It took me awhile to get used to the authors style in Olive 1, but then I loved it so starting Olive 2 was just like picking up where I left off! Olive just kept opening up as a character and person , her gruff loud personality with her vulnerable sometimes insecure moments in which I could relate to, those bits of her humanity and tenderness. Her impatience and shame over feeling diminished, but most importantly the insights she had about herself. I think the other stories let me see her from a distance in a way.. from another characters perspective , as she just “ shows up” in another story of the people living in her town, or frequently, she shows up years later through a former student. It’s like a tapestry of her life weaving in and out through these parallel stories. I loved the book- her humanity and the inner growth and insights she has. Her second husband and a second chance at love. Even a second chance with her son. She’s funny, loud, critical and inpatient, a little bit of a “ snob” as her second husband points out- but also at times so tender and emotional. She sees her flaws. She opens her heart better. She is all of us.

Very good wonderful characters love the stories

thank you!

Bitter old people who cheat on their spouses, nothing interesting happens. And the many characters I could not find a connection between. I would not recommend it

I enjoyed much of this book, but it went off the rails when it became partisan political propaganda.

Hard start and at times I was confused on what was going on. I don’t know if it’s my age made me relate to Olive’s story but I would recommend reading.

Confusing plot

It was almost as if the writer had changed her style completely with this book. It was was a chore to finish and the thread that wove Olive through the original story so beautifully was alarmingly thin this time. The odd influx of gratuitous sex throughout was a turnoff. Bummer. Is the lesson here to never write a sequel? Maybe.

No plot and hard to make myself finish. Would not recommend.

This book was really hard to keep up with. I was not impressed with this selection.

Great book- if you liked the first Olive this one is right up there with it! Loved it! Such a complicated character, flawed but human/ real.

This book has no plot, limited character development, and was a chore to finish.

It was ok.

Loved first Olive K. Was done with this one when I hit the older Jewish, former NYC lawyer named Bernie who moved to Vermont ... I mean Maine, Maine, Maine ... All too trite.

What an amazing book!