The Most Fun We Ever Had

The Most Fun We Ever Had chronicles four decades in the life of the Sorenson family of suburban Chicago. At the center are parents Marilyn and David, who maintain an intense and enviable marriage that sets impossible standards for their four daughters. Their adult daughters - Wendy, Violet, Liza, and Grace - navigate their own relationships and life choices while grappling with their parents' seemingly perfect union. A long-buried family secret emerges, forcing all the Sorensons to confront their shared past and individual challenges. When personal crises coincide with family upheaval, the sisters must reevaluate their understanding of marriage, parenthood, and sisterhood. The narrative moves between past and present, revealing how childhood experiences and family dynamics continue to shape adult relationships. This multi-generational story explores how love - both romantic and familial - can be simultaneously sustaining and destructive. Through the Sorenson family's experiences, the novel examines the complexities of long-term marriage, sibling rivalry, and the weight of family expectations.

Readers describe this as a character-driven family saga that follows four sisters and their parents across multiple decades. Many note it requires patience, with a 500+ page length and slow-building narrative. Readers appreciated: - Complex family dynamics and relationships - Deep character development - Realistic dialogue between family members - Accurate portrayal of Chicago settings and culture - Multi-generational storytelling approach Common criticisms: - Too long and meandering - Difficult to keep track of timeline jumps - Privileged/entitled character perspectives - Repetitive inner monologues - Limited plot action Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (84,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (3,800+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.0/5 (900+ ratings) One reader noted: "Like being at a family reunion - sometimes tedious but ultimately meaningful." Another said: "Beautiful writing but needed stronger editing to trim unnecessary passages."

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🌟 Claire Lombardo wrote this debut novel while pursuing her MFA at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, one of the most prestigious creative writing programs in America. 📚 The book's timeline spans nearly half a century, weaving between 1975 and 2017, tracking four decades of the Sorenson family's history. 💝 The title comes from a conversation between the parents, David and Marilyn, referring to their early days of marriage when they were poor but deeply in love. 🎬 The television rights to the novel were acquired by Amy Adams and Laura Dern's production companies before the book was even published. ✍️ Lombardo drew inspiration from her own experience as one of five sisters, though she emphasizes that the story and characters are entirely fictional.