Good Eggs by Rebecca Hardiman is a whirlwind of a novel told through three very disparate POVs: octogenarian, Millie, her middle-aged son Kevin, and seemingly troubled granddaughter Aideen. After shoplifting for not the first time from the local grocer, Millie is brought into the police station. Considering her car accidents and now this, Kevin employs a companion for his mother, an American woman named Sylvia who is upbeat and seems to be just the person Millie needs. Sylvia has a teenage nephew, Sean, who might just be the person Aideen needs.

I think Hardiman did an amazing job of bringing these three different POVs to life. Millie is shrewd, feisty, and sometimes prickly. Kevin is frequently a dolt and self-absorbed. Aideen is impetuous but has a good heart, and I loved the limericks she writes throughout the novel.

The family sequences in some ways reminded me of the sometimes over-the-top humor from the Derry Girls, frenetic and funny. To even these out, there was sensitive introspection and revisiting of the past, with granddaughter learning things about her grandmother that she never knew, that gave her a fresh perspective.

While Good Eggs might not be everyone’s cuppa, I enjoyed this frequently funny, irreverent romp of a novel.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book - as the Gogarty Family definitely sucked me in, however it just fell kind of flat for me.

Good Eggs tells the, often messy, story about 3-generations of an Irish family. Kevin Gogarty hires Sylvia, to help care for his difficult 83-year old mother, Millie who is suffering from dementia. He has his hands full with his many children, especially his troubled teenage daughter, Aideen - while his wife is traveling for work. At first Sylvia seems to be a saviour for the family, until she sends the Gogarty family into a crisis.

Rebecca Hardiman’s story and characters make you feel as if you are a part of the family. Many of the issues and challenges are normal familial experiences - making you empathetic to all of the Gogarty Clan. However, I found that the book was wordy, overly explained in parts and just hard to believe in others. If you enjoy reading about family dynamics, especially those that can be described and dysfunctional, definitely read Good Eggs.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and Rebecca Hardiman for my Advanced Reader Copy!

This is a character-driven plot and story of 3 generations of the Gogarty family set in Dublin, Ireland. I enjoyed this book but had some minor issues with it. The focus being on the build-up of the actual plot itself. I found some plot holes and was left with several unanswered questions.

Aside from that, I do have to say that I laughed like hell through some of the chapters and this debut was pretty heartwarming. I'm giving this 3.5 stars. If you're looking for a comedic escape with some good old Irish humor woven in, enjoy quirky dysfunctional families and enjoyed A Man Called Ove & Where’d You Go, Bernadette then you may want to give it a go! 83-year-old Millie was an absolute hoot! It would make a fine summertime read.

Thank you Atria Books & Netgalley for providing me with this e-ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC copy of the book in return for my honest review. I was excited about the book. The idea of some quirky characters and an elderly outspoken woman appealed to me. The writing was easy to follow, but failed to keep my attention in spots. The storyline would alternate between events for the different characters. I enjoyed Millie and Aideen’s characters. Kevin was much less like able, but more so my problems arose because I didn’t find him to be a believable character. He had some events that took place that seemed inconsistent with his character and yet did not add to the story. The twist was East to anticipate.

I think it was a great debut effort. I applaud books which center around older characters and their feisty nature—this I felt was well portrayed throughout the book.

This is one of those books where I have to say: it's not you, it's me.

The summary sounded interesting and I really thought I'd enjoy it but something fell short for me. I know some readers have named this the "Irish Schitt's Creek" and it's nothing like the show so I'm really confused as why it was depicted as such.

Again, maybe if I read this at a different time in the year I would have enjoyed it more. 2.5 stars but I will round up to 3. I hope others will enjoy the story more than I did.

Kevin's gone down to the police station. The crime? Shoplifting. The perp? His mom. Millie is eighty three, and she stole something at the local mart. The police agree to let his mom go so long as Kevin hires an aide to keep an eye on her. Sylvia, the aide, seems like the answer to Kevin's problems, except for his daughter Aideen has gone into the wild throes of puberty and decided to take it out on everybody around her. Now it seems like to him the right thing is to send her off to boarding school. Having sufficiently managed his mom and his daughter, it's time to take a breather, right? Wrong! Sylvia's in trouble, and Millie and Aideen are bound and determined to save her from her troubles, though they'll disappear from Ireland and traverse continents to try setting things right. Can Kevin and his family survive this outlandish mayhem, or will it tear them further apart?

Welcome to the antics of the Gogarty family! This was certainly good for a laugh, and the title of Good Eggs certainly does justice to the characters. They get into their own sorts of trouble, but they're (mostly) trying to be good people living the best life they can. Millie, especially, is a hoot; a daring old woman who doesn't want to be old, or proper, or be put in a rest home, or do much of anything that others expect of her. Aideen is rebellious, sullen, mischievous, and forms an alliance of sorts with Millie after being sent to boarding school so that she also doesn't feel caged. Kevin, good son and dad that he's trying to be, isn't so much a good husband, unable to land a job, and also taking too much interest in women other than his hard-working, bacon-bringing wife.

What really sets things in motion is when the family learns of something dark in Sylvia's past, and that's when the real fun and true adventure begins. Good Eggs is perhaps an ingredient or two short of a perfect omelet, but it's a funny, endearing debut from Rebecca Hardiman, and it asks us to stretch the boundaries of what's expected, and to always hold onto family, even if they're stretching our sanity. Recommended for those who want a funny family novel that highlights rather than condemns the dysfunctional.

⭐⭐⭐.5/5⁣⁣

Like many families, the Gogarty clan of Ireland has their fair share of problems: Millie, the grandmother, has a penchant for shoplifting. Kevin, Millie’s son, faces a mid-life crisis when he struggles to find a new job. Aideen, Kevin’s daughter, doesn’t understand why she’s being sent to boarding school.

The book switches between points of the view of the ensemble cast, and if I’m being completely honest, there’s a bit of a slow start in the first third of the book or so. But then, things get REALLY interesting. Obviously, I can’t describe the plot twist, but I will say that it comes out of nowhere, and from that point on, it’s one thing after another, and I couldn’t even begin to predict what was going to happen next.

The bottom line, however, is that Good Eggs is absolutely hilarious. The characters are realistic and down-to-earth, and while I didn’t always agree with their decisions, they are understandable. Except for Kevin—he was a bit of an ass, but it’s fair to assume that his characterization is intentional, so well played. And it was certainly fun to watch Kevin go about his business and manage multiple family crises, all while trying to stay hip and relevant.

I would recommend Good Eggs. This is an amazing debut, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this very funny book. I’m looking forward to reading more from Hardiman in the future.




I received an ARC of this book from Atria Books/NetGalley

3.5 ⭐ for Good Eggs

Thank you to @atriabooks for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This one is out tomorrow, March 2!

Pages: 336 pages
Genre: contemporary fiction
Pace: medium to slow

Themes: dysfunctional family, dynamics of elder care, feeling unseen/neglected, falling in love at any age

My thoughts: this was a lighthearted, humorous read revolving around three perspectives: a father who recently lost his job; his daughter, who is struggling in the shadow of her twin; and his mother, who is struggling with old age. At first, I didn’t like any of the characters. I thought they all came across a little whiny and self-absorbed. But as the book progressed, I couldn’t help rooting for them, and hoping for a happy ending. The characters had their flaws, but I loved how each of them evolved in the book. I also loved the Ireland setting, and think it would be a perfect read for March, with Saint Patrick’s Day right around the corner. I’d say, if you like dysfunctional family reads, with a perspective from someone in every generation, then pick this one up!

Who should read: fans of My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, This is Where I Leave You, Grace & Frankie

Millie, her son Kevin, and her granddaughter Aideen are all at loose ends and in a bit of trouble. Mille's 83 and struggling a bit with her memory among other things. Kevin's lost his job and has been unable to get another. Aideen hates her twin and just about everything else about being a teen girl in Ireland. A shoplifting incident changes all of that Kevin hires Sylvia, an American in Ireland with her nephew Sean, to care for Millie and sends Aideen to a boarding school. Sharp readers will feel the looming issue with Sylvia but not, I think (I didn't) what happens next. These are great characters, each of them flawed in their own way (Kevin perhaps most of all) but also sympathetic, There are some very funny scenes, some delightful poetry written by Aideeen, and sharp observations about each stage of our lives. If Millie and Aideen's adventure seems a bit unlikely, go with it because it leads to a sweet ending which will make sense if you remember what Millie wanted most. This doesn't sugar coat things (especially for Millie and Kevin). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Hardiman's a terrific storyteller and I'm eager to read whatever she writes next. Highly recommend for a good read and a smile.

The Good Egg is character-driven, hilarious and heartwarming. The Gogarty’s are the typical Irish family. Kevin, the father, is a writer of celebrities interviews but has recently lost his job. Millie, his eighty-three year old mother has just been caught shoplifting again, after wrecking her car twice in one year. Aideen, is a twin teenage daughter that is having a heard time dealing with life and having the perfect sister so is acting out which leads to being put into a strict boarding school. Between these three there are enough antics to keep you reading and laughing. Then Sylvia enters the picture as a caregiver for Millie. Sylvia and her nephew Simon (age 17) are Americans that come into their world and provide interests Millie and Aideen just can’t resist.
The first part of this book was hard to get through as It switched a lot among the characters building their plots. But as soon as you discover each one, the antics keep you reading wondering what’s next.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for an advanced copy of this book.

Rebecca Hardiman’s debut novel, Good Eggs, is a character driven tale featuring a multi-generational Irish family. This dysfunctional family is full of zany characters. Millie, an octogenarian with a proclivity for shoplifting, is stubbornly trying to live on her own. Sixteen-year-old Aideen is insecure and filled with anger and angst toward her adored twin, Nuala. The patriarch of the family, Kevin, is not much of a leader. He’s in the middle of a midlife crisis from a life that has hardly started. He is self-absorbed and focused on his self-pity that he blatantly ignores the true needs of his wife and family, and thus he creates much of the turmoil the Gogarty family experiences in this story.

In this book, Ms. Hardiman explores realistic family issues and difficulties with a humorous, lighthearted twist. The Gogartys’ story is a journey of sorts. Along the way, the characters are forced to reckon with their flaws and the consequences of their choices. In the end, that journey is somewhat redemptive. I suppose, this is the Gogartys’ journey to becoming “good eggs”.

The plot starts a bit slow, but picks up in the latter half of the book. One of the key plot points is too obvious early on, but that doesn’t deter from story. I thoroughly enjoyed the Irish lingo in the dialogue; it didn’t feel forced or trite. Most of all, I enjoyed Millie. She was quite the odd character and brought a lot of humor and light to the novel. A fun and humorous read from beginning to end.
3 - 3.5 stars

I had high hopes after reading the blurb--especially when it said it was perfect for fans of Evvie Drake Starts Over, which I loved. I expected a funny tale about a quirky, elderly woman and her family. However within a few chapters the story went downhill. 83-year-old Millie is a repeat shoplifter but this is barely addressed. Her son Kevin comes off as a busy at home dad but then makes more than one disastrous decision affecting multiple members of the family. Millie isn't taking good care of herself, acting recklessly so Kevin hires a caregiver named Sylvia for her. Teenage daughter Aideen goes way past typical teenager rebellion with her dangerous behavior. And I can't say too much about Sylvia's character without spoilers.

All in all I didn't find the main characters likeable. As a result it was hard to be invested in the storyline. Some parts veered into unbelievable territory. One bright spot though was seeing Florida and America through Aideen's teenaged eyes.

While the book was not a good fit for me, I want to thank the publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy.

Good Eggs is a fun ride through a family of a boisterous, wandering and unsure of life family! Sometimes off the rails and you love everyone of them. The story of a elderly mother, her son and the son's daughter. It is sweet, funny and you must love everyone of them. Millie, Kevin and Aideen will definitely brighten your day. Thank you #netgalley#atriabooks#goodeggs

What a quirky and fun book! This is an intergenerational Irish family drama full of laugh out loud moments, charm and wit. I adored the relationship between Aideen, a moody, disaffected teenager and her nutty 83 year old grandmother, Millie, whose questionable decisions keep landing her in hot water. Their journey to America was my favorite part of the book. ⁣
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This one gave me A Man Called Ove and Where’d You Go Bernadette vibes. A solid read that reminds us that life can be full of adventure at every age and it is never too late for second chances. ⁣

This book was so delightfully precious!!!!!!! It is such a funny story & had me laughing the whole way. Millie's little antics cracked me up!!!!! This debut novel is one you definitely need to read this year!!!! I highly recommend this book

I tried really hard to like this book but I just couldn't get into it. Unfortunately I think it's just not my style. Rating it 2 stars because the plot is interesting; I just can't connect with the actual story. Sorry!

Modestly entertaining saga about an Irish family struggling to excel as individual members trip up in their daily lives. Author Rebecca Hardiman has created characters that aren’t quite engaging enough for the wildness she intends in GOOD EGGS; this wildness is on a par with the grandmother shoplifting regularly and one teen daughter being sent away to boarding school due to bad behavior and rebelling further. I kept waiting for the humor or the exceptional moment that would really set this tale apart and it never really happened for me. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I received a free digital advance review copy from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Good Eggs by Rebecca Hardiman is the book to pick up if you are looking for a slightly irreverent, comic escape into a family's sometimes misguided attempts to navigate their relationships with each other. I adored the character of Millie, the greeting card shoplifting senior citizen bent on retaining her independence and thwarting her son Kevin's attempts to send her to a nursing home or hire a home care aide. Another plotline involves Kevin's teenaged daughter, Aideen, the black sheep of the family, who ends up being sent to boarding school. Millie and Aideen's plotlines converge in a way that is just over the top enough to be entertaining and heartwarming. Kevin was the one character that did not ring quite true to me. The story is set in and near Dublin, and I enjoyed the references to shops, restaurants, and landmarks that allowed me to recall a prior visit. Though the book deals with some weighty issues, including marital infidelity, overall, this is a breezy, .light-hearted, laugh out loud story. This would be a good book for summer vacation/beach reading - absorbing and page-turning while you're reading, full of quirky characters and their escapades, but light enough to dip in and out of.

A really interesting book, somewhat in the style of Marian Keyes or Maeve Binchy. It takes place in Ireland, following a family, and more specifically, a grandmother named Millie who is having a bit of trouble.
Millie has been growing old, and has a bit of a problem with shoplifting. Her son is called, and he assigns her a woman to come and help care for her. However, he is having problems of his own at home. This book is wonderful, it really captures a family dynamic. Things in their lives aren't perfect, but they're not messy either. They're just...real. I feel as though this book really does chronicle the lives of people who aren't really sure what they're doing but they're going to give it a go anyway. I really loved the character development and how realistic they all seemed. I would definitely recommend!

This ebook was provided in by NetGalley exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy.

Good Eggs started out a little slow for me, but the more I read, the more invested I became in 83 year old Millie's story. She was a hoot, and I kind of want her as a surrogate grandma. I loved her relationship with Aideen (her granddaughter) and want a book just about their adventures and shenanigans together! The last third of the book (pretty much once Millie and Aideen ran off to Florida) really picked up for me, and I didn't want it to end!

Definitely check it out if you like family dramas with some antics thrown in for good measure.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.