Elizabeth Strout returns to my favorite fictional divorced couple in Lucy by the Sea. It is not necessary, though it would be a lot of fun, to read the previous two books in what could be loosely termed a trilogy with this couple whose friendship comes and goes long after their marriage is over. Lucy Barton, from My Name Is Lucy Barton and Oh William!, gets an urgent alert from her ex-husband William at the beginning of the pandemic that they must leave Manhattan with its Covid dangers and go for a week or so to a small town in Maine to lessen the danger that they will be infected.
In the beginning, Lucy is only vaguely aware of the hazards of the virus. Time in Maine expands into months as Lucy and William form new relationships with local people. They navigate new connections with their two grown daughters who are dealing with the pandemic in ways that seem harmful to their parents. In her own reaction to the isolation, Lucy finds herself as a writer at a loss for words to put on paper. Readers will find themselves relating to the pandemic experience as the novel gives an empathetic look at the feelings stirred by the long-running crisis. As always with this author, a good story is wound into the setting by relatable characters.
My first experience with Elizabeth Strout, who has become one of my favorites, came with Olive Kitteridge. Olive has a tendency make cameo appearances in Elizabeth’s other books, as she does in this one, though age has begun to take its toll. If you are already a fan of the Lucy Barton books, this one will not disappoint. If not, I recommend getting all three and reading them in order.