Special thanks to the author & @ballentinebooks for my gifted copy‼️

This is my 2nd book by the author and while I didn’t love this one as much as Black Cake it was still a great book. Wilkerson’s writing is amazing and has a way of pulling readers into the world of the characters she creates. 

Good Dirt follows Ebby years after she witnessed the home invasion and murdering of her 15-year-old brother Baz. This was such a traumatic experience for her that it caused a little bit of PTSD. To make matters worse her soon to be husband ghosted her on their wedding day with no explanation. She actually dodged a bullet because his reasoning was baffling and cowardice. Dealing with years of trauma, heartbreak, and all these suppressed emotions Ebby is in need of a getaway. But her planned trip to France opens the door for unwanted relationship drama and the uncovering of hidden secrets. 

While reading this I kept wondering what this family heirloom “Old Mo” had to do with the story. Even though the author wove all the timelines together perfectly this was the only plot line I could’ve done without. It resulted in multiple timelines and to many extra characters that made the book seem all over the place. I get the purpose behind it but it took away from the story.

The present timeline should’ve been the main focus because it added more depth and made it worth reading. The trip to France was quite awkward considering Ebby ran into her ex and she kinda became buddies with his girlfriend. It was a whole lot of sister wife behavior going on lol. We could’ve done without this part honestly but what’s a book without a little drama. 

Overall, this was okay but was also a lot to unpack and hard to put down because you’re curious to see what happens next. It was giving literary suspense if that’s even a thing. We have the murder, the family heirloom, learning about the Freeman’s legacy and ancestry, on top of Ebby’s personal struggles and her encounters with Henry. There was so much to love about the book but also a lot that ruined its potential to hold readers attention. If you’re thinking about reading it I say go for it because you might really enjoy it. 

Rating: 3.75/5⭐️