BOOK: Back After This
AUTHOR: Linda Holmes
PUB DATE: February 25, 2025, by Ballantine Books
PAGES: 320
RATING: 4 stars
GENRE: Contemporary & Humorous Fiction

A H U G E Thank You to NetGalley, Ballentine Books and the author for gifting me an advanced digital in exchange for my honest review!

REVIEW: If you’re looking for a sweet and funny love story, this is the book for you. I immediately knew I would enjoy it since it’s a romance AND about a dog! I adored the characters and the plot was original. This is a hit for those looking for a rom com with no added spice. This one’s just a good, wholesome romance you won’t want to put down.

Back After This is a charming four star romcom!
Cecily, a behind-the-scenes podcast producer, reluctantly finds herself center stage, starring in a series about her own love life.

With her mentor-turned-influencer pushing her through a gauntlet of blind dates, things get messy then rather interesting!

Enter Will, a soft-spoken photographer with major swoon potential! Cecily and Will's worlds collide due to a runaway Great Dane - total 101 Dalmatian vibes!

The banter is witty, the chemistry is slow-burn delicious, and the whole thing feels like a love letter to finding yourself and maybe the right person. I greatly enjoyed this one!

Released in February, this one is available in print and audiobook now.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Linda Holmes for the ARC! Thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun read, especially if you're a podcast fan, as I am! A lot of twists and turns along the road to finding love and who your friends really are in this one!

I enjoyed this friends to lovers romance. I’m a big fan of Linda Holmes from NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast and I enjoyed her first book, Evvie Drake Starts Over so I was excited to read this one! I loved the meet cute. I loved the podcast aspect and workplace drama. I thought Will was so sweet and understanding. This was a really sweet story.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

I haven't been too impressed with the recent Holmes novels. This one was so-so for me.
Cecily is a podcaster, but hasn't had much success after a recent relationship went sour. They stole both her heart and her idea and left her wondering what to do next. She is approached to make a podcast on dating - with a catch. She is the one who has to go on 20 dates, and take the advice of a relationship coach and discuss it on her podcast. The podcast is a hit, but the dates aren't. Cecily meets a waiter who she really likes, but he isn't in the coach's plan. So, does Cecily follow her heart or her career?
A different sort of romance. Just OK.

this book was so cute! loved the chemistry between will and cecily. the happy for now ending was perfection.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo, a podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love?

“Romantic, smart, and exactly the book we all need right now. I adored this.”—Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script

“You’ll sink into this story and never want it to end.”—Elissa Sussman, author of Funny You Should Ask

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?

I really enjoyed Linda Holmes's first two books, so was very excited for "Back After This." I'm happy to say I also really enjoyed this one—it was so fun to learn about the world of podcasting, and the dating podcast was a fun premise. It could have easily got dragged down or spent too much time on the 20 dates, but Holmes handled it perfectly by just focusing on a couple of them and just briefly summarizing the others. I found Eliza a little irritating at times, but that was also partly her function, and helped Cecily recognize what was important to her and what she really wanted. It was a fun, quick read, and I'm looking forward to Holmes's next book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own. 3.75.5

I liked this story of a podcast producer dealing with all of the quirks of modern dating. This would be a good book to take on vacation.

It was cute, I simply don't think I was the right reader for it. The vibes feel less "fresh and modern romance," more "chick lit." It's likely intended for an older audience or a casual romance reader. That said, there was a lot of good stuff going on, and much of the story was compelling. The romance was not in the forefront (as is my personal preference), so I found myself a bit bored at times. But solid overall.

This was an amusing story about a woman finding love unexpectedly and resisting it because it does not fit the plan. Cecily is a podcast editor and is quite good at her job. However, she has not experienced the degree of success she expects or wants. To protect her job and her best friend’s job, she agrees to participate in a podcast where an influencer (Eliza) will set her up on twenty dates and coach her on how to find true love. This presents the opportunity for numerous moments, but in the interactions between Cecily and Eliza, and the dates arranged for Cecily. Some of the dates/men are decent, while others are a disaster.

However, complicating things is that before the podcast starts, Cecily meets Will (waiter, soon to be dog owner, photographer, etc.) in a rather amusing fashion involving Buddy the dog. Circumstances seem to keep bringing Cecily and Will together, and an attraction develops. However, Will only expects to be in DC short-term and is not sure what he wants to do for a career long-term, a big contrast to Cecily, who knows exactly what she wants (or so she thinks). Also, Eliza doesn’t think Will the waiter is right for Cecily or that a Cecily-Will relationship will help Eliza sell her relationship coaching program to others. For much of the story, the reader will likely have a negative view of Eliza, although she somewhat redeems herself at the end.

My first book by Linda Holmes and I immediately added more to my TBR. A laugh out loud rom- com with the best banter! Cecily Foster is a podcast producer who works behind the scenes without the recognition she deserves. With dreams of hosting her own podcast, she finally gets that opportunity but it's not exactly what she had in mind. At a time in her life where she had given up on love, a podcast about her dating life with a popular relationship coach was the last thing she wanted to do. In order to help protect the jobs of her colleagues and friends she reluctantly agrees to do the podcast. With 20 blind dates coming up she is bound to find love but it might find her elsewhere when she least expects it! It was such a good cozy read that shows the messy process of finding love. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random house publishing for the ARC!*

So, I really really wanted to like this book but I think o wanted to quit it at least 5 times. It was extremely slow in the beginning and I also felt like it was a little repetitive and it rambled on quite a bit. It wasn’t until almost the 70% mark that it finally picked up for me and I actually got into it. I wanted Cecily to put her boss and Eliza in their places so bad. And in a way I guess they kinda did, but I wish she stood up more for herself. It kinda also just ends. You don’t really know what Cecily is going to do or Will, I mean it’s kinda hinted that Will is going to keep doing what he’s doing but as for Cecily, not really. Overall, 2.5/5 for me.

A fun lighthearted romantic comedy that will appeal to fans of the genre but overall, it is not as good or as moving as EVVIE DRAKE.

Gotta love a cute story with a happy ending. I thought it dragged at times, but I am happy I finished! I think this would be a good summer beach read!

Readers who appreciate humorous and character-focused romantic comedies will find this book particularly engaging. The story delves into the complexities and absurdities of modern dating, while also exploring the journey of self-discovery. The protagonist navigates the challenges of a demanding career and finds guidance from unexpected mentors, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative. This book appeals to those who enjoy lighthearted yet thought-provoking stories about relationships, personal growth, and the pursuit of happiness in today's fast-paced world.

This rom-com was a quick and fun read. The book follows Cecily who is a hardworking podcaster. To save her job, Cecily agrees to star in a podcast about going on 20 blind dates to find her perfect partner.
I really loved it, such a cute read!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy.

I’m a big fan of Evie Drake Starts Over so I was excited to read this book.
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Unfortunately for me this book was a slow start and I really had to push myself to finish. I don’t know if it’s because the podcast theme has been pretty popular and I’ve read some books with a similar plot.
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I did like the romance between Cecily and Will. The meet cute was adorable. A dog always makes the story better. ❤️🐶
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Thank you netgalley and Ballentine books for the opportunity to read this book.

Read Completed 3/1/25 | 3.75 stars | Book #23 of 2025

I'm a little sad! I wanted to love this but something about it just never really panned out for me. Sadly, I don't think the audiobook narration helped. The author, Linda Holmes, narrated it herself, and she did a fine job, but if I didn't know it was the author, I would have been really disappointed in it. The narration was flat and not super varied. I do appreciate when the author narrates their own books sometimes because I know we're getting it exactly how they wanted it delivered, but it was a little lacking for me.

I liked the characters and the romance. Cecily had a great connected with her love interest and they had awesome chemistry. I really liked their connection, their banter, and their story.

I don't know! There's just something missing here for me where I always felt on the outside of the story, like it just never really pulled me in. I don't know if it was an audiobook barrier or something else. I enjoyed the book, but I'm left a little disappointed for some reason.

Loved the premise of a podcasting producer ending up on a self improvement/dating podcast, it created an interesting plot line and corresponding situations. While the podcast itself didn't really require the FMC to grow, the situations surrounding it really helped to wake her up and make the changes she wanted to in her life. The meet cute was amazing and the coincidental meetings were just absurd enough to be believed. A fun look at the podcasting industry, how to make life decisions, and let yourself be in a relationship that you want to be in.

This delightful romance weaves its love story into the dynamic world of podcasts and dating shows. Cecily Foster, a seasoned podcaster and editor, dreams of finding true love and hosting her own podcast. To help save the company where she works, she agrees to go on 20 dates, guided by Eliza, an influencer who will select her potential suitors. The entire adventure will be documented as a podcast.

Cecily is a relatable character who struggles with self-esteem. Her confidence grows as she develops a relationship with Will, the charming waiter from one of her early dates who keeps reappearing in her life. I was impressed by how intricately the book portrayed the world of podcasting, offering insights into a creative field I don't often read about in novels. Will is a wonderful character, and the banter between him and Cecily is both fun and engaging.

One of the book's strengths is its nuanced portrayal of Eliza. Instead of being a one-dimensional character, she's given depth and complexity, through her characterization and interactions with Cecily. Holmes does a commendable job subverting the typical "villain" trope.

Overall, this book is a witty and charming romance set in a unique professional world. If you're in need of a comforting read to soothe the worries of the world or the heartbreak of literary fiction, you might want to give this book a try.