📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Is there a memory you hold so precious that you never want to let it go? Life can change in an instant and Good Dirt is a beautifully haunting reminder of that. A powerful tale of strength across generations as a family rises from slavery to wealth, yet even living an affluent life cannot erase the insurmountable grief that can accompany life. Spanning centuries, this beautifully atmospheric read demonstrates the amazingly strong connections we have to the earth and our ancestors. Through the trials and loss in Good Dirt a hopeful tone weaves throughout, reminding us of the beauty and possibilities for the future. Charmaine Wilkerson delivers a poignantly rich read.




Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on instagram closer to publication date and on Amazon when published!

GOOD DIRT ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Release date 1/28/25. A really great read. At the age of 10, Ebbys entire life was changed by a devastating family tragedy, revolving around a family heirloom going back generations. Years later, when Ebby is getting married, and gets left at the alter, she flees to France and must face the past. This was a really novel, that was really well written. A story of triumph, love, respect, pain, tradition, friendship. Overall, I really loved it, and cried, but I felt that there may of been almost too many POVs, the timeline make me have to scroll back to catch up a few times.

I was so excited to get the opportunity to read Good Dirt, after absolutely loving Charmaine Wilkerson's Black Cake, which was so incredibly fascinating all the way to the end. I LOVED that story! I was expecting to have such an experience with Good Dirt, but I ended up feeling somewhat let down by this book. Maybe I should not have been comparing the two stories, but I couldn't help it.

Good Dirt tells the story of Ebby and how she and her ancestors came to be in America. Little girl Ebby has witnessed something horrible, and grown Ebby has experienced a tragic love disaster. There are two stories happening and several points of view are presented throughout the book, and that aspect was a little confusing at times. The ancient pot, Big Mo, is it's own character in the book, and much of the book centers around Big Mo. The history part was presented in a way that I didn't really find compelling. Ebby's life and her grief and disappointments were interesting. Ultimately, it all came together at the end, but I found it all a little flat. I think there was just too much in this book and a lack of "punch" at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Good Dirt.

This is a spoiler free review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I am lovingly giving this book 4⭐️’s.

I would easily recommend my friends to read this book, no question.

I have to start with a quote near the end of the book that took me from frustration to fully embracing the composition of this novel.

“History, too often, has been told from only certain perspectives. This is not good enough. History is a collective phenomenon. It can only be told through a chorus of voices.”

This story is told in 3rd person from the perspective of several different people. We also move back and forth through various points of time throughout the course of the book as the story of the jug and how it came to be unfolded.

About halfway through the book, I got to the point where I felt like I heard everybody’s voice. I was glad it was in 3rd person and not 1st, because that would have been extremely off putting, but so many individuals had a story to be told.

I was ready to come here and fuss about direction and purpose and yada-yada, until that quote. I love it so much I’ll put it down again.

“History, too often, has been told from only certain perspectives. This is not good enough. History is a collective phenomenon. It can only be told through a chorus of voices.”

There was 6% of the book left and that’s when I got it. Yes, this was a book about Ebby and her growth. But it is also a book about history, actually, multiple histories, the people, and their voices who tell it.

This is not a fast read.

This is not a piece of women’s fiction

This is a piece of work about the voices that create a story. Even the voices you may not want to hear. Especially the voices you have cast as the villain.

They have a voice in the story of a shared history.

This book is an example of how to hear all of those

"Good Dirt" by Charmaine Wilkerson is a touching story about family, history, and identity. The main character, Ebby Freeman, has to forge her own life path after her life is irrevocably changed at the age of ten when she witnessed the aftermath of a tragic event involving her brother Baz and a shattered, centuries-old stoneware jar—a cherished family heirloom brought North by an enslaved ancestor. This jar had been in their family for generations, brought North by an enslaved ancestor. The Freemans are one of the few wealthy Black families in their mostly white New England town, and the tragedy drew a lot of unwanted public attention. As an adult, Ebby's high-profile relationship ends, bringing her back into the spotlight. To escape, she moves to France, hoping to find peace and answers.

Wilkerson, who used to be a journalist, tells the story from multiple viewpoints. She shows how past events shape who we are today. I struggled with some aspects of Ebby's journey not being fully fleshed out (her time spent in France, for example) and the timing of intersecting storylines that made the emotional components of the book difficult to follow. Otherwise, I would have rated the book a bit higher.

'Good Dirt' explores how the Freeman family deals with being admired and judged for their success and rich family history. Despite the loss of Baz and the heirloom, the family stays strong and connected. As Ebby learns more about the jar's importance, she begins to heal and understand herself better. "Good Dirt" is a beautiful story about honoring our past and finding strength in our roots, even after experiencing great loss. I love how the ending shows hope for reclaiming what remains even in the face of tremendous trauma and loss. Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the opportunity to read Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson. Ms. Wilkerson had written another sweeping, evocative, important book that I cannot praise highly enough.

When ten-year-old Ebby Freeman heard the gunshot, time stopped. And when she saw her brother, Baz, lying on the floor surrounded by the shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar, life as Ebby knew it shattered as well. The crime was never solved—and because the Freemans were one of the only Black families in a particularly well-to-do enclave of New England—the case has had an enduring, voyeuristic pull for the public. The last thing the Freemans want is another media frenzy splashing their family across the papers, but when Ebby's high profile romance falls apart without any explanation, that's exactly what they get.

So Ebby flees to France, only for her past to follow her there. And as she tries to process what's happened, she begins to think about the other loss her family suffered on that day eighteen years ago—the stoneware jar that had been in their family for generations, brought North by an enslaved ancestor.

This is an amazing follow up to Black Cake, which was one of my favorite reads in 2022. Wilkerson weaves a beautiful tale exploring grief, trauma, racism, and bravery in this dual timeline. This will go down as one of my favorite reads for 2024.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

"Good Dirt" by Charmaine Wilkerson is a compelling novel that expertly intertwines family secrets with environmental themes, making it a resonant and timely read. Wilkerson's prose is fluid and evocative, capturing the lush landscapes and the intense emotions of her characters with equal skill. The narrative switches between different periods and perspectives, piecing together a family's history like a jigsaw puzzle. This structure enhances the storytelling, as each chapter reveals new layers of intrigue and complexity.

The characters are deeply flawed yet sympathetic, and their struggles are portrayed with a genuine sensitivity that makes them relatable. The environmental aspect of the story adds a unique twist, tying the family's personal history to broader themes of sustainability and legacy.

While the novel's pace occasionally slows due to its detailed descriptions and complex structure, this also allows for a richer, more immersive experience. "Good Dirt" is a thought-provoking book that successfully balances human drama with ecological urgency, earning a well-deserved four stars. It's recommended for those who enjoy family sagas with a meaningful message.

Charmaine Wilkerson is an amazing author. I will forever read anything that she writes. Good Dirt was her latest work of art. It was fabulous. A must read.

This books confirms that Wilson is one of the most talented writers I’ve read! What a creative story! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This was fantastic with rich history and characters.

Certain aspects of the narrative deeply resonated with me, however, the multitude of timelines and the constant shifting between them, along with the various storylines, felt somewhat disjointed. In my view, the plot had an excess of elements and a more concentrated focus on the tale of the heirloom jar and Ebby's struggle with the aftermath of her brother's loss would have sufficed. The events involving Henry's injury in France and the interactions between Avery and Ebby appeared extraneous and did not contribute significantly to the central narrative. Additionally, the rationale behind Henry's decision to call off the wedding struck me as implausible. While I found the book engaging, I believe that a more streamlined focus would have elevated its impact. I particularly appreciated the inscription on the jar.

In “Good Dirt,” Charmaine Wilkerson crafts a compelling narrative that explores themes of family, grief, and identity. The story follows Ebby Freeman, a member of an affluent African American family from New England, as she recovers from the fallout of being left by her fiancé on their wedding day. The public breakup thrusts her into the spotlight she has been trying to avoid since she was a child. Ebby’s struggle with public scrutiny is compounded by the traumatic legacy of her brother’s death during a robbery at their home when she was just ten years old. Wilkerson masterfully explores how personal and ancestral histories shape who we become. With thorough research and impeccable writing, “Good Dirt” is a poignant and emotional tale that will resonate with readers who appreciated Wilkerson’s previous novel, “Black Cake.” Highly recommended for anyone seeking a deeply moving story.

This book was wonderfully written and touched all kinds of emotions in me. Who would have known that a simple game of hide and seek would lead to such a heartbreaking tragedy. Unfortunately, it was just the beginning for Ebby. Great book but definitely will pull at your heart strings.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this book in exchange for my honest review

I really liked the dual timelines in this book. Ebby was a wonderful character that took you on her journey throughout the whole story. The writing from the author was excellent. I really enjoyed all of the history in the book and how Ebby learned about her ancestors' and the stoneware jar. This just overall a great book.

Parts of this story really resonated with me but there were so many timelines and the hopping back and forth between them and the different storylines was kinda all over the place for me. For me this had too much going on and a tighter focus on the story of the heirloom jar and the trauma Ebby faced after the loss of her brother would have been enough, Henry getting hurt in France and Avery and Ebby hanging out together seemed extra and unimportant to the story and just too much going on. Also, the whole reason Henry called off the wedding was just implausible for me.
A good read but a tighter focus would have knocked this book out of the park in my opinion.
I did love the inscription on the jar.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 stars rounded up; the long awaited second novel from the author of Black Cake, @charmspen1 - Good Dirt is a multiple POV, cross genre novel that took my breath away. Historical fiction, contemporary fiction, and mystery; this novel follows the affluent Freeman family from all the way back in Barbados in the 1600’s, a South Carolinian plantation, to 2000 New England and 2019 French countryside.

Ebony “Ebby” Freeman has never had social media; she was most famous for a photo taken of her as a ten year old, in anguish as she discovered her 15 year old brother has been brutally murdered. No need to put herself out there; two years ago she was left at the altar at her wedding to famous financier Henry. A symbol of their family triumph through tragedy, they have a 200 year old clay jar that was crafted by an enslaved ancestor and carried through time.

My only criticism is that when we finally discover Henry’s reason for leaving Ebby, it seems sort of ridiculous. It didn’t fit with the rest of his character, although he was an interesting and nuanced love interest. Ebby is flawed but intelligent, someone who is trying in every way to not carry the trauma of her past into her future.

If you like multi-generational family drama, you will love this. Put it on your list, and prepare to develop a desire to research parts of history you may not have learned in school.

Thanks to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for an ARC of this novel, book to be published January 28, 2025.

I would rate this 3 1/2 stars. The writing is excellent as usual for this author, but the dual timelines made this a bit less compelling read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A tragedy reshapes the Freeman family's history, influencing their paths with the resulting perceptions, traumas, resentments, and redemptions that define their future.

Ten-year-old Ebby Freeman only wanted to play hide and seek one last time with her brother, even though they were in a hurry to leave the house. Her brother Baz never denied her request. From her hiding spot, she overheard two masked men threatening her brother, followed by a gunshot that froze time. Ebby remained still for a few moments before rushing to her father's study, where she found the family's ancient heirloom stoneware jar broken. The thieves, who sought to steal the jar, killed her brother, who bravely tried to protect it. Feeling as though they had taken everything from her family, she couldn't bring herself to tell the officers the thieves' motives and blamed herself for keeping her brother in the house during the home invasion.

Nearly two decades later, Ebby faces another tragedy when her white, privileged fiancé abandons her at the altar without explanation, thrusting her back into the spotlight for her perceived bad luck, much like when she survived the home invasion that took her father away for years.

Each family member copes with grief in their way. Her mother, Soh, becomes overly protective of Ebby, while her father grows more silent, taking more business trips and spending hours in the basement. Ebby keeps up appearances by excelling academically and honing her writing skills. After her fiancé's humiliation, she decides to escape her PTSD and night terrors by accepting an offer to watch over a friend's rental estate in France.

However, her time in France, nine months after her breakup, doesn't bring the closure she hoped for. Instead, she finds the estate rented by Henry and his new attorney girlfriend, Avery, leading to an unexpected confrontation. Ebby is forced to face her unresolved issues and listen to Henry's reasons for their breakup, all while being drawn to another man she never expected to meet. A new tragedy compels her to team up with an unlikely ally.

Ebby also connects with her ancestors' stories, learning about the nineteenth-century heirloom stoneware jar passed down for six generations. The jar's history includes Edward "Willis" Freeman, her great-great-grandfather, who escaped slavery by stowing away on a ship from South Carolina to Massachusetts. The narrative delves into the lives of Old Mo, Betsey, and Willis' wife Aquinnah, highlighting their sacrifices and the jar's role in aiding others escaping slavery.

The past and present intertwine through multiple perspectives, offering heart-wrenching yet hopeful stories that envision a brighter, more open-minded, and peaceful future.

This book beautifully explores grief, trauma, mental health, ancestry, racism, bravery, inheritance, and the importance of respecting history to shape one's present and future. I enjoyed "Good Dirt" as much as "Black Cake" and highly recommend it to fans of inspirational historical fiction and the author's previous work.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for sharing this epic historical fiction's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Charmaine Wilkerson has created a wondrous novel in which she writes of family ties and history, despair and hope, slavery and freedom, tragedy and renewal through a beloved family heirloom. She brings exquisite beauty and detail to her writing that takes you on a journey from Ebby, a modern day woman who is still traumatized by the murder of her brother, back to Kandia, her ancestor stolen from her home in Africa and enslaved in America. And with it she shares the mostly unknown story of enslaved potters in South Carolina who created incredible works of art that can still be seen and studied. Old Mo is just such a piece of pottery, and Wilkerson deftly weaves the history of Old Mo with the history of the family that escaped from enslavement. One amazing aspect of the novel was that the reader doesn’t feel separated from the story, but included in it, Good Dirt is both a uniquely African American story, but also a story that embraces the shared history of all Americans. I highly recommend this novel.

Ebby Freeman was 10 when she heard gunshots and seen her brother lying on the floor along with a piece of her heritage - a jar. Her life drastically changes, the crime is never solved, and Ebby flees to France. Little does she know that the handcrafted piece of pottery held more than just her family's history—it might also hold the key to unlocking her own future.

I loved Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson, and was so delighted to receive a copy of Good Dirt via Netgalley.