Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC and Henry Holt Books, #partner for the advanced copy of The Irish Goodbye in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Henry Holt Books / Macmillan Audio
Published: September 30, 2025
Summary:
In this debut, for fans of J. Courtney Sullivan and Mary Beth Keane, three adult sisters grapple with a shared tragedy over a Thanksgiving weekend spent in their childhood home, navigating complex relationships and old tensions.
It’s been years since the three Ryan sisters were all home together at their family’s beloved house on the eastern shore of Long Island. Two decades ago, their lives were upended by an accident on their brother Topher’s boat, a friend’s brother was killed, the lawsuit nearly bankrupted their parents, and Topher spiraled into a depression, eventually taking his life. Now the Ryan women are back for Thanksgiving, eager to reconnect, but each carrying a heavy secret. The eldest, Cait, still holding guilt for the role no one knows she played in the boat accident, rekindles a flame with her high school crush, Topher’s best friend and the brother of the boy who died. Middle sister Alice’s been thrown a curveball threatening the career she’s restarting and faces a difficult decision that may doom her marriage. And the youngest, Maggie, is finally taking the risk to bring the woman she loves home to her devoutly Catholic mother. Infusing everything is the grief for Topher that none of the Ryans have figured out how to carry together.
When Cait invites a guest to Thanksgiving dinner, old tensions boil over and new truths surface, nearly overpowering the flickering light of their family bond. Far more than a family holiday will be ruined unless the sisters can find a way to forgive themselves—and one another.
My thoughts:
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again…the debut game is phenomenal this year, as is evident by this latest debut!
This is for those who love:
💚 Dysfunctional family dynamics
🧡 Strong character relationships
💚 Dual timeline narratives
I was immediately pulled into this story from the get-go and found myself completely invested in all the characters we meet. Each of the sisters felt so authentic and real, their relationships so relatable…and this to me is always the test, having two sisters myself. Each was flawed and layered, making them that much more dynamic, even the secondary characters stand out because of how well they were all written. It really felt like spending time with family as I read this book!
This is not an easy read, as it deals with complex family dynamics, a family tragedy, the Catholic religion and all that that brings (IYKYK) and yet the author handles it all in such a tender way. There is heartbreak but there is also a sense of hope. And, my favorite part is the way the title is worked into the story…I always love when you are clearly able to see/understand the significance of the title and this one really hits hard in many ways.
An emotional, impactful debut that I won’t be forgetting anything soon, I cannot recommend this one enough!
Audio thoughts:
I was able to listen to this and Kristen Sieh does a fantastic job bringing it to life. She effortlessly switches between the multiple characters, giving everyone their own voice and personality.
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