Rated 3.5 stars

I am a fan of Linda Holmes and have thoroughly enjoy her work, whether it's articles that she's written or her podcasts. Her latest book, Back After This, takes the reader behind the scenes of what it's like working on a radio show and making a podcast. The preface of the book strongly suggests that this is not based on NPR or any other public radio broadcasts, however, Holmes's knowledge of the podcast world shines through in this book. I found the aspect of podcasting to be really interesting. The premise of the book is cute: Cecily is a podcaster who has repeatedly been overlooked by the men in her dating and working life. She is given the opportunity to host her own show with the caveat that she will work with a dating coach, go on 20 blind dates, record her experiences, and be open to the possibility of finding love. Of course love does come in the most unexpectant way and complicates everything.

I thought this book was fine and enjoyable, but I didn't love it as much as Holmes's other books. The tone of the book is conversational and in my opinion a bit too wordy. I was hoping for more introspection. The plot hits all the beats of a romantic comedy and the characters are fine, but it is a bit slow paced than I would have liked. The book's strongest aspect is its dialogue. Holmes writes great banter whether it's between romantic couples or just between friends.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Ballatine, and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of the book.

Linda Holmes is the host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast and such a smart, funny writer. I loved this rom-com about a podcast producer who agrees to host a show about her dating life with the help of an influencer-turned-romance-coach. (Most of) the characters were likable, the plot was adorable and I had a hard time putting it down.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Obviously once I saw Linda’s new book was available, I couldn’t hit the request button quickly enough. I still hate romance, but I will read anything Linda Holmes writes.

So hear me out - podcast stories are having A Moment right now…but mostly in the crime/mystery genre. This is a refreshing spin on that particular trope, as it’s a podcast story, but it’s about dating (Cecily is a shy producer taking the mic for her first “starring” podcast role as she works with a dating coach to hopefully find Mr. Right). Given that hockey is also inexplicably having A Moment in the romance genre right now, I’d love to read Linda’s or someone else’s take on a hockey crime story!

Ahem. Anyway. Linda Holmes has been hosting podcasts for years now, but she’s upfront in the author’s note that while this book is certainly based on some of her experiences, it’s not some kind of roman a clef tell-all. It’s just a subject area she happens to know quite a bit about. This hits basically all the familiar beats of a romantic comedy - the bumbling meet cute, the first stirrings of The Feelings, the always-required Terrible Miscommunication (where it looks like our heroes won’t work things out after all)... but because it’s Linda’s writing, it didn’t bug me or make me roll my eyes nearly as much as I expected it to. Although both of her previous books definitely had romantic elements, I feel like this one is the most explicitly “romantic comedy” of the bunch.

Our protagonist is Cecily - she works for a podcast company, mostly in a producing role, but she’s always dreamed of hosting her own show. She had a shot once - she and her then-boyfriend created a podcast where they basically chased down the human interest stories behind calls that came in over a police scanner. She did 90% of the work, but since someone once told her her voice was annoying, he was the voice (and the face? I guess? That’s confusing phrasing in an audio medium). And when they broke up, he just continued hosting Scanner Stories (no word on who he found to do all of the legwork for him), and while Cecily had always had a “special thanks” credit, she was never named as a producer, so she just loses this big piece of IP that she helped create and make great. It’s maddening! Cecily jumps at the chance to get on the other side of the mic when her boss offers her a hosting job, but it’s literally the stuff of nightmares - not only will it be a dating podcast (she’ll go on a bunch of blind dates…which will be recorded!), but she’ll be getting advice from a dating influencer along the way.

Cecily wants none of this, but her boss convinces her that this is the only way he’ll give her a shot at hosting a show SHE creates from scratch. Oh and also things are pretty tight right now and it would be a shame if she passed on this and then he had to fire her best friend. So she decides to go with it, but pretty much on the way to meet this influencer woman, Cecily has an actual meet-cute with a guy out on the street. He’s chasing a giant dog, and she helps him by (no joke) pulling a giant jar of peanut butter out of her purse and luring the dog back. Turns out it wasn’t even his dog - he was getting a haircut and saw the dog escape and just…ran after it. There are sparks, it is very cute, and Cecily is a bit disappointed that she’s about to embark on this blind date-a-thon. The dates themselves are montaged on the page in a way that I suspect could be VERY entertaining on screen, but throughout all of this, she and Will (dog guy) just keep running into each other. He’s actually the waiter at the restaurant during her “dummy date” (basically a practice date set up to sell a preview episode), and when her producer captures some audio of him saying that the dude isn’t right for her (he’s a very boring guy who’s way into supplements), the whole internet falls in love with him, all of them insisting she just go out with Hot Waiter instead.

This is, of course, terrible news for Eliza the Influencer, who has basically built her whole career around the notion that this kind of thing just doesn’t happen. You don’t meet a cute guy on the street, you put in the WORK and you have a professional set you up on a bunch of soul-crushing blind dates. In a way, I see her point, because it’s true that people generally *don’t* find each other in that adorable way anymore. But also I think you often find someone when you stop trying so hard - if you’re just open to what’s out there, instead of working at it methodically like it’s your job (which for Cecily…it genuinely is. Oof). And of course in this case, lots of people are going to lose lots of money and sponsorships if Cecily just dates the Hot Waiter.

So yes, it’s somewhat predictable, but I like that Linda’s characters have some depth to them. Eliza is A LOT, but she isn’t a caricature. And near the end, she has some excellent come to Jesus advice for Cecily that Cecily really needs to hear (in spite of the fact that Eliza is a bit of a bitch about it).

I really, really enjoyed this. It’s cute without being saccharine, and it doesn’t fall into my least favorite romantic trope - where it’s all vibes and no plot. Although like I said, this is definitely MORE focused on romance than either of Linda’s previous books, there’s still more to Cecily than “girl want date guy,” and for that I am immensely grateful.

Holmes has written a compelling novel that considers how to find “your person” and the definition of successful. Holmes is a deft writer. The writing is witty and the characters are likable and believable. Recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it had a bit of a slow start, and I wasn't sure what I was going to think, but once the plot actually started happening, I was really into it. I really enjoyed the main characters, and while I wouldn't call it a funny book, I still found myself laughing out loud several times. Would like to read more by this author!

4.5 ⭐ rounded up

I loved Evie Drake Starts Over so when I saw Linda Holmes had a new book coming out, I immediately added it to my TBR! Back After This will give you the warm fuzzies and the confidence to listen to yourself. (Or at least encourage you to!).😉

Cecily is a do-it-all producer at a podcast company. She has always wanted to host her own show but it's "never the right time" at work. The one chance she has is a dating podcast with a self help guru. She agrees but insists on telling the truth and being real.

Can Cecily find true love after getting burned badly in her past? This book is about more than finding true love though, it's all about being truly happy and figuring out what that might look like.

This book is perfect for fans of Katherine Center and Sarah Adams. If you are trying to get out of a reading slump or want a rom com that's fun to read, pick this up!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC to enjoy.

This book was a nice cozy easy rom com read. I will say, the premise was great, as an avid podcast listener it was cool to have a book about podcasters. Halfway through though I was about ready to be done because the main character, Cecily, was getting on my last nerve. An incredible victim of life. An overachiever who lets people give her empty promises, who wants success in return but doesn’t have the guts to stand up for herself and demand more. Until the very end. Which is what saved this for me.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I have loved Linda Holmes first two books, so I was very excited to get a chance to read her latest which did not disappoint. I love the DC setting and the neighborhood and building references that are throughout as we don't get many romances set in DC. Cecily's journey, similar to Holmes' other protagonists, doesn't just go on a romantic journey but also one of finding her place in the world. It was a very fun light read, I highly recommend.

I'd read Linda Holmes before so I had a feeling I would really enjoy this novel. This is the story of Celeste, a podcaster, who in a last ditch effort to save not just her job but her good friend's job, agrees to do a podcast where she is the central character and agrees to have a wellness coach and go on dates. A rather silly premise to be sure. The wellness coach is supposed to introduce her to the perfect man for her, but of course she serendipitously meets a great guy the very first time she is out. And keeps running into him again and again. I learned so much about the craft of podcasting/audio in this book. No surprise since the author works for NPR and it wasn't boring and fit really nicely into the story. Will, the love interest, is very lovely and kind. And I almost liked when the wellness coach called Celeste out for being dishonest and manipulative herself!

Linda Holmes totally nailed it with Back After This! This book is an absolute joy, full of charm, laughs, and all the feels. It follows Cecily Foster, a podcast producer who somehow ends up as the subject of a wild dating experiment hosted by an influencer. Cue awkward dates, hilarious banter, a Great Dane, and a stranger who might change everything. Cecily’s journey isn’t just about finding love—it’s about figuring out what she really wants from life, and it’s so relatable. Holmes’s humor and heart are all over this, and the D.C. setting makes it even more fun and not as dull as the city feels.

Cecily is a podcaster writer, producer that has never hosted her own show. In an agreement with her boss in order to get a shot at her own show and to help the struggling company, she agrees to be the subject of a new podcast where she is sent on 20 first dates by a social media influencer who is going to pick the dates and give her advice on dating. Meanwhile, as the show gets going, Cecily keeps running into a guy and his great dane who is part waiter, part photographer and all round good guy.

There is not a lot of surprise in this light rom com but we do get an inside look at the podcasting world. Cecily's friends and family are delightful as are Will the waiter and Buddy the dog. I enjoyed the growth we saw in Cecily but wished we could have seen it a little sooner. I must admit I enjoyed the authors earlier two books better than this one, but if you are looking for a light romance in the world of dating and podcasting I would encourage you to give this one a try.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the e galley in return for an unbiased reveiw.

as a person who has never regularly listened to a podcast but i was eating this drama up. like any linda holmes book, this is so much more than a romance and is filled with self-discovery, doubt, and insecurity. this is only my second book I've read by holmes but i ate it up so much I will be reading the rest of her books.

A meet cute romance that I just couldn't put down, it was so sweet and funny. Cecily is relatable and I was rooting for her and Will the entire time. I got a little upset with her lack of confidence in the workplace but it doesn't take away from the fun romance .

I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Will is a great character, as is Eliza, and they both expanded Celia's world view convincingly. My only trouble is that I kept picturing Celia as Linda, which probably won't be a problem for the average reader. Thank you for allowing me to read this.

I would classify myself as a picky romance reader, as some of the more common tropes really annoy me and take me out of the story - but Back After This cements Linda Holmes as an auto-buy author for me. There were so many things I loved about this book, but the characters were the top of the list. Cecily is a flawed main character who feels realistic and easy to root for, and I appreciated that we got a deeper look at Eliza and her motivations instead of making her a caricature. I also really appreciated the brief blurbs about the many dates Cecily went on vs getting deeply into the weeds with each one - it made it feel fun while keeping the focus on the main romance. I also felt like the behind-the-scenes podcasting information was super interesting without feeling too deep. Ultimately, I really loved this one - 4.5 stars rounded up!

I have pretty much given up on contemporary romance these days. Most so-called romcoms rely on overused tropes, unbelievable conflicts and/or forced humor. Fortunately, NPR podcaster Linda Holmes' third novel reminds me that there is still hope for the genre.

Cecily Foster is a skilled podcast producer and editor who has long yearned to trade her behind-the-scenes roles for a chance at the microphone. Her boss Theo dangles a double-edged hosting opportunity - a podcast about dating in which Cecily will also be the subject. The hook is that she will be coached by Eliza Cassidy, a successful influencer who has a no-nonsense strategy for finding a compatible life partner. Cecily is reluctant to waste her debut hosting effort on such a shallow topic, but she makes a deal with Theo: she'll go on 20 dates and discuss the experience on-air. In return, her next gig will be as podcast host on a topic of her choice, and she can bring along her favorite colleague as lead producer.

Right now you are probably thinking, oh no, not 300 pages of bad date hijinks! Fortunately, the entire dating process is a montage of brief anecdotes that are dispensed with in one chapter. The problem is that Cecily has already experienced a meet-cute with a great guy. He's a part-time photographer and waiter who crosses Cecily's path when he is chasing down a runaway Great Dane. (Fortunately Cecily wields a Mary Poppins-like purse that contains a jar of peanut butter, stopping the cow-sized dog in his tracks.) Cecily and Will Cecily banter adorably, and Fate keeps putting them in each other's path. But Cecily is committed to her 20 podcast dates, and laid-back Will is not ambitious enough for Cecily even if she were free to explore a possible relationship.

Back After This is wonderfully grounded, in contrast to the silly romcoms that I've encountered lately. Holmes' sense of humor is primarily cerebral not physical, and the characters, especially Cecily's protective but blunt older sister, feel like real people instead of romcom archetypes. Eliza could easily have come off as a shallow snake-oil saleswoman, but she's never villainized or minimized. Cecily herself is inarguably flawed, deluding herself that she knows what's best for the people she loves and is therefore justified in keeping secrets from them.

Holmes adds just enough information about the art of podcasting to keep things interesting without overwhelming readers with every minor detail. The sex scenes convey passion and connection without focusing on the mechanics. The novel's only minor misstep is the stereotyped Evil Ex, although his final comeuppance is admittedly delicious.

I follow the author on social media, but I never felt like Cecily was a thinly disguised version of herself (or at least the self she presents online). Holmes' Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast has a regular feature called "What's making us happy." Back After This definitely deserves to be on that list.

I loved this book!

Cecily is a talented podcaster, but has always stayed in the background, even when her boyfriend broke up with her and took the podcast they had made together simply because he was the voice.

But when she is approached with a new project, a dating podcast, she steps into the spotlight for a chance to save some jobs, and hopefully have her own show after she makes it through this. She expects 20 blind dates, but life has its own surprises when she’s definitely not looking for them.

This book was so cute, I LOVED the witty banter between Cecily and Will, I only wish she would have seen it sooner!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Back After this is another hit from Linda Holmes. I loved Evie Drake and Flying Solo. Her new novel delves into the world of podcasting and the complexities of modern dating. Holmes, as always, creates excellent banter and rich, multifaceted characters.

Back After This introduces us to Cecily, a podcast producer who embarks on a unique journey with an influencer to explore finding the perfect partner. Holmes takes us on a fascinating exploration of the world of podcasting, adding a unique twist to the narrative.

Cecily is given a choice to take on a new podcast where she is the podcaster by partnering with an influencer (Eliza), who promises to find her love. She takes on the challenge because she's afraid her best friend might lose her job if she doesn't. The premise for the podcast is that she go on 20 first dates, and hopefully because they are curated and she's making a systematic approach this will lead to love.

Meanwhile, she keeps running into Will. A waiter/photographer who keeps showing up in her life, first when he rescues a dog who's run away, and then as her waiter when she's on her her first 'date' as part of the podcast project. He just keeps appearing, he's the photographer she was sent to for her new headshot, he comes to the influencers Christmas party, and finally they seek shelter together during a rain storm.

She thinks she's doing this for all the right reasons, and even though things are not going as expected, she's committed to sticking it out and creating a podcast hit. That is until she realizes that she was duped by everyone. That's when the question Eliza had asked her, "What does she want?" hits home. Eliza had asked about it in the context of a partner and the podcast. However, Cecily reframes that question to what she wants in life and takes control of her life and the podcast.

I found Back After This to be even more captivating than Holmes's previous novels. The depth of the characters and the unique podcast premise kept me engrossed from start to finish.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy in return for an unbiased review. Look for BACK AFTER THIS in February 2025!

I loved Evie Drake written by Linda Holmes but her follow up book Flying Solo wasn’t for me so O wondered where Back After This would land. I would say somewhere in the middle. Lots to love. I feel that the FMC had a lot of growth in her self confidence and it made for a triumphant ending. There is a love story in there but it’s quietly humming along in the background and I feel like the main story is all about the control Cecily finds in her life. 3.75 stars rounded up.