Sara Goodman Confino can do no wrong in my eyes. Her latest, Good Grief, comes out this summer and is a not miss title.

It's awesome when a book can grab you within the first chapter. But when a book can suck me in at the first sentence, wanting to know more, that's when I know I've hit absolute GOLD.

Meet Beverly, a mom to two who has recently been widowed. After two years of her mom staying with her to help her out of her grief her mom moves back home to leave Beverly to face her new life as a single mom for the first time...until a few hours later when her widowed mother-in-law (Ruth) unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep with a bunch of suitcases and even more opinions on Beverly's cooking with the objective of "helping" until she is no longer needed.

The book brings us into Beverly's life as she juggles being a single mom, being a friend, working at a hospital with a line-crossing and handsy male doctor, an unexpected pet, a possible love interest and putting out fires (both figurative and literal) that are constantly being ignited by Ruth. Now with this, I do want to put out a trigger warning for anyone sensitive to boundary crossing characters. I definitely had a hard time not trying to reach into the book and drop kick Ruth a few times but without trying to blow the plot just, know that people do grow in this book.

For fans of Sara Goodman Confino, as we have come to expect, she definitely throws a few easter eggs into this one from some of her previous novels. It's done masterfully too. Ohhhhh I loved that part so much. I won't spoil it here....but just know I really really want to. SO BAD!!!!!! Someone please talk to me about it once they have read it.

Another wonderful read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Add this to your TBR pile, it releases August 2025!

Sara Goodman Confino has done it again. She has such a way of making you feel part of the story and engrossed in the characters lives, almost like you’re their friends or neighbors. Good Grief is such a wonderful story of Barbara whose husband passed away and then whose Mother-in-Law moves in later to “help” her. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and just feel all the feels. Add this to your list or pre-order! Publishes in August. Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc.

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

What a fantastic book that encourages us to look outside ourselves for healing when consumed by grief. Barbara is overwhelmed, but when she realizes the importance of perspective taking and learns to lean on others (and vice versa), she opens up an opportunity for genuine connection and meaningful relationships. It’s so easy to stay insular and focused on ‘me’ when we are grieving. I think the author’s cautionary tale is needed as we’ll all experience being solo at one time or in one form or another. Being wrapped in humour makes the advice to pivot an easier ‘pill’ to swallow.

I also liked the message about finding common ground. It would have been so much easier to send Ruth on her way, but Barbara found an unconventional solution to her problem.

My takeaway: “take in more of the joy” - take mental snapshots of the experiences that make you smile and laugh so that you have a virtual scrapbook to look back on when the going gets tough.

I was gifted this copy by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Never disappoints I was excited to read Good Grief as I have loved all of Sara’s previous novels …. We meet widow Barbara and her two children still reeling from the death of husband/father two years ago … Barbara’s mum had been supporting her in this time but has now left to go back to her husband and home so for the first time Barbara is left to care for her children on her own, ready to take on the role of a sole carer Barbara arrives home to find her mother in law with her five suitcases on her doorstep and so the fun begins !!! A book of love loss laughter I loved the characters and subject a really great read

Sara Goodman Confino’s novels are always uplifting and leave me feeling happy - this one is no different. Barbara has been a widow for 2 years when her mother-in-law (Ruth) shows up unannounced to help her with the children. Barbara’s own mother has just left after spending the last 2 years with them and Barbara is ready to move along on her own with the kids. Ruth has no intention of leaving anytime soon. There are laugh out loud moments and plenty of shenanigans typical of this authors writings. I really like both Barbara and Ruth. It was fun to watch their relationship develop and change. I highly recommend this and all of Sara Goodman Confino’s books 📚

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Good Grief is an engaging, female-centered novel that celebrates the connection between two women who both love the same deceased man. That is… a young widow and her mother-in-law.

The year is 1963 and the setting is the greater DC area. Barbara Feldman has 2 children, 6 and 4. Her mother moved in when her husband died very young of a massive heart attack. They realize that the time has come for Barbara and the kids to survive on their own, so her mother-in-law moves out.

They have exactly one day as a family of 3, when her Mother-in-law shows up on her porch with five suitcases. There is no room for argument, Ruth Feldman knows that Barbara’s mother has just left and she is taking her rightful place.

Hilarity ensues!

Okay- time for my trigger warning. What happens next is Ruth meddling and really going overboard on being intrusive. If you struggle with setting boundaries and/or are triggered by this, this is a major theme of the book and - I will admit - it raised my blood pressure a bit. I grew to really love Ruth in the end, but there were several times that I was full of anxiety at what she was doing. For example, Barbara has people coming to paint the kitchen a pale yellow and Ruth changes it to being pink. That kind of thing, over and over.

But all the while, you know that Ruth means well, and she really does love Barbara and her grandchildren. Barbara decides to play matchmaker to just get Ruth out of her house.

Historical fiction in the mid twentieth century can be a difficult plot for 2025 readers; authors make the mistake of making the characters unrealistic and having the culture/viewpoints of the typical 21st century reader. Authors also can make the time period overly nostalgic, but that isn’t the case here. The workplace is a hospital and very different than today’s society. You can change your own perceptions and see things through the eyes of characters who are
Immersed in another time.

It also made me grateful for the women of Barbara and Ruth’s time that made workplaces better for women and mothers like myself.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake House publishing for the ARC. Book to be published August 26, 2025.

Good Grief by Sara Goodman Confino is a novel that delves into themes of grief, family dynamics, and the rich tapestry of Jewish culture and tradition. The story follows the protagonist as she navigates the complexities of loss and familial relationships, offering readers a blend of humor and heartfelt moments.

This was my first experience reading Sara Goodman Confino’s work, prompted by a friend’s high praise of her writing. I was eager to explore her storytelling and was fortunate to receive a copy from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The novel is imbued with Jewish culture and tradition, providing a rich backdrop that adds depth to the narrative. Confino’s writing style is engaging and often light-hearted, making complex themes accessible. However, I found the portrayal of the mother-in-law’s intrusive behavior particularly challenging. Having faced similar personal experiences with a meddling in-law, this aspect of the story was triggering for me, making it difficult to fully engage with the narrative. The lack of healthy boundaries depicted in the protagonist’s household added to my discomfort, and I struggled to find enjoyment in these parts of the book.

Ultimately, this one just wasn’t for me. I read for enjoyment, and this story, while well-written, didn’t provide that experience due to how strongly I reacted to the mother-in-law’s behavior. That said, I still appreciate Confino’s writing style and humor and plan to give one of her other novels a try—hopefully without a triggering, overbearing in-law in the mix.

I was able to read an advance copy and enjoyed it a lot. The beginning was a bit slow, however the story picked up quite a bit after the first third.

I greatly enjoy the author’s characters and historical plots. I also appreciate that the writes about mothers and family situations surrounding children and real life situations.

While not my favorite book of hers, this one was fun. Ruth was a hoot!

Okay, I literally loved everything about this book. The characters were great, I enjoyed the time period that this book was set in, and I thought it handled the heavy topic of grief in a healthy, positive way. This might be my favorite Sara Goodman Confino yet- she’s an auto-read author for me as soon as I see a new release.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sara Goodman Confino does it again! Her characters come to life off the page, and each story, while different from the next, is incredibly well told. The dynamic of the cross generational females struggling to align while each growing is a strong suit of the authors. I always find myself immersed into the world, and this time is no different. I loved following along with the characters and I’m only saddened now I have no more SGC books left to read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another fun, funny and yet tender 5 star read from Sara Goodman Confino!

I just devoured Good Grief in one day after getting an advance reader copy through NetGalley! Congratulations on another amazing book!

Y’all, I laughed outloud on a plane while reading this, and later I snorted! The lady next to me asked for the name of it!

This book is both a tender and funny look at how we survive loss, deal with family, and the simultaneous themes of women’s rights and empowerment, love and the historical context of women’s representation & rights and antisemitism hit in every spot!

PS I was in the middle of another really good read when I decided I would just read one chapter of this, I should have known better! 😂

Wahoo! A new SGC book means Drop Everything And Read for me! As with all her others, I devoured this one. I love her strong female characters. In this we find a young widow of two years saying goodbye to her mother as she's ready to stand on her own feet just to have her MIL show up on her doorstep ready to help.

I certainly would not welcome this, nor did dear Barbara . A couple weeks turned into a couple months, turned into...you get the idea! This novel was full of Sara's signature endearing wit and captured the 1963 time period perfectly. I love that I can picture myself in her books and Good Grief was no different! It was such a great escape from reality and easy to devour in a couple sittings. Highlights involved Ruth determined to play Matchmaker for daughter in law Barbara...some laughs and cringe- worthy moments including an epic fail with consequences for Barbara. Would this be the end of any chance of a civil relationship between these feisty females? ;)

I would love a sequel or novella to this book to know what happened with these characters, but I have the feeling I will see a few of them again as cameos in future books *wink wink for Easter egg hunters ;) The PMBC shoutout in the Acknowledgments was a chef's kiss (if you know, you know ;) ).

Thank you to Sara Goodman Confino, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A delightful new book from Sara Goodman Confino! I so enjoyed getting to know Barb and her sweet kids and watching the relationship between her and her MIL evolve. While the relationship with Barb and Eddie is fairly predictable, he is charming and exactly who I would want in my life if put in Barb’s situation! 4.5/5!