels.

I haven't read any of the author's previous books, although they have been on my radar with good intentions for some time. Because of this, I probably didn't get the full benefit from this title but still enjoyed the story and the setting. It has given me the resolve to go back and read more and find out the background of this town and its inhabitants.

Tell Me Everything is vintage, quintessential Elizabeth Strout, notable for the fact that it unites three of her best beloved characters - Olive Kitteridge, Lucy Barton, and Bob Burgess. In some ways, the book sounds really action-packed and plot heavy - there is a murder, a suicide, a death, a surprise wedding, and a near affair - but it really isn't. Saying it's a book where two older women are introduced and frequently get together to share stories and where two friends meet regularly to walk and talk is also true and arguably more accurate. For this is actually a quiet book where plot is almost beside the point. Rather, it is the background against which the characters learn more about themselves and each other, while also realising that people, themselves included, are fairly unknowable. There is a strong focus on the purpose of stories and of life itself, an emphasis on being human and the ties, especially love in all its forms, which bind us to each other. One of the highlights for me was seeing Bob Burgess go out of his way to help another character, someone he could have treated solely as a client, and witnessing the huge positive impact his actions had. As always, Strout treats her characters gently, with real tenderness and compassion. Readers who love her previous books won't be disappointed; those who aren't fans won't be converted. While this could be read as a standalone, my personal opinion is that Strout newbies would miss a lot by starting here. With that caveat, this is a book I'd recommend to anyone looking for a quiet, character driven novel that's warm and undeniably human.

Many thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for this eArc. Tell Me Everything releases this week in the US and next week in the UK.

If you haven't read any of the author's books before, this is not the place to start.

I'd met everyone in this book before. In this book some of the previous characters link up, as in Lucy Barton beginning to visit Olive Kitteridge in her retirement home to share stories. Following on from the previous book (Lucy by the Sea) which was set in the pandemic Lucy is still with her ex husband and now forming a stronger friendship with Bob Burgess through their walks. Some of the backstory is repeated but really to get the most out of this book you need to have read the previous ones.

How I have enjoyed meeting all the characters from Elizabeth's previous books again. It was like reminiscing with old friends and hearing new stories too. I think you need to be a fan of this style of slow paced character led writing to fully appreciate this book. Not too much actually happens in terms of a plot, apart from a potential murder. It is however packed with Elizabeth's signature on point descriptive prose about people, their actions and inner thoughts. I can understand how she observes to create character traits but how she fabricates characters inner thoughts so well, I do not know.

I still love the Olive Kitteridge character the most. In this book she is now in her 90s but still going strong. With her opinions very much still freely voiced. My one takeaway from this book will be "Just life... that's all it is life".

This wonderful, moving book tells many stories of different lives and longer tales of a few, closer relationships. It is ultimately about love. It is beautifully written and I loved it, even more than the previous books by this writer. I can not recommend it highly enough.

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
Publication date: 19 September 2024
Thank you to Viking Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s autumn in Maine, and lawyer Bob Burgess has become enmeshed in an unfolding murder investigation. He has also fallen into a deep and abiding friendship with the acclaimed writer Lucy Barton. Together, Lucy and Bob go on walks and talk about their lives, their fears and regrets, and what might have been.

I'm glad I read Oh, William and Olive Kitteridge before so I had already been introduced to Olive, William and Lucy - although I had never met Bob - and I think this familiarity increased my enjoyment of this book.
This is very much a character study, and there is very little plot, but Strout’s writing really works for me. Even though this deals with some truly difficult topics, there is a kind of cosiness and comfort to these characters and their lives. There is a great sense of place, and I love the dialogue. This is altogether quiet and understated, and even though there is an added murder mystery, it is by no means the focus of the books. This is about people and their lives, as imperfect as they are; it's about love, grief, loneliness and - very importantly - friendship.
I have loved every single book by this author that I have read (three so far,) and I will absolutely seek everything else she's written.

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Strout, so I was beyond thrilled to receive two copies from @vikingbooksuk and @penguinbooksireland. This book continues the life in Crosby, Maine, following on from “Lucy by the Sea,” and reunites all the main characters from the Strout universe. If you are a fan of her writing, this is a must-read.

In this novel, Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, and Bob Burgess are all friends. The story centres around Bob Burgess, a small-town Maine lawyer representing a shy, lonely man accused of murdering his mother. The mystery itself isn’t overly complex; rather, it serves as a vehicle to explore the themes and emotions in the central characters’ lives. Bob is at a crossroads, grappling with his growing feelings for his best friend, Lucy Barton, as they take riverside walks and share their stories and problems. Bob is such a decent person, though he doesn’t realize it, but everyone around him adores him.

Meanwhile, Lucy is becoming friends with Olive, who now lives in a retirement home. They share stories of “unrecorded lives,” people they’ve known over the years, in an effort to help these individuals leave a mark on the world. I loved how storytelling was used to reveal the lives of the town’s inhabitants. The characters are so rich and real, and the relationships are beautifully complicated.

Suffice it to say, I absolutely adored this book. Strout’s writing is, as always, simply divine. From the first page, I felt like I was back in Maine. The characters she creates are so rich and real, and the relationships are so beautifully complicated. It’s just glorious.

If you are already a Strout fan, run out and grab this book. If you are new to Strout, I’m jealous that you have all these incredible books to discover. I recommend starting with “My Name is Lucy Barton” to get a deeper understanding of the characters before you pick this one up.

Just perfection for a Strout fan!

Opening a new Elizabeth Strout novel is like meeting old friends for the first time in years, and carrying on exactly from where you left off when you last saw them, years ago, and in the same place, which itself is just as familiar as ever.

In “Tell Me Everything” Strout has brought together characters from her other novels, including retired school teacher Olive Kitteridge, author Lucy Barton, and lawyer Bob Burgess.

Although the main plot involves the progress of Bob Burgess’ defence of a murder suspect, this reader’s interest was held more by the developing interpersonal relationships between the characters, demonstrated, for example, as Lucy and Olive swap gossipy stories, or when Lucy and Bob walk, talk and philosophise together.

Parts of this novel made me smile with amusement, parts made me stop reading just to ponder an insight suggested by some detail, I was keen to discover how the murder was resolved, and most of all I wanted to know how relationships between the beautifully depicted characters developed.

I recommend that those who have not already read the author’s previous books featuring these characters read at least some of those before opening this beautiful novel.

As a longtime fan of Elizabeth Strout I was delighted to get early access to her latest offering, and I must say it didn’t disappoint. It was like going back to visit the town and some of the folks we got to know in earlier books. I guess it could be read as a standalone book, but better to read Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton first, to get the richness of the characters and the community. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

It's like a warm hug when you are reunited with these characters. Elizabeth Strout delivers monumental issues through a very local lens, and this is right on target, like so many of her previous novels. I do wonder if someone who has not read her previous novels may have a very different take compared to those of us already familiar with the backstories.

I thoroughly enjoyed the reunion and thank you NetGalley for the SRC

I love Elizabeth Strout.

She could write instructions for watching paint dry and I would read it.

She writes exactly the kind of books I love to read and I was so excited to hear there was a new book from her.

This books is about both Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton, thought it’s more of a sequel to the Oliver Kitteridge books.

I loved the use of storytelling to tell us about the inhabitants of the town. All the characters are so rich and real, all the relationships are so complicated and beautiful.

An Elizabeth Strout book will always be 5 stars to me and this is no exception.

Ordinary people, normal day to day conversations, still Elizabeth Strout can make a good novel from these. Oh, Elizabeth.

How can you not love a book that contains Olive Kitteridge, Lucy Barton and Bob Burgess?

Reading Tell Me Everything will be pure pleasure for Elizabeth Strout fans, although this is not a good place to start your Strout journey. It requires the previous knowledge built up over the previous seven titles.

I found the storytelling device a little annoying, but I am not a fan of frame stories, which this leans towards in some of the scenes. I was much happier with the main story about Bob - gentle, kind, honourable Bob - who doesn't know himself as well as others do, but comes to realise what kind of man he wants to be.

With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
https://bronasbooks.com/2024/09/08/tell-me-everything-elizabeth-strout/

As with all Ms Strout's books this is a slow burn read and the reader needs to allow themselves to relax into its rhythm. It was lovely to catch up with familiar characters and I always enjoy her ability to make ordinary lives shine with the emphasis that every life matters and individual's stories shine.
Thank you to netgalley and Penguin for an advance copy of this book

Tell Me Everything is my second Elizabeth Strout book having previously read My Name Is Lucy Barton as part of a book group. I really struggled with Tell Me Everything and it would have been a DNF had I not received a galley copy to review. There were a lot of characters and I resorted to writing lists to try and keep track of them all and how they related. Some had whole stories but never appeared again in the rest of the book.

The theme of the book is Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge (who I understand are main characters in other novels by the same author) swapping stories. As a reader I felt like I was overhearing conversations without beginning, end or lasting impact. Rather more a stream of inner thoughts and analysis of other people’s actions and conversations. One chapter was on two characters discussing envy.

I’m all for slow and meandering books if they are good for the soul but I found this dull and exhausting with so many stories that just fizzled out. It really wasn’t for me but I can see that this book will appeal to others, especially fans of Elizabeth Strout’s style of writing. Maybe reading her previous books would be helpful so you’d be familiar with the very many characters mentioned. With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.