Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.

“Morbidly Yours” by Ivy Fairbanks is a refreshingly bold and captivating read that I couldn’t put down. The story centers around Addison, a protagonist with a fascination for death and the afterlife, and I was instantly drawn to her dark sense of humor and unique perspective on life. This book combines mystery, romance, and emotional depth, all while exploring themes of grief, acceptance, and the complexities of human connection.

I loved how Fairbanks’ writing blends sharp wit with emotional complexity. Addison’s dry humor and deadpan reactions to the morbid aspects of life make her a character I could relate to on a deeper level. Despite her often unconventional outlook, Addison is navigating a journey of self-discovery that I found both heartfelt and resonant. Her struggles with grief and her obsession with death are real, and I appreciated how her character grew throughout the novel.

What really stood out to me in *Morbidly Yours* is the way Fairbanks uses dark humor to explore heavier themes like mortality, trauma, and finding meaning in life. There’s a perfect balance of levity and depth, which makes the book both thought-provoking and entertaining. The tone is refreshing—sometimes funny, sometimes poignant—but always engaging. I found myself laughing one moment and then reflecting deeply the next, which is not something I often encounter in a single book.

The romance in the novel was also a pleasant surprise. While it’s not the central plot, the romantic subplot was beautifully woven into Addison’s story, giving her a chance to open her heart in ways she never expected. It added warmth to the book without overshadowing its more profound themes, which I really appreciated.

That being said, the book does have a few small drawbacks. At times, some parts of the plot felt a bit predictable, and I thought a couple of the character arcs could have been developed further. But honestly, these were minor issues for me, and the charm and heart of the story more than made up for them.

Overall, I found *Morbidly Yours* to be an engaging and thought-provoking read. Ivy Fairbanks has created a novel that feels both fresh and unique, blending humor, emotion, and a touch of the unconventional in a way that kept me hooked. If you enjoy quirky, character-driven stories with a deeper meaning, I highly recommend it.

This is a fabulous book that I enjoyed from beginning to end! It is a charming tale two individuals who could not be more different, yet could not be more perfect for each other. However, they have numerous reasons to refrain from acting on their mutual attraction. Mainly that Lark Thompson is just in Ireland for a job assignment and she still considers her home to be in Texas. She escaped her life in Texas after her husband unexpectedly dies and she needed a change of scenery. When she meets her next-door neighbor Callum Flannelly he is going through his own crisis and doesn't have time to invest in a new relationship.

The pairing of these two seems doomed from the start: Lark is typically outgoing and spontaneous while Callum is reserved, methodical, set in his ways and lives in a funeral home. These traits lead to hilarious, sometimes awkward, and moments that add a light, humorous touch to the narrative. As the story progresses these two are forced to reckon with their differences, learning to appreciate and understand each other's strengths. And, as they get to know each other they can't deny their mutual attraction and things get a bit spicy.

The development of this relationship is what makes this book enjoyable. It's not just about romantic attraction, but also about self-discovery. The contracting personalities bring out the best (and sometimes the worst) in each other, leading to significant personal growth for both characters. by the end of the book, they've not only fallen for each other but have also become better versions of themselves. But will they figure out a way to be together?

If you enjoy romance filled with witty banter, moments of tension and a heartwarming couple then this charming and engaging book is perfect for you. It was definitely perfect for me, and I am looking forward to the next installment of this fantastic new Love in Galway series by Ivy Fairbanks!

I am extremely grateful to Penguin Group - Putnam publishing for granting me the opportunity to read a digital copy of this sweet yet spicy book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions in this review are my own.

This book was exactly as advertised—a spicy, banter filled romance with a mortician! Not my typical fare, but I loved it—especially fun for the Halloween season.

A cute romance with a unique premises. I felt the relationship progressed quickly and we did not get enough time and work on them being friends and developing feelings. That said, I did enjoy the book and would recommend it as a fun rom com read.

This was cute but not particularly memorable for me unfortunately. But it's always nice to see a soft-spoken and truly kindhearted MMC - there are a lot of very "alpha" type of men in books nowadays (not that I don't love that too, but).

Morbidly Yours was published on August 20, 2024. Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons, Penguin - Putnam, NetGalley and the author for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

thank you to NetGalley for an E-arc in exchange for a review.
This was so cute. Exactly the kind of strange romance I love. I loved that Lark worked in animation. It was so fun to read about. Callum had a little bit of a stutter that reminded me so much of my partner, he has my heart immediately. I also think this book tackles grief in a way that was both poignant but not too heavy. This book would be great to read anytime of year but I think it’s the perfect fall book.

Morbidly Yours had me hooked from the get go. How could it not with accidentally misdelivered body bags? XD Ivy has created something purely wonderful here. The perfect amount of humor to balance the grief and growth for both Callum and Lark: both of whom I would happily die for to protect their smooshy friends to lovers romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC!

Thank you #penguin and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Sweet, shy Callum wants to inherit his family’s undertaking business but there’s a catch. He needs to marry before he turns 35.
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Lark escapes to Ireland from Texas after losing her husband. She finds herself becoming friends with Callum and wanting to help him. They soon find themselves drawn to each other and opening their hearts unexpectedly. This was a sweet story.

The slow-burn romance was done well, with just enough tension and tenderness to keep me invested. Callum and Lark are wonderfully likable characters, navigating their challenges with care and empathy for one another. Callum’s sweet, shy nature and Lark’s sunny optimism create a beautiful dynamic that tugs at the heartstrings.The pacing is perfect, with just the right amount of pining, open-door spice, and a bit of miscommunication to keep you hooked. Even the third-act breakup feels organic, paving the way for a super sweet happily-ever-after that will leave you smiling.

Irish MMC and soft-spoken and gentle FMC? I mean, can these two leads tug at my heartstrings any more??? Enjoyed this romance. It contains a LOT of my favorite tropes:
> Grumpy/Sunshine
> Opposites attract
> He Falls First
> Slow burn
And I am always a sucker for the MMC falling first. <3 Plus, the spice!!!

This was surprisingly emotional and really pulled me in right away. I loved both of these characters and seeing them grow together and work through their past hardships. I enjoyed the dialogue, plot and setting. I really am excited for Ivy's upcoming book. To be honest, I wish this review was better but I forgot I had not reviewed this and I am writing it 2 months later.

Ivy Fairbanks’ Morbidly Yours is a sweet, heartwarming, quaint romance that beautifully includes humor, emotions, and the unexpected. The novel is set Galway, Ireland, and it follows American animator, Lark who is dealing with grief, new beginnings and life. She crosses paths with hot mortician, Callum who is fighting to keep his family’s mortuary. In short, he needs to get married. Of course this involves the American as she offers to help find him a wife. And as you can imagine spending time together pushes the two closer together.

This novel is a beautiful blend of sweet romance, grief, growth and love. It is set primarily in a mortuary, hence the title and is a bit different than most romance novels but is a wonderful story. This novel is for fans of quirky, sweet, heartfelt romances with a touch of the unconventional, Morbidly Yours is a must-read!

Narration: First person past tense, dual POV
Representation: Set in Ireland, Irish/Gaeilge language, main character with a stutter, demisexual main character

What happens when the epitome of the sunshine of the grumpy/sunshine fame moves next to a funeral home? What happens when the kinda grumpy (mostly introverted) owner of the funeral home melts down his defenses in the face of such insistent sunshine?

Lark is grappling with the loss of her husband and is not ready for a relationship. She feels a bit unmoored at the beginning of the book and throughout, Callum, new friends, and her job help her settle in and grow roots. The exploration of her grief was done very well.

I liked Callum the most in this book. He’s very good at pushing people away and usually seems pretty serious, but with Lark he’s himself, he’s vulnerable, he’s adventurous, he can be silly. I love a book partner that let’s love into their heart easily. He’s so genuinely sweet, it’s hard not to love him as the reader.

The two were very sweet together. I loved their interactions, how they’re there for one another, how even when they weren’t dating, it was clear to everyone else that they were or would be. This is a bit of a slow burn, even after they both realize they’re interested in one another, mostly because of Lark’s misgivings about being in a relationship. You see them be infatuated then slowly fall in love, you see that love slowly erode their hard edges and you see them grow until they’re ready to let one another in.

I liked a lot of the side characters as well, especially the old lady Maeve. I love how she and Lark bond over their losses and how she helps Lark in profound ways.

The villain of the story feels a bit extreme. This whole plotline felt unnecessary as is, and could have been much better if it was handled with more nuance. Neither Lark nor her coworker friends stand up for her as she’s being bullied until something very clear-cut happens and that didn’t feel right.

I also loved reading about Irish language and mythology!

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was so cute. Callum and Lark are total opposites who complement each other in the best ways, and I loved reading their story so much. And why is a man speaking to you in another language hot? Callum literally has everything going for him to be hottest and cutest book boyfriends I've read about this year. I also loved how grief was portrayed here and how important it is for us to forgive ourselves in order to be able to heal from the loss of a loved one and give ourselves a chance to continue living. It was an amazing read.

🖤 Dual POV
🖤 Opposites Attract
🖤 Grumpy x Sunshine
🖤 Strangers to Friends with Benefits to Lovers
🖤 Grief/Healing
🖤 Found Family

A friends-to-lovers story set in Ireland with a shy and slightly awkward, dirty-talking male main character is the perfect recipe for a romance book. I adored Callum and his Irish accent. Lark and Callum are gentle and respectful with each other. I loved the way their feelings developed. The slow burn had a big payoff in the second half of the book. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Ivy Fairbanks’ Morbidly Yours is a delightful, heartwarming romance that beautifully balances humor, emotion, and a touch of the unexpected. Set in the charming city of Galway, Ireland, the story follows an American animator navigating grief and new beginnings as she crosses paths with an attractive mortician fighting to keep his family’s mortuary. Basically, he needs to get married and our FMC decides she is going to help him find a gal, except they both start to feel the heat and feelings between them!

Fairbanks handles themes of loss and healing with a deft touch, weaving humor and tenderness into a book that doesn’t shy away from the heavy topic of grief. The inclusion of speech impediment representation adds another layer of depth and care to the story.

While not a spooky tale, the mortuary setting adds an intriguing “x factor” that makes Morbidly Yours a perfect pick for fall reading. The ambiance is definitely more cozy than creepy.

This novel is an exceptional blend of sweet romance and an uncommon setting, making it stand out in the genre. I’m already anxious to see what’s next in the series—Fairbanks has created something truly special here. For fans of quirky, heartfelt romances with a touch of the unconventional, Morbidly Yours is a must-read.

Ivy Fairbanks' Morbidly Yours is a delightful and unique romantic comedy that blends dark humor with heartfelt emotion. The story follows a young woman who works at a funeral home and a charmingly morbid man who owns a vintage bookstore. As they navigate the complexities of love and loss, they discover a connection that transcends their unusual interests.

Fairbanks' writing style is witty and engaging, filled with clever dialogue and humorous observations about life and death. The characters are quirky and endearing, and their chemistry is undeniable. While the plot may not be groundbreaking, the novel's refreshing take on love and loss makes it a standout.

If you're looking for a lighthearted and unconventional romance, Morbidly Yours is a fun and entertaining read.

I really enjoyed the different romantic representation in this book! The couple was adorable, and I loved how their relationship developed,

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the laughter, heart, and thoughts it brought out! I am planning to recommend this to friends interested in a fun story filled with emotion and heart.