Good Eggs

by Rebecca Hardiman

"A hilarious and heartfelt debut novel following three generations of a boisterous family whose simmering tensions boil over when a home aide enters the picture, becoming the calamitous force that will either undo or remake this family--perfect for fans of Where'd You Go, Bernadette and Evvie Drake Starts Over. When Kevin Gogarty's irrepressible eighty-three-year-old mother, Millie, is caught shoplifting yet again, he has no choice but to hire a caretaker to keep an eye on her. Kevin, recently unemployed, is already at his wits' end tending to a full house while his wife travels to exotic locales for work, leaving him solo with his sulky, misbehaved teenaged daughter, Aideen, whose troubles escalate when she befriends the campus rebel at her new boarding school. Into the Gogarty fray steps Sylvia, Millie's upbeat home aide, who appears at first to be their saving grace--until she catapults the Gogarty clan into their greatest crisis yet. With charm, humor, and pathos to spare, Good Eggs is a delightful study in self-determination; the notion that it's never too late to start living; and the unique redemption that family, despite its maddening flaws, can offer"--

Genres: Fiction, Ireland, Book Club, Contemporary, Humor, Audiobook, Family

614 pages, Library Binding

First published March 9, 2021

About the author

Rebecca Hardiman is a former magazine editor who lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children. GOOD EGGS is her first novel.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rebecca Hardiman's debut novel revolves around a multigenerational Irish family living in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, a small gossipy place where everyone knows everyone. Feisty gran, 83 year old Millie is a real live wire, with her dangerous driving, penchant for shoplifting and plans to grow old disgracefully. Her middle aged son is the put upon and exhausted Kevin, a stay at home father to four children, an out of work journalist in an occupation that has been turned upside down. However, it is his troubled, misunderstood, rebellious, hormonal and angst ridden 16 year old twin daughter, Aideen, that is making him want to tear his hair out, along with Aideen's ill feelings directed towards her twin, Nuala.

Kevin's wife is out at work, trying to financially support the family and barely there as a presence. It is all too much for him, and matters come to a head with him bringing in a home aide, the American Sylvia, to keep an eye on Millie, fearful of the prospect of ending up in a nursing home. He puts Aideen into a boarding school for girls, where she promptly becomes friends with another troublemaker. Under the mistaken misapprehension that his problems are mostly resolved, he is looking forward to finding a job, getting waylaid by a romantic interest, little does he know that more chaos is to ensue. Whilst Sylvia initially seems to settle in well, issues arise that have Millie and Aideen join forces.

There is much to enjoy in the capers and in dysfunctional Gocarty's off the wall family dynamics, but the humour in it was a hit and miss affair for me and the narrative often ventured into what for me was much too ridiculous territory. Nevertheless, this is an entertaining and engaging family drama, an emotional roller coaster of a book that will appeal to many readers seeking a light hearted, escapist contemporary Irish novel. The star and highlight for me the gran, the vibrant Millie, seeking to live her life to the full. Many thanks to Atlantic Books for an ARC.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel tackles the problems of three generations of an Irish family. We have 83 year old Millie, accused of shoplifting and obviously suffering the first effects of dementia. Her son, Kevin, unemployed and aging out of his chosen career, being a stay at home dad to his teenage kids. When one of the sixteen year old twins becomes too much to handle, she is shipped off to a boarding school. And Aiden, the teenager in question, trying to find friends and then romance. Enter into this mix an American home aide, meant to help Millie. And Kevin, well, Kevin is a tool. As much as I wanted to feel sorry for him, dealing with his mom, he just made me so damn mad. Although I warmed to him as the book progressed.
The book is described as hilarious and heartfelt. No, to the first and yes, to the second. It’s mildly humorous. But my heart definitely went out to Millie. She perfectly captures the pathos of the elderly. Parts of the book swerve into the unbelievable lane and it took away some of my enjoyment.
I struggled with this book. I’ve had an elderly loved one caught up in a scam and this hit way too close to home.
My thanks to netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Sometimes you find yourself drawn to certain characters and that's my experience with the Gogarty family. I can't say I loved them, nor do I hate them, but I instantly felt invested enough to want to see what was going on in their lives. Perhaps I just needed to be reminded that each family has good, bad, ugly, and crazy moments and well, we are all just trying to get by, aren't we?

Kevin Gogarty is dealing with a few problems. He's unemployed, his 80 something year old mother, Millie, has been caught shoplifting again and will need supervision, and his teenage daughter, Aideen, is struggling and might need to transfer to a boarding school. The story is basically a snapshot of their lives at the moment and will bounce back and forth between Kevin, Millie, and Aideen's perspectives.

So right off the bat I will say Kevin is not exactly a likeable character and I was more interested in Millie and Aideen. After some thought though, I do think his role as husband, father, and son centered the story. You don't have to share much in common with a character to find them realistic.

If you are looking for a story with a little bit of heart mixed with some shenanigans, this book is a decent pick.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

[Kerrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Eggs is a debut novel by Rebecca Hardiman. It is a story of three generations of the Gogarty family in Dublin, Ireland that is told with enough humor to make it endearing. While the main characters all have issues, they are generally “good eggs” who deserve a second chance.

The eighty-three-year-old widowed grandmother of the family is Millie Gogarty. The story starts with Millie shoplifting a greeting card she didn’t need from a local store. Her son, Kevin, picks her up from the police station with the understanding she will allow a part-time caregiver into the home. After another incident occurs later in the story, Kevin describes his mother as “a thief, (an arsonist?), a misanthropic malcontent, an exaggerator of mammoth proportions, a driver of sane sons to vivid fantasies of matricide.”

Kevin Gogarty is fifty-years-old, and recently unemployed after working for a celebrity news magazine. He is not up on his skills in digital publishing and is having trouble finding new employment. His wife of twenty years is very successful and travels often for her work. They have two sons and sixteen-year old twin girls. One of the twins, Aideen, has been acting out to the point where she is sent to a local boarding school. Upon checking Aideen into the new school, Kevin becomes attracted to the young receptionist and starts pursuing her. Aideen’s only friend at school is a trouble-maker who drags Aideen down with her.

After the shoplifting incident, Kevin hires Sylvia, an American to be the caregiver. Millie enjoys Sylvia’s company. Aideen starts a sweet teenage romantic relationship with Sylvia’s nephew who has come to Ireland with her. Kevin fires Sylvia against Millie’s wishes. Then Sylvia tells Millie of an urgent medical need, and Millie gives Sylvia most of her savings. Afterward, things really start to fall apart for the Gogarty family. Two of the members take a surprise trip. In the end, it mostly works out for this family that is bound together by love.

4-Stars. I found this to be a light and enjoyable read after the seriousness of the last two novels I read. The novel will be published on March 2, 2021. Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading GR friend Holly’s review of “Good Eggs” by Rebecca Hardiman, I was inspired to get the novel. I needed an amusing story that was a warm, humorous reading pleasure. “Good Eggs” fit the need.

The Gogarty family provides the reader with madcap domestic adventures. Kevin Gogarty is a stay-at-home father who is trying to manage his octogenarian mother, Millie, while handling his family of six. He has twin sixteen-year-old daughters who are on the cusp of teenage drama melt downs. Furthermore, he’s feeling a bit neglected and overwhelmed with the domestic duties of his family.

Millie is my favorite character. The woman is a firecracker. I love reading about her antics. I’m happy that I don’t have a Millie in my family though…..poor Kevin.

Aideen, the sulky twin, is rudderless. Kevin decides that a different school, without the shine of the pretty twin sister will help Aideen. Aideen begs to differ when she is sent to a girls boarding school.

Through separate events, Aideen and Millie decide to go on the lam together. Pairing an 83-year-old woman with a 16-year-old girl is genius. One is whacky and the other is sulky.

The Gogarty family is a bit dysfunctional, yet commonly dysfunctional. The reader can relate to almost every character in the novel. Author Rebecca Hardiman creates the perfect quirky family drama with heart.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, gritty, and entertaining. This is a character-driven story about the Gogarty family. The characters aren't necessarily likable, but that's part of the charm of this story. The main characters are: middle-aged Kevin Gogarty, his mother (Millie), and his teenage daughter (Aideen).

Overall, this is a story about family and new beginnings. I listened to the audiobook and thought it was fantastically narrated. If you're looking for something quirky and heartwarming, give this one a try. Meet the Gogarty family and decide for yourself who the good eggs really are.

[Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded down from around 3.5 stars ⭐️

Initially, I wasn’t expecting to like this book that much, but it was an enjoyable read. I have been desperate for some lighthearted reads recently and this fit perfectly.

Good eggs follows the Gogarty family, who are dysfunctional to say the least. Kevin (the father) is struggling to find a new job. Millie (the grandmother) has just been arrested for shoplifting. Aideen (the daughter is having behavioral problems and is about to be sent to boarding school).

This was a lighthearted, comedic read. The chapters are written from the perspectives of the three main characters. I love books written like this because I feel it gives you a deeper insight into the characters and their thought processes. The chapters were a nice length, making it feel like I was breezing through the book. I actually ended up falling a little bit in love with Millie and Aideen. All of the characters are problematic in their own ways, which adds to their charm. They feel real, and have realistic problems. I also loved the different scenarios/settings that Rebecca Hardiman explored in this book. I very much felt like I’d jumped into the pages and struggled to put it down.

However, sometimes I struggled to read the chapters from Kevin’s point of view. There was something about the language/content that I struggled to focus on. Additionally, I was slightly confused by the ending (the last page) maybe others like the subtlety of it, but I would have preferred it to have been more glaringly obvious. It just left me feeling slightly disappointed. However, up until the very last page I really enjoyed the ending! I just think an extra sentence or two may have added a sentimentality that it lacked by being more subtle! I also found some of the comedy was a bit of a miss for me.

I would recommend this to anyone that likes a light-hearted comedy. As a slight warning, there is some occasional swearing and adult scenarios, so if this bothers you this book is not for you.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dysfunctional families, ensemble narrators, sassy grannies, loveable “losers” . . . . .



Since Jonathan Tropper hasn’t written a new book in an eon, I’m always on the hunt for something reminiscent of his style. This was funny and heartwarming and this family of wannabe “good eggs” hit me in all the right places.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meaning of the idiom 'a good egg': "Good egg is a friendly, old-fashioned way to talk about a good guy or a kind person. The expression originally came from its opposite, bad egg, British public school slang from the 1800's for someone who was not nice.”

Rebecca Hardiman's debut novel is about an Irish family in the midst of dysfunction. This is a character-driven story in which she has created some remarkable personalities. I consider the father, Kevin Gogarty, to be the hub of this family. He's a stay-at-home dad since he lost his high-level position with a celebrity magazine and at 50, he's caught in the middle between his fractious children and his elderly and somewhat demented mother. His wife Grace has a high-profile job of her own and, to Kevin's mind, is rarely home, so he's forced to deal with all the everyday problems that crop up. And boy, do they crop up!

They have four children: Gerard, their oldest child, is off to college; Ciaran, the youngest child, is still at that sweet little boy stage, but in the middle are two teenaged twins, Aideen and Nuala, who don't get along at all. Nuala is Miss Perfect--beautiful, talented, well-behaved--while sullen Aideen struggles with her self-esteem and her position in the family. Maybe acting out is her way of being noticed but it's gotten so bad that Kevin and his wife decide she should be sent to a boarding school and only come home on weekends--which only proves to Aideen that she is not really wanted.

And then there's Kevin's 83-year-old mother Millie who still lives on her own but is not doing well--having auto accidents, forgetting things. And now she's been arrested for shoplifting! What's a son to do? He convinces his mother she must have a caretaker if she's to avoid jail and hires an American named Sylvia Phenning to come in a few days a week to help out. Soon Sylvia is indispensable to Millie but she's no Mary Poppins!

And then there's the Gogarty marriage--can it handle the strain of all these problems and a bit of mid-life crisis as well? These scenarios all come to a head, about to explore. If all this sounds rather desperate, it's not really. The story is actually quite amusing and heart-warming. I enjoyed meeting the delightful Gogarty family who are all 'good eggs!'

I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity!

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Good Eggs.

The blurb made this sound like a straightforward, albeit typical novel about a feisty older lady who triumphs over being elderly and overlooked with the help of her aide, Sylvia (perhaps) so I was pleased when my request was approved.

Sadly, the blurb is misleading.

** Minor spoilers ahead **

Yes, Millie is an octogenarian with sticky fingers, driving mishaps and a tendency to do as she wishes. But she's 83! Cut the woman some slack.

Her long suffering only child, the insufferable and dopey Kevin, is tried of dealing with his mother's woes and sneakily enlists the aid of an aide named Sylvia, a women he barely knows, when Millie is busted for shoplifting.

At the same time, one of Kevin's twin daughters, Aideen, 16 years old and in the throes of angst, hormones and puberty is having a difficult time at home, so he decides to ship her off to boarding school. How kind.

After spending just a few weeks with Sylvia, Millie is delighted with this American woman and eagerly welcomes her into her home and life.

When Millie discovers Sylvia has committed a felonious act, she and Aideen, who has absconded from boarding school, set off for the US to right the wrongs and get their lives back.

I liked Millie; she's your (typical) feisty elderly lady so commonly found in books; she speaks her mind, rambling at times and makes no excuses for the things she does.

But, the narrative is bogged down with too much filler; Kevin's silly, spastic personality and behavior.

He's a buffoon who crosses the line into adultery because he's in lust with his daughter's head mistress. What an idiot.

I have no idea why his wife married him, nor did I feel any kind of chemistry or rapport between Kevin and his wife, a woman barely developed as a character or discussed throughout the novel.

There's too much exposition on everything; Aideen's boarding school and her frenemies, her bond with Sylvia's nephew, Kevin's job search, stuff the reader wouldn't care about and none of these details moved the plot forward.

Sylvia, as a character, barely factored in because Good Eggs was really about the minutiae of Millie, Kevin and Aideen's day to day activities and the slog of their lives.

If this had been about eggs, recipes for eggs, I would have rated it an extra star.

This was a total bore.

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Dublin, Ireland, this story centers around the Gogarty family, which is experiencing a myriad of problems, seemingly all at once. Millie is 83 years old, a widow who seems to have a habit of nabbing a few items now and then from shop shelves that end up going home with her. Kevin, her 50-year-old son has his own problems to deal with, having lost his job too many years ago, and feeling unappreciated for what he brings to the table in other ways and disconnected from his increasingly distant and bitter wife, Grace. Among their four children is 16-year-old daughter Aideen, who loves her grandmother Millie, and seems to see her for who she is, and not just a crazy old lady. But when Aideen’s behavior veers into a more disturbing and disruptive mode, her parents decide to send her to boarding school.

Meanwhile, Kevin has to decide what to do when Millie’s tendency to shoplifting has drawn more attention, and he ends up hiring Sylvia, a young American woman to watch over her, despite Millie’s insistence that she neither wants or needs this young woman’s help. It isn’t long before Millie has developed a fondness for her, considering her an ally, a protector from Kevin and his bah-humbug attitude that she is unable to care for herself. Meanwhile, Sylvia is busy worming her way into Millie’s life, and soon it is Millie doing Sylvia a favour, which backfires. Soon after, Kevin finds out that Sylvia has lied to him, and she’s sent packing and Millie ends up in a Convalescent Center, which she is determined to flee as soon as she can find a way.

The second half of this story centers mostly around Millie and Aideen, and a trip they embark on, which was more focused and which I found more enjoyable. Millie and Aideen’s little “vacation” brings some much needed balance after all the craziness and hijinks of the first half.

A romp through the life of a grandmother and granddaughter, and their determination to live life on their terms.

Published: 02 Mar 2021

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Eggs, by Author Rebecca Hardiman is her debut novel.

This is a fun book from start to finish, all being told with an Irish style of storytelling. The characters are lively and colourful, and there is not a dull moment in the book.

The three generations of the Gogarty will warm your heart

Thank you to Goodreads, Author Rebecca Hardiman and Simon & Schuster Canada for my Advanced copy of Good Eggs from to read and review

#NetGalley @#Goodreads

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an pleasant read but didn't evoke much feelings but not a bad read at all

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚 Hello Book Friends! GOOD EGGS by Rebecca Hardiman was a fun and frustrating read. I love the characters of Millie and Aideen. I could not stand Kevin and Sylvia from the beginning. Unfortunately, I guessed the plot early in my reading, so it took away many “tada” moments. That did not stop me to read it since I had to know how it would all come together… and “come together” it did indeed. I was cheering for Millie all the way. Her character reminds me of my own grandmother who lived in her own home until the age of 99. She was healthy as an ox, but her children felt that it would be better to move her to long-term care just in case. She lived to the rightful age of 103… I wonder if she would have lived longer as she remained in her home.

#bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #goodeggs #rebeccahardiman #bookreview

[Holly R W · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Good Eggs" is a delightful, playful story that matched my mood for reading something relatively light. It is set in current day Ireland, which is interesting to me. The key characters are: octogenarian Millie, her son Kevin and granddaughter Aideen. Each have their own troubles.

This is a book that held my interest and entertained me. The author's writing can be both satiric and right on target with the situations described. Millie appears to be flighty, forgetful and somewhat of a risk to herself. Kevin is having a midlife crisis of his own. Aideen, 16 years old, is a rebel.
Mix these characters up and then sit back and watch their madcap adventures.

I will be on the look-out for the author's next book. "Pip pip," as Millie would say.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up
I enjoyed this glimpse into the life of a family with...issues.
There are Kevin and Grace Gogarty--Kevin is feeling a bit adrift because he lost his job as a celebrity writer for a magazine and hasn't been able to find anything else. Grace is moving up in her job involving travel and it makes Kevin feel a bit more distanced and the two aren't connecting anymore.
Their daughter Aideen, twin sister to the more outspoken Nuala, keeps getting into trouble so much that they are seriously considering sending her to boarding school.
And there's Millie, Kevin's elderly mother who has just been caught shoplifting--again. Kevin is forced to hire Sylvia, an American carer, for Millie, which might not be the best idea in the end.

We alternate between the points of view of Kevin, Aideen, and Millie and it is definitely relatable. I found parts of each of their stories that rang very true to my life. The different stages of life are portrayed in a comical way, which keeps the story from straying too far into the maudlin. The tale also takes some unexpected turns that kept me interested and invested to find out the ultimate outcome.

If you enjoy stories about family filled with poignant humor, Good Eggs is a fantastic choice.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub)]

This was a pretty quick DNF for me. I understand what the author was trying to portray when it came to Millie, a tackless old grandma who says blunt and rude things but it honestly came off a bit tone deaf. I have been trying to do better reading books that might be walking that line too closely and this one rubbed me the wrong way.

But I was happy to see a generational story with 4 kids because I have 4 kids myself but I quickly realized that keeping track of 4 kids in real life is just as hard as keeping track of 4 fictional characters. I understand now why authors only have 2-3 kids in their stories. haha

[Vonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a fun intergenerational book set in a suburb of Dublin. An extremely dysfunctional family that you feel almost immediately emotionally invested in all the characters especially shoplifting grandma. This is a simple read that is just a period of time in this family, no grand schemes, just meet the family, it's a relaxing good old time.

[Shaylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Millie Gogarty is a strong willed 83 year old who is caught shoplifting. Her son, Kevin, has had enough and sets Millie up with a home aide. Kevin has plenty more problems than his mother committing petty crimes. He is unemployed and unable to find work, leaving his wife to work long hours at an airline to keep the family afloat. Kevin is also dealing with his 16 year old daughter's outbursts, which have gotten out of hand and now he has to put her into a boarding school. Both Millie and her granddaughter find themselves in a mess and team up to solve things but they end up going awry.

I found this to be an amusing book that was lighthearted but it fell a bit flat for me. I didn't really connect with most of the characters except for Millie. I felt Kevin was whiney and nothing going for him. He was so caught up in his own struggles that he failed to see that those around him needed him. Kevin's wife, Grace, felt very underdeveloped and like a shell of a character. I wanted more depth from their marriage and didn't get much. I thought Millie's antics were hilarious and over the top. Millie was what made this book for me and she kept the plot interesting and funny, she was always up to something ridiculous. There were also moments where I really enjoyed Kevin's daughter and seeing her perspective in the book. She's your typical misunderstood teenager character and I wanted to see more character growth from her, there was some but I think she could've been better.
I thought the plot pacing was good but the beginning did drag a bit, the last part of the book has a lot more action and there's a lot going on. This is a book that doesn't take long to read and there are some laughs along the way but I don't think this will be a particularly memorable read for me.

Overall, Millie was a gem of a character and this is a quick, light read but I thought it was just ok.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

[Mo Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions are my own.

In general, I adore Irish fiction (think Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes, and Cathy Kelly), so I was excited to get an ARC of this from NetGalley.
To say that this book was a disappointment is quite the understatement.
This is a book with terrible people putting themselves in terrible situations, and still trying to get the reader on their side.

**minor spoilers ahead**
In the first two chapters, you're led to believe that Kevin is an aw-shucks, down-on-his-luck dad. Then 100 pages later he's suddenly a lothario? It made zero sense.
Millie is not daft at all. She knows exactly what she's doing throughout the book. And she is a THIEF! How was she never really called out on anything she did? Again, it made zero sense.
How did Aideen get the ring? Did she go back to America to see Sean? Did Sean mail it to her? I have so many questions.
I really did not understand the title of the book. There was no content related to eggs. Was it satire?

Overall, I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it to others.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, quirky story about a family in Ireland. Although it has some funny moments it's balanced by more serious issues as well. The story follows a coming-of-age teen, the middle aged son/father/husband and their aging mom/grandmom and how their struggles, both their own and in relation to each other, play out. I found myself looking forward to reading this story and the writing was engaging. A great debut and I will keep the author on my radar.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an ebook edition is exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Quick read. Narrator is great. Love her Irish & And English (American) accents. Enjoyed most characters in the book (I thought Kevin was kind of a turd.)

Millie is a fun-loving, albeit a little naughty, granny who gets herself in a bit of trouble. Her son, Kevin, decides she needs a home aide to watch over her. This decision sets the story in motion. The book is about love, loss, mistakes/second chances, and redemption.

This book is a great option for enjoying while you travel or a nice beach (or rainy day) read. It’s a bit of light-hearted fun nothing overly emotional or deep.

[Terris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much! It was sweet, funny, thought-provoking, action-packed, but always entertaining!

The story is based on three main characters: octogenarian Millie, her son Kevin, and Kevin’s teenage daughter Aideen (even though he also has a wife and three other children). Set in Ireland, it begins with Millie (who is quite a character!) and certain actions that get her into trouble. She is often afraid that Kevin wants to put her into a nursing home, and sometimes he does! She tries to stay out of trouble, but she doesn’t seem to be trying very hard.

Kevin has his own troubles with the recent loss of his job, while his wife has a high-level job that keeps her busy with late hours and lots of travelling. So Kevin, while looking for a job, is now taking care and keeping track of the children and their various activities. Unfortunately, his attraction to Aideen’s school’s secretary gets him into a little bit of hot soup.

Aideen is going through her own teen angst and gets into some trouble at school. Her father, Kevin, tries to deal with it, but she sometimes goes to her grandmother, Millie, for comfort and attention.

The whole story comes together when an in-home caregiver, hired by Kevin to watch over his mother, comes to help Millie out a few days a week. After that the story really starts to rev up and get your attention! And it’s a lot of fun -- if sometimes a little unbelievable!

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and sense of humor. I would definitely read other books by her.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Rebecca Hardiman, and Atria Books for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Maine Colonial · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free publisher's review copy, via Netgalley.

The book description says it’s hilarious and heartwarming. Hmm. It is, but only in the last quarter. Does that count? For three quarters of the book I was just plain irritated. The characters are stupid and selfish, causing a lot of annoyance and pain to others. I know that sort of thing is supposed to be funny, but I’ve never understood that kind of humor.

I can’t bring myself to say more about this. This may be a matter of taste and others will think it’s great fun all the way through. But it was definitely not for me.

[Donna Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining enough, but I didn’t find the main characters appealing.
Best thing about it: as a book set in the city of Dublin, it finished off my 52 book challenge!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Eggs by Rebecca Hardiman is a slow burn family drama that gives us 3 viewpoints - Kevin, Kevin's mother Millie, and Kevin's daughter Aideen. I really enjoyed them all, but I think Millie was my favorite just because she is such a firecracker. She constantly shoplifts which was an interesting element, and things get even more interesting after she is caught for "the last time." Aideen also has a lot going on as after brandishing a fire poker over her sister, she is sent to a boarding school and continues to have her own issues there. My least favorite was probably Kevin because of certain choices he makes, but his viewpoint was still a nice way to change it up from the other 2 viewpoints. Millie's home aide Sylvia is basically what drives a lot of the plot here, and this is definitely a character-driven novel as well as a bit of a character study.

I thought the audiobook was quite good, and it is narrated by Alana Kerr Collins, Gary Furlong & Siobhan Waring. I loved having the different voices for each viewpoint and they all did such a wonderful job voicing their characters. Good Eggs does a great job of portraying what it's like to be in a family and reminding you that no one is perfect. There are plenty of moments I found funny, as well as a couple of times I found myself getting a little teary. This was a very well-thought-out debut and made for a perfect lighter read between heavier novels. If you like character-driven family dramas then I would definitely recommend checking this one out!

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

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good Eggs is the author's debut novel. I would classify it as general fiction.

The book looks at three generations of the same family. The 3rd person narrators are Millie (in her 80s), her unemployed son Kevin and his 16 year old daughter Aideen.

This book is set in Ireland. And it is meant to be very humorous. So I had very high hopes that I would love this story.

The characters were intriguing. However the writing was very Irish. And in the first sentence there were terms that I was completely unfamiliar with. I had a bit of a hard time with some of it. And it wasn't as funny as I wanted it to be.

Millie is a great character. She is always getting into trouble. And I'm sure that her antics would be hilarious to some people. But to me it was just okay.

I didn't really enjoy her son Kevin. And while her granddaughter Aideen was misunderstood I didn't love her either.

The story does take some interesting turns, especially towards the end. And the second half was more interesting to me than the first. But overall this book wasn't really for me.



Thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read this book.

[Fay Flude · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is HILARIOUS!
Such a joy to read during these trying times, anything that makes one smile and laugh and cry is the perfect escapism.
But don't be thinking this is ten-a-penny nonsense because it most definitely isn't. It is a well written debut novel with a big heart.
Based in Dan Laughaire, Dublin, we meet a family whose members really are larger than life. Kevin is an out of work editor/journalist, trying to keep his flock together whilst his wife Grace travels all over the place with her high flying job. At home there is Gerard, well he has just gone to university, twins Nuala and Aideen, and youngest Ciaran.
Kevin is having a hard time, mostly with Aideen and with his mother Millie. Millie is the funniest, most exasperating, irreverent old lady you could come across. In real life, having a parent like Millie would turn your hair white, but between the pages of a book she is nothing short of priceless.
This book is full of madcap adventures, interspersed with genuinely portrayed trials, so that the book acquires an emotional depth whilst remaining out and out funny.
Join Millie, on several missions, Kevin on his, and Aideen with a very different agenda, to see how each one vexes the other and causes yet more mayhem. Will their differences finally pull them apart or will their antics unite them in a celebration of family, however peculiarly shaped this family is?
Thank you to Pigeonhole, Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read Good Eggs.
Don't let 2021 be the year you miss the delights of this novel and find out whether all eggs are good or not.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Hardiman has written a cracking tale about a multigenerational Irish family living in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, where everyone knows everyone. The story focuses on Millie, Aideen and Kevin and is highly amusing. Millie Gogarty is a feisty eighty-three-year-old and a real live wire. Her son Kevin is an unemployed journalist, though is tasked with looking after his four children while his wife, high-flying Grace, works. Then there's his troubled, rebellious, angst-ridden 16-year-old twin daughter, Aideen, with her ill feelings directed towards her twin, Nuala.

There is a lot to enthuse over in Rebecca Hardiman's dysfunctional Gogarty family's escapades. An entertaining and engaging family drama right through to the end this emotional roller coaster adventure will delight many readers as it did me. The author explores feelings of growing older, relationships, and coping with life. Good Eggs is a belter of a tale, so ready yourself and dive in.

I read Good Eggs in staves with other Pigeonholers as part of a group. A special thank you to Atlantic Books, Rebecca Hardiman, NetGalley and The Pigeonhole for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

[Chrissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a very difficult time getting into this book. The only character I found even slightly likable was Aideen, the daughter, and even she was questionable. Kevin, the father, was creep and gross. Grace, his wife, was cold and unfeeling. Aideen's siblings were either snotty or non-existent. Millie, the grandma, was obnoxiously annoying. And I saw right through the care-taker from the first moment she was introduced. Very disappointing.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.