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Good Days Bad Days
A daughter reconnects with her estranged parents before it’s too late in an emotional novel about memories, secrets, and finding home by the bestselling author of When We Chased the Light.
Charlie McFadden was fifteen years old when CPS removed her from her hoarded home. Her mother, Betty, chose her worthless collectibles. Her father chose Betty. Neither chose Charlie.
Thirty-one years later, a mother herself and cohost of a popular reality show with her husband, Charlie is proud of what she accomplished without her parents—relative strangers she never saw again. Until the day Charlie’s father pleads with her to come home and to say goodbye to her mother, now confined to a memory care center. Betty has her good days, recognizing her daughter with familiar resentment. And her bad ones, lost in the past as a blissful young mother with a cherished newborn. Those days make Charlie feel loved.
For Charlie, each memory is a journey and a revelation. She sees a mother she never knew—bright and beautiful with so much promise. But hidden away is also a fiercely guarded secret. Shared, it could finally bring hope and healing to a broken family. If Betty can bear to remember it.
Charlie McFadden was fifteen years old when CPS removed her from her hoarded home. Her mother, Betty, chose her worthless collectibles. Her father chose Betty. Neither chose Charlie.
Thirty-one years later, a mother herself and cohost of a popular reality show with her husband, Charlie is proud of what she accomplished without her parents—relative strangers she never saw again. Until the day Charlie’s father pleads with her to come home and to say goodbye to her mother, now confined to a memory care center. Betty has her good days, recognizing her daughter with familiar resentment. And her bad ones, lost in the past as a blissful young mother with a cherished newborn. Those days make Charlie feel loved.
For Charlie, each memory is a journey and a revelation. She sees a mother she never knew—bright and beautiful with so much promise. But hidden away is also a fiercely guarded secret. Shared, it could finally bring hope and healing to a broken family. If Betty can bear to remember it.
379 pages, Paperback
Published October 7, 2025
998 people are currently reading
4667 people want to read
About the author
Emily Bleeker
13 books1,718 followersEmily lives in suburban Chicago with her family. Between writing and being a mom, she attempts to learn guitar, sings along to the radio (loudly), and embraces her newfound addiction to running.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
October 10, 2025
EXCERPT: Today, for one hour, I had a mom.
This mom is funny, friendly, and encouraging. I've never experienced this kind of mom. I know that today's Betty may not be the same as tomorrow's Betty, but I thought I was coming here to face a firing squad, to get closure and to say goodbye forever. What I never expected was to see my mom and actually like her - even if she can't remember my name.
ABOUT 'GOOD DAYS BAD DAYS': A daughter reconnects with her estranged parents before it’s too late in an emotional novel about memories, secrets, and finding home.
Charlie McFadden was fifteen years old when CPS removed her from her hoarded home. Her mother, Betty, chose her worthless collectibles. Her father chose Betty. Neither chose Charlie.
Thirty-one years later, a mother herself and cohost of a popular reality show with her husband, Charlie is proud of what she accomplished without her parents—relative strangers she never saw again. Until the day Charlie’s father pleads with her to come home and to say goodbye to her mother, now confined to a memory care center. Betty has her good days, recognizing her daughter with familiar resentment. And her bad ones, lost in the past as a blissful young mother with a cherished newborn. Those days make Charlie feel loved.
For Charlie, each memory is a journey and a revelation. She sees a mother she never knew—bright and beautiful with so much promise. But hidden away is also a fiercely guarded secret. Shared, it could finally bring hope and healing to a broken family. If Betty can bear to remember it.
MY THOUGHTS: If you are associated in any way with someone who has dementia, you probably need to read this book. The bonus is that it is an excellent read - poignant and touching.
No matter how much you know about dementia, the reality of dealing with it is something else, and Emily Bleeker brings this home in an honest and sympathetic manner. The title says it all - there are good days and bad days and these time periods can disintegrate into only moments and every time frame in between. Also, the terms 'good days' and 'bad days' are entirely subjective.
Told over two timelines, Charlie's in the present with all her conflicting emotions of reconnecting with her parents, and Greg's, Charlie's father, in the past, I was fully engaged as Betty and Greg's story slowly emerges with its associated secrets and traumas.
In the present, Charlie is dealing with more than just reconnecting with her parents and getting to know them as people; she is also dealing with a disintegrating marriage complicated by the reappearance of an old flame willing to help her dig into her mother's past, and her precarious relationship with her own daughter.
Good Days Bad Days is a gripping, emotional, sad and beautifully written story about a family dealing with dementia while trying to restore their fractured relationships. Strongly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#GoodDaysBadDays #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: EMILY BLEEKER lives in suburban Chicago with her family. Between writing and being a mom, she attempts to learn guitar, sings along to the radio (loudly), and embraces her newfound addiction to running.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
This mom is funny, friendly, and encouraging. I've never experienced this kind of mom. I know that today's Betty may not be the same as tomorrow's Betty, but I thought I was coming here to face a firing squad, to get closure and to say goodbye forever. What I never expected was to see my mom and actually like her - even if she can't remember my name.
ABOUT 'GOOD DAYS BAD DAYS': A daughter reconnects with her estranged parents before it’s too late in an emotional novel about memories, secrets, and finding home.
Charlie McFadden was fifteen years old when CPS removed her from her hoarded home. Her mother, Betty, chose her worthless collectibles. Her father chose Betty. Neither chose Charlie.
Thirty-one years later, a mother herself and cohost of a popular reality show with her husband, Charlie is proud of what she accomplished without her parents—relative strangers she never saw again. Until the day Charlie’s father pleads with her to come home and to say goodbye to her mother, now confined to a memory care center. Betty has her good days, recognizing her daughter with familiar resentment. And her bad ones, lost in the past as a blissful young mother with a cherished newborn. Those days make Charlie feel loved.
For Charlie, each memory is a journey and a revelation. She sees a mother she never knew—bright and beautiful with so much promise. But hidden away is also a fiercely guarded secret. Shared, it could finally bring hope and healing to a broken family. If Betty can bear to remember it.
MY THOUGHTS: If you are associated in any way with someone who has dementia, you probably need to read this book. The bonus is that it is an excellent read - poignant and touching.
No matter how much you know about dementia, the reality of dealing with it is something else, and Emily Bleeker brings this home in an honest and sympathetic manner. The title says it all - there are good days and bad days and these time periods can disintegrate into only moments and every time frame in between. Also, the terms 'good days' and 'bad days' are entirely subjective.
Told over two timelines, Charlie's in the present with all her conflicting emotions of reconnecting with her parents, and Greg's, Charlie's father, in the past, I was fully engaged as Betty and Greg's story slowly emerges with its associated secrets and traumas.
In the present, Charlie is dealing with more than just reconnecting with her parents and getting to know them as people; she is also dealing with a disintegrating marriage complicated by the reappearance of an old flame willing to help her dig into her mother's past, and her precarious relationship with her own daughter.
Good Days Bad Days is a gripping, emotional, sad and beautifully written story about a family dealing with dementia while trying to restore their fractured relationships. Strongly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#GoodDaysBadDays #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: EMILY BLEEKER lives in suburban Chicago with her family. Between writing and being a mom, she attempts to learn guitar, sings along to the radio (loudly), and embraces her newfound addiction to running.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
October 24, 2025
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Charlie McFadden was fifteen years old when child protective services removed her from her parent's home and her father promised he would do everything he could to get her back. But her mother Betty is a hoarder, the house was jam-packed full of stuff and still is, now thirty one years later Charlie feels he chose his wife and junk over her.
Charlie gets a call from her father Greg, Betty is in a memory care unit and he wants her to come home and say goodbye. During her visits, Betty has her good and bad days, sometimes she doesn't know who Charlie is.
The story has a dual timeline, it goes between present time and back to the 1960’s and you discover, Betty was a successful TV homemaker show host, and Greg was the camera man, both are hiding secrets and it’s the cause of Betty’s hoarding and will Charlie uncover the truth about her parents?
I received a copy of Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker from Lake Union Publishing and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The narrative looks at hoarding, is it a form of child abuse, the behaviour of people who do this and why their spouses don’t simply start throwing the things away, it's a mental condition and the triggers, and how it tears families apart and their children have a tough time.
In this case the story focuses on Carlie feeling abandoned, how the choices her parents made affected her and the secrets and no wonder her mother is so broken and ironically like a lot off the stuff she kept.
Three and a half stars from me, a story about intergenerational trauma, Charlie didn’t get she was pushing her own daughter away due to her feelings of abandonment, shame and not being good enough.
Charlie gets a call from her father Greg, Betty is in a memory care unit and he wants her to come home and say goodbye. During her visits, Betty has her good and bad days, sometimes she doesn't know who Charlie is.
The story has a dual timeline, it goes between present time and back to the 1960’s and you discover, Betty was a successful TV homemaker show host, and Greg was the camera man, both are hiding secrets and it’s the cause of Betty’s hoarding and will Charlie uncover the truth about her parents?
I received a copy of Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker from Lake Union Publishing and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The narrative looks at hoarding, is it a form of child abuse, the behaviour of people who do this and why their spouses don’t simply start throwing the things away, it's a mental condition and the triggers, and how it tears families apart and their children have a tough time.
In this case the story focuses on Carlie feeling abandoned, how the choices her parents made affected her and the secrets and no wonder her mother is so broken and ironically like a lot off the stuff she kept.
Three and a half stars from me, a story about intergenerational trauma, Charlie didn’t get she was pushing her own daughter away due to her feelings of abandonment, shame and not being good enough.
November 5, 2025
3 stars.
A home renovation tv host takes a break from the spotlight to return to her hometown to care for her aging parents.
I really enjoyed the blended family dynamic at the centre of this story. Two divorced people with children from previous marriages get married and combine their families. Each of their personal stories added interesting layers to the plot.
Told through two timelines and perspectives, this domestic drama explored how the consequences of decisions can be felt in families generations later.
There are many serious and heavy topics covered within this novel, some of which include hoarding, foster care, abuse, infidelity and forgiveness. These were presented in impactful and thought-provoking ways, however, there was also a charming and cutesy tone that threaded its way into the writing. This cutesy-ness took away from my overall connection. I really liked many themes that were explored but didn’t quite find myself invested in the execution of them.
Romance became a theme of focus in the second half which was also a big part of why I didn’t connect as strongly as I would have hoped. I didn’t care for the love triangles in either timeline.
Overall, I think this will be a great read for many. I’m simply not the proper audience for this one, as I like more grit and don’t tend to enjoy overly cute, “feel good” or charming stories.
Audio rating: 3 stars. There were two narrators, one for each perspective/timeline. The female narrator was great when she was speaking normally, but she changed her voice for some male characters and it didn’t work for me. The voice changes were awkward and lessened my connection. The male narrator was good but didn’t do anything to stand out or enhance my connection.
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced listening copy!
A home renovation tv host takes a break from the spotlight to return to her hometown to care for her aging parents.
I really enjoyed the blended family dynamic at the centre of this story. Two divorced people with children from previous marriages get married and combine their families. Each of their personal stories added interesting layers to the plot.
Told through two timelines and perspectives, this domestic drama explored how the consequences of decisions can be felt in families generations later.
There are many serious and heavy topics covered within this novel, some of which include hoarding, foster care, abuse, infidelity and forgiveness. These were presented in impactful and thought-provoking ways, however, there was also a charming and cutesy tone that threaded its way into the writing. This cutesy-ness took away from my overall connection. I really liked many themes that were explored but didn’t quite find myself invested in the execution of them.
Romance became a theme of focus in the second half which was also a big part of why I didn’t connect as strongly as I would have hoped. I didn’t care for the love triangles in either timeline.
Overall, I think this will be a great read for many. I’m simply not the proper audience for this one, as I like more grit and don’t tend to enjoy overly cute, “feel good” or charming stories.
Audio rating: 3 stars. There were two narrators, one for each perspective/timeline. The female narrator was great when she was speaking normally, but she changed her voice for some male characters and it didn’t work for me. The voice changes were awkward and lessened my connection. The male narrator was good but didn’t do anything to stand out or enhance my connection.
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced listening copy!
September 19, 2025
Emily Bleeker is a new to me author, and I was so impressed by this novel that immediately I finished it I headed straight to audible to add all of her work to my seemingly endless wish list.
It took me a few chapters to settle in to the story and make sense of the dual timeline and dual pov, but I think that’s more to do with my own headspace than the writing. Once I got my brain engaged though I was all in.
Charlie is a tv host a mum a wife and a daughter, she was removed from her parents care aged 15 due to her mothers hoarding and her fathers refusal to do anything about it. She holds a lot of trauma and understandable resentment, especially as her father had promised to fix up the house and get her home but never did. She gets quite the shock when she receives a call from her father telling her that her mother is in a memory care facility, she’s been removed from the house that is literally rotting due to the hoarding, it’s time to go and say goodbye.
Greg is Charlie’s father and his chapters take us back to the past, back to his younger years, back to young Betty and essentially unravelling the root of the hoarding and his overwhelming adoration for his wife.
When Charlie returns to Lake Geneva she finds Betty’s mind seems to be set in her younger years, she seems to believe that Charlie is her friend, it comes as a shock to Charlie that she likes Betty, she enjoys being her friend. Of course there are good days and bad days and the good days bring out the mother that Charlie remembers and despises. Meanwhile she works with her father to try to sort the house out.
The story that unfolds in both timelines had me feeling every emotion. The story is gripping, it’s emotional, traumatic extremely sad yet also really beautiful.
Huge kudos to the author for putting the research in and handling such a complex mental illness in such a detailed and sensitive way.
The audio narration was the perfect match for the story.
Huge thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
It took me a few chapters to settle in to the story and make sense of the dual timeline and dual pov, but I think that’s more to do with my own headspace than the writing. Once I got my brain engaged though I was all in.
Charlie is a tv host a mum a wife and a daughter, she was removed from her parents care aged 15 due to her mothers hoarding and her fathers refusal to do anything about it. She holds a lot of trauma and understandable resentment, especially as her father had promised to fix up the house and get her home but never did. She gets quite the shock when she receives a call from her father telling her that her mother is in a memory care facility, she’s been removed from the house that is literally rotting due to the hoarding, it’s time to go and say goodbye.
Greg is Charlie’s father and his chapters take us back to the past, back to his younger years, back to young Betty and essentially unravelling the root of the hoarding and his overwhelming adoration for his wife.
When Charlie returns to Lake Geneva she finds Betty’s mind seems to be set in her younger years, she seems to believe that Charlie is her friend, it comes as a shock to Charlie that she likes Betty, she enjoys being her friend. Of course there are good days and bad days and the good days bring out the mother that Charlie remembers and despises. Meanwhile she works with her father to try to sort the house out.
The story that unfolds in both timelines had me feeling every emotion. The story is gripping, it’s emotional, traumatic extremely sad yet also really beautiful.
Huge kudos to the author for putting the research in and handling such a complex mental illness in such a detailed and sensitive way.
The audio narration was the perfect match for the story.
Huge thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
September 6, 2025
Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker had me hooked from the very first page, completely drawn into the dual storylines that weave together so seamlessly. Both narratives are gripping and kept me turning pages to see how they’d unfold. A daughter reconnects with her estranged parents with lots of secrets and lies and she tries to make sense of her life. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release. I really enjoyed it.
September 29, 2025
Emily Bleeker has touched me with her latest heartfelt novel. I really liked Charlotte’s character and I couldn't imagine what she went through as a young girl. The dual timelines helped me to put into perspective the actions of her mother from all those years ago. As I got to know her father, Greg, it made sense why he was by Betty's side until the end. Overall, this is a captivating, raw story and I can definitely recommend it!
Many thanks to Emily Bleeker for my gifted copy and @suzyapprovedbooktours for inviting me to read this book.
Many thanks to Emily Bleeker for my gifted copy and @suzyapprovedbooktours for inviting me to read this book.
September 15, 2025
Emily Bleeker has been a long-time favorite author of mine, and in her latest, you can see her entire heart on the page. Good Days Bad Days is told through a brilliantly written dual timeline packed with long-hidden secrets and layered emotions. As a daughter reconnects with her estranged parents, Bleeker skillfully weaves multiple threads and themes to heal what's been broken. As with all her books, Bleeker delivers emotional depth with an engaging, powerful story. An absorbing novel that touches on every emotion.
May 27, 2025
This book was impressive. It was sad, it was happy, it showed that you don't always know the whole story so you shouldn't judge. It's never to late to get the whole story and leaves hope that maybe one can rediscover their past.
July 22, 2025
Read my full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
Charlie (Charlotte, Lottie) McFadden is a TV host ah la Joanna Gaines who, at a crisis in her own home, is called by her father that he needed help with their home. Her mother, Betty, is in memory care, had been a hoarder to the point that Charlie was removed from the home at age 15 to foster care. She never went back.
The timeline as remembered through her dad then switches back and forth between the present day and Betty’s history, which is becoming exposed with the extensive cleaning. Her dad has always supported Betty to the exclusion of Charlie and still does.
The “good” days? That’s according to the nurse handling Betty, the days when Betty knows who she is, but also the one who is angry, disagreeable, and recognizes Charlie. Not at all the loving mother of “Laura,” who on “bad” days doesn’t recognize Charlie and is a soft spoken, kindly, and loving mother. It’s the disease, the dementia.
As Charlie hammers away at Betty on bad days, trying to get to the truth of her history, there are hints of a twist. Who is…was…Laura? What’s with her father? Why won’t he talk to Charlie, fill in all the blanks?
A powerful story that examines, dissects, and disseminates dementia; sympathetic, clueless, difficult. That the house and hoarding was chosen over Charlie, their daughter, is a mantra throughout the book. There are themes of a fractured, enabled marriage, damaged family dynamics, secrets, and emotional dimensions.
The setting of Lake Geneva is lovely, bringing to mind our one trip there to explore and taste the food, drink in the scenery. A tourist destination.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own. 4.5 stars
Charlie (Charlotte, Lottie) McFadden is a TV host ah la Joanna Gaines who, at a crisis in her own home, is called by her father that he needed help with their home. Her mother, Betty, is in memory care, had been a hoarder to the point that Charlie was removed from the home at age 15 to foster care. She never went back.
The timeline as remembered through her dad then switches back and forth between the present day and Betty’s history, which is becoming exposed with the extensive cleaning. Her dad has always supported Betty to the exclusion of Charlie and still does.
The “good” days? That’s according to the nurse handling Betty, the days when Betty knows who she is, but also the one who is angry, disagreeable, and recognizes Charlie. Not at all the loving mother of “Laura,” who on “bad” days doesn’t recognize Charlie and is a soft spoken, kindly, and loving mother. It’s the disease, the dementia.
As Charlie hammers away at Betty on bad days, trying to get to the truth of her history, there are hints of a twist. Who is…was…Laura? What’s with her father? Why won’t he talk to Charlie, fill in all the blanks?
A powerful story that examines, dissects, and disseminates dementia; sympathetic, clueless, difficult. That the house and hoarding was chosen over Charlie, their daughter, is a mantra throughout the book. There are themes of a fractured, enabled marriage, damaged family dynamics, secrets, and emotional dimensions.
The setting of Lake Geneva is lovely, bringing to mind our one trip there to explore and taste the food, drink in the scenery. A tourist destination.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own. 4.5 stars
October 3, 2025
Moving, compelling, and absorbing!
𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 is an engaging, affecting tale that immerses you into the life of Charlie McFadden as she struggles to forgive her ailing mother she’s been estranged from since CPS removed her as a teen, a family home overflowing with clutter, nostalgia and long-buried secrets, a father she both loves and resents for never choosing her, and the painful truth behind her mother’s dysfunctional hoarding.
The writing is smooth and emotive. The characters are genuine, supportive, and multilayered. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel seamlessly into a hopeful tale of life, loss, family, parenthood, neurocognitive decline, secrets, deception, memory, introspection, forgiveness, and love.
Overall, 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 is a heartbreaking, touching, enlightening tale by Bleeker that is a poignant reminder that life is too short for grievances, resentments, and regrets, and that the decline of the mind is as devastating for loved ones as it is for those who suffer it.
𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 is an engaging, affecting tale that immerses you into the life of Charlie McFadden as she struggles to forgive her ailing mother she’s been estranged from since CPS removed her as a teen, a family home overflowing with clutter, nostalgia and long-buried secrets, a father she both loves and resents for never choosing her, and the painful truth behind her mother’s dysfunctional hoarding.
The writing is smooth and emotive. The characters are genuine, supportive, and multilayered. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel seamlessly into a hopeful tale of life, loss, family, parenthood, neurocognitive decline, secrets, deception, memory, introspection, forgiveness, and love.
Overall, 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 is a heartbreaking, touching, enlightening tale by Bleeker that is a poignant reminder that life is too short for grievances, resentments, and regrets, and that the decline of the mind is as devastating for loved ones as it is for those who suffer it.
October 7, 2025
This is the story of Greg, Betty, and their daughter, Charlotte (Charlie). They are a damaged family. The damage has multiple roots: hoarding, mental health issues, dementia, parental abandonment, secrets and lies. Despite all these negatives, there is a need for love, acceptance and reconciliation.
There are dual, alternating narrators, Greg's timeline is the past, starting in 1969. Greg's story gradually explains what is happening in the present. Charlie's story is the present, dealing with things that happened in the past that still affect her. The two narrators and two timelines tell the family tale very cohesively.
This might be a hard book for some readers. My family has had to deal with both dementia and hoarding. This helped me identify with the characters and feel empathy for them. The title of the book tells it like it is.
I liked the ending.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advance Readers Copy.
There are dual, alternating narrators, Greg's timeline is the past, starting in 1969. Greg's story gradually explains what is happening in the present. Charlie's story is the present, dealing with things that happened in the past that still affect her. The two narrators and two timelines tell the family tale very cohesively.
This might be a hard book for some readers. My family has had to deal with both dementia and hoarding. This helped me identify with the characters and feel empathy for them. The title of the book tells it like it is.
I liked the ending.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advance Readers Copy.
October 9, 2025
I received a digital ARC of this novel from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange from an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I loved how this story all came together, as the reader learns everything from Charlie, and her father Greg’s perspectives. As the truths were revealed I found myself liking each character more and more. I think those who have experience with family members dealing with dementia and hoarding will find that they relate to this novel. There are so many layers to this story.
I loved how this story all came together, as the reader learns everything from Charlie, and her father Greg’s perspectives. As the truths were revealed I found myself liking each character more and more. I think those who have experience with family members dealing with dementia and hoarding will find that they relate to this novel. There are so many layers to this story.
October 5, 2025
For some reason, this one took me quite a while to figure out who was who…and what role they played.
Not sure if it was due to the dual timeline or just the large amount of characters… but I did finally figure it out.
(And I’m one who always loves dual timelines!)
We have Betty, back in the 70’s, with her life revolving around TV and being the center of attention… it wasn’t an easy life, but she forged on and made a name and a life for herself…. AND, became a household name, and one that was loved!
We also have the many men who were her ‘fans’…
Greg was a photographer/videographer who also made a name for himself! He worked on the show Betty was on too! And they were good friends… and maybe, a bit more…
Then we have PRESENT DAY with Charlie (Charlotte) who is Betty’s estranged daughter…
Circumstances led to her leaving the house as a teenager… and never returning! Now her mother is old, frail, and has dementia….
But now, 30+ years later, her father calls begging her to come back and make amends… and say goodbye to her Mom….
Now Charlie has a life, kids and a husband, as well as a TV show of her own… so when she heads off to see her Mom, the air is uncertain at best… There’s a lot to be dealt with, and Charlie is not even remotely sure that she is up for it…. But she goes on…. Ready to confront whatever lies ahead… but she has no idea.
And, I have to say that the dementia detail was very vivid… and sad… and realistic.
It is sad. It is sweet. It is heartbreaking at times…but it is a good story.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
#GoodDaysBadDays by @EmilyBleeker and narrated nicely by @AasneVigesaa and @EricAltheide.
**** THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON TUESDAY, 10/7/25!! ****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BrilliancePublishing for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
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Not sure if it was due to the dual timeline or just the large amount of characters… but I did finally figure it out.
(And I’m one who always loves dual timelines!)
We have Betty, back in the 70’s, with her life revolving around TV and being the center of attention… it wasn’t an easy life, but she forged on and made a name and a life for herself…. AND, became a household name, and one that was loved!
We also have the many men who were her ‘fans’…
Greg was a photographer/videographer who also made a name for himself! He worked on the show Betty was on too! And they were good friends… and maybe, a bit more…
Then we have PRESENT DAY with Charlie (Charlotte) who is Betty’s estranged daughter…
Circumstances led to her leaving the house as a teenager… and never returning! Now her mother is old, frail, and has dementia….
But now, 30+ years later, her father calls begging her to come back and make amends… and say goodbye to her Mom….
Now Charlie has a life, kids and a husband, as well as a TV show of her own… so when she heads off to see her Mom, the air is uncertain at best… There’s a lot to be dealt with, and Charlie is not even remotely sure that she is up for it…. But she goes on…. Ready to confront whatever lies ahead… but she has no idea.
And, I have to say that the dementia detail was very vivid… and sad… and realistic.
It is sad. It is sweet. It is heartbreaking at times…but it is a good story.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
#GoodDaysBadDays by @EmilyBleeker and narrated nicely by @AasneVigesaa and @EricAltheide.
**** THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON TUESDAY, 10/7/25!! ****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BrilliancePublishing for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
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August 25, 2025
Emily Bleeker’s “Good Days Bad Days” is the first book I read from her. The book is set primarily in two Wisconsin cities – Lake Geneva and Janesville. I was a little hesitant to read this book due to the subject matter, but my fears were misplaced.
Charlie (aka Charlotte or Lottie) McFadden was fifteen years old when she was removed by CPS from her family home. Her mother’s hoarding made the house unsafe for Charlie to live there. Her mother, Betty, chose her “valuables” and her father, Greg, chose Betty. Over thirty years later, Charlie gets a phone call from her father. He asks for her help in getting the house cleaned out. Her mother was removed from the home and moved to a nearby memory care center.
Charlie returns to Lake Geneva as a well-known television personality. She and her recently estranged husband, Ian, co-host a home improvement/restoration show. As Charlie begins to remove her mother’s hoarded items and work on restoring the home, she also works at understanding why her parents chose their home and each other over her.
While home, Charlie reconnects with some of her childhood friends. She also begins to visit her mother in the memory care center. On the “bad” days, Betty calls her Laura and is someone that Charlie enjoys spending time with and getting to know. On the “good” days, Betty recognizes her as Lottie (her childhood nickname) and is all too willing to be the mother Charlie remembers her to be.
This book alternates between present day and decades ago. Charlie is the narrator of the present day events and her father, Greg, narrates what happened in the past. I tended to enjoy Charlie’s chapters more, but Greg’s chapters gave me insight into why he had the relationship he did with Betty. In the end, I would’ve liked a little more information on the years between where Greg’s chapters ended and where present day began.
Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
Charlie (aka Charlotte or Lottie) McFadden was fifteen years old when she was removed by CPS from her family home. Her mother’s hoarding made the house unsafe for Charlie to live there. Her mother, Betty, chose her “valuables” and her father, Greg, chose Betty. Over thirty years later, Charlie gets a phone call from her father. He asks for her help in getting the house cleaned out. Her mother was removed from the home and moved to a nearby memory care center.
Charlie returns to Lake Geneva as a well-known television personality. She and her recently estranged husband, Ian, co-host a home improvement/restoration show. As Charlie begins to remove her mother’s hoarded items and work on restoring the home, she also works at understanding why her parents chose their home and each other over her.
While home, Charlie reconnects with some of her childhood friends. She also begins to visit her mother in the memory care center. On the “bad” days, Betty calls her Laura and is someone that Charlie enjoys spending time with and getting to know. On the “good” days, Betty recognizes her as Lottie (her childhood nickname) and is all too willing to be the mother Charlie remembers her to be.
This book alternates between present day and decades ago. Charlie is the narrator of the present day events and her father, Greg, narrates what happened in the past. I tended to enjoy Charlie’s chapters more, but Greg’s chapters gave me insight into why he had the relationship he did with Betty. In the end, I would’ve liked a little more information on the years between where Greg’s chapters ended and where present day began.
Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
September 6, 2025
Good Days, Bad Days by Emily Bleeker = an absolute must-read! 🙌
A foster-care-to-TV-star story, layered with family secrets, hard truths, and so much heart. The way all the storylines come together is just chef’s kiss. 💫
Add this one to your TBR—you won’t regret it! 📚💕
A foster-care-to-TV-star story, layered with family secrets, hard truths, and so much heart. The way all the storylines come together is just chef’s kiss. 💫
Add this one to your TBR—you won’t regret it! 📚💕
September 18, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. This book had a good storyline going for it, but I felt it was a really slow read. It didn’t leave me wanting to come back for me. That being said the author did touch on issues like dementia and hoarding which can go along with mental illness. I think this could have been better had some less important details were left out.
July 2, 2025
Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker was a very powerful book.
The story follows Charlie (Charlotte/Lottie) McFadden, who is a reality TV star ala Chip and Joanna Gaines.
Charlie was removed from her family's home at the age of 15 and placed in foster care due to the serious hoarding issues in the home.
Her father calls to tell her that her Mom, Betty, is in a memory care facility and he needs help with the house or he will lose their home.
Charlie has just experienced a crisis in her own marriage, and goes home to help.
This book was great on so many levels.
It explored marriage and healing after infidelity, dementia and how a family is affected, and how to heal a long-held trauma.
The book does a great job of helping the reader to understand how truly overwhelming a hoarded house can be and how challenging it can be to part with things. In one room alone, they talk about taking our 60 bags of trash.
What resonated the strongest for me was the Mom, Betty, who is dealing with dementia. My own mother was also named Betty, and struggled with dementia in her final years, spending time in a memory care facility as well, so this really spoke to me.
What was interesting was that when Charlie's mom was having a "good day" it meant she remembered who Charlie was and was mean and agitated. When Betty was having a "bad day" she just thought Charlie was her friend Laura, and was a pleasure to be around. I thought it was very interesting how the definition of whether a day was good or bad depended on the person who was relating to Betty.
I also loved the setting of Lake Geneva! I am from the Chicago area and the descriptions of Lake Geneva were so on point, it was like I could see a movie happening in my head! Several of the locations I have been to over the past years (Sugar Shack-I'm looking at you! LOL)
I also like the true to life details about things that went on in the past,
There are some really deep truths in the book.
In Chapter 16 it says "Necessity is a harsh but precise teacher" so true!
Bleeker uses beautiful prose throughout in various sections, "The setting sun has turned the world to pink and orange, the sky filled with creamsicle-colored pulled taffy clouds"
I will close with another deep truth from Chapter 29: "Love is a matter of substance. It takes great effort and time to build and needs a strong foundation. It requires constant tending."
Loved this book, thanks very much to NetGalley, Lake Union, and of course Emily Bleeker for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
The story follows Charlie (Charlotte/Lottie) McFadden, who is a reality TV star ala Chip and Joanna Gaines.
Charlie was removed from her family's home at the age of 15 and placed in foster care due to the serious hoarding issues in the home.
Her father calls to tell her that her Mom, Betty, is in a memory care facility and he needs help with the house or he will lose their home.
Charlie has just experienced a crisis in her own marriage, and goes home to help.
This book was great on so many levels.
It explored marriage and healing after infidelity, dementia and how a family is affected, and how to heal a long-held trauma.
The book does a great job of helping the reader to understand how truly overwhelming a hoarded house can be and how challenging it can be to part with things. In one room alone, they talk about taking our 60 bags of trash.
What resonated the strongest for me was the Mom, Betty, who is dealing with dementia. My own mother was also named Betty, and struggled with dementia in her final years, spending time in a memory care facility as well, so this really spoke to me.
What was interesting was that when Charlie's mom was having a "good day" it meant she remembered who Charlie was and was mean and agitated. When Betty was having a "bad day" she just thought Charlie was her friend Laura, and was a pleasure to be around. I thought it was very interesting how the definition of whether a day was good or bad depended on the person who was relating to Betty.
I also loved the setting of Lake Geneva! I am from the Chicago area and the descriptions of Lake Geneva were so on point, it was like I could see a movie happening in my head! Several of the locations I have been to over the past years (Sugar Shack-I'm looking at you! LOL)
I also like the true to life details about things that went on in the past,
There are some really deep truths in the book.
In Chapter 16 it says "Necessity is a harsh but precise teacher" so true!
Bleeker uses beautiful prose throughout in various sections, "The setting sun has turned the world to pink and orange, the sky filled with creamsicle-colored pulled taffy clouds"
I will close with another deep truth from Chapter 29: "Love is a matter of substance. It takes great effort and time to build and needs a strong foundation. It requires constant tending."
Loved this book, thanks very much to NetGalley, Lake Union, and of course Emily Bleeker for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
October 7, 2025
ALC Review From Net Galley
Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker
Narrated by Aasne Vigesaa; Eric Altheide - Didn't have a problem with them, I followed the story just fine.
I requested this book because I wanted to experience something new in genre I haven't had a chance to until now. I am so glad I did.
Charlotte has to come home when her dad Greg calls and says her mom Betty needs to live in a memory care center. She needs to clean out a house that sent her to foster care when she was 15 as a girl who is dealing with a mom and her mental illness as a hoarder. This story gave so much emotional raw issues that truly does happen in todays world unfortunately. Told in duel timeline it truly gives the how Charlie faced issues then and now. It also helped to get to know why her father did what he did with all his broken promises to Charlie. This was truly a never know the whole story until it is finally told.
Pub Date Oct 07 2025 | Archive Date Oct 07 2025
Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio
Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker
Narrated by Aasne Vigesaa; Eric Altheide - Didn't have a problem with them, I followed the story just fine.
I requested this book because I wanted to experience something new in genre I haven't had a chance to until now. I am so glad I did.
Charlotte has to come home when her dad Greg calls and says her mom Betty needs to live in a memory care center. She needs to clean out a house that sent her to foster care when she was 15 as a girl who is dealing with a mom and her mental illness as a hoarder. This story gave so much emotional raw issues that truly does happen in todays world unfortunately. Told in duel timeline it truly gives the how Charlie faced issues then and now. It also helped to get to know why her father did what he did with all his broken promises to Charlie. This was truly a never know the whole story until it is finally told.
Pub Date Oct 07 2025 | Archive Date Oct 07 2025
Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio
June 8, 2025
I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. I absolutely loved this book. The past and present timeline was so helpful to understand the plot. This book is very relatable for me and does a great job of putting you in the main characters shoes. At times it made me smirk and at others it made me frown. Definitely a worthy read!
October 7, 2025
This was my first book by Emily Bleeker and I enjoyed reading it. Not my usual genre but I was drawn to the relationship between mother and daughter. It shows we never should judge others until we have the full story. It was a slow read for me and that is why I only gave it 3 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 24, 2025
Wow! Emily Bleeker, the Author of “Good Days Bad Days”: A Novel has written a captivating, thought-provoking and memorable novel. The Genres for this novel are Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Family Fiction. In this well written novel, the author vividly describes the scenery, plot, and the dramatic, complex and complicated characters. The author discusses important topics such as hoarding, secrets. betrayals, abandonment, emotional issues, communication, the importance of family, friends, honesty, truth, love and hope. The timelines for the story go back thirty years, and go to the present.
Charlie McFadden was 15 years old, when she was taken by CPS and placed in a foster home. Her mother Betty was a hoarder, and her father felt that was the best decision. In the present time, Charlie and her husband have a successful reality show. Her father calls Charlie for help, and to see her mother, who is now in a Memory Nursing home. Reluctantly Charlie visits and sees her childhood home worse than ever. Charlie’s mother has good and bad days in the Nursing Home.While Charlie is cleaning out the house, she finds that the mother she thought she knew had a different life. She sees her mother and father’s heartbreaking memories in letters and photos, and begins to understand that there were dark secrets. Is it too late for this family to forgive and bring the promise of healing? I highly recommend this emotional and thought-provoking novel.
Charlie McFadden was 15 years old, when she was taken by CPS and placed in a foster home. Her mother Betty was a hoarder, and her father felt that was the best decision. In the present time, Charlie and her husband have a successful reality show. Her father calls Charlie for help, and to see her mother, who is now in a Memory Nursing home. Reluctantly Charlie visits and sees her childhood home worse than ever. Charlie’s mother has good and bad days in the Nursing Home.While Charlie is cleaning out the house, she finds that the mother she thought she knew had a different life. She sees her mother and father’s heartbreaking memories in letters and photos, and begins to understand that there were dark secrets. Is it too late for this family to forgive and bring the promise of healing? I highly recommend this emotional and thought-provoking novel.
September 29, 2025
I’ve read (and enjoyed) a handful of Emily Bleeker’s novels in the past, but I must say that her forthcoming release, GOOD DAYS BAD DAYS is my very favorite. What a story! There’s truly something for everyone. Historical fiction, family drama, mystery, and even a mind-blowing love story.
One woman’s reconnection with her estranged parents gives her the opportunity to learn a few hard truths about her past, which digs up some old family history and secrets that she didn’t see coming. The shocking twists and turns are plentiful, and the subject matter gets heavy as it deals with childhood trauma, betrayal, abandonment, and mental illness.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Family drama and secrets
- Complicated mother-daughter relationships
- Motherhood and marriage
- Dual timelines
- Lake Geneva, WI setting
- Mental health awareness
- Epic love stories
- Caring for elderly parents
The novel flips from past to present, and the reader receives a heartbreaking, yet powerful love story. Both timelines held my interest from start to finish. I was 100% invested in them both. I truly could not tear myself away from this compelling story. The way Bleeker wraps everything up was extremely impressive. The conclusion unveils a big banger of a reveal that left my jaw on the floor. Full of depth, layers, heart, and emotion, Bleeker’s latest cannot be missed.
4/5 solid stars for GOOD DAYS BAD DAYS! It releases on October 7th!
One woman’s reconnection with her estranged parents gives her the opportunity to learn a few hard truths about her past, which digs up some old family history and secrets that she didn’t see coming. The shocking twists and turns are plentiful, and the subject matter gets heavy as it deals with childhood trauma, betrayal, abandonment, and mental illness.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Family drama and secrets
- Complicated mother-daughter relationships
- Motherhood and marriage
- Dual timelines
- Lake Geneva, WI setting
- Mental health awareness
- Epic love stories
- Caring for elderly parents
The novel flips from past to present, and the reader receives a heartbreaking, yet powerful love story. Both timelines held my interest from start to finish. I was 100% invested in them both. I truly could not tear myself away from this compelling story. The way Bleeker wraps everything up was extremely impressive. The conclusion unveils a big banger of a reveal that left my jaw on the floor. Full of depth, layers, heart, and emotion, Bleeker’s latest cannot be missed.
4/5 solid stars for GOOD DAYS BAD DAYS! It releases on October 7th!
October 7, 2025
There is so much going on in this story. Charlie is taken away from her family and home at the age of fifteen, and is never reconnected with them. I can't even imagine—to live your life thinking/knowing that your parents chose their way of life over you. Thirty-one years later, a call from her father changes her life again.
Charlie goes back home to help her dad clean up their hoarder house so that they don't lose it. She finds her mom in a memory care unit, having some good days, and some bad days. The good ones are hard on Charlie because then she sees the mother who didn't want her. The bad days are the days that Charlies gets a glimpse of her mother's past and the mom she wished she would have had growing up.
I was intrigued as I learned about Betty in her younger years, how beautiful and vivacious she was and how she captivated those around her. As her life is unraveled we come to understand, just a little bit, how her life took a turn and how she became the person that she is now.
I absolutely loved everything about this story and was enthralled by all of the drama, joy, and love that was experienced. Yes, there is a lot of dysfunction in this story but then don't we all have some of that in our lives. Getting through that dysfunction to the other side is rewarding and is sometimes worth the struggle.
I highly recommend Good Days Bad Days and will be suggesting it to every reader that I know.
Charlie goes back home to help her dad clean up their hoarder house so that they don't lose it. She finds her mom in a memory care unit, having some good days, and some bad days. The good ones are hard on Charlie because then she sees the mother who didn't want her. The bad days are the days that Charlies gets a glimpse of her mother's past and the mom she wished she would have had growing up.
I was intrigued as I learned about Betty in her younger years, how beautiful and vivacious she was and how she captivated those around her. As her life is unraveled we come to understand, just a little bit, how her life took a turn and how she became the person that she is now.
I absolutely loved everything about this story and was enthralled by all of the drama, joy, and love that was experienced. Yes, there is a lot of dysfunction in this story but then don't we all have some of that in our lives. Getting through that dysfunction to the other side is rewarding and is sometimes worth the struggle.
I highly recommend Good Days Bad Days and will be suggesting it to every reader that I know.
October 16, 2025
Charlie comes back home after a long time to help her parents out. Her dad’s the quiet type, and her mom, who’s a hoarder, is now in a care home due to her dementia. The story has two timelines: one in the present, where Charlie’s dealing with the situation, and another in the past, told from her dad’s perspective. At first, it’s all pretty engaging, but then things start to drag a bit. It feels like the end is a long way off.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys slow reads with a lot of reflection on the past, especially if you’ve ever wondered if you really know your own parents. For me, though, it kind of missed the spark I was hoping for.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys slow reads with a lot of reflection on the past, especially if you’ve ever wondered if you really know your own parents. For me, though, it kind of missed the spark I was hoping for.
October 24, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! I like an imperfect love story and an imperfect family making imperfect decisions. I enjoy how the story jumped back and forth between past and present. It all tied together beautifully.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2025
This was so utterly boring. I didn’t care about Greg the entire time and the FMC had as many issues as the mom she resented. Not Bleeker’s best
December 1, 2025
Couldn’t really get in to this story….
September 18, 2025
The premise of this book really drew me in and I found Betty’s storyline especially intriguing. Her character and backstory kept me curious, and I enjoyed the direction it seemed to be going. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing at 42%.
My biggest issue was with Charlie. The further I read, the more I started to dislike her. She blamed her husband for infidelity while excusing the same behavior in herself, which felt very hypocritical. Whether or not she or her husband actually went as far as sex with another person didn’t matter to me—the emotional connection and the lusting after someone other than your spouse still counts as cheating. In Charlie’s case, even holding hands with her teenage boyfriend and letting him believe she was single was dishonest and crossed a line.
While the story had potential, the themes of cheating and the characters’ choices left me feeling uncomfortable and disinterested. This one just wasn’t for me.
My biggest issue was with Charlie. The further I read, the more I started to dislike her. She blamed her husband for infidelity while excusing the same behavior in herself, which felt very hypocritical. Whether or not she or her husband actually went as far as sex with another person didn’t matter to me—the emotional connection and the lusting after someone other than your spouse still counts as cheating. In Charlie’s case, even holding hands with her teenage boyfriend and letting him believe she was single was dishonest and crossed a line.
While the story had potential, the themes of cheating and the characters’ choices left me feeling uncomfortable and disinterested. This one just wasn’t for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2025
In all my years of reading,I’ve never came across a book this unique nor have I wanted to write a review before I even finished this book! I went into this book blindly,thinking this would be a good read to explore new genres.I was not excepting a LIFE CHANGING reed like this! Like I wanted to read the full story quickly but I also never wanted it to end 😢.
The title is also so appropriate .”Good days” are not exactly good days for Charlie as they are the days where Betty remembers Charlie and hates her.”Bad days” are when Betty doesn’t remember Charlie and think Charlie is a mysterious girl called Laura?
Instead of your average “both love interests’” pov ,this book shows Charlie’s (our main lead) her dad’s pov from all the way back back when he was working .While Charlie is trying to uncover the piece of her family’s history that was never told to her after she was taken away by CPS because of her mother’s hoarding disorder,we see the story from her dad’s pov.From here,we can understand other of their feelings.How Charlie is willing to go through a lot just to uncover her family’s history and why her dad(Greg) seems to want to keep it from her.
I love the “and kids, this is how I met your mother “vibe and love his yearning for Betty(Charlie’s mother)It made me tear up reading their love story.They had been through so much 🥹🥹
I also love the love triangleish vibe going on at Charlie’s pov.Like between Ian(HER HUSBAND)and Cam (her first bf).I hated how Ian treated her and gave her mixed signals.Like what do you mean you married her and then sent messages to some chick online although taking Charlie out for a fancy dinner made up for it .I was team Cam at first but jealous Ian?🫢
Charlie’s friend group is also goal!Like supportive best friends that are fun and willing to watch hundreds of tv tapes about your mother’s old show to find out your history together?Awesome
Also I love the new perspective this book came with.Charlie is 47 years old and has 2 twins and a daughter!This is relatively new to me since I tend to stick with high-school/ya books with younger leads.
Can we also talk about all the loose ends being tied up??At first I was weirded out about Betty calling her own daughter Laura.Like who is Laura.As the story progressed I discovered more and more about Betty.And God,the twists in Betty’s history are insane!
This book is amazing in so many ways I can’t even explain!You just have to wait for its release on October and find out yourself!
The title is also so appropriate .”Good days” are not exactly good days for Charlie as they are the days where Betty remembers Charlie and hates her.”Bad days” are when Betty doesn’t remember Charlie and think Charlie is a mysterious girl called Laura?
Instead of your average “both love interests’” pov ,this book shows Charlie’s (our main lead) her dad’s pov from all the way back back when he was working .While Charlie is trying to uncover the piece of her family’s history that was never told to her after she was taken away by CPS because of her mother’s hoarding disorder,we see the story from her dad’s pov.From here,we can understand other of their feelings.How Charlie is willing to go through a lot just to uncover her family’s history and why her dad(Greg) seems to want to keep it from her.
I love the “and kids, this is how I met your mother “vibe and love his yearning for Betty(Charlie’s mother)It made me tear up reading their love story.They had been through so much 🥹🥹
I also love the love triangleish vibe going on at Charlie’s pov.Like between Ian(HER HUSBAND)and Cam (her first bf).I hated how Ian treated her and gave her mixed signals.Like what do you mean you married her and then sent messages to some chick online although taking Charlie out for a fancy dinner made up for it .I was team Cam at first but jealous Ian?🫢
Charlie’s friend group is also goal!Like supportive best friends that are fun and willing to watch hundreds of tv tapes about your mother’s old show to find out your history together?Awesome
Also I love the new perspective this book came with.Charlie is 47 years old and has 2 twins and a daughter!This is relatively new to me since I tend to stick with high-school/ya books with younger leads.
Can we also talk about all the loose ends being tied up??At first I was weirded out about Betty calling her own daughter Laura.Like who is Laura.As the story progressed I discovered more and more about Betty.And God,the twists in Betty’s history are insane!
This book is amazing in so many ways I can’t even explain!You just have to wait for its release on October and find out yourself!
August 3, 2025
Got to be an early reader for this book and I absolutely loved it. The dual narrative and dual timeline pulls you into the story even more and has a good balance between creating intrigue and revealing bits of information. The author has such a knack for not just telling a great story, but truly putting you into the mindset and experience of the main characters. Such a great read, and especially devoured the last 30%. Highly highly recommend!!
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