We All Live Here

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.



We All Live Here derives its primary conflict from Lila Kennedy’s domestic realm, a narrative choice that captures the positive and negative aspects of family life. Because the novel primarily focuses on Lila’s storyline, the author explores the challenges and rewards of parenthood through Lila’s perspective. In the wake of her divorce from Dan, Lila is trying to orient to running a household on her own. She has her stepfather Bill McKenzie’s help, but he’s still grieving Francesca’s death and is particular about how he spends his time. Lila’s estranged biological father, Gene, shows up on Lila’s doorstep and further disrupts her family sphere, complicating how she relates to Bill and her young daughters, Celie and Violet. Trying to manage these dynamics tests Lila’s sense of herself as a mother and a woman throughout the novel.

The evolution of Lila’s relationships with her daughters and fathers implies that family life is ultimately life-giving in spite of its many challenges. Throughout the majority of the novel, Lila feels overwhelmed and alone.