There’s a quiet power to Elizabeth Strout’s writing that sneaks up on you. Her latest novel, Lucy by the Sea, may at first seem like a simple story of two people weathering the pandemic in isolation. But as with all of Strout’s work, profound truths about human nature and relationships reveal themselves in the most ordinary moments.
This fourth installment in the Lucy Barton series finds our protagonist suddenly uprooted from her Manhattan life as COVID-19 descends on New York City in March 2020. Lucy’s ex-husband William whisks her away to a coastal town in Maine, where they hunker down together in a rustic house overlooking the sea. Over the coming months of lockdown, Lucy grapples with fear, grief, and loneliness while also discovering unexpected moments of peace and connection.
A Masterful Depiction of the Pandemic Experience
Strout brilliantly captures the surreal early days of the pandemic, when the world seemed to shift overnight:
“I did not know that I would never see my apartment again. I did not know that one of my friends and a family member would die of this virus. I did not know that my relationship with my daughters would change in ways I could never have anticipated. I did not know that my entire life would become something new.”
Lucy’s disorientation and anxiety feels viscerally familiar to anyone who lived through those early months of 2020. The empty streets, the constant news updates, the growing dread—it’s all rendered with haunting accuracy. But Strout avoids turning this into a “pandemic novel” focused solely on COVID. Instead, she uses the backdrop of lockdown to explore timeless themes of human connection, loss, and resilience.
Evolving Relationships
At the heart of the story is Lucy’s complex relationship with William. Though long divorced, they’ve maintained a friendship over the years. Now suddenly thrust back into close quarters, old tensions resurface alongside moments of renewed intimacy and understanding. Their dynamic shifts in subtle ways as they adjust to this strange new reality together.
Lucy also struggles with feelings of distance from her adult daughters, Becka and Chrissy. Video calls and brief visits highlight how much has changed in their relationships. A heartrending scene where Lucy finally reunites with her daughters in a park, unable to hug them, captures the bitter sweetness of family connections strained by separation.
Finding Connection in Isolation
Though physically cut off from her normal life, Lucy forges new connections in Maine. She develops an unlikely friendship with Bob Burgess, a local lawyer. Their walks together, maintaining social distance, become a lifeline for Lucy. She also bonds with Charlene, a cleaning woman she meets while volunteering at a food bank.
These new relationships allow Strout to explore class differences and small-town dynamics. Lucy, with her successful writing career and New York sensibilities, initially feels out of place. But she comes to appreciate the warmth and resiliency of the local community.
Strout’s Signature Style Shines
Fans of Strout’s previous work will find much to love here. Her sparse yet evocative prose brings the coastal Maine setting vividly to life:
“I noticed how the sky tended to match the ocean; if the sky was gray—as it frequently was—the ocean seemed gray too, but when the sky was a bright blue, the ocean seemed a blue color, or sometimes a deep green if there were clouds and sun. The ocean was a huge comfort to me somehow, and those two islands were always there.”
Deceptively Simple Storytelling
As always, Strout employs a deceptively simple, almost conversational narrative style. Lucy’s first-person voice feels utterly natural and unaffected. Yet beneath the surface, Strout is doing complex narrative work. She weaves together present-day scenes, memories, and reflections seamlessly. The non-linear structure mirrors the way our minds tend to wander during periods of isolation.
Moments of Quiet Revelation
Some of the most powerful moments come through quiet observations and small epiphanies. Watching birds interact outside her window, Lucy reflects:
“And then this thought went through my mind: We are all in lockdown, all the time. We just don’t know it, that’s all.
But we do the best we can. Most of us are just trying to get through.”
It’s in passages like these that Strout’s profound empathy for her characters—and for humanity as a whole—shines through most clearly.
Exploring Trauma and Resilience
As in previous Lucy Barton novels, childhood trauma looms large in Lucy’s psyche. Memories of poverty and abuse resurface as she grapples with present-day fears. The death of her brother Pete from COVID hits Lucy particularly hard, dredging up complicated feelings about her family of origin.
Yet Lucy also demonstrates remarkable resilience. Her ability to find beauty and meaning amid difficulty feels hard-won and authentic. Strout avoids easy sentimentality, showing how Lucy’s strength is interwoven with vulnerability and self-doubt.
The Healing Power of Art
Writing becomes a lifeline for Lucy during lockdown. She begins work on a short story about a small-town police officer, finding solace in the creative process. This subplot allows Strout to explore how art can help us make sense of difficult experiences and connect with others across divides.
A Nuanced Look at Marriage and Family
Lucy’s evolving relationship with William forms the emotional core of the novel. Their rekindled intimacy is depicted with tenderness and nuance. Yet Strout resists the temptation to wrap things up in a neat romantic bow. Lucy maintains her independence, wrestling with doubts about fully reuniting with William.
The portrayal of Lucy’s relationships with her daughters is equally complex. Strout captures the push and pull between connection and autonomy that defines many parent-child relationships in adulthood. A particularly moving subplot involves Lucy helping her daughter Chrissy navigate marital difficulties and pregnancy loss.
Social Commentary with a Light Touch
While focusing primarily on Lucy’s internal journey, Strout weaves in broader social themes with a deft touch. Class divisions, systemic racism, and political polarization are explored through Lucy’s observations and conversations.
A scene where Lucy witnesses the January 6th Capitol attack on TV is especially powerful. Her horror and disbelief feel palpable. Yet Strout avoids heavy-handed moralizing, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.
Conclusion: A Quietly Profound Addition to Strout’s Oeuvre
Lucy by the Sea is a worthy addition to Elizabeth Strout’s acclaimed body of work. While it may lack some of the narrative sweep of novels like Olive Kitteridge, it compensates with emotional depth and resonance. Strout continues to prove herself a master observer of human nature, finding universal truths in the most intimate moments.
For readers seeking insight into our shared pandemic experience, this novel offers a thoughtful and ultimately hopeful perspective. It reminds us that even in the darkest times, connection and resilience can see us through. Lucy’s journey may be specific to her circumstances, but her struggles and small triumphs will resonate with many.
Longtime fans will appreciate the chance to spend more time with Lucy Barton, one of Strout’s most beloved characters. For newcomers, this novel stands on its own while potentially inspiring exploration of the earlier books in the series.
In the end, Lucy by the Sea is a quietly profound meditation on what it means to be human in challenging times. Strout’s luminous prose and deep empathy transform a story of lockdown into something universal and deeply moving. It’s a novel that will linger in readers’ minds long after the final page, and now I can’t wait for the next installment in the Amgash Series, Tell Me Everything.
If You Enjoyed This Book…
Readers who appreciate Lucy by the Sea may also enjoy:
- Strout’s earlier Lucy Barton novels: My Name is Lucy Barton, Anything is Possible, and Oh William!
- Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell—another literary exploration of grief and resilience
- The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue—a novel set during the 1918 flu pandemic
- Weather by Jenny Offill – a fragmented, reflective novel touching on climate anxiety
