• Goodbye, Vitamin

  • A Novel
  • By: Rachel Khong
  • Narrated by: Therese Plummer
  • Length: 4 hrs and 59 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (300 ratings)

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Goodbye, Vitamin  By  cover art

Goodbye, Vitamin

By: Rachel Khong
Narrated by: Therese Plummer
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Publisher's summary

Her life at a crossroads, a young woman goes home again in this funny and inescapably moving debut from a wonderfully original new literary voice.

Freshly disengaged from her fiancé and feeling that life has not turned out quite the way she planned, 30-year-old Ruth quits her job, leaves town, and arrives at her parents' home to find that situation more complicated than she'd realized. Her father, a prominent history professor, is losing his memory and is only erratically lucid. Ruth's mother, meanwhile, is lucidly erratic. But as Ruth's father's condition intensifies, the comedy in her situation takes hold, gently transforming all her grief.

Told in captivating glimpses and drawn from a deep well of insight, humor, and unexpected tenderness, Goodbye, Vitamin pilots through the loss, love, and absurdity of finding one's footing in this life.

Cover design by Karen Horton, cover art based on lemons photograph by Nic Miller/Alamy Images (image #A9FJC2)

©2017 Rachel Khong (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Khong is a magician, and we are lucky to fall under her spell at the very beginning of her brilliant writing life." (Lauren Groff)
"This novel sneaks up on you - just like life... and heartbreak. And love." (Miranda July)

"Therese Plummer's narration captures each character's unique voice and emotion, including sarcasm, anger, and humor, all showcased in wonderfully exaggerated tones.... Men and women, young and old cross Ruth's path, creating new experiences for her and putting new spins on her memories, requiring Plummer to express a vivid range of emotions. This is a wonderful story for those who have experienced dementia in a loved one." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about Goodbye, Vitamin

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hello Sweet Sweet Book

Oh my goodness, this book pulled my heartstrings. My daughter loves her Dad this much; I could see her devotion. So so sweet. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻. Thank you #BOTM ❣️. So glad I went for this one. (Listened and read!)

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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This was good for my heart!

Wonderful, tender, funny and heart wrenching account of this father daughter journey. Yes Alzheimer's plays a central part but it's so much more. It's also about the rewards of sacrifice and an unconditional love and respect. The possibility of a romantic relationship for Ruth is something I rooted for! I will miss this because I was so entertained.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Just what I needed

This was such an authentic story of the realities of life with aging parents, the beautiful mess of families, and how we find a way to focus on the best parts of the ones we love.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Heartwarming and bittersweet

Simply put, the journal entries of a young woman maneuvering a failing relationship, complicated family dynamics and father diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Poignant moments nestle within lighthearted journal blurbs keeping it short, sweet but incredibly moving. (The dad's saved notes on the daughter's childhood had me welling up something fierce)

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

BEAUTIFUL, WITTY, HUMOROUS, UPLIFTING JOURNEY!

Goodbye Vitamin was a Book Club pick. I was so reluctant to read this, since my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. But this book tugged at my heart strings, and was a beautiful, witty, humorous, uplifting journey! #Beautiful #Witty #Uplifting #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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great writing

loved the tone and the grace of the writing. the author has a knack for making one feel her words.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Easy Listen

Easy to listen to story as author shares her experiences as she adjusts to living with her father with Alzheimer's, and sharing his letters of her childhood.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it

Loved this story and the relationships! Reader is amazing! Loved the ideas of how to be present with early alsheimers.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A refreshing book

Goodbye, Vitamin is a great book. It’s short but still feels like a rewarding listen. It’s about a girl who is moving back home, partially after a breakup, but also because her dad has dementia. It’s written in a journal format chronicling her time back home, struggling to figure things out in her life. That does make it hard to follow as an audiobook, because the story is told in short bursts, with quick scenes and asides about her life and family. Regardless, it’s very enjoyable to listen to!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Easy read.

The chapter dates were a bit annoying. The story is simple, but the ending strange.

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