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Goodbye Earl
Four women take fate into their own hands in this big-hearted story of friendship, resilience, and revenge on monstrous men, from the award-winning author of Half-Blown Rose.
Taking inspiration from the infamous, empowering song, Goodbye Earl follows four best friends through two unforgettable summers, fifteen years apart.
In 2004, Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey are in their final days of high school and on the precipice of all the things teenagers look forward to when anything in life seems possible . . . from falling in love, to finding their dream jobs, to becoming who they were meant to be.
In 2019, Kasey has returned to her small Southern hometown of Goldie for the first time since high school—and she still hasn’t told even her closest friends the truth of what really happened that summer after graduation, or what made her leave so abruptly without looking back. Now reunited with her friends in Goldie for a wedding, she’s determined to focus on the simple joy of being together again. But when she notices troubling signs that one of them might be in danger, she is catapulted back to that fateful summer. This time, Kasey refuses to let the worst moments of her past define her; this time, she knows how to protect those she loves at all costs.
Uplifting, sharp-edged, and unapologetic, Goodbye Earl is a funeral for all the “Earls” out there—the abusive men who think they can get away with anything, but are wrong—and a celebration of enduring sisterhood.
Taking inspiration from the infamous, empowering song, Goodbye Earl follows four best friends through two unforgettable summers, fifteen years apart.
In 2004, Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey are in their final days of high school and on the precipice of all the things teenagers look forward to when anything in life seems possible . . . from falling in love, to finding their dream jobs, to becoming who they were meant to be.
In 2019, Kasey has returned to her small Southern hometown of Goldie for the first time since high school—and she still hasn’t told even her closest friends the truth of what really happened that summer after graduation, or what made her leave so abruptly without looking back. Now reunited with her friends in Goldie for a wedding, she’s determined to focus on the simple joy of being together again. But when she notices troubling signs that one of them might be in danger, she is catapulted back to that fateful summer. This time, Kasey refuses to let the worst moments of her past define her; this time, she knows how to protect those she loves at all costs.
Uplifting, sharp-edged, and unapologetic, Goodbye Earl is a funeral for all the “Earls” out there—the abusive men who think they can get away with anything, but are wrong—and a celebration of enduring sisterhood.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published July 3, 2023
334 people are currently reading
36992 people want to read
About the author
Leesa Cross-Smith
12 books2,763 followersLeesa Cross-Smith is a homemaker and writer from Kentucky. She is the author of seven books: AS YOU WISH, GOODBYE EARL, HALF-BLOWN ROSE, THIS CLOSE TO OKAY, SO WE CAN GLOW, WHISKEY & RIBBONS, EVERY KISS A WAR. HALF-BLOWN ROSE received Coups De Cœur recognition from the American Library in Paris and was the Amazon Editors’ Spotlight for June 2022, the inaugural pick for Amazon’s Editorial Director Sarah Gelman’s Book Club Sarah Selects, and the Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick for June 2022. THIS CLOSE TO OKAY was a Goodreads Choice 2021 Nominee for Best Fiction, a Book of the Month Book of the Year 2021 Nominee, a Book of the Month Early Release Pick for December 2020, the Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick for February 2021 and the Marie Claire Book Club Pick for March 2021. She was longlisted for the 2022 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award and 2021 Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize and SO WE CAN GLOW was listed as one of NPR's Best Books of 2020. WHISKEY & RIBBONS won the 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) Gold Medal in Literary Fiction, was longlisted for the 2018 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, and was one of O Magazine's 2018 Top Books of Summer. EVERY KISS A WAR was nominated for the PEN Open Book Award (2014) and was a finalist for both the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction (2012) and the Iowa Short Fiction Award (2012). Find more @ LeesaCrossSmith.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 883 reviews
October 14, 2023
In 2004, Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey are in their final days of high school and on the precipice of all the things teenagers look forward to when anything in life seems possible . . . from falling in love, to finding their dream jobs, to becoming who they were meant to be.
In 2019, Kasey has returned to her small Southern hometown of Goldie for the first time since high school—and she still hasn’t told even her closest friends the truth of what really happened that summer after graduation, or what made her leave so abruptly without looking back. Now reunited with her friends in Goldie for a wedding, she’s determined to focus on the simple joy of being together again. But when she notices troubling signs that one of them might be in danger, she is catapulted back to that fateful summer. This time, Kasey refuses to let the worst moments of her past define her; this time, she knows how to protect those she loves at all costs.
I may come back to this one, but after getting about a third of the way into Goodbye Earl and nothing of note happening, I decided to put it to the side and move on to some of my more tempting offerings. Part of the issue I found was the constant back and forth of POVs and timelines. It was rather distracting and could have been done better, in my opinion. On top of that, the sheer number of characters was overwhelming. Ultimately, I should have known better than to have high expectations for a book loosely based on a song, but such is life. You live and you learn, right? Like I said, though, I may revisit this one and give it another shot when I don’t have so many ARCs breathing down my neck. Rating of 1 star (DNF).
*Synopsis provided by the publisher.
In 2019, Kasey has returned to her small Southern hometown of Goldie for the first time since high school—and she still hasn’t told even her closest friends the truth of what really happened that summer after graduation, or what made her leave so abruptly without looking back. Now reunited with her friends in Goldie for a wedding, she’s determined to focus on the simple joy of being together again. But when she notices troubling signs that one of them might be in danger, she is catapulted back to that fateful summer. This time, Kasey refuses to let the worst moments of her past define her; this time, she knows how to protect those she loves at all costs.
I may come back to this one, but after getting about a third of the way into Goodbye Earl and nothing of note happening, I decided to put it to the side and move on to some of my more tempting offerings. Part of the issue I found was the constant back and forth of POVs and timelines. It was rather distracting and could have been done better, in my opinion. On top of that, the sheer number of characters was overwhelming. Ultimately, I should have known better than to have high expectations for a book loosely based on a song, but such is life. You live and you learn, right? Like I said, though, I may revisit this one and give it another shot when I don’t have so many ARCs breathing down my neck. Rating of 1 star (DNF).
*Synopsis provided by the publisher.
June 12, 2023
Goodbye Earl is a story about four besties whose friendship withstood the tests of time. Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey aka the RACK were best friends since forever. They each had each other’s back through good times and bad times. Even fifteen years later, their friendship was just as strong as though nothing changed. But something did change. Caroline married a monster… Which brought back painful childhood memories for Kasey. And Kasey vowed to make things right for everyone.
I struggled with Goodbye Earl. My struggles had nothing to do with the characters or the plot. It was the pacing. The narrative chugged along and nothing exciting occurred until past the 43% point. By that time, I just about lost interest in the story. It didn’t help that the multiple timelines jumped forward, backward and in-between. Toss multiple points of view into the mix and you have a hot mess. I was constantly referring to the table of contents to determine the point in time for the characters.
In the end, I was just grateful it was over and done with. Two okay stars.
I received a digital ARC from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
I struggled with Goodbye Earl. My struggles had nothing to do with the characters or the plot. It was the pacing. The narrative chugged along and nothing exciting occurred until past the 43% point. By that time, I just about lost interest in the story. It didn’t help that the multiple timelines jumped forward, backward and in-between. Toss multiple points of view into the mix and you have a hot mess. I was constantly referring to the table of contents to determine the point in time for the characters.
In the end, I was just grateful it was over and done with. Two okay stars.
I received a digital ARC from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
April 3, 2025
This is so mismarketed. Not just the genre applied here of thriller/mystery, but the cheerful looking cover and title as well. There were absolutely no thriller-y elements, and a very vague mystery, at best. At its core, this is a slow-burn contemporary fiction about four women who grew up together, their lives then and now (between 2004-2019) and how events that took place during that period led them up to the “now.”
I’ll start with the good. I liked that this followed four female friends from the same hometown who all came from differing backgrounds growing up, and they are like sisters. Bonded for life. I liked all four of the main female leads for the most part, and I thought the character development was done well for them. (Which would be expected for a 400-page book.) The small-town vibes were nice, and there were some nostalgic elements I appreciated, covering this 15-year time period. I was optimistic in the beginning with the childhood friends and southern charm. That, unfortunately, did not last very long.
The pacing of this book was so incredibly slow. There were too many characters. Four main leads, who all have a different POVs in alternating, converging timelines sufficed and then some. It was difficult enough to keep track of who was speaking and which timeline we were in. Then, nearly everyone else who lived in the town was introduced. I couldn’t keep track of which townie was which, and I really didn’t care. I think so many of their voices were completely unnecessary. THEN, in the final third of the book, we get an interview style portion which is different entirely and doesn’t belong to any of the main voices. It was all too much.
The writing style also began to grate on me. It was overly descriptive in the most mundane of ways. As in, ‘she took the chewed gum out of her mouth and threw it away in the garbage in the corner of the kitchen’ type of descriptive. My words, but there were several examples comparable to this, and like my own words to prove a point, no one cares. The pop culture references started out cute to set the mood and all, but it got to be too much. Referencing whatever band was popular whatever year was discussed, all the songs they were listening to, got old in a hurry.
Yet, I still cared enough about the four main characters to continue. I wanted to see where they would end up and how. All the while, I was sure this would be close to maybe a 3⭐. Then, I absolutely HATED the ending. It was so unsatisfying. Actual rating was 2.5⭐, and I had to round down instead.
I’ll start with the good. I liked that this followed four female friends from the same hometown who all came from differing backgrounds growing up, and they are like sisters. Bonded for life. I liked all four of the main female leads for the most part, and I thought the character development was done well for them. (Which would be expected for a 400-page book.) The small-town vibes were nice, and there were some nostalgic elements I appreciated, covering this 15-year time period. I was optimistic in the beginning with the childhood friends and southern charm. That, unfortunately, did not last very long.
The pacing of this book was so incredibly slow. There were too many characters. Four main leads, who all have a different POVs in alternating, converging timelines sufficed and then some. It was difficult enough to keep track of who was speaking and which timeline we were in. Then, nearly everyone else who lived in the town was introduced. I couldn’t keep track of which townie was which, and I really didn’t care. I think so many of their voices were completely unnecessary. THEN, in the final third of the book, we get an interview style portion which is different entirely and doesn’t belong to any of the main voices. It was all too much.
The writing style also began to grate on me. It was overly descriptive in the most mundane of ways. As in, ‘she took the chewed gum out of her mouth and threw it away in the garbage in the corner of the kitchen’ type of descriptive. My words, but there were several examples comparable to this, and like my own words to prove a point, no one cares. The pop culture references started out cute to set the mood and all, but it got to be too much. Referencing whatever band was popular whatever year was discussed, all the songs they were listening to, got old in a hurry.
Yet, I still cared enough about the four main characters to continue. I wanted to see where they would end up and how. All the while, I was sure this would be close to maybe a 3⭐. Then, I absolutely HATED the ending. It was so unsatisfying. Actual rating was 2.5⭐, and I had to round down instead.
June 16, 2023
3.5 stars
Leesa Cross-Smith has quickly become one of my favorite authors as of recently. Her previous release, Half-Blown Rose, was one of my top reads of the year, so I was definitely excited for her new revenge novel, GOODBYE EARL. This book is a complete pivot from the author's previous releases, with more drama and angst, revenge, and toxic masculinity. Four women are bonded since childhood and reconnect at a wedding, but when one of the friends seems to be begging for help, the group takes actions into their own hands (trying to remain spoiler free). GOODBYE EARL feels like a story I've read before, but it doesn't take away from the author's excellent writing. Go in wanting to have fun because GOODBYE EARL is a book of sisterhood, friendship, and taking power back from those who have wronged you.
Leesa Cross-Smith has quickly become one of my favorite authors as of recently. Her previous release, Half-Blown Rose, was one of my top reads of the year, so I was definitely excited for her new revenge novel, GOODBYE EARL. This book is a complete pivot from the author's previous releases, with more drama and angst, revenge, and toxic masculinity. Four women are bonded since childhood and reconnect at a wedding, but when one of the friends seems to be begging for help, the group takes actions into their own hands (trying to remain spoiler free). GOODBYE EARL feels like a story I've read before, but it doesn't take away from the author's excellent writing. Go in wanting to have fun because GOODBYE EARL is a book of sisterhood, friendship, and taking power back from those who have wronged you.
August 11, 2023
GOODBYE EARL
Leesa Cross-Smith
OK, I really struggled with this one. Just to keep going was a struggle. I mean it just didn't go anywhere quickly. The plot sounded so cute, but it just failed to move. By the time I was more than halfway done I just don't care. I realized that I was skipping and skimming so much that I really couldn't tell you what was going on.
But I slagged on, up and down with each of these each of the four twits past and present. I really got to where I didn't like any of these girls. The amount of superfluous detail was part of my problem. When the ending came into sight I was so happy, I just couldn't wait for it to be over.
2 stars
Happy Reading!
Leesa Cross-Smith
OK, I really struggled with this one. Just to keep going was a struggle. I mean it just didn't go anywhere quickly. The plot sounded so cute, but it just failed to move. By the time I was more than halfway done I just don't care. I realized that I was skipping and skimming so much that I really couldn't tell you what was going on.
But I slagged on, up and down with each of these each of the four twits past and present. I really got to where I didn't like any of these girls. The amount of superfluous detail was part of my problem. When the ending came into sight I was so happy, I just couldn't wait for it to be over.
2 stars
Happy Reading!
January 18, 2023
I received a free copy of #GoodbyeEarl from #NetGalley for an honest review
Do yourself a favor as you read this book... plug all the songs into a playlist as you go and you'll have yourself a nostalgic time! Every song title dropped throughout this story made me smile and remember the best times of my youth.
The title of this book grabbed me right away and I knew I needed to read it. I was not disappointed! The story of 4 lifelong best friends, Rosemarie, Ada, Caro, and Kasey (or RACK as they're affectionately known), told throughout 15 years (mostly 2004 and 2019), including love, loss, friendship, family, youth, secrets, and murder, will take you on one helluva a ride! I adore stories of sisterhood and friends who are family, they really pull me in and these ladies were no different. I really enjoyed their bond and friendship and how they faced all the changes and challenges together.
I did get weary towards the end, wanting the story to wrap up quickly. I think the transcripts from the police and the emails just felt out of place to me and I needed closure sooner. I also struggled with every-topic-under-the-sun being included in this. There was much of that I felt could have been removed for a quicker-paced and more intriguing story. When I started to feel like it was running on and on is when my rating on this one lessened. I was quickly wrapped up in RACK's world but got too much and felt turned off by the end.
All in all, I did mostly enjoy this book and I will recommend it.
Do yourself a favor as you read this book... plug all the songs into a playlist as you go and you'll have yourself a nostalgic time! Every song title dropped throughout this story made me smile and remember the best times of my youth.
The title of this book grabbed me right away and I knew I needed to read it. I was not disappointed! The story of 4 lifelong best friends, Rosemarie, Ada, Caro, and Kasey (or RACK as they're affectionately known), told throughout 15 years (mostly 2004 and 2019), including love, loss, friendship, family, youth, secrets, and murder, will take you on one helluva a ride! I adore stories of sisterhood and friends who are family, they really pull me in and these ladies were no different. I really enjoyed their bond and friendship and how they faced all the changes and challenges together.
I did get weary towards the end, wanting the story to wrap up quickly. I think the transcripts from the police and the emails just felt out of place to me and I needed closure sooner. I also struggled with every-topic-under-the-sun being included in this. There was much of that I felt could have been removed for a quicker-paced and more intriguing story. When I started to feel like it was running on and on is when my rating on this one lessened. I was quickly wrapped up in RACK's world but got too much and felt turned off by the end.
All in all, I did mostly enjoy this book and I will recommend it.
February 20, 2023
This book won't be for everyone. I enjoyed some aspects but not others. it's cliche but in a nostalgic, fun way. And, yes, it's about that song--it is that song--but it includes a lit of other references you'll probably enjoy if you loved that song. it's a fun read.
July 31, 2023
⭐️⭐️ — Thoroughly disappointed
I read this book so you don’t have to! I should have known better than to have high expectations for a book that is very loosely based on a song about getting revenge. Instead, this book is more about the bond of friendship and living in a small town where everyone takes care of each other.
It was hard to keep the four main characters (and their significant others and their high school exes) straight. Also, why was “Caro” the nickname they gave her instead of “Care?” Not to mention the police interviews were not executed well. The town claimed that the police force very strongly backed the family of the murder victim to the point of covering up multiple crimes that they committed. And yet, we saw the complete opposite of that for this crime.
We honestly did not even need to associate this with The Chicks song “Goodbye Earl.” The other thing that bothered me was that they constantly referred to “The Chicks,” but this book took place between 2004 and 2019, which was before the band actually changed their name.
I would not recommend this book. If you are looking for it to be a thrilling story about getting revenge. This book is classified as a medium-paced, emotional, and inspiring read. (Really inspiring?)
Trigger warnings include murder, domestic abuse, cancer, and abortion.
I read this book so you don’t have to! I should have known better than to have high expectations for a book that is very loosely based on a song about getting revenge. Instead, this book is more about the bond of friendship and living in a small town where everyone takes care of each other.
It was hard to keep the four main characters (and their significant others and their high school exes) straight. Also, why was “Caro” the nickname they gave her instead of “Care?” Not to mention the police interviews were not executed well. The town claimed that the police force very strongly backed the family of the murder victim to the point of covering up multiple crimes that they committed. And yet, we saw the complete opposite of that for this crime.
We honestly did not even need to associate this with The Chicks song “Goodbye Earl.” The other thing that bothered me was that they constantly referred to “The Chicks,” but this book took place between 2004 and 2019, which was before the band actually changed their name.
I would not recommend this book. If you are looking for it to be a thrilling story about getting revenge. This book is classified as a medium-paced, emotional, and inspiring read. (Really inspiring?)
Trigger warnings include murder, domestic abuse, cancer, and abortion.
January 25, 2023
A group of tight-knit friends reckons with murder in this somewhat unrealistic yet deeply compelling book. RACK (Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey) have been friends since childhood and have always kept each other's secrets. Kasey left town after a terrible incident that is revealed piece by piece as the book goes along. When she returns for a wedding, she finds her small Texas town (Goldie) both the same and utterly changed. Caroline's married to an abusive husband, and while the other women are generally happy, there is conflict in their lives as well. It's clear the women need to do something about Caroline's marriage, but will they resort to murder? This is a little different from most of Leesa Cross-Smith's books, with more intrigue and suspense, but is written in her signature style. She draws complex portraits of each character, leaving the reader with a sense of knowing each individual of RACK.
October 5, 2023
This was kinda disappointing and I’m so sad
November 28, 2023
if only the timeline didn't constantly jump around.
December 22, 2023
I'll be honest in saying that the story started off a bit slow and that I wasn't sure why we needed narratives from all four women when the story mainly affected two, but it turns out that I enjoyed getting to know the women after a while and seeing their friendship in the present and back in high school. I also enjoyed the element of suspense after the climax.
I love that this novel was inspired by a Chicks song. However, the iconic band didn't change their name to The Chicks until 2020, which is after the time this story takes place, so it made no sense to call them that instead of The Dixie Chicks.
I wish RACK (the initials of the four friends) had been around to help out some of my friends. I know of a few "Earls." That's all I will say though. It was interesting to see the impact the situation in the story had on each of the women and how they went about handling it. I also enjoyed seeing outside perspectives toward the end of the book, as those hadn't come into play until that time. And some of the guys in this novel were definitely swoonworthy.
Leesa Cross-Smith did great work with details to bring the southern town of Goldie, and all its inhabitants, to life. I felt like I was right there, hanging out with RACK. Aside from wishing I knew them in order to help some friends out, I also wish I had a friend group like that when I was growing up. I had friends (and still do), but never in one tight group like that. (The one time I thought I did, one of those so-called friends turned out to be extremely toxic.) I loved reading somewhere about how Leesa was inspired by books like The Baby-Sitters Club series to come up with this set of friends.
This novel is perfect for fans of the hit series Ginny and Georgia. RACK even reminded me a lot of MANG.
(Trigger warnings below)
Movie (or TV series) casting suggestions:
I love that this novel was inspired by a Chicks song. However, the iconic band didn't change their name to The Chicks until 2020, which is after the time this story takes place, so it made no sense to call them that instead of The Dixie Chicks.
I wish RACK (the initials of the four friends) had been around to help out some of my friends. I know of a few "Earls." That's all I will say though. It was interesting to see the impact the situation in the story had on each of the women and how they went about handling it. I also enjoyed seeing outside perspectives toward the end of the book, as those hadn't come into play until that time. And some of the guys in this novel were definitely swoonworthy.
Leesa Cross-Smith did great work with details to bring the southern town of Goldie, and all its inhabitants, to life. I felt like I was right there, hanging out with RACK. Aside from wishing I knew them in order to help some friends out, I also wish I had a friend group like that when I was growing up. I had friends (and still do), but never in one tight group like that. (The one time I thought I did, one of those so-called friends turned out to be extremely toxic.) I loved reading somewhere about how Leesa was inspired by books like The Baby-Sitters Club series to come up with this set of friends.
This novel is perfect for fans of the hit series Ginny and Georgia. RACK even reminded me a lot of MANG.
(Trigger warnings below)
Movie (or TV series) casting suggestions:
Kasey: Nathalie Emmanuel
Caroline: Morgan Kohan
Rosemarie: Keke Palmer
Ada: Hayden Panettiere
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TW: Domestic abuse, cancer, rape (mentioned, but not shown in detail), abortion (mentioned)
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TW: Domestic abuse, cancer, rape (mentioned, but not shown in detail), abortion (mentioned)
September 26, 2023
I almost DNF’ed it because I haven’t had a book take me this long to read EVER. It wasn’t as suspenseful as I was originally hoping it would be. I love “Goodbye Earl” by the chicks so I was excited to see the overlap, but I really needed more unexpected twists and turns.
September 7, 2023
Could only make it half way through. So incredibly slow / boring. Reads like a young adult book.
August 17, 2023
I don't think I'll ever run out of nice things to say about Leesa Cross-Smith books. Incidentally, I've been saying so many nice things that my phone predicts both her first and last name when I start typing it. 😂
Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey (or RACK, as they call themselves) have been more sisters than friends for their entire lives. Even when life takes them in different directions, even though Kasey hasn't set foot in their small hometown in fifteen years, and even though they come from vastly different backgrounds, their love is immutable. And now that they are finally all in Goldie together, it's a flood of memories, traumas, lost loves, and renewal of everything that is RACK. As their few secrets come to light, the women face them fiercer than ever...together.
I am marveling, yet again, at Cross-Smith's deftness at capturing, defining, and exploring human relationships. Lasting friendships like the four women in GOODBYE, EARL are rare, and the use of flashbacks alternating with present day gives the reader a solid familiarity with how they embrace each other through their flaws and disagreements. Even though the book wraps up nicely, I feel a little sad saying goodbye to them. RACK FOREVER, indeed.
Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey (or RACK, as they call themselves) have been more sisters than friends for their entire lives. Even when life takes them in different directions, even though Kasey hasn't set foot in their small hometown in fifteen years, and even though they come from vastly different backgrounds, their love is immutable. And now that they are finally all in Goldie together, it's a flood of memories, traumas, lost loves, and renewal of everything that is RACK. As their few secrets come to light, the women face them fiercer than ever...together.
I am marveling, yet again, at Cross-Smith's deftness at capturing, defining, and exploring human relationships. Lasting friendships like the four women in GOODBYE, EARL are rare, and the use of flashbacks alternating with present day gives the reader a solid familiarity with how they embrace each other through their flaws and disagreements. Even though the book wraps up nicely, I feel a little sad saying goodbye to them. RACK FOREVER, indeed.
August 5, 2024
So this ended up on my kindle when I was gathering a bunch of easy, quick reads for the beach before I went on vacation last month. I finally got to it this week, even though I am no longer on vacation.
It was pretty much as expected: a silly rom-com murder story. Cross-Smith is trying to write a story about how women have been poorly treated over generations and in the "he-said/she-said" oftentimes are not heard. I admire her attempt, but the story itself seems rather "after school special" and too simplistic. The whole parallel between now (2019) and the time around high school graduation (2004) for these women was trite: bouncing back and forth and making sure that everyone ends up with a boyfriend (or husband) that is "right" for them (and the same as back in 2004) just felt hollow.
I appreciate the attempt, but there was nothing remotely realistic or compelling about the story overall.
It was pretty much as expected: a silly rom-com murder story. Cross-Smith is trying to write a story about how women have been poorly treated over generations and in the "he-said/she-said" oftentimes are not heard. I admire her attempt, but the story itself seems rather "after school special" and too simplistic. The whole parallel between now (2019) and the time around high school graduation (2004) for these women was trite: bouncing back and forth and making sure that everyone ends up with a boyfriend (or husband) that is "right" for them (and the same as back in 2004) just felt hollow.
I appreciate the attempt, but there was nothing remotely realistic or compelling about the story overall.
July 28, 2023
3.5⭐
Auto-buy author. And after this book I will continue to auto-buy, but this book was not my favorite.
I'm not sure why this book didn't hold my interest. Possibly the multiple viewpoints. And it did take a good while for the "Earl" to be revealed. But overall, it was still a solid read (3.5 rounded up to 4, because the writing is still very good!).
I feel like the editor was like, let's structure the book this way (3 acts, multiple timelines, flashbacks) to add suspense. Instead, it just added confusion and slowed the pace.
I look forward to hearing the reactions of others during bookclub.
I wouldn't read again. I wouldn't recommend this book but lots of the author's other works.
Auto-buy author. And after this book I will continue to auto-buy, but this book was not my favorite.
I'm not sure why this book didn't hold my interest. Possibly the multiple viewpoints. And it did take a good while for the "Earl" to be revealed. But overall, it was still a solid read (3.5 rounded up to 4, because the writing is still very good!).
I feel like the editor was like, let's structure the book this way (3 acts, multiple timelines, flashbacks) to add suspense. Instead, it just added confusion and slowed the pace.
I look forward to hearing the reactions of others during bookclub.
I wouldn't read again. I wouldn't recommend this book but lots of the author's other works.
November 7, 2022
FIVE FLASHING GOLD STARS BC I THOUGHT IT, I SOLD IT, I WROTE IT, I LOVE IT. This is my fourth novel, my sixth book.
July 3, 2023
Meh. I was really expecting a dark comedy, but this wasn’t that! This story was more about lifelong friendships than revenge. It could have been told in half of the 400 pages given to us. The first half really drags along and when we finally get to the climax and resolution it’s just mediocre. Overall the story was ok, but it’s been done before.
abandoned
May 22, 2023This book had great promise for me with a title based on a much loved country song. However, just from the first third of the book I can tell the choice of storytelling style does not sit well with me. I like dual timeline stories, when they're done well. Multi-pov can also read well to keep the story moving and provide different perspectives about events, attitudes, and motivations. Here there are 4 main characters, Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey. We hear from each of them in turn. We even hear from each of them consecutively in BOTH 2019 and then 2004. That quickly became too much for me to remember, and I love books that have complex world building. The povs seem to be on a cycle that alternates years as well as character povs. Keeping track of what each character deals with when is confusing.
Other random elements lack sense. The band's name was not changed from Dixie Chicks to The Chicks until 2020 due to public pressure of the political and societal climate as well as (supposedly) the band making the change they've wanted for a long time. Narration and characters still refer to the band as The Chicks, though, which makes zero sense. Also, how does a character who's written as financially struggling wearing Doc Martens? Those were not for the lower class in the early 2000s.
One last qualm I have with this book is the exposition. 29% into it, and I felt like the exposition was at least first quarter of the book. I sadly cannot push myself to read further.
Thank you to Netgalley & Grand Central Publishing for giving me a chance to read this book with an e-Arc.
Other random elements lack sense. The band's name was not changed from Dixie Chicks to The Chicks until 2020 due to public pressure of the political and societal climate as well as (supposedly) the band making the change they've wanted for a long time. Narration and characters still refer to the band as The Chicks, though, which makes zero sense. Also, how does a character who's written as financially struggling wearing Doc Martens? Those were not for the lower class in the early 2000s.
One last qualm I have with this book is the exposition. 29% into it, and I felt like the exposition was at least first quarter of the book. I sadly cannot push myself to read further.
Thank you to Netgalley & Grand Central Publishing for giving me a chance to read this book with an e-Arc.
February 28, 2023
This was so good! Unfortunately I don’t have a group of friends like RACK who would go beyond their duties and murder someone for me 😂
I’m a sucker for sisterhood/friendship books and this was no exception. I enjoyed all the characters and their POV’s. At first I was wondering why they weren’t mad at Kasey for leaving town 15 years ago, but the group of girls was so supportive of each other. It did get a little heavy so I would check the content warnings! Also, smaller town vibes people!! Everyone gets a pie in this town! I think my favorite part was all the different women coming together for Caroline.
Thank you Grand Central for the ARC!
I’m a sucker for sisterhood/friendship books and this was no exception. I enjoyed all the characters and their POV’s. At first I was wondering why they weren’t mad at Kasey for leaving town 15 years ago, but the group of girls was so supportive of each other. It did get a little heavy so I would check the content warnings! Also, smaller town vibes people!! Everyone gets a pie in this town! I think my favorite part was all the different women coming together for Caroline.
Thank you Grand Central for the ARC!
July 22, 2025
Such a disappointment after loving This Close to Okay. There were so many characters and they all seemed to have arrested development. All four MC gals end up with their HS boyfriends...is that believable? Not in my world so that was a really hard situation for me to relate to or even buy into. And the girls were so obsessed with who they were hooking up with in both timelines...so arrested development.
July 22, 2025
The pace was a little slow for me, and some of the main characters were flat (Ada is a #boymom married to her high school sweetheart and that’s about it) but I still enjoyed women giving abusive men what they deserve
April 8, 2025
Dang, I really enjoyed this book.
I loved all the characters and how well we got to know them and their stories. The strong feeling of love, sisterhood, family, and women supporting women, tugged at my heartstrings more than I care to admit. I was expecting something more vengeful and murderous honestly, so the tender story that I got was not what I was anticipating, but in the best way.
I didn't love the borderline cheating that was happening throughout the story, but other than that, it was a lovely read.
Normalize killing people who deserve it 🥰
I loved all the characters and how well we got to know them and their stories. The strong feeling of love, sisterhood, family, and women supporting women, tugged at my heartstrings more than I care to admit. I was expecting something more vengeful and murderous honestly, so the tender story that I got was not what I was anticipating, but in the best way.
I didn't love the borderline cheating that was happening throughout the story, but other than that, it was a lovely read.
Normalize killing people who deserve it 🥰
July 4, 2023
While I’ve been reading this over the last 1.5 days (in my bed, in the ER waiting room while my dad gets his heart checked out, while at home relaxing after, and then I finished it while lounging in bed this morning) and I’ve tried talking to anyone about this book, the first question I’ve gotten when I tell them the title is, “Wait. Like the song?” The second question I get is, “It sounds like that’s gotta be corny. Is it corny?”
My friends, as someone who totally dislikes The Chicks (I can’t listen to Natalie Maines because her voice grates on my nerves–it’s not about their music), I gotta tell you this book isn’t corny. I came into this book justifiably skeptical but willing to take a chance because I really loved the cover, and I ended up unexpectedly not only liking it, but loving it. It’s split up into three acts, takes places in two different story timelines (2004 when the four protagonists are seniors in high school and 2019 is the present day time in the book), and is told in turns by all four main characters (the author chose to use third person limited with each character when it’s their chapter instead of going with third-person omniscient for the whole novel).
But first, let’s get the two reasons why I didn’t rate this five stars out of the way really quick before I get into everything I did like.
One reason I had to dock the book some points: In the back half of the book (the book is split into three acts, so it might even just be in the third act), the 2004 and 2019 timeline narratives first have to make way for emails between all four of the girls as two of them have moved away after high school and two have stayed in their small hometown; and then the main storylines and those emails have to make space for transcripts of police interviews from various town citizens who come in to give voluntary statements. That’s a whole lot of stuff going on all at once, and it makes the book too busy and also too long. I would’ve recommended greatly reducing or even just removing the emails between the girls to reduce the length of the novel. I was ready for the book to end at least 50 to 75 pages before it did. That’s not much, but it’s enough to affect the reading experience.
The second reason I felt some points needed to be docked: Devon. What the heck was the point of all of that? It was confusing and then anti-climatic. I’m not going to spoil it. If you read this then maybe you’ll understand.
Now we’re onto the good stuff!
I don’t put stock into how companies like Amazon categorize a book, because it feels unfair to cage in books that are so many things down to only three categories. This book can’t just be pinned down to one thing. It’s part coming of age tale, part crime fiction, part revenge tale, and part “I will do anything for my family” story. It’s also a story about found family, abusers, victims, survivors, addicts, the patriarchy, the south, absentee parents, white privilege, racism, loss, grief, running from your problems, grief, first loves, trauma, sisterhood, misogyny, music, tradition, falling in love, the sweet cowboys, watching a lot of Dateline, and promises you keep no matter what.
These four girls became sisters from another mister at the age of five while playing in a church basement in their small southern town of Goldie, population just a little over 2,000. Kasey is biracial and being raised by a single mom. Ada has two loving and wealthy parents. Rosemarie is black and has two parents who are total hippies. And Caroline has two parents who divorced and then abandoned her to the care of her grandmother, Mimi. Four girls walking four totally different paths in life, but always stepping together, in sync, hand in hand with one another and never forgetting one another or leaving one behind. They make promises to one another and to the whole of them and they don’t break them. Kasey and Rosemarie left after high school but came back eventually, and with them came a reckoning.
I very obviously recommend this book. I laughed, I cried (it’s hard to get me to cry while reading), I felt touched, and I’m so happy I gave this book a chance.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Coming of Age/Crime Fiction/Found Family/General Fiction/LGBTQ Friendly/Vigilantes/Women’s Fiction
My friends, as someone who totally dislikes The Chicks (I can’t listen to Natalie Maines because her voice grates on my nerves–it’s not about their music), I gotta tell you this book isn’t corny. I came into this book justifiably skeptical but willing to take a chance because I really loved the cover, and I ended up unexpectedly not only liking it, but loving it. It’s split up into three acts, takes places in two different story timelines (2004 when the four protagonists are seniors in high school and 2019 is the present day time in the book), and is told in turns by all four main characters (the author chose to use third person limited with each character when it’s their chapter instead of going with third-person omniscient for the whole novel).
But first, let’s get the two reasons why I didn’t rate this five stars out of the way really quick before I get into everything I did like.
One reason I had to dock the book some points: In the back half of the book (the book is split into three acts, so it might even just be in the third act), the 2004 and 2019 timeline narratives first have to make way for emails between all four of the girls as two of them have moved away after high school and two have stayed in their small hometown; and then the main storylines and those emails have to make space for transcripts of police interviews from various town citizens who come in to give voluntary statements. That’s a whole lot of stuff going on all at once, and it makes the book too busy and also too long. I would’ve recommended greatly reducing or even just removing the emails between the girls to reduce the length of the novel. I was ready for the book to end at least 50 to 75 pages before it did. That’s not much, but it’s enough to affect the reading experience.
The second reason I felt some points needed to be docked: Devon. What the heck was the point of all of that? It was confusing and then anti-climatic. I’m not going to spoil it. If you read this then maybe you’ll understand.
Now we’re onto the good stuff!
I don’t put stock into how companies like Amazon categorize a book, because it feels unfair to cage in books that are so many things down to only three categories. This book can’t just be pinned down to one thing. It’s part coming of age tale, part crime fiction, part revenge tale, and part “I will do anything for my family” story. It’s also a story about found family, abusers, victims, survivors, addicts, the patriarchy, the south, absentee parents, white privilege, racism, loss, grief, running from your problems, grief, first loves, trauma, sisterhood, misogyny, music, tradition, falling in love, the sweet cowboys, watching a lot of Dateline, and promises you keep no matter what.
These four girls became sisters from another mister at the age of five while playing in a church basement in their small southern town of Goldie, population just a little over 2,000. Kasey is biracial and being raised by a single mom. Ada has two loving and wealthy parents. Rosemarie is black and has two parents who are total hippies. And Caroline has two parents who divorced and then abandoned her to the care of her grandmother, Mimi. Four girls walking four totally different paths in life, but always stepping together, in sync, hand in hand with one another and never forgetting one another or leaving one behind. They make promises to one another and to the whole of them and they don’t break them. Kasey and Rosemarie left after high school but came back eventually, and with them came a reckoning.
I very obviously recommend this book. I laughed, I cried (it’s hard to get me to cry while reading), I felt touched, and I’m so happy I gave this book a chance.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Coming of Age/Crime Fiction/Found Family/General Fiction/LGBTQ Friendly/Vigilantes/Women’s Fiction
July 14, 2023
✨ Review ✨ Goodbye Earl by Leesa Cross-Smith
I had previously read and loved Half-Blown Rose by Cross-Smith, and this was a total change of course from that book. Based in the Chicks' song Goodbye Earl, the book follows four friends in their senior year of college and fifteen year later when they're all together again in their hometown Goldie for a wedding.
The book alternates between the POVs for these four friends in the past and in the present, chronicling their loves, their lost loves, and their abusers. The book considers what it means for friends and a whole town of women to stand together to prevent abusive men from harming women in their midst. I enjoyed the last third of the book best as the plots resolved and we saw the women of Goldie unite.
The pacing was a little slow for me -- I was feeling the slog around the halfway point, and waiting for the audio to come available (and the audio made it fly by at a better pace for me). The writing also lacked some of the lyricism and magic I was expecting from Cross-Smith, but at the same time it was far more readable than Half-Blown Rose.
The book brings together the sweetness of slow summer days with your best friends and first loves when you're 17 and 18 with the baggage of relationships, sickness, loss, family struggles, etc. that comes across one's life. The book felt very bittersweet with a lots of peaks and valleys along the way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5-3.75)
Genre: general fiction
Setting: Goldie (small town in the South)
Reminds me of: Goodbye Earl the song
Pub Date: out now!
Read this if you like:
⭕️ Goodbye Earl and the feminist empowerment of songs by The Chicks
⭕️ women getting revenge
⭕️ small town South - biscuits and pies and slow summer days
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!
I had previously read and loved Half-Blown Rose by Cross-Smith, and this was a total change of course from that book. Based in the Chicks' song Goodbye Earl, the book follows four friends in their senior year of college and fifteen year later when they're all together again in their hometown Goldie for a wedding.
The book alternates between the POVs for these four friends in the past and in the present, chronicling their loves, their lost loves, and their abusers. The book considers what it means for friends and a whole town of women to stand together to prevent abusive men from harming women in their midst. I enjoyed the last third of the book best as the plots resolved and we saw the women of Goldie unite.
The pacing was a little slow for me -- I was feeling the slog around the halfway point, and waiting for the audio to come available (and the audio made it fly by at a better pace for me). The writing also lacked some of the lyricism and magic I was expecting from Cross-Smith, but at the same time it was far more readable than Half-Blown Rose.
The book brings together the sweetness of slow summer days with your best friends and first loves when you're 17 and 18 with the baggage of relationships, sickness, loss, family struggles, etc. that comes across one's life. The book felt very bittersweet with a lots of peaks and valleys along the way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5-3.75)
Genre: general fiction
Setting: Goldie (small town in the South)
Reminds me of: Goodbye Earl the song
Pub Date: out now!
Read this if you like:
⭕️ Goodbye Earl and the feminist empowerment of songs by The Chicks
⭕️ women getting revenge
⭕️ small town South - biscuits and pies and slow summer days
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!
March 2, 2023
From the title, I was expecting this book to be a dark comedy, but it wasn't that at all. The book tells the story of the friendship of RACK (Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline and Kasey), four girls in the small town of Goldie. The book alternates between the years 2019 and 2004 and among the viewpoints of the four girls. They all had/have their own issues (ranging from family issues to health problems) but have remained "besties" throughout the years. Rosemarie and Kasey have relocated to different parts of the country, but they all remain close. In 2019, all are reunited in Goldie for the wedding of Ada's younger sister Taylor. When the four friends are finally reunited, they realize they must come together to help each other, as they have all their lives.
The girls were apparently all big fans of the group The Chicks back in the day, as several of their more famous hits are mentioned. Calling this book after one of their biggest hits, about an abusive man who gets his just desserts, but in a humorous way (it's a fictional victim, of course) lead me to believe the book would also have that sense of humor, but it didn't at all. The book would have been more aptly named if it had been called after the Martina McBride song "Independence Day." At least it would have let the reader know the tone and feel of the story better than this mis-matched title did.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
The girls were apparently all big fans of the group The Chicks back in the day, as several of their more famous hits are mentioned. Calling this book after one of their biggest hits, about an abusive man who gets his just desserts, but in a humorous way (it's a fictional victim, of course) lead me to believe the book would also have that sense of humor, but it didn't at all. The book would have been more aptly named if it had been called after the Martina McBride song "Independence Day." At least it would have let the reader know the tone and feel of the story better than this mis-matched title did.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
April 9, 2023
There wasn't a chance I was going to pass on reading this book!
4 besties reunite for a wedding, and confront the Earls in their present and past.
Loved all four of the friends, their histories, their secrets, the way they loved so fiercely. Because the book flips from 2019 to 2004 when they were teens, we get to see them at the height of their friendship and what caused Kasey to stay away from their hometown for so long.
4 besties reunite for a wedding, and confront the Earls in their present and past.
Loved all four of the friends, their histories, their secrets, the way they loved so fiercely. Because the book flips from 2019 to 2004 when they were teens, we get to see them at the height of their friendship and what caused Kasey to stay away from their hometown for so long.
March 2, 2024
This is ACTUALLY The Chicks song in novel form, combined with Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants but make it southern, and it’s so so good. Amazed by how well LCR builds such different worlds in this vs Half Blown Rose vs This Close to Okay!
January 15, 2023
Warning: this book will make many different songs get stuck in your head throughout your read.
I was really excited to read this one, but I was let down by the amount of cliche aspects of the story. I won’t list the specifics of them in this review since it could be a little spoiler-y. It took me several days to get through this one, I felt like I had read it before and wasn’t eager to read it again. I would tell you to read this if you’re a big fan of the song that inspired it, or if you haven’t read a lot of small town friend group reuniting stories. A decent read, but nothing new or amazing.
I was really excited to read this one, but I was let down by the amount of cliche aspects of the story. I won’t list the specifics of them in this review since it could be a little spoiler-y. It took me several days to get through this one, I felt like I had read it before and wasn’t eager to read it again. I would tell you to read this if you’re a big fan of the song that inspired it, or if you haven’t read a lot of small town friend group reuniting stories. A decent read, but nothing new or amazing.
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