This was an interesting story about Nora who has inherited her deceased parents casket business and Garrett who happens to be a logistics coordinator for death. Nora finds herself running her parents' casket store after their untimely death in a car accident. A chance meeting with a perfect guy - Garrett - starts the perfect relationship for her. That is, until she finds out what Garrett does for a living.

Garrett, on his way to his is next assignment, stops in the casket store for directions. There he is immediately taken with Nora and she is equally attracted. Starting a relationship seems to be just the thing but what will happen when Nora really finds out what he does.

I really liked the concept for this book. This did not have the usually flow for me that I like, it often felt stilted. The MCs relationship while endearing, was a little to insta love for me. I did really enjoy learning how he came to work for death. I look forward to seeing what this author writes in the future. Casket Case is a story about love, loss, and acceptance.

Thank you NetGalley for the EARC of this book.

I went in with high hopes as it was a super cool plot I haven’t read before! I think it could have been really cool but it felt very rushed to me. Our main characters go on like 3 dates and are in love? This all happens before the book hits 50%. Our female main character is for sure an alcoholic like all this woman does is bitch and cry and drink wine. The idea of our FMC getting mad at her love interest when she finds out he works for death when she literally works in the death industry just seemed silly. I really wanted to like this book more. I will say I did like the playlist at the end of the book though. 🤷‍♀️

This is an oddly-fascinating book about Death. Nora works in the family casket shop in Rabbittown, Alabama after her parents have passed. One day a handsome man, Garrett walks in and she's immediately smitten and they begin dating. But when she asks about his job, he tells her he is a "logistics coordinator for Death." What on earth could he mean? But he gets on well with the townspeople and even though she has reservations, she's excited to meet an eligible bachelor as he takes her to lovely dinners and brings her flowers. Even when he's called away on business, she eagerly awaits his return as she misses his attention even though he's so vague about what his job entails. I's a lovely debut novel, unlike anything I've ever read and I really enjoyed it!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Casket Case by Lauren Evans in my opinion was a really genuine authentic romance. Garrett Bishop goes in to The casket store in Rabbittown Alabama to get directions to his latest appointment. This is how he meets Nora Clanton the proprietor and owner of the casket store. Running the family business isn’t what Nora saw herself doing a year ago but after her mom and dad died in a traffic accident she came home to 10 to the funeral and never left. When Garrett walks in the store it is a month after moving to Alabama due to a promotion he is a logistics coordinator for death. After he and Nora initially start dating he keeps that information to himself but they do start dating and due to their overwhelming attractions their feelings grow quickly. Nora wonders how such a wonderful well put together a seemingly well-off attractive guy should be single but what she doesn’t know it’s his job is usually the thing that ruins his relationships. Nora is so happy but she is also waiting for the other shoe to drop and when it does she is surprised to see who is there to catch it. Lifelong competitor and frenamy Jay Chandler seems to be interested in Nora and after her and Garrett have a blowup she tries to date Jay only to find out he has ulterior motives. There is a lot to the story and I am doing a horrible job with this review so what I want to say is I really liked the romance part of the story I found Nora‘s inner thoughts to be authentic and genuine and I’ve read another reviews where they say this is Insta love but it is no way at all Insta love I mean anyone who has ever been in love has to know how Nora feels when her and Garrett start dating especially when books today have women having one night stands with different men and acting as if it is all A-OK I found the story to be sweet although I kind of didn’t like the whole thing with Jay because he was smarmy and calling Nora by her last name was just so dumb. For a first book I think this is a great story didn’t really believe the authors books will only get better I found as I said the romance to be authentic and although there were a few things I didn’t like and also thought the whole thing with death could’ve been more flushed out and explored, I still enjoyed it and although I don’t know if I recommend this one I am excited to see what the author comes up with next. #NetGalley,#Random house valentine, #LornaEvans, #CasketCase,

This book was very difficult to read. The writing doesn't flow or hook you. It wasn't fun to read. It felt like a chore and made me anxious. The premise sounded intriguing but the writing fell flat.

2.5⭐️ “Casket Case” by Lauren Evans

⛔️ THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS ⛔️

This book was okay. It was one of those books I couldn’t DNF because it had enough hold on my attention that I wanted to know how it ended, but overall it felt like I spent a lot of time fighting the urge to skim the story. The concept of Death running a corporate agency was cool, and fitting an orphaned casket store owner would fall for an agent of Death, but it felt flat overall. Even thinking back on the book having just finished it, it seemed like Nora did a whole lot of nothing most of the book.

The romance aspect of the book was minimal. For me personally, I’m not a fan of a ‘breakup get back together’ storyline. After reading it, I almost wish the book had been more about Garrett and the agency. It was almost like a mean joke to throw in near the end that Nora’s grandpa and Joe both worked for the same agency as Garrett in their lifetimes.

Overall, it wasn’t the right fit for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

❗️Disclaimer: I received a free copy and am providing an honest review.❗️

The premise for this one was interesting. Nora runs her parents casket business after they passed away in an accident. Garrett's brother passed away & he wants to make sure others have someone there for them when they pass. He works for death. I thought the romance was a bit too rushed. It's hard to explain but it felt rushed with the romance but slow with the death career reveal. It seemed to be resolved too quickly.

I am not a fan of insta love and this book was very much it. I was tempted to DNF it but decided to give it a chance… oh man do I honestly regret my decision. The pacing of this read was really slow, the writing was descriptive to the point where details that were mentioned didn’t really add to what was occurring and the romance development between both MCs was lacking. Don’t get me wrong, the premise was interesting but the way that it was executed wasn’t there. Truly disappointed this read didn’t work out. Thank your NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Will I always read romance that involves Death as a character? Yes, I will! I will literally read the book in one sitting. Thankfully, Casket Case provides that with the love interest, Garrett, working with Death but on a need-to-know basis (like a shush-shush situation). But it's going to create some problems when the main character, Nora, catches the little white lies whenever a death occurs in her hometown. Tricky Tricky.

Personally, I enjoyed Garrett as the love interest. He never pushed or asked more than needed when he started pursuing the main character Nora. He knew that he wanted her, but he slow his pace to Nora's pace. That's what I love about a love interest when they care about their partner's needs before theirs. Garrett, I love you so much. Nora, I just didn't care. Particularly, I found her way too annoying. She just gives me headaches all the time when she questions everything. And don't get me started about that lousy third love interest. It was definitely not needed between them. Nora and Garrett just needed to communicate a little more. 

If you enjoy reading about spooky vibe romance read with bits of insta love, forced proximity, and miscommunication, then you will enjoy reading this book.

This was marketed as a warm hearted romcom with darker themes such as the main character working in her family’s casket business who falls in love with a man who works for Death.

This could have been such a fun concept but I feel it was executed poorly. I was so excited to read this and it started out fun but within the first few chapters, I was dreading finishing it. I had read that it had insta-love and I was ready to support it, sometimes people fall in love quickly! But these characters were both insufferable. The female was overly clingy and worried that a grown man was only trying to be with her because bad things had happened to her? What sense does that make? Then he says he loved her before he even knew what she’d been through. After a handful of dates where she picked the most bizarre arguments I’ve ever read every single time. Not to mention he was taking digs at her constantly in what I think was an attempt at banter. At one point she kisses him and when he tries to take it further she declines and he says “Fine. We’ll do it your way.” That is not ok. He made fun of her, picked at what she liked to eat, and I did not enjoy this reading experience at all.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Lauren Evans, and Random House Publishing for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on September 10th.

I have posted my review on Goodreads, my Facebook book club, and will make a TikTok to post before the pub date.

This book had a pretty unique premise which is why I was so excited to read it. I have been loving Magical Realism in my books lately. I personally do not feel good about posting a review as I have chosen to DNF however, I did want to share my honest thoughts. One of my main issues with the book was the pace of the FMC and MMC's relationship, I have found that I tend to not like fast moving relationships ("insta-love") as much as I used to. I also just could not get behind the FMC, I disliked how it felt like she was creating issues through the parts that I have read.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the premise of this was fascinating - but unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I struggled to get into it, and wanted some deeper character development. It also felt like the story fell into some stereotypes that I don't enjoy - everyone asking why the female protagonist isn't yet married, a need for purity, etc. It also felt a bit juvenile at times.

After a tragedy, Nora Clanton moved back to Rabbittown, Alabama, and took over the family casket business. There are few potential romantic partners there until she meets Garrett Bishop, a logistics coordinator, whose job has long hours, lots of travel, and urgent calls in the middle of the night. Garrett is present when some of Rabbittown’s residents suddenly pass away. It turns out that he's the logistics coordinator for Death. How can she reconcile his job with the potential for love?

Nora's settled into tiny town life, filling her many empty hours with TV. Garrett is just as awkward socially as she is, so the two begin spending time together. It's kinda cute, with them behaving like gawky teens. She's very anxious, though. She second-guessed everything, has other people make decisions for her and is sure there's something wrong with her and Garrett would change his mind about loving her. They were really good together as long as Nora's anxiety didn't have her question all the positive things she had.

I wished I could reach through the pages and tell Nora to see a therapist, not just rely on therapy memes on Instagram. She moves through town like a ghost in her own life, and it's amazing that she even responds to the older people in town urging her to choose a direction in life. It takes being pressured into doing what others want and would benefit them for Nora to take a stand. She's the one to make the grand gesture here and realize that Death is everywhere and part of life. No one can stop the inevitable, and there's comfort in knowing no one dies alone.

I tried to get into this one because I really liked the synopsis. The writing style isn't for me and I didn't make it but a few chapters into the book. It felt like I was being shown the events but wasn't really given the opportunity to have an emotional connection with the characters... more like i was told what to feel without the feelings blooming.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

Casket Case is bound to receive mixed reviews, and I believe that’s not entirely the author’s fault. The cover, title, and color scheme suggest a lighthearted rom-com centered around a young woman who inherits a family business selling caskets. However, this is not how I see the book at all, and I think the marketing team may have missed the mark.

Yes, Casket Case is a story about love, but not in the quirky rom-com way its presentation implies. The female lead, Nora, inherits her family’s casket-selling business in a small Alabama town after the tragic loss of her parents. She meets Garrett, a strikingly handsome and mysterious stranger who arrives in town on “business.” They fall in love quickly—something I personally believe in (I’m living proof that love can happen fast)—but there’s a twist: Garrett is no ordinary man. He’s a messenger of death, helping people cross over in their final moments.

While this premise might sound odd, I found it fascinating. It offers a different, even refreshing, perspective on love—one that feels both strange and beautiful. However, I suspect this won't appeal to everyone. The decision to market this as a rom-com is problematic, especially when both main characters are entrenched in the business of death.

The writing is generally solid, though there are some moments of repetition that could’ve been trimmed. Nora’s quirks are endearing, likely shaped by her sheltered upbringing and unusual occupation. Her relationship with her grandfather is heartwarming, and her ability to keep an open mind is a redeeming trait.

Casket Case may not be the conventional love story that readers expect based on its packaging, but it’s still a unique exploration of love and life’s inevitable end. While not for everyone, those open to its darker themes will find an unexpectedly touching romance beneath the surface.

Cute book!

Nora has had a bad year. Her parents died in a car accident and she had to come back home to Rabbittown, Alabama to run the family business, selling funeral caskets. Nora was in the financial industry living in the city before her parents died. Coming back to her small town was the last thing she'd ever expected to do. Her Grandpa is her only blood relative alive, the rest of her "family" are the people she's known her whole life.

When a good looking man, Garrett, gets lost, he walks into her store for directions. The chemistry between them is instantaneous. Garrett just transferred to the area for his job. He tells her he works in logistics. Nora doesn't probe, Garrett travels a lot and has unexpected emergencies. They fall in love fast, but when Nora starts getting curious about his job, he can't keep the truth from her anymore.

He works for Death. He helps dying people cross over. Nora feels like she's been betrayed by him. She doesn't understand how he can love his job so much. But she works with death as well.

Will this adorable couple be able to work out their differences and be happy together? Or will they be miserable apart?

*I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really really really wanted to love this one. The premise was so intriguing!

I ended up being bored a lot of the way through, between the choppy, almost robotic conversations, Nora's tendency to push people away at the slightest inconvenience, and the pacing, this one just was not for me.

Let me start by saying that the premise of this was so fun! Love the idea of everyone's career and how they all connect, but that is about all of the kind things I can say.
Nora was the most annoying main character I have read in a while. Garrett is the biggest pushover and so insufferable. And why the heck was Johnny there?
Alabama was the cutest setting and I loved the Death conference idea. But overall, no thank you on the characters.

This book felt like a fresh, fun take for the Halloween season. Definitely something different when it comes to the plot which I appreciated. Even with the Halloween and spooky romance reads, there's a lot of repetition and this was new. Nora could be a little frustrating but relatable. Overall a fun and good read.

This was WEIRD. Like such a strange concept, which is why I immediately wanted to read it. I think the storyline could’ve been there, but the execution of it did not do it for me. Our FMC and MMC escalate really, really quickly. And they just seemed so.. *boring*
We get a strange 3rd person POV that i wasn’t necessarily a fan of… but like.. by then end of it I kind of enjoyed it?? I will definitely be thinking of death for sometime after this read….

This is one of those that’s hard to put into words. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. The storyline was weird, but good.. but the writing wasn’t for me?