This is the type of book you can curl up in the comfiest chair with a cup (or two) of coffee and read in a day! Linda Holmes knows how to write about women needing a new start!

Cecily Foster loves her job as a podcaster and puts her whole heart into her work. Unfortunately, she's just not where she wants to be in her career after her ex-boyfriend, who she worked on a podcast with, stole her ideas to use as his own and broke her heart.
The company she is currently working with is under some financial strain and has started cutting jobs. Cecily worries not only for her job, but her friend and co-worker, Julie's job as well. When her boss presents her with the idea to host a show with a popular influencer, Eliza Cassidy, that will follow Cecily's personal dating life, she is super hesitant and on the verge of saying no until she realizes this may be the only way to save both of their jobs.

Cecily will be set up to go on 20 dates with 20 different men. Each date will be followed and reported on. She can get through this, do what Eliza wants her to do, move on and hopefully this will all have a positive impact on her future career. What she doesn't expect is a run-in with a Great Dane and a man in a cape. Obviously, the man in a cape (no worries, he was just getting a haircut, not really a superhero 😉) is not one of the 20 lucky guys she is going to be set up with, but what will she do if it turns out, he's on the top of her list?

This was just an all-around sweet and fun book. A mixture of romance and self-discovery wrapped up with a happy ending. I always enjoy books that are light-hearted but also go a little deeper without making it a stressful read. This is still a book you can escape reality with, but can also relate with (employment struggles, financial worries, etc). Watching Cecily grow as a person and a podcaster in the midst of funny, unexpected and unplanned run-ins with her love interest, just made for good book!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in return for my honest opinion!

This story was so fun! I caught myself giggling out loud several times. This was my first Linda Holmes but as soon as I was done with it, I got on Libby and requested Evie Drake Starts Over!

I adored Cecily and Will and their meet cute was absolutely precious. You could sense their chemistry right away. I enjoyed the dating podcast show and how that affected Cecily’s personal life and I really liked her character growth through the story!

Read if You Like:
🎙️quirky characters
🎙️witty banter
🎙️loveable dogs
🎙️podcasts
🎙️cinnamon roll hero

I definitely recommend checking this one out if any of this sounds like something you’d like! I can’t wait until Evie Drake Starts Over is ready for me to borrow!

The first few chapters of this one made me wonder if I should even continue reading. I need a HOOK within the first few lines to really get me interested. However, I'm so glad I pushed through those chapters because I ended up really liking this one!

I enjoyed both Cecily and Will and found them to be super charming and cute. Their banter was fun and light.

It was such a light-hearted and engaging rom-com that I will for sure be recommending to my friends.

If you have liked this author's other books, you may enjoy this one. I liked Will's character, how passionate Cecily is about her job, and the overall concept. But I've not been reaching to pick this back up. The chapters feel choppy and disconnected, the story is telling not showing, and I feel like I'm reading an instructional manual on how to date. Calling it quits at 51%.

I absolutely loved this women’s fiction with a strong romance sub supply. The podcasting details were interesting, especially coming from the side of being the producer and editor versus a lot of books where the main character is a host. The meat cute was so fun and dog lovers will really enjoy it. I thought the commentary on finding someone to spend your life with was spot on and would lead to good discussion if this book was picked for a book club.

Thank you @prhaudio for the #gifted early reading copy and thank you @randomhouse for the early reading copy!

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Linda Holmes new book as Evie Drake Starts Over will forever be a favorite book of mine!

I immediately connected with Cecily. She is quirky and funny and self deprecating but in the best and most relatable way. She honestly reminded me a lot of one of my most favorite podcasters and authors, Becca Freeman. Much if the book is spent with her navigating love and so many of her funny, quick, one-liners really had me hooked.

You get to meet Eliza, Cecily’s love wellness coach and I really, really enjoyed her too. I really don't want to get too much away and just recommend you get your hands on this one. It will give you all the warm and fuzzies, and while at times be predictable, steal your heart. You’re going to fly though this one!

I loved that this one was narrated by the author! Doing immersive reads is my new thing and Holme’s delivery was spot on! I suggest you do an immersive read if you can too!

#YearOfCecily

4

I loved this book!! A new Linda Holmes book is such a treat. Linda Holmes writes characters that are relatable and feel like real people. I loved learning more about the world of audio and podcasting. I thought the characters struggles felt so honest and I just loved this book!

Linda Holmes has tended to be my go-to author for reading about older women who don't need the happy ever after to have a happy ending. This book is a different tune. And while I appreciate the romance aspect of the story, I think the strongest part of this book was Cecily's experience as her professional and dating lives took her down paths she never expected. Linda Holmes knows how to write middle-aged women who have a strong sense of self, and I greatly appreciate that.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes a focus on career crossroads, protagonists fighting to make their voice heard when they're mostly surrounded by people who won't listen, and people who enjoy a bit of dog hijinks and sweet romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Cecily is a podcast producer whose job is on the line. Her boss comes to her with an offer to save herself and her coworker. She has to host a show and go on 20 first dates to help find her soulmate with this dating coach.

While concept of this book is super fun and unique, the book itself just didn’t grab me like I’d have wanted. And I think that’s a me problem and not the book. Maybe wrong book wrong time for me. I’m not sure.

I want to talk about the audio though and give major props to Linda Holmes. She narrates the book herself and she did a fabulous job!! 👏🏻

Overall, I think my issue was just that the book was a but predictable. From the first meet cute to the dates and everything else that happens you just could forsee it all. The story was still fun and the podcast aspect was cool but just didn’t hit home.

I really enjoyed the author's debut but absolutely LOVED this book! The banter is top-notch - every exchange of dialogue is perfection. The romantic chemistry/tension is chef's kiss and the conflict feels authentic and never forced. I truly enjoyed everything about this book, from the first page to the last and each one in between.

After loving one of the author’s previous books, I was excited to read her latest!

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the plot, it felt really fun to learn more about the podcast world and I enjoyed the angle of the MC going on 20 first dates. This was more of a side plot though, with the main plot being the MC finding herself.

I really enjoyed Will and how his and Cecily’s relationship grew over the book. They had a natural chemistry and I loved their banter.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

What a pleasant surprise! This book wasn’t at all what I expected, but I really loved it. As a single woman, it felt so amazingly relatable! It’s definitely set up a little different than a typical romance and felt almost like a podcast within a podcast. Like Holmes’ previous books, it is heavier on the women’s fiction, but this one still had a lot of romance. If you know me, you know I love a perfect mix!! This book - and its sweet ending - left me with a smile!

What to expect:
•Chance encounters
•BTS podcasts
•Relatable FMC
•Golden retriever MMC
•Rescue dog
•20 blind dates
🔥 Fade to black

Fun romantic story! I liked Cecily and the premise was unique and cute. There is a good amount of humor and the storyline and romantic obstacles are not ridiculous (as they often can be). A solid read!

Linda Holmes does a lovely job of writing relatable characters. This one takes place in DC amongst the podcast scene which was extra interesting. Cecily, the main character, is forced and subsequently chooses to do a lot of soul searching, something that has been showing up a lot in my life lately. I was left with some nice food for thought.

Book Review: Back After This by Linda Holmes

In Back After This, Linda Holmes presents a delightful romantic comedy that intertwines the intricacies of modern dating with the behind-the-scenes world of podcast production. The story follows Cecily Foster, a dedicated podcast producer recovering from a professional and personal betrayal by a former colleague and lover. When offered the chance to host her own show, Cecily is hesitant upon learning it will chronicle her own dating experiences under the guidance of influencer-turned-relationship coach Eliza Cassidy. Reluctantly, Cecily embarks on a series of first dates, all while grappling with her growing feelings for Will, a charming photographer she meets serendipitously. As Cecily navigates the challenges of her new role and the complexities of her emotions, she confronts questions about authenticity, vulnerability, and self-discovery. ​

Holmes crafts a narrative filled with witty dialogue, relatable characters, and an authentic portrayal of the podcasting industry, reflecting Holmes' own expertise in the field. The novel evokes a spectrum of emotions, from laughter at Cecily's dating misadventures to empathy for her journey toward self-acceptance and genuine connection. ​

This novel is recommended for fans of character-driven romantic comedies that explore personal growth and the search for meaningful relationships. Readers will enjoy Holmes' ability to blend humor with heartfelt moments.

Thank you @NetGally and @RandomHouse for the advanced reader copy to review.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is a wonderfully written story.
I loved this booked.
I absolutely loved the main character.
This book will make you have all the feels and make you smile. It is the perfect rom-com and if you like rom-coms, one you should definitely grab!

This book was super cute! I loved the meet-cute with Buddy the dog, and the fun just continued from there. I think Cecily’s struggle to find what she really wants out of life is a struggle that many will relate to. As someone who enjoys podcasts, I also really liked that aspect of the story. The studio, the apartmentments where they lived, and even the bank lobby where they waited out the rainstorm, all had a great and realistic sense of place. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a fun rom-com with some depth to keep the story moving.

Back After This is the third novel by author Linda Holmes. This story takes the reader into the world of podcasts, social media, and influencers. Podcast producer Cecily Foster has much experience, perhaps too much, in this arena. Her earlier work with her then boyfriend Justin was going well until he decided it wasn’t. Now, many years later, Cecily is a producer at a struggling D.C. podcast company. With the struggles, the company is searching for a product that will bring them back to black and find it working with influencer Eliza Cassidy. However, Cecily has to buy in to the concept of being the center focus of Twenty Dates as Eliza guides Cecily in seeking her perfect mate. The biggest problem is, however, that Cecily may just have found him, or at least the universe keeps bringing him across her path.

With insight into the world of podcast production, this story has so much more to offer. Great characters in a very different world bring a most enjoyable story. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

When I read the description of this book it sounded like it would be a fun read. That it is written by an author I like made it more enticing. I listen to a lot of podcasts (as so many of us do or what would there be so many?) of many genres so thought this would be a great read. For me, it was just okay. Cecily loved her work. was amazing to work for and is generally a good kind person. And yet, she is again and again treated like a doormat. Rather than getting the autonomous project she’s earned and deserves, said boss guilts/forces her into an assignment of following the direction of a love life influencer with the listening world following along and part of the process was that she had to do exactly as told no exceptions. I didn’t find much chemistry between Cecily and Will, nor her other dates and didn’t find any of the main characters terribly likable. Loved the dog though. Love the author, this for whatever reason, just wasn’t my favorite.

This book made me happy! Set in Washington, DC, with a fun peek into the world of podcasting, it felt fresh and different in all the best ways. Linda Holmes writes characters you want to root for — even the ones who frustrate you — and the mix of humor, heart, and self-discovery kept me hooked.

Also, there’s a dog who completely stole my heart (of course).

If you like stories about friendship and finding your way with plenty of laughs — this one’s a fun choice!