I am so appreciative to Net Galley and Random House - Ballantine for this ARC! I loved this non-traditional romance and found the characters relatable and refreshing. The dialogue and banter between main characters was so well done. I particularly loved the ending and a few unexpected twists. Linda Holmes has provided her readers with another fantastic book!

Based off the book description, I thought that this book would be a 5 star win for me. Combine rom-com, people who work in audio/podcasting and a dog, and I thought I'd love this story. However, the beginning was so slow, I got about a quarter of the way into the book and ended up setting it aside for several weeks because I just could not get into the story. I found the antagonist in the story to be obnoxious and not a well-rounded character. I did love the banter between the main female and male characters. I wish the story would have centered them more, it would have been a fantastic story. Unfortunately, for me, this one fell flat.

Cecily is a 30 something with a dead end job in podcast editing. She hasn’t dated anyone seriously since her work colleague dumped her four years ago. Now her boss wants her to be the subject of a dating podcast. She will work with an Influencer who will set her up on twenty dates in about six weeks. Cecily has no interest in this project but feels her participation is a means of saving her best friend’s job as well as getting her boss to let her make a pilot of her own podcast. When she meets a nice guy outside of the project, there are all sorts of complications. The story is both funny and sad. The characters are engaging and likable. This was my first experience with Linda Holmes but I look forward to reading more of her books. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Linda Holmes is a favorite author and her latest is now a favorite new romance. Such a fun story with a peek into the world of podcasting and audio editing. I love interesting characters with unique jobs, and Cecily is just perfect. She agrees to date - with the help and advice of an online influencer, making a podcast along the way. In the meantime, she has a hilarious meet-cute with Will, who is not an approved date for Cecily. Antics ensue as Cecily and Will keep connecting, and Cecily has to decide what direction she wants her personal and professional life to take. I loved everything about this book. All the stars! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the earc to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Cecily is a podcast producer who is over-worked and under-appreciated. She finally gets the opportunity to produce her own show but the premise isn’t ideal- she has to work with a famous social media influencer & the goal is for her to find love over the course of 20 blind dates. This book explores themes like serendipity, proximity, career ambition and the state of the podcast industry. The pacing lulls at times but overall this was a fun, light and cozy time! I will read anything by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I love Linda Holmes on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, so I had high hopes for her novel set in the podcasting world. In Back After This, we follow Cecily as she embarks on a hosting a new podcast that is focused on her dating life. She is meant to go on 20 dates set up by an expert, and she does, but Cecily gets distracted by Will, who keeps popping up in her life.

There was a lot to like about this book, but some parts didn't click for me. I really enjoyed Cecily and Will's dynamic and banter. I had a harder time reading about Cecily's job and wished less time was spent on this - her workplace was unstable, which was important to the story, but simply not fun to read about. In the end, I appreciated seeing Cecily's growth with the workplace dynamic.

3.5 stars

There was just something about this one that didn't hit right for me, and I'm a bit surprised because I did really enjoy Evvie Drake Starts Over by the author. I'm not sure if it's just lack of personal interest in the podcast world, or how at times the writing style didn't quite flow with perfunctory summations "And that's how I ended up...", but it ended up being a largely skimmable book for me. I did like the idea that you can try as hard as you can, in this case, by agreeing to go on blind dates for a podcast, but what's meant to be will be and you can find love by a chance encounter instead. However, in this case, love came in the form of a blasé blah mediocre man named Will, who didn't seem like a great match for the more career oriented Cecily. Maybe this is a more realistic depiction of romance, and I guess I like to be delusional after all.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did enjoy the book even though I felt it went a little slow. I did like the storyline and the characters. I would recommend this book.

This was another great story from Linda Holmes! I really enjoyed the premise of a podcast producer trying to get her own show. I loved how hard Cecily worked and what a badass FMC she was. This story had good pacing and i really enjoyed the storyline with Will as well. What I like about this author's stories is that they tend to have a very independent female lead just trying to figure out how to make it in the world and have a good relationship as well. Toby turned out to be a jerk and the twist really got me! This was a fun one. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks NetGalley and Ballantine for my copy of this ARC which publishes 2/25.

Back After This follows Cecily, a podcast producer turned host recording her way through twenty blind dates, set up by renowned dating coach and influencer, Eliza Cassidy. Enter Will: the dog rescuer/photographer/waiter everyone wants her to avoid, but she can't seem to stay away from.

As someone who worked at the same place for 11 years and was too scared to leave because it was comfortable, I saw a lot of myself in Cecily. It's hard enough to define what you want out of life, but it's even harder to say it out loud. Although I enjoyed how quickly the plot moved, I fought a slump left and right while reading this, hence why it took me over two weeks to finish. Linda Holmes, I love your work. It's not you, it's me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Cecily is the best podcast producer in her small media company. She works for a toxic boss, but loves and is good at what she does, even though she'd like to host rather than produce a pod at some point. Her boss pitches her a new show: a series where Cecily will work with a life & dating coach and go on 20 blind dates. This has tie-in sponsors and is meant as a launching pad for coach Eliza. While Cecily is open to the idea of these men, she's also met someone "the old fashioned way" and while Eliza tries to steer her clear of "the waiter," Cecily needs to learn whether to trust her instincts or listen to advice.

I adored Linda Holmes's first two books and was really excited to read Back After This. This starts off with a little more of a rom-com tone, and maintains a more comedic bent throughout than her other books. As is typical with her style, though, Holmes has a poignant way of looking at life and love, and I love how she pulls it off.

I rather famously dislike most first-person romances, but my struggle is usually being in the head of a 20-something main character. While Cecily is working on pulling parts of her dating life together, she's also a well-adjusted and relatable 30-something professional woman with some questionable work-life boundaries. The book focuses not just on her forced dating life, but also on her relationship with her job, her coworkers, and her sister.

I loved this book for everything it was AND everything it wasn’t. It wasn’t gimmicky or tropey. The plot didn’t always go exactly where you thought it would and the ending was satisfying but not unrealistic. When the Cecily, the main character spoke, she was thoughtful and used logic and restraint. The editing on this book was fantastic. I was fully invested the whole time and the side characters each had their place and added to the storyline. I laughed out loud at Cecily’s dry and snarky humor and my stomach dropped when hers did. She was self-aware and relatable. I really enjoyed this author’s last two books but this one was exceptional. I’m not sure if it was that she herself is a podcaster and was very knowledgeable or that this storyline was more layered, but it worked really well for me. If you’re looking for a general fiction book with visible character development, a romance subplot, and appreciate well-rounded characters with depth, I would highly recommend this book. Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy!

This is the third book I’ve read by Linda Holmes and I enjoyed it a lot. Like Holmes’s previous novels, this one fell more into women’s fiction for me, but the romance is more front and center this time around.

Back After This had some very hilarious romcom moments, but it also explored the ideas of success and fulfillment. I liked Cecily’s character arc and I loved the message of prioritizing one’s own wants and desires. Yes, she frustrated me at times, but she also showed a lot of growth. The fade to black romance with Will was cute, but I wish his character would have been more fully developed. I found the information about podcasts and production interesting, but there was so much page time devoted to it that it bogged down the story.

The audiobook was overall enjoyable, but I had some difficulty with Holmes’s narration. Her comedic timing was great, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough variety in the voices she used. It made it very challenging to determine who was speaking since everyone sounded the same.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 3.5 stars
Story 4 stars

CW: job and financial insecurity, manipulative boss

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

I enjoyed this one from Linda Holmes! I don't think anything will beat her first, Evvie Drake, for me though. I couldn't stand her second book, sadly. This one was an improvement, but it did annoy me at times.

I often relate the protagonists like the ones Linda Holmes writes, but this time around, I found myself relating to Eliza (who EVERY DAMN GOODREADS REVIEWER CALLS BITCHY). I've worked in social media for over a decade, I've constantly had to reinvent myself, I love helping people, I'm good at self promotion, and I just have to keep bulldozing ahead no matter what. Meanwhile, Cecily stays in the same awful job at the same awful company as if she has no agency to leave??? Ugh. Boring.

I really enjoyed Will's character. He was probably my favorite part of the book. For there being a dog in the story, it almost felt like this was written by not a dog lover, because the giant great dane is barely there. So weird.

The drama between Cecily and Will felt manufactured. The book moved quickly and was an easy read. It was enjoyable enough, but not an all-time fave.

Back After This is a heartwarming and charming story of self-discovery, love, and unexpected connections. Cecily Foster, a talented but reluctant podcast producer, finds her life turned upside down when she’s forced to host a show about going on twenty blind dates. As someone who’s faced workplace heartbreak, her hesitation to put her love life on display feels completely relatable—but stepping outside her comfort zone might just lead to something beautiful.

Cecily’s dating misadventures are equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, filled with awkward encounters and surprising chemistry. Her dynamic with Eliza, her upbeat dating coach, is pure entertainment—two opposites clashing in the best way. But it’s Will, the sweet and charming photographer, who truly steals the show. Their chance meetings over a lost dog feel like fate, and their chemistry is undeniable, even though Will wasn’t part of the plan.

Linda Holmes’ writing makes the characters feel like old friends, and the podcast setting adds a fresh, modern twist to this romantic journey. Beyond the romance, the story explores deep, universal questions: How do we balance dreams with reality? What happens when love doesn’t fit into our plans? Can we truly find ourselves while searching for someone else?

More than just a love story, Back After This is a warm, feel-good read that embraces the beauty of being messy, imperfect, and human. It’s the perfect book for anyone who loves authentic, character-driven romance—one that will leave you smiling, laughing, and believing in the magic of unexpected connections.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cecily Foster is a long time podcast editor and producer who has always worked in the background without getting the credit she deserves. When her boss assigns her to a new podcast that requires her to go on 20 first dates, Cecily reluctantly does it to help her company and hopefully save the jobs of herself and her friends. When she has a meet cute with someone outside of her apartment, though she hits a snag in her plans. This is a cozy romance that isn’t a just a romance but a story of friendship, empowerment and the hope that we don’t have to fit in a box. Thank you #netgalley for this early copy of Back After This.

Cecily Foster is a podcast producer who reluctantly agrees to host a new show that places her love life (or lack thereof) front and center. Agreeing to work with Eliza Cassidy, an “expert” in the field, the plan is simple. Cecily will go on twenty, curated dates-all in the quest to find true love.

The only problem is Cecily isn’t really looking for love. What she is looking for her is away to secure her co-worker’s paycheck. By agreeing to take part, she’s hoping to cement her mentee’s place at the station where they both work.

Then yet another glitch comes in the form of a man, Will whom she randomly meets outside the twenty dates. Although their initial meeting already has Cecily’s head spinning, it’s their additional run ins that take their meet cute to new levels. With fans of the podcast swooning over Will, the choice seems obvious. But Eliza, the matchmaker extraordinaire, begs to differ-thus begging the question. Do you have to look to find a meaningful relationship, or can a meaningful relationship find you?

Back After This is a cute, albeit, not super original love story. In fact, the whole, “looking for love with an audience” trope is one I just read in the recently released, First Time Caller, as well as a few others. I wanted more out of the dates themselves, even if the reader knows none of them are end game. The point I’m trying to make is this isn’t ground breaking stuff, even for a genre known for a degree of predictably. However, if you are looking for a sweet story to escape in, the easy listening vibe of Back After This just might be broadcasting on your frequency.

Sigh. I love loved loved this book. It's been a while since I've read a romance that had me smiling almost the whole time, and I just devoured this. Cecily is a podcast producer who is of course a workaholic, and her boss enlists her to host a show where an influencer-turned-relationship-coach sets her up on twenty dates. Shenanigans ensue, as they always do, and it's all so much fun.

Cecily is such a likable protagonist - incredibly loyal, really good at her job, no bullshit, confused about many things - and being in her head felt like talking to a friend. The love story is super sweet, funny, and relatable, and I love when a book explores the protagonist's personal growth outside their love life (this book is very good at it). This book also really highlighted the tension that a lot of single people feel - how much effort should I put into it? How specific should I be what I'm looking for? Where do I even find someone? The questions are exhausting, and I appreciated the way this book had Cecily work through all of these things. Above all else, this was just such an enjoyable read!
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ugh Linda Holmes you just know how to write a book that is so fun to read. It is such a good palate cleanser and light book to read. More characters like Will pls!!

4.75 STARS

A dog-related meet cute, an inside look at the world of podcasting, and charming characters make this a delightful contemporary romance all around.

When podcast producer Cecily is finally asked to step up to host her own show, it seems like a dream come true. The catch is that the show her network envisions is focused on her own dating life and she’s expected to be mentored and coached by life coach and influencer Eliza Cassidy through the whole process. Despite her misgivings, Cecily agrees to do the show, but only as a way to protect her friend’s job at the same time. Of course, just as the wheels begin turning for the show, Cecily meets Will by happenstance when she helps him catch a runaway Great Dane on a busy street. Complications, shall we say, ensue.

This may be my favorite Linda Holmes novel yet and I thoroughly enjoyed both the romantic storyline and the intimate insights Holmes gives into the podcasting world. If you love contemporary romance and enjoy a story that gives you more threads to follow than just the central relationship, this would be a great pick for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance review copy of this book!