At the beginning I wasn’t sure about this one BUT it took a turn and I was not ready for any of it. In this story we follow Nora, who is in charge of a casket store. One day a mysterious man shows up in her small town and her world is turned upside down. I didn’t like the instalove BUT I loved the twist about Garret’s job. The misunderstanding was silly and Garret was underdeveloped the first half of the book. I loved Nora’s dynamic with her grandfather and also Johnny. The small town atmosphere was great, reminded me of a murder in the mix. I want Johnny to get his own book. The end was not great but 2/4-3/4 has me kicking my feet.

NetGalley early release
Publishing date: September 2024
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Solid 3.5 stars ⭐️ The story was very cute and the concept was super interesting and adorable. The writing was kind of meh though, especially when people were having conversations. The words would be in quotes like normal, but it would be one after the other. There was no “Johnny said” and “Nora replied” very often in the book during conversations. As a reader, that was kind of annoying and hard to follow sometimes especially with the banter that goes on in this book with the longer conversations that happen. Her “dating” Johnny to find out she really loved Garret was definitely something that I called from the beginning. I didn’t like that Nora’s grandpa had the same job for Death as garret did and we didn’t get to explore and dig into that more. Adding that to the story and maybe grandpa and grandma’s relationship and how they got through grandpa working for Death would have been nice for Nora to have and also just interesting in general to read about.

This book would've been so much better if we focused more on Garrett and his job; his sections were the most focused and enjoyable ones. Nora just wasn't a compelling female lead and I didn't understand why Garrett came back solely for her (bc she was so invested in the TV she didn't hear him? That was so odd). Given that the relationship is the focus of the book, and Nora having one is the focus of this entire town, the book putters around between funerals and their dates. It just lacked direction and a compelling plot. It's a mashup of Dead Like Me and Six Feet Under although both had a lot more nuance and depth. I hope the author does another spin at this world focusing on the employees of Death.

I’m not a big reader of this genre but this is a charming story that I so enjoyed. Nora Clanton returns home to Rabbittown, AL to run the family business of selling caskets when her parents die. She settles into a quiet, uninspiring life until Garrett Bishop, a logistics person for Death walks into her door. Nora’s life gets upended in the most delightful way.

The author leads you through settling for a life and living a life. The realizations and tensions between Nora and Garrett are sweet and filled with just enough angst. The supporting characters such as her Grandfather, friends who have known Nora her entire life and even her business rival are great additions to the story. This story will make you smile, enjoy it.

“Is there anyone on the planet who doesn’t have Death lurking around somewhere? Isn’t Death a part of everyone’s life?"

After graduating from the University of Alabama, Nora had plans to move away from the Rabiittown, the very small town in Alabama where she was born and raised. Until tragedy stuck and her parents were both killed in a car accident. One year after their deaths Nora is still struggling. Not only does she miss her parents but she has inherited their home - which they have never update and their business - they were in the business of selling coffins (not the funeral, just the coffin). They were sensitive, caring people who did their best to help their customers through one of the most difficult times of their life. Nora is trying to be like they were but it’s hard when she’s not sure Rabbittown is where she wants to be.

When a handsome, well-dressed man about Nora’s age walks into her workplace to ask directions, Nora is nearly speechless. When he asks her out on a date, she is thrilled. Garrett is kind and thoughtful and obviously successful (he has many beautiful suits and he drives a Mercedes), even if he is a little vague about what work he actually does. His only downside is that he travels a lot for work.

When a local teenager is killed in a car accident Nora is shocked to learn that Garrett was spotted at the scene. What exactly was it that Garrett said his work entailed? When she pins Garrett down and gets a full explanation of his job, Nora is not sure that she can live with his answer. Cans he walk away from the man of her dreams?

A delightful debut. Fun and funny, romantic, touching. Lighthearted and sincere. Highly recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am definitely looking forward to Evans' next book!

Special thanks to Lauren Evans and NetGalley and Dell Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for a fair, unbiased review. Publication Date: September 10, 2024

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I couldn’t stop reading this book. While I do think the main characters got together way too quickly, I loved their story. This book really goes into how we respond to death and how we approach death. I don’t want to put any spoilers but I appreciated how death is treated here. There were a couple of twists and turns that I liked (and one I didn’t). This was heavier than I thought it was going to be but I enjoyed it.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher.

As far as the technical side of this book goes, with the funeral industry, I feel so much of my own story depicted into it. While I’m not apart of a family owned death-legacy business, I do work for one. One that has in fact been bought out by a major corporate entity. In a situation where it was thought to be going to friendly competitor as well, only to be bamboozled, just like Nora. I’m currently working hard to restore the regional family’s legacy and turn things around for them. So much of Nora’s story made me emotional for those reasons.

As far as the emotional side, I relate to Garrett and his sense of loneliness where his job is concerned. It’s hard to find acceptance in certain ways because loving your assistance in death care is taboo. I also love like Garrett does. I almost docked a star because Nora was so un-relatable to me in that way. She was frustrating in her decisions and the bold remarks she would make based on assumption. I really had to take notice of the fact that not all characters have to be like me for me to enjoy them.

I will say, I think the chapters could use the addition of chapter titles with character pov references. It got a little confusing when grandpa started getting thrown into the mix.

In Rabbittown, Ohio Nora inherits the family business selling caskets and the home that she grew up in and now is the owner' By chance Garrett stops by the store for directions and meets Nora. They become very close. Story goes back and forth between them about their past and present lives. A very turn of events when discovering Garrett's job that keeps him traveling. They go through ups and downs in their relationship until a very surprising ending!

Normally, I try to write reviews without any spoilers, but the main spoiler has already been revealed in the blurb about this very inventive and realistic novel about a very modern relationship. She has inherited her family business, and falls in love with a handsome gentlemen. What saves this from being another romance is that the business is a casket showroom, and he is actually a representative of Death. His job is to visit someone who is about to die and comfort them in their final moments. It is an interesting conceit, and his business doesn't get revealed to her until halfway through the novel, at which point their love affair has fully blossomed. The book nicely deals with mutual trust, sharing one's feelings, and one's place in the family in a way that is fresh and interesting. This novel could border on the trite or the macabre, but doesn't. And the topic of death for me personally is a tough one, having lost my adult son a few years ago to cancer. But Evans treats the topic with a great deal of sensitivity and verve, and I won't give away the ending but this is a book that is interesting and well worth your time as well as well-written. Highly recommended.

I really wanted to like this! The premise is exactly the kind of thing I’m usually into but this just fell flat for me. It all felt entirely too forced and the fmc wasn’t really likeable. It took me way too long to get through this book.

I do however appreciate the conversations on grief, mourning, etc.

Garrett works for Death. Nora now runs her family's casket company.

This book was a really interesting idea and I wanted to love it, but I struggled with Nora's character. Grief is a big part of the book and I understand people handle grief differently. But the way it played out was difficult for me.

I think this might have been a case of a good book that simply wasn't for me.

Casket Case by the title alone you know this novel has something to do with death, yes death. Not a subject many people would want to read about yet I did.I wanted to see how someone could write about this scary subject.

A young women named Elenora Clanton or Nora which she is commonly called sells caskets. She lives in a small town in Alabama along with her grandfather. Nora was destined to work in a high power job far away from her hometown. This was her way of exploring the world first step going away to school, getting her job and living her life. That it until her parents are killed in an accident and everything changes. She goes home takes over the family business selling caskets and tries to live her life. She really has no friends her age they all live in the big city. Her boyfriend dumped her and all she does is live in the family home,drinks wine and watches Cheers. Until a stranger by the name of Garrett Bishop drives into town and asks for directions. Then everything changes for Nora. She and Garrett become close the stranger with the nice car fancy suits and dreamy eyes. Still grieving the loss of her parents she finds herself falling for Garrett and he she until the truth comes out. What he really does for a living, why he dose it and she just cannot get her head around it. Garrett works for DEATH.. Even when he explains things to her Nora just cant believe it and runs for the hills.

Did I love the subject of death no. I did see some humor in the way Ms. Evans wrote the story. The loving way she tried to explain what Garrett's job really entailed. The character of Nora did bother me at times. I found her annoying because she was like a dog with a bone she couldn't let go of things. I sometimes felt Garrett tried to hard with her. He sort of tried to fix her in a way. There love story went from zero to sixty with nothing in between. All and all I did enjoy the novel. It was a quick read and again I did not see the ending coming. I did feel at the end Nora did grow up and took the chances she was always afraid of. At the end I realized the subject matter was still scary, but there was always someone to guide you through it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group and Lauren Evans for a very quirky read. I'd give it 3.5 stars

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and think you will to.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Casket Case.

Nora Clanton is steeped in grief after losing both her parents and having to return to her hometown of Rabbittown to take over their casket business. Everything is going as well as can be expected until a handsome stranger stops in to ask for directions and Nora finds herself wondering if it’s time to give love another chance.

I really wanted to like this book. I’m a pretty morbid individual (I write and lecture about asylums) and the concept sounded fantastic. A casket shopgirl and a logistics coordinator for Death? Sign me up. Instead what I got was a whiny, boring main character who was as flat as flat can be and a love interest with zero interesting qualities. It took over 50% of the book for Garrett to admit to Nora what his job actually entailed and the second 50% of the book was Nora vacillating between hating Garrett for working for Death and whining about how much she missed him. And then, in the zero hour, it looks like her competitor Johnny might be a contender and frankly was a much better fit for her but no. Johnny was just a red herring so the author could give Nora another opportunity to whine. This book was beyond disappointing unfortunately.

This was a fun, quirky romance. I absolutely loved the premise and requested it based on that alone. Reading the book felt a little under developed in the romance department though. I applaud Lauren’s creativity when creating these characters and the plot though!

Casket Case is a cute rom-com between a woman (Nora) running her parents’ casket store and a logistics coordinator for death (Garrett). She ensures loved ones are buried how the family, or individual, wishes. And he makes sure those passing are never truly alone. Super cute and absolutely made for each other, right?

I enjoyed reading this book, but it was pretty underwhelming considering the pretense for the plot. I also didn’t find the comedy in it, but that very well could be a me problem.

The main character, Nora, was self-centered and extremely insecure. While people like that do exist, it’s infuriating to read. She was only concerned with herself, her feelings, and her problems. But she also doubted and second guessed every thought or decision she made concerning how others perceived her. All while having little-to-no backbone regarding everything that involved her or her future.

Garrett, on the other hand, has way too much patience for her. He puts up with her doubts, her grief, her indecision, and her selfishness with little to no argument. The only thing he won’t do is quit his job, which is understandable to be honest.

I feel like this book would have been a lot more entertaining if there was more banter between the characters, more comedy, and maybe more points of view. Since we mostly only get the POV from the FMC, I feel like we’re missing out on a lot of information that might make the story deeper.

I wanted to like it, but unfortunately I really didn’t. It had a quirky premise and I liked how things were explained, but so much of it felt forced. The conflict came too soon and the resolution took too long. I wish I had liked it more.

This book was cute and I enjoyed it, but it felt like it fell into the category of "telling, not showing'
So the relationship didn't feel genuine and they felt very surface level. The main character Nora didn't feel like she had any personality to her at all, and I get that is a part of her grief but it just didn't narrate well.

Overall, I really liked this. I found it very creative and fun to read. I struggled at times with the simplicity of the main character, it was sometimes hard to connect with her. If you're looking for a fun, simple, forget about real life for a minute type of book - this is a great option!

This book was such a fun and unique read. I have been feeling very bored with reading lately and this one made WANT to read. I loved how quirky Garrett was and his job was so intriguing, I almost wanted more about him than Nora. I would whole heartedly recommend this read!