In this multigenerational family drama, Ebby is overcoming the trauma from seeing her brother shot and killed in their family home at just 10 years old. The reader follows the Freeman family from slavery until present day and looks at the affluent family at the heart of it all.

This book was a bit of a mess. I think an editor should have made it more cohesive for a better read. Unfortunately it really took away from the story. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher

I received a free copy of, Good Dirt, by Charmaine Wilkerson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. When Ebby was a child she heard a gunshot and found the body of her brother, Ebby has carried this with her throughout her life, even to France. This book was good.

I loved Black Cake by this author and was excited to read this book.

This is a story of a jar that has been in the family for generations. The story has many timelines which made it seem disconnected to me. Honestly, I was a little bored with the story and did not like the whole storyline of Henry and Avery. I felt it didn’t contribute anything to the story. The book could have been written more about the jars history with just a few of Ebby and Baz’s life with the jar and how they related to the jar would have been much more enjoyable. I did love when you finally found out the inscription on the bottom of the jar.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the arc copy for my honest review.

Multiple POV and dual timelines shares a multi generational story. We learn how our ancestral history impacts us and the ways we are all connected.

I loved the intertwined stories from today and the 1800s. The chapter set in France were filled with dreamy details that helped me understand why Ebony found some peace there.

Some aspects fell flat for me. There are pieces of the story that felt like there was huge build up to some surprising twist. Despite knowing this was not a suspenseful or twisty book, I still found myself waiting for the big moment. I found myself disappointed that most of the “twists” were just points of miscommunication.

This novel is a Family Saga driven by the nature and complexities of human experience, a rich tapestry of good and bad generational inheritance.

We follow Ebby Freeman and her affluent parents as they navigate prejudice, trauma, and survivor’s guilt. All three carry the weight of loss, the young life of a beloved son and brother cut short during a home invasion. Years later, after being silently abandoned at the altar by Henry Pepper, she seeks refuge and solitude to tend to her new and old wounds. A friend who owns rental property offers Ebby a chance to escape scrutiny, a working sabbatical in France. Still grappling with the tragic loss of her brother and a fiancé, Ebby uses this trip to offer a new perspective on the events of her life and time to plan for the future. Just when Ebby feels her painful grip on the past may finally loosen . . . she finds herself in heart-pounding confrontation with it.

Be prepared that this novel is historical fiction and the timeline oscillates between past and present. Exploring how history, personal experiences, and family lore can play an essential role in shaping destiny is so interesting. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy stories of adversity and resilience.

I thank NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy of Good Dirt for my unbiased evaluation.  5 stars

I was so excited to get an ARC of Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson from @netgalley. I really liked her previous book, Black Cake and couldn’t wait to read her next book. Good Dirt is the story of Ebony ‘Ebby’ Freeman and a beloved family heirloom affectionately referred to as ‘Old ‘Mo’. ‘Old ‘Mo’ is a hand thrown earthen ware jar made by one of Ebby’s distant enslaved relatives. It is an integral part of their family, and also the center of a heartbreaking family tragedy. The story begins in Africa with the capture of a female potter whose family has been killed or captured to be taken to America. There are three timelines, but they are clearly written and very important to the story line. The present day story begins with Ebby in France staying at the home of a friend after being jilted by her fiancé at the alter. Along the way, we learn the history of Old Mo, how Old Mo was the center of a horrific murder of one of Ebby’s family members, and how she begins to piece together the solution to a crime that was never solved. Excellent storytelling and I learned a lot about potter.

Beautiful written story about loss, love and perseverance.

That being said, this book was not for me. I found myself bored and the story to be repetitive. I wasn’t invested in the characters and found them all to be obnoxious at times. A lot of miscommunication and failure to speak up throughout the whole story. Every character had some type of secret that was depicted as being horrible and earth shattering. These “revelations” would implode all of the lives around them if they got out. I was underwhelmed by said secrets and annoyed at the dramatics.

Way too many POVs. And the story line of Henry’s injury in France…I still don’t see its relevance.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review

Charmaine Wilkerson has written a powerful historical fiction about the human condition.
The protagonist (Ebony ( Ebby) Freeman develops into an intelligent , adept young woman having coped with the traumatic events that happen.
Multiple characters are portrayed learning, growing, gaining profound inner strength having struggled to survive as well as thrive through their traumatic life experiences.
The author's description of natural beauty , human greed and cruelty, unparalleled success of Ebby's ancestors and current family resonates with magical , thought provoking prose. Her personification of artisanal slave made clay pot (Old Mo') resonates thought provoking benefits to the reader throughout the story. The deep dive into romantic, familial , interpersonal relationships reveals the prowess and resiliency of these human connections.
Good Dirt is aptly titled and a excellently written book.

I received a free ebook in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. I like fiction and there is nothing better than good fiction. This book is good fiction.

The book keeps you on your toes. I thought the book was about one thing. Then I thought it was about something else. Then I realized to just enjoy the book. It isn't predictable. It doesn't have huge surprises in the book. The book is about life in so many ways.

There are two stories entertained in the book. The book goes back to different times. It is told by different characters. This book works. It is difficult, usually, to read a book like this but here it works.

It is a book where you really get to know the characters. All the characters are very human. The book teaches you forgiveness. It is a lot of empathy for the characters.

The book deals with big issues. It deals with death, tragedy, family, forgiveness, love, sacrifice, humility, friendship, embarrassment, character, honestly, ethics, and so MUCH more

This is a book to be reread. It's a book that I would like to meet the author at an event. I can't wait to read the authors next book.

I am a lover of history, and African-American history has always held a special place in my heart. What a wonderful way to learn about this history through the delightful character of Ebby Freeman. Ebby is the daughter of an affluent Black family that suffered a terrible loss. During the tragedy, a family heirloom, a large pottery jar from the 1800s, was also shattered. This jar was such a big part of their family's history, and a reminder of their greater family loss. To compound their loss, the media refused to give the family any privacy over the years, which caused Ebby constant heartache and anxiety.

The media was especially cruel when Ebby had romantic troubles. It is bad enough to suffer from heartache, and all the more painful to read about it in the news. It is only Ebby's strength of character that enabled her to pick up the pieces, again, and move on.

This multi-generational story is told from several points of view, and from several time periods, but always centers on Ebby and her transformation. It captures the reader's attention immediately, and you will soon find that you are scheduling "Ebby Time" at least once a day. You simply will not want to put the book down, and when you are forced to, you will be planning the next time to visit with Ebby again. Good Dirt is a hauntingly beautiful story that will impact you for times to come.

I found this this novel informative and thought provoking. I never realized that there were slaves who didn’t work in the fields or the master’s house. This was a learning experience for me.I think it brought to light that there were slaves who were very creative and most time that creativity was repressed; other times it was used for the owner’s profit while not giving credit to the true artist. This is definitely what happened to Moses”. That’s is why a piece of pottery large jar called Old MO made by one of the Freeman family ancestors takes center stage. It is the receptacle and guardian of their ancestors stories or memories dating back to slavery. Both Ebby and Baz never, forget its importance as a treasure keepsake but also include it in their lives like another family member. Through many years of hard work and determination by their ancestors, their family has moved up the social ladder from slaves to upper- class Americans, and Old Mo is the symbol of this. It also has caused Ebby to have a very difficult life since she was 10.

This brings the reader to the thought provoking part of this novel. We always hear people say everyone grieves in their own way, but question how the person processes that grief. How long is it acceptable to grieve: a week, month, a year, a lifetime. Should the person allow it to affect their lives or should they just get on with it. Because of her grief Ebby becomes the main chapter not to be confused with the central figure. Having her fiancé not show up on her wedding daymares the reader take a closer look at the question of grief and how it can affect a person’s by how they processed it.

To me these were the two main themes in the novel. The first is our lack of knowledge of the Afro_Americans creative talents. In most history books, they are only shown as housemaids, field hands, some of whom were taught a trade:: blacksmith, farm equipment repair, but nothing about creative talent. The second makes us look at ourselves and ask, “Are we too judgmental when we know someone is grieving”?

As to the title, it can be seen as a reference to the clay used to make the pottery. However it can also be used to remind the reader of people being treated like dirt; they treated him like dirt meaning he wasn’t worth anything. The Freeman family and their ancestors and all enslaved people are worth more than dirt, and they are good.

I feel like this will be one of the best books of 2025.

Good Dirt is a multigenerational story that focuses on grief. Every character is so deep and likable. There are also historical points mentioned that were very new to me.

I loved Black Cake, but I think this novel is even better.

Ms Wilkerson is a very good writer and story teller. Very much enjoyed the book not just for the story, but the writing and the evolution of the story.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to read and good luck with the book

Part multigenerational family drama and part historical fiction, Charmaine Wilkerson’s novel 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵 tells several intriguing stories from various points of view and time. There is Ebby Freeman, a 29-year-old copyeditor whose failed wedding brings negative attention back to her prominent Black family. She decides to work abroad in France for a few months to escape the renewed scrutiny. There are her parents, Ed and Soh, who have had a somewhat codependent relationship with Ebby since the tragic death of their other child Baz during an infamous home robbery nearly twenty years ago. They struggle with Ebby’s distance and unresolved issues of their own. There are Moses and Willis, ancestors and enslaved stoneware artisans whose clay jar later becomes a Freeman family heirloom and then a symbol of loss. And there are several other narrators in these multiple timelines that add more depth and dimension to the saga.

While I overall enjoyed the different perspectives and appreciated the value they added to the book, I admit there were times that the narrative seemed meandering due to the many voices and time jumps. I felt it took a bit too long to get to the meat of the main plot. Nonetheless, I think 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵 is a beautifully written novel that discusses an important part of American history as well as overcoming grief, confronting trauma, and finding the resilience to move forward. I recommend it to those who enjoyed Wilkerson’s first novel 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘊𝘢𝘬𝘦.

4.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to Ballantine Books for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Good Dirt" is engaging and heartfelt. A young girl witnesses her brother's death and the crime is never solved. Years later, when a romance falls apart, she moves to France and takes time to process the death of her brother, and the significance of a family relic. Wilkerson has provided historical fiction at its best. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC. Pub Date: January 28th, 2025.

#GoodDirt

I just could not get into this book. I loved Black Cake, but this one was a struggle to read. Every time it bounced backwards into the past, I wanted to put the book down. Ebby was interesting. I really wanted to read her parts.

*Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of "Good Dirt" by Charmaine Wilkerson.

This is the second book I've read by the author, Charmaine Wilkerson. I loved the first book, "Black Cake," so I had high hopes for "Good Dirt" — and it didn't disappoint. I have loved historical fiction since I was a kid, and "Good Dirt" certainly falls into that genre. The book takes us on a journey through the Freeman family's history, centered around a beloved family heirloom. The story is told through multiple voices and time periods, all of which add to the depth and beauty of this novel. Themes throughout this book include death, family, mental health, racism, slavery, and trauma. I could not put this book down!

I struggled to get into this book. Whilst beautifully written it just wasn't right for me and I found it somewhat slow moving and tedious.

I enjoyed this story just as much as Black Cake! Wilkerson’s writing is just beautiful and has the ability to draw you in and not let go!

This story centers around the Freeman family who suffered a terrible tragedy. Ebby witnesses her brother’s murder over their families stone jar heirloom years earlier and she struggles to deal with the subsequent grief and guilt. In the present, her fiancé Henry abandons her at the alter and Ebby flees to France to deal with her feelings. When Henry shows up at the village she’s staying in, she is forced to deal with trauma of losing her brother and face her families history.

This story was so beautifully done. Wilkerson weaved the stories of the ancestors from the past and the present so cleverly. I loved the mystery surrounding the ancient stone jar beloved by the family and how it played into the story.

I could not put this book down! One of my top reads this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for my e-copy in exchange for my honest review.