The Irish Goodbye - a moving story about sisterhood, grief, and forgiveness.

The three Ryan sisters are gathering for Thanksgiving at their parents' house on the North Fork of Long Island. Alice, the middle sister, lives nearby with her husband and sons and has taken on the responsibility of caring for their aging parents. Cait, the youngest sister, is a successful attorney based in London and is divorced with two young twins. She hopes to connect with her first love, Luke. Maggie, the oldest sister, is a teacher at a Vermont boarding school and is bringing home her girlfriend, Isabel, fearing unacceptance from her devout Catholic mother. The gaping hole in the visit is the absence of their brother, Topher, who tragically died by suicide after struggling to cope with the death of his best friend, Luke's brother, which occurred while partying on his boat. Each member of the Ryan family is facing personal challenges and avoids discussing anything difficult with one another. This year's holiday dinner becomes a time of reckoning for the Ryan family. 

The Irish Goodbye is a beautifully written debut by Heather Aimee O’Neill. The Ryans had been avoiding confronting their grief, which prevented them from healing and truly coming together as a family. This emotional story deals with the universal theme of loss, filled with a sense of hope, as despite their differences, love was the one thing they all shared. 

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Literary Fiction.

Publication Date: Sept 30, 2025.

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