The premise, which delves into questions of Daphne’s parentage as well as her romantic past and future, is old-fashioned, sometimes to a point requiring some generosity from the reader ... Daphne comes across as a bit primly Victorian, prickly and unyielding. But Lipman dresses the plot up with contemporary cultural touches ... Good Riddance is a caper novel, light as a feather and effortlessly charming. It will not save lives or enrich them in an enduring way... But the book inspires a very specific kind of modern joy. I read it fast, in a weekend, during which I did not find my social media accounts or tidying my house nearly as diverting as what was on these pages. Being more attractive than Twitter may sound like a low bar, but in these distractible times, it feels like a genuine achievement.
True to form, Ms. Lipman blends a pair of highly appealing love stories into this farrago. The author has long been one of our wittiest chroniclers of modern-day romance ... the most touching subplot in Good Riddance follows Daphne’s widowed father’s intrepid attempts to rejoin the dating scene ... Ms. Lipman’s writing is brisk and intelligent, and if the plot of this novel is zanier than her usual fare, that too may show just how plugged-in she is to our farfetched times.
... [Lipman is] pulling off a clever trick, though it may not be evident until the last page ... The characters in Good Riddance don’t necessarily develop ... It would be easy, and not messy at all, to say this isn’t Lipman’s best novel ... However, when you come to the end of Good Riddance, you might disagree, and you’ll definitely be delighted. Can an entire book function as a shaggy-dog story? My answer is yes, although for me that twist ending wasn’t necessarily worth the trip. What was: Lipman’s portrait of Daphne ... Despite her complaining, Daphne is an intriguing heroine, and if you love Lipman’s work, you may love her, too.
