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The Good Goodbye
The first thing you should know is that everyone lies. The second thing is that it matters.
How well do we know our children? Natalie Falcone would say she knows her daughter, Arden, very well. Despite the challenges of running a restaurant and raising six-year-old twin boys, she’s not too worried as she sends her daughter off to college—until she gets the call that Arden’s been in a terrible fire, along with her best friend and cousin, Rory. Both girls are critically injured and another student has died. The police suspect arson.
Arden and Rory have always been close, but they have secrets they’ve never shared, secrets that reel all the way back to their childhoods, and which led them to that tragic night. Who set the fire, and why? As the police dig deep into both the present and the past, Natalie realizes that in order to protect her daughter, she’ll first have to find out who Arden really is, even if it means risking everything—and everyone—she loves most.
How well do we know our children? Natalie Falcone would say she knows her daughter, Arden, very well. Despite the challenges of running a restaurant and raising six-year-old twin boys, she’s not too worried as she sends her daughter off to college—until she gets the call that Arden’s been in a terrible fire, along with her best friend and cousin, Rory. Both girls are critically injured and another student has died. The police suspect arson.
Arden and Rory have always been close, but they have secrets they’ve never shared, secrets that reel all the way back to their childhoods, and which led them to that tragic night. Who set the fire, and why? As the police dig deep into both the present and the past, Natalie realizes that in order to protect her daughter, she’ll first have to find out who Arden really is, even if it means risking everything—and everyone—she loves most.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2016
505 people are currently reading
16914 people want to read
About the author
Carla Buckley
16 books731 followersCarla Buckley is the internationally bestselling author of The Good Goodbye, The Deepest Secret, Invisible, and The Things That Keep Us Here, which was nominated for a Thriller Award as a best first novel and the Ohioana Book Award for fiction. She is a graduate of Oberlin College and the Wharton School of Business, and currently lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She serves on the board of the International Thriller Writers as Vice President, Awards and is at work on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 947 reviews
February 7, 2017
4.5 Stars
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
I previously read Carla Buckley's book "The Things That Keep Us Here" and really enjoyed it. When I read the book blurb for "The Good Goodbye" I thought the plot was very unique and I was looking forward to reading it. And honestly I was not disappointed.
"The good thing about saying goodbye, is getting to say hello."
The story is told from three points of view. Alternating between eighteen year old cousins, Arden and Rory and Arden's mother Natalie.
Rory and Arden Falcone are cousins who have been very close since birth. Although they look very similar, their personalities and interests are very different. Arden struggles to fit in while Rory makes friends easily.
Their families are very close. Rory's father and Arden's mother even opened a restaurant together. However, recent events have caused a strain on all relationships. Financial difficulties have caused them to have to think seriously about selling their beloved restaurant.
The book starts with Natalie wondering why her daughter, Arden has not phoned her. She last spoke with her briefly on Skype as she was running out the door to work. Arden seemed a bit distracted. However, Natalie was in a rush and figured she would find out if something was bothering Arden when she spoke with her the next day.
Arden did not phone back the next day.
"Sending a child to college is drawing that line in the sand. Your child walks over it and she's not your little girl anymore."
***Possibly some minor spoilers ahead***
The next evening Natalie and her husband Theo are about to go out to celebrate their anniversary. When Natalie's phone rings she immediately feels relieved as it must be Arden finally calling back. However, it's not their daughter. It's a man who tells her that Arden has been in an accident.
Natalie and Theo rush to the hospital. When they arrive, Gabrielle and Vince, Rory's parents are already there.
Rory and Arden have both been admitted to the hospital and both are unconscious after jumping out the window after a fire started in the college dorm room they share together. Another student was killed in the fire and the police as well as the families want answers.
As they all wait together in the ER secrets old and new start to come to light and they struggle with the many difficult decisions that need to be made.
So many secrets.....
The story moves from past to present including flashbacks from all points of view.
We learn more about the months and days leading up to the fire. Rory is thrilled to find out that she's been accepted to Harvard but her mother seems even more excited.
Arden will be attending an art school out in California. This will be the first time that the cousins will be living thousands of miles apart.
After celebrating her acceptance to Harvard with friends, Rory comes home to see that her parents have been waiting for her. They have terrible news. Her father, Vince has made a bad investment and needs to use Rory's college fund to help pay back part of what he owes. The only good news is that Harvard will hold a place open for her for the following year. This is everything Rory has worked for and she is devastated...right?
This also affects Arden. She will also have to wait to go to Art school.
In the meantime the girls will spend a year as roommates at a local college.
The plan is that after one year, Rory will transfer to Harvard and will then go on to law school.
"I'm going to be a champion for the downtrodden, a righter of wrongs. It's been the plan for as long as I can remember."
Arden will transfer to Art school.
However what will happen now after this devastating blow to their family?
Will the girls survive? And even if they do how will this family repair itself?
Honestly I was pulled into the story very quickly. I did find that about halfway through it did stall a little bit, but not for long. I wanted to get to the end of the book to find out what was going to happen but at the same time I was terrified of how it would end. I could feel the tension as more disturbing truths came out and my heart broke as the family dealt with blow after blow. It kept me in its grasp until the very end.
In my opinion The Good Goodbye is a very interesting domestic suspense novel and I am looking forward to reading more from Carla Buckley.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
I previously read Carla Buckley's book "The Things That Keep Us Here" and really enjoyed it. When I read the book blurb for "The Good Goodbye" I thought the plot was very unique and I was looking forward to reading it. And honestly I was not disappointed.
"The good thing about saying goodbye, is getting to say hello."
The story is told from three points of view. Alternating between eighteen year old cousins, Arden and Rory and Arden's mother Natalie.
Rory and Arden Falcone are cousins who have been very close since birth. Although they look very similar, their personalities and interests are very different. Arden struggles to fit in while Rory makes friends easily.
Their families are very close. Rory's father and Arden's mother even opened a restaurant together. However, recent events have caused a strain on all relationships. Financial difficulties have caused them to have to think seriously about selling their beloved restaurant.
The book starts with Natalie wondering why her daughter, Arden has not phoned her. She last spoke with her briefly on Skype as she was running out the door to work. Arden seemed a bit distracted. However, Natalie was in a rush and figured she would find out if something was bothering Arden when she spoke with her the next day.
Arden did not phone back the next day.
"Sending a child to college is drawing that line in the sand. Your child walks over it and she's not your little girl anymore."
***Possibly some minor spoilers ahead***
The next evening Natalie and her husband Theo are about to go out to celebrate their anniversary. When Natalie's phone rings she immediately feels relieved as it must be Arden finally calling back. However, it's not their daughter. It's a man who tells her that Arden has been in an accident.
Natalie and Theo rush to the hospital. When they arrive, Gabrielle and Vince, Rory's parents are already there.
Rory and Arden have both been admitted to the hospital and both are unconscious after jumping out the window after a fire started in the college dorm room they share together. Another student was killed in the fire and the police as well as the families want answers.
As they all wait together in the ER secrets old and new start to come to light and they struggle with the many difficult decisions that need to be made.
So many secrets.....
The story moves from past to present including flashbacks from all points of view.
We learn more about the months and days leading up to the fire. Rory is thrilled to find out that she's been accepted to Harvard but her mother seems even more excited.
Arden will be attending an art school out in California. This will be the first time that the cousins will be living thousands of miles apart.
After celebrating her acceptance to Harvard with friends, Rory comes home to see that her parents have been waiting for her. They have terrible news. Her father, Vince has made a bad investment and needs to use Rory's college fund to help pay back part of what he owes. The only good news is that Harvard will hold a place open for her for the following year. This is everything Rory has worked for and she is devastated...right?
This also affects Arden. She will also have to wait to go to Art school.
In the meantime the girls will spend a year as roommates at a local college.
The plan is that after one year, Rory will transfer to Harvard and will then go on to law school.
"I'm going to be a champion for the downtrodden, a righter of wrongs. It's been the plan for as long as I can remember."
Arden will transfer to Art school.
However what will happen now after this devastating blow to their family?
Will the girls survive? And even if they do how will this family repair itself?
Honestly I was pulled into the story very quickly. I did find that about halfway through it did stall a little bit, but not for long. I wanted to get to the end of the book to find out what was going to happen but at the same time I was terrified of how it would end. I could feel the tension as more disturbing truths came out and my heart broke as the family dealt with blow after blow. It kept me in its grasp until the very end.
In my opinion The Good Goodbye is a very interesting domestic suspense novel and I am looking forward to reading more from Carla Buckley.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 6, 2017
$1.99 Kindle special download today!
It’s a very engaging read!!!!! I was ‘hooked’!
Update... I forgot to mention...
I listened to the Audiobook of this one.
The narration was excellent!
The intensity with the mothers - especially towards the end really came through with the voices towards the end! Really stays with you!
"I wish you'd never have been born".
Geeeeeezzzzzz This novel gets emotionally intense - horrific - and sad -
Toxic venom fumes are leaking ....
The reader is not sure from where - or from whom? But we are SOOOO HOOKED IN....
Page turning.... with an ending that MY GOD.... REALLY??? NO!!!! Can't be!!!!!
The crafting - the unfolding - the suspense of these two families -the shadow truths coming into light - and the 'specific' story is stark and urgent. - parts very sad too!
Discussions with others would greatly be supportive after reading this novel.
4.5
It’s a very engaging read!!!!! I was ‘hooked’!
Update... I forgot to mention...
I listened to the Audiobook of this one.
The narration was excellent!
The intensity with the mothers - especially towards the end really came through with the voices towards the end! Really stays with you!
"I wish you'd never have been born".
Geeeeeezzzzzz This novel gets emotionally intense - horrific - and sad -
Toxic venom fumes are leaking ....
The reader is not sure from where - or from whom? But we are SOOOO HOOKED IN....
Page turning.... with an ending that MY GOD.... REALLY??? NO!!!! Can't be!!!!!
The crafting - the unfolding - the suspense of these two families -the shadow truths coming into light - and the 'specific' story is stark and urgent. - parts very sad too!
Discussions with others would greatly be supportive after reading this novel.
4.5
December 30, 2015
I want to thank Net Galley, Ballantine Books, and author Carla Buckley for the kind gift of an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is my first time reading a novel by Carla Buckley, and I was impressed! The Good Goodbye is a domestic suspense story set in the Washington D.C. area and Maryland. It is told from the POV of 3 characters in alternating fashion. We hear from 18 year-old cousins and best friends Rory and Arden, and Arden’s mother, Natalie, who co-owns a restaurant with Rory’s father, Vince. Natalie is married to Vince’s brother Theo. Got all that? Actually the players were never confusing thanks to the author’s talent for character development.
The plot is very complex (in a good way) with several interwoven themes. We see what it takes to break strong family bonds, what seemingly normal teenagers are doing while keeping their parents completely in the dark, what kids will do to score well in school, what excessive parental pressure does to a child. We also learn that everyone has a breaking point. And these things are just the tip of the iceberg in regards to the plot. It follows that my interest remained keen throughout. I loved the way Ms. Buckley powered the story along by dropping little (and not so little) unexpected bombshells here and there. I was also impressed by the author’s research, especially into the workings of a hospital intensive care unit. Being a physician, I can state that she did a great job with that. For the most part, the pace was excellent, except for a bit of a slowdown encompassing about 10% of the story early on.
My biggest criticism of The Good Goodbye is that the time and/or setting could suddenly change with little notice, especially during the retrospective chapters. This hindered the flow for me, as I would have to stop and reread a sentence or two before discovering where Ms. Buckley had taken me. I also thought the ending was too abrupt; I would have liked another couple of chapters to better wrap up the story. Furthermore, there were a couple of things that did not feel totally realistic to me about the ending, but not to the extent of changing my overall favorable impression of the read.
Finally, I do not want to fail to mention that I love the title, The Good Goodbye, and what it refers to.
The Good Goodbye was a very pleasant surprise from an author new to me. I recommend this novel to everyone interested in a story with intricate plotting and strong characters.
This is my first time reading a novel by Carla Buckley, and I was impressed! The Good Goodbye is a domestic suspense story set in the Washington D.C. area and Maryland. It is told from the POV of 3 characters in alternating fashion. We hear from 18 year-old cousins and best friends Rory and Arden, and Arden’s mother, Natalie, who co-owns a restaurant with Rory’s father, Vince. Natalie is married to Vince’s brother Theo. Got all that? Actually the players were never confusing thanks to the author’s talent for character development.
The plot is very complex (in a good way) with several interwoven themes. We see what it takes to break strong family bonds, what seemingly normal teenagers are doing while keeping their parents completely in the dark, what kids will do to score well in school, what excessive parental pressure does to a child. We also learn that everyone has a breaking point. And these things are just the tip of the iceberg in regards to the plot. It follows that my interest remained keen throughout. I loved the way Ms. Buckley powered the story along by dropping little (and not so little) unexpected bombshells here and there. I was also impressed by the author’s research, especially into the workings of a hospital intensive care unit. Being a physician, I can state that she did a great job with that. For the most part, the pace was excellent, except for a bit of a slowdown encompassing about 10% of the story early on.
My biggest criticism of The Good Goodbye is that the time and/or setting could suddenly change with little notice, especially during the retrospective chapters. This hindered the flow for me, as I would have to stop and reread a sentence or two before discovering where Ms. Buckley had taken me. I also thought the ending was too abrupt; I would have liked another couple of chapters to better wrap up the story. Furthermore, there were a couple of things that did not feel totally realistic to me about the ending, but not to the extent of changing my overall favorable impression of the read.
Finally, I do not want to fail to mention that I love the title, The Good Goodbye, and what it refers to.
The Good Goodbye was a very pleasant surprise from an author new to me. I recommend this novel to everyone interested in a story with intricate plotting and strong characters.
November 30, 2015
Arden and Rory are cousins, raised together, as close as sisters. Arden's mom and Rory's dad own a restaurant together that is not doing well. Rory is expected to go to Harvard, Arden wants to go thousands of miles away to an art school but the money is no longer there. Both girls go to a college where their grandfather is on the board. A fire in their room will leave both girls critically injured and one young man dead.
How well do we know our children? These girls had some major secrets, secrets that are told in back stories as both sets of parents fear to leave their hospital rooms. A detective investigating exposes things neither sets of parents knew anything about. Who set the fire? Was it set on purpose? All questions that kept me totally hooked into this story.
Maybe because I'm a mom, sent many to college, really how do we know what is happening there? Anyway, yesterday I could literally not put this one down. That hasn't happened to me in a long time, but I really wanted to know what was going on.. All the things there parents didn't know. Secrets from childhood, secrets as they grew up together, and lastly what really happened in that room. I really got to know these characters and all I can say is that some people should never have children. Major twist at the end too. Loved it!!!
ARC from publisher.
How well do we know our children? These girls had some major secrets, secrets that are told in back stories as both sets of parents fear to leave their hospital rooms. A detective investigating exposes things neither sets of parents knew anything about. Who set the fire? Was it set on purpose? All questions that kept me totally hooked into this story.
Maybe because I'm a mom, sent many to college, really how do we know what is happening there? Anyway, yesterday I could literally not put this one down. That hasn't happened to me in a long time, but I really wanted to know what was going on.. All the things there parents didn't know. Secrets from childhood, secrets as they grew up together, and lastly what really happened in that room. I really got to know these characters and all I can say is that some people should never have children. Major twist at the end too. Loved it!!!
ARC from publisher.
December 13, 2015
3 1/4 stars. The Good Goodbye was a bit more than three stars but not quite enough to round up to 4 stars. Arden and Rory are cousins, who start university together and share a dorm room. They are caught in a fire in their dorm room, and both remain unconscious, unable to explain what happened, in the hospital with serious injuries. The story is told from Arden and Rory's perspective, moving back and forth in time. It is also told from Arden's mother's -- Natalie-- perspective as she sits vigil in the hospital. As the narrative unfolds, we discover the disconnect between how Natalie sees her daughter and niece, and what they are really up to. We also find out what led to the fire, not to mention a few dark family secrets. Something gut wrenching happens at the end. To say more would be to give away spoilers. I found The Good Goodbye very readable and even riveting at times, but there was something a bit superficial or unexplained about the characters and their motivations that was not entirely satisfying. This probably qualifies as a decent beach read, but not a book I would recommend if you're in need of something more meaty or ponderous. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
April 18, 2017
4.5 stars
My first book by Carla Buckley and I’m left wondering why I’ve never picked up a book of hers before. The Good Goodbye was a pleasant surprise - a domestic thriller full of tension and suspense. It actually reminded me of one of my favorite books, The Dinner by: Herman Koch, although this story is very much it’s own. The tension between the families, as well as the moral ambiguity of the characters were reminiscent enough that I knew I would be addicted.
The story is set in the DC/DMV area. This is where I grew up, so I really enjoyed the accuracies of the setting. I could relate to a lot of the things the characters were saying about where they live, etc. It was actually quite refreshing. There is high tension between two connected families. Let me set this up without being confusing (something the author does well). Natalie and Theo are married and Arden is their eighteen year old daughter. Vince and Gabrielle are married and Rory is their eighteen year old daughter. Theo and Vince are brothers making Arden and Rory cousins. The families own a restaurant together, which leads to some deep-rooted tension.
Something happens leading to Arden and Rory both being hospital bound in critical condition. There are several things going on in the plot at once. The story alternates between three perspectives: Natalie, Arden, and Rory. Natalie’s chapters are set in the present, while Arden and Rory’s jump around in the past to fill in the blanks as to how we got here. There are plenty of twists and surprises along the way, but it’s better finding those out while reading. However, I will say that I am in fear of ever being a parent to teenagers, as well as of ever having to relive my teenage years. No thank you.
The writing is excellent. Each character’s voice is so distinct. I was left in awe of the character development. I’m telling you.. Carla Buckley left her mark.
I’m pretty sure this is being marketed as an adult novel, but there is strong crossover appeal. With two of the three narrators being teenaged girls, I felt as if I was reading a more mature young adult novel at times. This is merely an observation for those who typically stick with one or the other. I think no matter which you prefer, it makes for an excellent read. I highly recommend if you loved The Dinner or domestic thrillers in general. This one can’t be missed!
My first book by Carla Buckley and I’m left wondering why I’ve never picked up a book of hers before. The Good Goodbye was a pleasant surprise - a domestic thriller full of tension and suspense. It actually reminded me of one of my favorite books, The Dinner by: Herman Koch, although this story is very much it’s own. The tension between the families, as well as the moral ambiguity of the characters were reminiscent enough that I knew I would be addicted.
The story is set in the DC/DMV area. This is where I grew up, so I really enjoyed the accuracies of the setting. I could relate to a lot of the things the characters were saying about where they live, etc. It was actually quite refreshing. There is high tension between two connected families. Let me set this up without being confusing (something the author does well). Natalie and Theo are married and Arden is their eighteen year old daughter. Vince and Gabrielle are married and Rory is their eighteen year old daughter. Theo and Vince are brothers making Arden and Rory cousins. The families own a restaurant together, which leads to some deep-rooted tension.
Something happens leading to Arden and Rory both being hospital bound in critical condition. There are several things going on in the plot at once. The story alternates between three perspectives: Natalie, Arden, and Rory. Natalie’s chapters are set in the present, while Arden and Rory’s jump around in the past to fill in the blanks as to how we got here. There are plenty of twists and surprises along the way, but it’s better finding those out while reading. However, I will say that I am in fear of ever being a parent to teenagers, as well as of ever having to relive my teenage years. No thank you.
The writing is excellent. Each character’s voice is so distinct. I was left in awe of the character development. I’m telling you.. Carla Buckley left her mark.
I’m pretty sure this is being marketed as an adult novel, but there is strong crossover appeal. With two of the three narrators being teenaged girls, I felt as if I was reading a more mature young adult novel at times. This is merely an observation for those who typically stick with one or the other. I think no matter which you prefer, it makes for an excellent read. I highly recommend if you loved The Dinner or domestic thrillers in general. This one can’t be missed!
January 2, 2017
The problem with reading an amazing book like Idaho is that the next book you read is going to pale in comparison (It would be like a really good singer taking the stage after Adele. The really good singer doesn't have a prayer of measuring up.) I think that's what happened here.
"The Good Goodbye" had the makings of a decent suspense book -- family drama, unanswered questions, lots of red herrings -- but at the end of it all I simply felt like it was a little bit better than okay. And to top it off, there were several plot holes that annoyed me: ; ; and while not a plot hole, I was annoyed that the brothers were named "Vincent" and "Theo" (I know, this is very picky, but why name the characters after a set of famous brothers without even making mention that they were named for famous brothers).
2.75 stars rounded up to 3.
"The Good Goodbye" had the makings of a decent suspense book -- family drama, unanswered questions, lots of red herrings -- but at the end of it all I simply felt like it was a little bit better than okay. And to top it off, there were several plot holes that annoyed me: ; ; and while not a plot hole, I was annoyed that the brothers were named "Vincent" and "Theo" (I know, this is very picky, but why name the characters after a set of famous brothers without even making mention that they were named for famous brothers).
2.75 stars rounded up to 3.
February 16, 2016
2.75 stars
The best word I can think of that describes this book for me is BLAH...
This is a story about family dynamics and the ties that bind. Parents secure that they know their kids are happy and safe, and kids with secrets that have dire consequences once they come to light. This has all the makings of a juicy story, but sadly it just fell flat for me.
While coming at just 300 pages, it reads like it's much longer. The story is told through 3 separate voices which was clearly defined, but many times the story went from past to present, then back to past tense in the same chapter with no separation or formatting change. It got very confusing and I found I had to backtrack to check on which voice was talking. But the fastest way to lose me in a book is to not have any characters that I can get behind. I was emotionally checked out.
While it's not the worst book I've read this year, I'm happy to be moving on to something more entertaining.
ARC provided by NetGalley
The best word I can think of that describes this book for me is BLAH...
This is a story about family dynamics and the ties that bind. Parents secure that they know their kids are happy and safe, and kids with secrets that have dire consequences once they come to light. This has all the makings of a juicy story, but sadly it just fell flat for me.
While coming at just 300 pages, it reads like it's much longer. The story is told through 3 separate voices which was clearly defined, but many times the story went from past to present, then back to past tense in the same chapter with no separation or formatting change. It got very confusing and I found I had to backtrack to check on which voice was talking. But the fastest way to lose me in a book is to not have any characters that I can get behind. I was emotionally checked out.
While it's not the worst book I've read this year, I'm happy to be moving on to something more entertaining.
ARC provided by NetGalley
December 21, 2016
Natalie Falcone and her brother-in-law, Vince, are the co-owners of a restaurant in the Washington DC area and they've hit a rough patch financially. Their daughters, Arden and Rory, now have to attend a local college instead of the prestigious institutions where they gained acceptance. They've grown up together and have always been as close as sisters, with only a 4-month age difference. They even look alike. All of this precipitates a tragedy no one in their families saw coming. As both sets of parents stand vigil, others work to untangle the mystery of how these two young girls ended up in these circumstances.
This is a strangely intriguing story, told in several characters' narratives and transitioning between the past and present throughout. I thought Rory and Arden were well developed, complicated and probably very typical of most teens. They kept surprising me until the end. Most of the story, however, was told from Natalie's perspective and I connected with her in every aspect. She was far from perfect and seemed to represent the typical, harried working woman trying to balance a career she loves with her children and marriage.
I'm sure parents of teenagers will find this disturbing as Rory and Arden had close relationships with their families but no one really seemed to know what was truly going on with these two. The mystery wasn't easy to resolve and a couple of twists caught me by surprise. This story will haunt me for awhile.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
This is a strangely intriguing story, told in several characters' narratives and transitioning between the past and present throughout. I thought Rory and Arden were well developed, complicated and probably very typical of most teens. They kept surprising me until the end. Most of the story, however, was told from Natalie's perspective and I connected with her in every aspect. She was far from perfect and seemed to represent the typical, harried working woman trying to balance a career she loves with her children and marriage.
I'm sure parents of teenagers will find this disturbing as Rory and Arden had close relationships with their families but no one really seemed to know what was truly going on with these two. The mystery wasn't easy to resolve and a couple of twists caught me by surprise. This story will haunt me for awhile.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
June 19, 2018
"The first time you hold your baby and see she's alright, you breathe a sigh of relief. You think you've crossed the finish line. You don't realize that the race has just begun."
Carla Buckley will tie you in tight, tight knots, release you, and then repeat. She certainly knows how to weave a complex domestic saga into the lives of two closely knit families. The gallery of faces within these pages wear expressions that provide a demure stopgap for the lies, half-truths, and startling inner workings of these characters.
A phone call will carry two sets of parents into the darkest chambers of a horrific nightmare. There's been a tragic fire in the dorm room shared by these two inseparable cousins, Rory and Arden. A young man's body is found near the doorway. The police investigators suspect arson. But who could have wished harm to these two young women?
As these parents keep vigil at the bedsides of their daughters, Carla Buckley will take us on a journey in time that follows the footsteps of Rory and Arden as the days mount to just before the fire. We, as readers, will come upon unspeakable secrets that have wrapped around these two since childhood. The two cousins are almost mirror reflections of one another and yet, at the same time, Buckley peels back layer upon layer of what slides them, unexpectantly, into a juxaposition to one another. These will be intensely crafted characters held in the grip of a twisty storyline. Buckley reveals the often jagged lines of parents/children relationships......the bird in the hand that takes flight all too soon.
I received a copy of The Good Goodbye through Goodreads Giveaways. My thanks to Ballantine Books and to Carla Buckley for the opportunity.
Carla Buckley will tie you in tight, tight knots, release you, and then repeat. She certainly knows how to weave a complex domestic saga into the lives of two closely knit families. The gallery of faces within these pages wear expressions that provide a demure stopgap for the lies, half-truths, and startling inner workings of these characters.
A phone call will carry two sets of parents into the darkest chambers of a horrific nightmare. There's been a tragic fire in the dorm room shared by these two inseparable cousins, Rory and Arden. A young man's body is found near the doorway. The police investigators suspect arson. But who could have wished harm to these two young women?
As these parents keep vigil at the bedsides of their daughters, Carla Buckley will take us on a journey in time that follows the footsteps of Rory and Arden as the days mount to just before the fire. We, as readers, will come upon unspeakable secrets that have wrapped around these two since childhood. The two cousins are almost mirror reflections of one another and yet, at the same time, Buckley peels back layer upon layer of what slides them, unexpectantly, into a juxaposition to one another. These will be intensely crafted characters held in the grip of a twisty storyline. Buckley reveals the often jagged lines of parents/children relationships......the bird in the hand that takes flight all too soon.
I received a copy of The Good Goodbye through Goodreads Giveaways. My thanks to Ballantine Books and to Carla Buckley for the opportunity.
April 23, 2015
I absolutely devoured this book. Must read!
January 3, 2016
Two brothers have families in D.C., both with 18 year-old daughters who grew up together, more like sisters than cousins. Rory was always the leader, the domineering one, while Arden always looked up to Rory. Due to finances, the girls are forced to go to a local college in Maryland and room together, rather than escaping to their dreams schools, an art college in California and Harvard. After a couple of months away at school, the girls are critically injured and a fellow student killed in an unexplained fire in their dorm room. During the days and weeks that follow at the hospital, with both girls unconscious and badly burned, the two sets of families are left to sort through the sketchy details, trying to figure out how the fire happened and who is to blame.
There is a great deal of suspense and intrigue throughout this well-paced narrative. Told in alternate chapters (Arden, her mom, and Rory), we gradually discover that the girls and their parents are surrounded by secrets and lies, doubts and fears. Yet I felt I came to understand them all pretty well and had a sense of which characters to root for and which ones I just didn't like or trust. Some plot twists along the way had me re-evaluating that assessment, and kept me thinking and guessing. By midpoint the book was almost impossible to put down.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a very good read.
There is a great deal of suspense and intrigue throughout this well-paced narrative. Told in alternate chapters (Arden, her mom, and Rory), we gradually discover that the girls and their parents are surrounded by secrets and lies, doubts and fears. Yet I felt I came to understand them all pretty well and had a sense of which characters to root for and which ones I just didn't like or trust. Some plot twists along the way had me re-evaluating that assessment, and kept me thinking and guessing. By midpoint the book was almost impossible to put down.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a very good read.
February 13, 2016
If you are a big fan of Jodi Picoult’s “My Sister’s Keeper”, you will enjoy this novel by Carla Buckley. Two 18 year-old cousins, Arden and Rory, and Natalie (Arden’s Mother), narrate “The Good Good-bye”. It’s a suspenseful tale that begins with a deadly dorm fire that leaves the two cousins in critical condition and in a coma. The reader learns the story of the girls through flashback chapters of Rory and Arden.
Natalie’s chapters are the current timeline, with Natalie struggling to make sense of this tragic accident. The father’s of the girls are brothers, and Natalie dated one brother but married the other. And then, she started a restaurant with the brother she didn’t marry. The two families were always close, and the two girls were more sisters than cousins. Before the accident, the restaurant was suffering under severe financial strain, which left the two families in financial distress, which affected the girls and their launch into colleges. Thus, at the time of the accident, the families had minimal contact with each other, which added to the tremendous stress of the situation.
This is a story of the complex layers of family, love, and duty. It’s a story of parenting choices, family bonds, and identity. What author Carla Buckley does so well, is show how the people we love are not always who we think they are. Buckley develops the characters so well that the reader is on edge, trying to figure out how the fire started and who these girls really are. The girls’ relationship is private, complex, and deep.
The ending surprised me. I do enjoy novels that keep me guessing and surprise me in the end. This is one of those novels. It’s very readable. It’s realistic domestic fiction. I highly recommend as an engrossing page-turner of a book that transports you into the novel.
Natalie’s chapters are the current timeline, with Natalie struggling to make sense of this tragic accident. The father’s of the girls are brothers, and Natalie dated one brother but married the other. And then, she started a restaurant with the brother she didn’t marry. The two families were always close, and the two girls were more sisters than cousins. Before the accident, the restaurant was suffering under severe financial strain, which left the two families in financial distress, which affected the girls and their launch into colleges. Thus, at the time of the accident, the families had minimal contact with each other, which added to the tremendous stress of the situation.
This is a story of the complex layers of family, love, and duty. It’s a story of parenting choices, family bonds, and identity. What author Carla Buckley does so well, is show how the people we love are not always who we think they are. Buckley develops the characters so well that the reader is on edge, trying to figure out how the fire started and who these girls really are. The girls’ relationship is private, complex, and deep.
The ending surprised me. I do enjoy novels that keep me guessing and surprise me in the end. This is one of those novels. It’s very readable. It’s realistic domestic fiction. I highly recommend as an engrossing page-turner of a book that transports you into the novel.
December 30, 2015
Wow! The ending of this book is so very beautiful. It's a really well written story about two freshmen in college, who are cousins and grew up together. They are both in critical condition in a hospital after a fire. It's told from various perspectives and points in time. I really enjoyed reading this! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
January 23, 2016
Two cousins in a college dorm fire. Was it an accident? Told from three perspectives: Arden's (from her coma) Arden's mom, Natalie, (present day) and Arden's cousin, Rory, (speaking of the days prior to the fire). I don't think "thriller" is the genre, I would pick for this book, but, it is a family drama that doesn't give you all of the answers till the last few pages, and will keep you guessing till the end.
February 7, 2016
What a great book with a good twist at the end. Two very close cousins go off to college together. There is a fire in their room and both girls end up in the hospital in critical condition while one boy died. The police want answers and the parents just don't know their girls well enough. Lots of secrets come out while this story is told in 3 perspectives going back and forth with the girls and one mother/aunt, Natalie.
Do we really "know" our children or even our family? As the story unfolds we learn about their hidden secrets. During a time of crisis will this family fall apart or pull it together? It's a good story about the relationships between family members.
Thank you so much Bantam for sending me an advance copy.
Do we really "know" our children or even our family? As the story unfolds we learn about their hidden secrets. During a time of crisis will this family fall apart or pull it together? It's a good story about the relationships between family members.
Thank you so much Bantam for sending me an advance copy.
November 25, 2015
3.5 stars.
I received an ARC of this book from Bantam Books through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to both.
I'm slightly torn by this book. It definitely gets the emotions churning, but I had some difficulty connecting with all of the characters. The story was told from three perspectives -- Arden, her cousin Rory, and Arden's mother Natalie. Sometimes this worked, other times I felt the jumping back and forth got a bit confusing, and if the chapter hadn't listed whose narrative was happening I may not have realized right away which character was speaking.
I had quite a problem liking the character of Rory. As the story went on and the reader learns bit by bit exactly what events led up to the state the girls are in, I found myself liking Rory less and less.
Regardless of that, there were some truly heart-wrenching moments in this book.
I found the little twist to the story to be expected, but it didn't take away from the emotional impact for me.
All in all, a good book with a couple of characters who aren't always likeable, but who still manage to make you care about them.
I received an ARC of this book from Bantam Books through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to both.
I'm slightly torn by this book. It definitely gets the emotions churning, but I had some difficulty connecting with all of the characters. The story was told from three perspectives -- Arden, her cousin Rory, and Arden's mother Natalie. Sometimes this worked, other times I felt the jumping back and forth got a bit confusing, and if the chapter hadn't listed whose narrative was happening I may not have realized right away which character was speaking.
I had quite a problem liking the character of Rory. As the story went on and the reader learns bit by bit exactly what events led up to the state the girls are in, I found myself liking Rory less and less.
Regardless of that, there were some truly heart-wrenching moments in this book.
I found the little twist to the story to be expected, but it didn't take away from the emotional impact for me.
All in all, a good book with a couple of characters who aren't always likeable, but who still manage to make you care about them.
April 10, 2016
Fast paced well written contemporary book. All the things I like. However I kept getting the feeling I had encountered this premise before. I checked the publishing date and as its 2016, surmised I could not have read THIS book. I wonder if its a theme from another book.
Otherwise.. I still really enjoyed this journey..
Otherwise.. I still really enjoyed this journey..
October 10, 2015
Rory and Arden Falcone have been inseparable since their birth, and despite the fact that they are just cousins, they could almost be twins. They look enough alike to be mistaken for each other.
Vince and Gabrielle are Rory’s parents, while Vince’s brother Theo, and his wife Natalie, are Arden’s.
Their connection is further enhanced by the partnership between Vince and Natalie in the restaurant they own.
But all is not perfect with the Falcones, and when Rory and Arden go off to college together, and even become roommates, could they all be too close for comfort?
The dynamics between Rory and Arden become more intense at college, with Rory as the leader and Arden, following along. But Rory has always been the confident one, spoiled and entitled, while Arden is quiet, perceptive, and artistic. Why is Rory able to control Arden? Why does Arden so willingly go along with Rory’s demands?
Then at home, there is trouble, as Vince’s poor investment puts the restaurant at risk.
It all comes to a head one terrible night when a fire in the dorm room puts Rory and Arden in the hospital fighting for their lives, while a friend, Hunter, is dead.
The Good Goodbye was intense and mysterious, and following the alternate narratives of Natalie, Rory, and Arden, we slowly begin to fill in the blanks of the past, present, and the moments in the hospital when the girls hang between life and death. We come to see that none of them are who we thought, especially Gabrielle, whose dark side comes to the foreground. I definitely could not put this book down, and even when I thought I had it all figured out, I was stunned by what developed. Recommended for all who enjoy a family drama, as well as fans of the author. 4.5 stars.
Vince and Gabrielle are Rory’s parents, while Vince’s brother Theo, and his wife Natalie, are Arden’s.
Their connection is further enhanced by the partnership between Vince and Natalie in the restaurant they own.
But all is not perfect with the Falcones, and when Rory and Arden go off to college together, and even become roommates, could they all be too close for comfort?
The dynamics between Rory and Arden become more intense at college, with Rory as the leader and Arden, following along. But Rory has always been the confident one, spoiled and entitled, while Arden is quiet, perceptive, and artistic. Why is Rory able to control Arden? Why does Arden so willingly go along with Rory’s demands?
Then at home, there is trouble, as Vince’s poor investment puts the restaurant at risk.
It all comes to a head one terrible night when a fire in the dorm room puts Rory and Arden in the hospital fighting for their lives, while a friend, Hunter, is dead.
The Good Goodbye was intense and mysterious, and following the alternate narratives of Natalie, Rory, and Arden, we slowly begin to fill in the blanks of the past, present, and the moments in the hospital when the girls hang between life and death. We come to see that none of them are who we thought, especially Gabrielle, whose dark side comes to the foreground. I definitely could not put this book down, and even when I thought I had it all figured out, I was stunned by what developed. Recommended for all who enjoy a family drama, as well as fans of the author. 4.5 stars.
February 26, 2016
Oh my goodness what an awesome book , one of the best I have read this year and that says a lot since I have read quite a few this being the beginning of the year . I was captivated by the first page yes the first page . The charecters , what can I say , I think the author must have pictured or known these people while writing this book . I was also wiped out by the ending . You will not be disappointed please pick up a copy of this book and read it . You will love it I can guarantee you that .
March 13, 2016
Outstanding!! I read this book in nearly one day. I was hooked from the very first page and could not stop reading until I knew the truth which Buckley doled out in pieces. A gut wrenching emotional roller coaster ride of suspense. Definitely my favorite book of 2016 thus far.
June 28, 2016
3.75-4 stars
March 16, 2016
A really good read. Had a hard time feeling any sympathy for Rory; she was just truly awful to Arden.
January 19, 2016
A special thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Talented storyteller, Carla Buckley returns following The Deepest Secret landing on my Top 30 Books of 2014, with THE GOOD GOODBYE, another complex exploration of a family in crisis. A spark ignites a full-fledged blaze --a dark web of deceit, lies, and secrets.
Two families. They are close. Cousins, like sisters. Arden and Rory Falcone. Two brothers . Vince and Gabrielle (Rory’s parents). Vince’s brother Theo and Natalie (Arden’s parents).
Vince and Natalie are partners in a restaurant experiencing financial turmoil. As a result, the girls are unable to attend the college of their choice as planned. They attend a different college and are roommates. Not what they had in mind.
“The first thing you should know is that everyone lies. The second thing is that it matters.”
Not long after starting college, Arden’s mother Natalie receives the news of a fire in the girl’s dorm room. Rory’s boyfriend, Hunter is dead. The girls are in critical condition. What in the heck happened? Why did they jump from the window? Were they pushed? Was the fire accidental or arson?
The two girls have distinct personalities. Even though they look alike, they are different. Rory is confident, self-centered, the leader, spoiled; whereas Arden is quiet, a follower, and artistic. Art is the one area where Arden could truly shine, where Rory couldn’t go. Tensions are high. Lives are hanging by a thread.
A slow unraveling of a mystery. A tragic emotional tale from three POVs: Natalie, Arden, and Rory. A family bond—torn apart by disaster and betrayal. A complex friendship, a love triangle, and a girl struggling, hiding a secret. Nothing is as it seems. Painful truths are exposed.
Who is guilty or innocent? An investigation. Blame. Criticism. Warning signs? How are the parent’s involved? What happened the tragic night of the fire, and the years leading up to the night?
As always, Buckley is a pro of psychological domestic storytelling; strong character development, and the dissecting of the family unit with the sharpest of instruments. She delves into the emotional lives, the past, and the present. Keeping the reader in suspense, while revisiting earlier times to reveal pieces of the puzzle.
Absorbing, and engaging--drawing you into the heart-breaking saga of two families. Having read all the author’s previous books, you know they will be "compulsively readable". She takes you on a deeply moving journey of family dysfunction- we hear from all sides: teens and parents, appealing strongly to the younger adult crowd.
Intriguing and intense; a thought-provoking book to read in one sitting—very difficult to put down. An ideal for book clubs and further discussions.
Fans of Jodi Picoult, T. Greenwood, Chris Bohjalian, and Diane Chamberlain will appreciate the complexity and the novelist’s highly readable style.
JDCMustReadBooks
Talented storyteller, Carla Buckley returns following The Deepest Secret landing on my Top 30 Books of 2014, with THE GOOD GOODBYE, another complex exploration of a family in crisis. A spark ignites a full-fledged blaze --a dark web of deceit, lies, and secrets.
Two families. They are close. Cousins, like sisters. Arden and Rory Falcone. Two brothers . Vince and Gabrielle (Rory’s parents). Vince’s brother Theo and Natalie (Arden’s parents).
Vince and Natalie are partners in a restaurant experiencing financial turmoil. As a result, the girls are unable to attend the college of their choice as planned. They attend a different college and are roommates. Not what they had in mind.
“The first thing you should know is that everyone lies. The second thing is that it matters.”
Not long after starting college, Arden’s mother Natalie receives the news of a fire in the girl’s dorm room. Rory’s boyfriend, Hunter is dead. The girls are in critical condition. What in the heck happened? Why did they jump from the window? Were they pushed? Was the fire accidental or arson?
The two girls have distinct personalities. Even though they look alike, they are different. Rory is confident, self-centered, the leader, spoiled; whereas Arden is quiet, a follower, and artistic. Art is the one area where Arden could truly shine, where Rory couldn’t go. Tensions are high. Lives are hanging by a thread.
A slow unraveling of a mystery. A tragic emotional tale from three POVs: Natalie, Arden, and Rory. A family bond—torn apart by disaster and betrayal. A complex friendship, a love triangle, and a girl struggling, hiding a secret. Nothing is as it seems. Painful truths are exposed.
Who is guilty or innocent? An investigation. Blame. Criticism. Warning signs? How are the parent’s involved? What happened the tragic night of the fire, and the years leading up to the night?
As always, Buckley is a pro of psychological domestic storytelling; strong character development, and the dissecting of the family unit with the sharpest of instruments. She delves into the emotional lives, the past, and the present. Keeping the reader in suspense, while revisiting earlier times to reveal pieces of the puzzle.
Absorbing, and engaging--drawing you into the heart-breaking saga of two families. Having read all the author’s previous books, you know they will be "compulsively readable". She takes you on a deeply moving journey of family dysfunction- we hear from all sides: teens and parents, appealing strongly to the younger adult crowd.
Intriguing and intense; a thought-provoking book to read in one sitting—very difficult to put down. An ideal for book clubs and further discussions.
Fans of Jodi Picoult, T. Greenwood, Chris Bohjalian, and Diane Chamberlain will appreciate the complexity and the novelist’s highly readable style.
JDCMustReadBooks
October 23, 2015
Cousins cemented together since birth (whether they wish to be or not) may look alike, but that's where the similarities end. Rory has a natural ease with people, attracting boys and friends with her beauty and confidence where Arden is the awkward outsider gifted with raw artistic talent. Arden is malleable, and Rory takes advantage of her 'weakness', at times embarrassed by her cousin's lack of social know how. There is something simmering between them that will rise with the flames of a vicious fire in the college dorm, making their parents face the possibility of life without them. The parents themselves have secrets and guilt that have added to the tension between the cousins. Arden is set on the path to art school, finally hoping to escape from the shadow of her popular cousin-but the family has taken a hard hit financially and with it her dreams are fleeing. Rory, much to the pride of her mother, is on the fast track to Harvard after years of hard work but with a failing business there is no way to afford her ivy league life. Instead, the plan is to once again let the girls share their life experience, this time college; after-all, they love each other like sisters. Insert a boy, and soon what seemed to be contained bursts open, truths will be brought to light and no one will remain the same.
This is a hard novel to define because so much of it felt like something teenagers would enjoy and the other half was more in line with adult reading. I was wrong in who I thought was to blame, so there was an unexpected turn for me but I would have preferred a deeper look into the adults situation (particularly the tension between Vince's Wife Gabrielle and Arden's mother Natalie). I felt Gabrielle should have been fleshed out more because there is so much inside of her that could have come to life. It's an engaging sad story, because you can relate to both Arden and Rory and dislike them at the same time.
This is a hard novel to define because so much of it felt like something teenagers would enjoy and the other half was more in line with adult reading. I was wrong in who I thought was to blame, so there was an unexpected turn for me but I would have preferred a deeper look into the adults situation (particularly the tension between Vince's Wife Gabrielle and Arden's mother Natalie). I felt Gabrielle should have been fleshed out more because there is so much inside of her that could have come to life. It's an engaging sad story, because you can relate to both Arden and Rory and dislike them at the same time.
August 24, 2015
Rory and Arden are cousins, inseparable and practically identical, and off to college together. A family misfortune led them to room together at a school neither of them particularly wanted to go to. Just 6 weeks in, they are both sent to the emergency room after a fire starts in their dorm, killing one of their friends. As the police investigation commences, their parents are forced to address some serious issues while their daughters lay unconscious in the ICU.
Rory is the spoiled princess who always gets what she wants and hides behind a false persona of popularity and perfection. Arden is artistic, but more insecure, always living in Rory’s shadow. The book alternates between their two perspectives relaying their relationship over the years, and Arden’s mom Natalie, who is waiting for them to recover. All three of them are frustrating and flawed. Even as manipulative as Rory can be, Natalie is even more annoying for being in complete denial that Arden could ever be imperfect or even guilty.
As the mystery of how the fire started slowly unfolds, the narrative offers glimpses into the past which often seem choppy. Otherwise it was a compelling read and I enjoyed witnessing how the two families are able destroy and sustain each other at the same time. As contradictory as that sounds, isn’t that what family is? Love and disdain are two sides of the same coin and I thought that was portrayed here quite well.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.
Rory is the spoiled princess who always gets what she wants and hides behind a false persona of popularity and perfection. Arden is artistic, but more insecure, always living in Rory’s shadow. The book alternates between their two perspectives relaying their relationship over the years, and Arden’s mom Natalie, who is waiting for them to recover. All three of them are frustrating and flawed. Even as manipulative as Rory can be, Natalie is even more annoying for being in complete denial that Arden could ever be imperfect or even guilty.
As the mystery of how the fire started slowly unfolds, the narrative offers glimpses into the past which often seem choppy. Otherwise it was a compelling read and I enjoyed witnessing how the two families are able destroy and sustain each other at the same time. As contradictory as that sounds, isn’t that what family is? Love and disdain are two sides of the same coin and I thought that was portrayed here quite well.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.
October 25, 2016
I can't figure out why I liked this book so much. On the surface, there aren't many redeeming qualities about the main characters. The writing is compelling but I'm not crazy about all the elements that tie things up in the end.
January 31, 2016
ETA: I find myself mostly dwelling on the things that didn't work completely in this book, and the ending really was far too abrupt. So 3.5 stars, but not rounding up.
There's a first time for everything, because I'm going to hold off on rating this book. Which is something I've never done before, but I need to now. I need to think about this for a couple of days.
There are certain books that leave you devastated. You might not have necessarily loved or hated the book, but certain ones just get under your skin and make you experience both love and hate and everything in between in the time it takes you to read it. Whether you want to or not, they leave you feeling raw. Exposed.
This is one of those books for me.
It's described as a domestic thriller centered around two families; Arden and Rory are best friends and cousins born only four months apart, but because their parents own a restaurant together and live so close to each other, they grew up more as sisters than cousins. Out of the 6 people involved though, we only get three POVs. We get inside Natalie (Arden's mom), Arden herself and Rory's minds and learn that there is a lot going on underneath the surface. The parents are fighting because their restaurant is failing, the girls go off to college but keep secrets from their parents, past events start coming to light...it's all very intense.
The story doesn't flow quite as nicely as it should. Because the different POVs switch between different times, it was often confusing and I had to reread the first sentence of a paragraph to remind myself to which point in the past I was being taken. The author seemed so intent on revealing one clue at a time and on not giving away anything too soon, that the pace of her story crumbled beneath it. The timeline is often all over the place.
Still, though, the main theme really resonated with me. In some ways, it reminded me of Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.
Despite my dislike of certain characters, I couldn't help being riveted for the most part. I particularly found the hospital environment very compelling. The parents are all cooped up in close quarters there with tensions running high and the setting felt eerie and right all at the same time. I can't comment on the accuracy of it all, but I've seen other reviewers mention the fact that the ICU environment and medical procedures were very true to life.
I'm going to come back on the rating in a couple of days. Because there were hard parts, where my emotional reaction and rating would be 2 stars, but then the larger part of the book would definitely be 3 or 4. Logically, it would be 3 or 4. The ending was a bit too abrupt for me, I would've liked an epilogue of some kind showing how everyone felt at that point in time.
I'm really glad I read this, but I very much doubt whether I'd actually recommend it to someone.
P.S. I want to tag on a trigger warning for emotional abuse and extreme parental pressure. The basis for this warning might be thin, but it's there.
There are certain books that leave you devastated. You might not have necessarily loved or hated the book, but certain ones just get under your skin and make you experience both love and hate and everything in between in the time it takes you to read it. Whether you want to or not, they leave you feeling raw. Exposed.
This is one of those books for me.
It's described as a domestic thriller centered around two families; Arden and Rory are best friends and cousins born only four months apart, but because their parents own a restaurant together and live so close to each other, they grew up more as sisters than cousins. Out of the 6 people involved though, we only get three POVs. We get inside Natalie (Arden's mom), Arden herself and Rory's minds and learn that there is a lot going on underneath the surface. The parents are fighting because their restaurant is failing, the girls go off to college but keep secrets from their parents, past events start coming to light...it's all very intense.
The story doesn't flow quite as nicely as it should. Because the different POVs switch between different times, it was often confusing and I had to reread the first sentence of a paragraph to remind myself to which point in the past I was being taken. The author seemed so intent on revealing one clue at a time and on not giving away anything too soon, that the pace of her story crumbled beneath it. The timeline is often all over the place.
Still, though, the main theme really resonated with me. In some ways, it reminded me of Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.
Despite my dislike of certain characters, I couldn't help being riveted for the most part. I particularly found the hospital environment very compelling. The parents are all cooped up in close quarters there with tensions running high and the setting felt eerie and right all at the same time. I can't comment on the accuracy of it all, but I've seen other reviewers mention the fact that the ICU environment and medical procedures were very true to life.
I'm going to come back on the rating in a couple of days. Because there were hard parts, where my emotional reaction and rating would be 2 stars, but then the larger part of the book would definitely be 3 or 4. Logically, it would be 3 or 4. The ending was a bit too abrupt for me, I would've liked an epilogue of some kind showing how everyone felt at that point in time.
I'm really glad I read this, but I very much doubt whether I'd actually recommend it to someone.
P.S. I want to tag on a trigger warning for emotional abuse and extreme parental pressure. The basis for this warning might be thin, but it's there.
August 27, 2015
The Good Goodbye by Carla Buckley
Thanks to NetGalley, I received a copy of Carla Buckley’s The Good Goodbye, which might actually be a YA novel. If it isn’t, my vote is that it should be…doesn’t mean it won’t be read/enjoyed by adults, but I think YA readers would REALLY like it.
Part of that is due to the main characters around whom the story swirls: Rory and Arden. These two young women are cousins who have always been inseparable and apparently almost identical. They have gone away to college together, even becoming roommates. The weird and almost sad thing is they end up attending a college that wasn’t anywhere either one of them had any desire to attend – but a serious financial crisis in their shared families has meant that Rory isn’t able to go to an elite university (a lifelong dream) and Arden can’t escape to the left coast to attend art school.
After the first 6 weeks of the freshman year, there is a fire in their dorm, leaving a close friend dead and both of them unconscious in the ER. The two sets of parents deal with the shock and gradually evolving drama that leads to a police investigation.
The “perfect” cousin Rory (bound for the elite university) is somewhat a princess, with an outward appearance of social ease and popularity. Her artsy cousin Arden is quite insecure and lives in Rory’s shadow. The novel unfolds in alternating chapters and reveals their shared history gradually. Arden’s mom (Natalie) is in total denial about whether her child could be anything other than perfect, and we come to learn more and more about the family dramas that have bound these people together (and threaten to completely rip them apart).
Rory, the princess, is gradually revealed to be incredibly manipulative and deceitful, living in terror of being revealed as anything less than perfect. As the past comes into focus, we see the two families both supporting and destroying their extended bonds…an aspect that I found really well done.
We come to learn how the fire started as we learn about the fate of the family members individually and in relationship with each other. As one reviewer put it, “Love and disdain are two sides of the same coin and … that was portrayed here quite well. “
It totally help my interest, and while I had an “oh no!” moment near the end, I did like it a lot. In some ways Carla Buckley’s writing reminds me of Jodi Picoult – fans of Jodi’s will appreciate this one, and I will look for future books by Ms. Buckley!
Thanks to NetGalley, I received a copy of Carla Buckley’s The Good Goodbye, which might actually be a YA novel. If it isn’t, my vote is that it should be…doesn’t mean it won’t be read/enjoyed by adults, but I think YA readers would REALLY like it.
Part of that is due to the main characters around whom the story swirls: Rory and Arden. These two young women are cousins who have always been inseparable and apparently almost identical. They have gone away to college together, even becoming roommates. The weird and almost sad thing is they end up attending a college that wasn’t anywhere either one of them had any desire to attend – but a serious financial crisis in their shared families has meant that Rory isn’t able to go to an elite university (a lifelong dream) and Arden can’t escape to the left coast to attend art school.
After the first 6 weeks of the freshman year, there is a fire in their dorm, leaving a close friend dead and both of them unconscious in the ER. The two sets of parents deal with the shock and gradually evolving drama that leads to a police investigation.
The “perfect” cousin Rory (bound for the elite university) is somewhat a princess, with an outward appearance of social ease and popularity. Her artsy cousin Arden is quite insecure and lives in Rory’s shadow. The novel unfolds in alternating chapters and reveals their shared history gradually. Arden’s mom (Natalie) is in total denial about whether her child could be anything other than perfect, and we come to learn more and more about the family dramas that have bound these people together (and threaten to completely rip them apart).
Rory, the princess, is gradually revealed to be incredibly manipulative and deceitful, living in terror of being revealed as anything less than perfect. As the past comes into focus, we see the two families both supporting and destroying their extended bonds…an aspect that I found really well done.
We come to learn how the fire started as we learn about the fate of the family members individually and in relationship with each other. As one reviewer put it, “Love and disdain are two sides of the same coin and … that was portrayed here quite well. “
It totally help my interest, and while I had an “oh no!” moment near the end, I did like it a lot. In some ways Carla Buckley’s writing reminds me of Jodi Picoult – fans of Jodi’s will appreciate this one, and I will look for future books by Ms. Buckley!
June 24, 2016
I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest feedback.
The Good Goodbye is a dramatic and suspenseful novel about two girls and a family full of secrets. Arden and Rory Falcone are cousins and best friends, born only four months apart. They have been together their whole lives but when a fire breaks out in their dorm room leaving the girls in critical condition and another student dead, Arden and Rory's parents end up with a lot of questions and wonder if they ever even knew their daughters at all.
This ended up being way better than I thought it would be. I wasn't expecting anything bad but I definitely got a lot more sucked in than I originally thought I would be. The family dynamic in this book alone is something that gripped me and figuring out how everyone was related and the history between everyone, the secrets, the romances. Arden and Rory are both complex characters who are hiding things and everything comes to light really slowly in a great way over the novel and through flashbacks. The girls were definitely not as perfect as they originally appeared to be, Rory not as pristine and Arden not quite as innocent and I really enjoyed reading along to figure out why they were the way they were.
I really love how little tidbits were given here and there among the story that really made me o "whatttt!" in shock and just really made it hard to put down the book. There's definitely a delightful amount of mystery in the book and I seriously suspected everyone from Arden, Rory, Hunter, DD, Gabrielle. No-one was safe!
The timeline could get confusing at times as there was no point where the reader was told we were heading into a flashback, we kind of had to figure it out but other than that the reading was easy, fast and gripping. I really enjoyed the ride.
The Good Goodbye is a dramatic and suspenseful novel about two girls and a family full of secrets. Arden and Rory Falcone are cousins and best friends, born only four months apart. They have been together their whole lives but when a fire breaks out in their dorm room leaving the girls in critical condition and another student dead, Arden and Rory's parents end up with a lot of questions and wonder if they ever even knew their daughters at all.
This ended up being way better than I thought it would be. I wasn't expecting anything bad but I definitely got a lot more sucked in than I originally thought I would be. The family dynamic in this book alone is something that gripped me and figuring out how everyone was related and the history between everyone, the secrets, the romances. Arden and Rory are both complex characters who are hiding things and everything comes to light really slowly in a great way over the novel and through flashbacks. The girls were definitely not as perfect as they originally appeared to be, Rory not as pristine and Arden not quite as innocent and I really enjoyed reading along to figure out why they were the way they were.
I really love how little tidbits were given here and there among the story that really made me o "whatttt!" in shock and just really made it hard to put down the book. There's definitely a delightful amount of mystery in the book and I seriously suspected everyone from Arden, Rory, Hunter, DD, Gabrielle. No-one was safe!
The timeline could get confusing at times as there was no point where the reader was told we were heading into a flashback, we kind of had to figure it out but other than that the reading was easy, fast and gripping. I really enjoyed the ride.
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