I cannot believe this is a debut!
There's something amazing about writing the pov of three sisters who are all uniquely themselves but also similar, and to convey that so well that I wouldn't have to look at the names or the scenarios to tell which sisters chapter I was currently reading. I love books with multiple pov where I do not grown tired of any of them. I cared for, or at least wanted to hear more of, each of the sisters (although, us middle daughters will find something in Alice that clicks so much it stings).
And without spoiling it, the moment when the title comes into play hit like a dagger to the chest and immediately brought tears to my eyes.
I could keep gushing about this book for forever, and am very grateful for the arc. I hope others will be impacted as I was. Again, it is crazy to me that this is the first full novel by O'Neill. But that does mean it leaves me antsy to see what she does next!

I love a book filled with family drama, and The Irish Goodbye delivered just that, layered with grief, old wounds, and the search for closure after tragedy. Told through multiple POVs, we get a full picture of each sibling’s journey, which added so much depth and emotion. Set on Long Island around Thanksgiving, the story has a cozy seasonal warmth, even as it navigates some heavy, heartfelt themes. A moving, emotional read about the ties that both bind and break us.

This is a beautiful family drama. The Ryan sisters are back together for Thanksgiving holiday they haven’t seen each other in years. Years ago, there was a tragedy, when their brother’s friend was killed in a boating accident.
Cait invites a friend to the Thanksgiving feast. He happens to be the brother of the boy that was killed in the tragedy Old wounds are opened as the sisters share their stories. This story is told in alternating POV’s between the sisters. Cait, Maggie and Alice. Each sister has a story to tell as secrets are revealed. Emotions run high.
This is a heartfelt debut book that was beautifully written. It just drew me right in. I loved the setting on Long Island, as I live there. I enjoyed the relationships the sisters had loved reading about the drama.
Thank you to Henry Holt and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.
Highly recommended.

I flew through this debut. In some ways, it felt like too many books I've read lately: deal with trauma to move forward, on a somewhat predictable arc. But I was still interested to find out what happened next for each member of this family.

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Irish Goodbye." The three main characters, who are sisters, exhibit notable differences while also sharing certain similarities. They come together with their aging parents for a Thanksgiving celebration, but their lives have been profoundly impacted by a tragedy that occurred many years prior, creating a rift within the family. This tragedy has influenced their lives in ways they may not fully comprehend. As they attempt to address their differences during this holiday gathering, tensions rise and emotions run high. If you appreciate family stories that delve into themes of drama and the long-lasting effects of trauma, this book is a must-read.

I extend my gratitude to Net Galley and the publisher for providing the ARC for my reading and review. This is my genuine assessment.

A solid family drama for a debut. Three adult sisters Cait, Alice and Maggie return home for Thanksgiving weekend 25 years after a childhood friend, Daniel died and more than a decade after their brother Topher took his life out of guilt from his role in Daniel’s death. They all arrive carrying the issues from their unresolved grief with them. Alice is faced with an unwanted pregnancy and a stagnant marriage in her 40s. Maggie is a lesbian bringing home her girlfriend to meet the family and gain the acceptance of her mother. And Cait, a divorcee with two young twins who fled her family troubles going to Europe comes back and meets up with her teenage crush Luke who was Daniel’s brother. A story about grief, family, sisterhood and ultimately forgiveness. I enjoyed it and look forward to more from this author.

4.5 stars. Set around that most stressful of holidays, Thanksgiving dinner, this novel follows three grown sisters and their parents gathering for a rare meal together at their Long Island home. Old wounds are exposed, new revelations come to light, and it may finally be time to deal with the fallout of their brother’s suicide more than a decade before.

Told in alternating POV with the three sisters. It gave me whiplash every time we switched to a different perspective with a new chapter, and I would need a page or two to remember whatever the big revelation was when we last saw this character. Plus there are flashbacks built into the narrative and I wasn’t always sure which time we were in.

Otherwise this was an assured debut with strong characters and I’ll be watching for her next book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I'm a huge fan of family dramas and have read a lot that have fallen flat due to the page length. I think most family dramas under 300 pages are just overwhelmingly underdeveloped. While I think The Irish Goodbye had a lot of wonderful moments, I think we needed more development especially the parents, and maybe even some POV chapters from both of them. At 288 pages, I think this story accomplished all that it was able to with the limited length. For me personally, I needed more from the characters personalities as well.

I really enjoyed this novel about love, loss, lies and family drama.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is a heartfelt debut about family, loss, and the painful journey toward healing. Over a Thanksgiving weekend, three sisters return to their childhood home, where old wounds and buried secrets resurface in the wake of a tragedy that shattered their lives. As they grapple with guilt, love, and the ties that bind them, this novel explores the complexities of family dynamics and the struggle to forgive—both ourselves and each other. A deeply emotional story of reconciliation and the hope that, even after tragedy, there can be a path forward.

I received a free copy of, The Irish Goodbye, by Heather Aimee O"Neill, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Cait, Alice, and Maggie, are the Ryan sisters, who have been apart for awhile after an incident with their brother Topher. This year will be the first time they are all together in over two decade. This was not a light read at all.

Knowing this was a debut novel when I selected it, I kept my expectations low. However, after reading it twice, I cannot recommend this one enough. A truly promising start!

This is a story of sisterhood, family, and overcoming the traumas — big and small — which shape our lives. Admittedly, I did make a list of characters so I could keep them straight (just in case), but I feel like Ms. O'Neill has enough developed characters in this novel that she could easily visit many of them in subsequent novels if she wished.

Was 'The Irish Goodbye' similar to other novels I've read? Yes. Did I like it enough to read it twice? Also yes. It makes for a good rainy weekend read, and best enjoyed with steaming cups of tea. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

This was an excellent book. I can see it being a read with Jenna or Reese’s book club pick. It has so much more depth than other books that have been coming out. I also love family drama, secrets, etc because it’s relatable in some level!

This is a debut novel. When I read it, I knew I'd like to read more by Heather Aimee O'Neill.

Three adult sisters grapple with a shared tragedy over a Thanksgiving weekend spent in their childhood home, navigating complex relationships and old tensions. Each sister is dealing with her own issues during this weekend, but the heartbreaking event is what happened twenty years prior. Their brother was involved in a boating accident that killed their neighbor's son.

I enjoyed her writing style, and that it was written in different point of views. Highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut from Heather Aimee O'Neill. It was a beautiful exploration of grief and the ways in which it impacts a family. I appreciated the way Heather was able to write complicated characters who at times could be incredibly frustrating on the page, but I still found myself rooting for them and their healing. I also loved that it didn't necessarily get wrapped up in a bow at the end, but as in life, nothing is. A great debut and I can't wait to read more from Heather in the future.

I enjoyed this book, although there were a lot of characters to keep track of. I think this would make a good series, concentrating on what me character at a time.

Three adult sisters have to come to terms with the past and well as the future during Thanksgiving. I enjoyed this one as I love novels about messy family relationships.

I loved this story about a family living after a tragedy that took place years prior. This is story of forgiveness, moving on and acceptance. Had the same feels as Hello Beautiful and Blue Sisters. I could not put it down!

The Irish Goodbye is a touching family drama that dives deep into grief, guilt, and the complicated bonds between sisters. The Ryan women feel real—flawed, stubborn, and trying their best to navigate old wounds while dealing with new struggles. The writing is rich, and the Long Island setting adds a nostalgic, atmospheric feel. Some plot points are a little predictable, and a few emotional moments feel a bit heavy-handed, but overall, it’s an engaging, heartfelt read. If you love messy family dynamics and stories about forgiveness, this one is worth picking up.

I loved this book. This book brought me right into the story of this family who is struggling at Thanksgiving. It was so relatable with aging parents, siblings trying to find their way with their lives and that of their children, a past tragedy and death of a child. I felt each person's anguish and joy. I am so thankful that I picked this book and that I was pick to read it. It will definitely be on my suggestion list for my bookish friends.