The premise of this book was so, so promising but unfortunately it fell very flat to me half way through :( It felt really insta-lovey from the beginning, which isn't a favorite trope of mine, and the main character drove me crazy. She was so wishy-washy and I almost wished she would've gotten with the other guy at the end so she'd leave my man Garrett alone LMAO Also was it just me or did Nora's grandpa ALSO work for death and she never found out??? They brought it up and never talked about it again on page, I thought it'd be when the grandpa was dying but... nothing?? Felt like a weird thing to throw in and then never address again. Especially because it could have added so much more tension on the decision to accept Garrett for what he did, and it would have made it make more sense why she came to terms with it in the end. I don't know, it just seemed like a missed opportunity.

Despite all of this and the questions I still have, I still liked it -- I think the audiobook really helped with that, though. The narrators really kept me sane while I was going through this. So I definitely recommend the audiobook if you decide to pick this one up!

Anyway, Garrett is kind of the perfect man. Sorry to feminism but I'm siding with the man on this one </3

Title:  Casket Case  
Author:   Lauren Evans
Genre: Romance, fantasy        
Rating: 3 out of 5

In this warm-hearted debut rom-com, a young woman returns home to run her family's casket business and falls in love with a seemingly perfect stranger. But there's just one problem . . . he works for Death.

Nora thought she was finished with Rabbittown, Alabama, for good. But an unexpected tragedy turned her life upside down, and she's found herself back in her tiny hometown running the family casket business.

There aren't exactly a lot of prospects for a single woman in her thirties in a place like Rabbittown. Until Nora Clanton's ordinary, casket-selling day is interrupted by a handsome stranger wandering into her shop and asking for directions--as well as a date.

Garrett Bishop seems like the ideal guy. He's thoughtful, he's kind, and he has a lucrative job as a logistics coordinator, for which he seems to have a passion. She's not totally sure what "logistics" entails, but she knows it means long hours, lots of travel, and urgent calls in the middle of the night.

When a few of Rabbittown's residents suddenly pass away--a heart attack here, a car crash there--and Garrett is spotted at the scenes of, well, all of the deaths, his frustratingly vague job description starts to become increasingly . . . suspicious. What is it that Garrett actually does for a living?

He's a logistics coordinator for Death.

When Nora discovers the truth, she is unable to reconcile the wonderful man she knows with the unthinkably cruel job he loves. Will she ever be able to understand how he can do what he does, or will she have to lay her best chance at love to rest?

This was an interesting premise, but it felt so slow! And yet, it also included insta-love with no explanation, so that part felt fast. Nora was so passive she got on my nerves. She’s dissatisfied with her life, yet unwilling to take any sort of action at all. And Garrett seems way too good to be true. I never figured out what they saw in each other—or why they got together. The execution of this idea underwhelmed me a bit.

Lauren Evans lives in Atlanta. Casket Case is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House in exchange for an honest review.)

🖤🖤🖤🖤✨
4.5/5

“𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒’𝓈 𝒶 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔”
“𝒜 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒷𝑜𝓇𝓃 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝒾𝑒. 𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒’𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒻𝒾𝓍𝑒𝒹.”

Wow. What a beautifully written debut book that explores the subject of death, grief, and how we go about life every day with these two things coexisting with everything else. I went into this book feeling excited because I’ve been on a kick of books directly featuring death, but also having romance. I really love this niche genre. And I feel that Lauren Evans’ take on it was brilliant!!

I went into this blind and I honestly think that you should too. Here’s what I loved:

🖤 Nora & Garrett’s chemistry was lovely. I could feel the attraction between them instantly and it grew more and more on every page.

👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻 Nora & Garrett gave me Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon-Levitt vibes!

‼️ the twist in this was so good! I did not see it coming. It made the book really come full circle. As did the ending.

📺 Nora’s love for Cheers. Because girl, same. Sam Malone is 🔥

❓ Nora’s struggles and internal battles of life were so relatable. They made me feel seen. She also showed signs of anxious & avoidant attachment style, which I felt was interesting and I don’t see both in a character often. Again, relatable.

🥖 like Nora’s mother, I also go with the “don’t look at the expiration dates on frozen food” rule😂

🪦 the elements of “Death” & “grim reaper” reminded me of a realistic version of Supernatural. Fans of the show would definitely enjoy this one!!

🎶 the Playlist of Spooky Love Songs!!

🥹 this book got me out of a bad reading slump, as I finished it in two sittings

🍷 Nora inspired this photo with Cheers on in the background $ some lovely red wine

✨ Casket Case is out now! This is a great one to start off your fall vibes romance books!

Nora moves back to the small town she grew up in when she inherits a casket business after her parents pass away. Garrett works for Death.

I was surprised on how much I enjoyed this book considering the subject matter. The author brought an unique & positive view of death. The chemistry between Nora & Garrett was sweet. I enjoyed how the author incorporated backstory on how Garrett got into the Death business. I will say the ending did take me by surprise, but it was beautifully done.

This is the author's debut book and I would definitely read more books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for my review.

1.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I unfortunately, didn't like this book. I thought the premise was so unique and promising but when I began reading I quickly learned that it was a great concept but the execution wasn't going to be for me.

I had the most difficult time with the pacing of this book. This story had the two MC's getting together and saying I love you at the 25% and 30% mark respectively. They had been together about 2 weeks at this point. There was fighting and a breakup at 60% with a love triangle beginning at 70% and a reconciliation at 95%. I was disappointed and hoped that this book would've been a bit better because the premise was so incredibly promising.

My petty gripe is the large mention of alabama football. I went to a rival SEC school and it was jarring to hear about and kind of pulled me out of the story.

THINGS I LIKED:
The portrayal of grief in this book is done really well. I definitely resonated with Nora's character as I lost my father when I was in college.
I did also enjoy some of the banter.

The concept of this book is unique & interesting. It caught my attention, so I requested the arc. The theme of the book is relatable & I enjoyed reading Nora’s journey. At times, I really felt for her & at others she was more difficult to tolerate.

The pacing of the book was off. It was pretty slow most of the book & then it speeds up quickly & ended, what felt to me, abruptly. It was hard to keep track of the side characters. I didn’t feel connected to them & there seemed to be too many. Maybe that added in my difficulty in keeping them straight.

I think this book was great for the message it was conveying. I wish the pacing was more consistent & Nora wasn’t so infuriating at times.

Casket Case was such a cute novel full of emotion. Nora Clanton is still grieving the deaths of her parents a year ago. She took over their casket sales business, cooping herself up either there or at home. She barely has a social life and very little desire to one out. That is, until a stranger walks through the front door, asking for directions.

Garrett Bishop is looking for one of the small-town's residents. He wasn't expecting to feel a connection with the local casket salesperson. He can't get enough of Nora and does everything he can to keep seeing her.

When Nora finds out what Garrett's job is, though, she starts questioning their entire relationship.

Casket case has a great premise. The description is what drew me in and the great characters and story kept me engaged. I love the uniqueness of the story. The characters are wonderful. I was excited at the opportunity to read the book.

Casket Case by Lauren Evans is a really unique take on a contemporary rom com and I enjoyed it overall The story moves between Nora, who inherits a casket business, and Garrett, a charming logistics man who works for Death. The author’s imaginative approach captivates with its blend of humor and the macabre. However, the pacing feels slow, while the romance escalates too quickly, leaving me questioning the depth of Nora and Garrett's connection.

Their relationship develops rapidly, with love declarations coming after just a few encounters, which I didn't hate at all! However, the sudden introduction of a love triangle caught me off guard, making me wonder if Nora's attraction stemmed from limited options in her small town. Garrett’s interest also seemed unclear, as their bond lacked the depth needed for a believable romance.

That being said, the book realistically explores grief, capturing Nora’s struggle to cope with her family’s memory. While her character often feels abrasive and overly sorrowful, the narrative succeeds in depicting the complexities of loss. Overall, I appreciated the unique premise and insights into small-town life.

As usual, I woke up in the middle of the night unable to get back to sleep. I decided to start my next book and a few hours later, I finished said book and had an hour to try to sleep before getting up for work. So now I will look like death all day, so I guess it all worked out!
I found this to be an adorable concept for a rom-com. I'm never a fan of the third act breakup but, when you find out your boyfriend is basically the grim reaper, understandably, you might need a few days to process.

Casket Case

Casket Case is a sweet, cozy, small town romance that touches on grief and loneliness. The only paranormal element is the business of Death, but there’s really no magic or otherworldly elements involved. This started off a little slow but the second night I got into it and didn’t want to put it down, so much so that I didn’t take any notes.

Nora recently lost her parents and moved back to take over her family casket shop in small town Alabama. Garrett walks in to her store to ask for directions and they find an instant connection. He works for Death® and was on the way to help a neighbor pass on peacefully. They go on a few dates and have a great time, but Nora becomes increasingly suspicious as Garrett keeps turning up where people have died.

You can expect:
Cozy Paranormal Romance
Insta-Love
He Falls First
Swoony
Closed Door
Great Communication
Found Family
Grief and Loss
Small Town Alabama
Early 30s MCs
Multi, 3rdP POV

I like that this does not have a traditional third act breakup. Nora does confront him, and Garrett tries to explain as best her can, but it’s hard for her to wrap her head around and she asks for space. But throughout the break they continue to talk openly, there is no miscommunication happening, so it feels real and doesn’t get frustrating. I was definitely rooting for them and kept turning the page to see how it would work out. There were a few moments where the descriptions or dialog felt stilted, mostly with the side characters, where I could sense it was a debut novel, but for the most part it flowed great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing an eARC for my honest opinion.

When Nora returns home to run her family casket business she thinks she there to take care of the business but she soon finds herself falling for a person named Garrett who seems like a nice guy. But she finds herself questioning what Garrett does for a living when she starts seeing him at the scenes of people dying.
The concept of falling in love with someone who works for Death is both intriguing and original.
The story handles themes of grief and loss with sensitivity and insight.
I just didn’t feel the chemistry between the two it was just ok. The beginning starts at slow but picks up a bit 1/2 the way through.

I really wanted to like this book as the premise was so promising, but I just couldn't get into it.
I DNF'd at around 30%, finding that the characters were very one dimensional, that there was no real attraction/interest between the MCs apart from they happen to be in the same place at the same time, and I found the writing to be very abrupt and staccato, for lack of a better description. The writing just didn't flow for me.

I hope other people enjoy the book!

Thanks to Dell for an eARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

This book wasn’t what I expected. I ended up really enjoying it for all those reasons. I had expected it to be just another romance comedy. This had an almost supernatural twist. A fun read.

Okay, I have to admit, this is one of the strangest concepts I've come across lately. A love story between a woman who inherits a casket business from her late family and a charming man who works for Death in logistics services—piqued my interest.
If you like a insta love romance… and a little weirdness then you will likely really enjoy this perfect for spooky season romance!

What I enjoyed most about this book was how it handled grief without sugarcoating it, taking a realistic approach instead.

Overall, I appreciated the paranormal concept of the book and its unique, realistic approach to death, as well as the portrayal of close-knit small-town life.

Thank you to Dell for providing me with my review copy in exchange for my review.

Casket Case was a 3.5 star read for me. Very strange concept of a storyline. Nora inherits her parents casket business and in walks death. I liked the concept because it was so weird and different . Two people in the business of death falling for each other… I don’t really think it’s a rom-com the romance felt rushed to me I did like the first encounter but it seemed too fast. The story has small town charm a little romance and deals with death in away I never thought of.

A very interesting concept for a story. When I first read the description of this book (a woman who works for her family’s casket business falls for a man that works for death) I just knew this was right up my alley. As expected, this story touches on love, life, and death. I found the topic of death to be handled respectfully. There are serious moments and moments of levity. I found this story to be a fast and enjoyable read, and recommend it to any who doesn’t mind discussion of death and dying mixed in to a rom-com.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

This was such an interesting concept that I was immediately drawn in. What didn’t really sell it for me was the pacing of this book. I really struggled with how Garrett and Nora went from almost 0 to 100 in their relationship. It really came out of nowhere for me. I did like how the book handled grief. I think that part was so incredibly well done which made me keep reading to the end.

Thank you to to Dell and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Almost a year ago Nora Clanton was pulled home to Rabbittown, Alabama after an unexpected family tragedy. Not knowing what else to do with herself, Nora stays in Rabbittown and takes over her family's casket business. Despite everyone around her, including her grandfather, telling her she needs to move forward with her life, Nora just can't seem to figure out how. This is definitely made more difficult by the fact that Rabbittown is not teeming with a lot of young single people, and Nora's days tend to be pretty by-the-numbers and uneventful. Then one day a handsome stranger comes into her shop asking for directions. When he returns the next day asking Nora out for a date, this just might be the thing she needs.

By all accounts Garrett Bishop is perfect. He's kind and thoughtful, and he calls! Yes, his work takes him away sometimes for weeks at a time, even though Nora isn't sure what it means to work in "logistics", but the feeling she gets just being around him makes up for all the questions she has. That is, until it comes out that Garrett works for Death.

This was a much slower and more contemplative story than I think was I was prepared for going in. This is also listed as a romance, which it definitely has, but I would almost consider it a rumination on grief and healing first and foremost. This message is supported by the fact that Garrett works for Death, literally not in a figurative way, but also in that figurative way does Nora by running her family's casket business. It's like different sides of the same coin and how do you reconcile the two together.

I almost wish the kind of big reveal of Garrett working for Death was not revealed in the synopsis of the book. I think readers knowing ahead of time takes away the gut-punch that Nora feels when she learns about it. I feel like this caused the story to unnecessarily drag a bit as we wait for Nora to catch up to what the rest of us already know. By that point, there's more time spent with Nora considering what it means for their relationship and if she's ready to have death have that much influence in her day to day life, more than it does already that is. Like, is she ready to make such a commitment to death?

If I'm being honest, I would have liked a deeper look into Garrett's job. I'm sure we only get what we get in order to maintain a sense of the mystery behind life and death, but I was fascinated by the - pardon the pun - logistics of it all. It's the main area where Lauren Evans pulls out some surprises that beg for a follow-up.

Overall, I appreciate the focus placed on Nora's healing and processing from grief, mainly the depth and time it took. It wasn't rushed through or pushed aside in order to highlight the romance aspect. And I especially liked the conundrum Nora found herself in when she considers that Garrett is working for Death. I just think readers knowing about it ahead of time, brought down the pacing of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The premise of this book was very intriguing! The FMC works for a casket business, her love interest works for Death. It seems like the beginnings of an amazing story!

However, the book just did not hit home for me. The characters felt very surface level, I didn’t feel like I knew any of them by the end of the book. The ending had a bit of a sad occurrence but I found that I didn’t really feel one way or another about what was happening.

I also felt like Alabama football was brought up quite a bit. I live in Alabama, my family and I are Crimson Tide fans, but I wasn’t a fan of how often they were referenced. Alabama football game on several times, Alabama hat mentioned a few times, etc.

Overall, the story felt a bit stagnant for most of the book. Not much was happening, and the relationship didn’t feel particularly interesting. I felt a spark of intrigue when another male character was brought in, but that quickly died (no pun intended).

The ending felt rushed and unfinished. None of the concerns she had about the relationship felt like they had been fully addressed. I guess she just decided they didn’t matter anymore?

The “twist” ending was something that I did like, thought I wish there had been a deeper dive into that subject. I did guess it early on, but I was hoping to get a longer explanation of that.

Ultimately, the story had a huge amount of potential, but I just don’t think it was executed well.

As a first time published piece for this author, I did enjoy her voice, and I think her ideas were there! I look forward to seeing her growth in the future!

Lauren Evans’ Casket Case is an intriguing rom-com that blends humor, grief, and a touch of the supernatural. Set in the small town of Rabbittown, Alabama, this debut novel follows Nora Clanton, a woman reluctantly returning home to take over her family’s casket business. While the premise is unique, with some truly charming moments, Casket Case falls just short of delivering a fully satisfying romantic comedy, making it an enjoyable but uneven read.

Nora is a likable protagonist, navigating the challenges of both grief and running an unconventional business. The small-town setting is vivid, and Evans does a great job bringing out the quirks and warmth of Rabbittown. From the beginning, Nora’s life feels marked by death—not only because of her job but also due to the unexpected loss of her family member that pulls her back home. The author balances the somber themes of loss with Nora’s dry wit and relatable, often humorous struggles.

The central romance of the book, between Nora and the mysterious Garrett Bishop, starts off promisingly. Garrett is introduced as the quintessential rom-com love interest: handsome, kind, and seemingly perfect. Their chemistry is easygoing, and the early parts of their relationship are heartwarming and fun to follow. However, things take a strange turn when it becomes clear that Garrett is not just an ordinary "logistics coordinator," but someone who works for Death itself.

This reveal injects an unexpected twist into the story, but it also introduces a significant tonal shift. What starts as a charming rom-com veers into something more fantastical and darker, creating a bit of a disconnect between the initial lightheartedness and the serious questions about life and death. While the concept of dating someone who works for Death has potential, it feels underexplored, leaving readers with more questions than answers about how the supernatural element fits into the broader narrative.

One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of grief and loss. Evans handles these themes with sensitivity, and Nora’s struggle to reconcile her feelings about death, both personally and professionally, is compelling. Yet, while Casket Case tries to strike a balance between heartache and romance, the emotional impact of the romance gets somewhat overshadowed by the weightier subject matter.

Additionally, the pacing can feel uneven. The middle portion of the book, where Nora becomes suspicious of Garrett’s vague job description, drags at times, and the eventual resolution to Garrett’s mysterious profession feels rushed. The novel builds up a lot of tension about how Nora will react to Garrett’s true job, but the fallout and eventual reconciliation happen too quickly to feel fully earned.

That said, the small-town charm and quirky supporting characters add a lot of warmth to the story, helping to lighten the heavier themes. Nora’s interactions with the residents of Rabbittown—particularly the funeral-related scenes—are some of the novel’s highlights, offering both humor and insight into how people cope with death.

Final Thoughts:
Casket Case is a fun and clever rom-com with a unique premise, but it doesn’t quite manage to fully blend its romantic and supernatural elements. Lauren Evans has a strong voice, and the book’s exploration of love, loss, and death is thoughtful, but the romance between Nora and Garrett feels somewhat rushed and underdeveloped. Fans of quirky, small-town romances with a twist will find it an enjoyable read, but those looking for a deeper dive into the fantasy elements or a more fleshed-out romantic arc may be left wanting more. A solid debut, but with room for growth.