Picture a Chicago-born storyteller who weaves sprawling family sagas with wit and heart—meet Claire Lombardo! Known for her New York Times bestseller The Most Fun We Ever Had, Lombardo captures the messy, beautiful chaos of relationships with a voice that’s both sharp and tender. Her novels dive deep into family dynamics, making readers laugh, cry, and nod in recognition.
With her 2024 release, Same As It Ever Was, Lombardo solidifies her status as a literary star. Her ability to craft characters who feel like real people—flawed, funny, and deeply human—has earned her praise from critics and fans alike. Let’s explore the life and work of this captivating author!
The Making of Claire Lombardo
Born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois, Claire Lombardo grew up as the youngest of five children, a dynamic that fueled her fascination with family interactions. She studied at the University of Illinois-Chicago before earning her MFA at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, a prestigious program that honed her craft. Before writing full-time, Lombardo worked as a social worker with homeless children and families in Chicago, an experience that deepened her empathy and insight into human struggles.
Her early career wasn’t all novels and accolades—she juggled jobs as a nanny, dog walker, and bookseller at Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City, where she now lives. These roles kept her grounded, and her love for storytelling grew through short fiction published in outlets like Playboy and Longform. Lombardo’s path to publishing was a leap of faith, trading a social work master’s for a writer’s life after personal loss pushed her to pursue her passion.
Claire Lombardo’s Unforgettable Stories
Lombardo’s debut, The Most Fun We Ever Had (2019), is a 500-page family epic that became an instant New York Times bestseller and a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. Following the Sorenson family—anchored by a loving, almost-too-perfect marriage—the novel explores four sisters navigating secrets and loyalties. Critics hailed it as a blend of Jonathan Franzen’s depth and Anne Tyler’s warmth, earning a Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist nod.
Her second novel, Same As It Ever Was (2024), shifts to a single narrator, Julia Ames, a librarian grappling with motherhood and past temptations. This introspective saga delves into loneliness and complex female friendships, showcasing Lombardo’s knack for non-linear storytelling and rich, voice-driven prose. Her short story, “I Only Want to Talk About the Nice Things,” also won acclaim, topping Longform’s 2015 fiction list and earning a Best of the Net nod in 2016.
Lombardo’s style is intimate and immersive, blending humor with raw emotion. Her themes—family ties, personal growth, and the weight of choices—resonate universally, yet her Chicago settings ground her work in vivid specificity. Whether it’s a sisterly spat or a quiet moment of reflection, Lombardo’s stories feel like peeking into real lives.
Why Claire Lombardo Matters
Claire Lombardo’s impact lies in her ability to make the ordinary extraordinary. Her novels tackle universal experiences—sibling rivalries, parental love, personal reinvention—with a fresh, unflinching lens. By focusing on emotional truths rather than grand plots, she invites readers to see themselves in her characters. Her work has inspired TV adaptations, with The Most Fun We Ever Had optioned by Reese Witherspoon, signaling her growing cultural footprint.
Lombardo’s voice also elevates contemporary fiction, particularly in exploring women’s inner lives. Her portrayal of motherhood, friendship, and self-doubt feels authentic, sparking conversations about the complexities of modern relationships. As a teacher at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and Grinnell College, she’s shaping the next generation of writers, ensuring her influence endures.
About Claire Lombardo
- Born: Oak Park, Illinois
- Key Works: The Most Fun We Ever Had (2019), Same As It Ever Was (2024)
- Awards: Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist (2019), Best of the Net (2016)
- Fun Fact: She writes at her grandparents’ old picnic table, surrounded by colorful Post-it notes mapping her novels.
Snag The Most Fun We Ever Had or Same As It Ever Was and dive into Claire Lombardo’s heartfelt, hilarious world of family and feelings!