REVIEW The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill

 

I think that I saw this on one of the blogs that I read and I'm glad that I picked it up.  I needed something a little bit different and this fit the bill.  It takes place near where I grew up on Long Island.  It involves Thanksgiving, family dysfunction and is a debut novel - all wonderful things. 

The Ryan sisters - Cait, Maggie and Alice - haven't all been home for the holidays in years.  During the holiday in this novel, though, they are all at home at the family home on Long Island. This is occurring in spite of resentment and misgivings and a tragedy that looms over the whole family. Approximately 20 years before the events in this novel, the only brother, Topher, was involved in a boating accident that killed his best friend. There was a lawsuit filed. Topher, we learn, is the black sheep that felt the after effects not only of the accident but of the lawsuit and this figures prominently in the familial dysfunction that is the main character in this novel. 

I very much enjoyed this novel. The secrets and tension and drama slowly unfolds, providing us with more insight into the heartbreaking dynamics of this family. Even though the drama is slow to unfold, the book itself is a very quick read and can be consumed in small bites. I love it when I can steal ten minutes here and there to read quick snippets.  There was a lot to ponder, including mental health issues, homosexuality and its acceptance (or not) in a conservative family, the role of children and women and the role that each child assumes based upon their birth order. I really enjoyed this novel and it gave me a lot to think about. 

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I hope that everyone had a great holiday. I did some skiing, eating and relaxing with family and friends. I owe you a review!

1. Award winning biographies of 2025
2. Ten books that will help you understand America on its birthday.
3. I'm looking forward to reading some of these books.
4. 8 misconceptions about Florida that are debunked.
5. 10 influential books turning 50 in 2026.

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This upcoming week is the holiday for those celebrating Christmas  and we just had the Jewish Festival of Lights! Happy Holidays! The above is a photo of main street in my happy place: Littleton, NH.  My partner and I want to retire there.  Whenever I'm up there, I'm truly...happy and relaxed.  I never thought when I first moved there over 20 years ago that this would be the case, but it is. That's a story for another time. 

• 90's Blockbuster movies that every 90's kid rented and where you can stream them right now.
• Award winning novels of 2025.
• Barack Obama's best reads of 2025.
• National Book Critics long list of best non fiction.
• Notre Dame's new stained glass windows go on display.
• All the award winning stories of 2025.
• five Christmas superstitions that I never knew existed.
• Slender man killer won't fight to revoke privileges.
• Crime movies that occur at Christmas.
• I'm excited about this adaptation.
• The holidays can be brutal when you're grieving. Here are some tips. 
• I want to do this reading challenge. The official sign up is here. 
• Some of the strangest Greek mythology characters.
• How Reddit helped catch the Brown shooter. 
• Five best crime books of 2025.

I hope that everyone has a great holiday.

REVIEW A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah Maas

 

WARNING: This Contains Spoilers for a Court of Thorn and Roses

After reading A Court of  Thorn and Roses, which I was not a fan of (way too much Domestic Violence/ power and control vibe for me), I was hesitant to pick up the next book but I'm glad that I did because it was very different from the first one. 

The main focus of the book is Feyre, who has come back after her experience Under the Mountain. The book focuses very much on the impact of trauma on a person and the importance of having people who genuinely have your health and recovery as a priority for them as well.  As Feyre figures out the impact that this trauma has had on her, including on her abilities and persona, she begins to feel empowered, which is nice to finally see. We are also introduced to new characters, who are fantastic.  And of course we learn more about Rhysand.

What I liked about this book, and which made it better for me, is that there was way more depth in character and plot development.  It wasn't as shallow as A Court of Thorn and Roses and I appreciated Feyre learning about herself.  I loved learning more about Rhys and I adore the new characters. I enjoyed seeing more of the land of Prythian, which we didn't get to see in the first novel. The writing was also better and less...juvenile?  

Definitely worth moving on from the first.  

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 I hope that everyone had a good week! So excited to finally be able to. I have decided to do the 52 book reading challenge. VERY low key. I have started wrapping presents. I tried reading the Arundhati Roy memoir but found it too hard to get into so I put it away and am now reading about Lin-Manuel Miranda.  I owe you a review!

1. NPR has their books of the year post.
2. Ten traditional Christmas Eve meals from around the world.
3. Can you match the Disney movie with its ending?
4. Why Jane Austen's books still resonate 250 years after her birth.
5. Four parts of your body you shouldn't forget to work out.
6. Four novels that give rise to blue collar communities.
7. Maureen Corrigan's best books of 2025.
8. Award winning fantasy novels of 2025. 
9. Best literary podcasts of 2025.
10. A Charlie Brown Christmas turned 60.
11. 9 vintage Barbie dolls that are now worth a fortune.
12. NY Times has the best most underrated books of 2025.
13. MMD's favorite audiobooks of the year.
14. Disneyworld must haves for under $15.00.
15. The best romance audiobooks of 2025. 
16. The classics that actually slap.

Please don't forget that I have a Pangobooks store. If you use the code found here, you can get $5.00 off your first order.

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It's been a very wintery week here. We had our first snow storm on Tuesday and it's so cold this weekend!  I've finished the audio of Hail Mary and am working on a Sarah Maas book right now that I'm physically reading.  

1. 100 notable small press books of 2025.
2. 8 best American cities for people who love libraries.
3. Best bookish gifts for under $30.00.
4. Rage bait is the word of the year.
5. NPR's best book club books of 2025.
6. Stocking stuffer ideas.
7. The best fiction audiobooks of 2025.
8. Have libraries become the new Blockbuster?
9. These books turned 50 in 2025. How many have you read?
10. 5 of the best translated fiction books of 2025.
11. Dinner recipes for when you don't know what to cook.
12. 6 Female revolutionaries you probably didn't hear about in history class.

I am hoping to finish my Maas book this weekend and get you a review shortly!