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Good Good Loving: 'Massively entertaining' Bernardine Evaristo
Not yet published
Expected 5 Mar 26'MASSIVELY ENTERTAINING' BERNARDINE EVARISTO
'WARM, FUNNY, FULL OF HEART' DIANA EVANS, AUTHOR OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
'PROFOUNDLY MOVING' ANTONIA HODGSON, AUTHOR OF THE RAVEN SCHOLAR
'ABUNDANT IN LOVE, HEART AND SOUL' LISA OWENS, AUTHOR OF NOT WORKING
'HUGELY SATISFYING' BIDISHA
'A TRIUMPH' LISA SMITH, AUTHOR OF JAMAICA ROAD
Ellen's beloved, beautiful, complicated family are gathered around her hospital bed as she prepares to slip away, and boy, is she ready. You'd think she could finally get some peace and quiet, but instead her children have chosen now of all times to have a never-ending discussion about her failings. Every single tiny thing they think she's done wrong over the years - and the one big thing too. After all the sacrifices Ellen has made for every last ungrateful one of them, they still take their father's side. If only they knew the whole story.
Full of big personalities, big mistakes, burning love and quiet heartbreak, Good Good Loving moves backwards in time through some of the most dramatic turning points in the life of Ellen and her family. Their story is as heartrending as it is joyous.
'WARM, FUNNY, FULL OF HEART' DIANA EVANS, AUTHOR OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
'PROFOUNDLY MOVING' ANTONIA HODGSON, AUTHOR OF THE RAVEN SCHOLAR
'ABUNDANT IN LOVE, HEART AND SOUL' LISA OWENS, AUTHOR OF NOT WORKING
'HUGELY SATISFYING' BIDISHA
'A TRIUMPH' LISA SMITH, AUTHOR OF JAMAICA ROAD
Ellen's beloved, beautiful, complicated family are gathered around her hospital bed as she prepares to slip away, and boy, is she ready. You'd think she could finally get some peace and quiet, but instead her children have chosen now of all times to have a never-ending discussion about her failings. Every single tiny thing they think she's done wrong over the years - and the one big thing too. After all the sacrifices Ellen has made for every last ungrateful one of them, they still take their father's side. If only they knew the whole story.
Full of big personalities, big mistakes, burning love and quiet heartbreak, Good Good Loving moves backwards in time through some of the most dramatic turning points in the life of Ellen and her family. Their story is as heartrending as it is joyous.
- GenresContemporaryFiction
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 5, 2026
331 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 19, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
“No one knew better than Ellen how difficult it could be to get your man to keep the zip of his pants up.”
“No one knew better than Ellen how difficult it could be to get your man to keep the zip of his pants up.”
February 14, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
After reading the blurb and then the opening chapter, I was convinced it would be a 5⭐️ read. It begins with Ellen on her deathbed, surrounded by her children, who’ve always taken their father’s side. They don’t know she can still hear them as they talk about how they think she failed as a wife.
Starting from present day, we move backwards through Ellen’s life. We see her journey from Montserrat to the UK, her tumultuous marriage to Clyde, her strained relationship with her mother, and the guilt and grief she’s carried for years. Her family is sooo chaotic and dramatic in a way that feels almost inherited, with every chapter bringing plot twist after plot twist.
Ellen has spent her life avoiding her emotions and burying her traumas but on her deathbed, there’s nowhere left to hide. She revisits key life moments from different angles, circling the same events she never fully processed. With so many characters, this writing style was a bit disorienting, and I want to say this was intentional to reflect Ellen’s circling thoughts though it sometimes felt overdone, especially towards the end.
At the centre of it all was her husband Clyde, a wotless serial cheat. And because most of the Ellen’s reflections - of isolation, grief, betrayal, shame, low self worth - tied back to him, most of the story was about Ellen in relation to him rather than Ellen on her own terms.
But back to the opening scene (my fave!) where everyone was gathered around her bed. I wish we returned to the setting more often, alternating between the hospital room and flashback chapters. That set up would have been perfect to unpack the themes and the family dynamics more deeply.
This would make such a good book club pick. There’s a lot to unpack, and even more I can’t say without spoiling it 😭😭
After reading the blurb and then the opening chapter, I was convinced it would be a 5⭐️ read. It begins with Ellen on her deathbed, surrounded by her children, who’ve always taken their father’s side. They don’t know she can still hear them as they talk about how they think she failed as a wife.
Starting from present day, we move backwards through Ellen’s life. We see her journey from Montserrat to the UK, her tumultuous marriage to Clyde, her strained relationship with her mother, and the guilt and grief she’s carried for years. Her family is sooo chaotic and dramatic in a way that feels almost inherited, with every chapter bringing plot twist after plot twist.
Ellen has spent her life avoiding her emotions and burying her traumas but on her deathbed, there’s nowhere left to hide. She revisits key life moments from different angles, circling the same events she never fully processed. With so many characters, this writing style was a bit disorienting, and I want to say this was intentional to reflect Ellen’s circling thoughts though it sometimes felt overdone, especially towards the end.
At the centre of it all was her husband Clyde, a wotless serial cheat. And because most of the Ellen’s reflections - of isolation, grief, betrayal, shame, low self worth - tied back to him, most of the story was about Ellen in relation to him rather than Ellen on her own terms.
But back to the opening scene (my fave!) where everyone was gathered around her bed. I wish we returned to the setting more often, alternating between the hospital room and flashback chapters. That set up would have been perfect to unpack the themes and the family dynamics more deeply.
This would make such a good book club pick. There’s a lot to unpack, and even more I can’t say without spoiling it 😭😭
February 23, 2026
The book follows Ellen, starting at her death bed, moving through her life and ending just before her funeral. It is quite twisted from a time perspective which I really enjoyed. The book is such a rich read and reminds me so my own chaotic Welsh family, I had no problems with the names, as like many families there are some similarities. It is told from some of her families perspective as well. Racism and sexism run through out the book and both are managed well throughout. I do not feel you need to have experienced either to relate to the book. I think even men who struggle with being faithful will enjoy the book, although I’m not sure they deserve the kindness the book shows them. Although there are consequences and I do appreciate Ellen is complicit in her life experiences and has power and I feel so proud of her. Her kindness to others reminds me of women who constantly put others first. There is a point where she changes and I so emphasise with that process. There are lots of examples where she too is cruel and I want to tell her off and yet the book shows us how that harshness comes about. The gentleness shown towards men and boys is something I think is present in so many cultures and the book doesn’t shy away from this double standard or even preference towards specific children.
Clyde……. Ellen’s husband reminded me of my ex. Enough said.
I took my time deciding whether to read this book, I wasn’t sure if it was aimed at me and whether the theme of death would be too much, so close to my Father’s death. I think death was handled so very well by the author.
I recently read the new Elizabeth Strout book and this feels similar in its depiction of characters and not shying away from the darkness of humans as well as joy. Also both authors write so sympathetically without demonising anyone, well maybe apart from Clyde.
I did struggle a bit with a traumatic birth story but I think if you have had a similar experience you might be able to scan through the chapter, as I did, and then re read when you know the outcome. I am glad I was able to read it through properly on the second go and hopefully most people will be able to.
There is a child death that is foreshadowed from the first chapter that is handled very well.
The reflection of the power of sex on her death bed feels so ….alive. I laughed out loud so early on in this book and although there was sad parts I generally found it a joyful book.
Actually the beginning being her death bed scene was very positive and felt very happy.
The family and the writing feel so vibrant, real and so multi dimensional. I am so hopeful to read more from this author and hope lots of people get to read more from them.
I loved this quote so much
“Leah who had never obeyed, never known her place and in response to almost any request, would ask why? “
I’ve never felt more seen, I spent my life refusing to stop asking why and getting into constant problems.
At the end of the book there is more information and I think I want to re read the book again with all the information and I think it is a book that would benefit from a second read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this advanced copy for free, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
Clyde……. Ellen’s husband reminded me of my ex. Enough said.
I took my time deciding whether to read this book, I wasn’t sure if it was aimed at me and whether the theme of death would be too much, so close to my Father’s death. I think death was handled so very well by the author.
I recently read the new Elizabeth Strout book and this feels similar in its depiction of characters and not shying away from the darkness of humans as well as joy. Also both authors write so sympathetically without demonising anyone, well maybe apart from Clyde.
I did struggle a bit with a traumatic birth story but I think if you have had a similar experience you might be able to scan through the chapter, as I did, and then re read when you know the outcome. I am glad I was able to read it through properly on the second go and hopefully most people will be able to.
There is a child death that is foreshadowed from the first chapter that is handled very well.
The reflection of the power of sex on her death bed feels so ….alive. I laughed out loud so early on in this book and although there was sad parts I generally found it a joyful book.
Actually the beginning being her death bed scene was very positive and felt very happy.
The family and the writing feel so vibrant, real and so multi dimensional. I am so hopeful to read more from this author and hope lots of people get to read more from them.
I loved this quote so much
“Leah who had never obeyed, never known her place and in response to almost any request, would ask why? “
I’ve never felt more seen, I spent my life refusing to stop asking why and getting into constant problems.
At the end of the book there is more information and I think I want to re read the book again with all the information and I think it is a book that would benefit from a second read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this advanced copy for free, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a fabulous read. I never tired of hearing Ellen’s stories. We start out at Ellen’s death bed with all her family around her. As she drifts in and out of consciousness she listens to their chatter and as it says in the description not everything she hears is complimentary. Her family think she can’t hear them, they’re wrong.
Ellen is the matriarch of the family, married to Clyde she came to England from Montserrat in the Caribbean in search of a better life. She left her two young daughters back in the Caribbean and after meeting and marrying Clyde saved and saved until she could bring her two daughters to England to join them. It follows the family’s ups and downs of domestic life through generations of the family across time from Ellen down to her great grandchildren.
Ellen put up with a lot through her life. She was mostly happy but only because she managed very well to turn a blind eye to her husband’s philandering ways. Clyde really was insufferable, not only sleeping with many women, he spent much of his time and their money in pubs but he always came back home and was quite an affable character.
On the whole its a lighthearted book, fun to read and shows us the culture and beliefs of West Indian immigrants to the UK. It illustrates the gradual erosion of that culture with each upcoming generation as they lose some of the values from a time in Ellen’s past. There are however, some quite poignant moments and events along the way as Ellen becomes something of a martyr to Clyde’s thoughtless and errant ways.
Whilst I enjoyed the story very much, with an excellent narrative, I’m not so sure about the way in which it was written. Starting the story at the end of Ellen’s life and working backwards didn’t really sit well with me. It felt confusing at times. Perhaps if it was a paper book that I could easily flick back through chapters to remind me of things that had happened in the future as it were, it might have made it a bit easier to recall things but in an e-book that isn’t so easily done. Things that happened and were said near to the beginning of the book, held relevance in the past but by the time I got half way through I’d forgotten the detail. I would have much preferred the book to have started at the beginning and gone through her life to the end and can’t quite understand why it was written this way. It lost a star for that reason in what would otherwise have been a five star read for me. There is one event that really was unforgiveable as far as Clyde’s actions were concerned, yet we heard little about Ellen’s feelings on that subject. It felt like what would have been a devastating part of her life was just missing.
I did enjoy it though, and one day it would merit a re-read perhaps? Starting at the end of the book and reading my way backwards through the chapters.
Ellen is the matriarch of the family, married to Clyde she came to England from Montserrat in the Caribbean in search of a better life. She left her two young daughters back in the Caribbean and after meeting and marrying Clyde saved and saved until she could bring her two daughters to England to join them. It follows the family’s ups and downs of domestic life through generations of the family across time from Ellen down to her great grandchildren.
Ellen put up with a lot through her life. She was mostly happy but only because she managed very well to turn a blind eye to her husband’s philandering ways. Clyde really was insufferable, not only sleeping with many women, he spent much of his time and their money in pubs but he always came back home and was quite an affable character.
On the whole its a lighthearted book, fun to read and shows us the culture and beliefs of West Indian immigrants to the UK. It illustrates the gradual erosion of that culture with each upcoming generation as they lose some of the values from a time in Ellen’s past. There are however, some quite poignant moments and events along the way as Ellen becomes something of a martyr to Clyde’s thoughtless and errant ways.
Whilst I enjoyed the story very much, with an excellent narrative, I’m not so sure about the way in which it was written. Starting the story at the end of Ellen’s life and working backwards didn’t really sit well with me. It felt confusing at times. Perhaps if it was a paper book that I could easily flick back through chapters to remind me of things that had happened in the future as it were, it might have made it a bit easier to recall things but in an e-book that isn’t so easily done. Things that happened and were said near to the beginning of the book, held relevance in the past but by the time I got half way through I’d forgotten the detail. I would have much preferred the book to have started at the beginning and gone through her life to the end and can’t quite understand why it was written this way. It lost a star for that reason in what would otherwise have been a five star read for me. There is one event that really was unforgiveable as far as Clyde’s actions were concerned, yet we heard little about Ellen’s feelings on that subject. It felt like what would have been a devastating part of her life was just missing.
I did enjoy it though, and one day it would merit a re-read perhaps? Starting at the end of the book and reading my way backwards through the chapters.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a joy to read!
This story, apart from the initial deathbed scene, is told backwards so you know what has happened before you find out the hows or whys. That said, there were two occasions when we didn’t know the real how or why, these being when the philandering Clyde left her, . The final time this happened, it would have been good to have had this explored more, because it was such a treacherous thing to have happened, even after all his other affairs and one night stands. The ultimate betrayal, you might say.
Though there is a lot about the impact on children left behind when their parents go away to earn money, before being reunited with them, as I write this review, I realise this story is more about the impact of Clyde’s womanising on his whole family instead; how his children collude with him against Ellen, how Ellen loses friends and family through it etc. What an awful man he is!
If you decide to read this, and I sincerely hope you do, I suggest you write down a family tree as there are so many people mentioned, some with similar names such as Clyde and Clay (whom I must admit I initially thought were the same person, just a publishing typo), it was very confusing initially. Or try and make sense of my notes below in the first spoiler!
Thoroughly recommended if you like a good story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
This story, apart from the initial deathbed scene, is told backwards so you know what has happened before you find out the hows or whys. That said, there were two occasions when we didn’t know the real how or why, these being when the philandering Clyde left her, . The final time this happened, it would have been good to have had this explored more, because it was such a treacherous thing to have happened, even after all his other affairs and one night stands. The ultimate betrayal, you might say.
Though there is a lot about the impact on children left behind when their parents go away to earn money, before being reunited with them, as I write this review, I realise this story is more about the impact of Clyde’s womanising on his whole family instead; how his children collude with him against Ellen, how Ellen loses friends and family through it etc. What an awful man he is!
If you decide to read this, and I sincerely hope you do, I suggest you write down a family tree as there are so many people mentioned, some with similar names such as Clyde and Clay (whom I must admit I initially thought were the same person, just a publishing typo), it was very confusing initially. Or try and make sense of my notes below in the first spoiler!
Thoroughly recommended if you like a good story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Good good loving by Yvette Edwards, opens with our protagonist Ellen in a hospital on her deathbed surrounded by her family in what I presume to be a comatose state. Her children talk about her, freely amongst themselves and she can hear everything being discussed and they do have a lot to say, not always flattering. Starting from present day, the novel moves backwards in time through Ellen’s life from her upbringing in Monteserrat to meeting her husband Clyde and their journey to England and the 5 kids they raised during their time together.
The novel presents an array of characters, but Ellen is clearly the focal point. She felt remote, distant, almost impenetrable until the very end, which I suspect was deliberate. As a reader, I experienced her the same way the other characters did: standoffish, difficult to understand, and emotionally guarded.
However, while that narrative choice may have been intentional, it didn’t quite work for me. I struggled to form an emotional connection with her. I think part of this comes down to the writing style , at times clumsy and long-winded, with excessive inner dialogue that didn’t always move the story forward. Several sections could have done with firmer editing: trimming in some areas and expanding in others.
The multiple POVs occasionally became overwhelming and disorienting at times, and the setting lacked texture. Despite being set in London, I never truly felt immersed there.
That said, the plot itself was interesting and I liked the structure ( the movement back in time) which added an interesting layer and kept things structurally fresh. The Dumpling and Cassius revelation genuinely surprised me and was one of the book’s stronger moments and I wish there’d been more moments like that.
Some character motivations felt underdeveloped. Why did Clyde marry Ellen? Was it purely about Ellen’s inheritance which was slightly hinted at. If Ellen stayed because she felt it was the best she could get, what truly kept Clyde invested? Those emotional gaps made certain choices difficult to fully believe.
Overall, this was an okay read for me that didn’t quite land for me personally.
Thanks to littlebrownbook for the ARC via netgalley. As always this is an honest review.
The novel presents an array of characters, but Ellen is clearly the focal point. She felt remote, distant, almost impenetrable until the very end, which I suspect was deliberate. As a reader, I experienced her the same way the other characters did: standoffish, difficult to understand, and emotionally guarded.
However, while that narrative choice may have been intentional, it didn’t quite work for me. I struggled to form an emotional connection with her. I think part of this comes down to the writing style , at times clumsy and long-winded, with excessive inner dialogue that didn’t always move the story forward. Several sections could have done with firmer editing: trimming in some areas and expanding in others.
The multiple POVs occasionally became overwhelming and disorienting at times, and the setting lacked texture. Despite being set in London, I never truly felt immersed there.
That said, the plot itself was interesting and I liked the structure ( the movement back in time) which added an interesting layer and kept things structurally fresh. The Dumpling and Cassius revelation genuinely surprised me and was one of the book’s stronger moments and I wish there’d been more moments like that.
Some character motivations felt underdeveloped. Why did Clyde marry Ellen? Was it purely about Ellen’s inheritance which was slightly hinted at. If Ellen stayed because she felt it was the best she could get, what truly kept Clyde invested? Those emotional gaps made certain choices difficult to fully believe.
Overall, this was an okay read for me that didn’t quite land for me personally.
Thanks to littlebrownbook for the ARC via netgalley. As always this is an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh what a wonderful book. Good Good Loving is funny, touching, and quietly subversive — a novel that lets its secrets slip out in small bursts of illumination, marking the way home. Ellen is dying. Long relocated from Caribbean Montserrat to England, she lies motionless in her hospital bed, able only to hear her children united in disappointment and anger towards her, particularly over the way she treated their father, her husband, Clyde. Wounded by their ingratitude, she clings to memory to sustain her final hours.
After her death, the novel moves backwards through time, dropping into Ellen’s life at key moments and revealing the struggles and history that shape her. Clyde is a ladies’ man: charming, handsome, and never discreet. Ellen knew exactly what he was like when she married him, took pride in having such a desirable husband, and that whatever his transgressions, he always came home to her. Ground down by her mother, she never expected to be loved and, despite Clyde’s egregious behaviour, refuses to see herself as a victim.
Edwards captures the press of family life — rivalries, loyalties, secrets, and lies — with real energy. The house parties glow, the bust-ups crackle, and the novel offers a rich evocation of the immigrant experience: casual and institutional racism, the solace of a community of faces like your own, culture shock, and the long damage done by splintered families.
Gradually, we come to understand the hard work Ellen has invested in holding the family together despite Clyde’s disappearances and dalliances, and how this effort shaped her children’s view of her as a joyless lawgiver.
Though the material could be grim, Edwards brings vibrancy to every episode, blending humour, tragedy, and drama with a persuasive touch.
Ending a novel that moves backwards in time with such heartwarming, joyous, catharsis takes a rare storytelling gift.
Fantastic.
After her death, the novel moves backwards through time, dropping into Ellen’s life at key moments and revealing the struggles and history that shape her. Clyde is a ladies’ man: charming, handsome, and never discreet. Ellen knew exactly what he was like when she married him, took pride in having such a desirable husband, and that whatever his transgressions, he always came home to her. Ground down by her mother, she never expected to be loved and, despite Clyde’s egregious behaviour, refuses to see herself as a victim.
Edwards captures the press of family life — rivalries, loyalties, secrets, and lies — with real energy. The house parties glow, the bust-ups crackle, and the novel offers a rich evocation of the immigrant experience: casual and institutional racism, the solace of a community of faces like your own, culture shock, and the long damage done by splintered families.
Gradually, we come to understand the hard work Ellen has invested in holding the family together despite Clyde’s disappearances and dalliances, and how this effort shaped her children’s view of her as a joyless lawgiver.
Though the material could be grim, Edwards brings vibrancy to every episode, blending humour, tragedy, and drama with a persuasive touch.
Ending a novel that moves backwards in time with such heartwarming, joyous, catharsis takes a rare storytelling gift.
Fantastic.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The first page had me captivated. The rest stole my heart. Ellen lies dying in her hospital bed, surrounded by children, grandchildren and Wilhemina, a firm friend who wails about how sorry she is. The peaceful death Ellen thought she would have is anything but. On the contrary, everyone seems to have something to say.
The plot moves swiftly to the years leading up to her death. Through multiple perspectives we are introduced to a dysfunctional, but warm and authentic Caribbean family as they navigate their journey from economic immigrants to the present. Ellen’s voice is powerful, dropping patois dialect as she talks with her family. Her warm tones and no-nonsense attitude resonated with me. Some readers may see her as the ultimate doormat, but for me she was the glue that kept the home together. Regardless, it's fair to say there were tears by the end of this novel.
Yvvette Edwards addresses several issues, such as the racism and the disappointment experienced by many of the Windrush immigrants who often left their children back home until sufficient money was raised to send for them. Clyde, Ellen’s unfaithful husband Is an excellent representation of a man who believes that he is irresistible. For me he was a loveable rouge. Despite his appalling behaviour towards his wife and brother, I still warmed towards him.
I really can’t recommend this book enough. It has everything and the rich dialect transported me back to childhood and my own upbringing.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for ARC for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication. An absolute must read!
The plot moves swiftly to the years leading up to her death. Through multiple perspectives we are introduced to a dysfunctional, but warm and authentic Caribbean family as they navigate their journey from economic immigrants to the present. Ellen’s voice is powerful, dropping patois dialect as she talks with her family. Her warm tones and no-nonsense attitude resonated with me. Some readers may see her as the ultimate doormat, but for me she was the glue that kept the home together. Regardless, it's fair to say there were tears by the end of this novel.
Yvvette Edwards addresses several issues, such as the racism and the disappointment experienced by many of the Windrush immigrants who often left their children back home until sufficient money was raised to send for them. Clyde, Ellen’s unfaithful husband Is an excellent representation of a man who believes that he is irresistible. For me he was a loveable rouge. Despite his appalling behaviour towards his wife and brother, I still warmed towards him.
I really can’t recommend this book enough. It has everything and the rich dialect transported me back to childhood and my own upbringing.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for ARC for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication. An absolute must read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Un-put-downable, widely entertaining, laugh out loud funny while being deeply moving, THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A BOOK!!!!
The book opens with Ellen on her death bed surrounded by some of her children and grandchildren, though they don’t know, she can hear everything they are saying about her. You’d think after years of taking care of everyone Ellen would be able to leave this world in peace, but that is not the case. Ellen must now, on her death bed, sit through hearing all of what they think about her and her failings as a mother, wife and friend.
Good Good Loving is told backwards, in that we start at the present and go back into some of the most dramatic and pivotal moments of Ellen and her husband’s life, starting with Ellen meeting him in Montserrat and them moving to London with everything in-between. Yvette Edwards pens a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, filled with unforgettable characters and moments that will leave you laughing or feeling deeply hurt.
I know it is only January but this is my favourite read for 2026.
The book opens with Ellen on her death bed surrounded by some of her children and grandchildren, though they don’t know, she can hear everything they are saying about her. You’d think after years of taking care of everyone Ellen would be able to leave this world in peace, but that is not the case. Ellen must now, on her death bed, sit through hearing all of what they think about her and her failings as a mother, wife and friend.
Good Good Loving is told backwards, in that we start at the present and go back into some of the most dramatic and pivotal moments of Ellen and her husband’s life, starting with Ellen meeting him in Montserrat and them moving to London with everything in-between. Yvette Edwards pens a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, filled with unforgettable characters and moments that will leave you laughing or feeling deeply hurt.
I know it is only January but this is my favourite read for 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a great book!
The opening, where a family gathers and bickers around Ellen's deathbed. Whilst assuming she knows they are there, they talk as if she has already left the room but we are party to Ellen's comments about them all. Perfect rather random family stuff from unfamiliar characters.
The story then tracks backwards into her own interpretation of her life and who all these family members are. Family "sagas" are such a minefield but I loved this device. It is almost like having a longstanding friend during whose life you have witnessed and taken in the evolving backdrop of her family who rock up at her house regularly spilling all their emotional messiness.
This is beautifully constructed and written novel. Much is hard, painful and uncomfortable yet the spirit of humour rises from a long suffering matriarch. I really enjoyed how stories were revealed and how they were contained between deathbed and funeral.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Virago for the opportunity to read and review
The opening, where a family gathers and bickers around Ellen's deathbed. Whilst assuming she knows they are there, they talk as if she has already left the room but we are party to Ellen's comments about them all. Perfect rather random family stuff from unfamiliar characters.
The story then tracks backwards into her own interpretation of her life and who all these family members are. Family "sagas" are such a minefield but I loved this device. It is almost like having a longstanding friend during whose life you have witnessed and taken in the evolving backdrop of her family who rock up at her house regularly spilling all their emotional messiness.
This is beautifully constructed and written novel. Much is hard, painful and uncomfortable yet the spirit of humour rises from a long suffering matriarch. I really enjoyed how stories were revealed and how they were contained between deathbed and funeral.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Virago for the opportunity to read and review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the story of a family.
Complicated. Chaotic. Calamitous.
Sometimes hard to fathom and follow and keep track of who is who, and how they are related.
This family is spread across countries and unusually we learn their story in reverse, beginning at the end as Ellen lies on her deathbed. As her story unfolds, I, as a reader, wondered why she accepted her relationship with Clyde, which greatly affected all the other relationships in her life. Was she the ultimate doormat, or a very strong woman? Reading in reverse, it isn't until the end, which is almost the beginning of her story, that we learn the answer.
I would describe this story as profound, rather than enjoyable, but it certainly made an impression on me.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Complicated. Chaotic. Calamitous.
Sometimes hard to fathom and follow and keep track of who is who, and how they are related.
This family is spread across countries and unusually we learn their story in reverse, beginning at the end as Ellen lies on her deathbed. As her story unfolds, I, as a reader, wondered why she accepted her relationship with Clyde, which greatly affected all the other relationships in her life. Was she the ultimate doormat, or a very strong woman? Reading in reverse, it isn't until the end, which is almost the beginning of her story, that we learn the answer.
I would describe this story as profound, rather than enjoyable, but it certainly made an impression on me.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ellen is dying. Her family gather around, and though Ellen seems no longer to hear them, she does, and she hears what her family have to say about her and about her husband Clyde.
The novel drifts backwards in time from this, showing Ellen and her Clyde, and the stories of this family, going all the way back to Montserrat. We hear how experience shaped her, and how stepped into marriage knowing more than others felt she knew.
Good Good Loving is a beautiful, tender and often funny novel. It's structure of reverse chronology gives it a wonderful emotional tension. Yvette Edwards writing is engaging and she draws her central characters with humour and emotional truth. I read this in one sitting on a flight over the freezing Baltic and it took me away to another place and kept me entertained throughout.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
The novel drifts backwards in time from this, showing Ellen and her Clyde, and the stories of this family, going all the way back to Montserrat. We hear how experience shaped her, and how stepped into marriage knowing more than others felt she knew.
Good Good Loving is a beautiful, tender and often funny novel. It's structure of reverse chronology gives it a wonderful emotional tension. Yvette Edwards writing is engaging and she draws her central characters with humour and emotional truth. I read this in one sitting on a flight over the freezing Baltic and it took me away to another place and kept me entertained throughout.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
January 27, 2026
A hugely enjoyable book, starting in a great way with the heroine of the story listening to her irritating family on her deathbed and allowing herself to reflect on her life.
There’s a great cast of characters, particularly her philandering but attractive husband and her children and grandchildren, who all regularly gather together at her house bringing their issues with them. It manages to be a humorous book despite some of the topics.
She doesn’t deserve most of the difficulties in her life but her character is extremely believable and easy to feel emotion for. You trust that the author is going to tie up all the loose ends as she takes you back through the story.
Thank you to Netgalley for the preview copy in return for a review.
There’s a great cast of characters, particularly her philandering but attractive husband and her children and grandchildren, who all regularly gather together at her house bringing their issues with them. It manages to be a humorous book despite some of the topics.
She doesn’t deserve most of the difficulties in her life but her character is extremely believable and easy to feel emotion for. You trust that the author is going to tie up all the loose ends as she takes you back through the story.
Thank you to Netgalley for the preview copy in return for a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really liked the structure of this book - beginning at the end and gradually moving backwards allowed the nuances of this family’s relationships to unfold in a really effective way. As the story rewinds, we see how generational stigmas and stereotypes are passed down, often unquestioned, and only recognised when it’s already too late.
I do think the epilogue could have been stronger. I would have liked to see more reflection on how upbringing and generational expectations shape behaviour, particularly in how judgement is passed down through families. Ellen is often viewed in a negative light; however, those around her continue to place the same rigid expectations on the younger generation - a parallel that felt like it deserved to be explored more explicitly.
I do think the epilogue could have been stronger. I would have liked to see more reflection on how upbringing and generational expectations shape behaviour, particularly in how judgement is passed down through families. Ellen is often viewed in a negative light; however, those around her continue to place the same rigid expectations on the younger generation - a parallel that felt like it deserved to be explored more explicitly.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Imagine lying on your deathbed while your children and grandchildren speak freely about your flaws, believing you can’t hear them. But Ellen hears everything.
Told backwards, this novel unfolds the life of a woman who built a loving, complicated family while quietly carrying deeply emotional wounds.
Ellen accepts the love she thinks she deserves when she marries Clyde — a man who comes and goes without concern.
She learns to close her eyes to his betrayal, caring for everyone around her in the best way she knows, shaped by her upbringing and inherited patterns of love and endurance.
Despite its heavy themes, this is not a heavy story. It is filled with warmth and humour. A beautifully layered novel and already one of my favourite reads of 2026.
Told backwards, this novel unfolds the life of a woman who built a loving, complicated family while quietly carrying deeply emotional wounds.
Ellen accepts the love she thinks she deserves when she marries Clyde — a man who comes and goes without concern.
She learns to close her eyes to his betrayal, caring for everyone around her in the best way she knows, shaped by her upbringing and inherited patterns of love and endurance.
Despite its heavy themes, this is not a heavy story. It is filled with warmth and humour. A beautifully layered novel and already one of my favourite reads of 2026.
January 31, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I absolutely adored this story and found Ellen to be such an inspirational female protagonist. She was the glue that held the family together. I was deeply moved by parts of this story and I also found myself laughing out loud at other parts. A thoroughly emotional and heartfelt story that I would definitely recommend. 5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
'Good Good Loving' is a heartfelt family story. As Ellen lies dying we get insights into her life. Working backwards and forwards throughout the years of family dramas and relationships we find out what made Ellen tick .. and why. It's a very well written book and at times it's very emotional. This one will stay with you after the last page. Thank you to the author, publisher and netGalley for an arc of this moving novel, one I'm happy to recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A beautiful book with as much humour as it has heart. Here lies the layers and complexities of a West Indian family.
Aunty Yvvette, you smashed it. Grandma Sue would have loved this book 🙂↕️
Aunty Yvvette, you smashed it. Grandma Sue would have loved this book 🙂↕️
February 22, 2026
I loved this book. It opens on Ellen’s deathbed as she hears what her whole family thinks about her life. As a reader you also get a clear view of the type of person she was but without the details of what happened in her life.
But then each chapter goes back in time and each time you see how far that view was from reality. The family have twisted their history to fit into the agreed lore even if that is very unfair (in both directions) to Ellen and get husband.
The structure of telling the story in reverse meant each chapter took a little while to understand what was happening, but a few pages in to each one I locked in and was engrossed. The writing is so good and sucks you in.
A fascinating way of looking at how cultural expectations shape how we see the world and much as well as how little those expectations change over generations.
Thanks to NetGalley and Virago for the arc
But then each chapter goes back in time and each time you see how far that view was from reality. The family have twisted their history to fit into the agreed lore even if that is very unfair (in both directions) to Ellen and get husband.
The structure of telling the story in reverse meant each chapter took a little while to understand what was happening, but a few pages in to each one I locked in and was engrossed. The writing is so good and sucks you in.
A fascinating way of looking at how cultural expectations shape how we see the world and much as well as how little those expectations change over generations.
Thanks to NetGalley and Virago for the arc
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