Thank you to Putnam for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC! This book is the penultimate definition of golden retriever girlfriend and black cat boyfriend, except imagine the golden retriever is a bubbly, blonde Texan and the black cat is an honest to god Irish undertaker. As you can imagine, I was sold before even starting.

Callum stole my heart almost immediately. Maybe it was the wistful way her looked at Lark, maybe it was the dedication to his craft and family's legacy. Maybe it was even the stutter, but reading him gave me the same emotional reaction as finding a lost puppy in a rainstorm that just needs a little care and attention. "Let me take care of you!!!" I wanted to scream.

My first impression of Lark leaned a little manic-pixie-dream-girl, but I am happy to report that she, too, won me over. She is less MPDG and more relentlessly upbeat in the face of her own trauma. I can admit that my hesitancy to connect to her probably stemmed by my own jealousy over bubbly, upbeat people. I know this is a good book because by the end of it I came to this conclusion about myself!

As much as I came to lover each character in their own right, together they are perfection. Lark is absolutely a shining light for Callum, however, I think that this book does a great job of not putting the pressure of one character's happiness on another. She is a beacon for him in some ways, but he is her rock in others. They encourage each other in healthy ways that don't become unhealthily dependent.

If you are looking for a contemporary romance with just the perfect smidgeon of dark humor, look no further. I look forward to reading more of Ivy Fairbanks in the future!

I truly loved this book, and it is definitely in my top summer reads! I loved the setting in Galway City, and I am excited that it’s a series!

Lark and Callum were so great together and I am so glad they found their way to one another. They really balanced each other out, and each had backstories that made my heart hurt for them!

While I was starting to get frustrated by their slow burn, it was scorching once they finally got together! I felt really satisfied by their story and would totally read more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance read!

I'm not super sure what I expected but I do love romances where the jobs are kind of odd. I really liked Callum as a character though maybe some more discussion about being ACE would have made some sense? Lark had obviously been through a lot and I liked the plot of her moving through her guilt. Loved the slow burn, friends with benefits tropes too.

It all started with a box full of body bags...

...and ended with a cute Irish love story involving finding love after grief and demisexual representation. AND included a Gaelic phrase that I have tattooed on my ribs (you'll have to read this to guess!). This is a fantastic debut!

spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Morbidly Yours* by Ivy Fairbanks is a delightful re-release that I’m glad I didn’t pass up. This spicy yet sweet romance is not only fun to read but also refreshingly unique. The male main character's stutter is a standout aspect, bringing attention to a real-life challenge that is often overlooked in books and movies. Fairbanks strikes a perfect balance between romance and representation, making this novel a must-read for fans of heartfelt love stories with a twist.

Lark Thompson moved to Ireland for a 9 month stay. Lark is an energetic and outgoing person.
Callum Flannelly worked in a funeral home and is very shy. When Lark opens a package that was meant for the funeral home next door, she is a little struck to find body bags. Lark and Callum meet with many awkward interactions.

Lark learns that Callum got the funeral home on the stipulation that he would be married by 35. So Lark and Callum go on the hunt to find him a wife.

Morbidly Yours is a good light and fluffy read. Great tension and characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let’s start with the fact that this is Ivy Fairbanks’ DEBUT!? To be able to balance light and dark at this level is such a gift! I cannot wait to see what she does next!

The characters here are as complex as they are lovable. Lark feels like a best friend you know has been through something awful and you just want to help her but you don’t know how. Callum..kind, introverted is the definition of “it’s always the quiet ones.” This book even made me care about a pet mouse, y’all.

And the romance!? Watching the tension ratchet up week by week was an utter joy to read. To see these charming people be loved for exactly who they are, where they are in their life. Not to mention the spice..I can guarantee I’ll be thinking about the Gaelic lessons scene for the rest of my life.

I’m obsessed! I’ll be yapping for weeks about this one!

I DNF'd at 20%. I can already tell this one isn't for me.

Lark is a widow and Callum runs a funeral parlor in Galway. She's a manic pixie dream girl and he's socially awkward to the point of pain. She's moved to Ireland for a job and at this point the author has already so obviously set up the misogynistic bad guy at Lark's job that I'm already secondhand embarrassed for whatever confrontation is going to happen.

The premise is so, so cute, and I think there could have been a point in time that I'd sit through the whole thing, but right now I can tell this is too awkward for me to want to finish it.

Abby Jimenez said it right when she commented on this book- it is most definitely sweet spicy and fabulous! Such a cute rom-com with just the amount of added spice to it. A perfect book to read during spooky season if you’re looking for a sweet and spicy romance book!

MORBIDLY YOURS is a cozy romance set in galway, ireland, about a shy mortician and the larger-than-life animator escaping her past who moves in next door. it has its lighthearted moments while also dealing with heavier subjects like grief and workplace harassment. callum and lark are complete opposites, but their differences don't stop them from becoming friends and forming a connection. so when callum shares with lark that he needs to marry by 35 in order to keep his family undertaking business, she offers to help him find the one. but when more-than-friendly feelings start to surface between them, callum and lark struggle to ignore their mutual attraction to keep their focus on their objective.

this was such a great romance and i really loved how callum and lark's relationship developed from platonic to romantic. i also am very much a fan of the "just to get it out of our systems" micro trope and it was particularly good in this book. overall, i had a great time and i can't wait to see what fairbanks does next!

read if you like:
- demisexual rep
- opposites attract
- he falls first

thanks to netgalley and putnam for the advanced copy! MORBIDLY YOURS comes out august 20.

I loved this book. I really appreciated how the author handled the topic of grief. These characters felt comforting to read about-almost like friends. What a debut!!

Morbidly Yours is a cozy little romance read with a magnificent slow burn. At times I found myself screaming both at Callum and Lark wanting them to just put their big boy pants on and tell each other how they felt (which is exactly how I love my slow burns). This book covers the discussion of grief and isolation in a beautiful way and it never felt too heavy of a topic once. Overall, this book was a wonderful read and I would definitely recommend others to read this debut novel.

Rating 3.5/5

Thank you to Ivy Fairbanks, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and NetGalley for an ARC of Morbidly Yours! All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Ivy Fairbanks, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and NetGalley for an ARC of Morbidly Yours! All opinions are my own.

Morbidly Yours is a romance that has its sweet and lighthearted moments while also dealing with big issues - including death, grief, and isolation. I love when romance crosses the light-hearted, fluffy steps (don’t get me wrong, I love those too!) and delves into big feelings and life changes that everyone goes through at some point. It’s so lovely seeing a couple that feels real and authentic go through real and authentic challenges!

This book also had a lot of really great rep, including sexuality and neurodivergence. A fun and thoughtful read with enjoyable spice!

POV: dual third person

You can expect: mortician MMC, animator FMC, opposites attract, grumpy (him)/sunshine (her), forced proximity, friends to lovers, he falls first, shy MMC, “just once”/“let’s get it out of our systems”, widow FMC.

Rep: demisexual main, lesbian side, nonbinary side, grief, stuttering, social anxiety

Spice: 2/5

CW: discussions of embalming/caring for a body for funeral services, death of a spouse (past), fatal car accident (past), death of a friend to illness, death of a grandparent/parental figure, workplace harassment

MORBIDLY YOURS by Ivy Fairbanks was practically lab created for my interests. A romance novel with a socially uncomfortable demisexual undertaker? Yes please!

Irish funeral home director Callum needs a wife for classic inheritance-related reasons, but (trope subvertingly!) he wants to find a wife for real, NOT just convenience. And as drawn as he is to his new American neighbor, Lark, she has vowed to Never Love Again. As they go from strangers to friends to lovers, they both have to learn how to support each other and step outside their comfort zones.

It was really a delight. The development of their relationship, the setting, the Duolingo lesson of spicy terms (Do-her-lingo??), a villain who gets his comeuppance...it was a lot of fun, and a perfect read for cranking up the a/c, donning a cardigan, and pretending you're in Ireland. (Sorry, I'm just really over the Arizona summer 😭)

5/5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for giving me access to the eARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I. Loved. This. Where to begin? First off, one of our main characters is a tall demisexual man who happens to be an undertaker. I fell in love with Callum from the very beginning. His dry humor and wit had me, and what kept me going was his heart. He had me in tears with some of the things he said to Lark. I also felt they represented demisexuality well, though I am not demisexual myself so take that with a grain of salt.

I could relate so much to Lark it was eerie. While I don't have her life experiences, I understood her mind and why she thought and did the things she did. I like that the author shows you the flaws of the characters as well, because it's unrealistic for them all to be perfect.

The author also did a fantastic job explaining grief in its complexities, and how grief of a loved one passing isn't the only grief that can be felt. This book helped me learn my own lessons in grief and understanding my own grief better.

Overall, I genuinely recommend this book to romantic dramedy lovers.

Morbidly Yours is a fun, escapist romance featuring likable characters, dashes of Irish culture and language, with a slow-burn plot blended with a touch of spice, and a gentle exploration of demisexuality, grief, and self-growth. It's the perfect read for a rainy Sunday afternoon as we transition into fall weather—or for those last late-summer vacations, enjoying the final days on the deck or by the pool!

Thank you to Putnam for the review copy. This debut novel is an impressive slow-burn romance that has everything I love in a light, fun escape: strong chemistry, a gradual buildup (not insta-love or lust, which isn't my thing), engaging characters with interesting and developed backstories (though I wouldn’t mind a bit more character development for Callum), and charming small-town vibes with fun secondary characters.

One element I didn’t fully love was the "he has to get married by this age" theme. It’s hard for me to imagine someone making that a requirement in a will with such a short timeline, but I was willing to go with it for the sake of a fun escape. If this theme isn't your favorite either, don’t worry—it’s not a dominant presence in the book. Instead, it serves as a springboard for the more developed story and romance, bringing the two characters together as friends and allowing for deeper exploration of relationships, dating, and sexual identity.

I also appreciated the development of Lark’s backstory, her grief, and her professional identity. I’m drawn to romance novels that give characters depth, revealing various aspects of their identity and relationships. Fairbanks does this nicely, particularly in exploring the creative arts space where Lark works and the conflicts she faces there.

Finally, I loved the Irish setting and the use of language and cultural background. Having studied Irish in college, it was a delight to revisit that. I especially appreciated the early explanation that the language is Irish, not Gaelic, as well as the inclusion of a dictionary and a link to a more extensive one online. This added depth to the setting and culture, a feature not often seen in romance novels.

『Writing:』5/5
『Spice:』4.5/5
『Tension:』4/5
『Sad:』4/5
『Funny:』4/5
『Overall:』5/5

'*•.¸♡ read this if you like ♡¸.•*'<br>
❥ slow burn, “GET TOGETHER ALREADY” moments
❥ mortician introvert vs animator extrovert
❥ dirty Irish phrases

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : I’m Gonna Be - The Proclaimers

｡･ﾟﾟ･Quick Plot･ﾟﾟ･｡
Lark is ready to get out of dodge after Reese passes away. In the heat of the moment, her SIL blames her for Reese’s death and Lark effectively loses everything, including the job she’s passionate about. After accepting a job in Ireland at an up and coming animation studio, moving in next door to the oddest bed and breakfast she’s ever seen, and meeting the proprietor- will Lark let herself love again? Or will she keep the promise she made to Reese when she was at her lowest?

*+:｡.｡　Characters　｡.｡:+*
Lark- passionate. Outgoing. Very extroverted, but hates confrontation.
Callum - quiet. Stutters. Introverted. Demisexual.

❣ Quotes❣
• “I’m the human equivalent of loose glitter.” She pretended to sprinkle some around me, like a possessive pixie.
• I gathered myself instantly. “Food critic says?” She spit out some wool fibers. “Bitter. Dry. Needs a splash of hot sauce.”
•“I just remembered: the French term for orgasm is la petite mort. How appropriate.” “That’s actually what I named my ****. The Little Death,” I joked between kisses.

'*•.¸♡ things I liked ♡¸.•*'
I loved the personalities of the MCs so much! I honestly saw huge parts of myself in both of them. It was relatable and quirky. The emotions! Oh god the emotions. I had to close out of the book and sob for a bit during one part. The characters and settings felt so real. Ivy did an amazing job.

→ things I didn't like ←
Does the fact I read the last page and now it’s over count?


︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶Summary︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶
I would absolutely recommend Morbidly Yours to people! It was easy to follow along, the plot was paced perfectly, and I loved the story in and of itself.

Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to have the book in exchange for my honest opinions.

What a wonderful, cozy read, with dark (at times) humor and joy. A slow burn with a dirty talking Irishman, Morbidly Yours was exactly what I needed in my life. It was a relatively low-stakes romance and yet I was tied to Callum, Lark, and their journey to reconcile a perceived sense of self with how they were viewed by others. Can two things be true at once? Of course it can! This book puts grief front and center as part of life - which it is, much to my chagrin - but never gets too heavy. I was apprehensive at first, as the book is full of favorite tropes, that it would be too cliche, but Fairbanks walks the line PERFECTLY. Tropes become tropes for a reason, yes, and I was happy to see that Lark and Callum were never caricatures. It was such a sweet book that left me feeling warm and happy. Allegedly it's the first in a series? Can't wait for the rest!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A peppy but recently widowed animator and an introverted undertaker find love when she moves in next door to the family business in Galway, Ireland. She adds colour to his solitary life. He helps her work through her grief and the guilt connected with it. In turns sweet, sentimental, and steamy, Fairbanks builds a layered relationship between her leads over the course of eight months as the duo explores area landmarks, as he half-heartedly tries to find a wife to meet the terms of his grandfather’s will, and as she works on an animated film with a particularly challenging work dynamic. The setting is brought to life in lovely ways, and the thoughtful details Fairbanks sprinkles through the story add meaning to some of the simplest moments, from a bowl of popcorn to an inherited moped to an escaped mouse. It's easy to see why this one has been such a big hit with readers, full of passionate feelings and powerful physical attraction between the lovers, told with humour and heart.

Slow burn
Demi rep
Grumpy/sunshine
Dual POV
MMC has a stutter
Slow burn

Rating: 3.5/5 - this probably isn't a book that I would reread but I will definitely recommend it
🌶️: 3/5 - there were a handful of explicit intimate scenes
🎃: 0/5 - he's a mortician but this is not a spooky season book

TLDR: Delightful rom com with immaculate grumpy/sunshine vibes that has fun but still addresses some heavy themes

This is a really delightful book. I would put it in the rom com category but it definitely had some intense themes of grief and isolation. Was I once again convinced that a story featuring a mortuary wouldn't make me cry? Yes. Was I proven wrong yet again? Also yes. There are some moments of fairly detailed descriptions of the embalming process. It confirmed that I want to be cremated. I wouldn't let it deter you from the book because they really are few and far between. I loved the way the relationship built over time. The time jumps between adorable moments really helped cement that this wasn't an insta-love or even insta-lust story. They were friends first and I just love that. Really solid grumpy/sunshine vibes. My one complaint is not being on the same page about wanting kids. Even fictional relationships can't get past that one... You would never know this was written by a debut author. Really solid writing. Ultimately I would recommend this book to any rom com reader who is comfortable with medium spice.