As an Irish-American family gathers for Thanksgiving weekend at their home on Long Island, they must confront the decades-old tragedy that haunts them all . . .

*The buzzy US bestseller*
*A Read With Jenna book club pick*
*A Spotify Book of the Year (2025)*

'An extraordinary book about the power of family and sisterhood' - Jenna Bush Hager
'A sparkling debut' - Jenny Jackson, author of Pineapple Street
'The family saga we all need' - Jessica Soffer, New York Times bestselling author of This Is a Love Story

Three adult sisters reunited at their childhood home must confront a shared tragedy in The Irish Goodbye – the devastatingly beautiful debut novel from Heather Aimee O'Neill.

It’s been years since the three Ryan sisters were all home together at their family’s beloved house on Long Island. Two decades ago, their lives were upended by a tragic accident on their brother Topher’s boat that drove him to suicide. Now, the Ryan women are back for Thanksgiving, but each carries a heavy secret.

The eldest, Cait, is still holding guilt for the role no one knows she played in the boat accident, when she rekindles a flame with her high school crush, Topher’s best friend. Middle sister, Alice, has been thrown a curveball threatening her career and, potentially, her marriage. And the youngest, Maggie, is finally taking the risk to bring the woman she loves home to her devoutly Catholic mother.

When Cait invites a guest to Thanksgiving dinner, old tensions boil over and new truths surface. Far more than a family holiday will be ruined unless the sisters can find a way to forgive themselves – and each other.

"Fans of writers from Maeve Binchy to Alice McDermott to J. Courtney Sullivan will relish this big-hearted novel" - Kirkus

"O’Neill, a poet and writing coach, brings her skills to her compelling debut . . . this melancholy yet loving novel is perfect for fans of Jennifer E. Smith’s Fun for the Whole Family" - Booklist

"Readers of The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O’Neill will be hooked from the first page of this multifaceted, charming story that manages to remain a light-hearted joy to read despite some of its heavy content" - The Clarion Ledger

"Both devastating and hopeful in equal measure, The Irish Goodbye is a stunning debut: emotionally rich, thoughtful, and just unforgettable. A book to savour, and one that will stay with you long after the final page." - Mature Times