Member Reviews

Loved this book so much. The conversational way its written is absolutely wonderful. You feel like you're sitting at the side of these people who are having conversations that seem so realistic. Alongside all these chats is a story of an elderly woman who went missing and how her son is a bit odd and perhaps, has done something to her. Along comes Bob Burgess, a criminal lawyer with his own sad past who thinks he can help Matt, the son of the missing woman. As it goes on, we find out more and more about the people in the town and you feel like you are part of the community. I loved this book. fully recommend! Beautifully written!

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Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton in the same novel. What joy! But it's really about another character, Bob Burgess. It's a love story and it's about hope and about wanting to make your mark.
And it's another wonderful Elizabeth Strout novel.

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Tell Me Everything" by Elizabeth Strout cleverly brings together characters from her previous novels. I found it had more action and intrigue, especially the "will they, won't they" romance. It’s a compelling read, if not totally satisfying read.

Despite being a short novel with a lot of characters, Strout has a talent for swiftly colouring each personality. It’s particularly evident in her portrayal of Bob Burgess, a refreshing change from the many crappy male characters I tend to read. Spending time with Bob is a pleasure.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy for review.

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This is only the second book I have read by this author, the previous being Oh! William. Lucy Barton and William are living in Maine. Bob Burgess is there too. These are characters from previous books in the series. It's a story full of stories. Not much going on but it sort of compels the reader to carry on. Clever writing. Not sure that I will catch up on the earlier books, or read anything that might follow.

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The way Elizabeth Strout involves you in the lives of her characters is an incredible achievement. She is a real talent.

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I can definitely see the appeal of Elizabeth Strout's books and the recurring characters within. I've only read a few so don't have the same warm hug and familiarity as many readers do but I appreciate the writing. "Tell Me Everything" is the latest in her books and I like that it is full of little stories about everyday life. I had to be in the mood to read it and I think I might just go back and start at the beginning of her oeuvre.

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A cast of familiar names come together in this latest Elizabeth Strout oeuvre. If you want to know what happened to Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton - and don't forget those Burgess boys - then this is where you will find the answers. A murder mystery and some new characters ensure that this is well worth the read.

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A novel where all of Strout's stories converge, where Olive Kitteridge becomes friends with Lucy Barton who had meanwhile, along with William, moved to Bob Burgess' neck of the woods. I had the feeling of being at a dinner party of dear friends. Very nice though not overwhelming, more of a sunset than a high noon.

Un romanzo dove convergono tutte le storie della Strout, dove Olive Kitteridge diventa amica di Lucy Barton che nel frattempo, assieme a William, si era trasferita dalle parti di Bob Burgess. Ho avuto la sensazione di trovarmi ad una cena di cari amici. Molto bello anche se non travolgente, piú un tramonto che un mezzogiorno di fuoco.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

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Wow I am so happy to see Lucy and Olive in one town one place. Hard to say how much I enjoyed this book, I love Lucy and Olive and the men well they are lucky to have one hour in their presence!!

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Elizabeth Stroud has a way of taking us into the lives of the most ordinary people but making them extraordinary. Beautifully told.

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Thoroughly enjoyed this, where we meet characters such as Lucy Barton, William, Bob Burgess, Olive Kitteridge and more. Strout makes us feel like we know them well already, and having read earlier books, I certainly feel like I do.
At first, I was a bit worried that the story arc was a bit contrived to bring together characters from other books, but you don’t think that as the book progresses. I love the setting of the book between Crosby and Shirley Falls in Maine. I need to google if these are real places, I’d love to visit, but then I’d be one of the tourists that Bob doesn’t particularly like.
For most of the book, I was thinking there is no real story to the book, but actually it’s all brought together in a meaningful way in the latter half of the book, which brings out all the feels.
The book is published in 19th September in Ireland, and earlier in other places. I read an advance copy via Netgalley with thanks to @vikingbooksuk @penguinbooksireland #gifted

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The continuing saga of Olive Kitteridge, Lucy Barton and friends has the usual tension, passion and variation.
The main characters are by the laws of nature getting older giving the reader insights into how older minds work.
Events include a murder, suicide, love stories, terrible accidents, fallings out, revelations, discoveries and remembrances.
Although the events in this episode are in places somewhat slower than in previous books the tension is present throughout.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Once again Elizabeth Strout takes us into the ordinary lives of everyday people and somehow makes them innately fascinating. Olive Kitteridge is now elderly and living in a nursing home in Crosby, Maine. She hasn’t changed from the fierce woman who speaks her mind, but seems content with her best friend Isabelle to talk to every day and visits from Bob Burgess. One day she tells Bob she wants to meet his friend, the writer Lucy Barton, as she has a story to tell her. That is the start of a sort of friendship between Lucy and Olive, where they tell each other stories, often gentle, unremarkable ones, of what they come to call ‘undocumented lives’. Stories of love and loss, friendship and loneliness that happen to ordinary people, just living their everyday lives.

The events happen over the course of a year with the turning of the seasons heralding changes in the people and their relationships. The novel revolves around Bob Burgess and his friendship with Lucy Barton as well as with Matt, a man accused of killing his mother. Along the way, there are conflicts, revelations, unresolved issues within families, love lost and found. All displayed in Strout’s intimate and immersive style with love and poignancy.

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I was so thrilled to get the opportunity to read Tell Me Everything and found it a real comfort to be back in Crosby, Maine with a host of familiar characters. It’s very difficult to do justice to an Elizabeth Strout novel in a review, her style of writing is unique- simple and yet profound and I’m in awe of it every time I read one of her books. She captures so much in a few words and once again I was completely drawn into the world of Lucy, Bob, Olive and others. It is very much a character based novel, focused on relationships with a few very loose plot lines. It’s a very contemplative novel which reflects on issues including childhood trauma and loneliness. Even if you haven’t read the author’s previous novels this works well as a standalone. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars

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The story revisits characters we have met in the authors previous novels set in a seaside town in Maine. I had read seven of the previous novels and it was like meeting old friends however I think the book could equally well be read as a standalone novel.
The author has such a unique voice. I would know I was reading one of her books just from picking a random page.
The sections from the pandemic were particularly poignant I liked the way that she didn’t dwell on them, but rather introduced little vignettes in a positive way
I loved the little cameo characters the woman who had seen years ago after a funeral as a child through a car window then met years and years later and hug every time they meet
The book touches on issues such as loneliness in a subtle nuanced way the book is really stories of ordinary mundane life , because of this you instantly identify with the characters. I would recommend this book to those who like a primarily character or relationship based novel if you have enjoyed her previous novels then you will love this one too.

I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is published in the UK on the 19th of September 2024 by Penguin General UK.

This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK

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Last year I was sad to wave goodbye to Elizabeth Strout’s Amgash serious but was fortunate enough to get to meet Olive Kitteridge next.

Here are two fascinating literary characters not easily forgotten and I loved every single book in both series.

Now imagine my glee when I found out that Strout’s upcoming Tell Me Everything marries the two and ta-daaa: we have a book in which Lucy and Olive finally meet. I mean what could possibly be better?

Yes, Olive is still cantankerous Olive and Lucy is also very much the same, but their blossoming friendship is beautiful to witness. And of course, there’s so much more.

If you love Strout’s books, this one won’t disappoint. I’m so grateful to #NetGalleyBooks for my early eARC and so sad, that I now don’t have anything else to look forward to… yep, my love for these books is real.

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Another classic from Elizabeth Strout featuring Olive Kitteridge and her eclectic mix of friends and their families. Bob Burgess has landed himself a case defending a man accused of murdering his mother. This brings to the fore his feelings about accidentally killing his own father as a child. Bob and Lucy Barton take walks and tell each other their stories. Lucy also spends afternoons with Olive and they too tell stories. This essentially is what this book is about, the stories of our lives…..”unrecorded lives” as Olive describes them.
These characters are a delight even with or maybe because of all their flaws. A must read.

Thanks to NetGalley.co.uk and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

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I have read and re-read all of Elizabeth Strout's books over last few years. Getting to read this one early was very much like Christmas and birthday rolled together. I was worried about having high expectations and also about all my favourite characters coming together. Completely unnecessarily. Olive, Lucy and Bob were just being themselves, but together. I loved how the book contained multiple short stories within that in some way connected everybody. It was beautifully written. So gentle and just lovely, I'm not sure how as a lot of I was heartbreaking. But that's just life I suppose. I do hope we will get to meet Lucy, Olive and Bob again.

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I finally dove into Elizabeth Strout’s lauded world with “Tell Me Everything,” looking forward to the magic so many readers rave about. Unfortunately, the charm I was expecting never materialized.

The novel, set in the familiar town of Crosby, Maine, revolves around lawyer Bob Burgess and his entanglement in a local murder case. Weaving in the narrative of Bob’s burgeoning friendship with writer Lucy Barton offered some initial intrigue. But the story quickly meandered, failing to capture my attention. I didn’t finish the book. The slow pacing and lack of emotional engagement left me unmotivated to continue.

For those seeking a character-driven exploration of small-town life, “Tell Me Everything” might hold some appeal. However, if you’re looking for a captivating plot or a surge of emotions, this might not be for you.

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Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

We return to the setting of Elizabeth Strout's previous books in Maine, and this time focus on Bob Burgess and Lucy Barton along with a few other well-known characters like Olive Kitteridge.

Wow, what an incredible writer Elizabeth Strout is! Her prose reminds me of Anne Tyler but really she is in a class of her own - absolutely brilliant and I loved every page of it. I want to reread all the previous ones now. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

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