I can not get over how much I enjoyed this book!!! An Irish mortician falls for the Texan next door. Its the romance I didn't know I needed!! I fell for our MMC Callum immediately. Sometime about the shy man with the stutter just made my heart all gooey. I wanted him to get his HEA so badly. This was the slow burn of slow burns but not in an overly frustrating way. More in a damn I hope these two kids get it together and realize they are perfect for each other. I loved how easily they seemed to fit and the opposites attract was a big theme in this but it never felt forced. I give this book all the stars!

You'll love this if you enjoy:
📽Friends to Lovers
🖤Slow Burn
📽He falls first
🖤Marriage of convenience
📽Themes of overcoming grief
📽Grumpy/Sunshine

Oh my gosh, this story was just... *chef's kiss*.
Why do I love the grumpy/sunshine trope so. much? Okay... admittedly, Callum wasn't a complete grump. He was just kind of taciturn and shy.

Lark was just a complete Texas Treat!! Even after experiencing heartache she had this amazing, sweet personality.

By the end, I had just COMPLETELY fallen in love with these two crazy kids and they discovered just how perfect for each other they were--despite it seeming otherwise. And despite their differences.

There was definitely some steam--which was wonderfully done. And the butterflies were real with this one! These two made me swoon!

DNF @ 10%
I’ve only heard good things about this book and the reviews are high, so when I saw it was being picked up to be traditionally published and was on NetGalley, I jumped on the opportunity. Unfortunately it immediately wasn’t for me. The first chapter was terrible, but the next chapter I started seeing the warning signs. As much as I read, it seemed the writing style was depending a lot more on telling us character’s personality traits. Like you showed us the one character stutters, I’m smart enough to realize it wasn’t a one time thing without you telling me and for me to infer he probably had childhood trauma thanks to it. Meanwhile the FMC was a mix of manic pixie dream girl & cutesy camp millennial. It’s kind of annoying. And I’m saying this as a millennial. I knew then it was time for me to tap it.
I absolutely know this will be beloved by people (obviously if you see the reviews) and there’s a ton of people who like quirky FMCs, I’m just not one of those people. So I would recommend this book, but I probably would tell people about the characters before hand cause I think this character style is a hit or miss with people.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

3.75

This was such an unexpected cozy read. It was so cute and romantic. This is about an animator from Texas who moves to Ireland for a job to help get away from her grief. She moves into an apartment next to what she thinks is a cute bed and breakfast, but is actually a funeral parlor. She then strikes up an unexpected friendship with the quiet/quirky but very attractive mortician.

This was a friends to lovers slow burn romance. They developed such a sweet friendship that budded into a wonderful romance. It was really sweet to see Lark and Callum help each other through their grief. Callum really came out of his shell with Lark, and became such a protective and caring friend. Lark was also very patient with Callum’s quirky personality and insecurities. They both were so good for each other, and really brought out the best in each other. Also, the morbid humor was pretty funny.

Overall, this was a beautiful story about two unlikely people leaning on each other and helping each other get through the grief of losing their loved ones and falling in love in the process.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked it. I thought it was pretty good, even though it felt like the beginning of the story was a little too slow for my liking. I felt like the author did a good job with her interpretation of their trades into the story. The HEA ending was really well executed.

Morbidly Yours is friends to lovers done well. I enjoyed the characters, the different reps are handled with respect. The story is sweet with out being sappy, a high level of spice and still comforting. Enjoyable read.

I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Thank you to Putnam Books for the ARC of this book! I really enjoyed it over all and thought it was a really sweet, albeit quirky, romance. I will admit that some of the details about the main character involving death and being a literal undertaker had me hesitant, but I'm so glad I read this one! I enjoyed the setting in Ireland and both the Female and Male main characters. I would recommend this one and thought that it tied the complicated topic of grief into a romance really well. It's nice to read a romance that's a little different than your typical, too! I'll be looking for more from Ivy Fairbanks in the future!

This book was chef’s kiss! Give me a male main character that talks dirty in the bedroom in Irish and I’m in! The friendship aspect of Callum and Lark was so sweet. Callum was so patient and understanding in handling Lark and her past. Their banter and jokes were sublime. This was definitely a slow burn and I wasn’t sure how I initially felt but looking back I am glad that it was. The slowness allowed for Lark to truly trust Callum and for their friendship to really bloom and serve as a great foundation for their relationship. Great book, great story and great location.

Such a fun, spicy read! I was pleasantly surprised by the story and my desire to know what happens. Absolutely became one of my favorite romance reads so far this year. I found myself sad it ended!

Morbidly Yours is cozy, fun romance read about Callum and Lark.

Callum is an undertaker of his family’s funeral home must be wed by the time he turns 35 to inherit the business or it goes to his father who is ready to sell it to the highest bidder.

Lark left the US for a fresh start after a personal loss/ending of her marriage. She swore she’d never be in a relationship again…. And then meets Callum.

The way the story weaves the Irish/Gaelic language and culture while taking you on this friends to lovers romance journey just made it that much more fun.

100% worth the read and recommendation to other romance/book lovers!

Publish date 8/12/24

Morbidly Yours was a tough one for me. Im currently on a romance kick and was looking forward to this. The description makes it sound like it's going to be so much fun! The book fell flat for my tastes.

Morbidly Yours rotates between Callum and Lark. The description states Callum has to find a wife. Well Lark is going to help Callum find a wife. BUT about a quarter of the way in the book just becomes rotating chapters of how much the other one wanted the other one.

It just didnt flow the way I expected. Did I expect them to be together in the end? Most definitely! Did I expect the lust for each other at 25% when shes supposed to be helping him find a wife and the book barely got started? No

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A bit too wholesome and sweet with a gimmicky setup. I wanted something a bit more memorable and quirky. This was breezy and easy, just sadly not a favorite with anything interesting to say.

DNF. I had a hard time buying into their chemistry. I never felt particularly connected to either of the main characters. It wasn't a bad book, and I would feel comfortable recommending it if a customer asked for something specific (i.e. they wanted a romance specifically set in Ireland, or specifically with a mortician), but it doesn't stand out to me enough to recommend otherwise.

3.5

Lark is a cheerful animator who just relocated from Texas to Galway for a job. She is just settling in to her new apartment when she receives a package of body bags addressed to the house next door. Worried she might be living next to a serial killer, she discovers what she thought was a B&B is actually a mortuary. She then befriends the quiet mortician, Callum, struggling alone with his family's business.

The majority of this book felt like a solid 3.75-4 stars. I enjoyed the banter and slow burn friendship between Lark and Callum, as well as the culture hurdles Lark faced. However, there were some pacing and side plot issues that kept this from being rated that high. The book held my attention solidly for the first 75 percent, but it started to slide toward the resolution. And occasionally the mortuary details were a bit TMI, but the author did warn us about that.

Thank you, Net Galley, for this advanced manuscript copy to review.

Callum Flannelly, the presumptive heir to a generation’s old funeral parlor in Galway, is in a jam. His Granda's will explicitly states that in order to inherit, he must marry before his thirty-fifth birthday. And Cal is regrettably thirty-four and four months old. Lark Thompson, a young widow and professional animator, absolutely bolts from her life (and grief) in Austin, Texas, after receiving a job opportunity in Ireland. She believes she has rented a quaint, sparsely furnished apartment next to a bed and breakfast until, whilst unpacking her belongings, she opens a box of brand new body bags meant for the "bed and breakfast" next door. Lark quickly finds out that her neighbor is actually the local family-operated undertaker. Lark and Callum become fast friends, and after relaying his dilemma, Lark offers to be Cal's matchmaker which will totally absolutely work with zero complications.

If you didn't think a cozy romance could involve embalming, you were gravely mistaken. Heh. As a seasoned griever, this book felt absolutely perfect. I cannot believe it's a debut novel! Morbidly Yours is a little bit rom com, a little bit sexy slow burn, a lot a bit tender, and an overall lovely exploration of how grief and death impact all of us. It's really just feckin' beautiful. Callum and Lark complimented each other so well that you couldn't help but root for them right out of the gate.

If I could give this one more than 5 stars, I would!

TWs: grief, death, descriptions of embalming process

3 ⭐️ It's good! It just wasn't quite for me


I wanted to die. Conveniently, I now lived next door to a funeral parlor.


WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ ireland setting
✨ she's a widowed animator looking for a fresh start
✨ he's a reclusive mortician in need of a wife
✨ somber x sunshine
✨ neighbors / forced proximity
✨ "I'll help you date"
✨ slow burn
✨ opposites attract
✨ he falls first
✨ tension and longing
✨ friends with benefits
✨ asexual rep
✨ size difference
✨ 2.5/5 🌶️
✨ family drama
✨ found family
✨ 3rd act breakup
✨ HEA
✨ dual POV
✨ TW: death of loved one (spouse and grandpa/guardian)


My Thoughts:

First off, I want to say that my 3-star rating 100% has to do with my own personal taste and less to do with the quality of this book.

Objectively, this is a well-written story! There are good pros, the plot is solid, and the romance has many swoon-worthy moments. Lark is a ball of sunshine and Callum is a sweetheart cinnamon roll that should be protected at all costs. 🫶 I truly adore Cal. He's so shy and stoic at first, but once Lark brings him out of his shell, we start to see the sweet, thoughtful, charming man beyond the mortician. Their grief and loneliness draws them together, but they're able to find comfort and joy together, and see each other for who they truly are. Their beautiful friendship is easily my favorite part of the story.

With that being said, here's what I didn't enjoy.

While I think Lark is so sweet and I love the joy she brings into Callum's life, I did not connect with her at all. I know everyone handles grief differently but she was so avoidant that it started to irritate me halfway through the book, especially when it was at Cal’s expense. Lark would have greatly benefitted from grief therapy right after the death of her husband. And even though it took two years and almost another heartbreak, at least she finally gets there (you find out she's in counseling during the epilogue). I am sure that there are some people who wouldn't be bothered by Lark's avoidance, and there's probably many who find her relatable, but she wasn't to me, so I didn't enjoy her journey. If I had, I could easily see this book being 4-5 stars.

Since the second half of the book deals more with Lark's avoidance, I found it tedious to read. So, I skimmed a lot of non-dialogue.

One of the best cozy romances I have read in a long time! I think fans of the film The Holiday, would love this premise and novel! Normally I am not one for cozy romances, but the plot and premise drew me in. Fairbanks is excellent at building the tension and setting the foundations for genuine friends to lovers romance. It felt real and natural and the characters were written so well! I honestly would love a trilogy focused on these two. I also love the setting and the backgrounds of both characters. This is also my first romance with a MC being Irish and I absolutely loved it. There are so many sweet and emotionally satisfying moments throughout this novel.
Add it to your list!

***Publishing August 20, 2024****

Imagine moving from Texas to Galway, Ireland and being welcomed by a package of body bags mistakenly delivered to your door instead of your neighbors, which turns out to be a funeral parlor. This is exactly what happened to Lark!

Callum runs his family’s funeral parlor, but the catch is he has to be married in 6 months, or he loses it. His Granda left the business to him with the stipulation that he wants Callum married in order to carry on the family legacy! Can Callum marry in time?

After the awkward first encounter between Callum and Lark with the body bags, they keep running into each other. Callum’s only viable option is Lark. Will he be able to convince her to marry him, or will the awkwardness pursue without a future?

A page turner that was filled with friendships, drama, love and death, which made it hard to put down once you started reading, as you wanted to find out their fates! I loved how the story alternated between the grumpy undertaker, Callum and the happy-go- lucky American animator, Lark. It made for an entertaining story with laugh-out-loud moments! A great book to take on vacation! Also, a great book club pick that leads to many interesting discussions!

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam (G.P. Putnam's Sons), I was provided an ARC of Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Had not been for an invitation from the Publisher, I probably would’ve have scrolled right by this ROM COM with the cartoon cover-it didn’t appeal to me-but now I understand it and it fits! But DON’T let it fool you-this is one SPICY 🌶️ book which leaves NOTHING to the imagination.

Callum Flannelly is an Undertaker who can only inherit the family business under one condition: He must marry before his 35th birthday. And, he only has 5 months left to find a wife. He finds dating awkward-and the APPs aren’t working for him.

Lark Thompson is a vivacious American cartoon creator and animator from Texas who came to Galway, Ireland for a fresh start away from the memories of losing her husband. Turns out her accommodations are right beside a funeral home. Not great for anyone, let alone a Widow.

When Lark learns of her neighbors dilemma, she agrees to help him. Because she has sworn off of finding love for herself, they are able to become friends-taking all of the pressure off. But, as their friendship grows-so does their mutual attraction.

Will she really be able to watch him connect with someone else? And, will he really let her return to the United Staes?

While I enjoyed some aspects of the story, such as the friendships and “found family” other aspects were a BIG MISS for me.

The bedroom door is WIDE OPEN, and if you are a reader like me, who prefers to SKIM past these scenes, you will be skimming through MOST of the entire second half of the book. There is even an Irish/Gaeilge Pronunciation and Translation guide included in the back which will teach you the translations of all of the spicier/cruder terms used for sexual acts and our more intimate body parts. Not for me.

This will be a more satisfying read for those who prefer the door open, and for those who enjoy the humor in the book. It’s the first in the Love in Galway series, but it’s not a series that is a fit for me.

TW: Death of loved ones and brief depictions of caring for those departed in a funeral home.

AVAILABLE August 20, 2024

Thank You to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. These are my candid thoughts!

This was a solid 3.5 and what a cute debut!
I do love a slow burn and Morbidly Yours delivered. I loved that Callum was shy and sweet and I think the handling of grief was very well done. I also loved the banter between Callum and Lark.