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The Good House
The Good House: A Novel | Ann Leary
26 posts | 39 read | 25 to read
Hildy Good is a townie. A lifelong resident of a small community on the rocky coast of Boston's North Shore, she knows pretty much everything about everyone. And she's good at lots of things, too. A successful real-estate broker, mother, and grandmother, her days are full. But her nights have become lonely ever since her daughters, convinced their mother was drinking too much, sent her off to rehab. Now she's in recoverymore or less.Alone and feeling unjustly persecuted, Hildy finds a friend in Rebecca McAllister, one of the town's wealthy newcomers. Rebecca is grateful for the friendship and Hildy feels like a person of the world again, as she and Rebecca escape their worries with some harmless gossip and a bottle of wine by the firejust one of their secrets. But Rebecca is herself the subject of town gossip. When Frank Getchell, an old friend who shares a complicated history with Hildy, tries to warn her away from Rebecca, Hildy attempts to protect her friend from a potential scandal. Soon, however, Hildy is busy trying to protect her own reputation. When a cluster of secrets becomes dangerously entwined, the reckless behavior of one person threatens to expose the other, and this darkly comic novel takes a chilling turn.The Good House, by Ann Leary, is funny, poignant, and terrifying. A classic New England tale that lays bare the secrets of one little town, this spirited novel will stay with you long after the story has ended.
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review
NatalieR
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Pickpick

I love discovering new-to-me authors and that‘s exactly what happened with this novel. I was hooked on this story from the very beginning! Ann‘s writing is engaging and fascinating. She made me fall in love with her characters. Hildy Good is a well-respected, successful real estate agent. Her adult daughters organized an intervention because Hildy drinks too much. We meet Hildy upon her return from rehab.

Full review at https://abookandadog.com

78 likes1 stack add
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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

The tale of a small Massachusetts town as told by an unreliable narrator. This was really good on audio. Thanks for the recommendation @Megabooks

Megabooks You‘re welcome. Glad you liked it! 5y
Cathythoughts I have this one stacked 👍🏻sounds really good 5y
46 likes2 comments
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

Last book of April.

Do you love unreliable narrators but not murders?

A lifelong resident of a small New England town, Hilde has a drinking problem. She‘s just returned from a coerced trip to rehab, and she is feisty in everything she does. She becomes a confidant of a new woman in town that is having an affair with a doctor that works upstairs from her office.

There‘s no murder, just a fascinating winter in a NE small town. Sharp writing. 4⭐️

Megabooks The narration is excellent, too! 5y
Cinfhen And you didn‘t tag me.... sounds awesome 💜 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I thought maybe you were tired of getting tagged every time I finish a good audiobook!! 😂😂 This is one that the audio makes ten times better though. Perfect narrator! 5y
See All 14 Comments
Cathythoughts Sounds good 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
Cinfhen I love your suggestions 🙌🏻❣️tag away 😘 5y
Cinfhen Today is May 1 so I have all my Hoopla borrows 🥳🥳🥳and it‘s available 😃 5y
Bookwormjillk Sounds good, and glad to know about the audio 👏👏 5y
Megabooks @Cathythoughts I hope you enjoy it!! 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen 🎉🎉🎉🎉 enjoy!! 5y
Megabooks @Bookwormjillk I hope you like the audio as much as I did! 5y
Bookwormjillk @Megabooks just got it from the library. Will let you know! 5y
Thousand-Lives YES! So fantastic on audio! I‘m still searching for another experience quite like this one. 5y
Megabooks @Thousand-Lives it is just great on audio!! Totally made the book!! 5y
98 likes3 stack adds14 comments
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Kappadeemom
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1. Tagged book
2. Animal House 😂😂
3. “My house...in the middle of the street”🎼 #manicmonday @JoScho

JoScho 💙🏡💙 6y
36 likes1 comment
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peacegypsy
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It‘s beautiful outside, so I think I‘ll take my book outdoors and join the weather. 😊 Happy weekend to you!

43 likes1 stack add
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TheBookKeepers
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Downside to audios is I miss recording prime quotes, but this one was too great not to pause and jot down!!! #quotesoflitsy #thebookkeepers

Djspens So true! 7y
ORenD Me too! Miss highlighting quotes! 7y
CarolynM Either that or obsessive compulsive disorder! 7y
TheBookKeepers Haha yes @CarolynM 🤣 7y
Jazruiz.2014 I don‘t have a notebook for quotes from books. 🤔 I think I‘ll start one. 7y
95 likes5 comments
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TheBookKeepers
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Pickpick

This is one of those books I could only “read” in the format of an audiobook. The story of a 60year old real estate agent in New England who has a bit of a drinking problem. Tho she‘ll try to convince you otherwise...😏The narrator‘s voice was perfect for the character as you learned the stories & gossip of the town. I mean who better to get gossip than an old towny real estate broker? A great palette cleanser book. Liked it, but didn‘t ❤️ it.

TheBookKeepers Btw I‘m using this as my #Readharderchallenge task for a female protagonist over the age of 60! 7y
Kaye This is one of my favorites. I thought the audio was great and narrator did an excellent job. 7y
TheBookKeepers I agree @Kaye !! 7y
105 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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mom2bugnbee
Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The audiobook gets an extra half star. Mary Beth Hurt was wonderful & I will seek her out in the future.

TheBookKeepers Glad to hear!! I just started the audio this morning 🤩 7y
29 likes1 stack add1 comment
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mom2bugnbee
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Anne Bogel told me that this one is great on audio. She's right! Mary Beth Hurt is wonderful. #currentread #currentlyreading #audiobook

35 likes2 stack adds
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TamAnder
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When a book shows up on multiple lists as a must do audiobook, you give it a go. Narrated by Mary Beth Hurt. I‘m thirty minutes in and she seems the perfect voice for bringing Hildy Good to life.

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LauraBeth
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#audiopruning the Crepe Myrtles

BookBabe Lol, this book made me feel like I had a drinking problem. I actually had nightmares about it. 😂🍷 7y
LauraBeth @BookBabe you make me 😂😂 7y
111 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Ashley85
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Bailedbailed

It started out okay, and then my interest faded shortly into it.

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook! This is one where the audio elevates the story and I'm sure it's why I loved it more than I might have if reading the paper version. It's takes a dark and sad turn at the end, but has a redeeming end fitting for Hilde Good.

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
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Just started this one on the drive in this morning. Mary Beth Hurt has the perfect voice for Hildy Good. I've laughed out loud a number of times already! Happy with my audiobook pick! 👍🏻🎧

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
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My new audio to start on the drive home. (It's not too summery feeling though! I just noticed it's a snowy cover! 😳) 😁

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BookBabe
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#BookNDinner! Filet of sole baked in parchment, with spinach, shallots, and rice pilaf. Paired with a sparkling mineral water. So yummy! This has been another production of #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats! 😋

Yournewfriendsams Who does all the cooking in the J&J household?! Your dinner game is always on lock! 8y
MemoirsForMe 😍😍😍 8y
BookBabe @Yournewfriendsams 99% of the time, that's me. @MrBook is in charge of making grilled cheese. 😉 8y
MrBook 😍😍😍 8y
104 likes4 comments
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BookBabe
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#BookNLunch! Had a productive studio session. Time to rejuvenate with a good book and a delicious berry and yogurt smoothie! 😋 🍓
This has been another production of #MrBookBookBabeKitchen.
Happy reads & happy eats!

LitHousewife I loved that book! 8y
ObsessiveBookNerdLauren That smoothie looks delish! 8y
135 likes2 comments
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BookBabe
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#BookNBrunch! Egg, cheese, & sausage patty on toasted croissant sandwich, extra-crispy Ranch-seasoned tater tots, and delicious hazelnut creme coffee! Yum. This has been another production of #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats!

Bookgirl Yum! 8y
MrBook 😍😍😍 8y
108 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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BookBabe
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#BookNLunch! I had a nice hot lunch awaiting @MrBook when he arrived home from work: spinach/broccoli rabe & cheese ravioli in a broccoli rabe-pesto sauce. Because I love him. ☺️❤️ Also, my library hold just came in! I read & enjoyed her book The Children, and my friend told me this book is fab and I must read it! I'm excited to start. 🙂 This has been another production of #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats!

Kaye This is great in audio. One of my all time favorites. Enjoy. 8y
MicheleinPhilly I really enjoyed this one! 8y
MrBook 😍😍😍 8y
94 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Gulfsidemusing
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My #setinasmalltown choice is an audio favorite from a few years ago. Narration doesn't get much better than this... Mary Beth Hurt's Hildy Good was perfection! #photoadaynov16

39 likes3 stack adds
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AmyAgentBor
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Pickpick

Loved the characters, Hilly reminds me of my mother, although my mother doesn't drink quite as much. Wished for a bit more closure. Maybe another book....

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MMFinck
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Pickpick

How was the book? @Litsy asks. I had no choice but to let the world go by until I finished. And now that I am, I am reticent to turn it in! :) Though I have developed wee bit of fear of wine! Wowsa.

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MMFinck
Pickpick

How was the book? @Litsy asks. I had no choice but to let the world go by until I finished. And now that I am, I am reticent to turn it in! :)

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MMFinck
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Long road trip? Doesn't bother me. I've got The Good House by Ann Leary!

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MMFinck

I am in love with Ann Leary's writing!! And Hildy. And Rebecca. And the rich junk yard guy. I don't want this book to end.

10 likes1 stack add