Olive Kitteridge

The beloved first novel featuring Olive Kitteridge from the author of The Things We Never Say, shortlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize Olive Kitteridge: indomitable, compassionate, and often unpredictable. A retired schoolteacher in a small coastal town in Maine, as Olive grows older, she struggles to make sense of the changes in her life. She is a woman who sees into the hearts of those around her, their triumphs and tragedies. A penetrating, vibrant exploration of the human soul, the story of Olive Kitteridge will make you laugh, nod in recognition, wince in pain, and shed a tear or two. 'As perfect a novel as you will ever read' Evening Standard 'A superbly gifted storyteller and a craftswoman in a league of her own' Hilary Mantel