Member Reviews

DNF around the 20% mark. I love a good podcast story but was a bit too much and it around the podcast more than I would’ve liked. I just couldn’t connect the story nor the characters unfortunately it was on miss for me.

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Cecily is a podcast producer who is given her own show, but it involves going on 20 dates and following the guidance of a life coach/influencer. Naturally, Cecily meets someone on her own, which means a whole new set of complications. As a journalist who is deaf and can't listen to podcasts, it was interesting to learn a bit about this form of journalism. An enjoyable read.

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I absolutely loved “Back After This”. I loved Cecily’s detailed look into someone who works on a podcast and has been undervalued and overlooked by her ex and boss. I loved her friendship with Julie and her semi forced quest to find love. Eliza was the perfect overconfident life coach and Will was the perfect distraction from Eliza’s plan. I’ve loved all of this author’s books but this was a favorite for sure.

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Recurring meet-cutes, a podcaster, fantastic supporting characters and a lovable dog. What else do you need? Linda Holmes is a must-read for me and Back After This is no different. Highly recommended!

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

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Like "The Ex-Talk" by NPR's Rachel Lynn Soloman, "Back After This" is also by an NPR journalist and also gives the reader a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the audio world--this time in a story about podcasts. I have loved Linda Holmes previous books, and this one was no exception. I loved the character of Cecily, who worked so hard for a life she thought she was supposed to have. I loved Will, who was so sweet but also flawed and lost. And I even loved Eliza, the influencer tasked with finding Cecily love in a methodical and intentional way. She could have come off as shallow and selfish, but Holmes gave her depth and a strong values. This was a very sweet romance about finding something you didn't know you were looking for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

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I have been a fan of Linda Holmes for a while now, due to her excellent work on one of my favorite podcasts. I have read two of her prior novels and enjoyed them both. This latest was especially satisfying because it is set in the world of podcasting. I enjoyed the glimpses behind the scenes and hearing a bit of the inside story of what goes on with content creators. Even if you do not care about podcasts, this novel has something for you. This is a rom-com, and an intelligent one. The "meet cute" is very cute, and unlike a lot of rom-coms, not one I have heard (or a variation of) a million times before. The protagonists are messy, but I quite liked them both and was rooting for them. The thing keeping them apart felt real, and while there were a lot of coincidental meetings, the plot did not feel contrived at all. This is 100 percent due to the excellent writing- the writing is very warm, very clever, witty, relatable, and contemporary (without seeming like it will be dated within six months). The main characters were well drawn; they had depth and nuance. The secondary characters were less well drawn, but you still felt like you would recognize them if you met them at a party. I even found myself kind of interested in the "influencer", which surprised me, because I normally do not care about that sort of thing at all. In summary, I liked this one a lot, Linda Holmes is very talented.

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Back After This by Linda Holmes is a heartwarming rom-com featuring podcast producer Cecily, who gets roped into hosting and being the subject of a dating podcast called Twenty Dates. Cecily is still recovering from a breakup four years ago when she is asked to do this podcast. She doesn’t want to but it’s an opportunity for her to save her friend’s job, get on the air, and possibly be able to create the pilot of a podcast she’s been working on. She’ll parter with a life coach who will set her up on twenty dates and give very planned, purposeful tips on dating. The catch? Cecily unexpectedly meets a man she has a connection with (Will) and now she’s torn between following this unplanned path towards him or keeping the podcast plan and saving the company.

This was a fun read. I devoured it in one day. It was lighthearted but had emotional, sweet, and funny moments. I really liked the main characters. Due to the writing being in first person, I felt like I was having a conversation with the FMC who is the narrator of this story.

Readers who are interested in books that feature characters in their 30’s, characters that are “normal” people, and romance without graphic sex scenes would likely enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and author for granting me an advanced reader copy of the ebook. My review was not influenced by this and is based upon a draft and not the final version of the book. Expected publication date is February 25, 2025.

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This was such an entertaining book! I liked the modern dating storyline and how she goes on 20 blind dates and has a whole podcast based off these dates. It is silly, entertaining and a fun light read!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

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Cecily is an audio producer for podcasts when she agrees to a show she wouldn’t normally do to be able to host for once and to help secure jobs for herself and her work bestie with the big “L word” looming over the struggling company. Will was an immediate yes for me. Their meet cute has got to be one of the cutest I’ve read… I mean there’s a Great Dane involved! I especially enjoyed the scene when she teaches him about her job and the subsequent scene stemming from this lesson. I learned about audio producing!

Eliza was truly annoying from the moment she was introduced until her last mention. She was so much of what I dislike about social media has become in certain corners of the internet. She’s like those influencers that do stuff for clicks. She was also being too pragmatic about how to find love and a life partner.

There was some closed door romance happening. We get a little forced proximity. We get strangers to friends to lovers. We get some awkward run ins. I loved the relationships Will and Cecily each had with their respective sisters. Sisters who kept it real with each of them and honestly need more credit! Yes Molly and Mags!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I enjoyed this one. I felt that it dragged a little at points, but overall enjoyable. I did enjoy her other novels a bit more.

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I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun premise! I'm seeing more podcaster characters in books, and I love the role for this one. This was a fun rom com to read.

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I adored this book, Back After This. It's a fun book, but there was wit, great character development, and some twists and turns. I also learned a lot about audio work and podcasts.
There's workplace drama and an interesting plot, which rang true to life with social media "fans" having their own strong opinions, the "talent" looking toward the bottom line, and wanting to increase their popularity.

My favorite character: The dog!

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#RandomHouse #Ballantine #BackAfterThis #podcasting #LindaHolmes

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Definitely my favorite by Linda Holmes so far! I love it when a book has an excellent fictional plot while still teaching me facts about something I have zero experience in- this time the world of podcasts. Quirky, slightly cynical characters, a rescue dog, and a happy ending, I’m completely satisfied.

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i love linda holmes’ books and this one may be my favorite of hers? she just keeps getting better! her generosity with her characters and the way she portrays conflict and desire is very authentic and real.

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A sweet, engaging rom-com guaranteed to give you the warm and fuzzies!
Cecily works at a company that produces podcasts. Her boss shares an idea for her that he insists will save the company from having to do layoffs or worse. Well… with an intro like that how can she possibly say no?

She may have been wise to do so!

Cecily is partnered up with a popular influencer who now totes herself as a life and dating coach. She boldly claims she can set Cecily up for a successful relationship. Cecily agrees to 20 blind dates with the expectation true love will bloom from one of these dates. Oh, did I mention everything will be recorded and dissected for the world to listen to?

Before there was online dating...Think of the popular show, “Married at first sight” but here you meet at a restaurant instead of the alter. All you know is a name and maybe an occupation. No texting before-hand. No swiping. You rely on a trusted friend or relative to set you up with someone they know. A bit old school, but it works. It’s how I met my husband.

But just as the dates are getting started Cecily meets Will, who just happens to be running past her apartment, chasing a huge Great Dane.
Of course, the universe keeps putting the two together. So how can Cecily concentrate on her project of meeting Mr. Right when Will seems to be everything she could hope for?

I enjoyed both Cecily and Wills’ characters. Their banter was fun and refreshing and as a devoted dog lover, the Great Dane known as Buddy stole my heart.🐶

There was quite a bit of shop talk as we got to learn everything about the audio and podcast world. Maybe a bit too much. I’d have rather had more scenes with Buddy and less about podcast production.

Overall, I enjoyed this latest release by Linda Holmes. A light, fun and non-spicy rom-com. I needed a break from my thrillers and this one fit the bill perfectly!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley

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Welcome to the world of podcasts. Learn about sound editing. Linda Holmes will teach you about how the sound of breathing and tooth sucking is removed from the podcasts you listen to. You will also learn a bit about influencers, Great Danes, and how you can absorb valuable life lessons from someone who is trying to teach you something completely different.

Cecily is a thirtyish and single developer and editor of podcasts. She lives in D.C. and works for a boss who spends his time on-line shopping and complaining about his ex-wife. She meets cute a neighbor chasing a huge dog. Her boss convinces her to do a serial podcast where Eliza, an internet influencer, sets her up to go on 20 blind dates. It's kind of that reality show, but on the radio. Complications arise when Cecily develops feelings for the dog chaser. Will is also a waiter and a photographer. The dog is not his. Eliza warns her off Will as he is not "successful".

Linda Holmes is as adept and delightful here as she was in her two previous best t-selling Women's fiction novels. Her banter is chuckle worthy. If you want to spend a few fast-moving hours with some charming and some not-so-charming characters, Back After This will provide just that. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballentine Books for an early copy to read and review.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶

Blind dates and great danes - I was instantly intrigued! Back After This was a cute, lighthearted rom-com that was swoony & funny, and I definitely enjoyed it.

There were times when I laughed out loud because the banter is top notch in this one. This being my first book by Linda Holmes, I was pleasantly surprised with her writing style and ability to make conversations sound "real". I will say, I can tell she did great research on podcasts and the background work that goes into them, so much so I kind of felt it was a bit too much information. I also didn't connect with Cecily as much - I was actually more drawn to the side characters that were her dates! They had really fleshed out personalities despite them being presented briefly. Cecily on the other hand, drove me nuts with her lack of a backbone about her own life. But, I understand why it was written this way. Otherwise, there wouldn't be much of a plot without it.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Linda Holmes, and Random House for this ARC!

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This book was a lot of fun! Throughout the book, there were definitely several moments when I burst out laughing. The chemistry between Cecily and Will was incredible, and their characters were incredibly realistic. I absolutely loved them. Cecily made such progress in discovering her voice, identity, and goals that I couldn't help but cheer for her. I also adored the podcast's background and the behind-the-scenes story of its production. It was incredibly ingenious and skillfully woven into the narrative.

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This was a fun and unique take on dating in the social world we live in now. I have not read any of Linda Holmes previous novels, but I enjoyed her writing style and her sense of humor.
For me, ‘Back After This’ was more women’s fiction with some romance sprinkled in. Though I loved our MMC Will, it was harder for me to connect with our FMC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

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Back After This was a fun read by Linda Holmes. We meet Cecily, a workaholic podcaster. To save her friend’s job, she signs up to be the star of a podcast where she works with a matchmaker and goes on 20 first dates. Along the way, she keeps running into Will.

I loved learning more about podcasts, and it was obvious that Holmes has firsthand experience in the audio world.

Read if you like:
🩵 Workplace romance (kind of)
🩵 Strangers to friends to lovers

Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an eARC of Back After This. Be sure to add this book to your TBR list!

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