Promising premise, not very well executed. I thought it would be the perfect fall season read but didn’t really enjoy the story and the dialogue seemed forced and boring at times. I was hoping for more witty banter. May be the right read for someone that likes paranormal, insta-love, love triangle tropes.

Thank you to Net Galley, author Lauren Evans and Dell Publisher for my eARC

Nora Clanton returns to her small town to manage her family’s casket business, a backdrop that could easily be morbid but instead becomes a canvas for dark humor and heartfelt moments.

Nora's journey of resilience and strength is inspiring.
She's faced with loss but remains surprisingly optimistic, navigating her feelings for Garrett, who turns out to be more than just a handsome stranger—he's a logistics coordinator for Death.

The tension between their worlds is fascinating, and while Garrett could’ve been clearer about his job, Nora’s reactions feel authentic and totally understandable.

The book cleverly explores themes of love and loss, wrapped in witty dialogue and engaging storytelling. It’s a refreshing take on romance, showing that death isn’t just an ending but also a part of life.

Overall, Casket Case is a delightful read that balances humor with emotion, making it a standout debut. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a unique love story!

A logistic coordinator for death? Honestly, I think I found my new dream job. This setup was ADORABLE but the book fell flat. The intimacy is warp speed, which I'm not upset with, but the rest of the pacing was SOOOOO drawn out. Nora seemed petulant and a bit emotionally stunted but the premise could have made for a MUCH better novel.

Thank you netgalley and dell for the arc

Unfortunately this was a dnf for me. @65% I tried my best to get into this book but I couldn’t. The premise sounded really nice but didn’t worked well for me

Very interesting concept for a love story, but I found the pacing to be all over the place. The plot was very slow, but the relationship between the two main characters was alarmingly fast. I did appreciate the way that death was approached in this story though!

Lauren Evans’ debut novel, “Casket Case,” is a paranormal romance that intertwines the worlds of the living and the afterlife in a small town. It tells the story of Eleanora “Nora” Clanton, a woman who inherits her family’s casket business, and Garrett Bishop, a mysterious man who works “in logistics” for Death himself. The novel delves into themes of grief and mortality, with these deeper reflections often taking center stage over the romantic storyline.

At thirty, Nora Clanton returns to her hometown, Rabbitown, Alabama, to take over her parents’ casket store after they die in a tragic car accident. Shortly after her arrival, she meets Garrett Bishop, a brooding stranger seeking directions. Their chemistry is instant, and Garrett asks Nora out on a date the next day.
In just a little over one week, the couple finds themselves in a whirlwind romance, professing their love after several dates. However, as townspeople start dying, Nora discovers Garrett’s “logistics” job involves shepherding souls to the afterlife. Torn between her feelings for Garrett and her discomfort with his role in Death’s process, Nora, still grappling with her parents' loss, breaks up with him.

During this emotional upheaval, Nora finds herself pursued by Johnny, the town’s playboy and funeral home owner. Their flirtation and friendship feel authentic, ultimately serving as a turning point for Nora to reevaluate her feelings. Through this friendship, she gains clarity not only about Garrett but also about her own life choices, particularly whether to continue the family casket business.

The story unfolds in a present-day third-person perspective, alternating between Nora and Garrett’s viewpoints. However, this narrative style creates a sense of distance between the characters and the reader, making it challenging to form deep attachments. Nora’s character, while relatable in her grief, often feels immature for her age as she repeatedly second-guesses her decisions. Her ongoing struggle with Garrett’s occupation, though valid, becomes repetitive, and her indecision adds a frustrating tone. She alternates between wanting space and resenting Garrett for giving it, making her reactions feel inconsistent.

While Casket Case is classified as a romance, fans of contemporary romance might find the relationship between Nora and Garrett somewhat sidelined. Although not strictly closed-door, the intimate scenes are brief and tasteful, as the narrative focuses more on Nora’s personal journey through grief and her struggle to find closure.

One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is Nora’s connection with her grandfather. However, the ending, while somewhat anticipated, feels rushed. I wished for more depth in her grandfather’s role, especially regarding his past and the comfort he provided for Nora’s parents and his late wife. Expanding this part of the story would have added an emotional layer that felt missing from the book’s conclusion.


Thank you to NetGalley, the author Lauren Evans and Random House Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I so enjoyed this! At its heart, “Casket Case” is a story about loss, connection, and how the choices we make define our lives. It’s endearing in a refreshingly subtle way, and wonderfully free of the many romance genre tropes that alienate so many readers. Even those who don’t read romance novels will enjoy this story- and I love a book that transcends its genre!

Bonus points for a truly likable (and relatable!) central character and being set in a small Southern town that was so beautifully specific in its description that it felt one hundred percent authentic.

If you’ve ever experienced loss (everyone), and value a love story that realistically depicts the hard work that is growing a new relationship, this one is for you.

Thank you NetGalley & Publishers!

What do you do when your parents die unexpectedly and you are left to run the family business? Nora had fled her hometown of Rabbittown, Alabama, but must return to settle her parents' estate. While deciding what to do, she keeps the family casket business running. When she meets Garrett Bishop, she is shocked to find an eligible bachelor so close to home. It doesn't take long before she realizes that he is on the scene before people in the community die. Is he a serial killer, or a victim of circumstances. Casket Case is Lauren Evans' debut novel and I look forward to reading what comes next.

DNF 34%. I tried so hard to finish this book, I hate not finishing books. This was just awful. The characters had no chemistry and were bickering after the first date. Bickering can be cute, but they just started dating and are already having full “about to get a divorce” level bickering. The concept sounded so cool, but the execution fell way short.

Short synopsis: After her parents die Nora takes over the family Casket Shop, when a stranger walks in asking directions.

My thoughts: The first half of this book was really cute. I guessed early on that Garrett worked for Death, it was pretty straightforward. I thought their budding relationship was sweet and he really helped Nora to step out of her safe space and find what she really wanted to do with her life.

What didn’t work for me. The love triangle the last 20% of the book. I think it would have served better to be something put out there sooner in the book. It just felt like wrong kind of third act “breakup”/conflict for me.

Read if you love:
- Unique occupations
- Small town romance
- Insta love

3.5 stars | My feelings about this book are mixed; I like Nora and Garrett very much, but I think the conflict was drawn out longer than strictly necessary. The setting and the side characters are constructed well, but I liked the first half of the book better than the second half. I'm interested in seeing what this author does next! Thanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book.

2.5 stars rounded up

Super excited for this book, it sounded great for fall and Halloween season. This is a Romance with a hint of supernatural element, it follows two perspectives of people whose jobs deal with death. There was a lot of it in this book to various degrees. The romance happened super-fast development, and words. Their actions, connection and tension were really lacking. The book followed both Garrett and Nora’s perspectives, but we did not get a lot from Garrett and what we got from Nora’s I was not liking Garrett more and more. Even after everything was revealed at the end, the romance and where the plot went, it was ok but not exciting and not really much happened. The magical element that was in this book was just a mention and then characters just spent the last half of the book arguing. This book ended up not being for me, I wanted more of an emotional connection to characters and a livelier plot, by the end it just petered off and I was not invested in the story.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

I wanted to love this book! The premise hooked me and I was so intrigued by Garrett's job…. At first.
The story felt like it was dragging. The characters seemed so uninteresting and almost bored of each other. I quickly found myself skipping paragraphs, then pages.. then chapters.
I REALLY loved the idea, but the execution was not there for me.

To start, Lauren Evans is undoubtedly a very creative mind who can craft a story like no other. This was genuinely one of the most original concepts I've come across in some time, so I was thrilled to request this one, but I found it just okay by the end of it. First of all, the pacing felt very off. The story seemed to progress slowly but the intimacy ramped up very quickly. I also just didn't feel much genuine chemistry between Garrett and Nora. I did however really enjoy the paranormal aspect and feel that it kept me moving forward sometimes.

3 Stars (maybe even 2.5???)

This book was….ummmm….ehhhhh…hmmmm

I wanted to love this one so much, especially because it is based near a small town in Alabama that I am very familiar with. It also was so unique because it was about a casket seller and someone who works for "Death" and not in the paranormal sense, but in a Death is basically an extension of hospice kind of way.

It just fell kind of flat. I really didn't buy the romance (and honestly felt like Garrett was demeaning towards Nora). In fact, I about the quick relationship that happens during a break-up so much more.

Casket Case was a quick read and a somewhat forgettable romance, but one that ends with a HEA, so hey, can't complain too much. Would make for a good Hallmark romance.

This was a sweet, surprisingly emotional story about a small-town woman and the relationships that surround her- including her relationship with grief. It also offered a unique perspective about experience of death. I enjoyed every bit of it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

This had some clever elements, but the story felt a bit over the top for my taste. The plot got tangled up with its own quirks, which made it hard to fully connect. Still, fans of supernatural romance with a darkly comic twist might enjoy this one!

"Casket Case" by Lauren Evans is a clever and humorous mystery that hooks readers from the first page. The protagonist’s sharp wit and relatable struggles bring a refreshing perspective to the genre, making for an enjoyable and engaging read. Evans skillfully weaves suspense with moments of levity, creating a delightful balance that keeps the story moving. The quirky cast of characters adds depth and charm, ensuring that every twist feels both surprising and satisfying. Overall, this novel is a fun, fast-paced adventure that will leave you eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

This book had the oddest premise I've come across in a while, so I was intrigued to see where the author would go with it. A small-town Alabama girl (hey, that's me!) who runs her family's casket company after her parents untimely death (ok, maybe not me...) meets a man who works in logistics for Death. Yes, death. Not the death industry, death itself. It sounded promising, so I dove in.

I had two main issues with this one, the pacing and the love story between Garrett and Nora.

The pacing was so. so. slow., which was in direct contradiction to the whiplash inducing speed at which Garrett and Nora became romantically involved. They met once, and by their second encounter they're dating. Shortly thereafter they're declaring their love for each other. I get love at first sight, and fast relationships, but this was just mind-bogglingly fast. Other than Garrett being hot, I didn't see what would attract Nora to him. And his attraction to her...did he just go "oh, I work for death and she sells caskets...it's perfect! Marry me!". It was weird. Then add in a last 30% love triangle and grandpa's secret and I was left scratching my head.

This book did do a good job dealing with grief in a way that didn't beat around the bush at all. Nora's paralysis after losing her parents felt real, and nuanced. She vacillated between angry and hurt in a way that felt true (to my experience of loss at least).

Overall it was fine, but not a favorite.

Casket Case has such a unique, quirky setup: Nora, who inherits her family’s casket business, meets Garrett, a guy who (oddly enough) works for Death in logistics. With Nora trying to navigate her grief and a stalled life, it sounds like the perfect setup for a memorable romance.

But while the premise grabbed me, the story didn’t quite hit the mark. The romance between Nora and Garrett feels rushed—they go from strangers to saying “I love you” within a few dates, which didn’t give me time to believe in their connection. Nora’s small-town loneliness and Garrett’s availability felt more like conveniences than genuine reasons to fall in love, and when a love triangle pops up, it made the relationship feel even less convincing.

The writing style was also tough at times. The dialogue was pretty stiff, and both Nora and Garrett kept circling the same questions about their relationship. This slowed the pace and made the story feel repetitive, especially in third-person, which added distance instead of drawing me into their emotions.

Still, I appreciated how the book approached grief. It doesn’t try to sugarcoat loss and instead gives an honest, bittersweet look at how we deal with death.

Overall, Casket Case brings an original idea to the table, but the rushed romance, choppy writing, and flat character development made it hard for me to fully connect. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine for the ARC.