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The Love of My Afterlife
Win a free print copy of this book!
6 days and 02:01:18
100 copies available
U.S. only
A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on earth before ten days are up…
If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment. Not only did she just die by choking on a microwaveable burger, but now she’s standing in her ‘shine like a star’ nightie in front of the hottest man she’s ever seen. And he’s smiling at her.
As they start to chat, everything else becomes background noise. That is until someone comes running out of a door, yelling something about a huge mistake, and sends the dreamy stranger back down to earth. And here Delphie was thinking her luck might be different in the afterlife.
When Delphie is offered a deal in which she can return to earth and reconnect with the mysterious stranger, she jumps at the opportunity to find her possible soulmate and a fresh start at life. But in a city of millions, Delphie is going to have to listen to her heart, learn to ask for help, and perhaps even see the magic in the life she’s leaving behind…
If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment. Not only did she just die by choking on a microwaveable burger, but now she’s standing in her ‘shine like a star’ nightie in front of the hottest man she’s ever seen. And he’s smiling at her.
As they start to chat, everything else becomes background noise. That is until someone comes running out of a door, yelling something about a huge mistake, and sends the dreamy stranger back down to earth. And here Delphie was thinking her luck might be different in the afterlife.
When Delphie is offered a deal in which she can return to earth and reconnect with the mysterious stranger, she jumps at the opportunity to find her possible soulmate and a fresh start at life. But in a city of millions, Delphie is going to have to listen to her heart, learn to ask for help, and perhaps even see the magic in the life she’s leaving behind…
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2024
About the author
Kirsty Greenwood
16 books1,060 followersKirsty Greenwood is a top ten bestselling author of funny, fearless and fast-paced romantic comedies about extraordinary love.
When she's not writing books she composes musicals, cooks new recipes with varying success, walks the blustery hills where she lives, buys too much glittery eyeshadow, sings to her dog, kisses her husband and reads all of the books she can get her grabby hands on.
If you want to find out about Kirsty's new releases and discounted books you can sign up to the newsletter here: www.kirstygreenwood.com/newsletter
Kirsty Instagrams at @kirsty_greenwood and can be found on Facebook at KirstyGreenwoodBooks. Say hi! She loves a natter.
When she's not writing books she composes musicals, cooks new recipes with varying success, walks the blustery hills where she lives, buys too much glittery eyeshadow, sings to her dog, kisses her husband and reads all of the books she can get her grabby hands on.
If you want to find out about Kirsty's new releases and discounted books you can sign up to the newsletter here: www.kirstygreenwood.com/newsletter
Kirsty Instagrams at @kirsty_greenwood and can be found on Facebook at KirstyGreenwoodBooks. Say hi! She loves a natter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,213 reviews
June 21, 2024
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
This is my first book by Kirsty Greenwood and it won't be my last. I loved it all, from the unique premise to the wonderful all-the-feels ending this book was chef's kiss.🤌 The author uses her love of books (especially of the romance variety) throughout the story and I loved that. All the name and title-dropping had me smiling and thinking "I know that one!".
I love quirky characters and Delphie is definitely quirky. I had a hard time figuring her out, is she a wimp? Is she a strong woman for what she went through and then does to help herself? Either way, I liked her, she was a wonderful main character. She was hard to like at first because I thought she was wallowing in self-pity, but then I started to get where she was coming from. I saw so much growth from her through the book and she grew on me. I loved how she and Cooper worked together to help each other out despite not being on the best of terms. Delphie grows up and opens up, she stops being scared and it opens up a whole new world for her.
The side character Mr. Yoon was also one of my favourites, and Delphie's relationship with him really touched my heart. In fact, all of the side characters are pretty amazing and Delphie learns about herself through them and she realizes life is worth living fully and one shouldn't let past hurts get in the way of a happy ending.
Greenwood mixes genres expertly and that's not an easy task and to please this reader isn't easy either but she did it. We have science fiction, magical realism, a touch of the paranormal and of course romance. There was just so much to love about this one. I look forward to what the author has coming next and checking out her backlog. All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
This is my first book by Kirsty Greenwood and it won't be my last. I loved it all, from the unique premise to the wonderful all-the-feels ending this book was chef's kiss.🤌 The author uses her love of books (especially of the romance variety) throughout the story and I loved that. All the name and title-dropping had me smiling and thinking "I know that one!".
I love quirky characters and Delphie is definitely quirky. I had a hard time figuring her out, is she a wimp? Is she a strong woman for what she went through and then does to help herself? Either way, I liked her, she was a wonderful main character. She was hard to like at first because I thought she was wallowing in self-pity, but then I started to get where she was coming from. I saw so much growth from her through the book and she grew on me. I loved how she and Cooper worked together to help each other out despite not being on the best of terms. Delphie grows up and opens up, she stops being scared and it opens up a whole new world for her.
The side character Mr. Yoon was also one of my favourites, and Delphie's relationship with him really touched my heart. In fact, all of the side characters are pretty amazing and Delphie learns about herself through them and she realizes life is worth living fully and one shouldn't let past hurts get in the way of a happy ending.
Greenwood mixes genres expertly and that's not an easy task and to please this reader isn't easy either but she did it. We have science fiction, magical realism, a touch of the paranormal and of course romance. There was just so much to love about this one. I look forward to what the author has coming next and checking out her backlog. All. The. Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
June 24, 2024
After seeing glowing reviews from several friends for this book, my curiosity got the best of me and I’m delighted, because this was a blast! It pays to listen to your friends!
Delphie Bookham is a 27-year-old woman who's never had a romantic relationship or the *perks* that come with one. After years of bullying in high school and basically being abandoned by her parents, she’s sworn off getting close to others, apart from her elderly neighbor Mr. Yoon. Unfortunately, this means she’s alone when a bite of burger gets stuck in her throat!
Next thing she knows, she finds herself in Evermore where she’s greeted by an outgoing, ambitious, romance-loving Afterlife Therapist named Merritt who’s getting a little bored upstairs. When Merritt notices sparks fly between Delphie and another incoming “Dead�� named Jonah who gets whisked back to earth because it’s not his time yet, she decides to have some fun. She’ll bend a rule to allow Sophie to return to her life IF she can find Jonah and get him to kiss her within ten days. If not, Delphie gets a one-way ticket back to Evermore!
Can Delphie find her soulmate Jonah and get that kiss in time?
It’s a delightful premise and the beginning hooked me right away, but it’s the unexpected story AFTER Delphie gets sent back that truly won my heart!
This is a love story about LOVE STORIES! The frequent nods to familiar authors and books, the meta references to popular romance tropes, the heartwarming threads of found family and magical realism, and the overarching theme of living the life you’ve been given to its fullest ALL make for one of the sweetest, most life-affirming stories I’ve read this year. I went into the story thinking I knew where it was going, but I was so wrong and I couldn’t be happier that I was!
Delphie’s journey isn’t just about finding love and pursuing her ‘happily ever after’, it’s also about discovering her love for life itself and all the joys that come with letting people in. Yes, I wanted to shake her for a good half or so of the book and tell her to stop being so darn grumpy, but she wasn’t that way without reason, and seeing her evolution as a character was worth the patience.
If you enjoy a funny, heartwarming enemies to lovers story with a brilliant cast of side characters, great chemistry, a satisfying story arc and a decent amount of emotional depth involving grief, bullying, loneliness, caring for the elderly, and setting healthy boundaries, this is well worth a look! I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from Kirsty Greenwood!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley, and author Kirsty Greenwood for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published on July 2, 2024.
Delphie Bookham is a 27-year-old woman who's never had a romantic relationship or the *perks* that come with one. After years of bullying in high school and basically being abandoned by her parents, she’s sworn off getting close to others, apart from her elderly neighbor Mr. Yoon. Unfortunately, this means she’s alone when a bite of burger gets stuck in her throat!
Next thing she knows, she finds herself in Evermore where she’s greeted by an outgoing, ambitious, romance-loving Afterlife Therapist named Merritt who’s getting a little bored upstairs. When Merritt notices sparks fly between Delphie and another incoming “Dead�� named Jonah who gets whisked back to earth because it’s not his time yet, she decides to have some fun. She’ll bend a rule to allow Sophie to return to her life IF she can find Jonah and get him to kiss her within ten days. If not, Delphie gets a one-way ticket back to Evermore!
Can Delphie find her soulmate Jonah and get that kiss in time?
It’s a delightful premise and the beginning hooked me right away, but it’s the unexpected story AFTER Delphie gets sent back that truly won my heart!
This is a love story about LOVE STORIES! The frequent nods to familiar authors and books, the meta references to popular romance tropes, the heartwarming threads of found family and magical realism, and the overarching theme of living the life you’ve been given to its fullest ALL make for one of the sweetest, most life-affirming stories I’ve read this year. I went into the story thinking I knew where it was going, but I was so wrong and I couldn’t be happier that I was!
Delphie’s journey isn’t just about finding love and pursuing her ‘happily ever after’, it’s also about discovering her love for life itself and all the joys that come with letting people in. Yes, I wanted to shake her for a good half or so of the book and tell her to stop being so darn grumpy, but she wasn’t that way without reason, and seeing her evolution as a character was worth the patience.
If you enjoy a funny, heartwarming enemies to lovers story with a brilliant cast of side characters, great chemistry, a satisfying story arc and a decent amount of emotional depth involving grief, bullying, loneliness, caring for the elderly, and setting healthy boundaries, this is well worth a look! I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from Kirsty Greenwood!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley, and author Kirsty Greenwood for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published on July 2, 2024.
July 2, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
A modern day fairy tale…Can a kiss from the right person STILL save a life? 💋
After choking (or is that gagging?) on a Microwave Burger 🍔 Delphie wakes up in the processing room at Evermore.
Welcoming her, is her chatty “AfterLife therapist” Merritt, now forever 28 years old- favorite things on Earth: Spicy hot curry and even spicier and hotter romance novels.
She is the complete opposite of Delphie, a 27 year old, “kissed only once” Virgin, who is socially awkward and has only one friend, her octogenarian neighbor “Mr. Yoon”. This is most likely because she seems to lack a “filter” when speaking-saying whatever she is thinking no matter how harsh her words may sound.
MAYBE the Afterlife won’t be so bad after all-
The next arrival, Jonah is gorgeous and is looking at her like she is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, despite the embarrassing nightgown she has arrived in!
Unfortunately, as it turns out, he wasn’t meant to arrive just yet-it’s been a mistake- and POOF-after an iridescent shimmer and a pop-he’s gone!
Merritt explains that each person has five soulmates on Earth, and because she is a “hopeless romantic” who thinks that Delphie may have just met one of hers-she is going to invoke the seldom used “Franklin Bellamy clause” and allow Delphie to return to Earth since nobody there has yet realized that she is dead.
The Catch? If she doesn’t FIND Jonah and get him to KISS her, voluntarily, in TEN DAYS, she will again die-and return to EVERMORE- FOREVERMORE!
What ensues is a FRESH, highly ENTERTAINING romp around London, filled with HUMOR, and QUIRKY FOUND FAMILY, which incorporates a few of the popular romance tropes, and also mentions of a few of our favorite romance authors, books and book characters adding to the FUN!
If you enjoy a touch of magical realism, you WON’T want to miss the latest book from U.K author Kirsty Greenwood-this isn’t her first ROM COM but it marks the debut of her first traditionally published U.S. title-congratulations on achieving that long held dream!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Highly Recommended! Add it to your TBR today!! 📚
Thank You to Berkley for inviting me to read this ARC, provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
A modern day fairy tale…Can a kiss from the right person STILL save a life? 💋
After choking (or is that gagging?) on a Microwave Burger 🍔 Delphie wakes up in the processing room at Evermore.
Welcoming her, is her chatty “AfterLife therapist” Merritt, now forever 28 years old- favorite things on Earth: Spicy hot curry and even spicier and hotter romance novels.
She is the complete opposite of Delphie, a 27 year old, “kissed only once” Virgin, who is socially awkward and has only one friend, her octogenarian neighbor “Mr. Yoon”. This is most likely because she seems to lack a “filter” when speaking-saying whatever she is thinking no matter how harsh her words may sound.
MAYBE the Afterlife won’t be so bad after all-
The next arrival, Jonah is gorgeous and is looking at her like she is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, despite the embarrassing nightgown she has arrived in!
Unfortunately, as it turns out, he wasn’t meant to arrive just yet-it’s been a mistake- and POOF-after an iridescent shimmer and a pop-he’s gone!
Merritt explains that each person has five soulmates on Earth, and because she is a “hopeless romantic” who thinks that Delphie may have just met one of hers-she is going to invoke the seldom used “Franklin Bellamy clause” and allow Delphie to return to Earth since nobody there has yet realized that she is dead.
The Catch? If she doesn’t FIND Jonah and get him to KISS her, voluntarily, in TEN DAYS, she will again die-and return to EVERMORE- FOREVERMORE!
What ensues is a FRESH, highly ENTERTAINING romp around London, filled with HUMOR, and QUIRKY FOUND FAMILY, which incorporates a few of the popular romance tropes, and also mentions of a few of our favorite romance authors, books and book characters adding to the FUN!
If you enjoy a touch of magical realism, you WON’T want to miss the latest book from U.K author Kirsty Greenwood-this isn’t her first ROM COM but it marks the debut of her first traditionally published U.S. title-congratulations on achieving that long held dream!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Highly Recommended! Add it to your TBR today!! 📚
Thank You to Berkley for inviting me to read this ARC, provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
July 2, 2024
In a Nutshell: Romcom with a small dash of magical realism and a hefty splash of serious themes. A great premise that started with a bang, then got repetitive, then again became interesting, and ended with a bang. I’d have liked this better in my younger days. Still, a fun entertainer if you don’t overthink the proceedings and don’t mind the FMC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
💐 This might be the first time I read about a main character choking to death in the very first chapter, and still didn’t feel any pain. I love the casual approach in which this scene was written. Had it been more traumatic, the mood would have been set incorrectly right at the beginning.
💐 The premise is unique enough to be a yay. Finding an insta-attraction as soon as you are dead and getting a chance to find your one true love? Lucky unlucky Delphie! Couldn’t blame her for grabbing onto any condition to return to earth in a bid to live more and love more!
💐 There are tongue-in-cheek appearances of romance tropes such as enemies to lovers, one bed, and insta connections. There are also several mentions of popular romance authors, books, and movies sprinkled throughout the book. This might go either way, but I liked the pop culture references: it added a dash of contemporary realism to the story.
💐 There are several secondary characters that are even more layered than the lead pair: Delphie’s work friend Leanne and her mother Jen, Delphie’s next-door neighbour the elderly Mr. Yoon, librarian Aled, and new friend Frida. Some of them are a bit over the top, but they suit the tone of the story. More importantly, they are likeable, and that helps when the FMC gives mixed vibes.
💐 I love how the story ended up more about finding oneself than about finding the one true love. A valuable lesson about living life to the fullest because we never know when it’s our time to kick the bucket.
💐 Though the story is mostly light-hearted, it tackles some serious themes such as bullying, loneliness, grief, childhood trauma, and parental abandonment. I appreciate the depiction of how everyone handles trauma differently and there’s no standard pattern.
💐 Many fun interactions and witty banter between the lead pair, and some heart-warming moments in the climax.
💐 I love the found family trope when it is done with enough heart, and in this book, though it takes time to get going, the concept is handled really well.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌷 Delphie is a tough character to root for at the start. Though she had her positives, her social skills are almost zero. Thankfully, she does redeem herself by the end. Her turnaround from a rude loner to an I’ll-do-everything-I-can-to-stay-alive is a bit too sudden to be convincing, but under such circumstances with only ten days between (after)life and permanent death, who is to say how we would have behaved in her place?
🌷 Downstairs neighbour Cooper, who is roped in to help Delphie locate Jonah, is an interesting character, fitting the mould of “enemy” perfectly. It is evident right from his first mention which pair the book is supporting. However, there was one red flag in his behaviour that is conveniently brushed aside: his womanising.
🌷 This is a genre-defying book. It starts off strongly as a fantasy, but the dominant genre almost throughout the story is romcom, with a little garnishing of magical realism. Great if you want a romcom. I wanted more magical realism, so this ends up as a mixed bag.
🌷 The afterlife and its events create a mixed impression. While I do love the unexpectedness of the location, I am still sad that it was what it was. (No woman will look at that place and think, “Yay! What a wonderful afterlife!” Sigh…) More than this, I am not sure how I feel about many of the *bodily functions* that continue in the afterlife. Who wants more of the same life even after death!
🌷 Once Delphie returns to earth with her ten-day challenge, the tempo slackens a lot and the events become repetitive. The last one-third or so saves the story to a great extent, though it zooms by at F1 speed compared to the rest of the book.
🌷 I love the resolution of all arcs. Though the destination is predictable, as it always is in romcoms, it was still interesting to see how it comes about. That said, a certain event towards the end is so farfetched that I had to put this in my Mixed Bags than under the Yays.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 Jonah’s arc is unbelievably unrealistic. I might have accepted his perfect portrayal had this been a romcom spoof. (I still am not sure if it is indeed a spoof!)
🌵 This is more of a ME problem than a BOOK problem. I don't vibe with the idea that “sex is the most fun you can have on earth.” (Misleading, false, and also inappropriate when there is more awareness these days of asexuality.) I found it ridiculous that anyone could find the idea of a twenty-seven-year-old virgin ridiculous. A person’s sex life is no one’s business, and the idea that Delphie had not lived to the fullest just because she died without having sex is, frankly speaking, idiotic. (As you might guess, the ten days on earth involve the tackling of this ‘problem.’ The proceedings aren’t that steamy, but they aren’t closed-door either.)
All in all, this definitely was an entertaining book, with the second half proving much stronger than the first half. If it had been more consistent in its tempo and slightly less repetitive in between, it could have been a bigger winner for me.
That said, I’m no longer an active romance reader as I have done my fill of swoony reading in my younger days. I had grabbed this novel mainly for the idea of the ‘afterlife.’ Unfortunately, most of the story is a typical romance, so my experience ended slightly mixed. This shouldn’t take away from the story as it will work better for romcom fans.
Recommended to avid romance readers who would enjoy a magical twist to typical romcoms.
3.5 stars, rounding up as much of the disconnect was due to my reading preferences.
My thanks to Random Things Tours, Random House UK, Cornerstone, and author Kirsty Greenwood for a complimentary copy of 'The Love of My Afterlife' via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Twenty-seven-year-old Delphie, a loner who works in a pharmacy, has just begun dinner when she chokes to death on her cheap microwave burger. She ‘wakes up’ to find herself in ‘Evermore’, the place of the afterlife that seems more like it belongs on earth. Just as Delphie is being acquainted with the procedures of her new abode, she bumps into a young man named Jonah and has an instant connection with him. Sadly (for her, not for him), he isn’t dead and is sent back to earth. But a certain someone takes pity on the lonely young woman and gives her a second chance, albeit with a proviso: if she can find Jonah of the unknown last name back in London and get him to kiss her within ten days, she can get her life back. Will Delphie rise up to this challenge and locate ‘the love of her afterlife’?
The story comes to us in Delphie’s first person perspective.
Bookish Yays:
💐 This might be the first time I read about a main character choking to death in the very first chapter, and still didn’t feel any pain. I love the casual approach in which this scene was written. Had it been more traumatic, the mood would have been set incorrectly right at the beginning.
💐 The premise is unique enough to be a yay. Finding an insta-attraction as soon as you are dead and getting a chance to find your one true love? Lucky unlucky Delphie! Couldn’t blame her for grabbing onto any condition to return to earth in a bid to live more and love more!
💐 There are tongue-in-cheek appearances of romance tropes such as enemies to lovers, one bed, and insta connections. There are also several mentions of popular romance authors, books, and movies sprinkled throughout the book. This might go either way, but I liked the pop culture references: it added a dash of contemporary realism to the story.
💐 There are several secondary characters that are even more layered than the lead pair: Delphie’s work friend Leanne and her mother Jen, Delphie’s next-door neighbour the elderly Mr. Yoon, librarian Aled, and new friend Frida. Some of them are a bit over the top, but they suit the tone of the story. More importantly, they are likeable, and that helps when the FMC gives mixed vibes.
💐 I love how the story ended up more about finding oneself than about finding the one true love. A valuable lesson about living life to the fullest because we never know when it’s our time to kick the bucket.
💐 Though the story is mostly light-hearted, it tackles some serious themes such as bullying, loneliness, grief, childhood trauma, and parental abandonment. I appreciate the depiction of how everyone handles trauma differently and there’s no standard pattern.
💐 Many fun interactions and witty banter between the lead pair, and some heart-warming moments in the climax.
💐 I love the found family trope when it is done with enough heart, and in this book, though it takes time to get going, the concept is handled really well.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌷 Delphie is a tough character to root for at the start. Though she had her positives, her social skills are almost zero. Thankfully, she does redeem herself by the end. Her turnaround from a rude loner to an I’ll-do-everything-I-can-to-stay-alive is a bit too sudden to be convincing, but under such circumstances with only ten days between (after)life and permanent death, who is to say how we would have behaved in her place?
🌷 Downstairs neighbour Cooper, who is roped in to help Delphie locate Jonah, is an interesting character, fitting the mould of “enemy” perfectly. It is evident right from his first mention which pair the book is supporting. However, there was one red flag in his behaviour that is conveniently brushed aside: his womanising.
🌷 This is a genre-defying book. It starts off strongly as a fantasy, but the dominant genre almost throughout the story is romcom, with a little garnishing of magical realism. Great if you want a romcom. I wanted more magical realism, so this ends up as a mixed bag.
🌷 The afterlife and its events create a mixed impression. While I do love the unexpectedness of the location, I am still sad that it was what it was. (No woman will look at that place and think, “Yay! What a wonderful afterlife!” Sigh…) More than this, I am not sure how I feel about many of the *bodily functions* that continue in the afterlife. Who wants more of the same life even after death!
🌷 Once Delphie returns to earth with her ten-day challenge, the tempo slackens a lot and the events become repetitive. The last one-third or so saves the story to a great extent, though it zooms by at F1 speed compared to the rest of the book.
🌷 I love the resolution of all arcs. Though the destination is predictable, as it always is in romcoms, it was still interesting to see how it comes about. That said, a certain event towards the end is so farfetched that I had to put this in my Mixed Bags than under the Yays.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 Jonah’s arc is unbelievably unrealistic. I might have accepted his perfect portrayal had this been a romcom spoof. (I still am not sure if it is indeed a spoof!)
🌵 This is more of a ME problem than a BOOK problem. I don't vibe with the idea that “sex is the most fun you can have on earth.” (Misleading, false, and also inappropriate when there is more awareness these days of asexuality.) I found it ridiculous that anyone could find the idea of a twenty-seven-year-old virgin ridiculous. A person’s sex life is no one’s business, and the idea that Delphie had not lived to the fullest just because she died without having sex is, frankly speaking, idiotic. (As you might guess, the ten days on earth involve the tackling of this ‘problem.’ The proceedings aren’t that steamy, but they aren’t closed-door either.)
All in all, this definitely was an entertaining book, with the second half proving much stronger than the first half. If it had been more consistent in its tempo and slightly less repetitive in between, it could have been a bigger winner for me.
That said, I’m no longer an active romance reader as I have done my fill of swoony reading in my younger days. I had grabbed this novel mainly for the idea of the ‘afterlife.’ Unfortunately, most of the story is a typical romance, so my experience ended slightly mixed. This shouldn’t take away from the story as it will work better for romcom fans.
Recommended to avid romance readers who would enjoy a magical twist to typical romcoms.
3.5 stars, rounding up as much of the disconnect was due to my reading preferences.
My thanks to Random Things Tours, Random House UK, Cornerstone, and author Kirsty Greenwood for a complimentary copy of 'The Love of My Afterlife' via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
August 2, 2024
✩ 3.75 stars ✩
“If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment.”
What to Expect:
➼ Magical Realism
➼ Second Chance at Life
➼ Healing from Loss
➼ Found Family
➼ Soulmates
➼ One Bed
➼ Fake Dating
➼ Quest
➼ A few other tropes that would be spoilers…
➼ Single POV
At only 27, Delphie chokes on a microwave burger and finds herself in “Evermore,” where her afterlife therapist, Merritt, informs her that she has died. ☠️
Yikes, that’s a bad way to go. 😬
Delphie lived a very safe and solitary life, and as she watches the highlight reel of her life, she realizes how little life she really lived. As she begins to process that her life is truly over, a hunky guy named Jonah arrives in Evermore and she feels an instant connection with him. After only a few minutes together, Merritt tells them that there’s been a “clerical error” and sends Jonah back to his life on earth.
When romance loving Merritt learns of their connection, she tells Delphie that Jonah was likely one of her five soulmates on Earth and offers her an opportunity to earn back her life. If she can find Jonah and get him to kiss her of his own free will in the next 10 days, she can stay on earth… and stay alive. She doesn’t even know his last name and finding him will push her far out of her comfort zone, but it’s literally a matter of life or death and there’s no time to waste!
This book had all the elements of a great rom-com. I really hope it gets a movie adaptation!🤞🏻 Her afterlife experience reminded me a lot of The Good Place and had just the right amount of levity to make a concept like this work. This had that iconic Brit Lit quirkiness that made the story that much more fun. I wasn’t expecting much from this book, but I had such a good time reading it! Can’t share more without risking spoilers 🤫. Definitely recommend! 💛
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Gonna listen to this while I set up my classroom today! 🪦RIP summer. 😩😜
“If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment.”
What to Expect:
➼ Magical Realism
➼ Second Chance at Life
➼ Healing from Loss
➼ Found Family
➼ Soulmates
➼ One Bed
➼ Fake Dating
➼ Quest
➼ A few other tropes that would be spoilers…
➼ Single POV
At only 27, Delphie chokes on a microwave burger and finds herself in “Evermore,” where her afterlife therapist, Merritt, informs her that she has died. ☠️
Yikes, that’s a bad way to go. 😬
Delphie lived a very safe and solitary life, and as she watches the highlight reel of her life, she realizes how little life she really lived. As she begins to process that her life is truly over, a hunky guy named Jonah arrives in Evermore and she feels an instant connection with him. After only a few minutes together, Merritt tells them that there’s been a “clerical error” and sends Jonah back to his life on earth.
When romance loving Merritt learns of their connection, she tells Delphie that Jonah was likely one of her five soulmates on Earth and offers her an opportunity to earn back her life. If she can find Jonah and get him to kiss her of his own free will in the next 10 days, she can stay on earth… and stay alive. She doesn’t even know his last name and finding him will push her far out of her comfort zone, but it’s literally a matter of life or death and there’s no time to waste!
This book had all the elements of a great rom-com. I really hope it gets a movie adaptation!🤞🏻 Her afterlife experience reminded me a lot of The Good Place and had just the right amount of levity to make a concept like this work. This had that iconic Brit Lit quirkiness that made the story that much more fun. I wasn’t expecting much from this book, but I had such a good time reading it! Can’t share more without risking spoilers 🤫. Definitely recommend! 💛
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Gonna listen to this while I set up my classroom today! 🪦RIP summer. 😩😜
July 21, 2024
dnf’d at 69% (heheh)
i kept waiting for it to get better and it DIDN’T. the fmc delphie was one of those oblivious, quirky mean girls who has been traumatized by bullying in their past and has now adopted that persona…like valid, im sorry you were hurt but you never got better so????
the actual plot was stupid as fuck. what i thought would be unique was quite literally a series of unfortunate events/mishaps where every possible thing goes wrong and that trope is my biggest pet peeve holy shit 😭😭😭 it was just a constant litany of “for fucks sake”, “come on already”, and “you’ve gotta be shitting me” for a lil razzle dazzle. i predicted the romance the second the characters met, but there wasn’t enough chemistry for me to give a damn about them, frankly and after seeing 5 stars out the wazoo for this book i’m INCREDIBLY disappointed.
now, just because this wasn’t my cup of tea, i would still recommend for people who liked the movie “afterlife of the party” and “bridget jones’s diary” (but watered down- i love that movie dearly). other than that i have nothing else to say about this book because it didn’t do much for me!
i kept waiting for it to get better and it DIDN’T. the fmc delphie was one of those oblivious, quirky mean girls who has been traumatized by bullying in their past and has now adopted that persona…like valid, im sorry you were hurt but you never got better so????
the actual plot was stupid as fuck. what i thought would be unique was quite literally a series of unfortunate events/mishaps where every possible thing goes wrong and that trope is my biggest pet peeve holy shit 😭😭😭 it was just a constant litany of “for fucks sake”, “come on already”, and “you’ve gotta be shitting me” for a lil razzle dazzle. i predicted the romance the second the characters met, but there wasn’t enough chemistry for me to give a damn about them, frankly and after seeing 5 stars out the wazoo for this book i’m INCREDIBLY disappointed.
now, just because this wasn’t my cup of tea, i would still recommend for people who liked the movie “afterlife of the party” and “bridget jones’s diary” (but watered down- i love that movie dearly). other than that i have nothing else to say about this book because it didn’t do much for me!
May 20, 2024
My Dead Romantics loving heart absolutely ATE with this one!!!! I don’t want to say too much because with one wrong word I think I could spoil it and that’s just not okay! I really think that if you loved TDR, then definitely give this a try.
I loved everything about the romance, but the found family of it all actually destroyed me. I’m such a sucker for a character building their community on page after being incredibly lonely for a long time. It was a bit quirky, very British, and full of shenanigans that actually made me laugh out loud. I’m on Delphie’s frontlines forever!!
I think this one was a ~bit lighter execution wise compared to TDR? The afterlife elements were a bit more cozy and comforting…and I didn’t cry up a lung. I DID cry, but it was happy tears? It definitely still dealt with death at its core, but just in a different way. I think I could pick this one up to reread a bit easier than TDR.
Obviously, it’s its own book so don’t take my comparisons to The Dead Romantics ~too literally! I just think it’s really good grounds for comparison and part of a slowly-growing subgenre that I’m obsessed with; I really enjoy the fantasy lite™ approach!
*The themes below are a little taste, but skip if you don’t want even the smallest of spoiler!*
✨Found Family!!!!!
✨Set in London
✨Comforting/romantic version of the Afterlife
✨Secondary romance
✨Only one bed
✨Mini heist
✨Virgin heroine
✨RomCOM
✨Fake dating
✨Love triangle (and I loved it????)
Overall, I’m very intrigued to see what Kirsty Greenwood writes next for Berkley!! I hope it’s in the same world. I’d even go so far as to BEG for a Merritt and Eric novella!!! Hello pre-order incentive 👀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️*/5
*Threeish scenes, low-medium level of detail. I was a bit sad when the first scene was so short, but the second scene definitely gave what I needed! It’s not a “spicy” book, but it’s not closed door.
CWs: Bullying, death, death of a sibling, car accident, toxic parental relationship
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
I loved everything about the romance, but the found family of it all actually destroyed me. I’m such a sucker for a character building their community on page after being incredibly lonely for a long time. It was a bit quirky, very British, and full of shenanigans that actually made me laugh out loud. I’m on Delphie’s frontlines forever!!
I think this one was a ~bit lighter execution wise compared to TDR? The afterlife elements were a bit more cozy and comforting…and I didn’t cry up a lung. I DID cry, but it was happy tears? It definitely still dealt with death at its core, but just in a different way. I think I could pick this one up to reread a bit easier than TDR.
Obviously, it’s its own book so don’t take my comparisons to The Dead Romantics ~too literally! I just think it’s really good grounds for comparison and part of a slowly-growing subgenre that I’m obsessed with; I really enjoy the fantasy lite™ approach!
*The themes below are a little taste, but skip if you don’t want even the smallest of spoiler!*
✨Found Family!!!!!
✨Set in London
✨Comforting/romantic version of the Afterlife
✨Secondary romance
✨Only one bed
✨Mini heist
✨Virgin heroine
✨RomCOM
✨Fake dating
✨Love triangle (and I loved it????)
Overall, I’m very intrigued to see what Kirsty Greenwood writes next for Berkley!! I hope it’s in the same world. I’d even go so far as to BEG for a Merritt and Eric novella!!! Hello pre-order incentive 👀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️*/5
*Threeish scenes, low-medium level of detail. I was a bit sad when the first scene was so short, but the second scene definitely gave what I needed! It’s not a “spicy” book, but it’s not closed door.
CWs: Bullying, death, death of a sibling, car accident, toxic parental relationship
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
February 27, 2024
i have no clue how to review this book. for starters, i actually recommend this book, and that's a new feeling that i'm not used to. secondly, i have never read another book like this. it's a sci-fi (but not too much to be overbearing), a magical realism (with enough supernatural elements to give me an existential crisis at 3 am, a fantasy that's technically not a fantasy, and coming of age/death (???) with a romance sideplot. so yes, my goodreads shelves are having a f*cking field day.
so delphie is dead.
i just want that to sink in.
she's dead. dead as a doornail. of course, a coffin-nail would most likely be the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade, but the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not make a mockery of it. you will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that delphie was as dead as a doornail. there is no doubt that delphie was dead. if we were not perfectly convinced that delphie had died during the beginning of the novel, there would be nothing remarkable in her coming back to earth to find her true love after bumping into him whilst she was dead... as a doornail, than there would be in any other young woman turning un-dead again to find her soulmate that she met by chance after choking to death on a microwaveable burger whilst wearing her ‘shine like a star’ nightie.
tropes:
- fake dating
- love triangle
- found family
- one bed
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
i refuse to tell you anymore.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
credits to @charles dickens aka the man, the myth, and another guy who is dead. dead as a door nail.
__
pre-review:
i got an arc from berkley... AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
smooth saffiyah. real smooth.
3★ rtc
so delphie is dead.
i just want that to sink in.
she's dead. dead as a doornail. of course, a coffin-nail would most likely be the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade, but the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not make a mockery of it. you will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that delphie was as dead as a doornail. there is no doubt that delphie was dead. if we were not perfectly convinced that delphie had died during the beginning of the novel, there would be nothing remarkable in her coming back to earth to find her true love after bumping into him whilst she was dead... as a doornail, than there would be in any other young woman turning un-dead again to find her soulmate that she met by chance after choking to death on a microwaveable burger whilst wearing her ‘shine like a star’ nightie.
tropes:
- fake dating
- love triangle
- found family
- one bed
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
i refuse to tell you anymore.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
credits to @charles dickens aka the man, the myth, and another guy who is dead. dead as a door nail.
__
pre-review:
i got an arc from berkley... AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
smooth saffiyah. real smooth.
3★ rtc
July 28, 2024
She died just as she lived: alone, perplexed, and wearing something a bit shit.
There's nothing like a British rom com when the writing is sharp. So funny from beginning to end, with sparky chemistry and a lively heroine with a very full life—but one who sometimes feels uncertain and unanchored as well. There are also surprisingly touching secondary relationships, which are very close in feeling to the best parts of Sarra Manning's Unsticky.
Looooooove. 💕 If the quirky premise appeals to you at all, you should hop right on this.
Audio Notes: Sofia Oxenham's narration was exactly right for this character. Perfect match of reader and writing.
There's nothing like a British rom com when the writing is sharp. So funny from beginning to end, with sparky chemistry and a lively heroine with a very full life—but one who sometimes feels uncertain and unanchored as well. There are also surprisingly touching secondary relationships, which are very close in feeling to the best parts of Sarra Manning's Unsticky.
Looooooove. 💕 If the quirky premise appeals to you at all, you should hop right on this.
Audio Notes: Sofia Oxenham's narration was exactly right for this character. Perfect match of reader and writing.
Read
February 5, 2024RTC. Thank you Berkley🫶 Very cool premise.
June 14, 2024
Personally, I wanted Delphie to hurry up and die so she would stop being so annoying.
July 1, 2024
Will a second chance at living convince Delphie to live her best life?
27-year-old Delphie is a recluse who spends the majority of her time holed-up in her flat. Even though she’s lived in London all her life she only knows three people, an elderly neighbour, and her two work colleagues.
One evening while eating dinner (alone in her flat as per always) Delphie chokes to death. She regains consciousness in a place called Evermore, where her young, bouncy, vibrant, talkative, afterlife therapist of all things, informs her she is dead.
While Delphie is struggling to get her head around the devastating news, she is distracted by a new arrival, a guy around her age. Delphie and the guy’s physical attraction is instantaneous, and their conversation flows naturally. Has she just met her soulmate?
But unfortunately, the man of her dreams is merely in a state of deep unconsciousness, and a moment later he is gone, back among the living. During their brief conversation Delphie only uncovered two things about him – his first name is Jonah, and he’s also from London.
Just when Delphie thinks all is lost, turns out her afterlife therapist is a big believer in true love, so the two strike a deal – Delphie can return to earth for ten days. If she hasn’t received a kiss from Jonah by that time she is fated to die again – permanently! A further complication, Jonah doesn’t remember meeting her in Evermore, his memory was wiped clean when he returned to earth.
The race is on to track Jonah down in time. Is a woman with few social skills and little life experience up to the task? Delphie intends to give it all she’s got.
Tick-tock!
The innovative premise, inventive title, and gorgeous cover really captured my attention, well that and Goodreads friends glowing reviews. And The Love of My Afterlife not only exceeded my expectations, but also contained some surprising twists for a romantic comedy. It was sexy, sweet, utterly satisfying, hilarious, magical, gave off Cinderella vibes, and contained several of my favourite romantic tropes, which need to remain under wraps. Delphie’s quest to find Jonah really brought her out of both her shell, and her comfort zone, and everyone who helped her along the way impacted and enriched her life in ways she couldn’t possibly have imagined or predicted. As you know I prefer my rom coms with a side of real-world issues which this novel contained in spades – there were traumatic reasons why Delphie had chosen to hide away from the world. Also, I adored all the mentions of fictional romantic leads from books, TV, and movies.
I chose to read the audiobook and Sofia Oxenham’s performance was magnificent and charming – I couldn’t have asked for a better experience – her voice for Merritt (the afterlife therapist) was a lot of fun.
The contemporary romances released this year have consistently been of a high calibre, and for me have out shined other genres, and Kirsty Greenwood’s, The Love of My Afterlife was a further highlight and top favourite read for 2024. It will be my pleasure to explore this author’s past titles.
UK/AUS/NZ – Out Now!
US – 2nd July 2024.
27-year-old Delphie is a recluse who spends the majority of her time holed-up in her flat. Even though she’s lived in London all her life she only knows three people, an elderly neighbour, and her two work colleagues.
One evening while eating dinner (alone in her flat as per always) Delphie chokes to death. She regains consciousness in a place called Evermore, where her young, bouncy, vibrant, talkative, afterlife therapist of all things, informs her she is dead.
While Delphie is struggling to get her head around the devastating news, she is distracted by a new arrival, a guy around her age. Delphie and the guy’s physical attraction is instantaneous, and their conversation flows naturally. Has she just met her soulmate?
But unfortunately, the man of her dreams is merely in a state of deep unconsciousness, and a moment later he is gone, back among the living. During their brief conversation Delphie only uncovered two things about him – his first name is Jonah, and he’s also from London.
Just when Delphie thinks all is lost, turns out her afterlife therapist is a big believer in true love, so the two strike a deal – Delphie can return to earth for ten days. If she hasn’t received a kiss from Jonah by that time she is fated to die again – permanently! A further complication, Jonah doesn’t remember meeting her in Evermore, his memory was wiped clean when he returned to earth.
The race is on to track Jonah down in time. Is a woman with few social skills and little life experience up to the task? Delphie intends to give it all she’s got.
Tick-tock!
The innovative premise, inventive title, and gorgeous cover really captured my attention, well that and Goodreads friends glowing reviews. And The Love of My Afterlife not only exceeded my expectations, but also contained some surprising twists for a romantic comedy. It was sexy, sweet, utterly satisfying, hilarious, magical, gave off Cinderella vibes, and contained several of my favourite romantic tropes, which need to remain under wraps. Delphie’s quest to find Jonah really brought her out of both her shell, and her comfort zone, and everyone who helped her along the way impacted and enriched her life in ways she couldn’t possibly have imagined or predicted. As you know I prefer my rom coms with a side of real-world issues which this novel contained in spades – there were traumatic reasons why Delphie had chosen to hide away from the world. Also, I adored all the mentions of fictional romantic leads from books, TV, and movies.
I chose to read the audiobook and Sofia Oxenham’s performance was magnificent and charming – I couldn’t have asked for a better experience – her voice for Merritt (the afterlife therapist) was a lot of fun.
The contemporary romances released this year have consistently been of a high calibre, and for me have out shined other genres, and Kirsty Greenwood’s, The Love of My Afterlife was a further highlight and top favourite read for 2024. It will be my pleasure to explore this author’s past titles.
UK/AUS/NZ – Out Now!
US – 2nd July 2024.
March 30, 2024
Synopsis:
Delphie has died by choking on nothing other than a microwave hamburger. Now she’s in the afterlife, in her night gown, and she just met the most gorgeous and amazing man ever.
Too bad he’s not dead, but she is. He gets to wake up, she doesn’t.
So much for having better luck in the afterlife.
When she’s offered a deal to return to earth for ten days, she jumps on it. The twist is that she has to find the mystery man with no clues other than his first name and large city he lives in.
As Delphie wades through millions of people, she learns some important lessons, but will she find the man in time?
Thoughts:
This was my first Kristy Greenwood book, but it most definitely won’t be the last. I loved this one! I love reading romcoms because they brighten my day, especially after reading a dark thriller. I love the polarity of the two genres and have a lot of fun with it.
This book was a lot of fun and it reminded me in a very broad sense of another one of my favorites. I think that ghosts or books focusing on the afterlife are one of my favorite subgenres – is that a subgenre? It should be so now in my world it is.
This book was great because it made me think in a broad sense, that there is always hope. This book also focused on finding love when you least expect it, and I always love it when an author does this trope well because it hits close to home. When I met my husband, I had finally decided to go out for the night after staying in alone for months after my divorce. I wasn’t looking to meet anyone, but when I saw him, there was an instant feeling like we fit, and once we started talking, we just talked for hours. The rest they say is history. So books that remind me of this happy memory are always fun and wonderful for me, and this book did that.
Publication Date:
July 2, 2024
Author:
Kristy Greenwood
Page Length:
384pages
Publisher:
Berkley Romance, Berkley
Thank you to:
Thank you so much to @BerkleyPub and @BerkleyRomance for this amazing e-arc from Netgalley @Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Delphie has died by choking on nothing other than a microwave hamburger. Now she’s in the afterlife, in her night gown, and she just met the most gorgeous and amazing man ever.
Too bad he’s not dead, but she is. He gets to wake up, she doesn’t.
So much for having better luck in the afterlife.
When she’s offered a deal to return to earth for ten days, she jumps on it. The twist is that she has to find the mystery man with no clues other than his first name and large city he lives in.
As Delphie wades through millions of people, she learns some important lessons, but will she find the man in time?
Thoughts:
This was my first Kristy Greenwood book, but it most definitely won’t be the last. I loved this one! I love reading romcoms because they brighten my day, especially after reading a dark thriller. I love the polarity of the two genres and have a lot of fun with it.
This book was a lot of fun and it reminded me in a very broad sense of another one of my favorites. I think that ghosts or books focusing on the afterlife are one of my favorite subgenres – is that a subgenre? It should be so now in my world it is.
This book was great because it made me think in a broad sense, that there is always hope. This book also focused on finding love when you least expect it, and I always love it when an author does this trope well because it hits close to home. When I met my husband, I had finally decided to go out for the night after staying in alone for months after my divorce. I wasn’t looking to meet anyone, but when I saw him, there was an instant feeling like we fit, and once we started talking, we just talked for hours. The rest they say is history. So books that remind me of this happy memory are always fun and wonderful for me, and this book did that.
Publication Date:
July 2, 2024
Author:
Kristy Greenwood
Page Length:
384pages
Publisher:
Berkley Romance, Berkley
Thank you to:
Thank you so much to @BerkleyPub and @BerkleyRomance for this amazing e-arc from Netgalley @Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
July 6, 2024
Infinity stars honestly. This was perfect. Give me more
July 7, 2024
This was so cute! After reading the synopsis I instantly thought of the Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston and it drew me into reading this book. I absolutely loved the premise of a woman being sent back to earth after dying to find her soulmate but only having 10 days to do it and in that time finding herself, love, and friendship. This book had grit and depth I don't see in a lot of romance novels and I truly felt like I knew our lead Delphie not only through her romantic connection, but through her motivations, strengths, insecurities. Really a wonderfully executed and written story. I do feel as if the pacing dragged at some points and it would've packed a little more of a punch if it would've clocked in about 50 pages shorter, I don't know if it's because I read this in such a short amount of time but I was ready for it to be over at about the 300 page mark. I also loved our love interest, but wanted to get to know him just a smidge better. Overall though I would definitely recommend and found this to be an extremely refreshing, realistic, and honest romance novel.
July 3, 2024
4˖⁺‧✮
the book sounded so interesting and investing and it actually was!!! i loved most of it: the idea, writing, characters and they way story ended, i love all types of endings, especially sad ones💔
i am really bad at describing plots, so go read it before reading my review because it can sound a little bit crazy without knowledge.
honestly, when i just started reading, i had 2 potential plots in my head. the first one was a bit basic, but i actually would love to read a book with it. (or even watch a movie) and the second one: unexpected and intriguing. as you can see, the second one is what actually happened in the book. i honestly, was so confident in my choice (of scenery) until that one moment happened… i was not at home but couldn’t wait to finish the book, and loved it!
so many cute moments between characters; last chapters were keeping me on a thin line between sad or happy tears.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada | Viking for an arc
the book sounded so interesting and investing and it actually was!!! i loved most of it: the idea, writing, characters and they way story ended, i love all types of endings, especially sad ones💔
i am really bad at describing plots, so go read it before reading my review because it can sound a little bit crazy without knowledge.
honestly, when i just started reading, i had 2 potential plots in my head. the first one was a bit basic, but i actually would love to read a book with it. (or even watch a movie) and the second one: unexpected and intriguing. as you can see, the second one is what actually happened in the book. i honestly, was so confident in my choice (of scenery) until that one moment happened… i was not at home but couldn’t wait to finish the book, and loved it!
so many cute moments between characters; last chapters were keeping me on a thin line between sad or happy tears.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada | Viking for an arc
July 22, 2024
If asked how she imagined the end of her life, 27-year old Delphie most certainly would not have said choking to death on a microwavable convenience store burger in her grossest nightgown while watching “The Tinder Swindler.” But that’s how it went down. She definitely wouldn’t have guessed that upon her demise she would find herself meeting up with . . .
Okay, really her name is Merritt and she’s not an elderly chainsmoker, but c’mon how often am I gonna get to use THAT gif?????
Anyway, when Merritt discovers that Dephie is “literally a virgin who can’t drive. Like in the seminal teen romance movie Clueless!” and a glitch in the system delivers her potential soulmate Jonah to Evermore just for a moment, Merritt grants Delphie a 10-day reprieve to return to Earth. If she can find Jonah and he kisses her of his own accord, she can remain alive.
When someone asks me what tropes I like in my Rom Coms, basically the answer is . . . .
Enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, sharing a bed, love triangle, fake dating, taming a womanizer?
This delivered. Every Star.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, really her name is Merritt and she’s not an elderly chainsmoker, but c’mon how often am I gonna get to use THAT gif?????
Anyway, when Merritt discovers that Dephie is “literally a virgin who can’t drive. Like in the seminal teen romance movie Clueless!” and a glitch in the system delivers her potential soulmate Jonah to Evermore just for a moment, Merritt grants Delphie a 10-day reprieve to return to Earth. If she can find Jonah and he kisses her of his own accord, she can remain alive.
When someone asks me what tropes I like in my Rom Coms, basically the answer is . . . .
Enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, sharing a bed, love triangle, fake dating, taming a womanizer?
This delivered. Every Star.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2024
Delphine dies, and when she meets the one in the afterlife, she is given the opportunity to return to earth and find him. If he kisses her, she gets to stay.
This book is adorable, it really is. Delphine is a bit too quirky for me, but I loved everything else.
The story has a great cast of characters, it’s lighthearted and fun.
It’s the true definition of a romcom! Absolutely recommended for the fans of the genre.
I would like to thank Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
P.S - This review is very short because I believe the less you know about this book the better. It was a nice surprise for me, and it wouldn't have worked so well if I knew more details than the ones given in the blurb.
This book is adorable, it really is. Delphine is a bit too quirky for me, but I loved everything else.
The story has a great cast of characters, it’s lighthearted and fun.
It’s the true definition of a romcom! Absolutely recommended for the fans of the genre.
I would like to thank Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
P.S - This review is very short because I believe the less you know about this book the better. It was a nice surprise for me, and it wouldn't have worked so well if I knew more details than the ones given in the blurb.
July 22, 2024
Had the best time reading this, it is the definition of a silly goofy time with some really touching moments. loved the plot and felt so intrigued from start to finish. You have a medling afterlife agent who gives the chance to go back to the living for 10 days, all she has to do is kiss the love of her life if she wants to stay alive. Seems easy enough right?
Laughed out loud many times and adored the characters within the story. However thought the story pacing did feel a little off which is where it kinda lost me.
Laughed out loud many times and adored the characters within the story. However thought the story pacing did feel a little off which is where it kinda lost me.
June 24, 2024
So stinking cute!!!
July 27, 2024
This started out as a sumptuous buttercream frosting read. It contained humor and a sly wink at a never ending list of tropes, books, and authors dedicated to romance. I was in heaven. My Kindle never left my hand… until I reached 88% and klunk!
It wasn’t so much the book as me. The tiresome 3rd act drama had worn my last straw down to a nub. On the one hand, I give Greenwood props for steering the story a few degrees away from due North. On the other, I lost the narrative. I actually read the last 12% two times.
Anyway, this is still a solid four stars.
Seinfeld Moment—Why do some authors describe emotions by overusing the word, soften? Eyes, mouths, faces, shoulders. Inevitably they’re also addicted to “faces falling.” Are the characters molded out of candle wax?
❤️ For better and delightful reviews, please seek out Shelley’s Book Nook and MarilynW’s.❤️
It wasn’t so much the book as me. The tiresome 3rd act drama had worn my last straw down to a nub. On the one hand, I give Greenwood props for steering the story a few degrees away from due North. On the other, I lost the narrative. I actually read the last 12% two times.
Anyway, this is still a solid four stars.
Seinfeld Moment—Why do some authors describe emotions by overusing the word, soften? Eyes, mouths, faces, shoulders. Inevitably they’re also addicted to “faces falling.” Are the characters molded out of candle wax?
❤️ For better and delightful reviews, please seek out Shelley’s Book Nook and MarilynW’s.❤️
July 5, 2024
Ashley Poston fans NEED to get into this! A magical realism novel that focuses on changing your perspective on life, found family, and grief. These are heavy topics, but they are woven into a hilarious, lighthearted story.
Delphie ends up getting a second chance at life and love due to her scheming 'afterlife therapist' after an unfortunate passing. She has been cynical and closed off to new experiences and people, but gets a harsh reality check that there is so much more to life.
The plot was so intriguing and fast-paced that I couldn’t put this book down. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen and the plot twists kept me on my toes. I thoroughly enjoyed the romantic elements and the love interest, even though the romance took a backseat to the plot and the overall moral of the story. I found this story extremely impactful as I read it at the right time in my life.
Thank you Berkley for the arc!
Delphie ends up getting a second chance at life and love due to her scheming 'afterlife therapist' after an unfortunate passing. She has been cynical and closed off to new experiences and people, but gets a harsh reality check that there is so much more to life.
The plot was so intriguing and fast-paced that I couldn’t put this book down. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen and the plot twists kept me on my toes. I thoroughly enjoyed the romantic elements and the love interest, even though the romance took a backseat to the plot and the overall moral of the story. I found this story extremely impactful as I read it at the right time in my life.
Thank you Berkley for the arc!
May 26, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was a guilty pleasure read that had me smiling throughout.
Book tagline: A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on earth before ten days are up…
Delphie is perhaps the first fictional character I have encountered in the romcom genre who is as funny as Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones. Like so funny that I snorted with laughter and my stomach hurt from laughing. I could easily see this being turned into a movie or a limited series. This book was as much about finding your "community' as an adult as it was a romance. I don't say this about too many books in this genre but I adored all of the people who truly loved Delphie for who she was( Cooper, Amy and Malcolm, Mr. Yoon, Alexd, Frida).
I have a feeling that this could be one of the hits of the summer. I hope to see it among the Goodreads nominations in the fall.
Expected Publication 02/07/24
Goodreads Review 26/05/24
This was a guilty pleasure read that had me smiling throughout.
Book tagline: A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on earth before ten days are up…
Delphie is perhaps the first fictional character I have encountered in the romcom genre who is as funny as Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones. Like so funny that I snorted with laughter and my stomach hurt from laughing. I could easily see this being turned into a movie or a limited series. This book was as much about finding your "community' as an adult as it was a romance. I don't say this about too many books in this genre but I adored all of the people who truly loved Delphie for who she was( Cooper, Amy and Malcolm, Mr. Yoon, Alexd, Frida).
I have a feeling that this could be one of the hits of the summer. I hope to see it among the Goodreads nominations in the fall.
Expected Publication 02/07/24
Goodreads Review 26/05/24
July 3, 2024
There are certain topics that I tend to shy away from such as death and dying, ghosts and witches. but when I end up reading them, they are so much different than what I thought it was going to be like.
This story is fun and quirky with so many great parts to it that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I was actually sad when it ended.
The author created this plot in the story with a twist you don’t even think about happening. We get shades of loneliness, wanting, and joy while balancing it with delightful scenes and rom-com vibes.
The characters have a rich sense of humor with an unbelievable plot. The ending was so awesome with intertwining connections you don’t even see happening. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wanted more. A fun and surprisingly delightful story. You never know what to expect and that’s what makes this so different and unexpected.
If you’re looking for an uplifting, humorous, situational story, this one is for you. This is the first time I’ve read this author and I’m looking forward to more from her.
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-love-of-...
This story is fun and quirky with so many great parts to it that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I was actually sad when it ended.
The author created this plot in the story with a twist you don’t even think about happening. We get shades of loneliness, wanting, and joy while balancing it with delightful scenes and rom-com vibes.
The characters have a rich sense of humor with an unbelievable plot. The ending was so awesome with intertwining connections you don’t even see happening. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wanted more. A fun and surprisingly delightful story. You never know what to expect and that’s what makes this so different and unexpected.
If you’re looking for an uplifting, humorous, situational story, this one is for you. This is the first time I’ve read this author and I’m looking forward to more from her.
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-love-of-...
July 8, 2024
Highly entertaining read that was well executed!
July 29, 2024
why can't u seeeee u belong with me
July 5, 2024
3.5 stars
June 26, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
DNF 41%
This may be a it's not you, it's me situation. I was really excited for this book because it had such an interesting premise, but I guess I wasn't jiving with the execution.
The storyline itself is not what I expected it to be. It's very clearing pointing in a different direction the whole time, which makes the primary part of the storyline actually seem a little annoying. And the secondary storyline, for me, isn't being developed enough either, so I really wasn't connecting with much.
And the characters were 50/50. There were a couple banter moments and one liners that really made me laugh, but for the most part everyone in this book just seemed EXTRA and unrealistic.
Haven't DNF'ed in awhile so I figured I was due for one soon 😟
DNF 41%
This may be a it's not you, it's me situation. I was really excited for this book because it had such an interesting premise, but I guess I wasn't jiving with the execution.
The storyline itself is not what I expected it to be. It's very clearing pointing in a different direction the whole time, which makes the primary part of the storyline actually seem a little annoying. And the secondary storyline, for me, isn't being developed enough either, so I really wasn't connecting with much.
And the characters were 50/50. There were a couple banter moments and one liners that really made me laugh, but for the most part everyone in this book just seemed EXTRA and unrealistic.
Haven't DNF'ed in awhile so I figured I was due for one soon 😟
July 23, 2024
so many books in the world and i am cursed to only read the bad ones
unfortunately, it made me feel emotions at the end which is why i can’t give it one star (even though i really wanted to)
unfortunately, it made me feel emotions at the end which is why i can’t give it one star (even though i really wanted to)
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