1.5 rounded up. This was such an interesting concept, but it didn’t work for me. It was boring and dragged on, with far too many scenes that went on forever that didn’t need to. And yet the parts we should have had been “shown” and gone on longer, didn’t. In a lot of cases they were actually told to us (vs. showing). Like for instance how suddenly the two main characters are in love even though they’ve known each other a few days? And we know this because the characters keep telling us, not because we saw it or felt it. I didn’t buy it or care at all.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review. Nora in general has a lot going on. She has had a lot of loss in her life in the past and it doesn't stop around her. It doesn't help that her job is literally working at a store that sells caskets. Garrett literally works with/for Death as he gets assigned a case in who needs to visit and tell them they are going to die and help them cross over. When Garrett is assigned a case in Nora's town, he stops in her store for directions and there is immediate sparks. Although there was a connection with the two characters, I had a really hard time rooting for them. Nora was so burned before in past relationships, that she was so clingy and having major trust issues the whole way through. For Garrett to constantly reassure her that he is indeed working and not cheating on her or that she is good enough, made me think that Nora needs to be single and work out those issues. You need to love yourself before you can love others.

This book was really weird, usually that's a good thing for me but it was not this time. The pacing was off and Nora and Garrett's relationship seemed very forced. I really liked the concept of this book but the execution and writing were just so-so.

Talk about a happy ever after complete with tears!! It was a little difficult to get through the beginning, and the relationship and character development could have been better; BUT about halfway through, this book took off for me! I loved the idea of bringing in another man to compete for her heart, and loved how it all came together in the end! Death is a hard topic to write about, and I feel that Lauren Evans did it justice. The end was so delicate and beautifully written. I haven’t cried reading a book in a long time, but this one definitely got some tears out of me. Overall very much enjoyed!!

I'm afraid this didn't work for me. It was just... un-fun.

I was okay with the morbid tone and topics. The death industry is fascinating — and I mean that about both Nora and Garrett's jobs. But it was the romance that failed. Incredibly boring dates that felt like lackluster interviews ("What do you do in your spare time?" "I watch TV." "What do you like to watch?" "Sports." "What kind of sports?" "Local teams.") magically led to insta-love. Call me crazy, but I don't enjoy chemistry-free romances.

Even so, I extend my thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Boring, repetitive, and way too long. The book keeps repeating the same points over and over as Garrett tries to hide his work for Death and Nora tries to decide if she should date him and/or keep her parents' casket company. I thought this would be a quirky, comedic romance, but it wasn’t particularly funny or romantic either.

Billed as a whimsical romcom featuring a meet cute with death, this novel instead slogs along with a slow pace and histrionic feel. Many interesting ideas are left unfinished while one or two emotional moments are pulled too far or often. A great idea that didn’t happen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

As a debut, the premise had me HOOKED. However the execution fell flat. I think something was missing. There was too much one dimension writing, and I was not a fan once it hit 75%. I stuck it out but I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t nearly done when I got the urge.

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.