After a tragedy, Texas native Lark decides to start over in Ireland. She takes a job in Galway and rents a house next to a mortuary. Callum runs the mortuary and is dealing with his own major life problems.

I enjoyed the humor and characters in the book. The main relationship is built on lack of communication which is not a favorite of mine. A cute and enjoyable read.

Morbidly Yours featured some of my favorite tropes: grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, friends to lovers, etc. I also appreciated how grief, loss, healing, and forgiveness were addressed in the story. Please be sure to check CW’s.

The book started a bit slow for me, but I’m glad I stuck with it. I loved Callum from the start, but it did take me a bit to warm up to Lark. Her hot and cold behavior gave me lots of whiplash. I did love their opposites attract chemistry though and how they each truly saw the other for who they were. It’s a slow burn build up, but completely worth it. The steamy scenes were both sexy and heartfelt, and really showcased the connection between Lark and Callum. Unfortunately, the main conflict dragged on and on and made the book feel unnecessarily angsty and too long. It was still an entertaining read though and I really enjoyed getting an epilogue from each of their POV’s.

CW: social anxiety, panic attacks, stutter, bullying, death of spouse/loved one, grief, parental abandonment, workplace harassment/toxic work environment, terminal illness (secondary character), mentions and discussions on page about preparation of the deceased for funeral services

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

A recent widow and a mortician living next door and becoming friends and then maybe something more? What a great hook for a book! Overall, I really enjoyed this one - it moved quickly (though the pacing was too quick at times - I would have liked to linger in some of the important moments a bit longer) and the lead couple were super cute together! I'm super excited for the next book in the series!

Morbidly Yours is a cute romance novel with the HEA and spicy scenes you would expect but also romantic and heart jerking bits that I did not expect but made the core of its story and gave it heart and depth that you often do not find in romance novels.

Set in Galway, the city that Lark ran to while trying to escape her own grief and painful memories after the loss of her husband, and the city that Callum has called home his whole life. When Lark moves next door and receives a package of body bags meant for Callum she never expected that she had moved in next to a funeral home while trying to avoid all reminders of her husband's death. Yet she finds herself drawn to Callum and he is in need of some assistance with months to get his love life in line to keep the family business per his grandfathers will so she sets up to be his own personal matchmaker.

This novel is a great read if you are looking for something lighter that you will know will have a HEA while still dealing with themes of grief, spousal loss, and death. If those are touchy subjects for you I would stay away as this novel does deal with them very head on. The Writing through was excellent at balancing the mix of romance, spice, and grief processing in a way that had me a bundle of emotions by the end.

I would recommend this novel to you if:
- You love an Irish accent
- You want to read a HEA with some grief processing
- You like your spice fire-y and sometimes outside
- You are looking for a morbid romance novel
- In the mood for a good spooky season lightweight read

Overall, I deeply enjoyed this novel and the world the author built up around Lark and Callum, while this was a quicker read for myself, I enjoyed every moment and look forward to the next in the series.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.

Morbidly Yours portrays a touching and heartfelt narrative centered around Lark, a grieving mortician, and animator, as she navigates love and healing alongside her neighbor Callum. Following her husband's passing two years prior, Lark embraces the idea of a fresh start in Ireland. However, her plans to distance herself from death and sorrow are challenged when she befriends Callum, a mortician facing a familial ultimatum to marry in order to inherit the family mortuary.

This engaging and delightful tale explores common romance tropes such as the "falling first," friends with benefits, and the dynamic of a grumpy individual paired with a sunny counterpart. The relationship between Callum and Lark is portrayed as sweet, healthy, and perfectly matched. Callum emerges as a charming and endearing character, earning a place on the reviewer's list of beloved book boyfriends. The juxtaposition of his shy demeanor with moments of dirty talk adds depth and appeal to his character.

While the theme of grief plays a significant role in the narrative, it is skillfully woven into the storyline without becoming overwhelming. The exploration of grief is diverse and nuanced, adding richness to the characters' development. The reviewer's only qualm with the story lies in the handling of the third-act conflict, which is perceived as one-sided and unnecessary. This element detracted from an otherwise exceptional reading experience, leading to a less-than-perfect rating.

🖤🖤🖤🖤✨
4.5/5

𝓘𝓽’𝓼 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓟𝓼. 𝓘 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓶𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓾𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓿𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝐼’𝓂 𝓈𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒾𝓉. I originally requested this book because of its setting…Ireland. I’ve visited there & hope to go back in the future with the love of my life. It’s a beautiful country & Ivy Fairbanks captured it exquisitely.

Lark moves from Texas to Galway, Ireland for a new job and a new chapter in life. Funny thing is, for a girl that actively avoids being faced with death or anything that has to do with it….opening a package of body bags wasn’t on her new life bingo card. That lovely BnB next door? Oh, it’s actually a funeral home. Yes, Lark moved into an apartment right next door to a funeral home….and the handsome enigmatic Callum.

I was pretty sold on this whole story by the first chapter (if I’m being honest, the cover and title sold me to begin with). The storyline is so much more than your typical romance story.

Here’s what I ✨loved✨

👻 the obvious: that this combined my love of Ireland, romance, & morbid curiosity

💚 the Cliffs of Moher scene

♋️ Lark guessing Callum’s astrological sign

📺 the cartoon references!

🍿 kitchen sink popcorn (which inspired my photo!)

🐁 Houdini

💞 Mauve & Charlie’s story

🛼 This Lucky Charming Man & Dolly Pardon My French

🧪 this quote: “We obviously have physical chemistry. Well, like, ‘Oops, we accidentally blew up the school science lab’ chemistry.”

🏰 the castle scene… iykyk 🥵

🪦 Morbidly Yours is out now! And this is the perfect book for the in between of the end of summer and the cusp of fall! Definitely a must read for your fall reading list.

BLESS THIS BOOK IT WAS IMMACULATE. I read it during release week and it was so so good that I literally went to go find my bookstore nearby and went to get myself a copy. I did not know I needed a painfully shy love interest who talks dirty in Irish to win me over but this man earned my heart and a place atop my favorite book boyfriends

This book is so well written. For me, it is a slower read but that did not stop me from falling in love with Callum and Lark. I love how it does not rush through hard topics and approaches them with sensitivity as death is not easy to talk about at all. I loved how the author does an amazing job including a different language as I was still able to read the story without any confusion. Sometimes I have to stop reading when books include different languages as I get hung up on what the characters are saying. I would recommend this book to those that love a good slow-burn romance. Will definitely be rereading this in the future.

✨ Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Penguin for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨

✨ARC Review 4.9 Stars rounded up to a 5 star✨
Publishing Date: August 20,2024

“Love is a living thing. It grows like wild brambles, taking over everything. Love had taken me hostage.”

Brief Summary-
Callum Flannelly would another dive into a grave then go to dinner, but with his family's undertaking business on the line he is forced to go on these dates to get married before his 35th birthday. Lark Thompson left her life back in Texas behind and is in Galway, Ireland as the lead animator on a Grace O'Malley short film. Accidentally moving next to a funeral home was not on her list. Especially after only losing her husband almost two years prior. The two form an unlikely friendship. Can they help each other out or will their friendship end up in the grave

What To Expect
💀 30+ age MMC and FMC
⚰️He has a stutter which is treated with sensitivity and respect
💀The FMC is a widow
⚰️A nickname in a different language, but she doesn’t know the meaning
💀The MMC talks dirty in Irish
⚰️The MMC is described as “hot in a Damien Rice song way”
💀Neighbors
⚰️He falls first and harder
💀 Friends with benefits
⚰️Friends to lovers
💀Opposites attract
⚰️Found family


My Thoughts:
I was hooked within the first two chapters. This book was what I needed and didn't even know it. Lark is positively brilliant. After the loss of her husband and in a sense her best friend (His sister) and her job at a company she helped start up. Lark is ready for a change where no one knows her or knows anything about her late husband. So she packs up her life and moves to Ireland ( I mean same girl, I would do the same if my partner passed) It's here she meets Callum who is honestly giving slight Addams family vibes. By this I mean he dresses like he is from the 1930/40's he is very monotone but breaks out of his shell the more the book goes on.

I love his stutter, as someone who has a friend with a stutter I loved the representation of a stutter in a book and it was so well done. I love that as the book goes on we see his stutter lessen, I feel this isn't because it is improving but because Lark doesn't notice it anymore because it is a part of who he is.

I am already planning on rereading this book closer to Halloween. The only reason it wasn't a full five stars for me was because I wanted more. I wanted to see more of them together, however the tension between the two was raw and beautiful.

I highly recommend this read, if you want a fun, morbid yet funny with a good amount of spice this book is for you.

The cover made me think I was in for something lightly spooky, but this is really just a heartfelt, lovely romance. Lark moves to Galway to escape the sadness of her past and losing her husband, and her story is such a natural progression of grief and growth and not letting the past define you. She’s a friendly extrovert who pulls everyone into her orbit and that creates the best cast of supporting characters for a book. Everyone is distinct and fun and interesting, especially the elderly Maeve.

And Callum. Callum is sweet and shy and slow to warm up to people. All of the little details of him - his job, his loyalty, even his stutter - add up to a real, interesting, wonderful man that you can’t help but root for. I was such a fan of him, right from the jump, and I loved watching him change as Lark pulled him out of his shell just the right amount. They’re great together, whether it’s as friends or maybe something more, and this book was just really emotional and sweet for me

I’m rating this book 3.5/5 stars. I really liked the concept but I feel like it felt a bit flat. Parts of it dragged on and it got boring for a while but I enjoyed the ending. I enjoyed both main characters and Lark’s co-workers. The spice scenes were well written but the Irish pronunciation parts just weren’t for me. I also did not like the third-act break up. It felt very one sided.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam Sons for the gifted copy.

Callum would rather stick a fork in his eye than go on a date, but he’s got a deadline: marry before he turns 35, or lose his family’s funeral business.
Lark, is a lively American cartoonist who’s in Galway to escape her own grief.
They navigate disastrous dates and growing feelings, finding themselves fighting against their own blossoming attraction. It’s a perfect angsty slow burn that had me hooked!

his was such a fun and cozy read. Truly a friends to lovers book and almost a slow burn. It had me screaming “JUST KISS ALREADY” at the half way mark.

I'll start with the fact that I love the setting being in Ireland. Lark is an American that has come to get away from her husband's death. She moves in next door to Callum, who runs the family mortuary business. He needs a wife in 9 months or he will lose his grandfather's estate. Of course, Lark offers to help him find his person and then they end up having sparks. A good read with some spice.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Wow, I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. You cannot tell that this is a debut book by Ivy Fairbanks because she writes like a seasoned Romance writer. The grumpy hero of this book is Callum, an Undertaker who stutters, and prefers to be alone. The sunshine of this scenario is Lark, an animator who has moved to Galway to escape her grief over the death of her husband. They are neighbors who become friends who then become more than friends. Their chemistry is off the charts, but what really made me love this book is how sweet they are to each other. Fairbanks does an excellent job of building their friendship as Lark tries to help Callum save his family business, and Callum helps her to have fun and open up again after her devastating loss. I mean, the sex scenes are hot too. Let’s not forget that. I am going to happily read any book from Ivy Fairbanks in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lark is an animator who comes to Ireland from Texas following the tragic death of her husband and career difficulties. She is a bright light and accidentally meets her neighbor, Callum, who is an undertaker. He is caught in family drama where he must get married to save his family business by the time he turns 35 in a few months. Lark has no interest in relationships but she and Callum become friends and she offers to help him find "the one" for him to marry to fulfill his need for a wife. As they be come closer, things become more complicated and their feelings for each other grow into something neither of them expected. This is a spicy rom-com with cute banter between the characters. There is discussion of issues of death and grief, so keep that in mind. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series.

A sweet, funny, emotional and very open door debut novel. Callum Flannelly loves his family mortuary business in Galway, Ireland. To fully inherit it from his grandfather’s estate he must be married by his 35th birthday which is only nine months away. Lark Thompson is his new next door neighbor. She is American and came to Ireland to get away after her husband's death. She is a talented animator and cartoon creator with a one year business contract. The pair become friends and she offers to help Callum, who is a bit of an introvert, find a spouse. Callum is demi-sexual and I liked the representation. Lark isn’t looking for love but that doesn’t mean friends with benefits are off the table.

There is humor in awkward dates. Lark is still dealing with guilt, grief and loss. But the two are a fun pair. I enjoyed the novel and appreciated the glossary of Gaelic words, even the naughty ones. I thought the cover fit the story well. And appreciate that the villain faces consequences. I will look forward to the next Love in Galway novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the copy and I am leaving an honest review.

This was such a delightfully different rom com. I fell in love with both of these characters. Take a sweet Irish undertaker with a stutter and social anxiety and throw him together with a bubbly blonde Texan who adores Dolly Parton, and you get an unforgettably sweet story. However, as with anything that I read, there may be some things that people may find difficult in the book.

Trigger Warnings: Misogyny in the workplace, death, caring for dead in a funeral home, death of a spouse, grief, terminal illness, explicit sex scenes

If you can get past the content warnings, this story is sooooo good. I knew I would be hooked to when the "meet cute" happened at what Lark thought was a bed and breakfast (she couldn't read gaelic), but actually turned out to be a funeral home. She had mistakenly gotten a package meant for Callum that ended up being body bags. She could not for the life of her understand why a bed and breakfast would need those. Lol! Obviously they work through this miscommunication. The rest of the story is equally sweet, spicy, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. If this book had a flavor it would be Umami because it was so well rounded. It really touched on what it's like to be human and experience love and loss. The representation of grief, anxiety, speech impediment, and demisexuality really topped off such a well rounded cast of characters. I absolutely loved this. The setting was also perfect as I have actually been to Ireland myself, and it is one of my absolute favorite countries.

Thank you to the author for allowing me the privilege of being an ARC reader for this story.

5⭐️
3🔥

Quick Breakdown

Ireland Setting
Neighbors
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Demisexual Rep
MMC w/ a Stutter
Widowed Heroine
Grumpy x Sunshine
Matchmaking
It’s Just a Hookup
Slow Burn
Dual POV
Open Door – Moderate Detail
 
If you’re in the market for a book to give you the warm and tinglies, look no further!
 
In need of a change after the loss of her husband, Lark moves to Ireland temporarily on a work visa. While unpacking, she finds a box full of body bags meant for her neighbor & quickly realizes the house next door isn’t a cozy inn; it’s a funeral home. It’s there she meets Callum, the quiet & reserved mortician. The pair are equally fascinated by each other and their friendship forms. Callum is in quite a predicament, though. He needs to marry by his 35th birthday in order to fully inherit the family business from his grandfather.  On top of his introverted personality & demisexuality, finding a woman worth asking on a short timeline has proved difficult. As his new friend, Lark wants to help Callum find a wife, but can she help him find another woman as she slowly acknowledges her feelings for him?
 
Another book I can’t believe is a debut. I’d heard (rightfully) wonderful things about this book when it debuted as a indie pub romance, so when it was announced to be re-released as trad pub, I jumped on the opportunity to pick it up. It’s filled with both quirky humor and a soft & swoony romance surrounded by a genuinely unique plot.
 
I loved the overlaying themes of overcoming grief – Lark and her journey of self-forgiveness after the death of her husband and Callum with the loss of his grandfather and possible impending loss of the business he care for deeply. I also adored all the representations we got here, Callum especially. He was such a cinnamon roll. I enjoyed his demisexual rep and the fact that there are dating apps that cater to that. Watching him grow closer to Lark and the subsequent feelings and sexual tension that went along with it really worked for me. So many swoony moments stood out for me. Their trip to the Cliffs of Mohr, visiting the Christmas fair and how Callum couldn’t help but stand up to Lark’s horrible coworker.
 
I think this one would be perfect for fans on Chloe Liese. I highly recommend! All my thanks to @putnumbooks for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Morbidly Yours starts with a quirky premise involving an undertaker MMC and an American ex-pat FMC who mistakenly receives a funeral home's body bags, but it is so much more under the surface. There are themes of grief, forgiveness, and guilt but the love story is beautiful, and the banter and pining are delicious. I'm not at all surprised that this originally self-published book took off so enormously and am sure it will find many more fans in the traditional version. I, for one, can't wait to read the author's next book.