Onansburg, Iowa

by Peggy Lammers

Onansburg, Iowa begins in the thick haze of unexpected grief: After Sonny Dawson’s wife Polly dies suddenly, he finds himself going through the motions of the funeral rites. Perhaps there’s a kind of comfort in what feels like a pre-written script of the mourning rituals Sonny is asked to perform as the whole town of Onansburg gathers for Polly’s death. But after the funeral, Sonny is left without a way to navigate the full loss of the shared life he worked so hard to build with his wife. 

In Polly’s absence, Sonny is confronted with revelations about who he is as he attempts to move forward with his new reality. He must now also contend with the underlying tension that has always strained his relationship with Polly’s family. The story takes place within the span of a week but weaves together the shared secrets, histories, and trauma of his family across multiple generations. As Sonny wades through the annals of his mind—guided by insights from friends and nemeses alike—he discovers the shocking memories responsible for shaping the way he is today. 

Poignant, painful, and honest, Onansburg, Iowa reads like a subtle, sprawling epic of small-town America, establishing the town itself as one of the most crucial characters. Author Peggy Lammers has created a vividly written novel filled with relevant sociological and psychological insights that will challenge readers to look deeply and with more empathy at the people around them. This book will appeal to those who love literary fiction and enjoy discussing themes that shake our beliefs yet keep us grounded.

Genres: Fiction, Ebooks

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2020

About the author

Peggy Lammers now resides in Longboat Key, Florida, having left her much-loved Iowa in 2014. Active in her church along with community activities on the Key and in Sarasota, she was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa to C. R. and Esther Pester. Her much-loved brother, Jack Pester, and his extended family, retain close family ties along with the family's ties to southern Iowa.

Peggy's husband, David Lammers, passed away in 2005, and she shares her home with Fannie, a willful Sharpei. Her daughter, Lis Lammers, produced three outstanding children as did her son Jon Lammers and his wife Kathryn, so Peggy is blessed with six grandchildren.

A milestone in her life was graduation from Drake University in Des Moines at the age of forty-six. Learning to ride at age sixty was another, fulfilling a life-long dream of owning horses and riding competitively, although not with the highest distinction.

Peggy believes that stories and characters are everywhere. Many are ongoing and we know nothing of them and they are forever lost. The others blend with a conjunction of fact and fiction. This novel evolved from 1959 and is set in 1994; the context wasn't defined until Peggy's better-late-than-never Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986.

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a slow start. I was a bit confused about where it was going. I am glad I stuck with it, because it is a very good story with some twists and turns and surprises, and some very memorable characters.
I received this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. I do recommend it for readers who enjoy stories about small town life and don't shy away from family problems.

[skketch · Rating 3 out of 5]

***NOVEL THOUGHTS***

++Received this ARC for an honest review. Thanks to Goodreads and Greenleaf Book Group Press++

"Be the best boy you can be, Sonny. Promise me. Cloris will take care of you."

While it is a very detailed story (some have complained that the minutia describing every action was numbing), the story itself was pretty good. It takes place in a week's time following Sonny's wife Polly's death and how this event unearths memories he has chosen to keep in a locked box for his whole life.
The town of Onansburg, where he has lived his whole life, is about to celebrate Old Settler's Day. Sonny is a proud business owner and committee member of OSD, and has been for years. He feels much pride in his role as an OSD organizer. Sonny also has two sisters, Cloris and Dolores whose lives reel from their troubled childhoods, use their own coping methods to muddle through life.
After Polly's unexpected death, her family, the Shaws, are thrown into a perceived business fiasco since Polly is a stockholder. Her brother Tom speaks to Sonny about her shares and how the family wants to keep their farming business "in the family." This storyline sets up some tension for Sonny as he discovers some unexpected news while talking to their family lawyer about her will but it could have been developed a bit more from a personal story standpoint. And in a second storyline which the author does a great job building a mystery about is Polly's former high school boyfriend Drennan when he returns to town to attend Polly's funeral. The reader can feel the angst and deep discomfort Sonny has while he avoids, for as long as he can, in speaking with Drennan for much of the story. I found that I was very curious what it was that Drennan wanted to share with Sonny; some deep, dark secret? When it becomes inevitable and Sonny can't avoid him any longer, the biggest secret of Sonny's life is exposed. It is jaw-dropping! I guarantee you will NOT see that coming! And, I will be honest, that after learning this secret, I didn't "read" Sonny the same way for the rest of the book. I literally lost him.

Even though the detail of the book was too much, it was beautifully written. If taken in small portions, Lammers really writes a visually appealing picture of the action, people and the town. She has ample time developing the characters and their history, what life was for them and how events of their past have molded them. My only ding is that the ending is so abrupt. It just wasn't as satisfying as I might have hoped. And, what happens to Larry? Sonny's issues with him was very weak but after the incident in the parking lot, did that change Sonny's feelings about him? It just wasn't clear to me why Sonny had his distaste for this young man.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish to thank Peggy for providing a copy via #GoodReadsGiveaway.
The review is entirely my own~ Having grown up in SE Nebraska, I felt curious as to what could possibly be worth reading about in Iowa. The blurb drew me in for it's sheer novelty.

It is exceptionally rare for me to call out spoilers in a book. This review will contain spoilers. I feel, it is necessary given the topic & information that comes out in a book that superficially is benign, if not boring. Looks can be VERY deceiving. I also struggled with rating this book. Based purely on writing technique, it is perfect. It is the content that becomes disturbing in a way that needed to be called out, so there are no surprises for the unwary. Some do not choose to read Literature. They seek entertainment. This book is NOT entertainment. It is a journey...

The story begins following Sonny as his wife's funeral is ending. Flashbacks provide context for the townsfolk & idiosyncrasies of Onansburg, IA, population 8,000. For most of the first quarter of the book, the reader may feel mired in the mundane issues of small town life. I believe, I kept noting, "Boring!" Lammers captures the overwhelming feel of how small town, day-to-day can be boringly simplistic and how that translates into a rather insular culture. It is only after you complete the book, that you realize that was Lammers' intention. To lull you into a false sense of the mundane.

But as day turns into night and back into day, the fallout from Polly's funeral begins to take it's toll on the residents of Onansburg. The more the residents unravel around him, the more Sonny struggles to maintain mundane, to seek comfort in the familiarity of routine. His desire to keep sisters, Polly's family, his employees & a myriad of townsfolk at a distance quickly falls apart. Each plays a role in the grand charade, unbeknownst to the reader.

As Sonny encounters each, they in turn trigger bits & pieces of his own childhood to surface. The reader begins to experience Onansburg from the inside, instead of an impartial observer. Onansburg isn't so 'boring'. You are no longer passing through the town; but become sucked into the lives that have revolved around Sonny & Polly's 30+ years together. Onansburg's 'story' is the sum of it's collective population.

As Sonny struggles for equilibrium, the townsfolk, including Polly's old beau & Sonny's two older sisters, pull you deeper into the heart of the story. Scenes of youth, incestuous rape, infidelity and abuse come at the reader fast and furious as Sonny re-lives his past. Brief periods to assimilate what you have read happen in the present, as the past is revisited in flashbacks. Flawed adults trapped in the limited world-view of Onansburg completely aware of failings and ugliness, but forced to pretend...

And then the final confrontation, where ignoring the problem doesn't make it go away.

In a complex finale, Polly's old beau, Drennan, confronts Sonny over a secret that everyone knew, but no one shared. A secret that wasn't a secret... and yet, it was. I was totally blindsided by the revelation and had to go back & re-read parts just to make sure that I hadn't missed some clue. My entire view of Sonny, Polly, the town and all it's players, was re-written. The last 15% of the book, went by in a blur as my mind was stuck on Drennan's confession to Sonny.

As I re-read the final chapters, my shock gradually replaced with simmering anger. In my world-view, one that began quite similarly to Lammers', sexual orientation is not a choice. We are born with an 'inner identity' that can be influenced for better or worse. Forcing a sexual preference ends in tragedy. Lammers, through the voice of Drennan, suggests this. Without getting into details, I nearly panned this read. Still fuming, I set it aside and came back to review it a bit ago with fresh eyes. I am glad I did.

Perhaps, Lammers did not write her the ending with her personal take. After all, this is a book about Onansburg, IA. And, regardless of what the rest of the world thinks or does, a close-knit community like Onansburg deals with things the best way they know how. Even if the conclusion is a bit 'faulty'. Even if the way they rationalize LGBTQ is 'off' or 'wrong' to the rest of us. It is a view shared by millions of Americans.

Lammers did a phenomenal job of writing a book that not only opens a window on the rural US, it also opens a dialogue between progressives and conservatives. This is NOT an easy read. But then, the best books rarely are. If I were to teach a literature class, I would include this book. It is a book to engage discourse. To get the reader thinking. In a very Midwestern way, Lammers approaches a topic that we are all aware of... but afraid to discuss.

I have shown some of my original notes & comments, just so anyone curious about the book understands that this will Not be an easy read. It is Not a boring read as the first 15-20% would have you believe. Every chapter has been well-crafted with Intent. Like Steinbeck or Hemmingway, you will not be the same after reading this. Well Done!

[PacaLipstick Gramma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won an ARC of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

I really wanted to like this book, but just couldn't. To say it moved eeecxxxttreeemmmeeelllyyy sssslllloooowwwww is an understatement. Oh, so many descriptive words for every little thing, describing in detail every minute thing. I intensely, but ever so succinctly, wanted to pull the words from the author's mouth, as much as I wanted to cut the densest of so many words to a short but sweet abbreviation of so many meandering thoughts cutting through a trivial story of a man who was lonely, even when he was surrounded by the undulating love of so many close friends.

And what the heck was the ending? I am baffled.

Skip this. Your time is better spent reading a good book.

[Nancy Lewis · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first 10% of the book was spent just describing the proceedings of a funeral. Spoiler: there were hymns and hearses and casseroles. I kept reading until 25% in, but couldn't make myself care even a little bit about any of these people in Onansburg, Iowa. Sorry you're dead, Polly, but I got other things to do.

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me, this one. I usually love a family saga, especially one set in small town America, and this indeed started off promisingly, but after a while it got just too bogged down in unnecessary detail – the houses, the furniture, the actions of the characters. Sometimes it felt I was being presented with endless lists. It was also too diffuse in its focus with too many extraneous characters. The narrative was thus constantly being slowed down and the whole book would have benefited by some serious editing. Could not finish.

[Maj · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Onansburg, Iowa, Peggy Lammers offers a quietly profound portrait of small‑town life entwined with grief, identity, and unexpected revelations. The novel opens with Sonny Dawson navigating the fog of mourning after the sudden death of his wife, Polly. As he moves through funeral rituals and the rituals of daily life, he gradually uncovers buried memories and truths that force him to reevaluate not only his past—but the very foundation of his identity and community. Lammers portrays Onansburg itself as a character, a subtle and sprawling epic that amplifies the emotional landscape of a town where secrets are seldom buried for long.

Lammers draws on her own upbringing in rural Iowa to imbue the setting with remarkable authenticity. Though fictional, Onansburg mirrors the soil, the town structures, and the rhythms of places like Corydon, Lammers’s own hometown—right down to the hardware store and annual festival that populate the story. The resulting backdrop is both vivid and haunting, resonating with small‑town readers and outsiders alike. Lammers’s intimate rendering of the landscape and social dynamics—seen through Sonny’s grief‑tinged perspective—helps elevate the novel from a simple rural narrative into a meditation on belonging, memory, and the quietly shifting boundaries of home.

At its core, Onansburg, Iowa is a deeply human novel about reckoning—with loss, with self, and with the histories we inherit and conceal. Lammers doesn’t offer easy answers; instead, she invites readers into Sonny’s emotional unraveling and reconstruction through subtle narrative turns and unspoken tensions. The book is indeed “poignant, painful, and honest,” as praise from readers and reviewers has put it, reflecting the ways small communities can both shelter and challenge us. It’s a thoughtful debut that lingers long after the final page, offering a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Onansburg, Iowa tells the story of Sonny and opens with with the funeral of Polly, his wife. Most of the action occurs within a week or two of her death so on one level the book is about grief.
Given the title of the book, one would expect the town to play a greater role in the novel. I did not find that to be the case. The small town was the backdrop, but it could have been any small midwestern town. The people are much more important in the story than the town.
One of the hurdles that Sonny must face is the fact that his brother-in-laws want to know about the will of their sister and whether she had left her shares of the family farm to him. By mutual family agreement, the shares were to be retained by the family. Although not clearly spelled out in the novel, it appears Polly instead gave the shares to Sonny.
Polly's death also brings up old family memories in Sonny's mind and his personal past resurfaces. There are flashbacks that introduce us to Sonny's grandparents and parents. We learn over the course of reading the book bits and pieces of who Sonny really is and some of what happened to him in the past. Again, we are left with more questions than answers.
My biggest criticism of the book is that several threads in my mind are left unresolved. We learn a lot about the people but not the whole story. Too much is left unsaid or not made clear.
I did enjoy reading the book and recommend it to all lovers of novels.

[Amy Hawley Alvarez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like others, I really wanted to like this book, and it has all the elements for a really juicy, twisty novel, but it’s very weak in how it’s told. Many parts repeat themselves as if the reader needs to be reminded nearly word-for-word of certain details that then are not really necessary details. The big secret of the book is just blurted out with no real follow-up in terms of how the main character feels. The psychology behind the main revelation in the book is told to the reader as if the author suddenly switched to a psychology 101 lesson. Also, there were storylines started that then just ended. It’s really too bad, because the author did paint a good picture of life in small town Iowa and hit on relevant topics, but those topics would have been much more scandalous in a small town. It would have been nice to understand why these topics were not scandalous for this town...why the town stood behind the main character.

[Emily Kristine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read some reviews before starting the book which may have plagued my thinking….but far too many adjectives used in the first 50 pages of the book. It felt like every noun had 3 adjectives attached to it. Far too much description for mundane setting but then not enough detail about actual major plot points. I thought the story line had potential but really didn’t see how it taking place in small town Iowa made a difference. It felt like the story could have taken place anywhere. I probably would have stopped reading had I not felt guilty for giving up on an Iowan author and a book about Iowa.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a ARC through Goodreads. I read others reviews and some were very critical of the writing but I loved the descriptive words of this book. It really paints a picture of small town living. This book is so much more than that though. It centers around Sonny who's wife Polly dies suddenly. It also brings in the childhood of Sonny and his two sisters. There is definitely twists and turns in this book that you will not see coming. I loved this book except for the ending. I hope this is only the first in a series because I want to know more. This is definitely one of those that you can't judge a book by it's cover or title.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a Kindle version of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

I had decent hopes for this book and, unfortunately, they weren't met. I enjoy stories of small towns, where the surface is not all what it appears to be. But the pacing of this book was incredibly slow - and excruciatingly detailed - that I wondered a) why certain things were mentioned, and b) what the importance was to the book. Sometimes it wasn't important - other times the information was foreshadowing. It was an okay book overall, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you like slow paced books with lots of detail.

[Shanna Hurd]

I won this through a Good Reads giveaway, and I really wanted to like it. I just don't think that I am the right audience for this. The part I got through was clearly well written, it's just so slow. The tease at the beginning about the main character's childhood was really interesting, but then it changed to his adulthood and I kept waiting for that to be relevant, or something interesting to happen, and it just wasn't getting there for me.

Based on the portion that I read, this book would be best for folks that like slower paced literary style writing.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been born and raised in a small town in Iowa, there was much I could relate to in this novel. The funeral customs, hot and humid summer weather, family feuds over farmland and scandalous family secrets all felt so familiar. Though the basic story takes place over the course of one week, the reader is also taken back in history to learn important back stories. The author certainly included some unexpected twists and turns. Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for a copy to read and review.

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this Kindle book from Goodread Giveaways.

I enjoyed this book and thought it was well written. I liked the small town setting and how the storyline unfolded. I thought the main character was well developed and liked the generational exploration of where he "came from." The grief experience was quite deep and heart-felt. The family dysfunction and protection were woven tightly into the story. This book isn't for everyone, but I found it enjoyable in a redeeming way.

[Denise Levendoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Peggy Lammers and Goodreads.com I won this book in a Giveaway.

Wow. So much packed into one story that I am still in book hangover. While a lot of questions were answered with this book, I am left wondering about so many more. Slow start but I ended up invested in this story and the twists and turns. I felt the book ended too quickly and left me wondering literally, will these characters be okay after I close the book ?

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book through a goodreads giveaway and was excited to read it, but like many others felt that it moved very slowly. Even after finishing I'm not entirely sure what the overall point of the book was, and it didn't feel like it had a unified theme. There were a number of plot twists that didn't seem to add anything to the general story, with plots lines picked up and dropped frequently.

There were some good moments interspersed, but not enough to make it worthwhile.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. And I wanted to like it, small towns and secrets are my jam. The writing, while very descriptive, seem disjointed to me. There was a lot of flashbacks that really didn't move the story along for me and the big reveal towards the end was like"Huh?" I honestly didn't expect it, but usually in the story there are clues as to what is coming. This one just didn't hit the spot for me.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

You HAVE to read Onansburg, Iowa, author Peggy Lammers.  It has a twist that I was not even expecting.  I had to read one sentence (the twist), three times to make sure I was reading it correctly.

It’s about a man Sonny, a hardware store owner who has  lived in Onansburg all his life, whose wife has just died.  It seemed a little drawn out in some places, but that could have just been me.  It’s definitely worth reading.

[GG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I enjoy books about small town life, so was looking forward to reading this book.
I had a tough time following the storyline at the beginning, but then got wrapped up in life in Onansburg.
I did not see the twists and turns that were coming ahead.
The things we do to survive when exposed to evil.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was well written. I like to read about small town life and family dynamics. This book was very hard for me to get into. I feel like it was very slow and I had trouble focusing. I know that there are many people that like this book, but it just wasn't for me. Like I said, it was very well written and the conversations between the characters flowed smoothly.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a Kindle copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. I wanted to like it. I enjoyed the beginning and looked forward to a small town family saga. Though I thought the writing was good, and the characters compelling, it did start to drag on for me, and by three quarters through, I was wondering where it was going. The 'big reveals' that happened in literally the last 1% of the book seemed ridiculous and pointless. All in all a disappointing read.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Onansburg, Iowa is pensive and slow-going, and took me awhile to really get into, but -especially- by the last few chapters I was glad I’d stayed with it. (Anyway, I like slow-going when it’s the right pace.)

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique and intriguing

Quite an unusual story. Well written and much artistic expression in this family saga . The main character was very much in love with his wife Polly and wasn’t at all ready for her untimely death. Characters and situations are totally unexpected.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. The book moved very slowly for the first half, picked up a bit,then quickly wrapped up with several unrelated unbelievable topics. I felt the book had too many story lines but not many related to the title of the book, the town of Onansburg.

[Doreen Ashbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. I was reading along about a dysfunctional family and the impact that the childhood years had on the adult characters, when the author dropped a major bombshell. Didn't see it coming at all. It added lots of other layers to the story. Quite clever.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

Thank you to Greenleaf Book Group, the author Peggy Lammers and Goodreads. I won this book from Goodreads. I loved how the story roped me in. Lots of twists and turns with a nice surprise ending. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

Small town life

This is a well written book about life in a small town - and it could be most any small town in America. If you are looking for a fast paced story this is not the book for you!

[JB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town America with the secrets they don’t talk about out loud

I don’t like to give spoilers on the books that I read. I believe the blurb on the back is enough for you to decide if you will read the book or not. If you choose to read, enjoy!

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It all works out

An interesting story set against the backdrop of a small town on Iowa. A new take on life after death for the living and the ones they leave behind.
#GoodreadsGiveaway