Reviews

Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman

lindseyegill's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

mrsvaldeznh's review against another edition

4.0

3.75/5

rjleamon11's review against another edition

4.0

WELLLLL this one would be a 3.5 if I could. Andy and I have long loved Elinor Lipman, and I bought this at Brookline Books in February for him. Lipman's got an Austen-like ability to create unlikable characters that is often hugely entertaining. However, I realized about 1/ 3 of the way through Good Riddance that she'd created too many unlikable characters: the protagonist and the antagonist, Geneva, were both pretty hard to like, and that made it hard for me to attach to the novel. However, Lipman's a funny, deft, and entertaining writer, so though this is not one of my favorite of hers, it's still a worthwhile read.

kathyobrn1982's review against another edition

3.0

This one read somewhat choppy, but a humorous plot overall.

amysteele's review against another edition

4.0

When Daphne discards her deceased mother’s yearbook, a neighbor decides she’s going to make a documentary about what she discovers in it. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, particularly an enterprising someone looking to advance her career. Daphne’s mother, June, was a teacher and yearbook advisor for the Class of 1968 who attended every class reunion and kept detailed notes about the students in the yearbook. Seemingly everyone had a crush on Daphne’s mother at this New Hampshire high school. June had an affair with a student after he graduated. Daphne attends a reunion as a fact-finding mission and this man, now a state representative, claims to be Daphne’s biological father. Daphne introduces herself to her tablemates in this manner: “I was bamboozled into a loveless marriage because my husband wouldn’t inherit his grandparents’ money while he was still single.” Daphne hasn’t had the best of luck in relationships. She’s self-deprecating and aware of her challenges and somewhat resigned. She’s completely surprised when she embarks on a tryst with her cute younger neighbor, an actor. She ends up having lots of fun and confides in him. It’s just the ego boost she needs. I found Daphne to be quite genuine and relatable. Her father seems like a great dad. The news that someone else might be her biological father, leads Daphne to have bouts of doubt: “My not sleeping great had to do with the ugly breaking news that my entire existence was based on a lie. Shouldn’t I have been warned of inheritable diseases that might be down the road? Or told to work harder in high school because I could apply as a legacy to Dartmouth? Such were the 2 a.m. agitations of a dispossessed daughter.” Will these new discoveries affect Daphne’s relationship with the only father she’s ever known? Between studying online to become a pastry chef, hooking up with her neighbor and helping her father navigate his recent move to New York, Daphne attempts to thwart her plans to expose her mother’s personal life. Author Elinor Lipman successfully contrasts the idiosyncrasies of small town New England with more cultured Manhattan. Lipman is a master of clever, amusing novels with quirky central characters. Her novels are guaranteed delightful fun reading. I love her writing and creativity so much that I received an advanced copy in October and devoured it then. It’s the ideal anti-Valentine’s read.

published here: https://entertainmentrealm.com/2019/02/04/book-review-good-riddance/

laurieb755's review against another edition

3.0

A complete bit of puff pastry - light, semi-tasty, and not exactly nutritious. Still, as my husband said, a little bit of puff is good once in awhile.

Other commentary - silly, easy read, I liked Daphne's Dad - Mr Maritch, I liked Jeremy (and the Archie comic series is headquartered in my town of Mamaroneck), and I did read the book in two sitings.

Ultimately, the title sums up my thoughts on the book: Good Riddance.

alaina's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A total snack book, but with a bit of wit. 

danaspice1's review against another edition

4.0

After reading two very complex non-fiction books, I was in need of a break. This book popped up in my “recommended” feed on Hoopla and it was just the break I needed.

This is a fun, modern-day romantic comedy about Daphne Maritch, who inherits from her mother a high school yearbook filled with many annotations within the pages. Her late mother, June, as the teacher and yearbook advisor of the Class of 1968, and she dutifully attended every reunion. When Daphne decides the yearbook does not “spark joy” and she tosses it in her apartment garbage, where it is fished out by a nosy neighbor who claims to be a documentary filmmaker and wants to solve the mysteries contained in the yearbook.

Daphne herself is quite an annoying character, but the plot moves quickly and there is a surprising detail that is revealed when Daphne and the filmmaker attend the next class reunion. A little bit romance, a little bit comedy, this is a quick book that will make a fun summer read.

support_national_parks's review against another edition

4.0

By the end of the story, I felt satisfied with it. It was an enjoyable book, despite the minor problems with dates & details that didn't quite add up, but it's fiction after all. Definitely worth listening to on a long road trip!

katmpls's review against another edition

2.0

Meh. Daphne tries to throw away her deceased mother’s Highschool year book but a nosy neighbor plugs it from the trash. The yearbook is full of little notes about every student and so the nosy neighbor decides to make a documentary about Daphne‘s mother. Fun writing style and interesting plot but way too fluffy and silly ultimately