Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - Goodbye Earl: A Revenge Novel

Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Goodbye Earl: A Revenge Novel by Leesa Cross-Smith

35 reviews

catnapping's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really wanted to love this book, but it was just too slow. It really needed some additional editing. It's a nice coming of age story among the four friends as they grow and begin to deal with the difficulties of adulthood. It's a cute ode to the chicks. But I'm not really sure how the story manages to have TOO MUCH GOING ON and yet also NOTHING HAPPENING.

Content Warnings

rachelle_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

I was duped by the marketing. Given the connection to the song, which I’ve loved since it came out, I thought this would be fast-paced with some dark humor. I read 150 pages, and this has just been a heavy-handed slog. No revenge yet. It could have taken 20 pages (or less) to meet the main characters and establish the need for that revenge plot that hasn’t happened. I finished act one and just don’t care enough to keep going. Incredibly disappointing.

Content Warnings

tuma's review against another edition

Go to review page

tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but not this. Maybe if I had listened to the song it's inspired by, "Goodbye Earl" by the Dixie Chicks, I would have been better prepared and less frustrated. The book is broken up into three parts. Part 1 provides the backstory for the 4 female friends, alternating between present day (2019) and the past (2004). Normally, I love this in novels and I did enjoy how close the friends were and that they took care and accepted one another through thick and thin. But the friends were so vaguely described that they didn't feel like real people. I couldn't fully visualize them. It felt like the details shared were in order to check off diversity checkboxes (yes, one friend is a redhead, one is biracial, one is black and bisexual, and I still don't know what the 4th friend is).

And fine, not every book has to be character-driven, which is my usual jam and jelly, BUT then the plot has to draw me in. The plot was giving very much "YOU" (the TV show) where crimes are being committed all too easily as if it's NOT A BIG DEAL. Part 2, they kill a person. And I'm just like, WHAT?! You can't just kill a person, willy nilly, EVEN if they deserved it. And then everyone is completely okay with it and everything just ends perfectly and happily ever after...what?! I just couldn't suspend belief enough, but still had to finish it to see where it ended up. Part 3 is the aftermath and it was as predictable as expected. Everyone comes to terms with their pasts and problems. The end. I dunno, am I being too harsh? Maybe it's because I don't read enough thriller/mystery and I'm imposing literary fiction expectations of writing?

Overall, this is clearly a personal issue, so I would still recommend for anyone who enjoys female friendships set in small towns, and revenge plots where the women win (that part was awesome).

Content Warnings

cathyrodgers's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

August 2023 book club read. This is one of my most favorite authors and is an auto-buy for me. Although the writing was excellent, as usual from this author, the plot was thin and the pace of the story was slow. I liked the variety of characters and the small town setting, but didn't really care that much about any of the main characters. Not a win for me.

Content Warnings

elishasbookreview's review against another edition

Go to review page

I liked the country music references and the nostalgic feel of small town living both the dark and realistic side as well as it’s romanticized side.

I didn’t finish this novel because there was too many characters and I couldn’t keep track of them all and quickly lost interest in their storylines.

Content Warnings

brittanyisbooked's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Loved this book! The concept of reimagining a song was great. We so often hear retellings, but not often are they based on songs. I loved the way the author incorporated the story from The Chicks’ song Goodbye Earl, but also includes more than enough about the main characters themselves to make it a dynamic story of friendship and family.

Content Warnings