Reviews

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

alhedrick's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

hello_spaghetti's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jaclyncrupi's review against another edition

5.0

A joy to be back in Maine with Olive and co.

noemi_sc's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

keatynbergsten's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

behnazz's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted

4.5

meggles's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sunlitbookshelf's review against another edition

4.0

This was cute & funny. I loved Olive!

smsienk's review against another edition

4.0

Always a pleasure

Olive always leaves me wanting more. The author’s style of lightness and directness on the surface of her writing and in her characters is a fun contrast to the often serious and inferred heart of each story. The reality of these characters is often stunning and definitely fulfilling as a reader. Such an enjoyable read.

horsley123's review against another edition

3.0

The title sums it all up really - Olive, Again. Olive is still a bit Marmite; sometimes she is confused by life and begs for sympathy and understanding, other times she is downright miserable. I suppose we are all a little like that so I can't really hold it against Olive, however I was hoping for a little more from the book.

It is really a collection of short stories about people that Oliver either meets or has some tenuous link. Some of the people I struggled to understand why they were in the story, others I wanted to know more about. All in all Elizabeth Strout has written much finer books and I would go to them before reading this one.