Goodbye Earl was not at all what I was expecting, and I couldn't have been happier! I was originally drawn to this book as a big "The Chicks" fan. I really loved this book, it was a perfect combination of nostalgia, life's triumphs, and friendship told through the lifelong friendships of Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey (RACK). RACK have been friends since before they could speak and grew up together in Goldie. After their college graduation, Kasey fled Goldie and returns just now, 15 years later. This story chronicles their coming of age as well as catching up to where they are now, the same theme still carries, they would do anything for each other, even if it meant making sure they said goodbye to any "Earl" in their lives.

I would highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who enjoyed "Sweet Magnolias" on Netflix!

DNF at 35%

I was expecting a dark comedy centered around revenge but the part I read was so boring, with a focus on the women's' friendship with lots of flashbacks and very little action and/or forward momentum. I also found the transitions between scenes choppy and distracting. I could see the direction it was heading and wasn't interested enough to keep reading.

One of my favorite things about Leesa Cross-Smith’s novels is that each one is wildly different from the others in terms of the plot but the characters and themes are always endearing and relatable. Her ability to weave tragedy and humor together, as well, continue to charm me as a reader and keep me coming back for more. Her upcoming Goodbye Earl: A Revenge Novel explores the depths of friendship and exactly what can happen in a community where injustice has been allowed to endure for too long. But while the title declares itself to be a revenge novel, I’m not sure how much I agree with that. At least, it’s not the typical revenge story, which is intriguing and more satisfying in a lot of ways (but also a little less entertaining in other ways than I’d hoped).

Kasey Fritz is finally returning to her hometown of Goldie after leaving fifteen years following the tragic and frustrating death of her mother. Her best friends, Rosemarie, Ada, and Caroline have kept in touch but have also been disappointed that it’s taken so long to get her to come back. Kasey is finally ready to face the truths of what happened to her mother and move beyond the bad memories, focusing on the better ones as the quartet celebrate Ada’s younger sister’s wedding. But when it becomes clear that Caroline’s husband, Trey might be just as bad – maybe worse – than Kasey’s stepfather was, the friends band together to make sure that history won’t repeat itself.

In many ways, Goodbye Earl is a love letter to family and community – especially the relationships that can develop between women. Though it’s mostly told from the perspectives of the four core women (both in flashback and the “present”), it’s clear that there are strong female relationships between the other women in Goldie as well – between the girls’ mothers/maternal figures, among their neighbors, coworkers, and classmates and across the generations as well. The diversity represented in terms of situation (family structures, family histories, financial situations, and racial backgrounds) among not just the core friend group but the town as a whole is convenient and unrealistic in many ways but it all serves the goal of finding the things that can (and should) bring us all together – like making sure that abusers and those who take advantage of others with no remorse don’t get away with things forever.

Without giving away spoilers, my favorite aspect of the novel might well be precisely where it ended. As with Half-Blown Rose, there’s an underlying optimism to Goodbye Earl that feels like it should be incongruous to the heavy elements that make up so much of the novel’s plot, but Leesa Cross-Smith somehow makes it work. The ending encapsulates that lightness and optimism. At the same time, for how dark the subject matter gets at times and the fact that revenge is such a key part of the plot, the focus and drive of the story isn’t quite where you might expect it to be. The focus is always on the women and their friendship and how it gets them through the difficult points in their lives – whatever they may be – but without those difficulties taking over or distracting from the underlying love and sisterhood they’ve built.

Goodbye Earl: A Revenge Novel will be available July 3, 2023.

It is easy for the reader to invest in the characters early on in this story. The love story centered on these four friends is memorable long after finishing the book.

I always admire how Leesa Cross-Smith combines whip smart intelligence with heartwarming charm. Her latest novel, GOODBYE EARL, provides another stunning example. The characters are fully-fleshed, and the pages practically turn themselves. Ultimately, this is a story about the remarkable bond between friends. We can all wish for friends like these, friends who are as close (or even closer) than family members.

I look forward to this author's next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary e-galley; all opinions are my own.

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.

If you have a playlist of wronged women in country songs who take matters into their own hands, you'll enjoy this book. I slightly expected Goodbye Earl to be a dramatization of the Chicks song by the same name. While that would've been a great time on its own, what we get instead is a more complex story that is highly influenced by the iconic song. The story follows four lifelong best friends, Rosemarie, Ada, Caro, and Kasey, through two timelines of pivotal eras in their lives: the weeks leading up to their high school graduation, and fifteen years later, when they all reunite in the hometown for the first time. The common denominator in both timelines are no-good, dangerously violent men, and how these friends promise to protect each other from these types of men, dubbed "Earls." I wouldn't call this book a thriller, per se, but it definitely has strong "good for her" energy, which is satisfying in its own right. While the dual plots felt a bit unwieldy at times, especially with the chapters switching POV, everything does tie together rather nicely in the end. It's a lovely homage to the resolve of small-town Southern women and the blood-deep ties of lifelong female friendships.

I loved this! As a fan of the song, I was immediately pulled in by the title and had to read it. This story of friendship is incredible and made me want to be a part of a group like this. I took this on vacation and it was the perfect beach read. Highly recommend!

Thanks to #Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

Like other readers, I expected this to be a dark comedy in line with the song/lyrics by The Chicks. While there were loose similarities, the plot focused more on the friendship between four girls/women from high school to early 30s: Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey (RACK). Rosemarie moves away after high school and travels the world. She has a semi-open relationship with both Esme and Leo. Ada runs the family business and married her high school sweetheart - they now have 4 sons together. Caroline went to pastry school and runs the local bakery. She recently married the town's rich kid. Kasey left for New York the night of graduation and is returning for the first time with a lot of secrets of her own.

Growing up in a small town is hell - I personally don't understand why people stay or return. But, this book tries to make the point that it's the people there who will support you through thick and thin that make all of the difference.

The beginning was slow, the middle sped along, and the ending was really not my style. I didn't care for some of the tropes that were included <spoiler> Rosemarie's cancer was not necessary. Nor was Caroline's pregnancy. </spoiler> The small town religious aspects also weren't my style and didn't really seem appropriate in the plotlines. 2/5 stars.

This story was different than I expected. I thought it would be campy but was deeper than that. Less a revenge novel and more about lifelong friends.

I think the friendship parts were particularly well done and the soundtrack so familiar that I could hear the songs as I was reading.

The revenge theme was where it fell down a bit for me. It was too over the top without the humor to make it fun.

Four girls that are like sisters in a small Southern town of Goldie. Each of them met when they were four years old and have stayed friends ever since then no matter where they live. Each character you get to hear their side of Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey. Kasey is one of the characters that you hear the most of and who kicks off the storyline. Kasey hasn't been in to Goldie since 2004 and returns back to the area in 2019. Upon arriving a lot of the history is brought back to light and some of the current things that are happening is very similar to what happened in the past. You can see the love and friendship that is within the group of ladies.

I enjoyed the story and the reference to the Chicks. Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy.

RACK has been inseparable since they were kids. The four girls have been best friends since childhood, and being adults has not changed a thing. This book has a dual timeline between their childhood and current day. Though Kasey hasn’t told anyone, even RACK what happened the day of graduation, when they all come together for a wedding now, the friend group will be brought back to the past, and finally decide to do something about it…

So it’s the beginning of June and these won’t post until the end of July, but damn I don’t know if it’s me or the books, but all the tears this weekend! This book had me laughing, infuriated, and crying. I mean talk about the trifecta. This book truly shows the amaze-balls value of childhood friends. I am so lucky to have some of these friends, and though we don’t live close, when we chat it’s like no time has passed at all. I just adored the friendship, and the close relationships throughout the town of Goldie. While I strongly disliked (maybe even hated) some characters, the way the book came together was just perfection in my mind. As a side note: there is a good amount of domestic violence in this book, so if that is a trigger I would avoid.

Relationships are complicated and life is complicated, but if we have and empowering, ride-or-die crew, things are so much better. That's what four friends, Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey ("ROAK") show us as they are on the cusp of graduating from high school in a small Southern town in 2004. They are on the edge of "becoming," in their love lives, work lives, and maturing into their real selves. But when horrific events intervene, it will take all their found-sisterhood to hold them together and ride out the storm. Fast-forward to 2019, when Ada's little sister's wedding brings them all back to their hometown, they hope they can just enjoy being together again. But when one of them is put into danger and echoes of their past threaten to overwhelm and divide, they decide to stick together and make things right.

This was, essentially, a Southern story. It is lyrical and true, and doesn't shy away from the dark underbelly of society (abuse, alcoholism, escapism from anxiety). It's about friendship and high school and about having to grow up too fast. Cross-Smith did so well at capturing dialogue and dialect. I also loved all the references to The Chicks (not surprising, given the title) and other cultural elements of the South from 2004-2019. The story highlights love in so many different forms (I loved that it is LGBTQ+ positive), and explores the theme of romantically loving two different people at once and what that means in different situations and with different people. When relationships are empowering and are based in love, it's amazing what miracles they can work in this world.

Triggers: abuse, violence, alcohol and drug use, abuse of power, police corruption

Goodbye Earl by the award-winning author of Half-Blown Rose is a powerful and resonant tale of friendship, resilience, and taking control of one’s destiny. Inspired by an infamous and empowering song, this novel follows the lives of four best friends across two transformative summers, set fifteen years apart.

In 2004, Rosemarie, Ada, Caroline, and Kasey are on the brink of adulthood, their final days of high school filled with hope, dreams, and the promise of a future where anything seems possible. Love, career aspirations, and self-discovery await them as they navigate the uncertainties of life.

Fast forward to 2019, and Kasey returns to her small Southern hometown of Goldie, keeping the truth of what transpired during that pivotal summer after graduation a closely guarded secret. Reunited with her friends for a wedding, Kasey is determined to savor the simple joy of their reunion. However, troubling signs emerge, hinting at danger lurking among them, plunging Kasey back into the events of that fateful summer. This time, she is determined to rise above the worst moments of her past and protect those she holds dear.

Goodbye Earl is an uplifting, sharp-edged, and unapologetic exploration of friendship, resilience, and the unwavering strength of sisterhood. The novel tackles the pervasive issue of abusive men who believe they can act with impunity, providing a poignant and necessary funeral for all the “Earls” out there. The author fearlessly confronts these themes while celebrating the enduring bond of friendship that empowers the characters to reclaim their lives.

The narrative expertly weaves between the past and present, allowing readers to witness the growth and evolution of the characters. Each woman faces her own challenges and confronts the demons of their shared history, illustrating the power of personal growth and the strength that comes from standing together.

The author’s prose is evocative and emotionally charged, capturing the essence of the characters’ experiences and the setting of the small Southern town. The story combines moments of heartache, resilience, and hope, creating a narrative that keeps readers engaged and invested in the characters’ journeys.

Goodbye Earl is a thought-provoking and empowering novel that tackles important themes with grace and honesty. It serves as a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit. Readers will be moved by the characters’ stories and inspired by their determination to rewrite their own narratives. With this compelling tale, the author reminds us of the importance of solidarity and the possibility of finding strength and healing in the bonds of sisterhood.

The beginning and end of GOODBYE EARL were rough for me: every time I got interested in a character and their story, I was ripped from that point of view and shoved into another. There are four main characters and they’re all telling their story in the present (2019) and also in the past (their senior year in high school, 2004). This was confusing because sometimes I couldn’t tell when we were. That said, the middle of the book rolled along seamlessly and I did become invested.

GOODBYE EARL is a book about friendship and how far our friends will go to protect us. It’s about family and found family and what’s important in life. It’s about women supporting others and shining a light on misbehavior and darkness. There are lots of musical references and the entire book has a nostalgic feeling that’s a lot of fun.

I don’t think this is a spoiler, considering the title of the book, but I think the author could have made the villain more awful. I just think an extra dose of awfulness would have made me root for the women even more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing an eARC of GOODBYE EARL and the opportunity to give my honest opinion. This review is posted on Goodreads and will be featured on my Bookstagram, www.instagram.com/watchskyeread near publication day.

The friendship of these four friends spans decades, and even the supporting characters are so well written they are all believable and interesting. Abuse can be a very hard subject to read, but this novel did it very carefully and sensitively.

I thought this book would be right up my alley, but unfortunately it was a bit of a miss for me. I loved "This Close to Okay," and I haven't had a change to read "Half-Blown Rose," but I still have high hopes for this author. The flow of "Goodbye Earl" was just disjointed, and while I don't mind an unsympathetic or unlikeable character, there were too many of them for me to root for anyone. Moments of brilliant writing and emotional connection still shone through, and if someone was looking for a little bit of catharsis, I'm sure they'd find it in this book. Lots of nostalgia for those of us who grew up in the "Goodbye, Earl" era! I could easily have gone to high school with this group of girls. I just don't think we'd have been friends.

Leesa Cross Smith does it again. A slow burn novel about friendships and growing up. I liked the dual timelines in this novel. I have enjoyed her writing over the years.

This 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.

Love this writer and this story! Four high school besties living in the south are looking forward to graduation and starting their lives. 15 years later rhe four are reunited for a wedding. Kasey hasn’t been home since - she has a dark secret about something that happened that summer. One of the friends is in a bad marriage. Will the women resort to murder to save her? Loved the intrigue and the solid complex relationships - the yearning and ache of teenage girls and unfulfilled women