A Mesmerizing Exploration of Life’s Second Acts
You know that feeling when you’re cruising along, thinking you’ve finally got it all figured out, and then—BAM!—life throws you a curveball? That’s exactly where we find Julia Ames, the captivating protagonist of Claire Lombardo’s latest novel, “Same As It Ever Was.” Just when Julia thinks she’s achieved some semblance of stability, the universe decides to shake things up, reminding us all that, well, life has a funny way of keeping us on our toes.
The Delicate Dance of Midlife Mayhem
At 57, Julia Ames is no stranger to life’s ups and downs. She’s weathered her fair share of storms and emerged on the other side, a bit battered but still standing. Now, she’s comfortably ensconced in suburban Chicago, married to the steady and dependable Mark, with two nearly-grown kids. It’s all smooth sailing from here on out, right?
Wrong. So very wrong.
Lombardo masterfully sets the stage for Julia’s world to unravel in spectacular fashion. Her son Ben drops a bombshell—he’s getting married and, oh yeah, his fiancée is pregnant. Meanwhile, her prickly teenage daughter Alma is gearing up to leave the nest, albeit with a hefty dose of teenage angst. And just when Julia thinks she can’t handle any more curveballs, an old friend resurfaces, threatening to dredge up long-buried secrets.
A Symphony of Complicated Relationships
If there’s one thing Lombardo excels at, it’s crafting beautifully complex relationships. The dynamics between Julia and her children are particularly poignant. Ben, once her ally in all things, now seems to be drifting away, while Alma, ever the firecracker, keeps Julia constantly on her toes.
But it’s Julia’s relationship with her own mother, Anita, that really tugs at the heartstrings. Their strained bond, fraught with years of misunderstanding and unmet expectations, serves as a stark reminder of how easily parent-child relationships can go awry. As Julia grapples with her own maternal shortcomings, we’re left wondering: can the cycle of dysfunction ever truly be broken?
“She had never, since Ben, spent this much time physically unaccounted for; she had not, since she was seventeen, since she’d left for college, felt this untethered.”
The Past: A Persistent House Guest
One of the novel’s most compelling aspects is how Lombardo weaves Julia’s past into her present. Through carefully placed flashbacks, we get glimpses of young Julia—rebellious, uncertain, and desperately seeking connection. These snapshots not only provide context for Julia’s current struggles but also highlight how our past selves never truly leave us.
The reappearance of Helen Russo, a figure from Julia’s tumultuous past, serves as a catalyst for much of the novel’s tension. Their rekindled friendship (if you can call it that) is a delicious mix of nostalgia, guilt, and the dangerous allure of what-ifs. It’s like running into your high school crush at a reunion—thrilling, but potentially disastrous.
Lombardo’s Prose: A Rollercoaster of Emotions
Let’s talk about Lombardo’s writing for a sec, because… wow. Her prose is like a fine wine—complex, rich, and leaves you wanting more. She has this uncanny ability to make you laugh out loud one moment and then sucker-punch you with a gut-wrenching observation the next.
Take this gem, for instance:
“Marriage is exhausting in this respect, constant stop-and-start, scrambling to catch up and then wishing you could lag behind again just a little bit.”
I mean, has anyone ever summed up long-term relationships more perfectly?
Style Breakdown:
- Witty dialogue that crackles with authenticity
- Introspective passages that dig deep into the human psyche
- Moments of levity that provide much-needed comic relief
- Vivid descriptions that bring settings and characters to life
Character Spotlight: Julia Ames
Julia is the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for, even when she’s making questionable decisions. She’s flawed, sure, but aren’t we all? Her struggle to reconcile her roles as mother, wife, and individual is something many readers will find achingly familiar.
What sets Julia apart is her raw honesty. She doesn’t sugarcoat her feelings about motherhood or marriage. When she admits to feeling “obsolete” as her children grow up, it’s a punch to the gut for anyone who’s ever felt the sting of empty nest syndrome.
Julia’s Defining Traits:
- Witty and self-deprecating
- Fiercely loyal, sometimes to a fault
- Struggles with feelings of inadequacy
- Yearns for connection while fearing vulnerability
Supporting Cast: A Colorful Ensemble
While Julia is undoubtedly the star of the show, Lombardo populates her world with a cast of characters that are equally compelling:
- Mark: Julia’s steady, sometimes frustratingly even-keeled husband
- Ben: The golden boy whose impending fatherhood shakes things up
- Alma: The sharp-tongued teenager with a heart of gold (buried deep, deep down)
- Sunny: Ben’s pregnant fiancée, who adds a dose of youthful optimism
- Helen Russo: The blast from the past who threatens to upend everything
Each character feels fully realized, with their own quirks, flaws, and moments of growth. It’s like watching a really good ensemble TV show—you find yourself invested in everyone’s story.
Themes: The More Things Change…
As the title suggests, “Same As It Ever Was” grapples with the cyclical nature of life. Lombardo explores how patterns—both good and bad—tend to repeat themselves across generations. Julia’s fraught relationship with her own mother casts a long shadow over her parenting style, while her past mistakes threaten to resurface in her children’s lives.
Other prominent themes include:
- The search for identity in midlife
- The complexities of mother-daughter relationships
- The weight of unresolved past traumas
- The struggle to break free from ingrained patterns
Pacing and Structure: A Delicate Balance
Lombardo employs a non-linear narrative structure, jumping between Julia’s present-day struggles and pivotal moments from her past. This back-and-forth keeps the reader engaged, doling out revelations at just the right moments to keep the pages turning.
The pacing is generally spot-on, though there are a few moments in the middle where things lag a bit. But just when you think things might be getting too comfortable, Lombardo throws in another twist to shake things up.
Comparisons and Context
“Same As It Ever Was” feels like a spiritual successor to Lombardo’s debut novel, “The Most Fun We Ever Had.” Both books share a keen interest in family dynamics and the ways our past shapes our present.
For readers who enjoyed Anne Tyler’s “Clock Dance” or Emma Straub’s “All Adults Here,” Lombardo’s latest offering will feel like a welcome addition to the canon of midlife reinvention stories.
Final Thoughts: A Triumph of Heart and Humor
“Same As It Ever Was” is a novel that sneaks up on you. What starts as a seemingly straightforward story of midlife upheaval evolves into a nuanced exploration of identity, forgiveness, and the possibility of second chances.
Lombardo’s greatest strength lies in her ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. She takes the everyday dramas of family life—arguments over college applications, awkward family dinners, moments of quiet desperation—and imbues them with a sense of urgency and importance.
By the time you turn the last page, you’ll feel like you’ve been on a journey with Julia and her family. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll probably want to call your mom (for better or worse).
So, grab a copy, find a cozy spot, and prepare to lose yourself in the wonderfully complex world of Julia Ames. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself reflecting on your own life choices along the way. After all, as the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same… or do they?
