Good Good Loving by Yvette Edwards review
A deceptive opening that moves from humour to one of the most touching stories I have read recently. It is an absorbing look at a Caribbean family in the UK and the weight of the truths we don’t talk about. I originally received the ARC via NetGalley, but I have since bought a physical copy from Waterstones because the quality of the storytelling is that high.
I really enjoyed this book. It begins with Ellen in a hospital bed in her final moments, and weirdly, the opening feels quite light. Instead of a peaceful passing with mournful goodbyes, she can hear her children, friends, and family recounting all her failures. Despite all the sacrifices she feels she has made, her last moments are spent overhearing her wrongdoings. The novel then moves back in time to some of her most pivotal turning points.
The book touches on a part of history I haven’t heard many narratives on: the children of the Windrush generation, and the reality of being brought up without your parents before moving to a foreign country to reunite with them. The cast of characters truly felt like three generations of a Caribbean family in the UK. The dialogue and attitudes were very relatable for me, feeling like a series of realistic narrative portraits of the culture. All the family relationships, microaggressions, and grudges felt so real.
I found Ellen deeply endearing, particularly her reflections on her marriage and feeling subordinate to her husband, as if she wasn’t worthy of expecting more. That experience isn’t hers alone; the novel captures the contrast between the oldest daughters, raised with the discipline expected of West Indian daughters, versus the freedoms given to the Black British son, CJ. Seeing that gender divide play out across the family history felt incredibly authentic.
This story made me reflect on how, despite our good intentions, our actions can be perceived negatively by others, even those closest to us. It highlights how all the little miscommunications can build up walls in relationships over time. While there were some good lessons in the story, there was also interesting drama. Nothing felt too predictable and I was hanging onto every word so I could see the bigger picture.
My only critique is that the majority of the male characters were, frankly, wotless. While there was more diversity with the female characters, the portrayal of the men felt like it could potentially feed into negative stereotypes of the Caribbean community.
Final Thought
I was really impressed by this book; it is emotional, intriguing, and culturally aware all at the same time. It has left a lasting impression on me and is a story that definitely deserves the space to be discussed.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and shared honestly
