Good For You: A Novel

Book Review

Feb 10

Summary of Good For You: A Novel

Good For You: A Novel by Camille Pagán is about Aly (Allegra) Jackson. She has her dream job as editor in chief of All Good magazine. But in the middle of juggling the stress of trying to resuscitate the magazine’s falling numbers and managing the grief of losing her brother, Aly overhears her coworkers bad-mouthing her. The always-in-control Aly reacts in a very public, career-jeopardizing meltdown. In hopes of saving her job, she agrees to a month-long unpaid leave. Reluctantly, she uses her leave to deal with the house on Lake Michigan that her brother left to her when he died almost a year ago. When Aly arrives, she is shocked to find that her brother’s best friend, Wyatt, whom she is not very fond of also inherited the house. As Wyatt and Aly battle over whether or not to sell the house, they find that maybe the have more in common than they think. Can Aly and Wyatt find healing together?

Genre of Good FOr You

Good for you blends elements of women’s fiction, romance, sibling fiction, family life fiction, and contemporary fiction. Good For You is at it’s core a feel good, heartwarming romance. If you like the enemies-to-lovers trope, pick this book up ASAP, but if that trope is on your “no thank you” list, move along.

THe Picking Books Review of GOod foR You

I have previously read two of Camille Pagán’s books: Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties and I’m Fine And Neither Are You. So, it was not a surprise to me to see Pagán tackling difficult life circumstances. What did surprise me, however, is how romantic and lighthearted Good For You is despite its heavier themes. All of Camille Pagan’s books have a hopeful, healing message but this is the first book of hers that I have read that has been primarily romance. Good For You deals with the grief of the loss of a loved one, PTSD, and childhood abuse—I am going to add in a big ol’ “but” here: this book is by no means depressing.

Camille’s other books made me cry. I absolutely loved them, but they also made me blubber like a baby (in the best way). While I may have shed a tear or two while reading Good For You, I certainly didn’t blubber. Instead, I experienced happiness, hope, healing, laughter, heartwarmth, and the delicious slow-burn of an enemies-to-lovers romance. This is one of, if not the most, well-deserved happily ever afters that I have ever read. If you have read one of Pagán’s books before and found it was too heavy for you, I implore you to give Good For You a try. Good For You will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, and it will make you want to give your sibling a hug. (Hear that, she wants to hug me! 🥰 —Laura)

Read if…

I’ll go ahead and answer the big question: should you read this book if you are currently grieving or have experienced childhood abuse? It depends, if you are very newly grieving I would hold off, but if you are further along in the grief process I think Good For You could be very healing. Grief is often lonely and sometimes it helps to know that how you are feeling is normal and that it does get better.

If you experienced childhood abuse, there aren’t any graphic or extended scenes of abuse and abuse is only mentioned when it is absolutely necessary. As Pagán writes in the front of the book, “books that include abuse as but one aspect of a character’s life can help remind survivors that they’re not alone, and that nothing’s wrong with them.” Pagán has a talent for helping people through tough times through her books, but you know yourself, and if you think you need to skip this book, that is okay.

Other than that, if you are looking for a heartwarming romance novel with depth, this is the book for you. This would also be a great book to read on a beach, so if you are lucky enough to be heading on vacation soon, pack this book!

If You Loved Good For You You’ll Also Love…

Beach Read by Emily Henry

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella

The Memory of You by Jamie Beck

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (not a romance but strong sibling relationships and a lot of family healing)