
📝 The Most Fun We Ever Had Book Review
Claire Lombardo’s The Most Fun We Ever Had is a beautifully complex family drama that follows the Sorenson family across multiple decades. If you love layered storytelling, emotional realism, and messy but lovable characters, this book will pull you right in.
At the center of the story are Marilyn and David, a couple who appear to have it all, a decades-long, passionate marriage and four grown daughters. But as the story unfolds, we discover that even the “perfect” families are full of secrets, resentments, and emotional landmines.
👩👩👧👧 Meet the Sorenson Sisters
The novel flips between past and present, giving us a panoramic view of each sister’s struggles:
- Wendy is sharp-tongued and cynical after personal loss.
- Violet is a former lawyer who feels disconnected from her seemingly perfect life.
- Liza is a professor dating a troubled man.
- Grace, the youngest, is aimless and keeping a huge secret.
When a teenage boy, biological son of one of the sisters, enters their lives, long-buried tensions rise to the surface.
🔍 What Makes This Story So Powerful
The novel explores the idea that even in a “happy” family, no one escapes emotional damage. Lombardo’s writing is sharp, compassionate, and filled with humor. The dialogue feels real. The emotional conflicts hit hard. And the generational themes of love, parenting, and self-worth are deeply relatable.
This is a book about the gaps between what we show the world and how we really feel.
💬 My Take on the Book
This is not a quick read, but it’s incredibly rewarding. I found myself laughing, tearing up, and sometimes frustrated with the characters (in the best way). The pacing is thoughtful, the structure is elegant, and the emotional payoff is worth it. If you like slow-burning literary fiction about families, this one’s a gem.
Looking for an emotional, character-driven novel about love, legacy, and the weight of family?
Join the Sorensons. Dive into the highs, lows, and complicated joys of family life.