Evensong by Stewart O'Nan
Fiction
2025
Finished on October 27, 2025
Rating: 3/5 (Good)
Publisher's Blurb:
An intimate, moving novel that follows The Humpty Dumpty Club, a group of women of a certain age who band together to help one another and their circle of friends in Pittsburgh as they face the challenges of their golden years
The Humpty Dumpty Club is distraught when their powerhouse leader, Joan Hargrove, takes a bad fall down her stairs, knocking her out of commission. Now, as well as running errands and shepherding those less able to their doctors’ appointments, they have to pick up the slack.
Between navigating their own relationships and aging bodies and attending choir practice, these invisible yet indomitable women help where they can. They bake cookies, they care for pets, they pick up prescriptions, they sit vigil by the sick, and most of all, they show up for the people they’ve pledged to help. In the face of death, divorce, and the myriad directions our lives can take, the Humpty Dumpty club represents the power of community and chosen family.
Weaving together the perspectives of the four cardinal members as they tend to those in need, Stewart O’Nan revisits beloved characters from his past work -- most notably Emily Maxwell -- to fashion a rich and moving novel that celebrates our capacity for patience and care. Vivid, warm, and often wryly funny, Evensong reminds us that life is made up of moments both climactic and quotidian, and we weather those moments with the people we choose to keep close.
I rarely get any ARCs anymore since I no longer work in a bookstore. But every now and then I win a book from Goodreads, so I enter their giveaways whenever I see one for a book I'm eager to read. I was thrilled to win an ARC of Stewart O'Nan's new book, Evensong, setting aside another book that I had just begun in order to read O'Nan's before its publication date. I've read several of his books, some of which I loved, but others that missed the mark. When I saw that Evensong returned to Emily Maxwell's story, I was even more excited to settle in and read what I was certain would be another 5-star book. Sadly, it did not live up to my admittedly high expectations.
I enjoyed certain aspects of Evensong, especially those told from Emily's point of view, as well as those depicting the characters' love of their pets, but much of the book was slow and dull. Some may find the backstories (or lack thereof) of a few of the characters confusing, so this may be a book that needs to be read after reading O'Nan's Maxwell trilogy (Wish You Were Here, Emily, Alone and Henry, Himself). I have always intended to read these a second time, but I now wonder if they'll be as good as I remember.
My reviews for the books I've read of O'Nan's:
Emily, Alone (4.75/5)
Henry, Himself (5/5)
Wish You Were Here (3/5)
Ocean State (2/5)
I received a complimentary copy from Atlantic Monthly Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love O'Nan. I haven't read this one but I've read many of his books. I see it's a new one. I am digging through my spreadsheet to see if I received a copy as well. I feel like I did. Either way. I need to read it.
ReplyDeleteTi, yep it's brand new. I think it's coming out on Nov. 11th. I hope you enjoy it as much, if not more than I did.
DeleteToo bad this one didn't live up to your expectations. I have not read O'Nan (not sure why) but I should try the one you liked best sometime. I hear he writes women well.
ReplyDeleteSusan, he does write women well. This one just wasn't the winner I was looking for. I will re-read Emily, Alone in 2026, though. Loved that book!
DeleteI had a few years where I felt I was getting tons of ARCS and it seems to have fallen off in the last couple of years, which suits me quite fine. I always feel pressured to give a good review.
ReplyDeleteHelen, I used to love to get ARCs when I worked at Barnes & Noble. They were basically comp copies for us to talk up with customers. No pressure to review online.
DeleteI like the sound of it and added it to Goodreads but I will also try another by this author.
ReplyDeleteIt's part of the "Emily Maxwell" series. I recommend you start with Henry, Himself, then move on to Emily, Alone. You could read Wish You Were Here inbetween those two, but I didn't care for it. Goodreads has them listed in order.
DeleteStewart O'Nan is one of my favorite authors. I should look for this one.
ReplyDeleteDeb, I am happy to send you my copy once my mom finishes reading it. Let me know.
DeleteI've read 4 or 5 O'Nan novels and really loved several of them, including the first two Maxwell novels. I didn't realize Emily was in this one. Do you think I need to read Henry, Himself before this one?
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, I don't think you have read Henry, Himself before reading this new one. According to Goodreads, Henry Himself is Book 0.5, Wish You Were Here is Book 1, and Emily Alone is Book 2. Evensong is Book 3. See what you think. I didn't care much for Wish You Were Here. It was good, as is this new one, but not as great as Henry and Emily.
Delete