thank you to NetGalley for an E-arc in exchange for a review.
This was so cute. Exactly the kind of strange romance I love. I loved that Lark worked in animation. It was so fun to read about. Callum had a little bit of a stutter that reminded me so much of my partner, he has my heart immediately. I also think this book tackles grief in a way that was both poignant but not too heavy. This book would be great to read anytime of year but I think it’s the perfect fall book.

Morbidly Yours had me hooked from the get go. How could it not with accidentally misdelivered body bags? XD Ivy has created something purely wonderful here. The perfect amount of humor to balance the grief and growth for both Callum and Lark: both of whom I would happily die for to protect their smooshy friends to lovers romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC!

Thank you #penguin and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Sweet, shy Callum wants to inherit his family’s undertaking business but there’s a catch. He needs to marry before he turns 35.
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Lark escapes to Ireland from Texas after losing her husband. She finds herself becoming friends with Callum and wanting to help him. They soon find themselves drawn to each other and opening their hearts unexpectedly. This was a sweet story.

The slow-burn romance was done well, with just enough tension and tenderness to keep me invested. Callum and Lark are wonderfully likable characters, navigating their challenges with care and empathy for one another. Callum’s sweet, shy nature and Lark’s sunny optimism create a beautiful dynamic that tugs at the heartstrings.The pacing is perfect, with just the right amount of pining, open-door spice, and a bit of miscommunication to keep you hooked. Even the third-act breakup feels organic, paving the way for a super sweet happily-ever-after that will leave you smiling.

Irish MMC and soft-spoken and gentle FMC? I mean, can these two leads tug at my heartstrings any more??? Enjoyed this romance. It contains a LOT of my favorite tropes:
> Grumpy/Sunshine
> Opposites attract
> He Falls First
> Slow burn
And I am always a sucker for the MMC falling first. <3 Plus, the spice!!!

This was surprisingly emotional and really pulled me in right away. I loved both of these characters and seeing them grow together and work through their past hardships. I enjoyed the dialogue, plot and setting. I really am excited for Ivy's upcoming book. To be honest, I wish this review was better but I forgot I had not reviewed this and I am writing it 2 months later.

Ivy Fairbanks’ Morbidly Yours is a sweet, heartwarming, quaint romance that beautifully includes humor, emotions, and the unexpected. The novel is set Galway, Ireland, and it follows American animator, Lark who is dealing with grief, new beginnings and life. She crosses paths with hot mortician, Callum who is fighting to keep his family’s mortuary. In short, he needs to get married. Of course this involves the American as she offers to help find him a wife. And as you can imagine spending time together pushes the two closer together.

This novel is a beautiful blend of sweet romance, grief, growth and love. It is set primarily in a mortuary, hence the title and is a bit different than most romance novels but is a wonderful story. This novel is for fans of quirky, sweet, heartfelt romances with a touch of the unconventional, Morbidly Yours is a must-read!

Narration: First person past tense, dual POV
Representation: Set in Ireland, Irish/Gaeilge language, main character with a stutter, demisexual main character

What happens when the epitome of the sunshine of the grumpy/sunshine fame moves next to a funeral home? What happens when the kinda grumpy (mostly introverted) owner of the funeral home melts down his defenses in the face of such insistent sunshine?

Lark is grappling with the loss of her husband and is not ready for a relationship. She feels a bit unmoored at the beginning of the book and throughout, Callum, new friends, and her job help her settle in and grow roots. The exploration of her grief was done very well.

I liked Callum the most in this book. He’s very good at pushing people away and usually seems pretty serious, but with Lark he’s himself, he’s vulnerable, he’s adventurous, he can be silly. I love a book partner that let’s love into their heart easily. He’s so genuinely sweet, it’s hard not to love him as the reader.

The two were very sweet together. I loved their interactions, how they’re there for one another, how even when they weren’t dating, it was clear to everyone else that they were or would be. This is a bit of a slow burn, even after they both realize they’re interested in one another, mostly because of Lark’s misgivings about being in a relationship. You see them be infatuated then slowly fall in love, you see that love slowly erode their hard edges and you see them grow until they’re ready to let one another in.

I liked a lot of the side characters as well, especially the old lady Maeve. I love how she and Lark bond over their losses and how she helps Lark in profound ways.

The villain of the story feels a bit extreme. This whole plotline felt unnecessary as is, and could have been much better if it was handled with more nuance. Neither Lark nor her coworker friends stand up for her as she’s being bullied until something very clear-cut happens and that didn’t feel right.

I also loved reading about Irish language and mythology!

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was so cute. Callum and Lark are total opposites who complement each other in the best ways, and I loved reading their story so much. And why is a man speaking to you in another language hot? Callum literally has everything going for him to be hottest and cutest book boyfriends I've read about this year. I also loved how grief was portrayed here and how important it is for us to forgive ourselves in order to be able to heal from the loss of a loved one and give ourselves a chance to continue living. It was an amazing read.

🖤 Dual POV
🖤 Opposites Attract
🖤 Grumpy x Sunshine
🖤 Strangers to Friends with Benefits to Lovers
🖤 Grief/Healing
🖤 Found Family

A friends-to-lovers story set in Ireland with a shy and slightly awkward, dirty-talking male main character is the perfect recipe for a romance book. I adored Callum and his Irish accent. Lark and Callum are gentle and respectful with each other. I loved the way their feelings developed. The slow burn had a big payoff in the second half of the book. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Ivy Fairbanks’ Morbidly Yours is a delightful, heartwarming romance that beautifully balances humor, emotion, and a touch of the unexpected. Set in the charming city of Galway, Ireland, the story follows an American animator navigating grief and new beginnings as she crosses paths with an attractive mortician fighting to keep his family’s mortuary. Basically, he needs to get married and our FMC decides she is going to help him find a gal, except they both start to feel the heat and feelings between them!

Fairbanks handles themes of loss and healing with a deft touch, weaving humor and tenderness into a book that doesn’t shy away from the heavy topic of grief. The inclusion of speech impediment representation adds another layer of depth and care to the story.

While not a spooky tale, the mortuary setting adds an intriguing “x factor” that makes Morbidly Yours a perfect pick for fall reading. The ambiance is definitely more cozy than creepy.

This novel is an exceptional blend of sweet romance and an uncommon setting, making it stand out in the genre. I’m already anxious to see what’s next in the series—Fairbanks has created something truly special here. For fans of quirky, heartfelt romances with a touch of the unconventional, Morbidly Yours is a must-read.

Ivy Fairbanks' Morbidly Yours is a delightful and unique romantic comedy that blends dark humor with heartfelt emotion. The story follows a young woman who works at a funeral home and a charmingly morbid man who owns a vintage bookstore. As they navigate the complexities of love and loss, they discover a connection that transcends their unusual interests.

Fairbanks' writing style is witty and engaging, filled with clever dialogue and humorous observations about life and death. The characters are quirky and endearing, and their chemistry is undeniable. While the plot may not be groundbreaking, the novel's refreshing take on love and loss makes it a standout.

If you're looking for a lighthearted and unconventional romance, Morbidly Yours is a fun and entertaining read.

I really enjoyed the different romantic representation in this book! The couple was adorable, and I loved how their relationship developed,

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the laughter, heart, and thoughts it brought out! I am planning to recommend this to friends interested in a fun story filled with emotion and heart.

Thank you so much to Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the eARC of this book! These are my honest thoughts.

OKAY WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?

This Ivy Fairbanks debut has been on my radar since it was indie published, but sadly sat on the backburner of my tbr for too long.

This book was so full of heart and had characters that I absolutely adored. It was funny and lighthearted, but with some seriously heavier tones, reminiscent of real life problems that we all face every day.

Callum WINS as a dreamy book boyfriend. He's demisexual, but he falls HARD for Lark from nearly the moment she bulldozes her way into his life. Lark is this vibrant character who is caring around so much grief related to her marriage and the passing of her husband. It takes this quiet man who consistently shows up for her in order for her to have a break through.

I loved all the of the parts of this book, but here are some of my favorites:
- Lark being so passionate about her job in illustration and production
- Callum loving his family's legacy so much he's willing to go on uncomfortable dates in order to keep it, and in doing so, for the first time in his life, falling for someone for real
- The side characters, from Lark's coworkers to Callum's business associates, elderly friends, friends you meet at the pub, family, etc.
- The tension... Callum's aware of his feelings first, and that pining is... gah. so good.
- The contrast. Lark is sunshine and brightness and Callum is monochrome gray, but together, they balance.

Overall, a really cute read that gets a 4.5-star rating from me.

Adding that the audio was FUN and that both narrators were amazing... Lark's character maintains that Texas-southern accent and charm, and Callum is AN IRISH HUNK? yes pls!

I am over the moon for this cover! I had no idea what to expect going into Morbidly Yours and was delighted by this grumpy sunshine romance. I love the marriage of convenience trope so much, especially when an author does such a good job making it believable in a modern setting. This was a bit on the steamy side for me, but overall I enjoyed it a lot!

ARC Review ~ Morbidly Yours~

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I adored the idea of this book since I first saw it being promoted on TikTok and it didn’t disappoint. It is such a cute strangers to friends to lovers story. The book really explores the growth in both characters as their friendship grows. I loved watching the MFC handle and come to terms with her grief and how it was affecting her relationships and her own view of herself and it was fun to watch the MMC open up to someone his complete opposite and gain more confidence in himself. The conclusion to the story was so well done and left me absolutely satisfied!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC!

This book is written so well, and has you feeling what the characters are feeling. Heartbreak, new feelings, hope and it shows you that there is a second chance at love. Absolutely loved this one! Can’t wait to read more.

This was a surprise favorite! Reading the summary made me question how good this book could really be. But holy cow, did it end up being the sweetest! It was the perfect friends to lovers plot. For once, both characters were equally likeable. I think it was because Fairbanks made them both more mid-30s, so they are more mature and have had some life experience. I totally related to Lark in the sense that she was confident and sure of herself in some ways, but insecure in areas with her job and relationships. Callum was to die for (pun intended)! It just ended up being such an unexpected plot full of friendship and communication and self growth. The cover makes it look like it will be cheesy. Fairbanks was able to give it a sense of realness and I very much look forward to her future books!

Fate has a fascinating way of weaving lives together. For Callum and Lark, destiny has crafted a unique plan for them to discover love amid the chaos. Morbibly Yours is an enchanting friends-to-lovers journey set against the breathtaking backdrop of Ireland. Callum and Lark are complete opposites, and at times, their romance feels strained, perhaps by a mere lack of communication born from stubbornness. Their characters strive for depth, yet when given the opportunity to grow, they often find it stifled by the competing tug of romance.