Three Words For Goodbye

by Hazel Gaynor

Three Words For Goodbye

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance, World War II, Audiobook, Travel

300 pages, Hardcover

First published July 27, 2021

About the author

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning New York Times and internationally bestselling author of historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. A recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical Novel award and the 2024 Audie award for Best Fiction Narrator, she was also shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown, and the Irish Book Awards in 2017, 2020 and 2023.

Hazel’s co-written historical novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim, winning or being shortlisted for several international awards.

She is a regular speaker at literary festivals, co-founder of The Inspiration Project, and programmed and hosted a series of Historia Live events in association with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature in 2024. Her work is translated into 20 languages and published in twenty-seven territories to date. Her latest novel, Before Dorothy, the imagine life story of Dorothy’s Aunt Em from The Wizard of Oz, will be published in June 2025.

Hazel lives in Ireland with her family.

For more information, visit www.hazelgaynor.com
where you can also sign up for her newsletter.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful historical fiction novel written by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb.
Violet Bell now dying request her two granddaughters to deliver three letters to people from her past. It is her last Goodbye to them.
Clara and Maddie do not get along with one another and have spoken to each other in a year. How can their grandmother ask this of them? Clara is in the mist of her wedding plans.
Violet organized every detail from transportation to hotels.
They will board the Queen Mary and sail to Paris. Onto the Orient Express to Venice and then the last stop Vienna. Home bound they were to travel on the Hindenburg to make their journey complete. How could they say no
Nellie Blye was a personal friend of Violets and an inspiration. If Nellie could travel alone so could her granddaughters together.

This was a delightful read as you are transported from place to place.
It was an exciting journey on the Queen Mary and then the Orient Express.

Family secrets are revealed and sisters relationships are but to the test.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved THREE WORDS FOR GOODBYE by the dynamic duo Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb.

The story is set in 1937, a volatile time in history as Hitler consolidated power. Against this backdrop, two sisters in New York are asked by their dying grandmother to deliver three letters across Europe as her final farewell. They’re tasked with traveling to Paris, Venice and Vienna via the Queen Mary and the Orient Express — a “hardship” I’d take on gladly!

But the Sommers sisters — Clara, an artist, and Madeleine, a journalist — have been estranged, and discover explosive family secrets along the way. What’s more, they’re slated to take the ill-fated Hindenburg home.

I will not spoil this gripping story, except to say that if you love historical fiction, if you remain riveted by Europe before the war, you MUST read THREE WORDS FOR GOODBYE. Out July 27.

5 of 5 Stars
#ThreeWordsforGoodbye #NetGalley

Thanks to the authors, William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s 1937 and Violet Bell brings granddaughters Clara and Maddie Sommers to the family estate in East Hampton, N.Y. As the matriarch is succumbing to cancer, her dying wish is for the two sisters, who are very different and don’t care much for one another, to travel to Europe together and deliver three letters of farewell. Adventurous Maddie, is ready to go but Clara is planning her wedding and has no desire to leave her fiancée Charles Hancock. She ultimately gives in and the two sisters board the Queen Mary for a trip not only designed to bring closure for Violet but also to bring the two sisters together. The trip takes them to Paris, Venice and Vienna. It is the golden age of travel with the sisters experiencing the most luxurious modes of transportation of the period. In addition to the ocean liner, they travel on the Orient Express with a return trip home on the Hindenburg.

While there is growing tension and concern throughout Europe over the rise of the Nazis, world events are a small part of Three Words for Goodbye, with the focus on the sisters. Maddie wants to become a journalist, emulating her idol Nellie Bly, who was a friend of the family. Clara starts to wonder if her seemingly perfect future with Charles is what she truly wants. The journey give the sisters a chance to reconcile as the letters they deliver will reveal family secrets long kept hidden.

Writers Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb have written their own engaging novels and also write historical fiction together (Meet Me in Monaco was their second novel.) Their latest book is centered on family, love and forgiveness. It’s an appealing escape filled with engaging characters, a touch of romance, picturesque settings and interesting modes of travel.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A trip to Europe with my sister to deliver letters to people Grandmother knew?

How could Grandmother Violet do this to us? Why couldn't she just mail the letters?

Madeleine and Clara have not gotten along for most of their lives and most definitely not for the past year.

Going on this trip will be more work than fun trying to get along with each other, but they boarded the Queen Mary, headed to Paris, Amiens, Venice, and Vienna to deliver letters to people from their grandmother's past.

THREE WORDS FOR GOODBYE is such a delightful read.

It will sweep you away to Pre-WWII Europe with all its charm and danger as we follow the two sisters from one city to the next re-living where their grandmother visited and connecting with people she met.

You will melt into the book with Ms. Gaynor’s and Ms. Webb’s writing and fall in love with the characters.

This one is NOT to be missed if you are a fan of these authors and historical fiction.

This book is a beautiful, heartwarming tale of secrets kept, forgiveness, regrets, and making choices.

And that gorgeous cover has you diving right in. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Words for Good-bye by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

Review Pending

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I love travel and I've been to Europe.

But in the end, I found the book frustrating.

Why must the authors repeat the same curse word over and over in such a forced way? Was it really necessary?

Homosexuals? Were they necessary?

And why is it that every time someone writes a book about women's rights, they push the men to the side. Don't you know that we need the men and the men need us? It's not about who can do what, it's about working together for a greater purpose. Not everyone's roles can be the glamorous ones.

And you shouldn't make a summer fling that results in a child into something romantic and wonderful. Flings don't turn out like that. Single motherhood is hard and far from romantic - ask all the single moms out there. Violet's marriage to Frank would never have gone as smoothly as the book presents. I feel like authors mislead young women when they write stories like this.

Somehow I missed what the "three words" were.

Disappointed.

[Julia Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisterhood is at the centre of this road trip historical fiction. I was completely drawn in by the story of two sisters needing to repair their relationship while also fulfilling one of their grandmother’s final wishes, and it was fascinating seeing the book set against a changing Interwar Europe.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I first fell in love with Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb when I read their first co-written novel Last Christmas in Paris, and then when I got to meet Webb at a book event, I loved them even more! So, I got really excited when I saw Three Words for Goodbye was coming out. This writing duo has serious talent, and their writing is so seamless that you would never know there are 2 authors. I love that this novel focused on Nellie Bly, aka Elizabeth Cochran, especially since I didn't know much about her going into it. I love the idea of her trip around the world in 72 days, but the author's note and the novel made me even more curious about her exposé on Blackwell's Island asylum. Thanks to this writing duo I will be looking into that now and I love when historical fiction makes me even more curious about history. I also loved getting to be on the Queen Mary, Orient Express, and the Hindenburg as part of Clara and Madeleine's travels.

The audiobook for Three Words for Goodbye was magnificent and I highly recommend it. The narrators are Suzanne Toren, Ann Marie Gideon & Megan Tusing, and they were perfect for the roles of Clara, Madeleine, and their grandmother Violet. I love that each viewpoint is voiced by a different narrator, and they brought these ladies to life for me in the best way. I loved all 3 viewpoints individually for different reasons, and I really liked the touch of foreshadowing we would get from Violet. You know something is coming you just don't know what, and that hint of mystery was a fun addition to the story. This was a very captivating and touching story, and there is so much history packed into these pages which I loved. The setting of 1937 made for a tense read at some points, especially when the sisters would come across Nazis, and this is a part of history I haven't read too much about. Overall, Three Words for Goodbye was as fascinating as it was mesmerizing, and if you are a fan of historical fiction, I recommend reading it!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 10/10 shiny stars rating from me!!! ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨💫

I am the youngest of 5 children and have 3 older brothers and 1 older sister. We're all extremely close to each other! 💚 If you have a sister, brother, very close friends or any cousins, aunt or parents ect., then reading this book will definitely touch your heart 🌷..I know because I read this book and it touched my heart!! You can find someone in this incredible story to relate to... guaranteed! This story is based on true events and some of the characters are real, others are fictional. Sit back and enjoy your journey!

Epigraph:

" I took off my cap and wanted to yell with the the crowd, not because I had gone around the world in seventy two days, but because I was home again."
---- Nellie Bly

In truth, I never heard of Nellie Bly or that fact she knew the author, Jules Verne. She was inspired to circumnavigate the globe because she wanted to see if she could beat the time by Phileas Fogg in the Classic" Around The World In 80 Days" written by Jules Verne in 1872. When she came home, she went to visit Jules Verne, took his book and scratched out 80 days wand wrote 72 days!! Nellie said, " What he wrote was fictional, what I did was fact!" While I was reading this emotionally moving book, I became interested in reading" Around The World In Eighty Days" by Jules Verne and I loved it 💫✨🌎!

This story is about two sisters who couldn't be more different from each other, Clara and Maddie. They fought with each other a lot! Clara is the oldest sister and always does the right and dutiful thing. Maddie is fun, adventurous, full of mischief. I really loved them both, but I liked Maddie a bit more. This story takes place in East Hampton, New York 1937 and around the world. Their Grandmother, Violet is dying of Cancer. She brings Clara and Maddie together on a trip of a lifetime! She sends them to three parts of Europe to deliver 3 letters to people she wants to say goodbye to. Clara says, " Wouldn't it be easier to just mail the letters?" Violet said that she wanted them hand delivered. Will this be an easy journey or will they fight along the way? Will Clara and Maddie grow closer to each other, as when they were little girls, or divide them even more?

As Clara and Maddie start their journey, you'll enjoy riding along with them, first on the steamer, The Queen Mary, then the Orient Express and finally on their return trip home on the Hindenburg! I really enjoyed learning about Nellie Bly and her adventures around the world, the beautiful Queen Mary, the luxurious Orient Express and finally the Hindenburg. I never knew that the Hindenburg was a German vessel and belonged to the Nazi party, complete with the swastika!! That had to be frightening for Clara and Maddie!! I never knew about the contest in America to win a trip to Europe for the person who guessed the closest time of Nellies' return trip home. I also learned about the Hinderenburg disaster on May 6, 1937! Clara and Maddie are aboard on this fateful trip!! Did they survive? Did they make it home to tell Violet about their adventures? I'll say this, keep Kleenex handy for the final few chapters....I didn't see this ending coming!!! 🤫 This story is definitely jammed packed with emotions and adventures!!

" The real journey, that most important of all, was within the contours of our every day lives, among the friends and family who traveled along side us."

" In the end, that was what really mattered."

" Adventure was everywhere. We just needed the courage to look for it." ----- Clara

" I shivered all the way back to our hotel, leaning on the one thing that had been constant my whole life, even when we'd fought and disagreed for a long time."
" My sister." ------ Maddie

I absolutely loved it and Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb really did their research!! It was beautifully written . They hit this one out of the ballpark!!! Please read the Authors Notes to see how this story came to be!! I very highly recommend this emotionally moving book to everyone who loves to read!! Thank you very much, Elisabeth for reading this book with me!!! I really had fun bouncing off our thoughts on this book 📖 😄!!

Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫 ✨ ⛴️ 🚝

[Natasha Lester]

Utterly delightful and the perfect escape. I loved being swept away to 1930s Paris, Venice and Vienna alongside sisters Maddie and Clara who, despite their differences, have come together to fulfill their dying grandmother’s final wish. Unshackled by family and the expectations of society, they learn a lot about themselves and each other as they uncover long-kept family secrets and discover their own talents and desires. A heartwarming and wonderful story about the power of forgiveness and the unbreakable bond of sisters.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was interested to learn Three Words For Goodbye is the third collaboration by authors Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. I have only read one of Hazel’s books, The Bird in the Bamboo Cage (also published as When We Were Young & Brave) which I loved. I’ve yet to read any of Heather’s books but, after reading Three Words For Goodbye, I shall certainly be seeking some out.

Violet’s reason for asking her granddaughters, Clara and Madeleine, to embark on the trip she is unable to make herself is touching, as is her wish for the two sisters to restore their relationship to the happy one they enjoyed as children.  I loved the way Violet organised every detail of their trip. Forget charter flights and AirBnB, this is the golden age of travel – for those with money, of course. The sisters experience the grandeur and opulence of the Queen Mary, the sophistication and luxury of the Orient Express and stay in lavish suites in the best hotels with every whim catered for. Chocolate croissants and cafe au lait, yes please.

It’s not all glamour though. The threat of war is a constant backdrop to the sisters’ journey, whether that’s in newspaper headlines, the sight of Mussolini’s soldiers on the streets of Venice or the realities of Nazi persecution in Vienna.  This added tension to the story and a sense that nothing may be quite the same again. I felt the authors really conjured up the spirit of the cities Clara and Madeleine travelled to and I liked how they were each attracted to different aspects of the cities.  Clara sees the places they visit through the eyes of an artist, describing Paris as ‘like an impressionist painting, all gentle colour and romantic detail’. Meanwhile Madeleine seeks out parts of the cities off the tourist trail, mingling with the inhabitants and seeking inspiration for stories. Their different approach is summed up by Clara’s observation that she paints with colour while her sister paints with words. 

To begin with the reader witnesses how different Clara and Madeleine have become in outlook and attitude. Madeleine is impulsive, independent-minded and ambitious whereas Clara craves order and routine.  It was fascinating to see how the two sisters change as initial irritation is replaced by mutual affection and a return to something like the close relationship of their childhood. Clara comes to envy Madeleine’s refusal to conform, her insistence of going her own way and her ambition. Indeed it’s Clara who seems to undergo the most change in the course of the book and I for one gave a cheer when she channels her new found confidence. For Madeleine the journey is more a confirmation that her approach to life is justified and that she can achieve her journalistic ambitions. The two sisters’ experiences on their travels encapsulate the wisdom of Violet – ‘The more interesting path always lies ahead’ – and the spirited approach to life of Violet’s friend, the intrepid journalist Nellie Bly – ‘Never turn back’. 

There were parts of the book I found particularly moving, such as Clara and Madeleine’s trip to Amiens to deliver Violet’s first letter. But that was as nothing compared to the final chapters of the book; if they don’t leave you a little bit tearful I don’t know what will. 

Put two accomplished authors together and what do you get? I’ll tell you what you get: an emotional story that simply sweeps you along. It’s a novel you’ll be sad to say goodbye to – whether in French, Italian or German.

[Miriam Simut · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this quite disappointing and should have just DNFd it. It started off promising with two estranged sisters embarking on the trip of a lifetime across Europe at the request of their dying grandmother. Unfortunately, rather than experiencing a deep and poignant story set just as Nazi Germany is rising to power, I found a very predictable one where cheating was excused among other things that bothered me. It’s also a story where I really had to suspend disbelief. The sisters’ journey through Europe was somewhat enjoyable to follow but I’m overall pretty disappointed.

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion the truly great writers are the ones that create a movie inside of my head. Gaynor and Webb do just that brilliantly. This historical novel is set in the right time, with a very believable story line and the writers blend historical fact and fiction into a thoroughly engrossing book. Highly recommend.

[Dianna Rostad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desperate for travel and adventure? Come aboard!! I adored this vintage travelogue complete with champagne, red lipstick, silky dresses, and elegant travel accommodations for two. Your companions are two snappy, independent sisters who rediscover their devotion on their quest to fulfill their grandmother’s dying wish. Just the story for right now. The message of tolerance rings through with crystal clarity. A must read!!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I enjoyed reading this book and how The Queen Mary, The Orient Express, and The Hidenburg were tied in. I also loved how this book was about two sisters taking the journey for their Grandmother. I will definitely read more of Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb's collaborations and their own works.

[Carol (Reading Ladies) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite writing teams has a “not-to-be-missed” new release! Three Words For Goodbye is told mainly from two alternating perspectives in one chronological timeline. We do hear occasionally from Grandmother Violet, and we are treated to flashbacks as the backstory is developed. The writing flows smoothly and it’s impossible to tell which author wrote which parts.

In 1937, two sisters are sent to Europe by their beloved grandmother to deliver three letters. Complicating this mission is the fact that the sisters haven’t spoken to each other in years and have grown apart in many ways. Clara is the careful and dutiful one and is engaged to marry millionaire, Charles Hancock. Madeleine is more independent and free spirited and strives to be a journalist like her hero, Nellie Bly. Both sisters are devoted to their grandmother and are committed to fulfilling her dying wishes. Clara looks forward to embracing her love of art and visiting Europe’s art galleries while Madeleine envisions writing articles on the political unrest in Europe and submitting them to U.S. newspapers in an attempt to be published. The sisters traveling experiences on the Queen Mary, the Orient Express, and finally the Hindenburg provide the backdrop for many of their most dramatic and challenging moments. What will this trip mean for their relationship? Will they successfully deliver the letters and what secrets will they discover?

My entire reading experience was enjoyable. I loved the characters and the premise and their mission. My expectations are high for authors Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb (The Last Christmas in Paris and Meet Me in Monaco) and they did not disappoint. As you know if you follow my reviews, enjoyment factors greatly into my final star rating. I loved the nods to the Queen Mary, the Orient Express, the Hindenburg, and Nellie Bly! There’s also a small side of romance! If you follow my reviews, just know that this story checks all my boxes!

I adore both Clara and Madeleine and appreciate their strengths. Their differences create an engaging story. The authors did a wonderful job in giving each sister a unique voice. Clara is careful and dutiful and is engaged to marry millionaire, Charles Hancock. Madeleine is more independent and free spirited and is on the hunt for a great story and strives to be an investigative journalist like her hero, Nellie Bly.

“Madeleine lived for such impulsive chaos, while I found it deeply unsettling. I hadn’t realized just how much I needed order and routine until we’d set out on this trip.”

“Madeleine increasingly lived a life without limits and without any regard for societal expectation. Ambition and possibility stretched ahead of her, while I lived a life of convention and duty, and now had the confines of married life to look forward to when we returned.”

Themes: Thoughtful themes include sibling relationships, sisters supporting each other, grandmother/granddaughters, healthy relationships, adventure, family, and finding your voice.

“The real journey, the most important of all, was right here, within the maps and contours of our everyday lives, among the friends and family who traveled alongside us. In the end that was what really mattered. Adventure was everywhere. We just needed the courage to look for it.”

You Might Also Enjoy: Three Words For Goodbye reminds me in some ways of The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters. If you enjoyed that, you will enjoy this!

I’m highly recommending Three Words For Goodbye for fans of Hazel Gaynor/Heather Webb, for readers who love WW11 era histfic with no war atrocities, for those who love a poignant siblings (sisters) story (with a side of romance), for readers looking for an engaging yet light and page-turning summer or vacation read, and for book clubs. This story checks all my boxes and represents the type of stories I absolutely love!

For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.

[Lloyd Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Words for Goodbye, by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, is absolutely terrific. It's about 2 sisters, their grandmother, and a long-distance trip, all of it taking place in 1937. I couldn't put it down. Here's what I liked about it:

1. The writing is very visual. Some examples:

"A uniformed guard threw open the compartment doors, sending travel-weary passengers spilling out onto the platform and scattering like marbles from a dropped bag."

"...couples holding hands, families and friends flitting around like butterflies, pollinating each other with love and good humor."

"...the way the watercolors blended and softened, running into each other like old friends."

2. There is a lot of tension throughout the book regarding a particular mode of transportation that we all know about. I won't say anything more about that, but you will know what I'm referring to soon enough.

3. Violet, the grandmother, is a great character. The chapters in her voice stand out.

4. The relationship between the sisters is something many people can relate to. Alas, I cannot. I have 1brother who is 7 years older than me and who I haven't had any contact with for 40 years. I certainly was engrossed in watching these 2 sisters work on their relationship.

5. I am a big fan of books that alternate among 2 or more central characters. The authors do a great job of making the reader anxious to know what all 3 of their protagonists are saying and doing.

6. I had plenty of emotional moments, including...I can't tell you! It's too much information!

7. I just flat-out liked every page. That is a rare occurrence.

Is that enough to convince you how I felt about Three Words for Goodbye? I sure hope so. You'll have to wait until July 27 for it to hit your bookstores. But make a note. You're going to want this in your TBR pile right away!

[BookWormBecky · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0

Au revoir, Arrivederci, Auf Wiedersehen…

*I first read this book in January 2022. Rereading for January 2024 book club!

Grandmother Violet sends her two granddaughters Clara and Madeleine to Europe to deliver letters to three important people from her past. The plan is to travel to Paris, Venice, and Vienna.

Clara tends to have a conventional, dutiful personality, while Maddie leans toward ambition and new possibilities. The two sisters haven’t spoken to each other in a year, mainly due to petty differences. Now they are expected to conclude Violet’s curtain call. Giving Grandmother a chance to make peace since she is no longer able to do it personally.

The sisters will learn much about Violet that was unknown to them. But they will also learn more about themselves and each other. Their love for Violet will be the motivation they need to take this adventuresome trip.

A tale of family ties, sisterhood, understanding, closure, regrets, and forgiveness. This trip will be a life-changing event for many.


*An emotional, realistic read.

*I first read this in January 2022 but am rereading it for tomorrow’s book club meeting. I actually liked it more & rated it higher the second reading!

*Very descriptive writing. Ex: modes of transportation, scenery, and pre-war Europe.

*I like the Nelly Bly connection! She was born, raised, & educated near where I live. (Within 30 miles)

*A must-read for historical fiction lovers!

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Words for Goodbye follows two sisters on an opulent trip to Europe at their grandmother's request, delivering letters to three people from her past.

This is the type of book I thought I'd love. I love books about family relationship, and the prologue sucked me in. Especially the line about how "the more interesting path always lies ahead." The book touches on so many different things, too, from the Orient Express to the Hindenburg to the Nazi regime.

Unfortunately, it just fell a little flat for me. Maybe the sisters seemed a little too one-note. Maybe things just worked out a little too well for them every time. Madeleine calls a group of Nazi soldiers hateful, and all they do is push her and she almost falls? None of the three characters we know on the Hindenburg die or are even permanently injured? Sometimes it can be hard for me describe why a book was good but not great, and this is one of those times.

Thank you TLC Book Tours and William Morrow for a copy of this book!

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was 1937 when two sisters were asked by their dying aging grandmother to travel Europe and deliver personal messages to a couple of friends she met 40 years ago and another that was her sister. It was a dying wish to friends of long ago that are now aging and perhaps dying too. The grandmother sent the sisters on their way - all expenses paid to travel on the Queen Mary, the Orient Express, and the Hindenburg and all other travel expenses.
It was a journey, to say the least. The sisters were not the best of friends the past several years and had their own different views on many life situations.
Were they successful in their grandmothers' final wish?
Three Words for Goodbye is a great read, it has it all, romance, mystery, and challenges.

[Charmaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the uncorrected proof of this book. It sounded like a good summer read and I wanted to like it a lot more than I actually did. The plot was fun and the characters interesting and a story that involves travel always interests me. However, the "eye-roll moment" towards the very end of the book, when the sisters find out the reason that their great-aunt has been estranged from their grandmother for many years, just really turned me off. The reason for her estrangement could have been ANYTHING ELSE (and way more interesting). But, seems like these days, there has to be a "same-sex something or other" in every modern novel.

Clean Readers: there is some profanity and also the above-mentioned plot twist. Otherwise, this story is pretty clean.

[Desiree Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Exited at page 328.
Estranged great aunt Margaret turns out to be a lesbian living with her partner Helga.

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really have to stop telling myself I'm not a fan of historical fiction because I'm proven wrong time and time again, this book being no exception.
This was intriguing because it was a story of sisters, something we don't get to read about very often. Having my own sister issues and adventures, it was particularly interesting in relating it to my own life.
I also loved how empowering it was, especially when you think back to the late 30s and how long it actually took for women to start to get equal rights in the US.
It's all around a pretty good read.

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veteran authors, Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, really are a winning team if you ask me! I have loved many of their novels and when I saw this one was coming out I just knew I had to get my hands on it! Each author has their own unique voice and style but at the end of the day, they blend together so well that their books never feel disjointed or confusing.

Sometimes with multiple authors, it can be hard to marry the two different voices to create a well written story, but I have never felt like that with Gaynor and Webb. I have read their own independent novels as well as their collaborative works and I always finish their books feeling like I read a well written book with interesting characters and voices!

The other things that drew me into this book was that it featured the RMS Queen Mary. The Queen Mary is like the more modern version of the Titanic…a luxurious boat tailored to the upper crust of society. I didn’t know too much about the Queen Mary prior to reading this book but I did know that it was a fancy-schmancy ship for it’s time so I was eager to learn more!

This was just the book for my summer! Since I couldn’t go on any big trips this year (thanks COVID), I got to venture all over Europe on an elegant cruise ship thanks to this book! It was a wonderful read for adventure and escapism. If you are stuck home this summer (or fall!) then this is the book you want to get loaded on your device or pick up in the store! It was super fun to ‘visit’ all the locations with Clara and Madeleine. I also loved that it was a sister-sister journey. My sister and I are not that close so it was fun to explore this sibling relationship. I always dreamed of traveling the world with my sister but we have a big age gap and different lives so reading a book like this was a nice way to live that dream vicariously!

I liked how Clara and Madeleine’s relationship was the central focus of this book, it is very much a story about sisters and forgiveness. While not overly emotional, it was a great portrayal of the challenges and complexities of women and sisters. It struck a good balance between emotion and keeping it light. When I picked this one up I wasn’t really in the mood for something gut-wrenching and heavy but I also didn’t just want to read mindless fluff either. So this book found that delicate balance for me that I was craving! For me personally, I saw myself more in Madeleine but in reality I am probably more like Clara.

I think the only part that I wanted more of was more history of the ship. The book did a great job capturing the pre WWII political climate, but I felt like we only scratched the surface of the Queen Mary and its history. It would have been nice to have a little more history too just because I like history and that as one of the reasons I picked this one up—for more on the ship. But then again I wasn’t looking for a book ON the Queen Mary, but I would have liked to have seen it take a more active role in the story. Overall this was a wonderful option for summer reading and I loved my time with the characters!

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book ended happier then I would have liked. I know, I know how that sounds. But it had an exciting premise. Grandma Violet gives her two granddaughters, Clara and Maddie, a trip to three European cities - Paris, Venice, and Vienna. In return they have to give three letters to people from Violet's past. And then they will return home....on the Hindenberg. And it's 1937.

I was prepared to fall in love with these characters and then cry when tragedy struck. However, I didn't fall in love with them. Clara and Maddie were two sisters who didn't see eye to eye - one choosing marriage and motherhood while the other wanting to become a journalist and throw off the restrictions of the era. And they bicker. And they were fine. They were fine characters, but I just didn't get as engrossed as I would have liked.

And nobody died. Which I should be glad about. But they encounter Mussolini's soldiers, Nazis, and they ride on the FRICKING HINDENBERG and there is no tragedy. I mean, yes it goes down and they get some scrapes and bruises, but...

I just wanted a meatier story. This one felt very light and frothy!

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Words for Goodbye
By: Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb make an amazing team. This novel is in my top 5 of Historical Fiction books! 💛
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Two sisters are sent overseas to deliver letters for their dying grandmother. Maddie and Clara are estranged sisters who are sent on a trip of a lifetime. They get to board the Queen Mary, ride the Orient Express and return on the Hindenburg. All their plans have been made by their grandmother.
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As they deliver letters and travel they begin to mend their relationship even though they disagree many times. They discover more about their grandmothers past. The sisters are very different. The ending was absolutely heart wrenching and heartwarming.
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Nelly Bly was an inspiration for this book. I highly recommend this novel. An absolute delight! #heatherwebb, #hazelgaynor, #threewordsforgoodbye, #historicalfiction, #williammorrow, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50

[Crystal King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. What a seriously fun read to start out my summer! Clara and Madeleine Sommers are on a quest that their dying grandmother sent them on to reconnect with a variety of people from her past, all scattered about Europe on the cusp of WWII. It's a novel about sisters, about love, about travel, with a wonderful dash of history thrown in on the side. I loved all the characters so much, and I devoured this book in just two nights. Heather Webb and Hazel Gaynor are truly the best author team, and this book is a testament to their power of telling a great story.

[Oksana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. DNF at 35%. Thought to myself, why am I pushing myself to keep reading? Characters not very engaging, tepid storyline. Lukewarm development. Premise of story was intriguing and had great potential but just sort of fizzled and never really sizzled. Definitely NOT Beatriz Williams or Daisy Goodwin caliber. I’m out.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this - which was no surprise because I think these authors work magic together (Hazel Gaynor is also one of my favourite authors in her own right). This has the perfect blend of history, romance and friendship as two sisters, who have drifted apart, travel together across pre-war Europe from NYC to deliver three letters to important people in the life of their beloved and dying grandmother, Violet. I was riveted. The fact that the sisters are due to return home on the Hindenburg adds a little extra tension. What a wonderful novel, full of life, the shadow of fascism and the eternity of love. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.

[Lisa of Hopewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Interest

First off–that gorgeous cover! I loved it. I could just see my Grandmother’s dressed like that! Second–the authors. I’ve loved their past collaborations: Last Christmas in Paris and Meet Me in Monaco–the latter is the main reason I was sooooo anxious to read or listen to this book.


The Story

Two twenty-something sisters have gone their separate ways on their separate paths. One is a typical debutante-type engaged to the rich sort of man and living the right sort of life. The other, inspired by the family's friend, fabled journalist Nellie Bly (second book this year to mention her) is a Katherine Hepburn-ish, slacks-wearing, wanna-be journalist. In 1937 Hamptons estates I need not mention which daughter was doing the "right" thing, do I? In comes Grandma's last wish. She wants them to hand-deliver a few letters in Europe. The tickets are booked on the Queen Mary, the Orient Express, and then back home on, you guessed it, The Hindenberg! ("Oh the humanity!" I screamed). All sorts of family secrets (most extremely predictable) will be revealed along the way.

My Thoughts

Where to start? The family secrets? One was so common in historical fiction now that it was like the free space on a bingo card. I guess the other big one straight away.  (Ok I was wrong about one thing, sister x did not echo Captain Von Trapp and get the nice air steward on the Hindenberg to flee the Nazis with her.). Then there are the lessons supposedly learned in this "coming of age" novel. The most profound thought either woman offers on the good travel has done them is that [something like this--I'm not going back to find the exact quote] "when one journey ends, another begins." Seriously.

I was very disappointed in this book. This pair of authors write much better than this. This was just not of the caliber of their other joint ventures. Historical fiction pet peeve after pet peeve reared its ugly head in this one. They arrive in Vienna to eat...brats and kraut? Like in Milwaukee. UGH. An American who wants to be a crusading journalist,  who is constantly reading the papers,  always butting in and asking what folks think of political situations, who is fascinated by the Nazi rally (in Austria) is "outraged" by the treatment of a Jewish person, but who apparently never noticed the lynchings at home everywhere during this time period? In an America where anti-semitism and even Nazi-sympathies were still very common (hello, America First movement) to the point that the persecuted Jews applying for asylum were lucky to get the most cursory of hearings and were almost never given a visa? That was the end of this book for me ( though I did finish it). Sanitizing language and giving woke-ish prhases in the mix does not make historical fiction somehow "better." It cheapens it. (No, no, no, I do not mean go back to racial slurs or anything like that, the language change was minor). Gaynor and Webb are so much better than this--I am guessing for once an editor was involved.

Three Words for Goodbye was not "awful." it was not "bad." It just wasn't on par with Gaynor and Webb's other collaborations. Predictable plot, flat, stereotyped characters, unsurprising family secrets--nothing here was worthy of the pair. I did think the part covering the Hindenberg trip almost reached something to be proud of in terms of atmosphere. Almost. I finished it out of loyalty to the authors and with the hope that after Meet Me in Monaco their publisher DEMANDED something to make quick money off of and this was all they had time to cobble together around writing their solo books. Writing is very hard work. It takes time. Good books are rarely just "churned out." I want to be fair. Both are excellent writers. This was not excellent. It was, however, sadly what is becoming typical women's historical fiction of today. "Dumbed down" is a good phrase to describe it. It was 'ok.'

Nonetheless, I am looking forward to their next book already and am hoping they regain their joint stride and are given time to work their true magic with words.

Three Words for Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

P.S. I must have zoned out when the title was explained. I still do not know if it meant Au Voir, Arrivederci, and Auf Wiedersehen (since they traveled to France, Italy, and Austria) or...what? [And yes, I could hear the Von Trapp Family kids singing the goodnight song as I typed this].

My Verdict
3.0

That's a generous verdict due to my fondness for their past work.