Elizabeth Strout’s latest novel, 'The Things We Never Say', touched on themes I hold close to my heart: the growing loneliness that can come with aging as our children marry and build lives of their own, the realization that people we once felt deeply connected to can become strangers over time, and the way depression can quietly creep in when we least expect it.

Strout understands aging and captures the human condition so well — that lingering sense of loneliness and helplessness as we watch our children grow older themselves. What didn’t work for me, however, were the heavy-handed political views woven into the story. Is Strout still one of my favorite authors? Absolutely. With a 4.30 rating on Goodreads and a spot on the New York Times bestseller list this week, it is clear many readers are connecting with her work. I hope you enjoy her writing as much as I do.

Happy reading, friends.

~Heather