A full book review of "The Most Fun We Ever Had" by Claire Lambardo.
'The Most Fun We Ever Had' is an intense, edgy family drama brimming with sibling rivalry, marital distress, and soul-binding love that will leave you with an onslaught of emotions. It will reel you in and not let you go from the moment you read the first word till the last; Lombardo's powerful depiction of her characters, of how they talk, how they think, how they act, is so personal you cannot help believe them as real, and is only enhanced by the isolated bubble that is the Sorenson family. They are so real you will feel you are part of the family - and that is the hook.
Alternating between seven points of view over decades of family drama, the novel tells the story of Marilyn and David Sorenson, a couple so in-love they feel almost physically inseparable, and their four daughters - Wendy, Violet, Liza, and Grace - who are both spellbound by their love and jealous of it. Lombardo renders their obsession over their happily married parents with such skill that it is quietly established as a catalyst for so much of the plot, the drama, and the revelations that the story delivers so powerfully over generations.
The sudden appearance of a secret child, Jonah, the son of the 'well-behaved' second child, Violet, catapults the Sorenson's lives into chaos and brings to life the decades of secrets, resentment, and jealousy. Between glimpses of both the past and present, we learn that Wendy, the most troublesome of the sisters, finds and marries the love of her life, Miles, only to lose him in a tragic twist of fate. Violet confronts her traumatic past while grappling with her growing sense of powerlessness in her role as a both a mother to two young children and wife. Liza gets pregnant and has to deal with an emotionally unstable partner who she fears will never live up to the role of a father, while Grace tries to see how long she can live a lie in an effort to save her pride.
The 'Most Fun We Ever Had' is a brilliant debut novel that is equal parts shocking and amusing. A sweeping family saga with (several) mysteries and an unrelenting narrative to go along with it, it is a must-read for book lovers of any kind!
*Please note the section below contains spoilers*
The first time I tried to read the 'Most Fun We Ever Had', I stopped at the first chapter. I found it confusing, with too many interrelated characters who, for the most part, weren't even that likable. Then, a month or two later, my book club chose it as the October read. Of course, not wanting to miss out on the discussion, I gave myself a mini lecture (you will read this book, Amira), soldiered on through the first few chapters, and found that I actually do like it. The sisters were easier to memorise the second time round (although at one point I did contemplate drawing a family tree) - but still not that all likable. For me, the saving grace of this book in terms of characters were Marilyn, David, and Jonah, no questions asked. However, despite my opinions towards the sisters, I was nonetheless drawn into their stories. Lambardo did a fantastic job of bringing them to life - to me, they felt real, and it was for that reason I was so eager to hear how their stories would unfold.
Out of all the sisters, I felt Grace was an afterthought who had the least showtime. In terms of simple numbers, she had the fewest and shortest chapters. The story could have just as easily been written without her - she didn't add or take away much to the plot. The only time she did have an indirect impact was in how her birth ultimately put strain on Marilyn and David's relationship (leading to David's friendship with Gillian). I was really hoping nothing had happened between David and Gillian, or I would have been devastated! I loved them not only as a couple, but as separate characters as well - they weren't perfect, but they worked their hardest to make a beautiful life for each other, their family, and for Jonah.
“ The world as it was would almost never be the world you wanted it to be, and there was a certain pleasure in finding your space in the schism."
My heart really felt for Jonah and the tragedies that he went through. It made me stop think that, although this is a story, there are many children out there who are going through the same. For Jonah to grow up to be as mature, respectable, and caring as any 15 year old could be is truly spectacular given all that he went through. I think, despite her reasons for doing so, Wendy's search and ultimate discovery of Jonah was exactly the wake-up call they all needed. While there were many factors breaking them apart, Jonah was ultimately what brought them all back together.
As a whole, there were so many elements of this book that I loved, and the very few that I didn't (i.e., the sisters) are a testament to how good of a writer Lambardi is. Once I got into the rhythm of this book, I could not put it down. It captivated my attention, and I hope it will for you too! Don't let the length of the book or the complexity of its plot line put you off - it's definitely worth the read.