If you loved
Same As It Ever Was
Claire Lombardo · Book · 2025
If you loved Same As It Ever Was, you will appreciate how these stories masterfully peel back the layers of domestic stability to reveal the complexities of hidden lives.
Films on the same thread
Mr. Nobody
Jaco Van Dormael · Film · 2009
Like Julia Ames in Same As It Ever Was, the protagonist finds his ordinary existence challenged by the weight of memory and the profound impact of past choices on present reality.
Still Alice
Wash Westmoreland · Film · 2014
Much like the internal upheaval found in Same As It Ever Was, this film explores the fragility of a contented suburban life when identity and family bonds are suddenly tested.
Brief Encounter
David Lean · Film · 1945
If the suburban dissatisfaction and moral nuance of Same As It Ever Was resonated with you, this classic captures that same quiet, crushing tension of life not going exactly as planned.
We Live in Time
John Crowley · Film · 2024
This story mirrors the emotional depth of Same As It Ever Was, focusing on how chance encounters and evolving relationships can irrevocably alter the course of a seemingly settled life.
Series on the same thread
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Amy Sherman-Palladino · Series · 2017
Similar to the transition Julia faces in Same As It Ever Was, this character must navigate the collapse of her perfect domestic image and reinvent herself amidst the wreckage of expectations.
This Is Us
Dan Fogelman · Series · 2016
The intergenerational secrets and emotional stakes presented here echo the family-focused complexity of Same As It Ever Was, showing how the past continuously shapes the present for every family member.
Queen of Tears
Park Ji-eun · Series · 2024
Like the marital crisis at the heart of Same As It Ever Was, this series examines the friction between public success and private unhappiness, forcing the protagonists to find their way back.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Jenny Han · Series · 2022
This narrative captures the same transition of life-changing realizations found in Same As It Ever Was, where family secrets and the passage of time force a reckoning with one's identity.
Podcasts on the same thread
Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project · Podcast · 2026
If you enjoyed the self-reflection Julia undergoes in Same As It Ever Was, this podcast offers a practical framework for examining your own habits and finding contentment within daily transitions.
We Can Do Hard Things
Treat Media and Glennon Doyle · Podcast · 2026
Just as Same As It Ever Was explores the messy reality behind the facade of a lovely life, this podcast provides the vulnerable, raw support needed to navigate difficult personal growth.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Same As It Ever Was a standalone novel?
Yes, Same As It Ever Was is a standalone book by Claire Lombardo published in 2025. There are no sequels or series associated with this title, as it follows the specific story of Julia Ames as she navigates unexpected changes in her life at age fifty-seven.
What is the premise of Same As It Ever Was?
Same As It Ever Was follows Julia Ames, a fifty-seven-year-old woman who believes she has achieved a contented suburban life with a loving husband and two children. The story explores her life as she faces an unexpected event that disrupts her established sense of stability and happiness.
Who is the author of Same As It Ever Was?
Same As It Ever Was is written by Claire Lombardo. The book was released in 2025 and has received praise from various authors, including Jessie Burton, Clare Chambers, and Bonnie Garmus, for its witty and insightful portrayal of the protagonist, Julia Ames.
Does Same As It Ever Was feature a protagonist named Julia Ames?
Yes, Julia Ames is the central character of Same As It Ever Was. The narrative focuses on her life at fifty-seven, specifically examining how she handles the transition from a stable, happy existence to the unforeseen challenges that she encounters in the later stages of her life.