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Good Good Loving: 'Massively entertaining' Bernardine Evaristo
Not yet published
Expected 5 Mar 26'Massively entertaining, scorching, brilliant, witty, shocking' Bernardine Evaristo
'Warm, funny, full of heart and very moving' Diana Evans, author of Ordinary People
'Wise, powerful, gripping and profoundly moving' Antonia Hodgson, author of The Raven Scholar
'Abundant in love, heart and soul' Lisa Owens, author of Not Working
Ellen's beloved, beautiful, complicated family are gathered around her hospital bed as she prepares to slip away, and boy, is she ready. You'd think she could finally get some peace and quiet, but instead her children have chosen now of all times to have a never-ending discussion about her failings. Every single tiny thing they think she's done wrong over the years - and the one big thing too. After all the sacrifices Ellen has made for every last ungrateful one of them, they still take their father's side. If only they knew the whole story.
Full of big personalities, big mistakes, burning love and quiet heartbreak, Good Good Loving moves backwards in time through some of the most dramatic turning points in the life of Ellen and her family. Their story is as devastating as it is joyous.
'Warm, funny, full of heart and very moving' Diana Evans, author of Ordinary People
'Wise, powerful, gripping and profoundly moving' Antonia Hodgson, author of The Raven Scholar
'Abundant in love, heart and soul' Lisa Owens, author of Not Working
Ellen's beloved, beautiful, complicated family are gathered around her hospital bed as she prepares to slip away, and boy, is she ready. You'd think she could finally get some peace and quiet, but instead her children have chosen now of all times to have a never-ending discussion about her failings. Every single tiny thing they think she's done wrong over the years - and the one big thing too. After all the sacrifices Ellen has made for every last ungrateful one of them, they still take their father's side. If only they knew the whole story.
Full of big personalities, big mistakes, burning love and quiet heartbreak, Good Good Loving moves backwards in time through some of the most dramatic turning points in the life of Ellen and her family. Their story is as devastating as it is joyous.
- GenresFiction
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
The first page had me captivated. The rest stole my heart. Ellen lies dying in her hospital bed, surrounded by children, grandchildren and Wilhemina, a firm friend who wails about how sorry she is. The peaceful death Ellen thought she would have is anything but. On the contrary, everyone seems to have something to say.
The plot moves swiftly to the years leading up to her death. Through multiple perspectives we are introduced to a dysfunctional, but warm and authentic Caribbean family as they navigate their journey from economic immigrants to the present. Ellen’s voice is powerful, dropping patois dialect as she talks with her family. Her warm tones and no-nonsense attitude resonated with me. Some readers may see her as the ultimate doormat, but for me she was the glue that kept the home together. Regardless, it's fair to say there were tears by the end of this novel.
Yvvette Edwards addresses several issues, such as the racism and the disappointment experienced by many of the Windrush immigrants who often left their children back home until sufficient money was raised to send for them. Clyde, Ellen’s unfaithful husband Is an excellent representation of a man who believes that he is irresistible. For me he was a loveable rouge. Despite his appalling behaviour towards his wife and brother, I still warmed towards him.
I really can’t recommend this book enough. It has everything and the rich dialect transported me back to childhood and my own upbringing.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for ARC for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication. An absolute must read!
The plot moves swiftly to the years leading up to her death. Through multiple perspectives we are introduced to a dysfunctional, but warm and authentic Caribbean family as they navigate their journey from economic immigrants to the present. Ellen’s voice is powerful, dropping patois dialect as she talks with her family. Her warm tones and no-nonsense attitude resonated with me. Some readers may see her as the ultimate doormat, but for me she was the glue that kept the home together. Regardless, it's fair to say there were tears by the end of this novel.
Yvvette Edwards addresses several issues, such as the racism and the disappointment experienced by many of the Windrush immigrants who often left their children back home until sufficient money was raised to send for them. Clyde, Ellen’s unfaithful husband Is an excellent representation of a man who believes that he is irresistible. For me he was a loveable rouge. Despite his appalling behaviour towards his wife and brother, I still warmed towards him.
I really can’t recommend this book enough. It has everything and the rich dialect transported me back to childhood and my own upbringing.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for ARC for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication. An absolute must read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Un-put-downable, widely entertaining, laugh out loud funny while being deeply moving, THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A BOOK!!!!
The book opens with Ellen on her death bed surrounded by some of her children and grandchildren, though they don’t know, she can hear everything they are saying about her. You’d think after years of taking care of everyone Ellen would be able to leave this world in peace, but that is not the case. Ellen must now, on her death bed, sit through hearing all of what they think about her and her failings as a mother, wife and friend.
Good Good Loving is told backwards, in that we start at the present and go back into some of the most dramatic and pivotal moments of Ellen and her husband’s life, starting with Ellen meeting him in Montserrat and them moving to London with everything in-between. Yvette Edwards pens a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, filled with unforgettable characters and moments that will leave you laughing or feeling deeply hurt.
I know it is only January but this is my favourite read for 2026.
The book opens with Ellen on her death bed surrounded by some of her children and grandchildren, though they don’t know, she can hear everything they are saying about her. You’d think after years of taking care of everyone Ellen would be able to leave this world in peace, but that is not the case. Ellen must now, on her death bed, sit through hearing all of what they think about her and her failings as a mother, wife and friend.
Good Good Loving is told backwards, in that we start at the present and go back into some of the most dramatic and pivotal moments of Ellen and her husband’s life, starting with Ellen meeting him in Montserrat and them moving to London with everything in-between. Yvette Edwards pens a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, filled with unforgettable characters and moments that will leave you laughing or feeling deeply hurt.
I know it is only January but this is my favourite read for 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the story of a family.
Complicated. Chaotic. Calamitous.
Sometimes hard to fathom and follow and keep track of who is who, and how they are related.
This family is spread across countries and unusually we learn their story in reverse, beginning at the end as Ellen lies on her deathbed. As her story unfolds, I, as a reader, wondered why she accepted her relationship with Clyde, which greatly affected all the other relationships in her life. Was she the ultimate doormat, or a very strong woman? Reading in reverse, it isn't until the end, which is almost the beginning of her story, that we learn the answer.
I would describe this story as profound, rather than enjoyable, but it certainly made an impression on me.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Complicated. Chaotic. Calamitous.
Sometimes hard to fathom and follow and keep track of who is who, and how they are related.
This family is spread across countries and unusually we learn their story in reverse, beginning at the end as Ellen lies on her deathbed. As her story unfolds, I, as a reader, wondered why she accepted her relationship with Clyde, which greatly affected all the other relationships in her life. Was she the ultimate doormat, or a very strong woman? Reading in reverse, it isn't until the end, which is almost the beginning of her story, that we learn the answer.
I would describe this story as profound, rather than enjoyable, but it certainly made an impression on me.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2026
A hugely enjoyable book, starting in a great way with the heroine of the story listening to her irritating family on her deathbed and allowing herself to reflect on her life.
There’s a great cast of characters, particularly her philandering but attractive husband and her children and grandchildren, who all regularly gather together at her house bringing their issues with them. It manages to be a humorous book despite some of the topics.
She doesn’t deserve most of the difficulties in her life but her character is extremely believable and easy to feel emotion for. You trust that the author is going to tie up all the loose ends as she takes you back through the story.
Thank you to Netgalley for the preview copy in return for a review.
There’s a great cast of characters, particularly her philandering but attractive husband and her children and grandchildren, who all regularly gather together at her house bringing their issues with them. It manages to be a humorous book despite some of the topics.
She doesn’t deserve most of the difficulties in her life but her character is extremely believable and easy to feel emotion for. You trust that the author is going to tie up all the loose ends as she takes you back through the story.
Thank you to Netgalley for the preview copy in return for a review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews