Casket Case was such a quirky, heartfelt surprise. I loved Nora’s dry humor and the weirdly perfect romance with Garrett—yes, even with his job working for Death. It balanced grief, love, and small-town chaos in a way that felt fresh and oddly comforting. Totally unlike anything I’ve read, and I mean that in the best way.

Thank you Dell and NetGalley for the gifted copy of this book, so sorry it took me so long to get it in front of my eyeballs! This was a cute story, I love the cover and the paranormal aspects for this time of the year. I did have a harder time getting through it, as it felt like the pacing was off. I had a hard time connecting with the characters.

I really enjoyed this unique story! The premise of a woman whose life is surrounded by death falling for a man who literally works for death was such a clever and creative idea. The book did a great job exploring the many layers of grief in an authentic and heartfelt way.

I especially liked Nora and Garrett’s sweet, supportive relationship—it brought a lot of warmth to the darker themes. That said, I did find Nora to be extremely frustrating at times. While I understand what the author was trying to do with her character, her personality often felt dragged out and repetitive, which pulled me out of the story a little.

Overall, this was an emotional, creative read with an original take on love, grief, and connection.

Rom-com paranormal fantasy set in Alabama. Not what I expected. It just didn’t work for me.

Quote: "Caskets have a hinge on the side. Coffins are the old wooden things where vampires sleep. The ones you see at Halloween."

So fun, cute, and the perfect fall read! I loved the characters and their story so much! This was the best mood read as we get ready for the fall and Halloween!

Not my cup of tea, unfortunately but I did finish though so will watch for more from this author & try again. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC

This was a enjoyable and mostly solid debut all around. I was engaged enough to finish it in one day so that is a big check-mark in its column since I can't remember the last time I did that. However, Nora's blindness and misguided indignation to her and Garrett being in the same business albeit on the opposite side of the loss did grate very quickly. It was difficult to believe that someone who grew up in a family that sold caskets didn't understand that death is inevitable and everyone goes through it. That also made her a bit selfish in that she didn't see how Garrett's job helped people who were about to cross over by comforting them. That and the sudden switch-a-roo at the end with the possible love interest seemed thrown in for no real reason. What I mean by that is that Johnny could have been introduced as a purely platonic pal and there was no need to hint at a possible romance between them

There were also way more references to Christianity (Jesus, church, god, etc) then I expected as there was no hint of it in the synopsis. I wouldn't say it was inspiration since they had sex, albeit off the pages. But it was still a bit jarring to hear exactly how many times it was referred to in the book. That took a bit away from the enjoyment as well I won't lie.

All that said, it was still enjoyable. But I think it would have been better if it was more obvious about those religious overtones and without the possible second romance at the end.

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately didn't. While i was able to finish the book, it definitely had pacing issues and some spots where the writing and/or plot could have been stronger. 3 stars, but I probably will give this author another shot later!

Casket Case has an intriguing premise—a mix of mystery and suspense set against a quirky backdrop—but unfortunately it falls short in execution. While Lauren Evans introduces some interesting characters and setups, the pacing is uneven, and the story often drags in places. Key plot twists feel predictable, and the tension that the book promises rarely fully develops.

The characters, though occasionally engaging, lack the depth needed to make their choices compelling, and the overall mystery feels underwhelming. Despite some entertaining moments, the novel struggles to maintain momentum and fails to leave a lasting impression.

Overall, Casket Case is an underwhelming read—good for a quick diversion, but it doesn’t deliver the suspense or intrigue its premise suggests.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Returning home to Rabbittown was not something Nora Clanton ever expected, but the deaths of her parents left her the sole owner of the family's casket business. In her sleepy town, it's not as if she's going to fall in love, when she grew up with all the viable prospects. But then there's a new arrival, who walks into her store and leaves her breathless. Garrett Bishop seems perfect, but is he too good to be true?

Right, this was weird. I'm not saying it was bad weird, but still weird nonetheless. I did know that Garrett worked for Death in some capacity when I started it, but still, it was not what I expected. I liked the whole idea of Death having 'logistics officers' around the world to deal with paperwork, etc., and especially the thought that everyone who died had someone with them to explain what was happening/about to happen. That was a really nice idea, and one big plus for the book. Garrett and Nora did have chemistry, but it was really fast how they got together, spent all their time with each other, and were exchanging 'I love yous'. The ending did make up for it, though.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the free copy. I posted the wrong review here and I can't delete it!!

DNF. This book did not catch my attention.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

This had everything to be perfect, the premise --- chef's kiss. I love a dark broody romance. Hell, I am the target demographic. I have a dark twisted sense of humor and I love morose stuff. However, I think it got a bit lost in the sauce. It's a great premise, a brilliant premise, maybe it was too fast, too hallmark. Something happened where it doesn't quite work. I wanted it to. So bad!

This book has romance, fun, and a twist. But, one of the things that I truly liked was the way that the book explores grief. Grief is often a hard subject to speak about or write about, but I felt that the author did it perfectly. It was done in a very real way, which I really appreciated. It’s a wonderful book that explores love, grief, and small town living, plus the paranormal. Definitely check it out!

I really enjoyed this book. Death is a hard topic for some and the gentle and unique way that Casket Case showcased death was beautiful and heart warming. Reading fiction helped me her through grief when I lost my mom and I could easily see this book being one that helps people dealing with grief and loss.

I was expecting this to be a one- or two-star review based on what other folks were saying, and I was pleasantly surprised. Is the romance crafted well? Not particularly. Is the Death world-building richly described? Also not particularly. But the dialogue is pretty funny, and I enjoyed learning about Rabbittown and its inhabitants.

Casket Case by Lauren Evans is a fun, fast-paced cozy mystery that blends small-town charm with a touch of the macabre. Set in a quirky Southern town, the story follows a feisty, no-nonsense heroine navigating funeral homes, family secrets, and a suspicious death that hits a little too close to home.

Evans writes with wit and warmth, crafting a cast of eccentric but lovable characters and a mystery that keeps you guessing without getting too dark. The dialogue is snappy, the pacing brisk, and the setting full of down-home flavor.

Some of the plot twists feel a little convenient, and a few side characters could use more depth, but overall, it’s a lighthearted yet satisfying whodunit perfect for fans of humorous mysteries with strong female leads.

Casket Case is the kind of book you read with a glass of sweet tea in hand—comforting, clever, and just a little bit cheeky.

Sadly I struggled with this book. I couldn't connect with the characters. The blurb sounded promising, but the characters lacked something special that made me feel connected to them.

This one was not what I was expecting. Sadly it wasn’t for me. Although it may be the perfect book for someone.
I love spooky season rom coms. This one just was a little too weird for me.

Casket Case is a quirky paranormal rom-com set in small-town Alabama. Nora, who runs her family's casket business, meets Garrett, a charming stranger with a mysterious job—he works for Death. Their romance unfolds amidst themes of grief and self-discovery. While the premise is unique and the exploration of loss is heartfelt, the pacing can be uneven, and some character developments feel underexplored. Nonetheless, it's an engaging debut that blends humor with poignant moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC!