Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker is an emotional dive into what it means to finally go back to the place you swore you’d never return to. Charlie is successful on the outside, but deep down still dealing with the fallout of being abandoned as a teen. The way the story flips between her present day visits to her mom in a memory care facility, and the glimpses of her mom’s past through memory loss is so bittersweet. There’s also a mystery about a long buried family secret, and the way it slowly unravels is subtle but really impactful. It’s not a thriller by any means, but it is the kind of story that keeps you flipping pages because you need to understand these people.

Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker is a beautifully written exploration of complex family relationships and the power of memory. Follow Charlie McFadden, a woman who has built a successful life far from her troubled past, only to be pulled back into it when her estranged father asks her to visit her mother in a memory care center. What truly captivated me was how Bleeker masterfully delves into the nuances of Charlie’s emotions—her pride in her achievements, her lingering resentment, and her yearning for connection. The portrayal of her mother Betty’s fluctuating memories offers both heartbreaking and hopeful moments that feel incredibly authentic. The story alternates between present-day visits and vivid flashbacks to Betty’s youth, allowing readers to witness the tragic beauty of the past and understand the roots of pain and love intertwined within this family. The narrative touches on themes of forgiveness, the scars of childhood, and the possibility of healing. Bleeker’s prose is gentle yet powerful, making each revelation and memory resonate deeply. While the pace is steady, the emotional depth kept me engaged from start to finish. Overall, Good Days Bad Days is a compelling read about the resilience of the human spirit and the everyday battles we all face with our loved ones. A touching reminder that sometimes, understanding the past can open the door to hope and reconciliation.

Now happily married with a family and a successful reality TV show of her own, Charlie was once an undeprivileged teenager removed from an unfit home by child protective services.

The last thing Charlie expects is to be approached by her estranged father, who chose her mother Betty over Charlie herself when things fell apart, but now pleads with her to reconnect with her mother, who is in care due to her health issues and failing memory.

But when Charlie does visit her mother Betty, she finally begins to understand the there is more to the story than she has always thought. Can she unravel the secret her mother has been protecting for such a long time and at such great cost?

This is a moving story about family secrets, damage and dynamics. Well worth a read.

I just finished a great book. Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker is out this fall. Pick it up! You won’t regret it.