4.83k reviews for:

Olive Kitteridge

Elizabeth Strout

3.81 AVERAGE

patita's review against another edition

4.0

funny relaxing medium-paced

lostchough66's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

goose_friends's review against another edition

3.25

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parts of this were so sweet, but so much of it kind of reeked of 2008 in a way i don’t love. really unnecessary and random 9/11 call outs at the end accompanied by islamophobia, racism, and xenophobia which really threw me for a loop. also a touch of homophobia right in the last chapter, just for shits i guess? concept was lovely and quite well executed. 

gainessm's review against another edition

3.75

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

rosadunnett's review against another edition

3.0

dark funny slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

solobookclub1974's review against another edition

3.5

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ebmontgomery's review against another edition

3.75

emotional slow-paced

anniemccloskey422's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

shannonsnell's review against another edition

3.5

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bookwormexpresskwan's review against another edition

5.0

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It took some time warming up to Olive Kitteridge, a former math teacher and tough cookie. She’s harsh, unpredictable, and often disagreeable, but like any human being, she’s not only her unpleasantness. 

I really liked how the book was set up. Each chapter could more or less be read as a standalone short story about Olive or the people around her. Sometimes Olive only showed up as a passerby in one of the characters’ story, yet it revealed a lot about Olive as a person. In the end the reader will have a better understanding of who Olive Kitteridge is - and I especially love how the overarching story is about growing up, growing older, and life in general. 

I won’t spoil anything but the way Olive’s relationship with her son evolved was chef’s kiss.