Quick Synopsis

Four women take fate into their own hands in this big-hearted story of friendship, resilience, and revenge on monstrous men, from the award-winning author of Half-Blown Rose. 

Publisher’s Synopsis

Taking inspiration from the infamous, empowering song, Goodbye Earlfollows four best friends through two unforgettable summers, fifteen years apart.
 
In 2004, Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey are in their final days of high school and on the precipice of all the things teenagers look forward to when anything in life seems possible . . . from falling in love, to finding their dream jobs, to becoming who they were meant to be.
 
In 2019, Kasey has returned to her small Southern hometown of Goldie for the first time since high school—and she still hasn’t told even her closest friends the truth of what really happened that summer after graduation, or what made her leave so abruptly without looking back. Now reunited with her friends in Goldie for a wedding, she’s determined to focus on the simple joy of being together again. But when she notices troubling signs that one of them might be in danger, she is catapulted back to that fateful summer. This time, Kasey refuses to let the worst moments of her past define her; this time, she knows how to protect those she loves at all costs.
 
Uplifting, sharp-edged, and unapologetic, Goodbye Earl is a funeral for all the “Earls” out there—the abusive men who think they can get away with anything, but are wrong—and a celebration of enduring sisterhood.

Book Review

Based upon title alone, I was excited to read Goodbye Earl. I grew up loving The Chicks’ song and was delighted by the idea of a book inspired by it. However, I found this novel to be much less entertaining and inspired.

I tried really hard to read this book. In fact, I read the first 15% twice. However, the beginning was super slow and rather uninteresting. Add in 4 female protagonists (and rotating narrators) with no distinguishable personalities or unique names, and I could not remember who was which archetype. It made it impossible to put the book down and pick it back up again. So, I gave up. While this book Goodbye Earl may have redemption later on, I could not push myself to get read far enough to find it.

Rating

Overall Rating

DID NOT FINISH