Leaving Lucy Pear (Solomon)

Book Reviews
Interweaving is the mechanism that propels this novel. Tight-linked chains of action and response, misapprehension and revelation are braided together into a narrative that may, at times, feel a little too tidy and, at others, a little too diffuse but, through Solomon's strong prose and fleet pacing, consistently provides the essential pleasures of a good story well told. Perhaps not all of the novel's myriad points of view are strictly necessary, but this is a book governed less by necessity than by earnest empathy, a desire to give each character opportunities for growth and betterment, bravery and openness.
Maggie Shipstead - New York Times Book Review


Gorgeously moving...a dazzling exploration of the impact of roads untaken on motherhood, class, and gender.... Solomon expertly works on a large, mesmerizing canvas, with an almost dizzying array of characters, each moving the terrific drama of the book.... [She] renders each character so exquisitely complex, they could be the heroes of their own novels.... It's impossible to stop reading, because Solomon has made us care so much for all the characters, because she's fashioned a world so real, you can taste the salt spray and smell the heady fragrance of the ripe pears.
Boston Globe


The worlds of three women collide on the coast of Massachusetts in the 1920s in this beautifully told tale of a young woman's journey to discover herself.
Minneapolis Star Tribune


A thoughtful examination of class in the early twentieth century.... Anna Solomon is wise in the ways of mothers and daughters, the ties that bind, the gulfs that separate. Leaving Lucy Pear offers unforgettable characters and many small, meaningful, emotional moments set against the backdrop of larger history, and Lucy Pear, that strong, smart girl, is a character to remember and to root for.
New Orleans Public Radio


Solomon is a beautiful writer, and her prose brings people and scenes achingly alive.... Her characters' struggles with motherhood and identity would be compelling in any era.
Entertainment Weekly


The well-crafted chapters-some could stand alone as short stories-are handsomely written [and] sometimes poetic.... Leaving Lucy Pear is recommended to readers who enjoy historical fiction, a cast of well developed mainly female characters, and handsome prose.
New York Journal of Books


Leaving Lucy Pear-works extremely well on multiple levels...but the real highlights are its characters and the author's clear empathy for them.... With delicate precision, Solomon illustrates their desires and fears, both voiced and unvoiced.
Historical Novel Society


The lives of a girl’s biological and adoptive mother are juxtaposed in this new work from Solomon, a dreamy blend intertwining the harsh gender and class boundaries.... [Solomon] deftly manages to keep this lushly written look at two women’s haunting choices from slipping into family fantasy.
Publishers Weekly


(Starred review.) Solomon's razor-sharp prose scrapes her characters raw as she plants them deeply in the history and turmoil of 1920s New England. A beautifully rendered tale of discovering one's true nature. Highly recommended.—Bette-Lee Fox
Library Journal


Quietly powerful.... Solomon excels at portraying flawed characters whose passive-aggressiveness overrides their search for love and success. But when the two mothers play tug-of-war for Lucy, readers cannot help but empathize with all involved. [A] moving story.
Booklist


(Starred review.) [F]ocused on the inner lives and challenges of a community, especially the womenfolk.... Solomon reaches resolutions marked with the same reflective maturity as the rest of this solidly absorbing novel. Slow-movement storytelling: fully-fleshed, compassionate, and satisfying.
Kirkus Reviews