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Good Dirt

The dazzling new novel by the bestselling author of Black Cake

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

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 family 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.

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, bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

'A rich, complex and really satisfying novel'
Alison Finch, BBC Radio 4

'A delicious and gripping tale that sweeps the reader across decades and continents'
Guardian

'A book that is both universal and unique.'
Afua Hirsch, bestselling author of Brit(ish)

'This novel has a tremendous heart at its centre, and I felt its beat on every page. What an extraordinary debut'
Mary Beth Keane, bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes

© Charmaine Wilkerson 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 African American Family Life Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction

Critic reviews

A thoroughly researched and beautifully imagined family saga, with a moving and hopeful ending
Wilkerson expertly tackles grief , trauma and the drive to live as you wish , in spite of your family's expectations and your community's barely concealed racism
A remarkable exploration of family bonds, grief, heartbreak, friendship, and the deep scars of slavery and racism... Wilkerson’s prose is succinct yet richly evocative, masterfully delving into the minds and motivations of her characters and delivering a narrative that lingers long after the final page... This novel solidifies Wilkerson's place as one of the great multi-generational storytellers of our time. (Abi Daré, bestselling author of The Girl with the Louding Voice)
What a beautiful and masterfully crafted story. I’m in utter awe of Charmaine. I found Ebby’s story just heartbreaking, but ultimately it left me thinking deeply about the process of healing from unspeakable pain and building the muscle of resilience... Charmaine is the real deal - she has SUCH a talent for every aspect of storytelling. I fell in love with her characters; I was gripped by her plot; I adore her words. (Harriet Constable, author of The Instrumentalist)
There are chapters that push your tear ducts to the limits
A masterclass in storytelling, world-building and drawing characters who feel so real you can reach out to the page and feel them reaching back out toward you. Good Dirt is a searing portrait of grief, of death and life and the truth that one without the other does not exist, that to find new life does not always mean forgetting the past, but reshaping and rebuilding it and realising all the remarkable ways in which it can be reforged. Charmaine Wilkerson is a stunning writer, whose brilliance knows no adequate words, and whose characters will live long in my memory. (Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of The Three of Us)
A sensational intergenerational story about hidden heartbreak, hope, and the restorative power of embracing and sharing one's ancestry. A story not only told incredibly well, but most importantly, a pleasure to read. (Jessica George, author of MAAME)
Good Dirt is a mystery that weaves together multi-generational strands of past and present trauma, from West Africa to Long Island Sound, from the 1800s to the present. Written in glittering and discerning prose, poignant yet hopeful, Good Dirt is a masterful character study exploring the stories we inherit and how the past informs the present. I loved it. Brava, Charmaine. (Nikki May, author of Wahala and This Motherless Land)
A writer of extraordinary gifts. She can capture the arc of a family story like none other. This kaleidoscopic novel of love, loss, and triumph will sit with you for a long time after you finish the last page (Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of Take My Hand)
All stars
Most relevant
Surprised by its magic and sensitivity! Really warmed to this story tho triggered at times x

Slow start but fab!

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This is a richly woven tale that explores the fabric of a family’s history and of a nation’s history through their personal stories. This was thoroughly enjoyable and I would recommend. It was performed beautifully and I found the way it played with different voices and timelines.

A richly woven tale

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This story deals with some heavy topics, but it leaves the reader with a feeling of hope. This heartfelt tale was narrated beautifully and followed an interesting structure. It combined multiple points of view in a beautifully crafted puzzle, mixed with glimpses into the past. My reading experience was enhanced by accidentally stumbling upon a news fragment in the podcast “The Week in Art” about a jar made by the enslaved potter David Drake. This jar has been returned by the MFA in Boston to the heirs of its maker. For anybody who enjoyed this book and is curious about a real-life Old Mo, I recommend listening to the fragment.

An enjoyable read

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Charmaine Wilkerson's Good Dirt… y'all. This book felt less like reading and more like unearthing a piece of my own family history, even though it's not mine. It's this expansive, incredibly moving saga about history, the ache of grief, and just trying to figure out where you belong, especially when your roots run deep and wide.
At the heart of it is Ebby Freeman, whose well-to-do Black New England family is forever marked by a childhood tragedy and the loss of a simple stoneware jar. But this ain't just any jar; it's got generations of history, reaching back to enslaved ancestors. Wilkerson is a master weaver, connecting timelines from West Africa, the American South, all the way to modern-day New England and even France. You can feel the past echoing through every page, shaping the present.
What really resonated with me was how Wilkerson handled trauma and resilience. She doesn't shy away from the ugly truths of racial injustice or the heavy weight of family expectations. Yet, there's this powerful current of hope running through it, a stubborn drive to rebuild, to find footing even when the ground feels shaky. And that jar? It becomes this beautiful symbol of memory, of legacy, and all those quiet, hidden truths that make us who we are.
Yeah, there are a lot of characters and a few timelines jumping around, so you gotta pay attention, but Wilkerson's writing is just so rich and evocative. The central mysteries pull you in, and honestly, Good Dirt just stays with you. It's a testament to the idea that no matter how difficult the ground, something beautiful and strong can absolutely grow.

Good Dirt: A Family Saga That Dug Deep into My Soul

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Excellent story well narrated kept me hooked all the way with the various twists. Each of the main characters had a back story which intermingles with each other so well.

Loved this book

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