I had trouble getting into this one. I very much enjoy and appreciate the author and I'm glad I read it, but it wasn't as wrong as her first.

Good Dirt is a story of family drama, loss, and heartache. It centers around Ebony Freeman, the daughter of a well-known black family. Because of the dual timeline, I feel it covers the same topics over and over, especially about the clay pot. I loved this author's first book. Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this one as much. Thanks to the author, Ballantine Books, And NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine books for this advanced copy of Charmaine Wilkerson’s, Good Dirt.

Good Dirt follows multiple timelines, as we encounter the Freeman family in the 1800s, the 2000s, and modern day. The Freeman family has had a jar in their family for generations. This jar has become a member of the family until one day, an attempted burglary resulted in the death of the Freeman son and the destruction of the jar.

It explores grief, family, and racial relations on many different levels.

As a whole, I enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to my book club. There was one storyline that didn't feel relevant at all that could have been removed (the crime occurring in France) but other than that, everything served to move the story along.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine books for this advanced copy of Charmaine Wilkerson’s, Good Dirt.

This is the sophomore novel for the author of the beloved Black Cake. The format and themes of family history told through dual timelines are similar in both books, but the stories completely stand on their own.

Ebby Freeman is only ten years old when her family is the victim of a home invasion and her beloved older brother, Baz, is shot and killed in front of her. Her entire life is shaped by surviving this well known crime, including the personal life she tries to build in adulthood.

While I enjoyed this story for the most part, I think it could be even better with a simplification of the modern story line. There is plot point in the middle that felt completely out of place and only continued to be a distraction for the remainder of the story, especially when juxtaposed with the seriousness of the historical timeline.

Overall, I’m glad I read it and I look forward to the author’s future books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Good Dirt is available January 28, 2025.

I give this novel a 3.5 ⭐️

The novel followed the story of Ebby Freeman and her family one experienced a horrific tragedy. It follows their grief and how it affects many areas of life. Entwined with this story is one that follows the Freeman ancestry through a family heirloom that tells a story of resilience, hope, and freedom. I enjoyed reading about the history of this affluent black family. Because of African Americans history in America, a lot of times it’s hard to trace back ancestry. The prose of the book are well written which made it an easy read.


That being said, I found parts of the book to be a bit repetitive. Also, I feel like parts of Ebby Freemans story when it came to her relationship with Henry could have been a bit stronger. I also think some of the POV’s added in the story were not necessary.

Thank you Random House and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Charmaine Wilkerson's second novel, Good Dirt, masterfully explores the enduring impact of tragedy on a family’s legacy. The story centers on Ebony "Ebby" Freeman, the daughter of affluent and accomplished parents, whose family history is deeply rooted in the Northeast. This lineage begins with Willis, an enslaved man who escaped to freedom. Among Willis's few cherished possessions was a pot etched with the initials "MO" and a concealed inscription on its underside. Known affectionately as "Old Mo," the jar became a symbol of resilience and heritage, passed down through generations of the Freeman family.

However, in 2000, the family’s connection to this history is shattered. Intruders invade Ebby’s home, killing her older brother, Baz, and destroying Old Mo, leaving behind a void that reverberates through the family’s narrative. Having been shaped by the shadow of tragedy from a young age, Ebby struggles even more when faced with a deeply embarrassing situation as an adult. Seeking solace, she journeys to France, where she begins to reclaim her sense of self. Immersed in the richness of her family’s legacy, she draws strength from their resilience and achievements. It is in this new chapter of her life that Ebby discovers a profound truth: “Perhaps the only way to cope with loss or guilt is to name it and defy its potential to destroy you.”

Wilkerson’s poignant storytelling delves into themes of loss, identity, and the ties that bind us to our past. 5-stars for this lovely story.

When Ebby was a child, she witnessed her bother's murder in their home. Many years later, she is ditched at the altar. Ebby escapes to France to start over, only to find her ex-fiance, Henry, and his new girlfriend renting the cottage that she is taking care of. Ebby is forced to confront Henry and her emotions regarding both her cancelled wedding and the trauma of her borther's death. The book moves between Ebby's story and the story of the family heirloom, "Old Mo," that was broken the day her brother was killed. The book chronicles the history of Ebby's family and its resilience through the jar.

A great followup to Wilkerson's debut! I think I liked it even a bit more than Black Cake. However, the chapters were VERY short, maybe by design, but hard for me to stay focused at times. Also, there are A LOT of characters, so get ready to keep track!

I was so excited to read GOOD DIRT, the follow-up to Charmaine Wilkerson's blockbuster BLACK CAKE. It is a fantastic multi-generational novel about trauma, the African-American experience, and family heirlooms as a stand-in for generational grief.

I really enjoyed the story, despite the depressing themes. Ebby is in her late 20s, still reeling from witnessing her brother's death at age 10 during a random home invasion. She has just been left at the altar, and is in France to take a break and begin to heal. However, her ex shows up out of nowhere and with a new girl. It sounds more scandalous than is portrayed by WIlkerson, and this sets the story into motion. We learn more about Ebby's family, her ancestors, and how trauma has shaped her as a person.

My only complaint about the book is that it does seem a bit overwritten, and often times I found the writing a bit overdramatic. There is nothing overly groundbreaking in the book in regards to the story or the writing, but it's a successful epic nonetheless and I know Wilkerson will just get better with time.

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson started slow; however, once you get the lay of the land and the family dynamics you will tear through this story. Charmaine has a gift for storytelling and this book was rich with family history, trauma and the unraveling on one young ladies life. Once she feels like she is free to be herself after a missing fiancé on their wedding day she runs into said fiancé and has to face the truth. I loved this story and all the characters including the family jar.

I really enjoyed this book and the way it wrapped history and a modern story of tragedy together. I felt something was missing from the conclusion but I guess the author left that to the reader’s imagination.

Just stop reading this, and go order this book, then come back for the review. I was nervous about reading “Good Dirt” because “Black Cake” was so good I read it twice in a month and I rarely reread a book. Charmaine Wilkerson did not disappoint me. Wow “Good Dirt” left me speechless; I had to wait a full day before writing this review.

Good Dirt is a tapestry of generational stories and trauma and how they have had a profound on the main character, Ebby Freeman’s life. When she was 10 years old, she saw her brother shot and killed, when she was grown, she was left at the altar. This forces her to face the tragic past of herself and her family’s.

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley #GoodDirt #NetGalley

A powerful family saga that cements Charmaine Wilkerson as one of my new favourite authors. I loved this just as much as Black Cake. Really gorgeous and captivating writing and storytelling. 4.5 stars. Thank you to the publishers for my ARC!

Like Charmaine Wilkerson’s prior book, “Black Cake”, “Good Dirt” is a powerful multi-generational family saga. The author is a masterful storyteller who effortlessly weaves in multiple points of view and timelines to enhance the story.

The story centers around a prosperous African American family, currently living in Connecticut, who experienced a tragedy. Ten-year old Ebony Freeman, who goes by Ebby, witnesses her brother’s murder after two robbers enter the home to steal Old Mo, a jar made by enslaved people in South Carolina which the family passed down through the generations. During the robbery, Old Mo is smashed, and the family assumes the jar is gone forever. The Freemans had always been regarded with doubt as to how they were able to afford to live in the white area among people who had inherited their wealth. Each of the family members feels guilt and handles their grief differently, which affects their actions later in life.

The author’s note at the end of the book is well worth reading. She explains how personal tragedy affects people and can change that person’s identity, even more so if the trauma is played out in the public eye, which is what happened to Ebby, both when her brother was killed and when her fiancé left her at the altar. Watching her brother when he was shot and killed impacted Ebby’s actions and relationships with her family members, friends, and future fiancé.

The book weaves the Freeman family history into current day events, from the kidnapped woman in Africa to her enslaved descendant who learned to make the pottery and secretly read and write, to Willis, who escapes on a ship with the jar and changes his last name to Freeman. While I was certainly knew of the use of slaves in agriculture, the forced unpaid labor used to create pottery was an area of American history with which I was unfamiliar.

While the plot has an air of mystery surrounding the identities of the robbers, it is really character driven. Ebby is an amazing young woman who learns to thrive despite the trauma she has experienced. She comes to find her own way and to finally let go and give herself permission to love again and take risks.

I would highly recommend this thought-provoking book to anyone who enjoys becoming invested in the characters and family dynamics, with a side of historical fiction. Its themes touch on inherited trauma and its effects on later generations, systemic racism, and the burdens of African American families, who are often judged solely by the color of their skin. The author does a wonderful job of incorporating multiple perspectives as she explains that it takes many voices to write history.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Random House/Ballantine Books and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait for any future novels that Charmaine Wilkerson writes.

Charmaine Wilkerson connects past and present through traumatic events and pottery created by enslaved people. Ebby Freeman, 10 years old, witnesses her brother’s murder during a home invasion. The family’s heirloom pottery jar “Old Mo” is also destroyed. These traumatic events inform Ebby’s life.

As Wilkerson delves into the family history and the history of the jar, repeated trauma and social injustice infuse the book with passion and grief. She causes the reader to reflect on the ways our assumptions and biases steer and influence our lives. This story leaves a lasting impact.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is Ms. Wilkerson's second novel. And what a fabulous effort this is! "Good Dirt", is the story of a family that reaches back to the start of slavery in this country. It tells of the ancestors, who were pottery makers and goes back and forth in time to tell of the modern day family and the tragedy that has shaken them to the core.

Ms. Wilkerson's writing is so exquisite that one can't help but feel for the characters and all that has happened to them. This is a winner of a novel and I highly recommend it.

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson is a powerful story with a compelling central character in Ebby Freeman. When Ebby was just ten years old she witnessed her brother being shot and killed as part of a robbery, a trauma that has followed her and the rest of her family to the current day. As the only Black family in their wealthy gated estate they never expected their life to be upended in this way. Time passes and the media frenzy abates but the crime remains unsolved, the only possible motive being an attempt to steal a valuable stoneware jar that has been in the family for generations and which was broken on the day of the shooting. Ebby has moved on with her life but her fragile sense of security is shattered all over again when her fiance abandons her on their wedding day causing her to flee to France and a friend's cottage. The last thing she expected was her past to find her there but when it catches up with her she finds herself reevaluating her family and their history helping her to find a connection to the past she thought was lost forever.
This is a book that really makes you care about the characters and their history, I found myself captivated by their stories and learning about a part of American history that I know very little about. While the book is absolutely character driven there is also an element of mystery as we, along with Ebby, slowly uncover the truth of what happened on that fateful day all those years before. There are multiple timelines at play and the story is told through the viewpoint of several different characters making for very propulsive storytelling that definitely keeps the reader engaged and the pages turning.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Good Dirt weaves through generations of the prominent Freeman family. With the historic elements portraying the pottery craft of African Americans, it was interesting to hear the art /pottery today is worth so much. The novel was steeped in so much history but it was fresh and immersive.

Covering multiple perspectives you get to see years of the poignant family history, and it keeps the pages turning. With it being a bit of a mystery, family drama, historical, this novel has everything any reader would be looking for. (Not to mention the loveable characters!)

I loved Black Cake, but I think I love Good Dirt even more. Will definitely be following Charmaine Wilkerson’s next book releases. Thankful to have authors exposing the truths from history. The family heirlooms and stories must be told and shared to never forget.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Charmaine Wilkerson has another masterpiece on her hands. The story is about a clay jug made during slave times that is passed thru multiple generations as a family heirloom and a piece of American history. Narrated from multiple time frames and views to tell the story. Each time frame you are taken back in history, as well into more recent time and read how they are all entangled. The story really moved me. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. (Historical fiction, some romance and crime included)

Wow! Good Dirt was another winner from Charmaine Wilkerson. Told in both current time as well as many generations before, we learn the history of the Freeman family and how their history affects all the members of the current day story. Ebby's progress of moving forward, survivor's guilt, lost love and finding herself brought her to a small village in France. Big twist while she's there, which I won't reveal! Loved learning about the pottery trade and background story of Old Mo.

Link to review coming soon.