Good Grief: A Novel

A mother- and daughter-in-law. To move on, one of them will have to move out in a hopeful and hilarious novel about widowhood and family friction by the bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write. It’s 1963, two years since Barbara Feldman’s husband died. Raising two kids, she’s finally emerging from her cocoon of grief. Not yet a butterfly, but she’s anxious to spread her wings. Then one day her mother-in-law, Ruth, shows up on her doorstep with five suitcases, expecting a room of her own with a suitable mattress. Abrasive and stuck in her ways yet well meaning, Mother Ruth arrives without warning to help with the children. How can Barbara say no to a woman who is not only a widow herself but also a grieving mother? As Ruth’s prickly visit turns from days to weeks to what seems like forever, Barbara realizes Ruth has got to go. But Barbara has an ingenious plan: introduce Ruth to some fine gentlemen and marry her off as fast as she can. Soon enough, something tells Barbara that Ruth is trying to do the same for her. At least they’re finding common ground—helping each other to move forward. Even if it is in the most unpredictable ways two totally different women ever imagined.

About the Author :
Sara Goodman Confino is the bestselling author of five novels: Don’t Forget to Write, Behind Every Good Man, She’s Up to No Good, For the Love of Friends, and Good Grief. After spending more years than she’s willing to publicly admit teaching high school English and journalism, she is currently writing full-time and trying to make a living off the crazy stories in her head. She lives in Montgomery County, Maryland, with her husband, two sons, two miniature schnauzers, and a goldfish that seems to be vying for the world record of longest-living fish. When she’s not writing or frantically parenting, she can be found on her Peloton, at the beach, or at a Bruce Springsteen concert, sometimes even dancing onstage.

Review :
“Perfect for readers who appreciate well-developed characters and are looking for a humorous story about complex family dynamics.” —Historical Novels Review “Just the ticket for a delightful foray into the issues of mothers, daughters, children, and lovers.” —Midwest Book Review “Sara Goodman Confino’s writing shines as bright as her characters’ sparkling personalities in this clever and satisfying story of moving on. With Confino’s trademark wit and humorous one-liners, readers are sure to delight in this uplifting tale of finding love after grief, even in the most unlikeliest of places.” —Heidi Shertok, author of Unorthodox Love “Sara Goodman Confino is a force of literature. In her latest, Good Grief, protagonist Barbara navigates the treacherous sea of mourning after the loss of her spouse, including a not-so-welcome visit from her late husband’s mother. This is a touching tale of learning to live and love again, told with Confino’s trademark heart and wit. Delightful, poignant, and rife with humor—a not-to-be-missed book of the summer!” —Aimie K. Runyan, bestselling author of The Wandering Season “Barbara and Ruth share a similar pain. Living under the same roof, the widowed mother and daughter-in-law butt heads as they wade through loneliness and grief. And when they each scheme to find love for the other one, Confino does what she does best: crafting a brimming tale of family and second chances while finding joy through our sorrows. Special nod to the tiny gems from former books Confino has sprinkled within the pages. But mostly, readers will fall in love with this bighearted story full of hope.” —Rochelle B. Weinstein, bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends “Good Grief is not a romance, but it’s a love story at its core…between a young widow and her pushy but well-meaning mother-in-law, who moves into her house uninvited. I cackled at their secret attempts to set each other up with the town’s available men, fist-pumped the air at their strength in challenging situations, and shed more than a tear as their friendship flourished. Sprinkled with romantic side plots for both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and cameos from beloved characters of the author’s previous books, Good Grief is another winner from Sara Goodman Confino and guaranteed to delight her large existing fan base and bring in new readers who have yet to experience her charming and hilarious stories.” —Meredith Schorr, author of Roommating