I loved this book! It had me crying and laughing. Cass deals with the death of her brother and then everything that goes with it, parenting her parents and falling in love with an old flame. You go through every emotion with her.

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

This was a 4.5/5 star read. It was hard and heavy but worth it. Sophie beautifully writes about the journey of loss and grief while intertwining it with a meaningful and heartfelt love story. I grabbed the tissues way more than I expected during this read because it was so emotional. Although there is a beautiful love story, the book is mostly about grief so it's a very intense read. You will hurt and laugh with Cass (FMC) but you also grow with her and her story is so unique. 
TW: death/loss of a family member

Absolutely loved this book. It is a year since I lost my grandad and this touched me but I could relate in so many ways. I loved the character growth of Cassie throughout the book. Thank you for sharing this book with us all.

I originally thought this was going to be a light hearted read about a woman losing her brother and coming to terms with it by finding solace in her late brother's best friend.
It reminded me of 'the dead romantics by Ashley Posten' based on the cover, the title and the synopsis.
Although that was the main premise of it, it was so much more. Depicting grief and showcasing the various ways people grieve their loved ones, or come to terms with the fact that someone they talked to and knew on a personal level isn't around anymore. Everyone grieves differently and this was beautifully shown with the way all the characters reacted and went on with their lives. It did feel a little bit unrealistic when everyone around the FMC moved on so quickly but that just goes to show the complexity of humans.

There was a little bit of romance intertwined with it to keep it interesting, I really liked the soft way she fell in love with Vince, he deserves the world, but their romance didn't feel rushed and it was sweet seeing her find someone she found comfort in.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

TW: death/grieving - go ahead a grab a box of tissues, you’re going to need them!!

I finished this book and immediately, within minutes, messaged Sophie on Instagram to thank her for writing it. I know it couldn’t have been easy to write because she drew from her own personal experiences for this story.

This book captures the complete essence and experience of grieving for someone you love unconditionally and how difficult it is to figure out your new normal. And until you experience it, you can’t understand it. It’s so hard and I didn’t know how much I needed this read!

It’s sad, emotional, raw but also funny (if you have a morbid sense of humor, I do, it’s a coping mechanism, ya know?!) It’s a brother’s best friend romance at its heart and I think Vince could fix any broken heart. It’s finding hope and love after hitting rock bottom and it tore my heart apart and put it back together again.

Sophie - thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC but thank you even more for the book itself. I’ll never be able to explain how meaningful it was to me.

Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op as well.

ARC review: Releases 5/31/2024

I don’t know how it happened, but I ended up reading two books at the same time dealing with the death of a sibling. I’ll be honest, I’m a little shattered. 😭

This one written by Sophie Andrews and based somewhat on her actual life where she lost her brother far too soon is more a story about the grieving process than a straight-up romance. It feels so real to go through this process with Cass. She’s struggling to keep her parents afloat and the only person keeping her afloat is her brother’s high school friend and current funeral director, Vince.

Cass was already in a negative place mentally even before her brother dies suddenly. After that she’s floundering. She doesn’t know how to be alive without her only true friend.

Vince steps in and he’s just quietly waiting to help her. He lets her fall in love with his dog, takes her to the batting cage to release some rage, and kisses her (and more) when she can’t take the tension anymore. He’s basically perfect as all book boyfriends should be.

If you’re looking for something to pull your heart out of your chest, then put it back and stitch it up, this is the book for you. ♥️♥️♥️

#romance #contemporaryromance #contemporaryfiction #grief #arc #sophieandrews #pomegranateseeds #queenoftheunderworld

Reading about death can sometimes feel perhaps too morbid, but this books feels more like closure when looking at death and gives a new perspective on it.

well fuck me. did i stay up until almost 3am to finish this? absolutely. did i basically cry the entire time? obviously. i’m a wimp but also it’s a depressing topic. i really loved cas, i felt her emotions and her journey dealing with the grief of losing her brother. i loved vince too guys. this is less of a romance book than it is about cassie and her grief. while i do wish it had more of vince and cassie together, i am not really complaining either. the scenes they had melted me. he is everything she needed im crying. i’m glad they got their peaceful happy ending <3 this is a 5 star book to me in ashley nation. others can disagree, but i flew through it.

I really loved this one.

When Cass loses her brother unexpectedly, she's left to pick up the pieces after her parents are too grief-stricken to help her.

Vince is her the funeral director and her brother's best friend from high school that she had a huge crush on but hasn't seen in a few years.

This story is more about grief and learning to live in the new normal after losing someone you love than a love story. However, the love story was important to Cass's journey and I simply adorned the way it was woven into the plot. Vince was a dreamboat and his patience with Cass was so soft and so kind. There was some humor trickled in that I really appreciated, as I definitely have some tendencies toward dark humor.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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

Keep your tissues handy, readers, you're in for an emotional ride. Is there romance involved? Yes, but don't think of this as your typical romance, This is a book about grief, and it is so wonderfully written, you'll almost forget this is fiction. It belongs on the self-help shelves, too, as a guide to grieving. You just want to give Cass a big hug and tell her that one day she'll be ok. Except that she's not a hugger :) Her emotional growth throughout the story was so beautiful to read. Is this also wickedly funny at times? Sure is.

Unfortunately for me, I also lost my big brother very unexpectedly, not in these exact circumstances, but close enough. And the baseball and Springsteen references hit home. Sophie Andrews' author's note at the end of the book made my cry the most. It's true, this is not a club to which you want to belong. Thank you, Sophie, for bringing this book into my life. (I hope you include the bonus Vince scene in the final version!) Would give this more than 5 stars.

Seeing the cover of the book and reading the blurb I thought this was more of a romance book. And while there certainly was a lovestory in the book it was more a book about loss and grieving. The main character Cass is very relatable and I felt for her. She tries to keep it together after her brother dies and be there for everybody while she only has one person who is there for her: Vince. But in order to move on with her life she has to hit rock-bottom and crawl back up first.
I liked reading this book even though it wasn't what I expected at first. It was interesting, had believable characters and made me feel a lot.

This book describes grief in such a heartwrenchingly real way: the tears that were shed, my lord.

The emotional rollercoaster that this book took me on, between the adorable romance to the crippling feelings of anger, sadness and despair that come with the loss of a loved one, was one of the best that I've ever experienced.

Damn this book had me with all the feels! It evoked a strong emotional response in me literally. It took me on the heroine's journey through grief, showcasing her resilience in overcoming it.

So, the book centers around the death of a sibling, which is handled delicately and definitely this book is not an easy read. Cass and her family endured immense suffering, each in their own way. However, Cass finds solace in Vince, who becomes her ally in navigating this difficult path and helps her cope with the tragedy.

The primary focus of the book is evidently grief, with a touch of romance intertwined. Cass experiences the sudden loss of her brother, Ray, to a heart attack. As she deals with her grief and grapples with her feelings for Vince, who also happens to be the one arranging Ray's funeral, she also tries to support her grieving parents.

This book resonated with me on many levels. It portrays grief as a non-linear process, where progress can be followed by setbacks. It emphasizes the importance of self-care before being able to help others. It also highlights the power of perception, showing how others may see strength in us even when we feel broken. Additionally, it explores the challenges of hiding behind a screen versus facing difficult conversations, and how embracing vulnerability can lead to positive change.

I enjoyed reading this book, as it mainly focuses on drama with a touch of romance. However, I would have appreciated more interactions between Cass and Vince, or even some chapters from Vince's perspective.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

A touching story about grief and finding love.

I went into this book not knowing what to expect but was unexpectedly moved. I thought the author did a fantastic job of capturing grief and the process of healing. This was so well done.

The romance was so sweet and romantic. I really liked it.

I absolutely loved this book depicting life after the loss of a beloved sibling.
A very emotional read and bound to be a tear-jerker for some readers. Cass is trying to keep things together after the loss of her brother. She's already struggling with life as it is, and after his death the family bonds begin to crumble. Mom fades away into sorrow and dad tries to find solace in a multiple of vices. The only thing keeping Cass together is her brother's old friend Vince. Vince, bless his beautiful, kind and loving soul is so patient and taken with Cass. I love the way their relationship evolved. Third act break up? Yes, but honestly it's really not awful considering the circumstances from Cass's POV.
Definitely recommend with 5 bright stars!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and of course the author for the chance to read and share my thoughts on this touching book.

This book was mainly about grief, with some romance interwoven into it. Cass loses her brother, Ray, suddenly to a heart attack. She reconnects with Vince, who manages Ray's funeral arrangements and whom she also had a crush on in high school. While coping with the grief of losing Ray and wrestling with her feelings for Vince, she also tries to manage her parents' pain.

Many themes in this book resonated with me. It depicts that grief isn't linear, that some days you take one step forwards, but the next day you take two steps back. It portrays that sometimes, helping yourself first, can then set you up better for being able to help someone else. It illustrates how you might see yourself as completely broken, but others see you as strong and that can give you the courage to start showing up in life. How sometimes it is easier to live behind a screen instead of having to explain your sorry situation when you meet a new person, however, it is from trying and having the awkward conversations that life starts to turn around.

This is a veeeery emotional book. We witness the heroine’s journey through grief and how she manages to stand on her feet.
The subject is rather delicate, death of a sibling and it’s not an easy read.
Cass suffered a lot, her family too, each one in their own way but she had an ally, Vince, in this difficult path who made it easier to get through the tragedy.
I liked this book. It’s 80% drama and 20% romance.
I guess I would have liked it more if we had seen more interactions between Cass & Vince, or some chapters from his POV would have been nice.

-Single 1st person POV (FMC)
-Spice: 🌶️ (minimal)

Overall: 3.75/5 ⭐️ for me.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you are picking this book up looking for a quirky lighthearted romance, this is not the book for you. This book is first and foremost about grief. It is a raw, honest, sometimes humorous look at how people grieve differently, how it changes you, how it changes relationships, how it changes everything. There is a romance in there, and it is a sweet one, but this book is about Cass and her journey through her grief. It was not what I was necessarily expecting going in, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. It made me smile, it made me tear up, and it made me spend almost the whole day reading. All told, as long as the subject matter is something you are comfortable reading about, I would absolutely recommend giving this little gem a read.

I received this book from Netgalley to review.

I really enjoyed this book. If you are a person who doesn’t like a lot of inner monologue be warned this book has a lot. It’s about a sister and her journey in grief and being the person everyone else leans on to get things done. It does have spice but only two scenes, it does however have a happy ending! Her defense mechanism hit a little to close and I’m gonna have to call all my siblings and my therapist now. I will be looking into more of her books I really enjoyed this authors writing style.

Not your typical love story. The plot starts off sad, but that’s not the end of it. Relatable characters that you can’t stop rooting for.