Book Review:: The Irish Goodbye | Heather Aimee O'Neill

I love me a good family drama, and The Irish Goodbye by debut author Heather Aimee O’Neill was no exception.

The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill Book Cover

When families come together for holidays, it can be…uncomfortable. Awkward. Complicated. The Ryan’s Thanksgiving exemplifies this phenomenon.

Everyone is at a bit of a crux in their own lives, at decision points, or the point of having to face the music. One by one we learn about these rich and complex characters, without ever losing the drive to read forward. Sometimes getting lost in backstories can bog down a narrative, but I was locked in the whole time.

This is the kind of novel that kind of encapsulates the whole of humanity. This is just one family, but it could be anyone’s family. We all have complex webs of relationships and curveball occurrences that throw us completely for a loop. We all have to make difficult decisions and deal with grief and love and longing and hurt.

The writing is excellent. The characters are excellent. Their stories are excellent. I listened to the audio and the narrator is excellent. Five very hearty stars.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: The Irish Goodbye
Author:: Heather Aimee O’Neill
Genre:: Fiction / Family Drama
Publisher:: Henry Holt and Co.
Length:: 288 pages
Audio Length:: 8h 35m
Audiobook Narrator:: Kristen Sieh
Published:: September 30th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars