DNF at 34%

I honestly did not enjoy this book very much I felt like the love story was way too insta-lovey, like they were in love in the first few chapter. Also the writing style made the characters seem too one dimensional and sort of boring. The discussion of grief felt very one dimensional as well and did not delve deep into the character’s experience. The FMC almost seemed stereotypical and the whole story just fell flat for me I had no motivation to keep going past that point.

This was a struggle the whole way through, which is disappointing because I was super excited for this one based on the blurb.

Nora inherits her family’s casket store after they pass away & Garrett works for Death. It’s insta-lovey but not in a good way IMO - they’re saying the three words before the 40% mark.

I really wanted to love it, but it just fell very flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

In a small town in eastern Alabama, Nora grieves. She grieves her parents, tragically lost one year ago in a devastating car accident. She grieves her former life and a career in finance she enjoyed, left behind as she moved home to manage her parents’ affairs and work at the family business selling caskets. It’s not until Garrett Bishop walks through the door of her shop that things begin to change. He’s handsome, well-dressed, polite, and he has some mysterious business in the area, working a “logistics” job that Nora doesn’t quite understand. But still, they’re drawn to each other. Can Nora learn to trust someone, and begin to live a life for herself again?

I’ll start with what I liked about Casket Case. There are so many people who are afraid to talk about death and dying, even when it’s one of the few things we can depend on. Nora herself avoids the topic when she can, even as she works in a casket store. But there are scenes in the book - particularly an awards ceremony toward the end of the novel - where you see how people are supported through their grief by the memories they share about loved ones who have died. It’s so important to remember that healing through grief can come with connection - that disconnection often makes us feel worse. Stories like this one help people who have experienced loss feel less alone.

I have read novels within the romance genre that run the gamut of “spice” levels, and this one is like a giardiniera level of heat. It’s there, but it’s not going to set you on fire. For those who are uncomfortable with sex scenes taking place to the detriment of the narrative (Fifty Shades being the egregious example, but some Tessa Bailey books also fall into this category), Casket Case will be a welcome relief. I also liked, as a non-religious person, to see depictions of characters engaging with their religion without proselytizing to the reader. Nora comes across as a realistic example of a contemporary religious woman. She believes in God, attends church alongside other members of her community, yet is willing to have premarital (safe) sex because she takes her time until she’s sure of a person before jumping into bed. It’s nice to see.

One other really great thing was how Lauren Evans took the time to give some additional immersion to the readers in the form of “spooky love” playlists and special recipes, some of which were passed down through her family. I always appreciate the time and energy it takes to curate a menu for an important scene in a book, and then to share the finer details with the readers in an appendix. It takes a lot of love for the final product to do that.

Now onto what was less successful for me. The majority of the book is told from Nora’s perspective. There are some chapters from Garrett’s point of view (almost 1 for every 2 Nora chapters), but they are shorter and they become more spread out after the midpoint of the novel. I think for the dual perspective to be effective, there needed to be more time spent with Garrett - with him and his family, with his coworkers, with his job, with his hobbies. I finished the book not knowing much about Garrett except that he is good looking, self-sacrificing, drives a fancy car, takes care of himself, is from North Carolina, and likes basketball. The emotional turmoil that his career puts him through (explored in books like the Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman) was only touched on in a few scenes with Nora, and each time she tries to dive deeper with him, Garrett brushes her off. It’s a shame we don’t get to see him work through the hard aspects of his job, or learn how to lean on a romantic partner when things become too heavy.

There were some inconsistencies and ideas that felt unfinished, as well. Nora has some worrying coping mechanisms for her more extreme feelings of fear and sadness. For example, her boyfriend of a few weeks goes off on a work trip, and she immediately spirals into thinking he’s unfaithful, with impulses to drive by his apartment to see if he’s actually there instead of where he says he is. After talking herself out of doing that, she self-medicates with alcohol, junk food, comfort TV, and the advice of “Instagram therapists” - the pinnacle of mental health treatments, to be sure. While we see her try to garden or exercise to work through her feelings, she either overdoes it or other characters try to talk her out of doing those things. Her self-deprecation and her use of drinking as a crutch for not engaging with her feelings is not explored at all. Another inconsistency - for all that Garrett’s job is in “logistics”, we as readers are left in the dark on the mechanics of how his primary task works. He explains it to Nora in one scene, then later, when we finally *see* him at work, he does something entirely different. There were various points in the story where we see Garrett approaching his next “client” and then the chapter ends and the narrative swerves back to Nora. I would have loved to see *how* he’s good at his job - adjusting his approach for different situations, onboarding new staff, navigating the tricky issue about “bystanders” when in a public place, that kind of thing. It would have been nice to see Garrett talk to his boss about navigating a better work-life balance that involves dating and settling down.

One other part of the novel that left me perplexed had to do with the character Johnny. We see him in two scenes earlier in the story, then we get several scenes with him around a big conference later in the book. Nora and Johnny grew up in the same circles (the families more or less having a rivalry), so they have an established history and, if I’m being honest, more chemistry than Nora and Garrett do. Some of the more heartwarming scenes of the novel involve Johnny supporting Nora when she’s struggling and Nora bringing out more genuine emotions from the usually-sardonic Johnny. Certainly, there are choices Johnny makes in the story that disqualify him from getting to be in Nora’s Happily-Ever-After. But I was left wondering what the book would be like if Garrett were never included in the story and Johnny were the romantic lead instead - or at least, if they struck some kind of business deal together.

Ultimately, I finished reading this book wishing for more. Nora used unhealthy coping techniques throughout the story without gaining any new ways to deal with her jealousy or sadness (or even recognizing she had a problem to begin with). She was wholly in the right to be upset with Garrett for lying, but it was Nora who was left “getting over” her issues in the end. I hoped for more out of Garrett’s character, too. His job is the whole conflict of the story but the reader sees such a small snapshot of it. I wanted to explore how a “global corporation” explores cluing in the employees’ family members on the details of the job. I wanted him to not be as creepy/pushy as he was after the Third Act Misunderstanding, and I wanted to see *him* grow and change like we saw Nora make changes. I can see what Lauren Evans was trying to say here - that we can grieve our loved ones without being consumed by death - but I think the message got muddled along the way. And the final result just wasn’t a hit for me.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Lauren Evans, and Penguin Random House (Ballantine Imprint) for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

This is poorly written. It’s very “telling” instead of showing. Each time the narrator mentions something there is a brief tangent to explain who/where/why something is. The book feels like a lot of tangents.

This book had a really interesting concept with the little bit of magical realism and exploration into grief. But, the book fell flat for me because of the weird pacing and stilted dialogue. The FMC fell in love with the MMC very quickly to the point where it didn't feel realistic at all and it really messed up the tone for the rest of the book. They didn't seem to have that much chemistry before falling into bed together, metaphorically and literally. However, I enjoyed the FMC's relationship with her grandfather and other people in town. I liked the exploration into grief and moving past it and acceptance. Sadly, those two highlights of the book weren't enough for me to really enjoy the book.

2.5 stars rounded up. This book was a case of cool concept, meh execution for me. The idea of a casket saleswoman falling for one of Death's employees sounded really fun and perfect for the spooky season.

I'd say the story was just cutely bland though. Fast burns/instalove stories aren't my thing, so that part didn't appeal to me. I can see how it would appeal to others though.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

What do I even say about this? The prospect of someone working for death seems so interesting, but it was absolutely uninteresting. Nothing happens in the first half of this book, and the romance is so insta-love that I didn’t buy it one bit. The characters are mostly flat and underdeveloped. The ending, however, did pick up and was the only part I really enjoyed. This had such a good premise, but unfortunately, it fell terribly flat.

Nora, a 30-something owner of a casket store in the small town of Rabbittown, Alabama, finds herself unwittingly entangled in a whirlwind romance with Garrett, the Director of Logistics for Death.

The relationship between Nora and Garrett progresses at a rapid pace, making it feel problematic and unconvincing. The lack of development and depth in their relationship is a significant drawback.

The book suffers from noticeable editing oversights. For instance, in one chapter, Nora explicitly states her dislike for tomato sauce. Yet, two chapters later, she is seen making pizza with “pizza sauce.” Isn’t pizza sauce essentially tomato sauce? This and additional inconsistencies disrupt the reading experience and raise questions about the editorial process.

A quarter of the way through, the book’s tone feels reminiscent of a high school drama. While it might be categorized as women’s fiction, the writing and plot development lack the sophistication expected from a well-crafted story in this genre.

One of the few redeeming qualities of the book is its occasional sprinkling of humor which adds a touch of wit to an otherwise lackluster narrative.

The epilogue introduces a surprising twist related to family history. There was a hint of this midway through the book, but it is abruptly sprung on Nora in the literal last pages, leaving the reader feeling blindsided and unsatisfied.

“Casket Case” had the potential to be an engaging read, but it falls short due to its pacing, inconsistent character development, and editing issues. If it weren’t for the rare moments of humor, this would have been a definite DNF for me.

I added this book to by TBR and request list because I was intrigued by the synopsis. But I just recently read another book where the main character's family owned a funeral home and was hoping it would be similar to those vibes. While it did have some family interactions and a love story as the plot, this one sadly fell flat for me. The writing didn't seem to hook me and the third act break up and love triangle felt unnecessary. It was also a little more morbid than I was hoping, which some people make like. But for me this was just a 3 star. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 rounded up
please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: HFN
POV: dual 3rd person
spice: closed door romance
TWs: anxiety, talk of cancer, talk of death, death of parents, death of a sibling, grief, purity culture
standalone: standalone
final thoughts: The writing style was super easy to read and the author has a good voice but overall I just wanted more. This was a really interesting premise, and it was almost there but did end up falling short for my tastes.
The FMC was almost insufferable, the grandpa was cryptic, the MMC was too elusive but also too instalove, it just felt a little all over the place. The side characters and relationships didn’t feel meaningful or help move the story along. It seemed like storylines started and were forgotten which is too bad. I really wanted more from Garret and his storyline, work, and overall character.
What we got from the lines of work I really enjoyed, I liked some of the twists, and I liked the portrayal of the small town.

This debut rom-com is like nothing I have ever read before. Nora is keeping her family's casket business going in a small town in Alabama and is very lonely, single, and living in her dead parents' home, not wanting to change a thing. She's just going through the motions until Garrett shows up at her store, looking for directions. He seems perfect. The catch? He works for Death.

You've heard of a slow burn. Well, this book was a fast burn. Sparks fly very quickly in this book. But it's a rocky road for Nora and Garrett. Nora has a lot of baggage and she drove me crazy with how she was always second guessing everything. There's a lot of will they, won't they, up until the very end. Nora kinda drives me nuts but I didn't mind her in the end. I'd rather read about messy people than characters who always seem to have their shit together.

I didn't find this book to be morbid at all. I thought it was fascinating and darkly funny and sweet. I rooted for Nora to make the right decisions for herself and to put her happiness first.

I was nervous that I wouldn't like this book because the average rating on Goodreads is sadly pretty low. So I purposely avoided reading other reviews first because I didn't want anyone's opinions to color my own while reading this book. It was the right call.

I really wanted to love this one, because the premise is so good, but it fell flat for me. The character development was hectic and the plot was hard to follow with the sometimes frenetic pacing.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of Casket Case
by Lauren Evans

Nora inherits her family's casket company from her recently passed on parents, and meets Garrett who works for death, yes you read that correctly death, a very diffrent rom com, but overall I enjoyed it more then I thought I might

Casket Case, Lauren Evans’ debut rom-com, introduces us to Nora Clanton, who returns to her small hometown to manage her family’s casket business after an unexpected tragedy. The premise is intriguing, blending themes of love, loss, and the macabre in a unique setting. However, while the book has its charming moments, it ultimately falls short of its potential.

From the outset, the flow of the narrative feels disjointed. The pacing is uneven, making it difficult to grasp the direction of the story. The initial chapters struggle to establish a clear path, leaving the reader wondering about the plot's trajectory. While the latter half of the book picks up some momentum, the slow start detracts from the overall experience.

The romantic relationship between Nora and Garrett Bishop also feels lacking in depth. Their dynamic often resembles that of a high school romance, which may not resonate with readers expecting a more nuanced portrayal of adults in their thirties. The emotional stakes don’t fully engage, leaving the characters feeling somewhat one-dimensional, especially when faced with the gravity of Garrett's job.

That said, Evans does shine in her characterization of Nora’s grandfather, who adds a touch of warmth and wisdom to the story. His presence serves as a reminder of the connections we have with our loved ones, even in the face of loss.

In conclusion, Casket Case is a heartfelt attempt to navigate the complexities of love and grief, but it struggles with pacing and character depth. I would rate it 2.5 stars, as the latter part of the book shows improvement and hints at the potential of Evans as a writer. With further development, her future works may resonate more strongly with readers.

I am pulled into all things creepy, this book had a cute and creepy feel.. I loved how dealing with a hard breakup she finds solace in all things familiar.

Nora left Rabbittown, Alabama a king time ago and don’t plan on moving back, but when her parents died in a car accident she moved back to run their casket business. This isn’t exactly where she wants to be as a thirty year old single woman with no prospects on the horizon, but she feels a sense of obligation to her family’s company. Enter Garrett, the perfect guy for her. He’s nice, charming and thoughtful and has a steady job in ‘logistics’. He’s everything Nora could have hoped for in a match, but when Garrett is spotted at the scene of multiple deaths in the area Nora starts to wonder what his job in ‘logistics’ really entails. Who is Garrett actually and is he the one for Nora? Is Nora ready to settle in Rabbittown or let go of the family business and move on with her life? Will she ever get her happily ever after?

The cover of this book pulled me in in the beginning and the description intrigued me enough to make me want to read this. It is an interesting concept with Garrett working for Death and I wanted to see how this all played out. I have to say that this concept and book are definitely creative, but it ended up being too morbid for me in the end. The romance in this book was just okay and the characters weren’t exactly my favorite. The book moved pretty slow for my liking and I felt like there was a lot that was unnecessary. The connection between Nora and Garrett was t really there for me. Nora was too needy, but also really quick to pull away at the first sign of trouble. It just wasn’t a great combo for me. The book was well written and the story creative, but I just didn’t fully connect with it. The strange concept makes this book really unique, but the romance didn’t do it for me. If you are a fan of Death, the Grim Reaper and funeral homes this book might be perfect for you!

This book was such a wonderful surprise! I went into it thinking it was going to be a sweet, small town, cozy romance and it is, kind of, but it is so much more than that. It is smart, wry, heartwarming, a little messy (the characters, not the writing), and before I knew it I had stayed up hours past my bedtime and was 80% of the way through. Seriously, it zooms.

Despite being largely focused on pretty heavy topics like death, grief, and quarter-life crises, I found myself smiling on literally every single page at the banter and Nora’s internal monologue. You know those books that make you feel wittier and oddly seen because the dialogue is so tight and totally nails feelings that you’ve felt, but in such a humorous way that you laugh at yourself while also laughing at the characters? This is one of those.

If you’re a fan of Amy Poeppel, Abbi Waxman, or Linda Holmes, you’d love this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the eARC!

Casket Case sounded like the perfect book to start off spooky season with, but unfortunately this one didn't work for me as much as I was hoping. This book is marketed as a heartwarming rom-com. I agree that it's heartwarming in many ways, but it didn't really feel like a rom-com to me. Our main character Nora is back in her hometown running her family's casket company after tragically losing her parents in a car accident. Then Garrett comes in looking for an address in town and that's where it starts.

Garrett works for death, but it takes us as readers even awhile to really learn what his job actually means. I appreciated the little bits from his POV, so we got to know him at least a little bit. That being said, this plot went really slow while their relationship went a little too fast for me. They were saying I love you before they really even knew each other. I felt like they were fighting more than anything. It just didn't work for me.

That being said, I do enjoy the small town feeling of this book. The side characters were a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the relationship Nora had with her grandfather. Grief was also handled really well in my opinion. It's not something that just goes away or it rational. Even though I didn't end up loving this one, I will give this author another chance if she gives us more books.

My review will also be posted on https://thebookdutchesses.com on November 10th.

As a fellow Alabamian, I enjoyed reading a book with characters set near a town i've visited and almost lived in. The plot of Casket Case felt a bit like a sad country song; a woman trying to leave her small town and make a name for herself only to be struck by tragedy and end up back in the small town cycle of life. Because of this, Nora's character feels rough and frustrating as a reader -- she wasn't as likable as I believe she could have been. Garrett, one of the MMCs was an interesting concept -- someone who worked for death -- but again, he fell flat.

I wasn't disturbed by the insta-love or the darkness of the book (since it does deal with death) but I felt it could've been...more. More dark, witty humor. More intrigue is what I was looking for and found lacking. I wasn't invested in the characters or plot like I thought I would be with this book. An interesting read during spooky season but not one I could confidently recommend to my friends.