Dear Amy Ewing,

Cordelia’s beloved father died suddenly two years earlier. Since then, she has been stuck, grieving and unable to move on. Her career as a street photographer stalled and she lost a lot of followers and income as a result. She’s been unable to post anything on Instagram since her father’s death and she needs to kickstart her life. So when the opportunity for a summer in Inishmore, Ireland comes up, she takes it.

Cordelia never goes anywhere without her camera; apart from it being essential to her in terms of who she is and her art, it was a gift from her father. She has his thumbprint laminated and stuck on the “click” button and it reminds her of him every time she uses it. So, when she arrives in Inishmore and is bumped by a guy also getting off the ferry and her camera falls to the ground smashing the lens, she is devastated and angry. This is Cordelia’s “meet-not-cute” with Niall. Needless to say, the couple do not get off to a good start.

Cordelia has a significant and deep connection to that camera and she is considerably upset over the damage to it, but once she assures herself it can be repaired back in New York and she gets a new camera sent over from Dublin, the old one barely rates a mention. As it happens, there appears to have been something about the old camera holding her back because she finds herself able to enjoy her art again with the new camera and while she’s in Ireland she starts posting again on Instagram, with impressive response from her growing audience.

Inishmore is a very small place and the community is close-knit. The older woman Cordelia is nominally there to keep an eye on barely needs assistance at all. Roisin is a cantankerous and meddling old woman who speaks her mind no matter who she is addressing. I enjoyed her very much in the book but I think in real life I’d be intimidated and wary of crossing her!

The pub owned by Niall’s family is the best place to eat on the island and as Cordelia doesn’t cook, she bumps into Niall over and over again.

When Niall first arrived back on Inishmore, he was not exactly happy to be there. He has a fraught relationship with his dad. His father is overly critical and is disappointed Niall did not wish to stay on the island and take over the family pub (eventually). He was resistive to Niall’s ideas for menu changes before Niall left and Niall doesn’t hold out much hope anything has changed since. Niall left the island to try his luck on the mainland, working his way up in the kitchen until he finally had the chance to open his own place, serving his own food. And then he walked in on his his fiancee and business partner having sex on the floor of their soon-to-be-opened restaurant and everything turned to crap. He lost his business, his fiancee and his home (he and Shannon lived together) in one fell swoop. He’s devastated and has come home to lick his wounds. Given his relationship with his dad, he is waiting for an “I told you so” type moment which will just add insult to injury.

Considering how broken Niall is when he first arrives back in Inishmore (almost the first thing he does when he gets home is to put his head in his hands and cry), it was a surprise how quickly he was ready to move on once he met Cordelia (well, once she and he started to forge a friendship at least – which was not very long after they both got to the island). All of a sudden, he’s feeling free and lighter than ever. He’s no longer pining over Shannon and he’s all in for Cordelia. It was a little too quick for me. He does still mourn the loss of his business. In the end I decided Niall mustn’t have loved Shannon all that much.

Niall and Cordelia were good together. I liked how Cordelia stuck up for Niall with his father one night at a shared dinner. Niall’s dad was a bit taken aback by this but it did lead to him rethinking his behaviour and, with additional encouragement from Niall’s mother and from Roisin, he takes steps to repair his relationship with his son.

Once Cordelia and Niall admit their attraction, they enjoy an idyllic few weeks – he begins to teach her to cook, they explore more of the island together, she takes loads of photographs – many of him – and #Irishhottie trends in her Insta feed.

Her heart was racing, unable to believe this was really happening, unable to compute that he was telling her he felt the same way she did. “But I’m only here until the end of August,” she said. “What then?”

“I don’t think we need to go worrying about that just yet,” Niall said. “You might not like me anymore in a couple of months.”

“I already didn’t like you,” she pointed out. “And look where that got us.”

After that initial discussion, they don’t talk about it again until Cordelia’s return to New York is imminent. The conflict here was not unexpected but both of them made some odd decisions which felt like they were needed for plot reasons rather than anything else and, in the case of the oddest one, from Niall, it was just a bit over the top and too spontaneous for my taste. I didn’t quite get the “all or nothing” of it. There are times when a couple not having a discussion makes sense in a story but I didn’t feel the setup here explained why they chose not to talk to one another about some things and in other cases, I felt Niall gave in too easily when the answer was staring him in the face.

I enjoyed Cordelia’s photography and Niall’s cooking – both were very skilled and deserving of success in their respective fields. I also liked Pocket – the border collie who played her own part in Cordelia and Niall’s romance. Pocket was a very good dog. I liked both Niall’s and Cordelia’s parental problems were resolved in the story in ways that made sense. While I understood Cordelia feeling resentful to her mother’s boyfriend, it had been two years since Cordelia’s dad had died and it felt unreasonable of Cordelia to give her mum such a hard time about it. On the other hand, her mother’s constant harping about Cordelia finding love herself was definitely obnoxious.

The broader cast in Inishmore were also enjoyable to read about. Colin in particular was a charmer. I also enjoyed Cordelia’s best friend back home in New York, Liz.

The Irish Goodbye had three very distinct acts; unfortunately each one didn’t – quite – smoothly flow into the other and the book felt a little disjointed and forced in places. There were things to like but it didn’t wow me either. Funnily enough, I think this book would work better as a Netflix movie. The things that were thin in the book would be expected on film and with a little adaptation (I’m looking at you Niall) I’d happily watch it.

Grade: C

Regards,
Kaetrin

This was a delightful and heartwarming read!
I loved all the characters so very much in this book!
I read this in one night, and merely took the morning off to sleep in - It was worth it.
Added to my favorites - feel good read.

This is a delightful rom/com that takes readers through the journey of dealing with grief and loss to self discovery which includes learning to love. Cordelia has lost her adored father and her professional life is declining. She takes an assignment in Ireland I. Hopes to gain re-focus and rediscover the joy of her work. Her first encounter is with Niall, who has a definite chip on his shoulder due to the loss of his big dream and the betrayal of who he that was the love of his life. Cordelia and Niall collided causing instantaneous dislike. However as they grow to understand themselves, they learn about each other through the distinct and well-developed townspeople in the story. Soon their encounters turn to understanding, respect, friendship and eventually love. The Irish setting and townspeople added warmth to a fun read..

Still reeling from her father’s death, Cordelia James is still just a shell of her old self. As a renowned street photograper in NYC, Cordelia now doesn’t even want to pick up her camera or leave her apartment. That is until she sees an add for a 3-month gig on Inishmore Island to look after a small cottage and it’s elderly owner. Without giving it a second thought, Cordelia takes to the air and heads to Ireland. Things get off to a bumpy start when she steps onto the island and literally right into Niall O’Connor and drops her beloved camera. Niall finds himself back on the island after his ex-fiancee destroys his life and business ventures. He is looking for solitude, not annoying American tourists. Inishmore is small and it’s only a matter of time before they cross paths again and again. Slowly, both Cordelia and Niall drop their tough exterior and things between them begin to heat up. Perhaps they actually have more in common than they think and in the span of one summer they could help heal each other.

This was one of those books that made me want to go purchase an airline ticket and head to Ireland immediately. Perhaps I can meet my own Niall while I’m at it. While Cordelia and Niall were great, I think Roison stole the show. That woman had spunk and was absolutely amazing. This one had a lot of Irish language thrown in which made it more fun and authentic. T

My first read from Amy Ewing and it was, dare I say, possibly TOO good?? Considering my bags are now packed for Inishmore (not actually, but a girl can dream 😅).

This book is perfect for lovers of: forced proximity, small *Irish* town charm and grumpy x sunshine tropes! A little note: I really loved the side characters in this book and thought they brought a lot of vibrancy to the main story. A lot of humor and even more heart were woven into this book.

I thought the love story between Niall & Cordelia felt so natural. They just slowly wormed their way into each other's lives so seamlessly until they realized that the other person wasn't just a friend, but their "person."

Also, there was a pup named Pocket. How stinkin’ cute is that??

I've seen it said before – If you liked the movie Leap Year, this is 1000% the summer read for you! Just trust me, you're going to be obsessed with this one.

The Irish Goodbye had me looking at flights to Ireland. It’s a cute street about finding your happy.

Although I enjoyed it the plot seemed rushed and the secondary characters were more interesting than the main characters.

The Irish Goodbye by Amy Ewing was a delightful romantic comedy.
This book was an absolute delight to read. The story was fast-paced enough for me to enjoy every second but also took enough time to establish everything. The characters are endearing and entertaining. I loved their chemistry.

Thank You NetGalley and Alcove Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Good luck putting this second Irish book of the day down! Think of it like a cozy romance- once you start reading, you just keep turning the pages until suddenly you realize you're on the last chapter! It's a classic tourist puts aside her normal life to come to Ireland for a short term gig, out of her norm, to see what she wants in life, and meets a charming local. Only in this case, the charming local, is her charge, and the uncouth local who has returned home with his life in tatters, is really the one who gets her heart racing. You'll spend the novel hoping these two get together, and then hoping they don't at the same time! But as we know Irish goodbyes last forever, and maybe Cordelia and Niall and have theirs too.

I went on thinking it must be like one of my favorite movies, "Leap Year," but sadly it wasn't anything like it.

Sorry to say but this wasn't for me.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an absolute pleasure to read. Cordelia Is a gifted photographer who got stuck in her own grief and decides to spend the summer across the sea in Inishmore. Niall returns to Inishmore like a dog with tail tucked between his legs after his dreams fall apart in Dublin. The two of them quite literally collide and their animosity blooms. However, they are forced to interact quite frequently on the small island and slowly learn how to value the other. While there wasn’t explosive chemistry, Cordelia and Niall had a quiet friendship build that fell into a romance. They both had massive growth throughout the book and their journeys were incredibly sweet. The supporting cast really added to the storyline and contributed some humor as well. I think the book was a touch too long, but did really showcase Ireland well. Overall, this book is so well done and I would highly recommend reading it! 4.25⭐️, 2🌶

This was my first Amy Ewing book and I really enjoyed it. She builds really fun characters and a very strong story. I look forward to reading more for her in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

good mystery and i loved the friends too. I really enjoyed the romance and how it solved . I also loved reading this author. Really enjoyed her friends. Great book.

not only was this a fun romance book with good spice and tension, but it was also a powerful message about grief and self love. enemies to lovers is my all time favorite trope and this book captured it perfectly. opposites truly attracted and the side characters made it that much better!

☘️enemies to lovers
☘️Irish chef/American tourist
☘️opposites attract
☘️dual pov

The Irish Goodbye was a decent read. Ewing did a fabulous job describing Inishmore. I felt like I was there with Cordelia. I adored Roisin’s character. She really made the book for me! As for the other side characters, they were a hit or miss. I thought there could have been more development with a few of them. I did find Cordelia’s relationship with her mother confusing. I found it odd that Cordelia kept switching between “mother” and “Louise” in her thoughts. I thought Cordelia and Niall’s relationship was cute. I liked that there was a tiny slow burn. Once they got together (halfway through the book), I was worried the story would go downhill. Ewing added enough plot points to make the second-half of the story interesting. I did feel that the third act breakup could have been avoided with communication. I also thought the ending could have used an additional chapter. I wish the epilogue was further in the future instead of the next day after the final chapter. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC.

I would like to thank netgalley and Alcove Press for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Entertaining, with a lovely setting.

The Irish Goodbye is a feel-good romance that deals with grief and loss.

Cordelia is mourning the loss of her father and finding herself without her usual knack for creativity in her career. To reset herself, she travels to Inishmore Island to stay in a cottage for 3 months and keep an eye on a local’s grandmother while she stays.

Amy Ewing did a lovely job on the descriptions of Inishmore and the residents, I really felt the warmth and joy emanating from them. The imagery of the scenery was so evocative, this could be the world’s best travel advertisement! Not to mention Róisín was an absolute delight, she was that sassy, gritty grandma we all need in our lives.

Where this lost me was the lack of emotional connection between Cordelia and Niall. Although they spoke of their connection and the characters themselves were well developed, I think the novel lacked some scenes to build that bond between them. They seemed to go from 0 to 100 and it felt so rushed that the third act breakup basically gave me whiplash.

I was not a big fan of this enemies to lovers romance. It is my favorite troupe and with the setting being in Ireland I thought it would be perfect. I will say I did love the crazy old neighbor. She was super feisty and full of life. I didn't enjoy the story of Niall being the let down son to his parents. As someone who has lost their dad at a young age, I can relate to Cordelia's grief and how she experienced it. The romance between Cordelia and Niall happened very quickly and seemed odd. Didn't enjoy the third act break-up either. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my ALC of this story which will release on 6/4/24.

“The Irish Goodbye” by Amy Ewing was a cute and quick read, perfect for summer. I studied abroad in Ireland almost 15 years ago and reading this just made me want to go back.

I really enjoyed this book overall. The first half of the book was fun and funny. I laughed out loud and grinned like crazy throughout the book. I loved the side characters and I thought it followed some deeper themes as well with grief and parent-child relationships in a realistic way. The second half of the book I didn’t love as much. I don’t think we got to really experience Cordelia and Niall in their relationship. It was all sexual chemistry. Also they so easily communicated in the first half of the book, but then the 3rd act came and they didn’t.

I would definitely recommend this book to friends or book clubs for a fun summer read. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC! 3.5 stars!

4 stars!

"The Irish Goodbye" by Amy Ewing is a wonderful, cute, emotional book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. While it can be frilly and fun at times, it also has a lot of mature, serious undertones to it. It has a lot to say about grief and moving on, about loss and second chances (in love AND in life). I enjoyed the main female character, Cordelia, who lives in New York City and jumps at the chance to flee to Inishmore, Ireland for a summer gig so she can reconnect to her life and soul after the loss of her father. I also loved Niall, a grumpy chef who has had his life and everything in it snatched from under him after multiple simultaneous heartbreaks at the hands of the same person. At first, you really don't like Niall at all. He is brusk, curt, and a bit of a jerk, but second chances are such that his grumpiness is explained away, so you see his point of view and come to understand what made him standoffish and made him have his walls up so high. You feel for both of them. Niall's world has crashed down around him, and he must heal from his losses. Cordelia, who has a lot of internet success with her photography, feels disconnected and untethered after her dad's death. As they embark on their own healing journeys, they find solace in each other where they once saw only the worst in one another. Cordelia and Niall also rediscover their passion and love for photography and cooking, respectively, as they fall in love with each other. There's quite a lot of complexity in this book! The romance aspect takes its time to get going, but I enjoyed Cordelia and Niall's journey from enemies to lovers. It's sweet, and often bittersweet, but frequently swoon-worthy. The travel and wanderlust aspects here are excellent as well. You really get the sense of the community of Inishmore and the country of Ireland, from the people to the weather to the customs and connections. All of the secondary characters are well-written and don't feel like random characters who come and go as they please. They are integral to the plot and to Niall and Cordelia's stories. A wonderful little book that I encourage you to read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Ewing, and Alcove Press for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This book is one of the best contemporary romances I've read in a long time! Perfect setting, perfect characters, a bit of angst but not too much.... the ending felt a little like slow torture but it gave me what I wanted eventually! You will not be disappointed if you want some swoon and read this book!!

The Irish Goodbye comes out next week on June 4, 2024, and you can purchase HERE! I love this book!

He laughed and she raised the camera again. He tried to ignore it—he wanted to be a good sport. And okay, maybe it was nice knowing that she was looking at him, piecing him into the minor adjustments she made as she crouched or turned or stepped to one side. The clouds roiled overhead and thin drops of rain began to spit down on them. Cordelia pulled up the hood of her raincoat.

"D'you want to go back?" Niall asked.

"What for?" she said. "It's just a bit of rain." She took one more picture, then tucked her camera away inside her jacket.

A swooping sensation looped around his ribs. He rubbed his chest and remembered the iron spring that used to live there, winding tighter and tighter until he could hardly breathe.

When had it disappeared? He couldn't quite recall.

But as he climbed over the rocks, bantering with Cordelia and tossing stones out into the ocean, he found he wasn't missing it one bit. He kept himself together now.

Healing, Cordelia had called this place.

Well, he thought as he watched her pick up a stone and throw it out into the sea, maybe she was onto something there.