I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to do justice to this incredible book or the previous ones in Elizabeth Strout’s series featuring Lucy Barton, her family and the characters who have interacted with her at some point in the past. By the end of this book, I felt a bittersweet nostalgia for what I had read so far and hope (for more Lucy Barton in the future!). Lucy By The Sea focuses on those recent (awful) pandemic years when we went into lockdown. Just before, Lucy’s ex-husband William convinces Lucy for her own safety to move from her home in Manhattan and hole up with him in a house by the sea in Maine. We then follow Lucy’s experiences living with William again, making new friends, the terror that the pandemic brought and how Lucy copes and supports her loved ones as they undergo their own individual challenges. I’ve always been keen to read about situations like the pandemic for example in fiction, or perhaps issues that I’ve had challenges with myself. I find it quite cathartic and in a strange way, comforting - like I’m not alone. Lucy And The Sea fulfilled all of this for me and as a result, made for quite an emotional reading experience. I really love Lucy as a character. She feels so complicated and so genuine that it feels completely natural to empathise with her. Additionally, we’ve lived through a crazy few years recently, and sometimes it’s nice to get that reminder of how things were at the height of the crisis. It’s almost reassuring to think - we did this, we made it (!) through some really tough times whilst we grieve for those that sadly did not. Lucy By The Sea is such a gorgeous piece of writing which surpassed all my expectations. I already want to reread the entire series and I can’t wait to explore more from this author. Thanks to lovely @edels_reads for arranging the buddy read of this series! 😍 Five perfect stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 #bookstagramuk #reviewingbooksonthegram #lucybythesea #elizabethstrout #lucybartonbooks #lucybartonseries #fivestarreads2023 #characterstofallinlovewith #booksaboutthepandemic #favouriteauthor❤️ #booksandplants🌵📖 https://www.instagram.com/p/CqD8KhGA1M7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=