Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. These opinions are my own.

I simply adored Linda Holmes' first two novels, having discovered her through her podcast. I was so happy to see this third book with a glimpse of the podcast world firmly within her usual emotionally insightful, playful, romance-adjacent-but-not-exclusively style. It was another absolute banger. I loved it all from the meet cute to our loveable but flawed main character, to the way she humanized our antagonists. Five stars, will keep nabbing Linda Holmes' work as fast as she can produce it!

Back After This, is a fun, silly, engaging rom com! It had me kicking my feet and giggling it was cute and a fast paced novel!
We are following Cecily who is working for a company that produces podcast but with a turn of events she is now being partnered up with popular influencer who is now going to be her dating coach for a new podcast!
I really enjoyed this book! I thought the pacing was perfect and I really loved reading about the behind the scenes of editing and making of podcast!

This book took me by surprise in the very best way! Such a fun and cute story, didn't want to put it down!

Such a great rom com. The beginning was a bit slow but then started getting momentum later! Loved the plot of this! Was my first podcast book and I was a bigger fan than I thought I was going to be

Cecily has dedicated her entire adult life to the podcast industry. After breaking up with her boyfriend (4 years ago...) she wants to be as successful as him in the industry. Her boss pitches a dating show for her to star in and she is immediately reluctant. While pondering this opportunity, she randomly runs into a man that she seems to be attracted to. She decides to do the show and ignore her connection to save her job. Now she has to deal with being date coached by an uppity influencer, going on twenty dates, while having them recorded, and on top of it all, she's distracted by a man that she can't get out of her mind - or her line of sight given she keeps running into him.
 
Authors put their hearts and souls into their work, so it crushes me when books just don't sit with me. This one was a miss. Cecily was unlikeable. Eliza was unlikeable. Julie was unlikeable. Toby was unlikeable. Will was the perfect book boyfriend; however the ending made me horribly mad for him, and I ended up liking him a little less because of it. I just couldn't get on board with any of the characters. I was not once rooting for Cecily. I did really like the explanation of the podcast industry and the difficulties that accompany it. I do have a greater appreciation for podcasters because of this novel, so I'll take that as a win!

Ultimately, this one fell flat for me. Thanks to Ballantine Book and NetGalley for the eARC!

Cute romance. Not really a romcom. Kind of slow for my tastes. Thanks to the publisher and author for the arc all opinions are my own

I love the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. After books, tv and film are my favorite--it's the stories! I love stories in all forms, and PCHH podcast is all about reviewing and discussing them. Linda Holmes is a longtime host of the show and one of my favorite people to listen to. I have been absolutely delighted that she became a novelist. She is talented, funny, observant, wry, smart, and creative. And a fabulous writer, of course.

This is the third novel she's written, and I've read all three. I think this might be my favorite--there's self-doubt to overcome, there's undeniable attraction with the "wrong" timing, there's antics and banter and friendship and hot guys. And podcasts! A meet-cute with a dog!

I could "hear" Linda's voice as I read the book, which is truly delightful. I honestly wish I could hang out with this author in real life. She seems like the perfect friend for going out to dinner and a movie and talking for hours.

Quote I liked: “People do exciting things after they turn forty all the time. Julia Child was fifty when she published her first book.” “You know why everybody knows that?” I said. “Because it isn’t what usually happens.”

Right? Thanks to Ballantine books for the advance copy.

I loved Evvie Drake and this was a similar style- so fun and easy to read. I read it in one beach day. Highly recommend for fans of Emily Henry.

BACK AFTER THIS is a sweet and endearing love story filled with witty humor and wholesomeness that takes readers inside the podcast world. After a bad breakup and not having a dating life since, Cecily, a podcast producer, is approved to host her own show, but it has to involve her going on twenty first dates setup and coached by an influencer. But why happens when she goes away from the terms to the show and meets someone else - in the wild no else! - but not approved by said influencer coach)?

This book somehow felt so pure and yet grounded at the same time - still relatable while making for a delightful escape. With the refreshing storyline, likable characters, and the entertaining writing, I found myself quickly invested and caring for the characters (and dog!). I enjoyed the maturity and depth to Will and Cecily and seeing their friendship bloom and evolve. This was my first time reading work by this author and I look forward to reading her other books.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting look at self evaluation and relationships. Cecily's journey was so relatable that you can see yourself in her shoes.

Linda Holmes has done it again with Back After This! This book sparkles with wit, charm, and heart, all tied up in a story that feels like a cozy chat with a close friend.

Cecily Foster is a delightful protagonist—her quick wit and relatable awkwardness make her instantly lovable. Watching her navigate the chaos of hosting a podcast about her love life (a situation I would personally find mortifying!) kept me laughing and rooting for her. Her banter with the eccentric Eliza Cassidy is pitch-perfect, and the swoony moments with Will? Absolute gold.

Holmes masterfully balances the humor with moments of vulnerability, as Cecily reflects on her past relationships and her self-worth. The podcast framework adds a modern and fun twist to the rom-com genre, giving the story a fresh perspective on dating in the digital age.

If you love quick dialogue, swoon-worthy romance, and characters that feel like real people you'd want to grab coffee with, Back After This will sweep you off your feet. A must-read for fans of modern love stories!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

A cozy romance from beloved NPR host Linda Holmes. While this didn't hit quite as well for me as her previous two titles, it was still heartwarming, witty, and winning. Holmes's love for and knowledge of audio shines through the FMC and specific traits and quirks make her relatable and familiar, without falling into that "she's beautiful but don't hate her because she's a mess, see she tripped over her own feet" cliche territory. I'll always be ready for a new Linda Holmes book.

"Back After This" by Linda Holmes is a charming romantic comedy with all the right elements: a likable heroine, a swoon-worthy love interest, and a dog. Cecily, the protagonist, humorously navigates her romantic life by dating men like it's her job (because it currently is). Her observations and frustrations with both the men and her dating coach make for an enjoyable, lighthearted read. The real heart of the book, though, lies in the slow-burning friendship between Cecily and Will. Their connection feels authentic and natural, and it's refreshing to see their relationship evolve over time.

While Cecily’s self-deprecating nature is relatable, it can sometimes feel a bit excessive, making her seem more awkward than an adult woman might be in her situation. That said, this minor flaw doesn't detract much from the overall enjoyment of the book. If you're a fan of authors like Abbie Jiminez or Emily Henry, "Back After This" is a perfect pick for a fun, quick read full of humor, heart, and plenty of romance.

I enjoyed Holmes's previous book, Evvie Drake Starts Over, and I like this one too, although it's a little too predictable and formulaic. A podcast producer--and I did love learning about podcast production!--agrees to take part in a podcast in which she'll go on 20 dates and get advice from a "romance influencer"-type figure. But before those dates get underway, she has a meet-cute with a charming guy and a charming dog. So we know what's gonna happen: most of the dates will be duds, and either she'll have to choose between a date and meet-cute-dog-guy, or all of the dates will be duds and she'll end up with meet-cute-dog-guy. Spoiler: it's the second. But along the way there are some unfortunately cliched events: misunderstandings, omission of crucial info, et al. Even knowing the ending that's coming, it's still a pleasant read; the main characters are interesting and pretty well-developed and the podcast and influencer worlds are interesting to learn about.

Linda Holmes' third book is a truly wonderful piece of storytelling. She repeatedly raises the bar for compelling and nuanced heroines and shows how love happens to everyone in the messiest and most wonderful of ways. Her writing is so insightful and funny, every time I read one of her books (this one was no exception) I spend an exorbitant amount of time texting my friends about passages and moments I find delightful. Anyway I loved it, please let her write whatever she wants.

This by far my favorite novel from Linda Holmes! I love podcasts so a romance book about a podcast host was right up my alley. I appreciated the character development of the main characters and the story kept me engaged. A five star read!

Such a lovely read. Hilarious, witty, romantic all set against the backdrop of the DC status game. Really appreciated the unique take on needing to be helpful and have people grateful for you.

Tropes: friends to lovers, bachelorette type dating show, podcasting
This book started out slow and was a little hard to get into, but overall, I enjoyed the book. Basically, Cecily is an overworked producer at an audio studio and is told she would get the opportunity to produce her own show if she does a dating/self help show to improve ratings. She ends up doing it, but she keeps running into someone over and over again who was NOT a part of the show, who she has been told not to become involved with. Obviously, she doesn’t listen.

This novel is about Cecily who is a producer of podcasts for a small and struggling company in DC. Despite preferring to be behind the scenes, she agrees to be the guinea pig for a bachelor-esque podcast series that follows her going on 20 dates and being guided by a matchmaker named Eliza. In order to get the project of her choosing and to save her and her best friend’s jobs, she agrees to follow Eliza’s guidance and give this a fair shot. As in real life nothing goes according to plan and right as Cecily is set to begin a man runs into her life, superhero cape and all.

I *loved* this book. It was such a delight to read - I immediately adored Cecily and wanted to protect her at all costs. The writing is SO good and I didn't want to put it down - but I also did not want this book to end. It was so readable and I loved getting to know some behind-the-scenes details about what goes into making a podcast.

Overall, this book was a delight. If you enjoy romances with more depth than a kiddie pool this is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is probably my favorite book by Linda Holmes, and that is saying a lot. This is true romance, an impossibly cute meet cute, and a very satisfying grand gesture. And. The Banter. It was bantering. The premise of this book, in other hands, could have been handled very poorly. Our FMC works on podcasts and the company she works for is spinning the drain. But then an opportunity comes along and her boss wanted her to have her own podcast with a social media influencer who will help her find love by going on twenty dates, get some lifestyle coaching, and a She's All That-style makeover. I don't want to spoil anything else about the plot, because everything in this book is a breath of fresh. This book was so fun, so swoony, and yes, there is a dog. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC for my honest review.