In-Store: Heather Aimee O'Neill: The Irish Goodbye w/ Joshua Henkin

Thu Nov 20 2025 at 07:00 pm to 08:00 pm UTC-05:00

Books Are Magic Montague | Brooklyn

Books Are Magic
Publisher/HostBooks Are Magic
In-Store: Heather Aimee O'Neill: The Irish Goodbye w\/ Joshua Henkin
Advertisement
“A sparkling debut, The Irish Goodbye is a rich, compassionate novel about sisterhood, marriage, grief, and forgiveness.” —Jenny Jackson
About this Event

Event guidelines:

  • Each ticket will include either a copy of the featured book or a $10 Books Are Magic gift card.
  • Additional copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event.
  • A signing will follow the talk.
  • Home address is collected for contact tracing purposes; it will not be used otherwise.
  • The event will also be livestreamed for free here: https://youtube.com/live/NDTkhmSK-lI
  • As a reminder: If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the event, even if you have a ticket; email us and we'll work it out.

If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or to request accessibility accommodations, please contact [email protected].


Three adult sisters grapple with a shared tragedy over a Thanksgiving weekend spent in their childhood home, navigating complex relationships and old tensions, in this debut for fans of J. Courtney Sullivan and Mary Beth Keane.

It’s been years since the three Ryan sisters were all home in Long Island at the same time. Two decades ago their lives were upended by an accident on their brother Topher’s boat: a friend’s brother was killed, the lawsuit nearly bankrupted their parents, and Topher spiraled into a depression, eventually taking his life. Now the Ryan women are back for Thanksgiving, hungry to reconnect, but each of them carrying a heavy secret. The eldest, Cait, still holding guilt about the crash, rekindles a flame with her high school crush. Middle sister Alice’s been thrown a curveball threatening the career she’s restarting, and faces a difficult decision. And the youngest, Maggie, is finally taking the risk of bringing a woman she loves home to her devoutly Catholic, often judgmental mother. Infusing everything is the grief for Topher that none of the Ryans have figured out how to carry together.

When Cait invites a guest to Thanksgiving dinner, old tensions boil over and new truths surface, nearly overpowering the flickering light of their family bond. Far more than a family holiday will be ruined unless the sisters can find a way to forgive themselves—and one another.


Heather Aimee O’Neill is a poet, a teacher, and the assistant director of the Sackett Street Writers’ Workshop. She lives in Brooklyn with her wife and two sons. The Irish Goodbye is her first novel.


Joshua Henkin's most recent novel, MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, was named The Book of the Year by the Chicago Tribune. Joshua is also the author of the novels SWIMMING ACROSS THE HUDSON, a Los Angeles Times Notable Book; MATRIMONY, a New York Times Notable Book; and THE WORLD WITHOUT YOU, which was the winner of the 2012 Edward Lewis Wallant Award for Jewish American Fiction. Joshua lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife and daughters and their huge Newfoundland, and he directs and teaches in the MFA program in Fiction Writing at Brooklyn College.

Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Books Are Magic Montague, 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, United States

Tickets

USD 10.89 to USD 31.56

Sharing is Caring:

More Events in Brooklyn

What's The Worst That Could Happen? Comedy Show
Wed, 19 Nov at 09:00 pm What's The Worst That Could Happen? Comedy Show

Halyards

Stevie Nicks (Rescheduled from 8\/8\/2025)
Thu, 20 Nov at 12:00 am Stevie Nicks (Rescheduled from 8/8/2025)

Barclays Center

Joey Bada$$ with Ab-Soul
Thu, 20 Nov at 12:00 am Joey Bada$$ with Ab-Soul

Brooklyn Paramount

Ax and the Hatchetmen (18+)
Thu, 20 Nov at 01:00 am Ax and the Hatchetmen (18+)

Music Hall of Williamsburg

Dying Wish in Brooklyn
Thu, 20 Nov at 05:30 pm Dying Wish in Brooklyn

Warsaw

Dying Wish at Warsaw
Thu, 20 Nov at 06:30 pm Dying Wish at Warsaw

Warsaw

Louis C.K. Brooklyn Tickets
Thu, 20 Nov at 07:30 pm Louis C.K. Brooklyn Tickets

Kings Theatre Brooklyn

Louis CK at Kings Theatre Brooklyn
Thu, 20 Nov at 07:30 pm Louis CK at Kings Theatre Brooklyn

Kings Theatre Brooklyn

The Scientific American 2025 Nonfiction Panel
Thu, 20 Nov at 07:30 pm The Scientific American 2025 Nonfiction Panel

Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene

The Altons, Thee Sinseers in Brooklyn
Thu, 20 Nov at 08:00 pm The Altons, Thee Sinseers in Brooklyn

Music Hall of Williamsburg

Momma, Narrow Head in Brooklyn
Thu, 20 Nov at 08:00 pm Momma, Narrow Head in Brooklyn

Brooklyn Steel

Brooklyn is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Brooklyn Events