I love love loved this book! I really liked the aspect of a MMC not being the typical masculine that we are used to but an individual that truly struggles with every day life that gets “rescued” by our MFC even though they are truly saving each other in their love!

I have also spend a good amount of time in Galway and felt the author described and depicted the area well as I could picture the location in my mind!

5 star!

Heat Factor: It starts off slow but the heat is just right

Character Chemistry: He’s a shy, demi-sexual cinnamon roll mortician whose world is rocked by a rainbow technicolor, boot-wearing, Texan graphic artist

Plot: Lark moves to Galway to escape the deeply traumatic ripple effects from the death of her husband and ends up trying to help Callum (her neighbor and sudden best friend) save his mortuary from being sold. They’re so well-matched it’s painful.

Overall: I’m actually going to remember this book because it had so much character and originality and it was so well thought out.

I guess it’s pumpkin spice season, so let’s just lean into the morbid with this adorable Irish romance!

Lark is ready to call it on anything death related when she learns that the cute inn next to her is not actually an inn, but a mortuary. The owner of the mortuary is handsome but fits the part—he wears all dark colors and wears little round glasses and is just generally an Addams family dreamboat.

Because Lark is human sunshine, she quickly ends up roping Callum into living his life more fully—it turns out he’s demi-sexual and has some anxiety/sensory sensitivities, plus he has a mild stutter—so he’s kind of isolated himself in his own pleasant little world. Through her warmth and happy nature, Callum ends up trying new things and putting himself out there more. Which is good, because Callum’s problem is that his grandfather died, leaving the mortuary to Callum…if and only if Callum marries by the time he’s 35. Otherwise, it’s going to his father who is chomping at the bit to sell it and make a load of cash.

Lark’s hang up is that her husband died in a traumatic car accident right after a really difficult argument, and then her late-husband’s sister publicly blamed her for his death at the funeral. Lark isn’t sure she’s the kind of steady, reliable person who should be entering into things like marriages and long-term committed relationships and parenthood. Callum is a true cinnamon roll, constantly building Lark up and caring for her in gentle ways, and slowly Lark begins to open up again after believing the worst about herself.

I kind of want Erin to read this one because it has all the ingredients of one of her biggest pet peeves—writing off love forever because of one really bad experience—but the way the author executes it is very well done. It slowly becomes very clear why Lark and Callum’s situation is going to hit their dark moment; after all, if Callum needs to get married to save his mortuary and Lark is terrified of commitment, their relationship already has a lot of hurdles that will require deep introspection and healthy communication to pull it off. Callum needs to marry but he literally can’t have a relationship unless there’s a deep emotional connection, so dating is incredibly hard. Plus, Lark is on a visa with a rapidly approaching end, and she’s dealing with job issues…so by the time the dark moment comes, there are little tidbits of proof that Lark and Callum are not being ridiculous and that they really are in a very challenging position, but the way they bring out the best in each other and their absolutely mind-blowing chemistry makes it impossible to want any other outcome but happily-ever-after. It doesn’t hurt that this has strong small-town romance vibes—so you know there’s a dynamic cast of secondary characters just waiting in the wings for the next book.

I’m honestly thrilled this is a series and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC. for the eARC.

Loved this novel, but I knew I would just from the synopsis. I loved the main characters, all of it. So good.

First, thank you for NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me access to this romance novel. Absolutely loved it. Can’t wait to buy the audiobook so that I can listen to that as well. Highly recommended!

The first part of this book was really strong. I was hooked on it. The characters were hilarious and I was in love. But as the book continued my love started to drain and I had a hard time wanting to continue to read the book. By the end I was ready for the book to end and the love story to be done also.

The cover is adorable and the premise of the book intrigued me. Overall a fun slightly morbid romance.

I have mixed feeling on this book. I feel like I need to do a reread in a month or two to really get my feeling straight.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher; the review is my own.*

3.5 stars

My feelings about this book are complicated. The characters and story drew me in right away and didn't easily let me put my Kindle down whenever it was time for me to do other things. However, I'm not entirely satisfied with how it ended, and certain content prevents me from recommending or purchasing it. Had those two issues not existed (or even just the latter), I could have easily given this book four to five stars. Unfortunately, I didn't do enough research prior to requesting the book to realize that much of the second half would require me to close doors that the author left wide open (or perhaps didn't even install).

Despite their very obviously contrasting natures, Lark (29) and Callum (34) were well matched, and I really liked them together as friends and more. They were like the two parts of a kite--he was the string, and she was the vibrantly colored sail. Their friendship was meaningful and impacted each of them in just the ways they needed. Strangely, though, Callum was the optimist. Although Lark was a bright, bubbly person, she used those aspects of her personality to mask and avoid dealign with her grief and guilt over losing her husband. Over time, I became irritated with her, not because of what she was suffering but because of her selfishness regarding Callum. I'm sorry (actually, I'm not) but "friends with benefits" is really the stupidest idea anyone has ever come up with, especially concerning someone like Callum who takes a long time to form personal connection and develop physical attraction. I do not judge or blame her for her grief, but her treatment of him was careless.

I'm pretty confident about which characters the next book will follow, and I am certain that some readers will be lining up to read it. Unfortunately, I can't continue the series now that I know what type of scenes to expect. It really is a shame, as Ivy Fairbanks is a talented writer. Her characters are well written, and she handled some difficult topics with both candor and sensitivity. I wouldn't call this book a rom-com, but it had a good balance between joviality and seriousness.


Note: Language, including f words (English and Irish). Several open-door sex scenes. A really awkward chess game.

This was a very interesting setup for the story as well as the setting. Callum works at a funeral home and although death can be a scary topic this was very humorous. He was very standoffish and the grumpyxsunshine trope is very present! I liked how Callum and Lark met.

The book definitely needed more work in the second half. It felt like a lot of what happened in the first half kept happening over again. It was hard to get through because of it. I still liked their romance but it did drag.

Overall, this was a fun book and I would try the second book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. Friends to lovers, so much tension, if you enjoy the endless build up of "does he like me like I like him" and the "does she like me like I like her", go for this book. A cute, fun read.

Top Pick - 4.5 Stars ⭐️

Ivy Fairbanks’s debut is an absolute treat, and it all starts with a box of body bags!

This book was both cathartic and a lovely romance, featuring an awkward introverted undertaker and an extroverted animater on the run. Callum and Lark are both intimately familiar with death, though in different ways. Where Lark is running from it, Callum embraces death, helping those who’ve passed with dignity for their remains. So, of course, the woman who is scared of cemeteries ends up moving in next door to a funeral home.

This book is equal parts a rom-com and an emotional ride. The characters are so real, and I really could envision Callum and Lark as if they were jumping off the page. I lived and breathed this book in a span of forty-eight hours, two days, because I had to work. This book was so easy to sink into, and I didn’t want to put it down. One of those stories I was eager to come back to when I did have to walk away. Fairbanks does an amazing job of setting and characterization, and honestly, it made me run through a gamut of emotions.

If you’re good with being on the verge of tears devolving into laughter and enjoy a dose of slow burn that devolves into a good sprinkling of spice, then Morbidly Yours is definitely the book for you. Another great part is conflict that exists outside of the romance conflict. It’s so clear and acute that it makes everything work. Bonus, up until the last minute I was guessing on how they would solve their individual problems. The author even went down the roads, I guessed and then flipped them on their head, which was a wonderful wow for me as a romance reader.

What keeps this from a five? There were times I found myself skipping through paragraphs where there was too much introspection and I wanted the next piece action, which slowed down the pacing for me. You know I’m picky when it comes to this stuff. But I will say Fairbanks is on my author-to-watch list, and I can’t wait for the next book she has planned.

Overall, if you love guys who are bilingual, tortured heroines/heroes, and the grump vs. sunshine trope, I suggest you snatch this one up. It’s perfect for hiding away from the last days of summer heat.

~ Landra

This was a beautiful book! I didn’t really know what to expect, whether it would be super spooky kind of like a paranormal romance or if it was just about two gravediggers. well, walk don’t run! It reminded me of a contemporary version of Meghan Bannen, complete with quirk and swoon and fun. I loved the Irish setting, the characters were so easy to fall in love with, and it has great representation.

This book took me by suprise. I haven't heard much about it before, so I went in kind of blind. I loved the setting in Ireland, i loved the MMC, i loved the story! All in all, a great read.

Morbidly yours follows Lark, a young widow who moves from Texas to Galway, Ireland for a fresh start after her husband’s death. Lark unknowingly moves next to a funeral home which triggers thoughts of her past. Callum, the inverted funeral director has a problem, if he doesn’t get married within six months, he loses his family business. Lark helps Callum set up dates, but slowly find herself wishing she could be with him instead.

I loved this friends-to-lovers story! Callum is a sweetheart & deserves the world!! I absolutely loved watching Callum & Lark’s relationship grow into more. Their banter is so good!

This story was very interesting and kept me hooked but parts of the 3rd act conflict felt a little unnecessary and drawn out. I am overall very happy on how the story ended and I can’t wait to read the continuation of this series!

I absolutely LOVED this fun, unique, swoon worthy romantic comedy. I giggled, I swooned, and I feel in love.

I highly recommend both the book as well as the audiobook (HELLO Irish narration!!)

✨ Review ✨ Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks

Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Lark fled to Galway two years after her husband's death to work as the lead animator on a film project. Her nextdoor neighbor, Callum, turns out to be a grumpy funeral director, who also needs to find a wife before his 35th birthday or he'll lose the funeral home he inherited from his grandpa.

The two become fast friends, bonding over music, pretty spots to visit, a mouse, roller skates, and more. Lark pledges to help him find a wife, signing him up for a demisexual dating site, but the two continue to feel attraction toward each other. Lark's not ready to commit to a relationship, but can she help him find a wife in time?

This one was fun to read but definitely felt like it slowed down in the second half. The first half had me cheering and booing and feeling amazement at the scenes the characters got in, but the second half felt a little drudging...more of the same again and again. I'd read the next book in the series - I still liked this, but definitely wasn't in love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: contemporary m/f romance, demi representation
Setting: Galway, Ireland
Pub Date: August 20, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ sunflowers and Irish music
⭕️ rollerskates and sparkly costumes
⭕️ grumpy sunshine
⭕️ macabre funeral director aesthetic

Mortician Callum is dead-fully shy (see what I did there? 🤣), but must marry by his next birthday to inherit the funeral home that has been in his family for generations. When Lark, an animator, moves in next door, she pushes him beyond his comfort zone, even though they both try to deny their inevitable connection.

For lack of a better word, this book is cute. I liked MMC Callum a lot - I really felt for him as he worked through a lifetime of bullying due to his stutter. I wish I could say the same for Lark though. An Irish setting is always fun, and I liked the funeral home tie-in. I wanted to see more of Lark/Cal’s relationship with Maeve though - this side plot felt like it wasn’t as impactful as it could have been?

Will it will any literary awards? Probably not. Was it predictable? Absolutely. Did I still enjoy reading it? You bet. A solid three stars. It would be a great fall read for when you want to curl up on the couch with a bowl of chili and knock out a whole book in a day.

Many thanks to Ivy Fairbanks, G.P.Putnam, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is so slept on!!! I need more people to talk about it the yearning and the tension is just too good. I really liked how the author handle grief in this story.

This was SO fun and refreshing. A widowed FMC? A sexy Irish undertaker who takes dirty in Irish? Sign me up.

We meet our MMC, Callum, who is dark, a bit broody, and an undertaker. His shell is quickly cracked by a cute blonde Texan that moves in next door, Lark. Lark is widowed and Callum is stuck in a dubious legal agreement where he has to get married to keep his family mortuary (thanks grandpa). We watch as the two go from friends to lovers, support one another through hard moments, and give us some of the best spicy scenes.I liked the representation of Callum’s stutter, Larks grief and how it’s navigated, and the sexual relationship between them. Plus he punches someone in the face for her - swoon.

While this didn’t get the full 5 stars for me, I found myself skimming at points, it was such a delightful read! I highly recommend this for romance lovers who want a different story than a typical friends to lovers!

*Thank you Penguin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

MY was a cute friends to lovers romance with a lot of heart and I enjoyed reading Callum and Lark’s story. And despite the sweet (and steamy) moments coursing through the pages, this is truly a story about navigating grief and what it means to live a full life. How we are transformed by grief and again by love. And I think the book shined when exploring that topic. That being said, I wish it had done that a bit more. I think there was an opportunity to explore how Lark hid from herself and her feelings through the early stages of her and Callum’s intimate relationship that didn’t go as deep as it could’ve. And I would’ve loved to see Lo and Lark talk about grief counseling/therapy and Cal’s reaction to the development rather than it be mentioned off-handedly. Also, the third act breakup felt a bit heavy handed at times, and could’ve been cut in half with an honest conversation or two, but I’m glad it was able to be resolved and everyone got their happy ending. I liked learning bits of Irish culture and slang; and I learned way more about the mortuary business than I thought I would. Lark was someone learning to live again and I would’ve like to see more of that openness towards life post-resolution. Also, I think callbacks to Maeve’s advice would’ve been nice later in the book. My favorite part about Cal’s character was learning more about the ace spectrum, and in general, really enjoyed being in his POV.

I was left wanting more from a few character dynamics (her misogynistic coworker deserved worse; and a conversation following the premiere about Rachel and her lingering grief when Lark and Callum returned home would’ve been nice since it was mentioned in Cal’s pov; and it would’ve been nice seeing her friendship with Anvi more rather than it being alluded to) but I laughed quite a bit while reading, so it was enjoyable for me. I’m definitely interested in what I assume will be a certain uni student and musician falling in love in book 2, so I look to what Fairbanks writes next.

Love love love Callum, did not necessarily enjoy Lark as much but I love her name.

I thought the banter in this book was hilarious and well done, as well as the steamier scenes were well done. I just found Lark's lack of anything positive about her self a tad annoying at times but I have also not lost a husband so I don't feel like I can speak to that.

One of my favorite scenes in this book was when Callum was teaching Lark his language, that melted my heart.