About the book
THE GRIPPING TALE OF LOVE, FAMILY, AND THE SEARCH FOR A NEW BEGINNING,
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BLACK CAKE
'A beautifully imagined family saga, with a moving and hopeful ending’ NEW YORK TIMES
'This novel solidifies Wilkerson's place as one of the great multi-generational storytellers of our time' ABI DARE
'A sensational story about hidden heartbreak, hope, and the power of embracing one's ancestry' JESSICA GEORGE, author of MAAME
'Will be every reader's highlight of 2025' ETHAN JOELLA, author of THE SAME BRIGHT STARS
'Glittering and discerning prose, poignant yet hopeful' NIKKI MAY, author of WAHALA
—
A family full of secrets. A chance to set them all free.
When Ebby Freeman travels to France to take a three-month hiatus from her complicated home life, the last person she expects to find is her ex-fiancé Henry, with his new girlfriend in tow.
Nearly twenty years earlier, the Freemans were the only African American family living in a wealthy coastal enclave in Connecticut when armed robbers invaded their home and tragedy changed their lives forever.
Then, just as Ebby thought she had a new chance at happiness, her storybook romance with Henry fell apart.
Now, this unexpected encounter with Henry will force Ebby to reckon with her past and to think on the other loss her family suffered that day – the destruction of a beloved stoneware jar crafted by an enslaved ancestor and passed down through the generations.
A piece that might hold not only her family history, but also the key to reclaiming her future.
--
'One of the great multi-generational storytellers of our time' ABI DARE, author of THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE
'I'm in utter awe of Charmaine - she is the real real' HARRIET CONSTABLE, author of THE INSTRUMENTALIST
'Her brilliance knows no adequate words' ORE AGBAJE WILLIAMS, author of THE THREE OF US
Praise for Charmaine Wilkerson and Black Cake:
'Completely blew me away' Red
'Unputdownable. Astonishing. Twists and turns so shocking they will leave your head spinning and your heart aching' Grazia
'You can't help but fall in love with this book' Stylist
'A novelist to watch' Independent
'Beautiful, deeply resonant . . . A story that is as meaningful as it is delicious' Taylor Jenkins Reid
Editions of Good Dirt
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780241529942
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780241529959
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781405950107
- EBook
- ISBN 9781405950114
Read an Excerpt
THE GRIPPING TALE OF LOVE, FAMILY, AND THE SEARCH FOR A NEW BEGINNING,
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BLACK CAKE
'A beautifully imagined family saga, with a moving and hopeful ending’ NEW YORK TIMES
'This novel solidifies Wilkerson's place as one of the great multi-generational storytellers of our time' ABI DARE
'A sensational story about hidden heartbreak, hope, and the power of embracing one's ancestry' JESSICA GEORGE, author of MAAME
'Will be every reader's highlight of 2025' ETHAN JOELLA, author of THE SAME BRIGHT STARS
'Glittering and discerning prose, poignant yet hopeful' NIKKI MAY, author of WAHALA
—
A family full of secrets. A chance to set them all free.
When Ebby Freeman travels to France to take a three-month hiatus from her complicated home life, the last person she expects to find is her ex-fiancé Henry, with his new girlfriend in tow.
Nearly twenty years earlier, the Freemans were the only African American family living in a wealthy coastal enclave in Connecticut when armed robbers invaded their home and tragedy changed their lives forever.
Then, just as Ebby thought she had a new chance at happiness, her storybook romance with Henry fell apart.
Now, this unexpected encounter with Henry will force Ebby to reckon with her past and to think on the other loss her family suffered that day – the destruction of a beloved stoneware jar crafted by an enslaved ancestor and passed down through the generations.
A piece that might hold not only her family history, but also the key to reclaiming her future.
--
'One of the great multi-generational storytellers of our time' ABI DARE, author of THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE
'I'm in utter awe of Charmaine - she is the real real' HARRIET CONSTABLE, author of THE INSTRUMENTALIST
'Her brilliance knows no adequate words' ORE AGBAJE WILLIAMS, author of THE THREE OF US
Praise for Charmaine Wilkerson and Black Cake:
'Completely blew me away' Red
'Unputdownable. Astonishing. Twists and turns so shocking they will leave your head spinning and your heart aching' Grazia
'You can't help but fall in love with this book' Stylist
'A novelist to watch' Independent
'Beautiful, deeply resonant . . . A story that is as meaningful as it is delicious' Taylor Jenkins Reid
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Good Dirt about?
THE GRIPPING TALE OF LOVE, FAMILY, AND THE SEARCH FOR A NEW BEGINNING,
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BLACK CAKE
'A beautifully imagined family saga, with a moving and hopeful ending’ NEW YORK TIMES
'This novel solidifies Wilkerson's place as one of the great multi-generational storytellers of our time' ABI DARE
'A sensational story about hidden heartbreak, hope, and the power of embracing one's ancestry' JESSICA GEORGE, author of MAAME
'Will be every reader's highlight of 2025' ETHAN JOELLA, author of THE SAME BRIGHT STARS
'Glittering and discerning prose, poignant yet hopeful' NIKKI MAY, author of WAHALA
—
A family full of secrets. A chance to set them all free.
When Ebby Freeman travels to France to take a three-month hiatus from her complicated home life, the last person she expects to find is her ex-fiancé Henry, with his new girlfriend in tow.
Nearly twenty years earlier, the Freemans were the only African American family living in a wealthy coastal enclave in Connecticut when armed robbers invaded their home and tragedy changed their lives forever.
Then, just as Ebby thought she had a new chance at happiness, her storybook romance with Henry fell apart.
Now, this unexpected encounter with Henry will force Ebby to reckon with her past and to think on the other loss her family suffered that day – the destruction of a beloved stoneware jar crafted by an enslaved ancestor and passed down through the generations.
A piece that might hold not only her family history, but also the key to reclaiming her future.
--
'One of the great multi-generational storytellers of our time' ABI DARE, author of THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE
'I'm in utter awe of Charmaine - she is the real real' HARRIET CONSTABLE, author of THE INSTRUMENTALIST
'Her brilliance knows no adequate words' ORE AGBAJE WILLIAMS, author of THE THREE OF US
Praise for Charmaine Wilkerson and Black Cake:
'Completely blew me away' Red
'Unputdownable. Astonishing. Twists and turns so shocking they will leave your head spinning and your heart aching' Grazia
'You can't help but fall in love with this book' Stylist
'A novelist to watch' Independent
'Beautiful, deeply resonant . . . A story that is as meaningful as it is delicious' Taylor Jenkins Reid
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Good Dirt?
Fiction > Family life fiction / Stories about family
Where can I read a sample of Good Dirt?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241529942
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Good Dirt?
Charmaine Wilkerson
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Good Dirt is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780241529942) and paperback(ISBN 9780241529959) and paperback(ISBN 9781405950107) and ebook(ISBN 9781405950114)
Where can I buy Good Dirt online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Good Dirt from below
Where can I buy Good Dirt?