The Irish Goodbye

A new romance I’ve been excited for this week is The Irish Goodbye by Amy Ewing. Set in Ireland and highlighting two characters who have gone through some difficult times lately, this is a heartfelt romance with wonderful side characters. The author has previously published YA novels; this is her first foray into adult romance.

Special thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Summary

Cordelia James has been having a hard time since her dad died two years ago. She hasn’t been happy, and can’t even do what she loves most: photography. In an effort to shake up her life, she accepts an unusual job that will take her all the way to Inishmore in Ireland. But it’s hate at first sight when a local man, Niall O’Connor, bumps into her, accidentally breaking her beloved camera. Despite their mutual animosity, Cordelia and Niall end up being forced to spend a lot of time together, and soon their feelings start to turn a lot more friendly… even romantic. But Cordelia is only in Ireland for the summer; can they find a path together for the long-term?

Review

There are two things that initially drew me to The Irish Goodbye: its setting in Ireland (a country I love!), and that the main character is overcoming the loss of her father (sadly, I’ve suffered the same loss). That this book is also an enemies-to-lovers romance had me sold.

When Cordelia first arrives on Inishmore island, she’s actively grieving her dad’s death, but is looking to reclaim her passion for photography while in Ireland for the summer. But when a brusque Irish man accidentally knocks her camera out of her hand, breaking it, Cordelia sees red. This sets off an oddly antagonistic relationship between Cordelia and Niall.

While I do love an enemies-to-lovers arc, the first part of The Irish Goodbye wasn’t completely convincing for me. Why was Cordelia, a 29-year-old woman, acting so immature about the broken camera? Yes, it was a gift from her late dad, but Niall clearly didn’t mean to break it, he apologized for it, and he offered to pay for its repair. Maybe politely move on at that point? Cordelia continued to come across as immature for a while, but luckily that eventually faded away.

For his part, Niall was also in a bad place at the start: His fiancée had cheated on him with their business partner shortly before they were opening their own Dublin pub… the one for which Niall was the chef and had crafted the whole menu. His career and love life both blew up at once, sending him back home to Inishmore, broken-hearted and feeling like a failure. Sure, he’s grumpy at this point, but deservedly so.

Despite their respective traumas, Cordelia and Niall eventually start to become friends, and it quickly blossoms into a bit more. Once they’re on good terms with each other, I actually really enjoyed seeing them together. They make for a cute couple, and their romance is more believable than they were as enemies.

Surrounding their relationship is the wonderful Irish setting. I loved getting to know some of the local hotspots and getting a small feel for the culture. I also really enjoyed some of the side characters, especially the feisty grandmother, Róisín. She swears, drinks whisky, and never hides how she really feels. She was my favorite character by far! Another thing that helped round out The Irish Goodbye is both main characters’ relationships with their respective parents. Cordelia and her mom have a lot they need to say to each other, as do Niall and his dad. I liked seeing these family dynamics play out.

Warning: There is a pretty intense third-act breakup, and although I felt the premise of it was a tad forced, I do like how it ultimately plays out. It feels real and has the space needed to earn the HEA.

Audiobook

June DeBorahae and Keval Shah narrate Cordelia and Niall’s third-person sections, respectively. Both do a good job of giving the characters personality and consistency, and they each do well in applying the right American and Irish accents as needed.

Final Thoughts

The Irish Goodbye is a heartfelt, emotional, and steamy romance for anyone who likes travel, Ireland, family dynamics, and important career arcs. Overall I enjoyed this book and would be happy to read more from Amy Ewing.

Get the Book

You can buy The Irish Goodbye here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

The Irish Goodbye by Amy Ewing
Audiobook Narrator	June DeBorahae & Keval Shah
Audience	Adult
Genre	Romance
Setting	Ireland
Book Length	336 pages / 10 hours
Format I Read	Audiobook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	June 4, 2024
Publisher	Alcove Press

Official Summary

It’s hate-at-first-sight when a jilted Irish chef returns home to Inishmore and immediately clashes with a mouthy American tourist.

This steamy romance novel by New York Times bestselling author Amy Ewing is perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Tessa Bailey.

Cordelia James was once at the top of her game—a renowned street photographer with a massive social media following, gallery showings in Chelsea, and a lucrative book deal. But after the sudden death of her father, Cordelia can barely force herself to leave her apartment. That is, until she sees an ad for a summer gig at a cozy cottage on Ireland’s picturesque Inishmore island. Cordelia is on a plane before she can talk herself out of it.

The moment she steps off the boat, she crashes—literally—into Niall O’Connor, a grumpy local who’s just returned home to Inishmore from Dublin. Niall is nursing a broken heart and trying to patch up a broken life, and he has no time for posh American tourists. The more Cordelia’s and Niall’s paths cross, the more they make each other’s lives hell. But as with all rivalries, their hatred is about to reach a tipping point—and it’s going to heat up their cool coastal nights.

Featuring a lovable band of quirky supporting characters, The Irish Goodbye is a steamy, emotionally gripping tale of love, passion, art, food, and finding where you belong.