Sara Goodman Confino does it again! I was so excited to receive an ARC of Good Grief because I feel like everything I’ve read by SGC is gold. Barbara and Ruth are the unlikeliest of duos yet it just works! It’s been two years since Barbara’s husband passed away and she’s ready to enter the real world again. But her plans are thwarted when her MIL Ruth shows up insistent that Barbara still needs help. What ensues is a blast. A concoction of laughter, tears, frustration, heartstring pulling Barbara and Ruth learn to embrace each other and their unconventional new village. I absolutely loved this read and highly recommend!

Sara Goodman Confino is one of my most favorite authors, and Helen Laser is one of my most favorite narrators, so I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book to review! And of course, neither of these ladies disappointed me in the least!

With her trademark humor and heart, Sara Goodman Confino gives us the story of Barbara and Ruth, two grieving women a generation apart living under the same roof. Barbara’s husband Harry died unexpectedly two years earlier and, slowly emerging from her grief, Barbara feels ready to move forward without her mother’s help. As soon as her mother returns home, Harry’s mother Ruth arrives at Barbara’s home with an offer to stay and help with the children. Barbara hesitantly agrees, hoping the visit will be short, but what ensues is nothing short of hilarious and heartwarming.

Ruth absolutely steals the show in this story! She is stubborn and does and says the most outrageous things but is somehow also very charming and endearing. I think if I were Barbara I would have murdered her on the 2nd day (or definitely after the shower incident!), but Barbara has the patience of a saint. As the story progresses, we learn that both women are secretly trying to set the other up with a new man, possibly for different reasons, and the secondary characters add another layer of fun and interest. Helen Laser’s performance was fantastic, I loved the accent she used to give Ruth her sassy persona!

This is definitely a winner for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, strong women, sassy older characters, and a lot of humor.

4.5 stars

I absolutely adore Sara Goodman Confino's books and am always excited for a new release! Good Grief has everything I look for in her stories. I love the historical fiction mixed with some romance and strong female lead characters. The story brings out all of the emotions. I cried and laughed out loud.
This was a character driven story and all the characters were well developed. I felt so connected to everyone, especially Barbara and her mother in law.
I listened to the audiobook and Helen Laser did an amazing job bringing the story to life.



Thank you to Brilliance Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I need More Sara Goodman Confino

🧳Humor
🧳Historical Fiction
🧳Loss
🧳Family
🧳Jewish Representation
🧳Light Romance

Barbara Lost the father to her childern and the Love of her life 2 years ago, her mother who helped her is moving out, Before taking a breath her eastern European mother in Law moves in... Her ways and thoughts initially Rub Barbara the wrong way, Both suffering Loss both women decide to become matchmakers.

I loved the Jewish representation, the meals they made made my mouth water.... Barbara is so selfless and kind and such a wonderfull mother you are cheering her on to get her HEA all the way through, Ruth although abrasive hides a heart of gold and good intentions - I love how the women come together and how they find alot of common ground between them, i also loved the Cameos from other characters into this book from previously published Novels - this Author has fastly become an auto buy author for me and i anticipate whats comming next!!!!!

The year is 1963 and 2 years since Barbara Feldman’s husband has died. Her mother has left to go home and she is determined to make it on her own with her 2 young children. That is until she returns home to see her mother in law on her doorstep with 5 large suitcases and a plan to stay indefinitely. In a comedy of errors, Barbara is trying to get her mother in law Ruth to leave and Ruth is trying to marry off Barbara in true Jewish grandma fashion.

This books was such a sweet and hilarious touch on grief and also exactly how you can imagine a meddling Jewish mother in law in the 60’s would be. It had me cracking up the whole time, Ruth and Barbara’s dynamic was perfect. It’s definitely worth the read!

This story was everything. It made me sad, frustrated (on behalf of the characters), laugh, and feel empowered. I would have finished this one in a full day if I hadn't had so many adulting responsibilities get in the way. This is a story of empowerment, of second chances, of struggles and prevailing. Barbara and her MIL start off on the wrong foot but they slowly come to understand each other better through all of the obstacles that living together brings. Both having lost their husband (both Barbara ad Ruth) and son (Ruth), both want to help the other move on from grief (if for different reasons but at the bottom of it all, with the best of intentions), and during a time when it was frowned upon for a woman to be single for too long and working. They each struggle at different times and for different reasons, but ultimately come together and their relationship mends and blossoms. It is a beautiful story about two very different women, standing up for each other, cheering the other one on while simultaneously wanting them out of their immediate space lol. This is a must read for all women out there. I will be reading this author's backlog ASAP.

https://www.beyondSet in 1963, we open with widowed mother, Barbara, bidding farewell to her mother after two years of enlisting her help with her two young kids after the death of her husband. Prepared to pick up the pieces of life and move past her grief, she was not expecting to see her MIL show up on her doorstep the very next day.

Having lost her husband when her only child was young, Ruth believes she knows the best way to help Barbara – but her efforts drive Barbara crazy. Then Barbara hatches a plan; if she can marry Ruth off, she’ll have to leave her alone. Except Ruth has the same plan for Barbara.

Bad matchmaking, disgusting meals, and hysterical at-home conflicts ensue as both women try to their hardest to show they know best.

Trigger Warnings
Death of a Spouse

Why Kirsten loves it
The Mother-in-law/ Daughter-in-law relationship was done so well in this story. I loved how the women were brought closer by helping one another through their grief. I was worried this story would be too sad, but it was poignant AND funny without being depressing.thebookends.com/nonfiction-fiction-books-about-grief/

[Really liked it]

A character driven book but with so much charm! The characters were well-developed and kept the story interesting. This author is becoming a must-read for me. The narration of the audiobook was also excellent. I recommend adding this to your TBR! Out Aug 26.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars

Trigger warnings; death, grief and miscarriage

I absolutely loved this book! Sara Goodman Confino has quickly become one of my favorite authors and this book is so well done with humor, realistic parts and amazing family dynamics.

This book is a mix of women's fiction, historical fiction and a bit of romance. I find so much joy in the characters she creates and the multigenerational characters. The audiobook was so well done and I loved that the narrator did so many different voices.

Two years after the sudden death of her husband, Barbara is ready to emerge into the world again. When her mother-in-law, Ruth, arrives at her door, ready to move in, Barbara finds it impossible to tell her no. Soon Ruth is creating chaos trying to find a new husband for her daughter-in-law, while Barb is trying to find a way to nicely tell her MIL to leave.

This book felt so unique and new to me. I went into this book blind and had no idea where the book was headed and I was along for the ride. Filled with emotional depth, I was rooting for both Barb and Ruth to find themselves after loss. I also truly loved the friendship between Barb and her best friend and the scenes with the two kids Susie and Bobby were so fun! At first I didn't like Ruth but I grew to love her and after seeing her side, I found myself rooting for her too!

While this book is about grief, it is done so beautifully with humor and heart in the story. I definitely recommend this book and it would make for a great book club book too!

Read this book if you like:
-books set in the 1960's
-found family
-second chance at love
-humor in fiction
-feel good stories
-stories about grief and overcoming the past

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for my gifted copy!

Every once in a while, you stumble across a book that hits you right in the heart — Good Grief is one of those rare treasures.

Sara Goodman Confino has a gift for balancing light and dark, laughter and loss, in a way that feels completely human. This story of two widows, both navigating the messy, awkward, and often painfully funny process of living again - is tender, raw, and unexpectedly uplifting. One moment I was wiping away a tear, the next I was laughing out loud. Grief is hard to write about with honesty and hope, but this novel does it with grace.

And then there’s Ruth. Oh, Ruth. She’s sharp-tongued, salty, and impossible not to love. Yes, she’s prickly, and yes, she probably would’ve terrified me in real life, but on the page? She absolutely stole the show. Her tough-love approach and deeply buried heart of gold reminded me that sometimes the people who challenge us the most are also the ones who help us grow the most.

Good Grief is warm, wise, and a witty reminder that healing rarely looks the way we expect it to — and that sometimes, the people we need most show up when we least expect them.

Highly, highly recommended for anyone who enjoys stories about found family, complicated friendships, and the messy, beautiful reality of starting over.

🎧 Helen Laser narrated and did a brilliant job of giving these characters a voice!

Two years after the sudden death of her husband, Barbara Feldman is ready to emerge into the world again. When her mother-in-law, Ruth, arrives at her door, ready to move in, Barbara finds it impossible to tell her no. Soon Ruth is creating chaos trying to find a new husband for her daughter-in-law, while Barb is trying to find a way to politely kick her to the curb.

I always count on Sara Goodman Confino to deliver a laugh-out-loud story filled with humor and heart. Whether set in the present, like For the Love of Friends, or deep in the past like Behind Every Good Man, it is impossible not to find yourself utterly charmed with both the setting and the story, but even more so, with the quirky and relatable characters that fill the pages. And Good Grief is no exception.

The story of a widower and single mom living with her matchmaker mother-in-law felt so unique and ripe for a character-rich story, but one also filled with emotional depth. After all, both of our MCs are dealing with the grief they feel over the loss of one man, son, and husband. The comedy of errors that ensues, along with the mother/mother-in-law balancing act that many can relate to, made the story simultaneously entertaining and engaging. By the end, I found myself shedding tears, a sign that I had developed a significant connection to both Barbara and Ruth.

🎧 As is always the case with Confino’s books, Good Grief is equally fantastic on audio. The magnificent Helen Laser complements this already fabulous story brilliantly; her narration the added sparkle that makes this story shine even brighter.

Read if you like:
▪️1960s suburbia
▪️second chance at love
▪️stories about overcoming grief
▪️found family
▪️humorous fiction
▪️feel-good stories
▪️The Odd Couple

Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the advanced copy.

i think the best way to sum up this book is: absolutely delightful!

sara goodman confino handles grief with such honesty and care. there’s humor, compassion, and a deep sense of community throughout the story— and i just loved that. as someone who’s experienced loss, this book reminded me how often we don’t know what we need in our grief or how to even ask for it. but one thing’s for sure: community matters and this book shows that beautifully.

this is my second book by confino but baby it won’t be my last! 🥹🫶🏾

⭐️ 4.5 stars!!

Sara Goodman Confino has done it again! I absolutely adore her and this book is her best yet. I don’t know how that’s possible because her last book was the best but for some reason, she keeps getting better and better and every book leaves a mark on my soul.

🎧Song Pairing: The End of The World - Skeeter Davis

💭What I thought would happen:

I thought loss of a parent or husband and the MC goes on a wild adventure. I did not think the luggage belonged to the mother of the dead husband. Because if my MIL came to be with me wellllll….it would actually be fine (she’s a delight)

📖What actually happens:

😭Loss of a husband
👵🏻MIL comes to stay
✡️Jewish rep
✌🏻1960s

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

I shall follow Sara into the fires of Mordor if she wants. So obviously I had no chill when I got this on my NetGalley.

I liked it! I flew through it in a day. Was it Behind Every Good Man? Nooooo (but there was a cameo from my fav woman in politics). Was it on brand with the rest of her books? Absolutely. I always align summer with a sassy Jewish woman on the 60s.

One of my favourite sub tropes or character additions is a little old lady that isn’t afraid to say what she’s thinking. They make for great comedy. Are they going to destroy you with their candour or make you weep with their death? Grannies 4eva

Pick it up. Pick all of her books of mmmk?!

Sara always brings on a flood of emotions for me and I loved every single one of them in this book. I loved the way she wrote the different experiences of grief and how they are unique to each person. I also loved the process of growth and learning to live and love again. It's heartbreaking, but also beautiful. She also includes her trademark sense of humor and quirky brand of family drama that I adore (IYKYK). If you haven't read any of her books yet, this is a great one to start with. The audiobook is phenomenal and I highly recommend it!

Sara Goodman Confino does it again! Another story of a strong Jewish woman forging her own path in a time where this was not the norm. I love Sara's characters and Barbara and Ruth really gave me such a kick - their dynamic was fun and engaging (and enraging at times)! I really enjoy that Confino writes older characters and not the 20-somethings so prevalent these days!

Sara Goodman Confino has another hit with Good Grief! When a book can make me both laugh and cry, you know that the story and its characters are ones that I will remember for a long time.

It’s 1963. Barbara’s husband died very young, two years before the book starts. This hit home for me, as I lost a dear cousin that way (his father also had a bad heart and he inherited it, just like in this book). Barbara has two young children and her mother came to stay with her (FOR TWO YEARS!!) while she tried to pick up the pieces of her life. Barbara is finally ready to resume life without her mother’s 24-7 presence, and then her mother-in-law Ruth shows up without warning - with a lot of suitcases. Ruth obviously plans to stay for quite a while, and Barbara initially can’t wait to get her out of her home. Of course, things change. Gradually.

Confino explores grief, of course, but also learning to accept help from others, the value of community, appreciating the little moments of joy, the value of empathy, and more. She explores the difficulties of single parenthood, which is still a concern today. She also illuminates the limitations put on women in 1963 and beyond, in both personal life and in the workplace. I’m significantly younger than Barbara, but I still remember how stinging some of these things were, when I was just starting out (like not being able to get a department store credit card in my name or having to start as a secretary despite by college degree) and the discomfort of having to wear things like stockings and a garter belt!

The misguided efforts at matchmaking truly made me laugh. Another plus for me was the matter-of-fact Jewish representation. So refreshing. And if you’ve read some of her other books, you’ll be delighted at the mentions of characters you know from those books - and an appearance by one of them!

My husband and I listened to the audiobook version during a recent road trip and we were both entranced and absorbed in the story. Helen Laser did a great job with all the accents and voices.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book and to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

“Death and taxes may have been the two certainty in life, but if I were in charge, husbands, and pets would live exactly as long as we did.”

“On one hand, I didn’t care if she moved in with the devil himself as long as it got her out of my house.”

“I’m in my prime. You’re a little past yours, but I’m willing to overlook that.”

“I think this is grandma’s best brisket yet. It’s like chewing gum. I love chewing gum.”

“No one ever won a medal in the grief race Olympics.”

“She’s the closest I’ve got.” ❤️❤️

Thanks to @getredpr @lakeunionauthors @netgalley for my #gifted #arc in exchange for an honest review.

In short…I loved it.

I loved the characters and their growth. I truly grew to love all of the characters over the course of the story. I just loved the pacing and the entire sentiment of the book.

The message was very (1) there is life after the loss of your partner, (2) new love can show up in unexpected places and (3) people can surprise you in the best ways if you let them.

This book was heartfelt and just lovely.

*it took me forever to finish this book but that was because I was crazy busy and is no reflection on how good the book was because trust me it was really good.

Barbara, widowed at just 26, has mixed feelings about sending her mother home, after she gave up two years of her own life to help her grieving daughter manage her life and widowhood. No sooner has Barbara waved her mother off than her mother-in-law shows up to “help.” The stack of five suitcases she brings implies this might not be just a short visit. Ruth is a terrible cook, critical of Barbara’s parenting, and she brings home a puppy. While loving with her grandchildren Susie and Bobby, Ruth is characterized as utterly without boundaries with her daughter-in-law: she rearranges the living room with Barbara is at work; stores popcorn in the oven, causing a small fire that requires repairing; and then overrides Barbara’s light yellow paint choice for cartoon fruit and vegetable wallpaper. When Ruth discloses she’s lost the house and intends to stay indefinitely, it’s feels like the last straw—and then she starts matchmaking so her daughter-in-law won’t be lonely anymore, even though she has lived as a widow after the untimely loss of her own husband Abe, also at a young age, similar to Barbara's loss of husband Harry.

Laser’s narration is excellent. Her voicing of smart, funny widow Barbara, moves from sweet with her children to breathy with her love interest to infuriated and concerned with her “horrible” mother-in-law. Russian-born Ruth’s old world accent is authentic and drippings with love for her grandchildren, and frustration with Barbara, but she’s also sly and cunning and warm.

The Jewish details are set in context of the time period, with Shabbat observance, keeping kosher, and sprinklings of Yiddish and Hebrew; Ruth’s family escaped Europe but her father couldn’t find work as a rabbi, and her trauma informs her portrayal with poignancy. The generational trauma and anti-Semitism is balanced with many laugh-out-loud funny moments. A subplot about a doctor who sexually harasses the nurses and volunteers adds a satisfying layer of women's lib. In trying to marry off Ruth, Barbara has to face the reality of her own loneliness, and starts to see her best friend's brother Eddie, who has gone out of his way to help her with husbandly things, in a new light. On the subject of husbands and remarriage, when Joseph Green inevitably proposes to Ruth, she panics, first admitting she doesn't want to go through the devastating loss of a spouse again, and then pointing out she doesn’t need another husband. “They’re good for opening pickle jars,” Barbara points out. “So is a whack with a spoon,” utters Ruth darkly.

The relationships, romantic and not, are intertwined and resolve very satisfactorily. This is one of the best self-published novels I’ve ever read. Goodman is a keen observer of the human condition, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

I received a free audiobook review copy of #GoodGrief via #NetGalley courtesy of #BrillianceAudio. A review will post to HLBB on 8/26/2025.

Helen Laser delivers another top-tier narration—she nails the emotional nuance and really brings Barbara’s voice to life.

Set in the 1960s, Good Grief comes packed with “a woman’s place is in the kitchen” energy, along with a healthy dose of pushback against that mindset. It fits the era and gives the story a little bite.

Barbara, widowed for two years and finally about to get her footing (read: her mom’s moving out), finds herself saddled with her mother-in-law Ruth, who shows up uninvited and unrelenting. Cue the power struggle.

This isn't a super deep dive into grief, motherhood, or feminist awakening—it skims the surface of all those themes—but it’s a pleasant, easy listen. What worked for me was watching Barbara’s relationship with Ruth evolve from dread to grudging respect and love.

3.5 stars, rounded up because while it didn’t shake my soul, it did make me smile—and sometimes that’s enough.