* Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving this copy.

Amy Ewing is one of my favorite YA authors, the Jewel is one of my favorite YA fantasy stories of all time. It's different, it's perfect for it's audience, I just really love that series. However, I think that being a YA author first was Ewing's biggest downfall with this book, and why it didn't rate higher for me. The relationships are all very juvenile on paper. Our FMC is supposed to be 30 but she treats her mom, the death of her dad, and falling in love with Niall the way I would expect a 16yo protagonist to react. At first I was like, okay this is fine, she's young, of course she feels/ reacts this way, but then I remembered the character is THIRTY and it quickly gave me the ick. It reads like Ewing wanted to write spice but doesn't know how to move out of that juvenile way of writing, where relationships move fast and they FEEL like the biggest thing in the world to the MC (because let's be honest, when you're 16 that IS how things feel, but by the time you're 30 you're not crying in your room 4 months later because the guy you had a one month fling with on vacation chose his career over you because you told him too).

I think if this book had been written from the pov of someone doing a summer trip before starting college (and nixed the smut) this would've come across as a WAY better story, without really having to change much (other than the marriage visa part) and it would've been a 4star read easily. But it lacked the depth that older 20yo's get from experiencing more of the world.

If Ewing writes another YA novel I will read the crud out of that book, buuuut I think this may be my last adult novel by her.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

The Irish Goodbye was such a delightful romance read!

I was hooked on this book from the beginning. The Irish Goodbye has a few of my favourite romance tropes:

☘️ Small-town
☘️ Enemies to Lovers
☘️ Slow burn
☘️ Happily ever after

This story had been grinning, swooning (it was spicy at some points), and definitely wishing I was in Ireland.

It had a little bit of The Holiday feel. Our main character, Cordelia James, is in desperate need of a change of scenery. A photographer who has lost her passion after the death of her father, Cordelia sees an ad online for a cottage on a little Irish Island and decides it is the perfect getaway. She didn't expect to be accepted into this little community like she was, and she certainly didn't expect to fall in love. Especially to the jerk who bumped into her and broke her camera.

I enjoyed the writing, the storyline, and all of the characters. The secondary characters, Cordelia's family, and all the characters from Inishmore were so just such great characters and added so much to the story.

My one complaint with romances, you know there is likely to be a third act breakup. I feel like I just sit and wait for it the entire story. I don't really enjoy the third act breakup. In this case, if both characters just had an adult discussion, it probably could have been avoided. But, it did make the ending all that much better.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for romance readers.

Thank you to Alcove Press for the advanced digital copy of this fabulous romance. My opinions are my own.

The Irish Goodbye delivers a steamy romance set on the scenic island of Inishmore, Ireland, where two people from vastly different worlds collide in more ways than one. Cordelia James, a once-renowned street photographer, is in a deep emotional rut following the sudden death of her father. Her once-thriving career has come to a standstill, leaving her unable to find solace or purpose. Desperate for an escape, Cordelia impulsively signs up for a summer gig on Ireland’s picturesque island of Inishmore, hoping a change of scenery might restore her spirit.

But the peace she seeks is far from what she finds when she crashes into Niall O’Connor when she steps off the boat. Niall, a fierce and heartbroken Irish chef who has returned to his hometown after a tough breakup, has no patience for tourists, especially not glamorous Americans like Cordelia. With their personalities clashing from the start, their tension is palpable, sparking a fiery relationship that walks the line between hate and desire.

As they continue to cross paths, their animosity only intensifies, but soon their bickering transforms into undeniable chemistry. The cool nights on the Irish coast are about to heat up as they discover that what begins as hatred might just become a passion.

Surrounded by a lively cast of quirky island locals, *The Irish Goodbye* is a love story full of wit, emotional depth, and the beauty of finding yourself in unexpected places. It explores themes of healing, personal growth, and learning to love again after loss and heartbreak.

Tropes
- Enemies to Lovers
- Grumpy/Sunshine Dynamic
- Small-Town Romance
- Healing and Self-Discovery

Review

It is a perfect blend of sizzling chemistry, emotional vulnerability, and the enchanting beauty of Ireland. Cordelia and Niall’s journey from rivals to lovers is full of sharp, witty banter that keeps the tension alive throughout. Ewing does a fantastic job of weaving in the emotional arcs of both characters, allowing them to evolve as they confront their past hurts.

The novel’s idyllic setting on the island of Inishmore adds a unique charm, immersing readers in the landscape and culture of Ireland. The supporting cast of quirky island locals brings humor and heart to the story, offering moments of levity amidst the intense romance.

Fans of steamy romance, the enemies-to-lovers trope, and richly depicted small-town settings will find The Irish Goodbye a compelling and enjoyable read.

The Irish Goodbye is an irresistible romance that balances heat and heart, perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally charged love stories with dynamic characters and a vivid sense of place. Amy Ewing’s exploration of love, loss, and the journey to self-discovery makes this novel a steamy, heartfelt read.

This book is perfect for a palate cleanser! Even though there were some serious topics discussed, I felt that I related to both of the characters so well.

Inishmore, Ireland is a beautiful location to set this small town romance. Did I look up the place when it was mentioned to see if I could visit? Yes I did. Ewing did a wonderful job capturing Inishmore's ancient beauty & cozy atmosphere.
But I didn't just love the setting. I fell in love with Cordelia, Niall & all the townspeople. I felt the main characters were relatable. Both are navigating life after loss & find happiness with each other. They had a meet cute gone wrong first encounter which made their love story even sweeter! I felt I really knew the characters by the end.
Niall & Cordelia are a slow burn but watching their dislike turn into love was worth it. The hike they took together was when I started falling. I mean *swoon* Plus the spice was super unexpected. The kitchen scene was
The story has a nice blend of heart & humor. I had to stop myself from laughing while listening in public
I'm so happy I picked this up. It's a summer romance set in Ireland which I loved. Highly recommend the audiobook too!

Cordelia James is struggling. After the sudden death of her beloved father, the renowned street photographer has lost her edge, her spark, her drive, and pretty much everything else. She's floundering and isn't quite sure how to pull herself up out of the quagmire of grief. When she sees an ad for a summer gig on an island off the coast of Ireland - she thinks this may be exactly what she needs to get herself out of her funk and living again.



As someone who lost their dad very suddenly, I struggle with "dead dad" books. This was no different. However, I did find the grief aspect of Cordelia's struggles very relatable. It's a total shock to your system. Nothing is right side up anymore and you're not entirely sure how to keep going and the floundering makes you positive you're going to drown. While Cordelia latching onto her camera could seem strange to some who haven't been there or dealt with their grief in a different way, it made sense to me. I did struggle with the romance a little, though. It felt like it sprung up very, very quickly. They hate each other and then Niall falls out of a boat and they're in love? It was odd. Overall, a sweet, quick little read.

I loved this! I gobbled it up in one setting! The banter was perfect, the steam was on point. And I could do connect with characters. I absolutely loved t he it'll Irish town and all the different quirky neighbors. The was a great read and I will be buying a physical copy to keep!! I loved it. 5 star read!

While I overall enjoyed this book and thought it was generally cute, I do have some hold-ups about it that knocked it down to a 3-star rating.
Cordelia came across a little emotionally immature at times, especially being so overly connected to photography/her camera because of her father. I get that everyone deals with loss differently, but it was just an odd and superficial feeling connection with Cordelia since her photography was also tied so closely to her social media posts and getting likes and followers.
I also felt like the romance came out of nowhere, Again, it seemed like Ewing pretty heavily established both characters' traumas and how they were still dealing with them. But then Niall falls out of a boat one time and then they like each other? While they were cute together, it did feel super fast and, again, emotionally immature of both of them. The ending was a little surprising (and maybe a little cringe?) and I didn't feel like there was true closure. I also did NOT like Roisin character and was annoyed any time she was in a scene.
Overall, cute concept but lacking in development and believability. The Irish setting helps save some of the story but it relies too heavily on it.

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the characters. The setting was absolutely perfect! I love books set in Ireland. The instalove was a bit too much for me. I was not expecting that and seemed a little unrealistic. Overall, it was a good read.

4.5 stars

“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘰.”

ugh, what a sweet little irish romance! and what better way to showcase it than a picture from my own trip to ireland 💚

ireland is a place that i absolutely LOVE so i always end up picking out books set there and this one didn’t disappoint! Niall and Cordelia were so cute and it was so cute to see them come together in the end.

outside of this open-door romcom, some of the highlights of this book are actually the side characters! roisin and collin made me laugh out loud so many times. collin is niall’s bff whose actually so sweet and kind. roisin is a cantankerous, calls it like it is Irish woman (granny) and she’s the best part of the book. she loves so fiercely and i choked up at how she cares for cord and niall (and the rest of the small village) 🥹

i would definitely recommend this one if you’re looking for a laugh and a warm hug!

The Irish Goodbye review

If you’re in the mood for moody scenery with a romance plot, this is the book for you! The Irish Goodbye is set on the tiny island of Inishmore, Ireland where the grump meets sunshine plot takes place.

Our main character is Cordelia, a photographer grieving the loss of her father and trying to connect with his memory through their shared love of photography. A chance encounter at the dock introduces us to Niall, who’s recovering from a jilted engagement back home at the family pub. Their first meeting is simply awful and sets up their mutual dislike of one another.

I just adored the side characters in this novel! Roisin is the grandmother Cordelia is expected to keep a watchful eye on but their relationship blossoms into so much more than that. I enjoyed seeing their connection grow, laughing at Roisin’s quips and devil may care attitude at speaking her mind. Some of my favorite scenes were at dinner, the pub, or at the race because the banter between the whole lot of characters was great.

For this to be a grumpy sunshine romance, the grumpiness went away quickly which is where I docked it in my rating. Due to Cordelia’s visit to Inishmore and Niall’s hometown having an expiration date, I understand the author needed them to connect quickly. I would’ve preferred a few more pages or scenes of them arguing or berating one another before warming up! Once they started to warm towards one another, I found myself rooting for them to find joy and love again after their losses.

The romance really sparks between them and becomes open door for the reader. Their love becomes sweet and believable if a bit rushed.

I know Cordelia is a photographer but she talked about it so much it makes you wonder what else is there. That point becomes less talked about as the book continued thankfully.

I enjoyed the book overall and the setting is vivid, really evoking a feeling of being in Ireland. You could almost smell the salt air and fresh fish n chips! Great vacation romance with memorable side characters and a sweet romance with a touch of grumpy sunshine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC.

Their hate-at-first-sight rom-com is filled with a cast of quirky characters, strong willed MCs, and beautiful Irish scenery. While the romance feels somewhat predictable and has a few cringe worthy scenes, I appreciated the more serious topic of grief.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Books for an advanced ready copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this. (I also love Irish Goodbyes so, A++ for the title!)

I liked that Niall had a reason for being a grump and wasn't just an ass, and Cordelia's journey had me fully invested.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I truly enjoyed this charming romcom set in Ireland! I’ve never read a book set in Ireland and I loved the quirky, sassy characters. As I was reading, I could hear the Irish accents and was laughing along with their sharp, witty sense of humor. There was also depth to this story and I loved Cordelia’s introspection and growth in dealing with grief and pushing herself out of her comfort zone. Niall, dealing with failure and heartbreak, found new inspiration and happiness through Cordelia. The tension and chemistry between them was perfection. I highly recommend this feel-good story that provokes serious wanderlust!

They were so cute! I'm obsessed with their first kiss, it was right out of a movie. They were simply made for each other and I love it. The break up was heartbreaking but it made complete sense. My only thing is that I want a real epilogue with maybe a real proposal or a wedding.

I received an arc through netgalley.

The Irish Goodbye is all about grief in it's different forms and the steps taken to healing and love. I love how Cordelia didn't automatically fit in when she got there, that she was able to acknowledge her grief and work her way through her artist block. Naill is grieving the loss of his life's dream and who he believed was the love of his life. He's a grump of all grumps, and rightfully so. He hasn't had the easiest time, being a bit of a black sheep from his family, loosing his restaurant, his fiance, and his savings. Coming home wasn't exactly what he wanted to do. They don't have the cutest meet cute, it's rough, and they don't get off to an easy start. The slow burn is amazing. I found myself melting into the story, wishing I could be there watching their love bloom. It was such a treat. Definitely a favorite of the year.

This boom was provided to me by NetGalley, but all opinions and reviews are my own.

This was a feel good cozy and entertaining quick read in a stunning setting.
I did however prefer the secondary characters to main characters Cordelia & Niall who I struggled to warm to & felt the relationship between the two was a bit too rushed, it could have been built up to a bit more.

I loved this so much! Cornelia and Niall were so cute. I loved how obsessed they are with each other.

Their relationship was so beautiful and I loved getting to see them grow together.

Niall's grandmother also cracked me up. There was so much humor in this book and it made the story all the more charming.

4.5/5

I was so excited about this book and its premise. I was so disappointed to find the main characters very annoying. I also had whiplash with the instant hate and instant love. It just lost me. I will not be reviewing this book on my social media accounts.