It's 1963, and Barbara, a young widow, is surprised when her mother-in-law arrives unannounced, suitcase in hand and determined to help with the children.

I impatiently wait all year to get my hands on the next Sara Confino book, and once again, she delivers a flawless blend of women’s fiction and historical fiction, with the perfect amount of romance. Barbara is a strong and likable FMC, and staying consistent with her other books, it’s the mother in law (not the mother this time!) who steals the show. Ruth is an awesome side character who brings so much humor and life to the story. The Jewish representation is rich with cultural and traditional references, which made me feel so connected to this book!

Read if you like:
-Single mom
-Mother/ daughter in law relationships
-Jewish rep
-Historical fiction
-Side romance storyline
-DC suburbs setting

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.
Typically a lover of all of Goodman-Confino’s books, this one fell short for me. This is about Barbara and her mother-in-law, Ruth, after Harry, Barbara’s husband and Ruth’s son, dies. Ruth comes to stay with Barbara two years after Harry’s death and this book is about them growing together and also moving on.
For me, there just was not enough of a story throughout the majority of the book. It was fairly obvious what would eventually transpire, but very little buildup or action.
I would highly recommend all of her other books, so if this is your first foray into her as an author, do give the other books a try!

Such a lovely book! @saraconfino captured my heart with every character. A young widow finds that her Mother-In-Law pushes to move in with her and her small kids as she navigates motherhood, working, mourning and finding love again. Funny, endearing and so hopeful. 💗📚 #jewishgenre #booknerd #jewishgenrechallenge #bookstagram #netgalley 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I enjoyed this book. The characters were compelling, and it was impossible not to root for them. The love stories were a bit obvious, but overall it was a solid read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I have to admit I held out as long as I could (maybe a week) on reading this because I knew once I started I would blow through it in a day and then have to wait patiently for Confino’s next book. Just like all of her other novels, this was heartwarming, relatable and a great story that I didn’t want to end. The characters are so believable and you are rooting for them immediately from the start. Loved the relationship between Ruth and Barbara - as annoying as Ruth was she was still lovable. Growing up in Baltimore, I enjoyed some of the local nods (my parents met when my mom worked at a Hot Shoppes) so it was fun picking up on some relatable specifics.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: I have read all of Sara Goodman Confino's books and this one was just as wonderful as her previous works. Confino's combination of historical fiction and strong women is the chef's kiss. Barbara is somewhat confined by the time period and expectations for women, especially young widows. But her strength and humor and perseverance win. She is determined to keep life stable for her young kids, with or without help from her mother in law. It takes time for her to realize that her mother in law is trying to help her move forward, maybe they both need to?
I love the look into Jewish family and community life in this time period, so nostalgic. And we also get glimpses of characters from other Confino books. Seeing Beverly from Behind Every Good Man step in, is a welcome surprise.
Two lonely women of different generations with good intentions, and strong wills makes for an entertaining look at life in the 1960's.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

DNF at 31%. Just couldn’t get into it. Didn’t feel connected to the characters and found the MIL’s antics (and Barbara’s reactions) very unbelievable (the dog!?).

I loved this book! Sara does such an incredible job exploring Jewish women in the 1960s in all of her books. This story explored love and loss and love again. I loved the relationships between the main character and her MIL and how that developed over time. As a Jewish woman, the overall "jewish feel" was really relatable and genuine.

Sara Goodman Confino has done it again! I had the privilege of reading this book as an ARC via Netgalley. I have loved every one of this author's books, and this is no exception! I laughed, I cried, sometimes both at the same time. What a story!

Sara did it again with a 5-star read! Another amazing strong female character who is living in an era of historical events. Although the book deals with serious and some emotional events, grief and unwanted advances from a man, she has lots of humor to balance it. I always love the way she makes the women come out on top in an era they may have been less likely to.

Another great story by Sara Goodman Confino. Love how she draws you in with her characters and makes the story a page turner you don’t want to put down. Her characters are people I want to meet and have in my every day life. Such an amazing storyteller with a gift of making our troubles all go away when we’re turning the pages of her books.

Heartfelt, honest, and unexpectedly funny—an absolute gem!

This book really took me by surprise—in the best way. I went in expecting something light and maybe a little emotional, but what I got was a beautifully layered story that made me laugh out loud one minute and tear up the next. Sarah Goodman Confino has such a natural way of writing that makes the characters feel like real people—flawed, funny, and so relatable.

What stood out to me most was how honestly grief was portrayed. It wasn’t overly dramatic or sugar-coated; it was messy and awkward and sometimes even hilarious—which, if you’ve ever gone through a loss, actually feels very true to life. The humor never takes away from the heart of the story; it adds to it. There’s a comforting kind of hope woven throughout the book that I really appreciated.

I genuinely didn’t want it to end. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you, and I’ve already found myself thinking about the characters days after finishing. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

I just have to say that Sara Goodman Confino is a favorite author of mine. This is my third book I’ve read by her and I’ve very much enjoyed them all. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR pile. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

As with all of her books when I'm finished, I'm smiling and my heart is full! I love that her books are set in the not to distant past so that while I may not have experienced that time period (62 years ago), it still feels somewhat relatable while showing you just how much has changed for women (and sadly, sometimes what hasn't). I also love that her books are female-centered and character driven. It makes you feel like you're right there!

I had been in a reading slump and I knew that this book would be the cure and it absolutely was!

4.5 stars

I absolutely adored this book! I felt completely drawn into Barbara’s world from the very first page. I loved how the story explored her journey of healing after such a profound loss, and I admired her determination to spread her wings and reclaim her life. I thought the 1960s setting added such a wonderful touch of charm and nostalgia to the story. I found the relationship between Barbara and Ruth to be one of the most compelling aspects of the book. I loved how their dynamic was both heartwarming and hilariously relatable. I couldn’t help but laugh at Ruth’s prickly personality and Barbara’s creative attempts to manage the situation. I felt like their unlikely partnership was portrayed with so much humor and heart, and it really resonated with me. I thought the author did an amazing job balancing humor and emotion. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the antics Barbara and Ruth got into, but I also felt deeply touched by the way they slowly found common ground. I loved watching their bond evolve and seeing how they both helped each other move forward in unexpected ways.

Overall, I thought this book was an absolute delight. I loved the humor, the heart, and the beautifully crafted characters. It’s a story that will stay with me for a long time, and I can’t wait to recommend it to everyone I know!

"Good Grief" by Sara Goodman Confino

I was so excited to get this book early—I love everything Sara Goodman Confino writes!

Set in 1963, Good Grief follows Barbara Feldman, a widow of two years who is just beginning to find her groove while raising two children. Her determination to start fresh is interrupted when her mother-in-law, Ruth, unexpectedly shows up at her door with suitcases in hand, ready to move in and “help out.” This is definitely not what Barbara was expecting—or hoping for.

The story explores the frustration and tension that comes with an uninvited guest, but it also beautifully unfolds into an unlikely friendship and a growing mutual respect between the two women.

Sara Goodman Confino has a real gift for transporting readers to the past. You feel like you’re living right there in the time and place she writes about. I always learn something from her books, and I’m always excited when a new one is released!

Sara Goodman Confino does it again! Good Grief is fantastic; another beautiful story of women empowerment filled with excellent character development, and a beautiful love story. I highly recommend every Confino book I read, and this one is right there with them!

Good Grief is a beautiful story and really brings the characters life. The part about grief and how each person deals with it, the joy and the sadness. I loved this book!

Good Grief - this was my first Sara Goodman Confino book. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this book since I’ve heard great things about the author. Overall it fell short of my expectations. There were funny moments which made me chuckle and I liked the characters enough to keep reading, but I didn’t fall in love with the characters enough for this to be a page turner.

I will try another book by this author but am honestly a but relieved that I’m done with this one.

Sara Goodman Confino does NOT disappoint with her latest book, Good Grief, The book has two main characters, Beverly and her mother-in-law Ruth. Beverly is a widow with two small children, whose husband died of a heart attack at a young age. She lives in metropolitan Washington DC, in the early 1960s. Her mother in law Ruth shows up on the front steps of her house with five suitcases, and moves into her home uninvited.

It is the rare author who can create a character who at the beginning of the book you despise with a passion; the character you love to hate. Ruth checks all those boxes. She is a meddler. She takes actions that would have me sending her to the curb. And then as the book moves on, you find that your perspective transforms, and you find yourself cheering for her, even if you aren't sure you could fully trust her. Ruth is the epitome of the meddling mother-in-law. BUT there is more to her than meets the eye. She is grieving both her son, and husband (who died years earlier) and has the understandable PTSD of a Jewish woman whose live was torn about by the holocaust. The setting in early the 1960s, puts her not even a generation after the war. Sara brings the trauma of the holocaust into the story, in a way that does not take over the story. I’ll save Ruth’s antics for your read. No need to spoil anything.

The title of this book --"Good Grief" -- is perfect. Yes, the book is about "good grief" and primarily is a story of healing from loss. BUT it has that second Charlie Brown meaning of "Good Grief!" as well. And that comes throughout the book. This is part of what makes the book so enjoyable.

Sara is a fantastic story-teller. The book might get labeled under the title “women’s fiction,” but it is really just great fiction, which should be enjoyed by a wide audience. Don't put the book into a particular box. Add it to your summer reading list.