I absolutely devoured this book! It was so enjoyable for me and I am so so happy I got an ARC of this! I will be recommending to all my friends!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. I thoroughly enjoyed this, just as I have her previous novels. It’s refreshing to read a new Linda Holmes book! This may be my favorite one yet.

I adored this cute read! Cecily Is a little nerdy, a little awkward and just as cute as can be and relatable as heck In her quest for love. I ADORE how she meets Will at the most unexpected time rescuing a dog In the middle of the street and TADA, they live close by and he ends up adopting the dog and they just keep running Into eachother. I love watching Cecilys personal growth as she wrestles with her feelings for Will, her career and her process of getting over Justin even though Its been years and attempting to figure out what SHE wants and needs from life. The end was 10/10. “I quit my job... I threw your credentials In the water feature” they were completely and utterly meant to be! Even If the podcast scene Isnt your thing, Its def worth the read!

This was a fun read at times, but I do think that the podcast/romance angle is getting a bit overplayed as of late for plots.

I liked how we got to see the main character grow and finally stand up for herself and what she wants by the end. I was really rooting for her and the love interest.

3.5/5

This romance featured a behind the scenes podcast producer who's put in the spotlight for a new podcast where she's partnered with a "lifestyle/dating coach" who can help her "get it together" and find her perfect match. This was a fun premise, and the author did a great job of really making me love some characters and get the "ick" with others. Lots of cute moments, I'll admit I didn't like the main conflict but the empowering scenes that followed made up for it.

Read if you love:
🤍 podcasts and dating shows
🤍 meet cutes

This was such an interesting premise! I love getting a behind-the-scenes look at different industries, so learning about the podcasting world was especially fascinating. What started as a fun concept quickly became a journey of self-discovery that I really enjoyed.

Cecily and Will’s story kicked off with a meet-cute involving a dog (always a win!), and I loved how they kept crossing paths—even as Cecily tried to follow her dating coach’s plan. Eliza, on the other hand, was so stuck-up and judgmental. I know that was intentional, but wow, did she frustrate me!

What I appreciated most was Cecily’s growth. She found her voice, learned to stand up for herself, and refused to settle—both personally and professionally. The book did a great job highlighting the challenges women face in the workplace and the importance of demanding what we deserve.

The podcasting world made a great backdrop for this romance. Although I didn't care for Eliza's character (like at all), Cecily and "The Hot Waiter" were very fun to read. Mistakes were made, feelings were hurt, but love conquers all, including dating 20 other men and job insecurity.

Nobody writes dialogue like Linda Holmes! Her characters feel so real to me, and her writing style is a breath of fresh air. I will read anything she writes, but this is my new favorite!

It was a like not a love. I enjoyed the podcast episode and I really loved Will and how he kept popping up around every corner she turned. Eliza drove me nuts but I think that was the intention so job well done there. I had fun listening to it, it’s just not something that I was constantly thinking about.

Cecily finally gets her chance to have her own podcast show but it comes at a cost. Having someone completely control your dating life. This one was cute and funny. I will continue reading Linda Holmes!

3 ⭐️

This movie gave off the energy of a classic rom-com without fully delivering. I can’t decide what was off with this book but I truly can’t even remember something important that happened even though I finished this book less than 24 hours ago. Nothing too special to me.

Linda Holmes's latest novel, "Back After This," offers a fascinating glimpse into the demanding world of podcast production and the pressures faced by those striving to maintain influence in the industry.

Cecily's true passion lies in podcast creation. Despite being a highly sought-after editor, her boss consistently denies her the opportunity to host her own show. When she finally receives an offer, she accepts primarily to protect her colleagues' jobs. The arrangement requires her to co-host alongside Eliza, a prominent relationship coach at the peak of her career whose popularity will generate the traffic necessary to sustain their business.

The prospect of finding romance is the last thing Cecily desires, and the thought of pursuing it publicly feels even worse. Still nursing wounds from her previous relationship with a fellow podcaster who broke her heart and stole her creative ideas, she reluctantly agrees to undergo twenty arranged dates under Eliza's guidance.

Ironically, Cecily meets someone independently when she spots Will chasing after a runaway dog and steps in to help. Will proves to be a wonderful man with whom she repeatedly crosses paths. The timing is problematic, especially since Will may only be in town temporarily. Meanwhile, Eliza plants seeds of doubt in Cecily's mind about both her desires and choices. Amidst all the conflicting advice, Cecily struggles to determine what she truly wants.

This excellent novel explores the tension between our authentic desires and the expectations we believe we should fulfill or that others impose upon us. Full disclosure: I was unequivocally #TeamWill.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing an advance copy of "Back After This." All opinions expressed are my own.

They always say love will find you when you stop looking for it, but having a meet cute with a handsome stranger after agreeing to date twenty different men? That’s a bit unheard of. And Cecily Holmes’ new reality. Cecily loves working on podcasts for her job and when it seems like her boss may finally give her the green light for one of her own, she will do almost anything - including being set up on twenty dates by a dating influencer. But when she helps a stranger, Will, track down a stray dog she can’t help feeling an instant connection with him. And when he keeps showing up literally everywhere she can’t help but wonder, why not him?

This was such an unexpected delight! Cecily was such a relatable main character and it was so easy to root for her. She’s been burned by love in the past and lost not only her partner, but the podcast she helped start. She’s a bit stuck in life and finally asking herself what will make her happy. I loved the behind the scenes moments with the podcast and really enjoyed the way the story unfolded. I was a bit worried this would get repetitive fast since Cecily is tasked with going on twenty dates, but that wasn’t the case at all.

I’ve never read from this author before and I’ll definitely be going back to check out her backlist. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy!

I was SO excited to have the chance to read this. In Back After This, Cecily Holmes is sent on twenty blind dates by her dating coach for a new podcast, but she just keeps running into one man (Will) who captures her attention more than any of her other dates. I will say it was so fun to read about the twenty guys Cecily is set up with, however, I felt like the connection/romance between Cecily and Will fell a little flat for me.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for proving this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. Back After This is out NOW!

"Back After This" is a warm, witty, thoroughly enjoyable novel that resonates with the complexities of modern love and self-discovery. Linda Holmes presents a contemporary take on the romantic comedy genre, set within the vibrant world of podcasting. This book has a very strong message of learning to trust yourself.

I loved the modern romance that outlined the complexities of dating particularly in the context of social media and the ever-present gaze of public opinion. Back After This, explores the challenges of balancing personal authenticity with the curated personas that often dominate online spaces.

I loved the authentic and engaging portrayal of the podcasting industry and the behind the scenes glimpses into podcast production add a unique and compelling layer to the story.

Back After This is a character driven. Cecily Foster, is a relatable and engaging, grappling with past romantic disappointments and career aspirations.

Beyond the romantic elements, Back After This, explores themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and the importance of trusting one's own instincts. I loved every bit of it and devoured this book in one sitting.

Check out this teaser :

Cecily Foster loves to make podcasts. She fiercely protects her colleagues, dearly adores her friends, and never misses dinner with her sister. But after a disastrous relationship with a colleague who stole her heart and her ideas, she’s put romantic love on hold.

When the boss who’s disappointed her again and again finally offers her the chance to host her own show, she wants to be thrilled. But there’s a catch—actually, two catches. First, the show will be about Cecily’s dating life. And second, she has to follow the guidance of influencer and newly minted relationship coach Eliza Cassidy, whose relentlessly upbeat attitude seems ready-made for social media, not real life.

Cecily would rather do anything other than put her singledom on display (ugh) or take advice from the internet (UGH). But when her boss hints that doing the show is the only way to protect a friend’s job, she realizes she has no choice.

To make matters more complicated, once she’s committed to twenty blind dates of Eliza’s choosing, Cecily finds herself unable to stop thinking about Will, a photographer she helped to rescue a very big and very lovable lost dog. Even though there are sparks between the two, Will’s own path is uncertain, and Eliza’s skeptical comments about Cecily’s decision-making aren’t helping. On the one hand, Will seems great. But on the other hand . . . don’t they all?

As Cecily struggles to balance the life she truly desires and the one Eliza wants to create for her, she finds herself at a crossroads. Can Cecily sort through all the advice and find a way to do what she loves without losing herself in the process?

Summary:
A podcast producer agrees to host a new self help dating series - the show has her partnered with a matchmaking influencer/coach to go on 20 dates in hopes of finally finding love. Naturally this is also when she organically meets someone she hits it off with. The question is who is her best match and what does she want?

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this! I appreciated Cecily’s journey of self improvement and learning to stand up for herself. She had a bit of a savior complex thing going on. She could be frustrating at parts but then someone would call her out on her BS and she was receptive to it. I appreciated the mature characters and Cecily’s ability to own her mistakes. It was interesting learning a bit about what goes into developing a podcast. Always love a good dog sidekick and of course Will was 😍.

Thank you for the ARC!

Linda Holmes’ latest tells the story of Cecily Foster, a podcast producer who is pressured to be the subject of a dating podcast to save her friend’s job and with the promise of hosting her own podcast. Cecily agrees to go on 20 blind dates set up for her by social media influencer, Eliza Cassidy, who believes finding your soulmate is best calculated and not left to chance. A chance meeting and several subsequent run ins with a photographer, Will, find Cecily questioning what she really wants and whether to trust her own instincts or buy in to Eliza’s method. Back After This is filled with Holmes’ characteristic great dialogue, humor, and thoughtful approaches to life’s dilemmas.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read Back After This by Linda Holes. I really enjoyed the book.

Cecily works for a company that produces podcasts and she was offered a chance to produce her own show. It is a life changing opportunity for her. Toby the owner of the company said it would be good for Cecily and it will save the company. The show is a story about a single woman in her 30’s and a popular influencer who will set up 20 blind dates for Cecily. The final date is supposed to air on Valentine’s Day.

Before the show starts Cecily meets Will a guy that is chasing a Great Dane down the street with a cape on his back and only one side of his hair cut. This hilarious rom-com just gets better from here.

Thank you to Linda Holmes, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 Stars

Give me a dog on the cover of a book, and I will read it.

This started off slow, but within a couple of chapters, it picked up. I really liked the premise and the writing. Cecily and Will are likeable MMC's, and we cannot forget about Buddy.

This had a nice mix of romance, drama, and dog content. I loved the knowledge about podcasts. I was thankful the author didn't make all 20 dates a chapter. Thanks #netgalley