characters were hard to get into with the writing style
too much going on in sub plots, took away from the romance and made everything move too slow

I was immediately drawn to this book because I thought the cover was adorable and then after reading the blurb I just knew I had to give this one a try. Overall my first impression was pretty accurate, this was an adorable, fun read and while it did also touch on some tougher topics (death of a spouse), it was done in a respectably way and didn’t get too heavy. Callum is literally the sweetest guy. I loved unlikely the connection between him and Lark. If you are okay with some morbid humor, the banter between them will have you laughing out loud. At least it did for me. Haha. The only reason I rated this four stars instead of five was because of the circumstances surrounding the third-act “break-up”. I was just not a fun of that entire scene and honestly thought it was unnecessary.

- Grumpy X Sunshine
- Friends to Lovers
- Set In Ireland
- Widowed Animator from Texas
- Shy Mortician who lives next door
- Love After Loss
- Demisexual Rep
- Slow Burn

4 stars
——————

I love a sweet romance and one with death elements? Sign me up!

Following Callum and Lark was certainly a fun experience. Their stark differences sure made them interesting. I enjoyed their dynamic immensely and found their relationship evolution realistic. I just wish they had been developed a bit more. I liked the depiction of their emotions, but them as people needed more for me personally. Our background characters added a fun element, making a really well rounded character base. I just found I enjoyed the background characters better than our leading couple.

I loved the overall plot of the book. The depiction of grief was incredibly raw and I found myself feeling for Lark. Her emotions are handled well, her feelings surrounding her moving on in a new place. Callum’s own subtle grief was well written. I was engaged in the plot throughout and it was paced really well. The conclusion and epilogue was sweet.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this one. I’m glad I took a chance on this book because I found myself really enjoying it.

Thank you @putnambooks for the #gifted digital copy of the traditional publication version of Morbidly Yours - one of my favorite indie reads of 2023. If you’ve read this before, there are some fun updates and additions that make a re-read very worthwhile. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this one yet, you are in for such a treat!

A romance about an Irish mortician and a Texas cartoon animator? Yep, it 100% works!

Lark has left her painful past in Texas and come to Ireland for the next few months. She has no furniture, friends, or desire to have another serious relationship - and will immerse herself in work. That is until a shipment of body bags is accidentally delivered to her apartment, leading her to discover that she lives next door to a funeral home, not a bed and breakfast. Callum has been working in the family business - undertaking - his whole life. But when his grandfather dies, a clause in the will states that Callum will only inherit if he marries by the time he turns 35 (less than a year away). The problem is Callum doesn’t date, and the prospect of finding a wife is unlikely. Lark and Callum form an unlikely friendship as she helps him find dates - even as it becomes more difficult to deny their mutual attraction.

Everything about this book works. It is sweet, spicy, quirky, heart-wrenching, and funny. From Callum teaching Lark Irish dirty talk to her breaking him out of his shell to never being able to look at a black necktie quite the same way again, this story has so much heart. This version has some new chapters, an additional spicy scene, and a handful of places where the same scene now plays out through a different POV. It was interesting to see how Ivy tweaked the book while keeping the story's tender joy intact - including Dolly Parton references, roller skates, scooters, chess matches, a pet mouse, a trip to the ER, and lots of popcorn.

The characters are cute, and they like each other, which is also cute, and the sex scenes weren't bad at all! But it's one of those romances where miscommunication is key (or, in this case, just complete aversion to communication, setting up huge self-imposed roadblocks to communication, just installing a permanent lead case over ever communicating effectively, to make the book longer I guess). And both characters, but particularly Lark, are viciously and alarmingly self-hating. One of those books where everything would get fixed pretty quick if you could ask either character to accurately describe their current situation to a therapist, please, any therapist.

I really loved Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks. This offbeat rom-com is funny, touching and hopeful. The setting of Galway is charming. I loved the lessons about how to talk about romance in the Irish language. Impressive debut by Ivy Fairbanks with her witty and compassionate style. So glad to see that this is part of a series. Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the eARC.

This book is really sweet and though there are heavier topics and the characters are dealing with grief, it's handled in a sensitive way that doesn't feel overly heavy. I loved Callum and Lark's chemistry and the characters are wonderfully fleshed out. That said I did think it dragged a bit in the later parts. Overall would definitely recommend!

This was such a sweet and spicy read that beautifully tackles grief, and love after loss.

Lark and Callum were well developed characters who complimented each other perfectly. the relationship developed naturally and at a realistic pace… and they were so so so easy to root for.

Fairbanks did a fantastic job of writing this story as a dual POV. Both perspectives were strong, and I never found myself wishing to hurry through a chapter.

If you read the description of the book, and Callum’s job as an undertaker gives you pause… let me reassure you that the scenes involving his career are handled with dignity and respect.

There is also demisexual rep (MMC) in here, and he has a stutter. AND the author also highlights the important of therapy towards the end which I really appreciated.

My one complaint was that I wish the villain was a little less obvious. While most of the characters in here were well rounded, the antagonist came off a bit stereotypical.

I’ve heard this is the first in a series… after reading this book, I think I know who book 2 may focus on and I am EXCITED.

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: kitchen sink popcorn

“I held a bowl aloft. Ribbons of caramel and chocolate oozed down a mountain of fluffy popcorn kernels topped with coconut flakes. ‘This is popcorn?’ ‘Somewhere under there. It's what my cousin Cielo used to make when I was sad. We called it the kitchen-sink mix. Comfort food isn't supposed to be healthy.’”

Triggers: death of a spouse, car accident, brief mentions of possible suicide, terminal illness, sexual content, ableism, abandonment, brief mentions of child death, bullying, detailed descriptions of caring for the dead in a funeral home

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions are my own.

My review is posted on my Instagram @bedtimesandbooks

3.5 Spicy Galway Stars

This unique character pairing is a first for me—an undertaker and an animator. Lark is an American trying to make a fresh start in Ireland with a new job. Callum is running the family business with a huge stipulation coming up: he needs to get married or lose the business.

The pair meet as Lark has moved into an apartment next door to the mortuary (a fact she didn’t know before arriving). Lark’s bubbly personality has no problem taking the lead in Callum’s more introverted life. Callum is especially nervous around women and has a stutter.

As the two developed a friendship (and maybe something more), it became clear that they were developing feelings. Lark was having some struggles at work (which drove me crazy!), and she didn’t want to get involved romantically.

They decide to experiment with their feelings, and this is where the book gets really spicy! Fair warning to readers. There are also themes of grief and workplace negativity.

Bonus ½ star for the Irish setting and the banter between the characters that I found humorous. This is the first of a series.

A fun, cozy read that is perfect for the chilly fall months. Not quite a slow burn but also not an unrealistic escalation of romance. There are moments where I really just wanted to smack both the characters in the head and the entire third act annoyed me to no end, which is what caused my drop my rating down to a 3.5 (rounded down). I think there is room for some storyline pacing work by the author.

Morbidly Yours is a wonderful debut from Ivy Fairbanks and I can't wait to see how they continue to develop as an author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

This was just adorable from start to finish. Like any good rom com, there was so much more going on than just the romance (which was FABULOUS) and I loved Lark and Callum SO MUCH. Getting both of their POVs was such a treat. I really enjoyed seeing Lark learn to stand up for herself at work and Callum learn to have fun and not take himself too seriously. The spicy scenes were very well done, in my opinion. Honestly from the second these two met, I was internally screaming “JUST KISS ALREADY!” However, I loved that they developed a strong friendship first. Also, the fact that this is a debut really surprised me because it was just so good. I will absolutely read anything this author writes next. Maybe a Cielo book next?!
CW: death of a grandparent, bullying, death of a spouse, sexual harassment, death

Thank you to NetGalley and Lassen Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Super cute and spicy read! This book is perfect for fall, I absolutely loved this read and the cover is also perfect!!

I was a little bored at the beginning of this. I also didn't like the weird dead body references, especially during the sex scenes. But about halfway through I started enjoying it more and wound up liking it by the end.

I admit I was a little nervous about this one. I just lost both my parents and the author’s note gave me pause. But I’m glad I didn’t let it stop me. I fell in love with Callum immediately! His dry sense of humor had me giggling the whole book. Lark took some warming up to, but I got there eventually. This book took me on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. But the spice oh the spice! I will definitely be recommending this book.

*I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.*

When Lark Thompson moves to Galway for a new job in animation and to escape her guilt and grief, the last place she expected to live next to was a funeral home. Callum Flannely, the charming undertaker next door, has just months to get married in order to keep his family business.

When body bags are accidentally delivered to Lark’s new apartment, she meets Callum, and she embarks on an adventure in becoming his friend and helping him find love. This is the perfect grumpy sunshine & friends to lovers story, and I absolutely loved it!

I picked this one up originally because it sounded too weird to be good. But boy was I surprised. It was so unique and quirky that I couldn’t put it down. Lark is running from her home in Texas to start over after the loss of her husband. When she falls for the handsome mortician next door, everything falls into place. Callum and Lark are the definition of opposites attract but so perfect. I died laughing page after page and the way Lark learns Gaeilge 🤤 IYKYK. Ireland has always been on my must visit list and I think after reading this, it jumped up a few spots.

4.5 ⭐️

Opposites attract: bubbly, outgoing Texas girl moves to Ireland and meets ultra reserved, pessimistic Irish boy. I enjoyed their character premise, their banter, and their on page journey together and as individuals. I equally valued both main characters in this one. I think would make for a perfect spooky season read for romance readers that like to flirt with spooky but diving all in isn’t for them (he’s a mortician and death is a prominent theme - real life situations).

Thank you NetGalley, Ivy Fairbanks, and Putnam Books for this eARC.

Callum has been one of my favorite leading men to read in a long time. I love the balance of the relationship, how even when confident he didn't lose what made him endearing.

I think Lark being from Texas was a bit of a random move -- I think it could have been any generic US city and it would have worked, functionally, the same. If that was intended to be a bigger difference between the two characters, it didn't really reflect in the writing.

Overall, though, I truly loved the vibes and found myself not wanting to put it down.

Lark Thompson moved to Galway, Ireland for her new job. She wants to start over after the loss of her husband. Callum Flannelly has to try and save his grandfathers funeral home after his grandfather passed away. When Lark moves in next door and hears of Callum’s situation, she does what she can to help. What neither of them expected, was to fall for each other. I was drawn to this book by the summary, not everyday you read about a mortician romance. However, it was so good!!! Lark became the light in Callum’s dark life. It truly was a good example of opposites attract. I truly enjoyed the epilogue as well, some closure was needed for sure. I also saw some foreshadowing for another couple and I cannot wait for that!! Overall, I really liked this book. It was so unique with it’s story and so real when it comes to life after loss. Ivy, you did a wonderous job!

If you are anything like me and were ruined by Elliot Bloom in Forget Me Not, then I have very good news for you: Callum Flannery from Morbidly Yours delivers Elliot Bloom vibes. And he’s Irish. And a mortician.

I have your attention now, right?

So in addition to a grumpy yet soft leading man, Morbidly Yours serves up a very realistic romance between Lark, an animator from Texas who moves to Galway to helm the art direction of a short film after the death of her husband, and Callum, the brooding mortician across the street who might lose the family business if he doesn’t get married soon.

But this actually isn’t a marriage of convenience story. Instead, it’s a slow-burning, character-driven story about how two very opposite people can find each other, even when the timing is all wrong and everything is extremely complicated.

Though I was a little on the rocks about this book for about the first 25% (Lark was a little *too* sunshine-y for me, at first), once everything clicked into place for me, I knew I’d love this.

Morbidly Yours is tender and darkly funny and shockingly realistic (also: Ivy Fairbanks brings *a lot* of knowledge about both mortuary science and animation to the page, and the details about each character’s work are really impressive) and so hot omg, and ultimately, I really, really enjoyed this one.

It’s a perfect addition to your autumn TBR – because who doesn’t want a tall, broad, black Henley-wearing, piano playing mortician for a book boyfriend?