A review by georgianagligor
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This is the story of the Sorenson family, made up of David and Marilyn and their four daughters (Wendy, Violet, Liza and Grace)

We have 1 chapter told in the present tense of the story, 1 chapter which recounts past episodes that have some sort of tie to the present of the story. In the past parts, we see the story from when the parents met, got married, moved, had their brood of children and develloped as a family. In the present tense the accent is placed on the children, without following a certain succession. Wendy and her problematic growing up experience, to Violet who is scared to show her feelings towards a son she gave up in the past, afraid it would ruin her picture perfect family. Liza stuck with a guy with depression who is stuck in his vicious cycle that prevents his development. And Grace, who is never seen as an adult. She doesn't see herself as an adult and floats for a year away from her family in the failure of getting into law school.

In a way, although parents have the intention of offering a strong model of how a relationship should be like, they set their children up with a high bar. David and Marilyn are the sort of couple everyone wants to be. But kids are ultimately their own people, with their own insecurities and opportunities for development, which doesn't ensure their life will go according to the original high bar set for them by their parents.

However, even if all is complicated, being together and in each other's camp will still make existence be "the most fun we ever had" despite of all the hops along the way. 





Expand filter menu Content Warnings