Vince and Cassandra are both grieving the loss of someone who was important to them. When Cassandra is left to arrange her brother's funeral and simultaneously deal with her grief somehow, she leans on Vince for support and comfort.

I really appreciated the emotional depth of this book. This book focused on heavy topics, like death, the grief process, and self-healing. We see how Cass's brother's death impacted everyone around him and how Cass is forced to pick up the pieces of her family in the aftermath while dealing with her own feelings (or not dealing with them). I really empathized with her feelings and how she processed her grief. Grief really isn't something you get over, but you learn to live with as it stays with you for the rest of your life. I was touched by the author's acknowledgement at the end, in which she explains that she, like Cass, had also suddenly lost her brother and had her own journey through grief.

There's also a bonus chapter from Vince's POV, and after reading an entire book through Cass's POV in which she viewed herself in such a negative light, it was sweet to see how her through someone else's eyes and how she's been able to thrive in the years after her brother's death.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!

Oh boy!
I got more of a read than I was expecting from this one, and I was wholly unprepared! This author is new to me, and I wasted no time in diving into their book after receiving a complimentary copy from Netgalley. The range of emotions in this rollercoaster ride is intense, and the satisfying happily ever after adds to its appeal.

While the title initially seems to encapsulate the contents well, it ultimately falls short. It doesn’t let you know how easy it is to relate to Cass and her awful new reality. Or when she realizes her world is falling apart and there’s nothing she can do. Also, it says nothing about how the author’s words make you feel the characters’ pain and frustrations as you journey with them.

This story is crafted in such a way that it’s incredibly difficult to stop reading. I recommend making sure you have enough time to fully immerse yourself in it, and don’t forget to have tissues nearby because it’s guaranteed you’ll need them. I truly appreciated Vince and how he added a sense of normalcy and lightheartedness to the story, despite his own struggles with RJ’s passing.

I won’t spoil the story, but I can assure you that Cass gets a happy ending, and I’m delighted with the way this storyline concludes. I am delighted to have read this book, and I am voluntarily providing my review, highly recommending it. It’s a highly relatable and emotionally captivating book that I thoroughly enjoyed. (Not the sobbing part - I could have done without that! Hahaha.) I hope you connect with it as well as I did!

I don’t think I’ve ever loved a book that has made me cry so much! Sophie Andrews’ Love at a funeral and other awkward conversations was a devastatingly beautiful story of grief. I usually steer away from sad stories, but I don’t regret requesting this novel, and I think it will stay with me for a long time. The story is wonderfully written, heart wrenching in places but leaves you uplifted at the end. Cass and Vince’s story was perfectly intertwined to keep from overwhelming the reader with sadness. I definitely recommend reading! Thank you to NetGalley and Sophie Andrews for the ARC!

This book takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster ride, delving into the aftermath of Ray's passing and exploring how his friends and family navigate the grief. While the narrative touches on various characters, it primarily centres on Ray's sister, who grapples with finding her identity amidst her profound loss. Before her brother's death, she lived in his shadow, escaping the pressure of constantly pleasing others. However, with his absence, she finds herself thrust into the spotlight, forced to confront her own desires and needs.

The storyline unfolds as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, undergoing significant character development along the way. The slow burn trope adds depth to the narrative, though occasionally, her interactions with Vince evoke frustration, albeit understandable given her inner turmoil. The complexity of loving someone while struggling to love oneself resonates throughout the narrative, offering poignant insights into human relationships and inner battles.

While the plot captivates, there are occasional distractions in the form of fragmented passages that detract from the overall flow. These instances, whether grammatically flawed or conceptually unclear, momentarily disrupt the immersive experience. Nevertheless, the book compensates with numerous thought-provoking and relatable quotes. Lines such as "I want to make my life better, but I can’t, so when I finally get something good, I mess it up" and "the family I knew doesn’t exist anymore" encapsulate the characters' emotional depths and existential struggles.

Amidst the turmoil, the narrative highlights the importance of steadfast companionship and resilience. Quotes like "Everyone should have a friend like mine, to help you up from the bottom and who shares an umbrella in the storm" underscore the significance of supportive relationships in navigating life's storms. Ultimately, the protagonist's journey towards independence and self-reliance, symbolized by her reluctance to lean on Vince or anyone else, reinforces themes of personal growth and empowerment amidst adversity.

This novel was such an emotional journey through grief and love that captivated me from the get-go. I spent the first 30% of the book in full tears. Although the love story between Cass and Vince is secondary to the grief Cass goes through, it still packs a punch. Vince is a perfect book boyfriend, giving Cass the support she needs throughout the book. This is honestly one of the best novels I have read this year.

I went into this thinking it was a cutesy, maybe rom-com type of book, and whilst the title mentions a funeral, it looked very cutesy.

However, I was pleased to find that this book has so much more depth than that. Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations by Sophie Andrews is an emotional journey through the stages of grief when a woman loses her brother unexpectedly. This book delves through tonnes of complex emotions, and does so beautifully - you can see the main characters struggles as she tries to navigate her own emotions, take care of her emotionally absent parents, even as she tries to maintain a job.

This book is so raw, and whilst there is still a romance, it isn't a cheesy romance that I've come to expect from books with similar cartoonish covers. Seeing this friendship and relationship grow, wilt and flourish over the course of the book, and seeing how the death of her brother and all the emotions that comes with that and all the following events... it just felt so real. It wasn't a "everythings ok" type of love story, she felt anger, survivor's guilt, depression, until she finally comes to acceptance towards the end of the book, and each of those stages affects her relationship with those around her.

I would half argue that this is a love story about self love and self discovery. It's a story about learning the new normal that you're forced to find when you lose someone significant in your life. That being said, there is a romance in this book, and it's woven into the story so well.

Not many novels address the death of a sibling, and it's a pain I could never imagine. And I'm in awe of how well Sophie Andrews has written this story with so much emotion on every page.

Thank you NetGalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Don't let the cute cover fool you: this is a deeply emotional and poignant look at grief.

We are thrown into it at the very start, with police showing up at Cass's door: her beloved older brother collapsed and was found dead. Soon the rest of her family is thrown into disarray: her mom numbs herself with pills, her dad grows violent and leaves the house for days at a time, and Cass tries to keep everything together. With the help of Vince, the town funeral director and Cass's childhood crush, she navigates her grief and how to get through a life without the one who held them together.

There were so many positives to this story. It shows different facets of grief, including how it changes over time, especially how it can cause mourners to feel guilty about feeling happy. It stresses the importance of getting help and not facing things alone, and it never shames Cass for being emotionally unstable and for floating through life. I also loved how it did not portray Ray to be a perfect person; it talks a lot about martyrdom after death and how we tend to only remember the positives, even though Ray was not necessarily a good person. The uniqueness of sibling relationships is explored. The inclusion of Instagram posts is particularly strong, a unique spin on epistolary storytelling.

Honestly, the only thing that knocked this down a star for me is the romance itself. A lot of the development in their relationship was glossed over, and the ending was pretty rushed. He was an absolute gem and I wish I could have seen more of him. If this is being advertised as a romance, and not as a coming-of-age or meditation on loss, then give me some more romance!! Especially when the date and spice scenes are that good :)

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I loved this one!

Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversions by Sophie Andrews is an emotional journey through the grief of a woman after losing her brother. She experiences an array of emotions as she navigates how to not only cope emotionally but also how to hold her family together. With her parents emotionally absent, her only support comes from the director of the funeral home that buried her brother... who also happens to be her brother's high school best friend and her crush.

This book is so raw and candid but also has a story of self-discovery and love as well. I haven't seen many novels that address the death of a sibling, let alone the emotions and stages of grief that come with it and it was sad but significant.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for early access to read this memorable story in exchange for an honest review. It was a great read.

Losing someone you love is incomprehensible pain, the feeling of loss wrecks you and breaks you. This story deals with grief, loss, love, and coping with the loss, it is a very realistic story filled with humourous banter and the hopelessness of dealing with loss. I could feel the raw emotions just by reading and loved the writing.

I was eyeing this book for several weeks, something about the cover and the title called to me, finally, couldn't resist anymore and asked for the arc.

I read the blurb of the book, I saw the title, and still didn't expect it to be so emotional and so heavy and so focused on grief. I bawled through the first third of the story, then again and again, and when it seemed that there were no tears left, I cried some more. And I loved it. It was unexpected, raw and honest. And though the love line was secondary, it blended beautifully within the story. BTW, Vince, despite his name, is a perfect book boyfriend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

This book made me feel SO many emotions!!!

Twenty-something Cass is feeling lost. She’s living in her parent’s basement after moving home from NYC. Working a shitty service industry job while trying to find herself and figure out her next move, her only real friend in her home town is her older brother… until her world is turned upside down by his sudden passing.

This story follows Cass and her process through grief (obviously), but it also reads as a coming of age story— A young woman coming home to herself and growing through a mountain of obstacles. It also follows one of the sweetest love story’s that had me giggling, swooning, screaming with frustration, and smiling like an idiot. (Although this isn’t to say that this book isn’t heavy, because it definitely is! But the romance was a beautiful addition and a positive light sprinkled into discussion of death, grief and mourning.)

I saw a lot of myself in Cass and could really relate to her character (as I’m sure many others will too!) which really made this book hit hard for me. The only reason it wasn’t quite 5 stars for me is because I was hoping for a little more in the ending, it felt kind of… rushed?

But still LOVED this book and will be ordering a copy for my collection as it feels like a book that I will want to come back to ❤️

What an emotional ride! I really enjoyed this romance and the way it explores grief, healing, and the way you never really get over the loss of a loved one, you just learn how to live without them. This gained points with me right away with that Andrew Garfield quote because what he said is one of the most poignant, beautiful things I've ever heard about grief. I can tell that this was a personal work because the author relied on her own experience of loss, and it shows. This felt authentic and that's what made this so compelling and moving, so I enjoyed it very much. It's very well done.

I was completely swept away by this novel.

When Cass's world is shattered by the sudden loss of her brother, she's left to navigate the aftermath while her grieving parents struggle to cope. Enter Vince, the funeral director and Cass's brother's old high school best friend – a figure from her past whom she once harbored a massive crush on but hadn't seen in years.

While at its core, this story delves deep into the complexities of grief and the journey toward acceptance in the wake of profound loss, the love story that unfolds between Cass and Vince adds an enriching layer to her path of healing. Vince's character, a true gentleman with a heart of gold, brings a sense of warmth and understanding to Cass's world, his patience and kindness serving as a beacon of light in her darkest moments.

The way the love story intertwines with Cass's journey is nothing short of masterful. It's tender, it's genuine, and it's beautifully woven into the fabric of the plot. And amidst the emotional depth, there are moments of levity sprinkled throughout, offering a refreshing touch of humor that I found both delightful and relatable.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is such a sweet love story. This book is about the grief we heal from. The authors note at the end made the book a beautiful testimony. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I needed this story. I needed it to mirror my emotions and experiences, to help me feel seen. Death isn’t something you can talk about with everyone. Especially the loss of a sibling - your only sibling. Their Raymond, my Rammona. My best friend called her Ray. No one understands. You grew up together. You lose a piece of yourself.

Until I read this novel, I didn’t know how much I needed to experience someone else’s grief. To be able to separate it from my own. To recognize everything I have felt and all I am feeling is absolutely normal.

I could situate myself inside the pages of this book - inside those early scenes. No one talks about these moments. The need to adopt a new vocabulary, past tense. The realization that nothing new will happen again. These are the only photos we’ll ever have. That was the last text she’d ever send. “Thank you.”

Grief…it throws itself at you, and you carry it. I’m still not sure if it ever lets go. I adored the main characters: Vince & Cass. Their love for each other. His capacity for forgiveness and her penchant for being self aware. It was dripping from every scene, yet she still failed to fully see herself.

I adored this story. And I very much appreciate Sophie Andrews for translating her feelings and experiences into an evocative work of fiction, for people like us to experience the collective truth of loss and grief with the added comfort of a happy ending.

I received this book for free from Netgalley.

Cassie's brother dies at the beginning of the book. This isn't a book where you get to know and love a character and then the character dies. We don't know him at all when he dies.

Despite that, the writing is so raw and emotional that I still felt the loss.

I felt every bit of Cassie's emotional rollercoaster. I haven't lost my brother, but I did lose my husband so I definitely can relate to the grieving process.

I would definitely read more by this author.

this book made me feel a load of feelings.
didn’t expect it to impact me so much but the way that she described her feelings after the death really hit.
The scene as she was saying goodbye to her brothers body really hurt.
Brought Back a load of memories from losing my special someone.

Her finding Vance and their relationship flourishing was perfect for her and i do wish we could have seen a bit more of their chemistry and relationship coming together.

My dad just died, but I felt compelled to read this book. While the people we lost aren't the same, much of the grieving process is. I adored how Andrews wrote this story. It felt like a close companion as I stayed up late reading page after page. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This is a memorable book for me and I have a feeling other people will relate. Five stars.

This book is definitely more of a love story than I imagined it to be. The description of the book has some raw themes; complicated family dynamics heightened by a death and loss of a dear one. These feel like weighty topics, but the book doesn’t read as weighty to me at all. I feel fully invested in and enjoyed the raw storytelling.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for sharing a digital copy of this book with me.

4/5 ✨

Even surrounded by family, I’m completely alone in my grief

I’m tired of being tired

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I thought it would be a lighthearted romance ( and I still think they should change the plot description a little bit ) It's more drama than romance but because the author explored Cass's grief uncompromisingly direct and honest ( which makes Cass unlikable at times ), it makes all the romance parts hard earned, which I absolutely loved. Also it's really fascinating that I haven't seen any books that dig into a loss of a sibling before this book. I could relate to Cass the way she self destructs handling everyone's grief instead of her own, not taking care of her own well being, not taking time of her own to grieve. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and it was great to see her make mistakes, own up to it after realising that the only cure for grief is to grieve. I love the way the author drew us into Cass's world which is filled with pain, anger and despair in the absence of her brother, but also had people like Vince and her followers who throws a lifeline to her, almost telling her, not everything is lost and she can still find happiness at the end of it all. I also feel for all the characters that didn't get a lot of time in this novel, like Nell, Shayna and especially Cass's dad, who I hate. I'm going to think about this book for a long time. I also found few typos which could be insignificant since it's an ARC.