{"title":"Claire Lombardo","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the Claire Lombardo collection, a showcase of profound storytelling that delves into the intricate tapestry of family dynamics and human relationships. Claire Lombardo, celebrated American novelist and talented wordsmith, is renowned for her deep exploration of emotional truths and complex characters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn her works, including \u003cem\u003eSame As It Ever Was\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Most Fun We Ever Had\u003c\/em\u003e, Lombardo captivates readers with narratives that are both heartwarming and thought-provoking. These novels are must-reads for fans of \u003cstrong\u003eGeneral Fiction\u003c\/strong\u003e, offering immersive experiences into the lives of multifaceted characters whose stories resonate with authenticity and insight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSame As It Ever Was\u003c\/em\u003e presents a narrative rich in detail and emotional depth, while her debut novel, \u003cem\u003eThe Most Fun We Ever Had\u003c\/em\u003e, received widespread acclaim for its intricate portrayal of a family over five decades, weaving together the beauty and complexity of relationships that define our existence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExplore this collection to experience Lombardo’s masterful storytelling that will leave you reflecting on the complexities of familial bonds and the enduring power of love.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"same-as-it-ever-was-by-claire-lombardo-9781399608220","title":"Same As It Ever Was","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Witty and insightful. A powerful exploration of marriage, motherhood, and self'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBONNIE GARMUS, author of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'It was such a pleasure to bury myself in this book, a literary novel of family life which moved and surprised me'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCLARE CHAMBERS, author of SMALL PLEASURES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Such a wonderful book . . . It absolutely floored me. What a joy to let a writer of such talent suffuse us with a life's worth of humour and pain, affection and mess'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJESSIE BURTON, author of THE MINIATURIST\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A family saga to save as a treat and devour when you should be doing something else'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eINDEPENDENT\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt fifty-seven, Julia Ames has found herself with an improbably lovely life. Despite her inclination towards self-sabotage, she has a husband she loves, two happy children and a quiet, contented existence in the suburbs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut, out of the blue, things begin to change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHer always well-behaved son is acting strangely. Her beloved but belligerent teenage daughter is about to depart for college.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd, in the local grocery store, Julia encounters a woman she hasn't seen for twenty years - a woman whose friendship was once both her lifeline and, very nearly, her downfall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAll of a sudden, Julia's peaceful family setup and her long, affection-filled marriage face imminent derailment from events both past and present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe author of \u003cem\u003eThe Most Fun We Ever Had\u003c\/em\u003e returns with another brilliantly observed family drama, which examines the complete and complicated trajectory of one woman's life and asks what it takes to make - and to not break - a family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46714429440236,"sku":"9781399608220","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/8450263482686.jpg?v=1754357186"},{"product_id":"the-most-fun-we-ever-had-by-claire-lombardo-9781474611886","title":"The Most Fun We Ever Had","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAPRIL 2024 REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003eLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2020\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003eAN INSTANT \u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e'A literary love child of Jonathan Franzen and Anne Tyler . . . outstanding and highly enjoyable' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eObserver\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Most Fun We Ever Had\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e is as good as books come' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eTelegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e'I loved this book' \u003c\/b\u003e— Bryony Gordon\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e'The perfect, engrossing holiday read' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eRED\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e'A gripping and poignant ode to a messy, loving family in all its glory' \u003c\/b\u003e— Madeline Miller\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e'A moving, immersive, often very funny study of family and sisterhood' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e'Like Meg Wolitzer. A forensic dissection of family past and present, I loved it. If you like reading about relationships, this one is for you.' \u003c\/b\u003e— Pandora Sykes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003ci\u003eMEET THE SORENSON FAMILY.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eMARILYN\u003c\/b\u003e has somehow fallen into motherhood and spent four decades married to\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cb\u003eDAVID\u003c\/b\u003e, who's pretty certain he loves her more than anyone has ever loved another person.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eWENDY\u003c\/b\u003e, their eldest, a cause for concern, soothes herself with drink after being widowed young,\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003ci\u003ewhile \u003cb\u003eVIOLET\u003c\/b\u003e, lawyer-turned-stay-at-home-mother, is disturbed by the reappearance of a son placed for adoption fifteen years earlier.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eLIZA\u003c\/b\u003e, a professor, is pregnant with a baby she's not sure she wants by a man she's not sure she loves\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003ci\u003eand \u003cb\u003eGRACE\u003c\/b\u003e, their dawdling youngest daughter, lives a lie that no one in her family suspects.\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46717693362412,"sku":"9781474611886","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/170593482713.jpg?v=1754471888"},{"product_id":"same-as-it-ever-was-by-claire-lombardo-9781399608237","title":"Same As It Ever Was","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt fifty-seven, Julia Ames has found herself with an improbably lovely life. Despite her inclination towards self-sabotage, she has a husband she loves, two happy children, and a quiet, contented existence in the suburbs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut, out of the blue, things begin to change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHer always well-behaved son is acting strangely. Her beloved but belligerent teenage daughter is about to depart for college.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd, in the local grocery store, Julia encounters a woman she hasn't seen for twenty years—a woman whose friendship was once both her lifeline and, very nearly, her downfall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAll of a sudden, Julia's peaceful family setup and her long, affection-filled marriage face imminent derailment from events both past and present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe author of \u003cem\u003eThe Most Fun We Ever Had\u003c\/em\u003e returns with another brilliantly observed family drama, which examines the complete and complicated trajectory of one woman's life and asks what it takes to make—and to not break—a family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46730303209708,"sku":"9781399608237","price":25.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/feeb0b402df8eb529449ea43ddeac62a.jpg?v=1755048642"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/claire-lombardo.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}