This had a lot of potential for a romance and I really enjoyed both characters. What made me not love it as much as I had hoped was that the characters didn't spend enough time together in the story. Because of that, it ended up feeling like a rushed romance. I loved the setting and each person's journey.

Oh, here we go again. American writers writing a diddley-eye version of Ireland.

This didn't work for me.

The Irish Goodbye is a dual POV enemies-to-lovers romance. Cordelia is a photographer mourning the loss of her father and looking for a fresh start. She rents a home in Ireland for the summer and when she arrives bumps (literally) into Niall, a surly chef home for the summer nursing a broken heart. The two get off on the wrong foot but after being constantly thrown together gradually set their differences aside.

What a delightful story! I’m so glad I got a chance to read this one. I really liked Cordelia and Niall, and the side characters really added to the story. I’d love to read more from this author!


Read dates: 03/04/2025- 03/05/2025
Goodreads review: 03/05/2025
Instagram review: 03/06/2025
Blog review: 03/13/2025

This was like traveling to Ireland, I absolutely loved it! It was filled with so many elements from local lore, to dialect, and food, I just want to go there now. The romance was quite fun and entertaining, but for me the highlight truly was the Irish setting.

The Irish Goodbye is my first Amy Ewing book and it features some popular romance tropes, such as small-town romance and enemies to lovers. I enjoyed the writing style and the characters, but felt like Cordelia was a bit immature for her age which was a bit sad. It was a lighthearted read but i was hoping for a bit more. I still recommend this book for romance readers.

This was such a beautiful read! I enjoyed the setting and the meet cute! I loved the chefxphotographer don’t see those in many books!

A romance story set in the Irish countryside about a woman moving far away to figure out her life and meeting someone to do it alongside with. The story was cute but it didn't really hook me in. The writing felt a little basic, especially through the use of third person, I wasn't really able to get into the characters. Nonetheless, a nice story to read.

CONTAINS SPOILERS


This book was kind of insane and not in a good way - I was enjoying it so much until the whole marriage proposal after knowing each other for a few weeks thing? Like they either have to breakup or get married immediately? I’m confused.

At least the FMC realized how insane that was after the fact, and they had a conversation about it afterwards.

I also HATE the trope of one of the characters lying and saying they don’t want to be with the other person for “their own good”. So manipulative and not cool.

Overall, no.

Amy Ewing's The Irish Goodbye is a captivating and emotionally rich novel that explores love, grief, and the complexity of human relationships. With lush writing and deep character development, Ewing takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and healing, all while navigating the tension between past connections and new beginnings.

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Irish Goodbye features Niall who is a chef returning to Inishmore feeling a little broken and Chelsea, an American tourist who winds up with a broken camera after bumping into Niall.

This book felt a little insta-hate to insta-love but overall was a good time. The setting of Inishmore was like a hug and very cozy. The third act conflict and resolution felt like a lot but all in all I had a fun time with this story.

I truly loved my experience reading this book. As someone with familial connections to Ireland I love reading books that take place there. This was such an enjoyable read. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This right here is how to write an adult romance. Amy did a great job writing about loss and second chances. Cordelia and Niall fit so well together and made the story enjoyable. I loved that they worked together and separate through their healing. Cordelia is truly living my dream just jumping at the chance to go to Ireland to rediscover herself and it really made want to do it more now. Also the side characters felt like they were apart of the story which is hard to do these days. I really enjoyed this and I’m glad I was able to receive an ARC from NetGalley

I was able to read an ebook arc of this thanks to NetGalley. A fun romance. Great read. Would read more by this author.

Ireland! Hot chef! Enemies to Lovers! Was The Irish Goodbye made exactly for me? Perhaps. Steamy read acquired.

* Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving this copy.

Amy Ewing is one of my favorite YA authors, the Jewel is one of my favorite YA fantasy stories of all time. It's different, it's perfect for it's audience, I just really love that series. However, I think that being a YA author first was Ewing's biggest downfall with this book, and why it didn't rate higher for me. The relationships are all very juvenile on paper. Our FMC is supposed to be 30 but she treats her mom, the death of her dad, and falling in love with Niall the way I would expect a 16yo protagonist to react. At first I was like, okay this is fine, she's young, of course she feels/ reacts this way, but then I remembered the character is THIRTY and it quickly gave me the ick. It reads like Ewing wanted to write spice but doesn't know how to move out of that juvenile way of writing, where relationships move fast and they FEEL like the biggest thing in the world to the MC (because let's be honest, when you're 16 that IS how things feel, but by the time you're 30 you're not crying in your room 4 months later because the guy you had a one month fling with on vacation chose his career over you because you told him too).

I think if this book had been written from the pov of someone doing a summer trip before starting college (and nixed the smut) this would've come across as a WAY better story, without really having to change much (other than the marriage visa part) and it would've been a 4star read easily. But it lacked the depth that older 20yo's get from experiencing more of the world.

If Ewing writes another YA novel I will read the crud out of that book, buuuut I think this may be my last adult novel by her.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

The Irish Goodbye was such a delightful romance read!

I was hooked on this book from the beginning. The Irish Goodbye has a few of my favourite romance tropes:

☘️ Small-town
☘️ Enemies to Lovers
☘️ Slow burn
☘️ Happily ever after

This story had been grinning, swooning (it was spicy at some points), and definitely wishing I was in Ireland.

It had a little bit of The Holiday feel. Our main character, Cordelia James, is in desperate need of a change of scenery. A photographer who has lost her passion after the death of her father, Cordelia sees an ad online for a cottage on a little Irish Island and decides it is the perfect getaway. She didn't expect to be accepted into this little community like she was, and she certainly didn't expect to fall in love. Especially to the jerk who bumped into her and broke her camera.

I enjoyed the writing, the storyline, and all of the characters. The secondary characters, Cordelia's family, and all the characters from Inishmore were so just such great characters and added so much to the story.

My one complaint with romances, you know there is likely to be a third act breakup. I feel like I just sit and wait for it the entire story. I don't really enjoy the third act breakup. In this case, if both characters just had an adult discussion, it probably could have been avoided. But, it did make the ending all that much better.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for romance readers.

Thank you to Alcove Press for the advanced digital copy of this fabulous romance. My opinions are my own.

The Irish Goodbye delivers a steamy romance set on the scenic island of Inishmore, Ireland, where two people from vastly different worlds collide in more ways than one. Cordelia James, a once-renowned street photographer, is in a deep emotional rut following the sudden death of her father. Her once-thriving career has come to a standstill, leaving her unable to find solace or purpose. Desperate for an escape, Cordelia impulsively signs up for a summer gig on Ireland’s picturesque island of Inishmore, hoping a change of scenery might restore her spirit.

But the peace she seeks is far from what she finds when she crashes into Niall O’Connor when she steps off the boat. Niall, a fierce and heartbroken Irish chef who has returned to his hometown after a tough breakup, has no patience for tourists, especially not glamorous Americans like Cordelia. With their personalities clashing from the start, their tension is palpable, sparking a fiery relationship that walks the line between hate and desire.

As they continue to cross paths, their animosity only intensifies, but soon their bickering transforms into undeniable chemistry. The cool nights on the Irish coast are about to heat up as they discover that what begins as hatred might just become a passion.

Surrounded by a lively cast of quirky island locals, *The Irish Goodbye* is a love story full of wit, emotional depth, and the beauty of finding yourself in unexpected places. It explores themes of healing, personal growth, and learning to love again after loss and heartbreak.

Tropes
- Enemies to Lovers
- Grumpy/Sunshine Dynamic
- Small-Town Romance
- Healing and Self-Discovery

Review

It is a perfect blend of sizzling chemistry, emotional vulnerability, and the enchanting beauty of Ireland. Cordelia and Niall’s journey from rivals to lovers is full of sharp, witty banter that keeps the tension alive throughout. Ewing does a fantastic job of weaving in the emotional arcs of both characters, allowing them to evolve as they confront their past hurts.

The novel’s idyllic setting on the island of Inishmore adds a unique charm, immersing readers in the landscape and culture of Ireland. The supporting cast of quirky island locals brings humor and heart to the story, offering moments of levity amidst the intense romance.

Fans of steamy romance, the enemies-to-lovers trope, and richly depicted small-town settings will find The Irish Goodbye a compelling and enjoyable read.

The Irish Goodbye is an irresistible romance that balances heat and heart, perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally charged love stories with dynamic characters and a vivid sense of place. Amy Ewing’s exploration of love, loss, and the journey to self-discovery makes this novel a steamy, heartfelt read.

This book is perfect for a palate cleanser! Even though there were some serious topics discussed, I felt that I related to both of the characters so well.

Inishmore, Ireland is a beautiful location to set this small town romance. Did I look up the place when it was mentioned to see if I could visit? Yes I did. Ewing did a wonderful job capturing Inishmore's ancient beauty & cozy atmosphere.
But I didn't just love the setting. I fell in love with Cordelia, Niall & all the townspeople. I felt the main characters were relatable. Both are navigating life after loss & find happiness with each other. They had a meet cute gone wrong first encounter which made their love story even sweeter! I felt I really knew the characters by the end.
Niall & Cordelia are a slow burn but watching their dislike turn into love was worth it. The hike they took together was when I started falling. I mean *swoon* Plus the spice was super unexpected. The kitchen scene was
The story has a nice blend of heart & humor. I had to stop myself from laughing while listening in public
I'm so happy I picked this up. It's a summer romance set in Ireland which I loved. Highly recommend the audiobook too!