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Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World
A rich, captivating, and darkly humorous look into the evolution of apocalyptic thought, exploring how film and literature interact with developments in science, politics, and culture, and what factors drive our perennial obsession with the end of the world.
As Dorian Lynskey writes, “People have been contemplating the end of the world for millennia.” In this immersive and compelling cultural history, Lynskey reveals how religious prophecies of the apocalypse were secularized in the early 19th century by Lord Byron and Mary Shelley in a time of dramatic social upheaval and temporary climate change, inciting a long tradition of visions of the end without gods.
With a discerning eye and acerbic wit, Lynskey examines how various doomsday tropes and predictions in literature, art, music, and film have arisen from contemporary anxieties, whether they be comets, pandemics, world wars, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Y2K, or the climate emergency. Far from being grim, Lynskey guides readers through a rich array of fascinating stories and surprising facts, allowing us to keep company with celebrated works of art and the people who made them, from H.G. Wells, Jack London, W.B. Yeats and J.G. Ballard to The Twilight Zone, Dr. Strangelove, Mad Max and The Terminator.
Prescient and original, Everything Must Go is a brilliant, sweeping work of history that provides many astute insights for our times and speaks to our urgent concerns for the future.
As Dorian Lynskey writes, “People have been contemplating the end of the world for millennia.” In this immersive and compelling cultural history, Lynskey reveals how religious prophecies of the apocalypse were secularized in the early 19th century by Lord Byron and Mary Shelley in a time of dramatic social upheaval and temporary climate change, inciting a long tradition of visions of the end without gods.
With a discerning eye and acerbic wit, Lynskey examines how various doomsday tropes and predictions in literature, art, music, and film have arisen from contemporary anxieties, whether they be comets, pandemics, world wars, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Y2K, or the climate emergency. Far from being grim, Lynskey guides readers through a rich array of fascinating stories and surprising facts, allowing us to keep company with celebrated works of art and the people who made them, from H.G. Wells, Jack London, W.B. Yeats and J.G. Ballard to The Twilight Zone, Dr. Strangelove, Mad Max and The Terminator.
Prescient and original, Everything Must Go is a brilliant, sweeping work of history that provides many astute insights for our times and speaks to our urgent concerns for the future.
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First published April 26, 2022
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About the author
Dorian Lynskey
11 books64 followersDorian Lynskey is a British music journalist who currently writes for The Guardian, among other publications.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 598 reviews
May 2, 2022
Laine is a professional organizer. Her marriage suddenly takes a turn at the same time her sisters tell her their mom, Sally, may have dementia. Laine rushes to Sally’s side. She plans to help her mom get things back together and then head home to Michigan.
Laine runs into Ben, her estranged best friend, and it’s time they mend fences. It’s been too long. In the process, she discovers her mom has a big secret.
I love a mother/daughter story, and I appreciated the way Laine approached her mom’s memory loss. As someone with aging parents, these are relevant issues I face regularly. It’s a story of family and those constantly shifting dynamics between loved ones. Laine grows as a character becoming more in charge of her own life’s direction. Overall, an entertaining, enjoyable, and dramatic story of family.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Laine runs into Ben, her estranged best friend, and it’s time they mend fences. It’s been too long. In the process, she discovers her mom has a big secret.
I love a mother/daughter story, and I appreciated the way Laine approached her mom’s memory loss. As someone with aging parents, these are relevant issues I face regularly. It’s a story of family and those constantly shifting dynamics between loved ones. Laine grows as a character becoming more in charge of her own life’s direction. Overall, an entertaining, enjoyable, and dramatic story of family.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
July 21, 2022
I loved this book! This book gave me all the feels! Do you ever have a book that you have to put down because...well you know...life...but all you can think about is picking it back up. This was that book for me! I kept thinking...hmm I wonder what Laine is up to now?
Laine left NYC to move to Michigan to start a family- with her husband Josh and her dog Belle. Yet Josh ALWAYS had an excuse...and Laine's not getting any younger...
As if there wasn't enough going on in her marriage...her sisters urge her to rush back to NYC...because their mom Sally...is acting strange...
I absolutely feel in love with Sally! That we got to see her POV was touching...heartwarming and sometimes funny. The family dynamics were fantastic! Let's not forget Sally had some secrets of her own!!! well I didn't expect that!
Okay so as you can tell I loved this book! I think the thing I loved the most was how real it is. This is life...right here. The ups....the downs..how things don't go as planned. It's not often that you can say that a book is exactly true to life- you can with this book. It made me love the characters even more. I wanted to hug Laine and tell her...girl it's going to be okay....but would it?
Thank you so much to the publisher for my gifted copy!
Laine left NYC to move to Michigan to start a family- with her husband Josh and her dog Belle. Yet Josh ALWAYS had an excuse...and Laine's not getting any younger...
As if there wasn't enough going on in her marriage...her sisters urge her to rush back to NYC...because their mom Sally...is acting strange...
I absolutely feel in love with Sally! That we got to see her POV was touching...heartwarming and sometimes funny. The family dynamics were fantastic! Let's not forget Sally had some secrets of her own!!! well I didn't expect that!
Okay so as you can tell I loved this book! I think the thing I loved the most was how real it is. This is life...right here. The ups....the downs..how things don't go as planned. It's not often that you can say that a book is exactly true to life- you can with this book. It made me love the characters even more. I wanted to hug Laine and tell her...girl it's going to be okay....but would it?
Thank you so much to the publisher for my gifted copy!
May 20, 2024
This is a heartfelt story about transition and change and family (secrets), overcoming disappointment, finding oneself and second chances.
It also is about what happens when you decide to follow your heart. But there is more.
It is also about some of the challenges any of us have experienced when we have had the responsibility of caring for an aging parent.
I know, it is about a lot, but that is what makes this book worth reading.
But even as I talk about the part about family – about parental aging, as readers we witness the difficulty of watching the decline and not knowing what to do – or how those decisions would affect the family dynamics overall.
There are so many relatable moments in this story between sisters and mothers and daughters, you can appreciate what the author has given us amongst the pages.
I was fortunate to have won a copy of this book directly from the author, but my review is still written based on my reading experience.
I am now very interested in reading more from this author!
It also is about what happens when you decide to follow your heart. But there is more.
It is also about some of the challenges any of us have experienced when we have had the responsibility of caring for an aging parent.
I know, it is about a lot, but that is what makes this book worth reading.
But even as I talk about the part about family – about parental aging, as readers we witness the difficulty of watching the decline and not knowing what to do – or how those decisions would affect the family dynamics overall.
There are so many relatable moments in this story between sisters and mothers and daughters, you can appreciate what the author has given us amongst the pages.
I was fortunate to have won a copy of this book directly from the author, but my review is still written based on my reading experience.
I am now very interested in reading more from this author!
June 23, 2022
What I enjoy most about Camille Pagán's books is that they encompass a wide array of difficult situations about life and relationships. In this story, marriage, motherhood, and dementia are explored. Sometimes funny and sometimes heartbreaking, this is overall a heartwarming story with a great message.
Bonus: This book is available on Kindle Unlimited and includes Audible narration 🙂.
Bonus: This book is available on Kindle Unlimited and includes Audible narration 🙂.
February 19, 2022
This did not turn out the way I had hoped. I'm not sure how Laine and her husband have managed to stay married for so long since there is no feeling or connection between them at all. I'm not going to lie, Laine seemed a little dry to me. It was quite easy for me to become bored.
*thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
*thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
May 6, 2022
The way some writers write blows me away. Pagan has a way with words and I am pulled in from the very beginning. This book will touch your heart and leaving you wanting more. I have to say this is one that will stay with you long after you have read the last page.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
July 6, 2022
“Everything Must Go” is the story of one family’s experience with dementia and caregiving. (It starts in a risky way for a book; the dog dies.) The story is conversation driven, filled with what people say, what they hear, and what wish they had not seen or heard. Laine Francis relates incidents as an introduction, as if a new neighbor moving in next door, or catching up with a past acquaintance, or perhaps in a therapy session. The narrative goes back and forth in time so readers learn how characters grew into the people they are in the present. Ultimately that past complicates everything; it holds things that were never supposed to be revealed. Sometimes the truth is terrible for people, and so people decide to keep that to themselves.
Laine returns to Brooklyn to care for her mother who needs “help” with the activities of her daily life; to “put things in order.” But that is no easy task; more is needed than just “cleaning out” the assortment of superfluous clothing and unused kitchen appliances. Things are complicated by a past relationship and by the chaos that surrounds the lives of her two sisters, not to mention that of her mother. There is no easy answer for this. However, this might be the chapter in her life when she could shed her identity as the person who gave up her dreams to make other people’s come true. Perhaps the goal is not always to make things simple and painless. Sometimes one must embrace the pain and the mess that it took to get to where you really want to be.
I received a review copy of “Everything Must Go” from Camille Pagán and Lake Union Publishing. “Everything Must Go” is not just a little casual, amusing book even though the title and the cover might suggest that. It is thoughtful, reflective, and sympathetic. The characters are authentic, realistic, imperfect, and relatable.
“Everything Must Go” is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries and anywhere you get your books.
Laine returns to Brooklyn to care for her mother who needs “help” with the activities of her daily life; to “put things in order.” But that is no easy task; more is needed than just “cleaning out” the assortment of superfluous clothing and unused kitchen appliances. Things are complicated by a past relationship and by the chaos that surrounds the lives of her two sisters, not to mention that of her mother. There is no easy answer for this. However, this might be the chapter in her life when she could shed her identity as the person who gave up her dreams to make other people’s come true. Perhaps the goal is not always to make things simple and painless. Sometimes one must embrace the pain and the mess that it took to get to where you really want to be.
I received a review copy of “Everything Must Go” from Camille Pagán and Lake Union Publishing. “Everything Must Go” is not just a little casual, amusing book even though the title and the cover might suggest that. It is thoughtful, reflective, and sympathetic. The characters are authentic, realistic, imperfect, and relatable.
“Everything Must Go” is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries and anywhere you get your books.
January 29, 2024
This is not my normal genre. Compared to what I normally read, nothing really happens here. A woman contemplates getting a divorce while her mom progresses in dementia. That’s really it. It was a rather quick read. If you like dramas about real life and don’t need dragons to spice up your books, you should enjoy it.
This has got to be one of the cleanest books I have read. Outside of the plot elements, there is no objectionable content in this whatsoever.
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: None
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
This has got to be one of the cleanest books I have read. Outside of the plot elements, there is no objectionable content in this whatsoever.
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: None
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
January 5, 2022
"Disappointment was a more palatable form of sadness."
"You say you don't know the right choice, but I think you do. The answer's already in you. You just have to find the courage to say it out loud."
At the age of 38, Laine is facing a mid-life crisis. She and her husband Josh has been married for almost a decade. Now, Laine has started to discover that their takes on life and views of future are totally different. Laine wants a happy family and Josh needs money and fame. Right when she's struggling in her marriage, a devastating new arrives.
Laine's mother Sally is sick. She may have dementia. Laine's sisters want her to go back home to take care of their mother. And the poeple pleaser Laine agrees.
To Laine’s relief, Sally seems no more absentminded than usual. So Laine vows to help her mother maintain her independence, then hightail it back to Michigan.
Except Laine’s plans go awry when she runs into her former best friend, Ben, and realizes she finally has a chance to repair their fractured relationship. Then she discovers that memory loss isn’t the only thing Sally’s been hiding. Sally shares her biggest secret with Laine; something that can be the final wave that would break their family apart. Laine has to decide whether to keep everyone happy or to follow her heart.
"Everything Must Go" is a warm and beautiful novel about family, love, happiness and sacrifices. Told from two different perspectives, Laine and Sally, this is a book that is equally funny and heart-breaking. The author Camille Pagán has an amazing writing style. It is very easy to get get into and flows smoothly. The pacing is perfect. The book managed to keep me hooked from the very beginning to the end. I loved the main plotline. The story discusses various important topics like how many a woman has to make sacrifices in her entire life for her family. A woman endures a lot to keep her family happy, even if their happiness comes at the cost of her own. We all acknowledge the truth but how many of us do anything about it. How many of our old mothers are wandering in the dark lanes of the city with tears in the eyes? "Everything Must Go" raises such very realistic yet complex questions that many of us usually try to avoid. Can you really define every action with good and bad? Can everything be regarded as either white or black? Or are there some grey areas too? The book teaches what a great mistake one can make by judging others without knowing the whole truth. How can you blame anyone for what they do when you aren't in their shoes?
"Everything Must Go" really is an wonderful book. It enlightened me on lots of subjects and answered some questions I had - about family and love. It is not a romance. So, don't expect anything romantic from this book.
Now though I like a lot of things about this book, I also have some issues. I hated how manipulative and pushy Laine's family is. The author should have discussed this particular topic more - how this is not acceptable. The characters are very bland and uninteresting. I didn't care enough about them. The characterization could have been better.
At one point, Laine literally jumps from Josh to Ben. Who does that when they are in middle of breaking off their decade old marriage? That's not all. At the end, the author pairs Josh, Laine's ex-husband with her younger sister. I mean how!!! I didn't see them being a 'thing'. Their relationship has no built nor has chemistry. I get that the idea of everyone getting their happily-ever-after is appealing but this rarely happens in real life. For a book which deals with so many realistic and heavy subjects, I would have loved it to end in a realistic way. That might not promise happily ever after for everybody but that would make this book a fantastic piece of literature. However, I overall enjoyed it. My average rating will be 3.5 stars.
__________________________________________
☆ Thanks to Net-Galley and publishers for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2022
Fast paced story of a woman in her middle age having come to a cross-road of hard decisions. Laine is a professional organizer, and even she can’t clean up the mess that is currently her life. Her precious dog Belle just died, she is budding heads with her husband constantly because she wants a baby and he is not ready, and on top of it all received a family emergency call that her mother might have dementia.
As she returns to her family home in Brooklyn to go take care of her mom, she is met with the familiar eyes of her childhood best-friend Ben, who she hasn’t talked to since their huge fight in colleague. Head-spinning over what to do with every unfolding in her life, you as the reader will step into a story revolving around secrets, sacrifices, second-chances and finally doing something for yourself.
The premise seemed as something I would enjoy a lot, but in all honesty the book fell a bit flat for me. I liked that it had POV’s from Laine and Sally, really giving insight into their choices and behavior, and I thought the sensitive topic of Alzheimers and dealing with a family member with the illness was dealt with respectfully. The ‘threatened’ divorce didn’t seem to stir up any sort of pain for either Laine or Josh which was weird for me seeing they were married for 14 years, and Ben wanting to pick up exactly where they left of years ago felt rushed and not worked through. Ultimately just wasn’t the book for me. BUT this book might be exactly what your looking for if any of the following interest you:
🧼Second-chance romance
🧼Tight-knit family bonds
🧼Alzheimers/Dementia caregiving
🧼MC that finally choses herself
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
As she returns to her family home in Brooklyn to go take care of her mom, she is met with the familiar eyes of her childhood best-friend Ben, who she hasn’t talked to since their huge fight in colleague. Head-spinning over what to do with every unfolding in her life, you as the reader will step into a story revolving around secrets, sacrifices, second-chances and finally doing something for yourself.
The premise seemed as something I would enjoy a lot, but in all honesty the book fell a bit flat for me. I liked that it had POV’s from Laine and Sally, really giving insight into their choices and behavior, and I thought the sensitive topic of Alzheimers and dealing with a family member with the illness was dealt with respectfully. The ‘threatened’ divorce didn’t seem to stir up any sort of pain for either Laine or Josh which was weird for me seeing they were married for 14 years, and Ben wanting to pick up exactly where they left of years ago felt rushed and not worked through. Ultimately just wasn’t the book for me. BUT this book might be exactly what your looking for if any of the following interest you:
🧼Second-chance romance
🧼Tight-knit family bonds
🧼Alzheimers/Dementia caregiving
🧼MC that finally choses herself
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
April 16, 2023
If you are looking for the perfect beach read... but with a little substance, this is it!
In Everything Must Go we meet Laine, one of three sister who feels her life goal of becoming a mother will never happen. Following the death of her beloved dog she realizes that even though she loves her husband of over a decade, he will never be ready to give her a child. Every time she brings up the topic he has an excuse, with the straightest face she tells him and her family they will be getting a divorce. No one believes her because her husbands is the sweetest man ever and he is basically in with the family.
A people pleaser, Laine ends up in New York with her mother who is suffering from dementia and hoarding. Added to this her childhood best friend moved back next door and she can tell this break from her husband will turn out really great or not....
Not gonna lie... I breezed through this book- a lovely read with some substance to go along with it! Go give this one a read!
In Everything Must Go we meet Laine, one of three sister who feels her life goal of becoming a mother will never happen. Following the death of her beloved dog she realizes that even though she loves her husband of over a decade, he will never be ready to give her a child. Every time she brings up the topic he has an excuse, with the straightest face she tells him and her family they will be getting a divorce. No one believes her because her husbands is the sweetest man ever and he is basically in with the family.
A people pleaser, Laine ends up in New York with her mother who is suffering from dementia and hoarding. Added to this her childhood best friend moved back next door and she can tell this break from her husband will turn out really great or not....
Not gonna lie... I breezed through this book- a lovely read with some substance to go along with it! Go give this one a read!
May 2, 2022
Probably closer to 2.5.
April 25, 2022
Everything Must Go by Camille Pagan is a wonderful, heartfelt story about love, family, and second chances. It also explores the strength of the bond between mother-daughter, as well as that of the bond between sisters.
Laine Francis’ life is in turmoil. More than anything, she wants to be a mother, but her husband has been putting her off for years, saying he’s not ready. Laine’s biological clock is ticking so loudly that it’s all she can hear and so she tells her husband she wants a divorce since they clearly don’t want the same things. On top of that, she has received a frantic call from one of her sisters, begging her to come to New York to help with their mom, who hasn’t been herself lately. Even though Laine has no desire to come back to New York, she knows she is the only sibling who doesn’t have small children to care for so she’s the logical choice. When Laine arrives in New York, she runs into Ben, her former best friend. She hasn’t seen Ben since they had a huge falling out years ago, so seeing him again after all this time brings back a lot of memories. She hopes seeing him again will provide the opportunity to mend their relationships, but she soon realizes that her sisters were right about their mom. Something is definitely wrong and it’s not just the occasional forgetfulness.
I think this is a story that many readers, especially those with aging parents, are going to find so relatable. As the sisters try to determine the full extent of their mom’s memory loss, they have to have tough heart-to-heart conversations about what to do, how best to care for her, while maintaining as much of her independence and dignity as possible, etc. I loved how realistically these relationships were portrayed and how the sisters all came together to help their mom. I also loved that in addition to Laine’s perspective, which we got since she was the one taking the lead when it came to their mom, we also got the perspective of Sally, so we could see what was going on in her head, both as she realized what was happening to her and as she realized that her girls knew as well. Not only that, but we also get an inside look at some pretty major secrets Sally has been keeping from her family. I found Laine’s journey to figure out what she really wants from her life, especially regarding motherhood, just as compelling as Sally’s story. There were so many different layers that kept me turning the pages and fully invested in seeing how things would turn out for both Laine and Sally.
While Everything Must Go touches on some pretty weighty topics like divorce and dementia, it’s ultimately a feel good story that left me shedding a few happy tears by the time I got to the last page.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Laine Francis’ life is in turmoil. More than anything, she wants to be a mother, but her husband has been putting her off for years, saying he’s not ready. Laine’s biological clock is ticking so loudly that it’s all she can hear and so she tells her husband she wants a divorce since they clearly don’t want the same things. On top of that, she has received a frantic call from one of her sisters, begging her to come to New York to help with their mom, who hasn’t been herself lately. Even though Laine has no desire to come back to New York, she knows she is the only sibling who doesn’t have small children to care for so she’s the logical choice. When Laine arrives in New York, she runs into Ben, her former best friend. She hasn’t seen Ben since they had a huge falling out years ago, so seeing him again after all this time brings back a lot of memories. She hopes seeing him again will provide the opportunity to mend their relationships, but she soon realizes that her sisters were right about their mom. Something is definitely wrong and it’s not just the occasional forgetfulness.
I think this is a story that many readers, especially those with aging parents, are going to find so relatable. As the sisters try to determine the full extent of their mom’s memory loss, they have to have tough heart-to-heart conversations about what to do, how best to care for her, while maintaining as much of her independence and dignity as possible, etc. I loved how realistically these relationships were portrayed and how the sisters all came together to help their mom. I also loved that in addition to Laine’s perspective, which we got since she was the one taking the lead when it came to their mom, we also got the perspective of Sally, so we could see what was going on in her head, both as she realized what was happening to her and as she realized that her girls knew as well. Not only that, but we also get an inside look at some pretty major secrets Sally has been keeping from her family. I found Laine’s journey to figure out what she really wants from her life, especially regarding motherhood, just as compelling as Sally’s story. There were so many different layers that kept me turning the pages and fully invested in seeing how things would turn out for both Laine and Sally.
While Everything Must Go touches on some pretty weighty topics like divorce and dementia, it’s ultimately a feel good story that left me shedding a few happy tears by the time I got to the last page.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
February 5, 2025
This was my 7th Camille Pagán novel, so you could say I'm a fan. This novel has all the family issues that make her books so readable, but with the addition of a parent losing their mental facilities, as happened with her own family. Sally, the mother in question, is our sometime narrator, while her daughter Laine is the main one. Lots going on in Laine's life, her beloved dog has just died, she wants a baby, but her long term husband is still not ready, and of course her own mum's mental deterioration. Well handled for the most part, but I did find I was often thinking how all this convoluted situation would work itself out. Nice read, 4 stars for me.
But as adults, we’d come to realize that being raised by the same parents at the same time was like being the last few to speak a dying language. (p. 9).
What I didn’t know then was that every time you defer your dream, it grows a bit weaker, a little less urgent, until one day you’ve all but forgotten it’s there. (p. 96).
“It’s really not, Laine. People respect a person who doesn’t let others walk all over them. And would you rather be liked or respected?” (p. 160).
...they were going to react however they reacted. All I had to do was leave room for them to have their own opinions and emotions while still having my own back. (p. 229).
But as adults, we’d come to realize that being raised by the same parents at the same time was like being the last few to speak a dying language. (p. 9).
What I didn’t know then was that every time you defer your dream, it grows a bit weaker, a little less urgent, until one day you’ve all but forgotten it’s there. (p. 96).
“It’s really not, Laine. People respect a person who doesn’t let others walk all over them. And would you rather be liked or respected?” (p. 160).
...they were going to react however they reacted. All I had to do was leave room for them to have their own opinions and emotions while still having my own back. (p. 229).
April 27, 2022
A story about family, secrets and following your heart. Laine is a professional organizer. Her marriage is on the rocks. Laine wants to have a baby, her husband doesn't. As if dealing with marriage woes isn't enough, her sisters want her to come home to Brooklyn because their mother is having memory issues. Laine returns home where secrets come to light and she connect with her once best friend Ben. This was a warm and deeply felt story. Most people have had to deal with an aging parent and family dynamics. I really enjoyed this. I love stories with mothers and daughters. This was so relatable. Such a good read.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
April 17, 2022
I loved everything about “Everything Must Go” by Camille Pagan, and highly recommend that you read this thought-provoking and memorable book! The genres for this novel are Domestic Drama, Alzheimer's, and Fiction. The timeline for this story is written in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events. I appreciate Camille Pagan’s writing style, which is both heartfelt and witty, and I love her storytelling ability. The author vividly describes her characters and events in the story. The characters are described as complex, complicated, flawed, quirky, and relatable.
As a caregiver of a family member who had Alzheimer's, this story especially resonates with me. This is written with sensitivity, poignancy, and wit. I can relate to many of the situations that the characters are dealing with. Laine Francis is assessing her life goals and marriage when her two sisters call her home to help deal with their mother’s dementia. Laine is a professional organizer and is shocked to see that their mother is a hoarder. Laine becomes aware of family secrets and has to make the best choices for herself.
I appreciate that the author discusses important subjects such as forgiveness, second chances, the importance of family, friendship, love, and hope. I enjoy seeing some of the characters show growth. This is one book that you should read!
As a caregiver of a family member who had Alzheimer's, this story especially resonates with me. This is written with sensitivity, poignancy, and wit. I can relate to many of the situations that the characters are dealing with. Laine Francis is assessing her life goals and marriage when her two sisters call her home to help deal with their mother’s dementia. Laine is a professional organizer and is shocked to see that their mother is a hoarder. Laine becomes aware of family secrets and has to make the best choices for herself.
I appreciate that the author discusses important subjects such as forgiveness, second chances, the importance of family, friendship, love, and hope. I enjoy seeing some of the characters show growth. This is one book that you should read!
February 20, 2022
Laine is at a crossroads and needs to make some major decisions about where her life is headed. She wants nothing more than to have a baby but her husband, Josh, keeps saying he isn't ready yet. Laine's mother's memory is slipping more and more often recently. When Laine becomes concerned for her mother's wellbeing she heads to New York from Michigan and sees just how bad her mother's conditions has gotten. To Laine's surprise her childhood best friend, Ben, is living in the neighbourhood again and Laine has the chance to rekindle her teenage crush that never went anywhere.
I have read several other novels by Camille Pagan and like her writing style but this was one of my least favourite of her novels. I found this to be a bit predictable and was bored at points. I finished the book but didn't feel like I was pulled into Laine's story and her passiveness annoyed me. This was a perfectly alright book but nothing special and I'm sure I'll forget it sooner rather than later. I'll give it 3 stars because I like the author and felt that she handled the struggles of a family dealing with their mother's Alzheimer's really well and it felt very realistic. Laine as a character developed throughout the book and became less passive which was a winning plot point for me. I would say that you can skip this one and you won't be missing much.
I have read several other novels by Camille Pagan and like her writing style but this was one of my least favourite of her novels. I found this to be a bit predictable and was bored at points. I finished the book but didn't feel like I was pulled into Laine's story and her passiveness annoyed me. This was a perfectly alright book but nothing special and I'm sure I'll forget it sooner rather than later. I'll give it 3 stars because I like the author and felt that she handled the struggles of a family dealing with their mother's Alzheimer's really well and it felt very realistic. Laine as a character developed throughout the book and became less passive which was a winning plot point for me. I would say that you can skip this one and you won't be missing much.
November 26, 2023
Ugh! I always love Camille Pagan but this is terrible. This book made me angry and anxious. I hate walk-over personalities. Laine’s character was just way too pathetic. Her sisters are bullies , disrespectful and does not acknowledge boundaries. Yes I get that can be totally true is reality so just a heads up, if you want a relax read to make you feel good- NOT THIS BOOK.
If you are in a point of life where bio-clock is ticking and babies are all you see, or in a very platonic relationship where your needs are pushed over and husbands don’t take you seriously, and sisters and moms do not even respect your boundaries and will just walkover you… this book will trigger the living shit out of you. There are so many difficult ways to handle dementia , hoarding, divorce and all of them differ from case to case. Nevertheless- I did not enjoy this book. Bad things, unhappiness and stress was probably the inspirations while this was being written. It was hard and I was surprise to see myself going all the way to chapter 30 out of 38( 81% ) to finally quit.
If you are in a point of life where bio-clock is ticking and babies are all you see, or in a very platonic relationship where your needs are pushed over and husbands don’t take you seriously, and sisters and moms do not even respect your boundaries and will just walkover you… this book will trigger the living shit out of you. There are so many difficult ways to handle dementia , hoarding, divorce and all of them differ from case to case. Nevertheless- I did not enjoy this book. Bad things, unhappiness and stress was probably the inspirations while this was being written. It was hard and I was surprise to see myself going all the way to chapter 30 out of 38( 81% ) to finally quit.
February 16, 2022
I'm one of those people who get annoyed by characters who are so DESPERATE to have a baby that every third sentence is about THE BABY (often not yet born, and in many cases, not even yet conceived). So the blame is all mine for reading another book, 'Josh and Gemma Make A Baby' because there, the title literally tells you what it's about, and I have written a review of that as well.
But this book is called 'Everything Must Go' and I went into it thinking that it was about something else, and not about a hypothetical baby, but the baby part took up a MAJOR part of the story. Honestly, what kept me reading was Sally's struggles with dementia and how the family handles it.
Having a parent who is getting on in years, age-related conditions are a very real possibility, and it's easy to put myself in the shoes of Laine and examine my reactions if I were faced with those kinds of decisions.
This is a novel about family, and about living life on your terms, and not doing what others expect you to, but being honest and truthful about what you want in life, and having the courage to ask for it and pursue it, no matter what the cost.
The story is told from the POV of Sally, and her middle daughter, Laine. When Belle, Laine's dog, dies, she realises that she's going to be utterly alone, because even though she and her husband Josh have been together for 15 years, and married for 13 of those years, he still doesn't want to start a family, because career-wise, he's always on the verge of the next big thing, but never quite gets there.
She realises that she and he want very different things from life, and she asks for a divorce. Josh doesn't think she's serious, and it's just her grief over Belle's passing that is making her say these things.
Then Laine gets a call from her older sister, Hadley, who lives in New York. Hadley has a great husband and a bunch of kids and they're rich to boot. Hadley has noticed that their mom Sally has been behaving erratically lately and she's worried about her and needs Laine's help because her hands are full taking care of all her kids.
Laine goes to New York and at first, she doesn't see anything off about her mom's behaviour, but soon, she starts noticing things that indicate that all is not right with her mom's mental state.
Adding to all this is her chance meeting with Ben, her best friend from childhood with who she had a falling out, and with whom she was never able to reconcile. They talk about things and clear the air and decide to rekindle their friendship.
Hadley and Piper (the youngest sister, who has kids of her own) expect Laine to come and live in New York and take care of their mom when she tells them that Josh and she are divorcing. Because with no Josh, no kids and no Belle, they just assume that she's a free bird now.
Laine has other plans though. Her biological clock is ticking, and Josh or no Josh, she is determined to have a baby. She keeps this from everyone for a long time, because she is torn between staying in Ann Arbour or going to New York, staying with Josh, or divorcing him. She believes that her mother has always been selfish and manipulated her into doing what she wanted, and she's a bit resentful about that. However, after a heart-to-heart conversation with her mom and also after following Ben's advice, she realises that she MUST follow her heart and ask for what she wants.
She tells Josh that she DOES want the divorce, she tells her sisters that NO, she cannot and does not want to come and stay in New York and stay with their mom and take care of her, because she wants to have a baby and raise it in Ann Arbour. She also admits to Ben that she loves him and ...surprise! He's always been in love with her too! Frankly, I think the reason why they had a falling out was lame and a huge assumption on Laine's part, and they could have tried reconciling later in life once they were adults, but hey, characters displaying maturity and common sense would mess with the plot and disrupt the timing of the rekindling of all the feels.
No, not to worry, they don't leave Sally to fend for herself. A solution for that is neatly wrapped in a bow and presented to us as well, though, in real life, the decision of how to handle a parent with dementia is much more difficult and gut-wrenching than portrayed here.
Sometimes in life, you have to make some tough decisions, and people may see you as selfish or resent you for wanting to live your own life on your terms instead of being a self-sacrificing martyr, but you gotta do what you gotta do. And sometimes, it's all in our head, We think we will be judged and resented by our family or loved ones for the decisions we make, but they surprise us by showing us their full support.
I guess what the book is trying to say is -speak your truth, have the guts to ask for what you want, learn to say NO, stop trying to be NICE to everyone, go after what your heart desires, without any regrets, be honest with yourself, and stop beating yourself up and feeling guilty for wanting what you want, don't assume things, and STOP TRYING TO LIVE UP TO OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS!
It's sweet and emotional and a bit sad to read sometimes because if you put yourself in Laine's shoes, it's scary to think of what you would do when you had to decide the fate of a parent whose mental faculties are deteriorating fast.
But there are happy endings all around so you end on a feel-good note, even though the solution feels a little too convenient and forced. However, it was a good balance of sisterly bonding, familial love and responsibility, self-realization, and a dash of romance. Overall, would recommend it!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
But this book is called 'Everything Must Go' and I went into it thinking that it was about something else, and not about a hypothetical baby, but the baby part took up a MAJOR part of the story. Honestly, what kept me reading was Sally's struggles with dementia and how the family handles it.
Having a parent who is getting on in years, age-related conditions are a very real possibility, and it's easy to put myself in the shoes of Laine and examine my reactions if I were faced with those kinds of decisions.
This is a novel about family, and about living life on your terms, and not doing what others expect you to, but being honest and truthful about what you want in life, and having the courage to ask for it and pursue it, no matter what the cost.
The story is told from the POV of Sally, and her middle daughter, Laine. When Belle, Laine's dog, dies, she realises that she's going to be utterly alone, because even though she and her husband Josh have been together for 15 years, and married for 13 of those years, he still doesn't want to start a family, because career-wise, he's always on the verge of the next big thing, but never quite gets there.
She realises that she and he want very different things from life, and she asks for a divorce. Josh doesn't think she's serious, and it's just her grief over Belle's passing that is making her say these things.
Then Laine gets a call from her older sister, Hadley, who lives in New York. Hadley has a great husband and a bunch of kids and they're rich to boot. Hadley has noticed that their mom Sally has been behaving erratically lately and she's worried about her and needs Laine's help because her hands are full taking care of all her kids.
Laine goes to New York and at first, she doesn't see anything off about her mom's behaviour, but soon, she starts noticing things that indicate that all is not right with her mom's mental state.
Adding to all this is her chance meeting with Ben, her best friend from childhood with who she had a falling out, and with whom she was never able to reconcile. They talk about things and clear the air and decide to rekindle their friendship.
Hadley and Piper (the youngest sister, who has kids of her own) expect Laine to come and live in New York and take care of their mom when she tells them that Josh and she are divorcing. Because with no Josh, no kids and no Belle, they just assume that she's a free bird now.
Laine has other plans though. Her biological clock is ticking, and Josh or no Josh, she is determined to have a baby. She keeps this from everyone for a long time, because she is torn between staying in Ann Arbour or going to New York, staying with Josh, or divorcing him. She believes that her mother has always been selfish and manipulated her into doing what she wanted, and she's a bit resentful about that. However, after a heart-to-heart conversation with her mom and also after following Ben's advice, she realises that she MUST follow her heart and ask for what she wants.
She tells Josh that she DOES want the divorce, she tells her sisters that NO, she cannot and does not want to come and stay in New York and stay with their mom and take care of her, because she wants to have a baby and raise it in Ann Arbour. She also admits to Ben that she loves him and ...surprise! He's always been in love with her too! Frankly, I think the reason why they had a falling out was lame and a huge assumption on Laine's part, and they could have tried reconciling later in life once they were adults, but hey, characters displaying maturity and common sense would mess with the plot and disrupt the timing of the rekindling of all the feels.
No, not to worry, they don't leave Sally to fend for herself. A solution for that is neatly wrapped in a bow and presented to us as well, though, in real life, the decision of how to handle a parent with dementia is much more difficult and gut-wrenching than portrayed here.
Sometimes in life, you have to make some tough decisions, and people may see you as selfish or resent you for wanting to live your own life on your terms instead of being a self-sacrificing martyr, but you gotta do what you gotta do. And sometimes, it's all in our head, We think we will be judged and resented by our family or loved ones for the decisions we make, but they surprise us by showing us their full support.
I guess what the book is trying to say is -speak your truth, have the guts to ask for what you want, learn to say NO, stop trying to be NICE to everyone, go after what your heart desires, without any regrets, be honest with yourself, and stop beating yourself up and feeling guilty for wanting what you want, don't assume things, and STOP TRYING TO LIVE UP TO OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS!
It's sweet and emotional and a bit sad to read sometimes because if you put yourself in Laine's shoes, it's scary to think of what you would do when you had to decide the fate of a parent whose mental faculties are deteriorating fast.
But there are happy endings all around so you end on a feel-good note, even though the solution feels a little too convenient and forced. However, it was a good balance of sisterly bonding, familial love and responsibility, self-realization, and a dash of romance. Overall, would recommend it!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 1, 2024
3.5 stars. "Say yes to your heart."
A light read that involves a family experiencing a parent with memory loss, marriage / divorce, and learning to "say yes to your heart."
There are pets, which is a plus.
While sweet, I felt it leaned almost too simplistic, but still has meaning.
A light read that involves a family experiencing a parent with memory loss, marriage / divorce, and learning to "say yes to your heart."
There are pets, which is a plus.
While sweet, I felt it leaned almost too simplistic, but still has meaning.
September 17, 2022
This is such a great book. I knew I would like it because Camille Pagan is a great author, but it is even better than I originally thought. I was drawn to the main character, Laine, and I felt so empathetic towards her and everything she was going through. A troubled marriage, an unfulfilled family, and a suffering mom are just a few huge life events she juggles and she holds herself together pretty well despite the emotional weight they each hold. She is married to a husband who loves her but not the idea of a having a baby, her ex best friend is in her life again and she realizes she not only wants him to stay in her life, but as more than just friends. Does she want to move to NY and care for her mom who revealed she has Alzheimer’s, and where Ben lives? Or does she want to stay in Ann Arbor, MI where she has a new and lucrative business and is ideal for raising a family? Does she want to stay married to Josh? Always living her life as a people pleaser, recent events have encouraged Laine to put herself first and do what is best for her. She learns living this way is not always perfect, and that someone will likely end up unhappy, but she also becomes stronger and happier as she navigates this new way of living. I loved the focus on family and am in awe of the strong bonds they all have with one another. Is it a perfect family? No, of course not, but it is so much like a REAL family. Real people with real problems, but told with so much talent and flair that it is captivating from beginning to end. That is what it makes the book so wonderful.
May 21, 2022
Whew. This book had such promise. I was so frustrated and angry by the end that I threw my kindle. Thankfully I was on the bed.
Laine’s world gets turned upside down when she decides she wants a divorce from her husband of *I want to say 14 years* because he still isn’t ready to have kids. Her mother has dementia. Her sisters are overbearing at times and are trying to make her move back to NYC to take care of their mother, but she doesn’t want to. There were past affairs that come to light. There’s possible infertility issues. Old loves resurfacing. Other things I can’t say because it will be spoilers…
Bottom line. There was a LOT of shit going on in this novel, and then almost every issue would magically work itself out at the drop of a hat. It was so frustrating. I love a happy ending, but there needs to be more turmoil to get there. That didn’t happen here. It wasn’t believable in the least bit.
Thank you to @lakeunionauthors and @netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Laine’s world gets turned upside down when she decides she wants a divorce from her husband of *I want to say 14 years* because he still isn’t ready to have kids. Her mother has dementia. Her sisters are overbearing at times and are trying to make her move back to NYC to take care of their mother, but she doesn’t want to. There were past affairs that come to light. There’s possible infertility issues. Old loves resurfacing. Other things I can’t say because it will be spoilers…
Bottom line. There was a LOT of shit going on in this novel, and then almost every issue would magically work itself out at the drop of a hat. It was so frustrating. I love a happy ending, but there needs to be more turmoil to get there. That didn’t happen here. It wasn’t believable in the least bit.
Thank you to @lakeunionauthors and @netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
February 15, 2022
I had mixed feelings about this book after I finished it. I felt Laine just jumped from situation to situation very rashly. She makes a major life decision without a lot of thought. Then she jumps into another situation while still entangled with another one.
The novel deals with dementia which is sad.
Out of all the characters, I liked Josh. I felt empathy for what he went through and he was still willing to help.
I was just dissatisfied with this novel.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the early read.
The novel deals with dementia which is sad.
Out of all the characters, I liked Josh. I felt empathy for what he went through and he was still willing to help.
I was just dissatisfied with this novel.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the early read.
April 20, 2022
Pagan is a go-to author for me, and her latest captures all the elements that have made her a bestseller. Moving and heartfelt, this story of sisters and second chances, ever-changing relationships, and caring for elderly parents will touch the most thoughtful readers. Brava, Camille!
April 20, 2022
Since my early twenties, stories about family, friendship, marriage, and motherhood have been my very favorite kind to read. I discovered Camille Pagán’s work back in 2018, and quickly realized that she consistently checks all of my boxes. She’s been a favorite author of mine ever since. Her novels always incorporate everything I could possibly ask for when it comes to women’s fiction. In her latest, Everything Must Go, we meet Laine Francis. Laine is stuck in a hard place at the moment. She wants to start a family, but her husband isn’t ready, and probably never will be. Her mother is showing early signs of dementia, and her sisters really need help keeping an eye on her. Laine absolutely wants to help, but one major thing stands in the way - her location. Her family is all in New York, but she is happily residing in Michigan. So, Laine has a few big decisions to make. How important is starting a family to her? Important enough to end her marriage over it? How can she help her mom and sisters when she’s miles away? Does she really want to move back to New York? I loved having a front row seat to Laine’s decision making and thought process as she grappled with which direction her life should take. You must read it to find out! Once again, Pagán nailed it with her latest gem filled with family dynamics, sisterhood, marriage difficulties, life-long friendship, and self-discovery. Also, I love that some kittens made an appearance in this novel. This truly warmed my feline-loving heart.
April 23, 2022
This was my first time reading a book by Camille Pagan, and it was such a pleasant surprise. Everything Must Go was a wonderful and memorable family drama that I flew through in one day.
This was such a relatable story full of heart and hope. I was really impressed with Pagan’s ability to write a deep story that deals with serious/heartbreaking situations and yet keep everything light in order to not bog down the reader. This story in particular captured my heart and drew me in with the real-world issues Laine had to deal with: her aging mother, marriage issues, and just trying to be true to herself through all of it.
Laine’s biggest hurdle was wanting to please everyone while she was still trying to get what she wants in her own life. There were several times I wanted to give her a swift kick in the booty for putting herself last, yet I understood her dilemma
Overall, this was a quick read with a nice balance of honesty, heart, and thoughtfulness.
Thank you, Amazon Publishing/Lake Union, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
This was such a relatable story full of heart and hope. I was really impressed with Pagan’s ability to write a deep story that deals with serious/heartbreaking situations and yet keep everything light in order to not bog down the reader. This story in particular captured my heart and drew me in with the real-world issues Laine had to deal with: her aging mother, marriage issues, and just trying to be true to herself through all of it.
Laine’s biggest hurdle was wanting to please everyone while she was still trying to get what she wants in her own life. There were several times I wanted to give her a swift kick in the booty for putting herself last, yet I understood her dilemma
Overall, this was a quick read with a nice balance of honesty, heart, and thoughtfulness.
Thank you, Amazon Publishing/Lake Union, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
April 27, 2022
Laine is a people-pleaser. She finds it hard to voice her own opinions and tries to placate those around her, especially her husband Josh and her sisters and mother. Laine desperately wants to have a baby but when her sisters call her to say her mother is sick, she drops everything to be there with them. Her family home makes her think of her best friend Ben who used to live just down the street. When they fell out as teenagers, Laine never stopped missing him. Now confronted by life-changing decisions to make and with Ben’s reappearance in her life, will Laine put herself first for once?
This book grabbed my attention with an interesting premise and a storyline focusing on caring for a sick loved one/person with dementia as I’ve my own personal experience with this illness. I liked how Pagán discussed this difficult topic throughout the story with a degree of sensitivity and kindness (and as I later found out at the end of the book, she too has dealt with a family member with this illness).
I also thought Pagán’s handling of the issue of caring for a sick loved one was good and focused on how we are made to feel that we must care for a family member even when we are not mentally or physically able to do that. The guilt that people feel when put in this sort of situation is immense and I’m glad that the author highlights this struggle in the book. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to this aspect of the story.
I however can’t say I connected with the characters (apart from the mother who’s point of view in the book was really interesting to read). The weirdness surrounding Josh and Laine’s sister just didn’t sit well with me (when you read about it, you will feel the same!) and at times, I found elements about the various relationships being discussed being repeated in the book. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Laine and Ben either. The ending jumped forward but ended quite abruptly but maybe the author is going to write a second book to continue the story of Laine and Ben.
There are many emotional and heart-breaking moments throughout this book but overall, the subject of caring for a person and being cared for was handled well by the author. The bond between a mother and her daughters is also quite beautifully portrayed also.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the arc. Everything Must Go is out now.
This book grabbed my attention with an interesting premise and a storyline focusing on caring for a sick loved one/person with dementia as I’ve my own personal experience with this illness. I liked how Pagán discussed this difficult topic throughout the story with a degree of sensitivity and kindness (and as I later found out at the end of the book, she too has dealt with a family member with this illness).
I also thought Pagán’s handling of the issue of caring for a sick loved one was good and focused on how we are made to feel that we must care for a family member even when we are not mentally or physically able to do that. The guilt that people feel when put in this sort of situation is immense and I’m glad that the author highlights this struggle in the book. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to this aspect of the story.
I however can’t say I connected with the characters (apart from the mother who’s point of view in the book was really interesting to read). The weirdness surrounding Josh and Laine’s sister just didn’t sit well with me (when you read about it, you will feel the same!) and at times, I found elements about the various relationships being discussed being repeated in the book. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Laine and Ben either. The ending jumped forward but ended quite abruptly but maybe the author is going to write a second book to continue the story of Laine and Ben.
There are many emotional and heart-breaking moments throughout this book but overall, the subject of caring for a person and being cared for was handled well by the author. The bond between a mother and her daughters is also quite beautifully portrayed also.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the arc. Everything Must Go is out now.
December 20, 2021
Firstly, thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm giving this book a solid three stars, with my points below on why. When I read what the book was about and the way the title is represented, I thought this novel would reflect a woman who's marriage is in the air while having to deal with her sick elderly mother. I thought the title meant more in terms that since the marriage was over, she would start completely over. That's not what happened at all.
Laine is a professional organizer from New York but currently resides in a small town in Michigan. Within the first chapter, you learn her beloved pet whom she's had for 15 years passed away, she wants a baby so somebody needs her and she asked her husband for a divorce. As the story unfolds, we learn Laine has two sisters and a mother they suspect to have dementia.
Laine packs a suitcase and heads to New York to be with her family and to really think about whether she wants a divorce. Throughout the story, we experience the story from two point of views. One from Laine and one from Sally, her mother. In the chapters that Sally narrates, they are pretty lucid and easy to follow. Oh, by the way, Laine runs into her ex best friend who she's in love with while in New York (Ben, that's important for later).
Throughout the book, I felt that dealing with a family member with dementia was pretty accurate. I can also understand the struggle of wanting to be a mother while your husband doesn't. However, I found the book a bit boring. It seemed like it ran in constant circles of Laine saying yes to all the things she wants to say no. Laine doesn't want to live in New York. I don't know how many times I read that, yet she still contemplated it. I know that the character building was intended to build Laine into having more of a backbone when it's doing what she wants rather than what her family wants. It just fell flat for me though, it seemed like once she finally had Ben whispering into her ear, she grew her backbone.
Which leads me to my next point. I think this story would have been a lot better if Ben wasn't involved at all. If Laine had the chance to explore what motherhood meant to her while being a single woman, while trying to figure out the best route for her mom and growing the courage she needed all by herself. Ben didn't add a lot other than past time of a 16 year old grudge, settling for a man who she loves but I'm not sure she was ever in love with and a happy ending. I mean, if you hold a grudge for that long - are you really able to fall into the arms of the same man within a few days after deciding with your husband that the divorce will be done? It just doesn't make sense to me and the more I think about it, the less sense it makes to me with the timeline in the book.
I did enjoy this book, I think it explored raw emotions when having to become a caretaker. I wouldn't read it again though.
I'm giving this book a solid three stars, with my points below on why. When I read what the book was about and the way the title is represented, I thought this novel would reflect a woman who's marriage is in the air while having to deal with her sick elderly mother. I thought the title meant more in terms that since the marriage was over, she would start completely over. That's not what happened at all.
Laine is a professional organizer from New York but currently resides in a small town in Michigan. Within the first chapter, you learn her beloved pet whom she's had for 15 years passed away, she wants a baby so somebody needs her and she asked her husband for a divorce. As the story unfolds, we learn Laine has two sisters and a mother they suspect to have dementia.
Laine packs a suitcase and heads to New York to be with her family and to really think about whether she wants a divorce. Throughout the story, we experience the story from two point of views. One from Laine and one from Sally, her mother. In the chapters that Sally narrates, they are pretty lucid and easy to follow. Oh, by the way, Laine runs into her ex best friend who she's in love with while in New York (Ben, that's important for later).
Throughout the book, I felt that dealing with a family member with dementia was pretty accurate. I can also understand the struggle of wanting to be a mother while your husband doesn't. However, I found the book a bit boring. It seemed like it ran in constant circles of Laine saying yes to all the things she wants to say no. Laine doesn't want to live in New York. I don't know how many times I read that, yet she still contemplated it. I know that the character building was intended to build Laine into having more of a backbone when it's doing what she wants rather than what her family wants. It just fell flat for me though, it seemed like once she finally had Ben whispering into her ear, she grew her backbone.
Which leads me to my next point. I think this story would have been a lot better if Ben wasn't involved at all. If Laine had the chance to explore what motherhood meant to her while being a single woman, while trying to figure out the best route for her mom and growing the courage she needed all by herself. Ben didn't add a lot other than past time of a 16 year old grudge, settling for a man who she loves but I'm not sure she was ever in love with and a happy ending. I mean, if you hold a grudge for that long - are you really able to fall into the arms of the same man within a few days after deciding with your husband that the divorce will be done? It just doesn't make sense to me and the more I think about it, the less sense it makes to me with the timeline in the book.
I did enjoy this book, I think it explored raw emotions when having to become a caretaker. I wouldn't read it again though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2022
As a professional organizer, Laine takes comfort in putting things in their place. But organizing others belongings and sorting out one’s own issues are two different matters entirely.
In an effort to reorganize and aware of her biological clock ticking, Laine decides she wants a divorce. Well, sort of. She loves her husband and is content otherwise, but can’t help feeling he will put off the issue of their having kids “someday” for forever. Adding insult to injury, Laine’s sisters inform her that her mom’s memory is declining, only reminding her how time is indeed, marching on.
So Laine leaves the home she has with her current husband for her hometown of NYC where her family still lives in order to help out. But as she sorts out her mother’s matters and reconnects with her old high school “more than a friend maybe” Ben, it’s clear that Laine has a lot more going on than even the likes of Marie Kondo can set straight.
Everything Must Go is a poignant story that touches upon memories, mortality, and wanting something more. While I empathized with Laine’s struggles, I couldn’t help but view her as selfish for the majority of the book. She wanted a break from her husband, but still was content to use his help whenever he offered it, which was often. There was also the confusing elements of where her husband’s loyalty lies, along with the parallel resurgence of Ben into her life. For a book all about making things neat and tidy, I found these loose ends to be distressing and unnecessarily messy.
In an effort to reorganize and aware of her biological clock ticking, Laine decides she wants a divorce. Well, sort of. She loves her husband and is content otherwise, but can’t help feeling he will put off the issue of their having kids “someday” for forever. Adding insult to injury, Laine’s sisters inform her that her mom’s memory is declining, only reminding her how time is indeed, marching on.
So Laine leaves the home she has with her current husband for her hometown of NYC where her family still lives in order to help out. But as she sorts out her mother’s matters and reconnects with her old high school “more than a friend maybe” Ben, it’s clear that Laine has a lot more going on than even the likes of Marie Kondo can set straight.
Everything Must Go is a poignant story that touches upon memories, mortality, and wanting something more. While I empathized with Laine’s struggles, I couldn’t help but view her as selfish for the majority of the book. She wanted a break from her husband, but still was content to use his help whenever he offered it, which was often. There was also the confusing elements of where her husband’s loyalty lies, along with the parallel resurgence of Ben into her life. For a book all about making things neat and tidy, I found these loose ends to be distressing and unnecessarily messy.
April 29, 2022
I wish I had enjoyed this a bit more! In theory, the plot works. Laine is a professional organizer who, at the age of 38, experiences an epiphany of sorts—she wants a baby and her biological clock is ticking louder than a cheap Timex. Unfortunately, her husband Josh has little interest in expanding the family beyond the two of them. Moments after telling Josh she wants a divorce, Laine gets a phone call from her sister who impresses upon Laine how important it is for her to come home to New York to help make some long term decisions about their mother’s care, as she is showing increasing signs of dementia. Home, for Laine, however, holds keys to the past that she isn’t sure she wants to revisit. There’s her ex BFF Ben and the remnants of a people-pleasing past that she left behind 16 years prior—and both threaten to at once undo her and offer her salvation.
The characters here are supposed to be multi-faceted and on a quest toward self-awareness. Instead, I found each to be incredibly self-centered, not to mention a little whiny. The emotional angst that should and usually does accompany many of the life-changing moments in the book is just….absent. Laine bounces from one relationship to the next with the ease of a child on a trampoline, ending her marriage, confronting her mother and re-engaging with a former friend who has the potential to make things better or a whole lot worse. She just seems indifferent and emotionally detached. Those moments when the author does attempt to imbue her with compassion and feeling fall flat, and the reader is left little with which to connect.
There were jumping off points here with the potential for author Camille Pagan to make sweeping statements about everything from single motherhood to racial bias. Rather than exploring these. Pagan waltzes past them with all the grace of a bull in a china shop.
All in all, it’s a mediocre quick read that is comprised of a series of strung together events with little emotional impact.
The characters here are supposed to be multi-faceted and on a quest toward self-awareness. Instead, I found each to be incredibly self-centered, not to mention a little whiny. The emotional angst that should and usually does accompany many of the life-changing moments in the book is just….absent. Laine bounces from one relationship to the next with the ease of a child on a trampoline, ending her marriage, confronting her mother and re-engaging with a former friend who has the potential to make things better or a whole lot worse. She just seems indifferent and emotionally detached. Those moments when the author does attempt to imbue her with compassion and feeling fall flat, and the reader is left little with which to connect.
There were jumping off points here with the potential for author Camille Pagan to make sweeping statements about everything from single motherhood to racial bias. Rather than exploring these. Pagan waltzes past them with all the grace of a bull in a china shop.
All in all, it’s a mediocre quick read that is comprised of a series of strung together events with little emotional impact.
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