Linda Holmes was one of the first writers I had the privilege of reading during the start of the pandemic, whom got me into reading romance without my even realizing it. I loved Evvie Drake Starts Over, and Back After This is more delicious storytelling along those same lines. Holmes’ voice is unlike many—she’s dryly humorous, using wit and “only in a rom-com” scenarios to pull off the type of story worthy of all the stars.

As the sole narrator, we see the life of a podcast producer and thirty-something Cecily being pushed to do a dating show because of how her boss perceives her singleness as in need of self-help. And Cecily plays into that—she hems and haws about doing Twenty Dates but only if she can have a crack at her own show once it’s wrapped, along with a few other stipulations. Of course Cecily gets to finally have a voice on air, even if it’s not what she anticipated. Cecily is matched with Eliza, an influencer giving her the Platinum Goddess™️ treatment who believes that through intentional planning, Cecily can meet a perfectly matched partner. But it wouldn’t be a romcom without Cecily meeting Will, aka the Hot Waiter, outside of the podcast dates through a series of fated(?) mishaps and run-ins, many involving a ginormous dog.

I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of Cecliy’s twenty dates, which read as a page right out of online dating hell (or maybe heaven). Holmes has a way of prioritizing Cecily’s voice and giving the reader exactly what they want—to both see Cecily have success, but also grumble with her along the way. Back After This is a look at changing cultural norms, what’s here one day may be gone tomorrow, and Cecily is just trying to make sense of how this all affects her workspace and her dating life. Will is the ironic constant star to Cecily’s unpredictable love life—she never expects to run into him and yet time and time again, he’s the man who draws her interest when she least expects it. Just like the podcast listeners, I was rooting for Will and Cecily the entire time. Their interactions are always so cleverly humorous, and the low stakes expectations that they have for each other are entertaining to see played out against the stressful timeline Cecily has to meet her podcast dating requirements.

There are some swoon-worthy romantic moments between Will and Cecily (hello against a door!), and although not closed door, sexual innuendo is kept to more metaphorical descriptions. This is a book I’d recommend to anyone, but I think bookstagrammers will particularly enjoy the social media influence of Eliza, which is very on the nose. I received an early copy from Ballantine. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Humor: 🤡🤡🤡
Steam: 🪭
Number of times I wanted to punch Toby in the face: 3️⃣

This was a practically perfect contemporary romance for me! I love Linda's thoughtful, funny and emotional stories and I think this is her best one yet. Cecily's meet-cute with Will hit all the right notes, and the high-stakes of her assignment to create a hit podcast felt grounded in reality. One I will absolutely be recommending to customers.

I love Linda Holmes's writing and this was no exception. Cecily is a delightful character and I loved her journey. The setting of podcasts was so appropriate for Holmes and I felt like we got a bit of a peek inside her world.

Cecily is a good person; she lets her ex walk away with the poscast they co-created, helps her friend keep her job, hps a guy chase a rescue dog. But, she doesnt show up for herself. She is afraid of even aaking the question "what do i want", let alone making direct moves to try to get it. The closest she gets is to say yes to her first chance to host a podcast and get set up on 20 dates by influencer Eliza.

This is a great premise for a story and Cecily is an interesting and layered character. I was pulling for her to be brave and actually go after what she wanted instead of being swayed by Eliza. Eliza was an enigma; I kept waiting for her marriage to not be real and only be for social media. It was so easy to root for Will. He was certainly the mirror of Cecily, always looking for something more, but also feeling not enough. This book was very cute, funny, and fast paced. I would recommend 3.75 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin Random House for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fun story that picks up when the Great Dane (and love interest) runs into her life. When Linda, a podcast producer who didn’t get credit for the hit podcast she produced with her ex, is finally given the chance to host her own, she jumps on it — even if it means she has to work with a dating coach she doesn’t necessarily believe in. For fans of The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynne Solomon.

The podcast setting is fun, the cast of side characters is fabulous, and the meet cute is stellar. My main critique is that this meet cute is a full 20% of the way through the book, and the pace until then was slow. I also personally wanted her to receive some kind of public recognition for her and her ex’s podcast, so was a bit sad he got to ride out that unfairness. Nonetheless it was a fun, warm hearted comfort read.

I’ve been a fan of Linda Holmes and her work for over a decade. Her writing, in particular, is sharp, witty, and scratches a Nora Ephron-shaped itch so few rarely do. Of her three novels, this comes in second for me. (I just absolutely loved the coziness of Evvie Drake so nothing will be able to dethrone it, I fear. This was pretty damn good, though.) I loved being able to “hear” Holmes’ cadence in my head after so many years of listening to her on PCHH. I genuinely laughed at several of Cecily’s observations. I’ll definitely be grabbing a copy of the audiobook version of this (that she’s narrating!!) when it releases on Feb 25th.

Here we have Cecily, an overworked and under-appreciated producer working for a real schmuck of a dude that so many of us have worked under. He’ll praise you endlessly for being his steady, reliable workhouse and then never actually help you move forward with your career. Anyway, she’s emotionally manipulated into hosting a radio show where she’ll work with an influencer/life coach (gag me) to find a partner by going on twenty first dates. The only problem is that she serendipitously meets Will, a real gem of a human—without a real path in life and a lease ending in three months—right as the show’s taping is set to begin.

I really enjoyed the banter between Cecily and Will—and even thought Eliza, the influencer, had some great dialogue too. This is a closed-door romance but there were definitely still sizzles and chemistry between Cecily and Will. The romantic and the professional drama felt authentic and it was neat getting to hear the insider audio production knowledge that Holmes must just be brimming with. My only criticism is that I wish there were more development to some of the side characters, to fully round things out. (I wanted more Julie and Molly!)

Linda Holmes has done it again and writing a lovely romance with her newest offering Back After This. She taps into her day job as a podcaster (if you aren't listening to NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, get to it!) with her main character Cecily working behind the scenes of podcasts. Holmes is really able to tap into the details of what is like to produce a podcast. it's fascinating. Anyways, to the plot! Cecily yearns to host her own podcast and one is offered up to her, but as her as the focus. She will allow a matchmaker set her up with men to see if romance will emerge. Right before she dives into the podcast she runs into a guy and a runaway Great Dane (look, I'm a sucker for anything dog-related) and lo and behold she keeps running to him! This book takes place in Washington, DC and as someone who lived in the city for many years, I really appreciated all the easter eggs she left for Washingtonians. Like her previous novels, Holmes is great with dialogues, but I also really appreciated Cecily's internal snarky observations. Her observations of her matchmaker's all white house ("like a perfectly which living room that requires you to drink broth and apple juice like you're prepping for a colonoscopy") had my rolling. Ultimately the book still runs into common romance tropes (a misunderstanding/assumptions that would be resolved with one conversation) and I wish I got more context on Cecily's backstory, but this was a delight.

Thanks to Ballantine Books via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

“Back After This” follows Cecily, a podcast producer, on her big break as a host and star of a dating podcast. She is a partnered up with Eliza, a social influencer/dating coach who sets her up on twenty dates and plans to help her find “the one”.

I enjoyed the background information on the podcast industry, but I felt Cecily and the other characters were underdeveloped. Because of this I ended up not really caring what happened at the end.

A complementary copy was provided by publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

This was a quick read, surprisingly - I finished it in just a few hours (always a plus in my book)! The main character, Cecily, is a podcaster with big dreams of hosting her own show but never got the chance despite her dedication to her job, until now. After her last relationship with a former colleague who constantly took credit for her ideas and then broke up with her, she became jaded about dating and finding love. When her boss gives her the opportunity to host her own show, little does she know she and her dating life are about to become center stage when she learns the new project involves her going on twenty blind dates while being coached by Insta-famous relationship coach Eliza. As Fate would have it, Cecily's job becomes complicated when she has an adorable meet-cute with Will, a handsome photographer, that involves a runaway dog and a jar of peanut butter. While Cecily is set up on these blind dates, she seems to run into Will everywhere she goes and can't stop thinking about him. Only one problem...Eliza forbids Cecily to get involved with Will and reminds her to focus on the dates she handpicked, but Fate might just know better after all. I thought the story had great pace, touches of humor and closed-door romance, but what I liked the most was that I felt I could relate to Cecily's character - although change can be uncomfortable, it's necessary for growth. Thank you to Ballantine Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the podcast side to this dating experiment! Cecily was a fun main character to follow and I was definitely rotting for her to find love whether it was with one of her dates or the "cute waiter." The meet cute between Will and Cecily was adorable and Buddy was one of my favorites of the book 😍 The production side of it was interesting as well.

Thank you so much for an advanced e copy of this book! I absolutely loved Evvie Drake Starts Over and was excited when I saw this one on NetGalley. This book was so fun! I loved the podcast/audio viewpoint. Cecily is the perfect main character who you are always rooting for. I have read a few books recently where I find myself not caring about what happens to the MC or not liking them, but I liked Cecily for page 1. This was such a cute, fun read. I would love to hear more from Cecily and how her love life is going now!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Back After This
Author: Linda Holmes
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: Feb. 25, 2025

It’s so fun to get a cozy romance like Back After This with witty dialogue and some highly likable lead characters. Our lead protagonist, Cecily, is a single podcast producer for a struggling media company when asked to participate in a special series about finding love after four long, dry years. She agrees to twenty dates and is expected to find a love match at the end of her dating journey. You can imagine how well a professional female receives this proposal, and the weird options of 20 men she dates are lame. As luck would have it, just before taping begins, Cecily accidentally meets Will, who tugs at her heart, but he is in her life at the wrong time since she is doing this podcast series under duress to try to save her job and the jobs of others at her current media company. The story was great, with funny conversations, odd dates, a funny dog, and great background characters. In addition, you get a behind-the-scenes look at creating a podcast. It’s not as easy as we think. I promise this is one of the cutest, most charming romance reads for 2025. I loved it. I loved it a lot. #BackAfterThis @lindaholmes97 @netgalley #romance #chicklit #media #podcast #audio #love #future #dog #cozy #fun @ballantines #laughoutloudfunny #charming @penguinrandomhouse
🐶

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
🐶

#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader#bookreviewer

Linda Holmes brings another heartwarming story with lovable characters that you are instantly rooting for in Back After This. If you haven’t read Evie Drake Starts Over, then definitely check it out.

Back After This is about talented podcast editor, Cecily Foster, whose ex-boyfriend broke her heart and stole her ideas. Since then Cecily has been doing all the grunt work the past 4 years at her job when he boss finally dangles an opportunity to host her own show. However, the catch is she has to take the advice of the social media relationship guru, Eliza Cassidy, while going on twenty dates looking for love. The idea of her love life being put on public display is not very appealing but her boss negiotiates that the next show can be her own to host.

Along the way, Cecily, has a funny fiasco of a meet cute with Will and his giant 160-pound dog, Buddy. For some reason, Will keeps reappearing in her life and just happens to be the waiter at the restaurant of one of her dates. The podcast goes wild for the “hot waiter”, but Cecily promises Eliza she will not date Will…if he would just stop popping up in her life at every turn.

I absolutely loved the adventures of Cecily’s dating journey and learning a bit about podcast producing too. As Cecily’s life seems to completely implodes she truly learns more about herself that she could ever expect.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me an advance digital copy of this book. Linda Holmes is a talented writer and has a gift for storytelling.

This hit the spot- needed a fun, quirky, light read and this delivered. I'm a big cover person, and this matched the feel of the book. Good character developement, and a current day scenario with podcasts. You don't have to know much about podcasts or be someone who listens to them to enjoy this book, just a pretty light read that you can start and finsih pretty quickly. Recommend!

Linda Holmes delivers another charming, heartfelt novel with Back After This, a story filled with humor, warmth, and the complexities of adulthood. At its center is Cecily, a down-to-earth and deeply relatable protagonist whose self-deprecating wit and quiet determination made me root for her from the very start. Holmes' writing is sharp, funny, and effortlessly engaging, making even the smallest moments feel meaningful.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was its setting in the podcast world. Following two characters who are still figuring themselves out years into their careers felt refreshingly real—proof that personal reinvention doesn’t have a deadline. The book captures the messy, nonlinear path of success, passion, and relationships with both heart and humor.

Beyond Cecily, the supporting cast was equally compelling. Holmes creates a wonderfully fleshed-out group of friends and colleagues, each adding depth and richness to the story. Their interactions felt authentic, providing moments of levity and insight that made the book even more enjoyable.

Overall, Back After This is an entertaining, thoughtful read about ambition, reinvention, and the power of friendships—perfect for fans of smart, character-driven fiction.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is a story that I had a hard time putting down. (Who needs to sleep?)

"Cecily works as a producer for a company that makes podcasts. Her boss, Toby, offers her a chance to host her own show - but there's a catch. First she has to work with Eliza Cassidy - a relationship influencer. Eliza will set Cecily up with Twenty first dates. All of them will be recorded and packaged as a podcast and everyone will know what Cecily is like on a date. Can she do it? Can she put up with the embarassment and indignity to save her friend's job? Is it worth it for her own show? And what happens with this guy she keeps running into? What does she do with those sparks?"

This book has a podcast flavor but it's more about the people making podcasts. Cecily is a character that seems to be exceptional at what she does, never settling for anything less than great. But that carries over into many aspects of her life with sometimes negative consequences.
Holmes makes these characters seem like real people. It feels like you could run into Will and Cecily on the street (probably chasing Buddy, the Great Dane) We all know a Justin - someone full of themselves and taking credit for your work. I like what happened to him.

One thing I like about Holmes stories is that there is just enough left vague at the end. Everything is not tied up with a neat bow and I can imagine some of the ending I want for these characters.

Add this book to your list this year.

Absolutely loved this sweet book! I loved the inside look at podcasting, the friendships, the sister relationship, the Great Dane and of course the romance. Such a treat. Cannot wait to hand sell this!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, @randomhouse, and @prhaudio for the #gifted advanced reading and listening copies of this total charmer!

Cecily is a brilliant podcast producer who has always preferred to stay behind the scenes. But when her boss pitches a new podcast idea that could bring financial stability to their company, she’s all in - until she realizes that she will be the subject. The premise? Social media influencer Eliza Cassidy will curate 20 dates for Cecily, using her own matchmaking methodology, all in the name of finding love (and boosting downloads). Cecily has been burned by mixing work and romance before, but after negotiating some serious ground rules, she reluctantly agrees.

As she embarks on this highly public dating experiment, one person keeps appearing in her orbit: Will. He’s not one of her assigned dates - he’s just there, always at the right (or wrong) time. One minute he’s chasing a dog, the next he’s waiting tables or snapping photos. But he doesn’t fit into Eliza’s carefully crafted dating formula. And as Cecily’s podcast gains momentum, so does her undeniable attraction to Will - except her job, her best friend’s job, and the company’s future may depend on her following through with the podcast’s intended love match.

Well, this was ADORABLE! I love quirky romances, and Will’s recurring presence in Cecily’s life is peak rom-com charm. There’s even a peanut butter/dog-related meet-cute that’s impossibly sweet. But beyond the swoon, I loved Cecily’s journey of self-discovery - though the podcast was meant to help her find love, it ultimately led her to deeper realizations about herself.

Her dynamic with Will was another highlight; they helped each other grow in ways neither expected. While the story is undeniably Cecily’s, Will is such a green-flag book boyfriend—patient, kind, and quietly dealing with his own struggles, which Cecily helps him navigate. If I had one small critique, I would have loved a bit more of his story, but I completely understand why the book leans into Cecily’s perspective.

🎧 About the Audiobook 🎧 Narrated by the author, this audiobook is a total delight! Linda Holmes brings so much warmth and personality to the narration, making each character (and the podcast itself) feel so real. If you’re an audiobook lover, this is a fantastic way to experience the story!

Cecily works in podcast production and when her boss offers her a chance to host her own show, she's thrilled, until she realizes the show will be about her dating life and she has to follow the guidance of an influencer/relationship coach.

I enjoyed this one as it was both a blend of romance and women's fiction as we follow Cecily's journey of self-discovery. Cecily is balancing her career and friendships and dipping her toe back in the dating world. I was immediately intrigued by Will after he and Cecily had multiple chance encounters, and enjoyed watching her juggle her work obligations with her personal feelings.

I appreciated that the characters were a bit messy as life doesn't follow our carefully laid plans. Overall recommend picking it up!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this arc.

Sometimes it’s harder to write reviews for books I’m giving an A grade to as I want to do them justice. The cartoon cover and premise of the story scream kooky rom-com so I can’t actually recall what made me decide to give this one a shot. Maybe I hoped that it wouldn’t be those things? Anyway, it’s not pratfalls or filled with embarrassing dates. People act like adults with some common sense even if they do make mistakes.

Cecily has done what a lot of people, especially women unfortunately, have done, which is work hard with someone they love only to lose what they’ve created because they never thought he’d say, “I don’t think I love you anymore” and walk away. Cecily is skilled at her job and has made a comeback but it still hurts her to hear about her ex’s successes that he’s built off of what she put so much effort into. I like that she’s still, at times, angry and sad about all this. She’s a person who takes on the care of others which makes her a great friend, sister, and co-worker but when someone points out to her that what she does actually hurts her at times, I’m glad that she listens and works to change. Cecily does a lot of self discovery and growing throughout the book.

The dating part of the story and the person behind it are very millenial/Gen Z. Lots of Instagram, TikTok, collabs, influencing, etc are mentioned but I think the book will still appeal to a variety of readers. The dates aren’t for laughs and most of them are not actually “real time” in the book. When the Plot Twist is revealed, Cecily has to overcome her initial feelings about what has happened but then, and this was amazing, she is honest about what she’s gained from all of this and admits it. Cecily does find someone and I love this person. It’s fairly obvious who it is and she and he spend a lot of time together with lovely/funny scenes that make me sigh so this is more a romance than Chick Lit/Women’s-fiction.

But how does it end? Does Cecily find love through a podcast? Nah, I’m not gonna ruin that. She and he do think a bit and realize that they said some regrettable things in the heat of the moment and they both apologize – just that. Apologize without the expectation that this will fix everything but rather just because the other person deserves the apology.

Cecily also does some thinking about herself, what she’s allowed people in her life to do and what she won’t allow anymore. Then she and he honestly talk some more, some other threads are wrapped up and we get a HFN/HEA epilogue with a lot about the dog, Buddy. And it’s lovely. A