Reading “The Most Fun We Ever Had” was akin to immersing oneself in a deeply introspective drama, much like the TV series This Is Us. The novel’s exploration of the characters’ emotional landscapes is exceptionally detailed and nuanced, allowing me to view the same events from various internal perspectives. This sense of clarity and authenticity was striking.

Upon finishing the book, I came across news that Lombardo, the author, intends to write a novel set in her hometown community. She is also the youngest of five siblings, with three older sisters. Lombardo mentioned that she plans to draw from her childhood and the dynamics among her sisters to inform her next work. Even she noticed that the Sorensen family is not based on any character from her own family, her personal connection likely contributes to the novel’s realistic portrayal of familial relationships.

The novel’s popularity and my own enjoyment of it align with many online reviews. Like This Is Us, it offers insights into family and life, revealing that despite life’s chaos, there are those who choose to embrace it. By the end of the book, I did find pleasure in the story and appreciated the narrative arc and resolution.

However, the novel also presented some less authentic elements. For instance, the exaggerated character traits of the daughters, the frequent use of profanity in dialogues, and the seemingly superficial reconciliations between characters were notable. Additionally, the portrayal of the three wealthier sisters—especially in contrast to the poorer fourth sister, Grace—seemed to underscore the success and luxury of the others more than provide a balanced view.

The depiction of male characters was also limited. Perhaps due to the novel’s focus on female perspectives, there was a notable lack of depth in the portrayal of the father and his inner life. The story often centered on the mother’s viewpoint of the daughters. Additionally, the depressed partner of the third daughter, Liza, named Ryan, receives significant attention. A critical review I found online resonated with me, noting that the portrayal of Ryan as a burdensome, video game-obsessed man who fails to appreciate his wife’s efforts was shallow. His depression was depicted in a manner that suggested it was solely his fault, with inadequate exploration of effective treatment or support, despite Liza’s background in psychology.

Initially, I found the descriptive scenes of the novel somewhat overwhelming, with frequent explicit couple behaviors between Marilyn and David and detailed depictions of the daughters’ sex lives. The novel’s frequent use of explicit language and its focus on themes such as pregnancy, infidelity, alcoholism, and sibling jealousy created a rather negative impression of the protagonists.

In retrospect, as I neared the end, I found myself forgetting earlier parts of the book. The dual narrative lines added interest, but the book’s length seemed excessive. Many online reviews echoed this sentiment, and I found some justification in their critiques.

While reading, I mentioned this book to a friend from Illinois but hesitated to recommend it outright. The portrayal of the family dynamics seemed a bit extreme from an outsider’s perspective, especially the interactions between the eldest daughters, Wendy and Violet. Perhaps I am not fully aware of what a large family environment is genuinely like, but the depiction felt somewhat exaggerated.