Back After This by Linda Holmes

My internet is not the same internet as my wife’s internet. I asked her the other day if she knew who Linda Holmes was and she said “of course!” I didn’t know that Linda Holmes was on NPR and used to write for Television Without Pity. I just knew her as a guest and fan of the Flophouse, a bad movie podcast I love. She was really funny on her guest appearance and I learned that she had a book coming out, so I requested and received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m so glad I did!

This book was like a romantic comedy movie in book form - and I mean that in the best possible way. A busy woman focused on her career in podcast production becomes the host of a dating podcast under the tutelage of a relationship influencer. There is a great dog, a meet cute, and many complications. The characters felt well rounded and I kept being surprised in all the good ways by this novel. Highly recommend!!

I’ve been a fan of Linda’s since her recapping days on TWoP and eagerly read her first two novels. I loved Evvie Drake and didn’t love Flying Solo so I tried to start Back After This with an open mind.

I’m happy to say that BAT falls in the love category for me. Although the direction of the book was clear fairly early on, Linda did the story justice by having it take appropriate twists and turns to make the ending more satisfying.

Also, I need a Great Dane in my life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review.

Absolutely fantastic plot! I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone.

Linda Holmes has done it yet again with another delightful, funny, emotional rom-com. Her book had me laughing out loud and also enjoying an array of quirky characters and absurdities of our podcast culture today, which felt pretty spot on.

The story is about Cecily, who works at a podcast company and is partnered with a life coach/dating guru for a new show to find her a man through a series of blind dates. However, life has different plans as she keeps bumping into Will and things develop with him. The book stays interesting by focusing more on everything but the absurd dates - while they are part of the story, it’s more about her career, life choices, and the people around her, which kept the story more grounded.

Overall a great read!

Thank you to Linda, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story was very relatable and also super dramatic in the best way. I felt like I was apart of the characters lives while reading and that is hard to do. I enjoyed this book on a rainy day and it was perfect.

Another winning tale by Holmes. This time she incorporates her podcasting experience as an important element of main character Cecily's life, providing details that authenticate this portrayal of work within the field. I was surprised that the podcast's titular twenty dates that Eliza organizes are breezed through so quickly, but the book is much more concerned with exploring Cecily's journey of discovery from being involved with this project. It felt like fate how she and Will kept running into each other, and their scenes together were always filled with delightful dialogue that showed them slowly building a close connection. The interesting secondary characters featured here successfully fill out this world, and I like how the climax gives Cecily an opportunity to stand up for herself and figure out what she truly wants. A very enjoyable read to sink into.

This was such a cute story about a podcaster who has had a disastrous relationship in her past and in order to save the company she works for from going under, she is asked to pair with an influencer to help her find love again and create a podcast about it.

I loved the podcast elements and insights from Holmes. I was also really rooting for most of the characters in the story. I especially liked the dog character in this book. I liked the themes and depth in the novel. From the start I was hooked but I will say there was a time in the middle that I struggled to pick it up and finish it and that is the reason I am rating it 4 stars instead of 5.

I do love the ways Linda Holmes can write a unique romance story with all the best banter. This time around she does it in a lane she knows well - podcasting. Cecily is a podcast producer who then becomes the focus of a show about modern dating where she goes on 20 blind dates. Outside of this ridiculous journey, she connects with Will, a dog rescuer, and as you might infer (correctly), that relationship involves some things. It was a light, fun read that also had some good feels. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this February 2025 release.

I really enjoyed two of this authors previous books, so I was pretty excited to receive this ARC. It was a little different than what I had expected and for some reason while reading I kept forgetting the FMC's name - Cecily! - but I really did enjoy this book. The book follows Cecily who is a podcast producer and in exchange for being the subject of a dating podcast Cecily's boss promises that she will have the chance to host her own show, However, things get complicated when she keeps running into the "Hot Waiter" Will. Will she stick to her promise of 20 dates and 12 episodes revolving around her personal life, or follow her heart?

This was a cute rom-com type story that I very much enjoyed. 4 stars for me. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

I really like these books by Linda Holmes. I really enjoyed her first on paper and then fell into the audio of Flying Solo. I intentionally waited for the audio on Back After This not knowing that it's indeed a love letter to audio. As a one woman podcaster, I was in it. I could see the sound waves when she described them. I understood her opinions on mouth sounds and as a coach, I also enjoyed (but stressed over) Eliza.

This book was just right just for me and I enjoyed it so much. Not all books about my specific lines of work come across well for me and this one landed just right. If you like dogs, found and real family, finding yourself and unexpected romance, this is your book.

I am a Linda Holmes fan from Pop Culture Happy Hour, the NPR podcast she co-hosts, so it was lovely to see a fictionalized behind-the-scenes look into the podcasting business from her point of view. Obviously, this was different from her real life, but it was still fun to learn about room tone and other podcast-y things.

Cecily works as a producer at a podcast company, and her boss has an idea for a show she can host. She initially gets spooked by the weird companies wanting ads but eventually realizes this may be the show that saves her work bestie's job. She agrees to work with popular influence-turned-dating coach Eliza and go on 20 first dates in order to launch herself back into dating after four years out of a relationship (which was also crappy). Right then, she also has a meet cute with someone she keeps running into. Whatever shall she do?

This was super cute and very cozy, and I always love a good dog in a romance!

Thank you to Ballatine for the e-ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss and PRH Audio for the ARC/ALC.

This was another delightful book written by Linda Holmes. I don't think I enjoyed this one as much as I enjoyed her first two books, but I thought it was still a fun read. I enjoyed reading about Cecily's self-discovery and her journey to find love. I also have to add that there is an adorable dog in the book and that is one major reason to read this book in my opinion. The supporting characters at the podcast studio were also quite funny. Linda Holmes also narrates the audiobook, and I thought she had a really pleasant and soothing voice. I hope she considers narrating more of her books!

Thanks again to NetGalley, Edelweiss and PRH Audio for the ARC/ALC.

Thank you net galley for the ARC and chance to provide an honest review. This book left me conflicted. It starts a bit slow and bogs you down with some of the technical audio jargon--BUT it warns you that will happen so I went in knowing this and it was okay. Will and Buddy are awesome. Cecily has to re-grow on you however. I start out rooting for her, then got annoyed and then was back in her corner. The book definitely picks up about 25% in but unfortunately slows down a bit in the last 25% again. I loved Evie Drake starts over so perhaps a higher bar was set and this fell short. I also did the audio version of Evie which is so much better with bantering of characters imo. I am looking forward to going back to read her other book Flying Solo later this year regardless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the ARC of Back After This by Linda Holmes.

Cecily works in the world of podcast, but normally behind the scenes, though she has lots of ideas for her own podcast. Her boss, Toby, nominates her for the new podcast that’s a bit like a self-help program with influencer Eliza and completely not aligned with any of Cecily’s idea. The gist…date 20 guys to find the one. But then there is Will chasing Buddy the Great Dane down the street while wearing a cape (Will has the cape not Buddy!!). Who will make the cut, how much say will Cecily say, does Eliza have her best interest at heart, and will Toby keep his promises. More importantly does Cecily find love again?!?

Overall, this book was cute. I found it to be a little slow for my liking. Probably more of a 3.5⭐️.

Every time I read a Linda Holmes novel, I think- 'damn, she got in my head and wrote about me.'

Then I read the next one and, 'I'm like, no, wait --- this is the one that's all me.' Her books just get me.

Her latest is about Cecily, a single podcast producer who does a self-help series to help her dating life for altruistic reasons. Along the way, she learns about herself, removes some wool from her eyes, and goes after her dreams.

Cecily is smart and funny and is the only one who seems not to know this about herself. In her, the reader can find elements of themselves. A woman who gives too much of herself away and doesn't take at all.

A woman who doubts all of her moves. A woman reticent for help.

Enter Eliza the bubbly influencer and 20 first dates to help Cecily find herself and find love. But can she trust herself?

Holmes deftly creates a situation where Cecily is both growing and shrinking in the process-- and readers can see why and how it becomes a gray issue.

Follow her journey is enjoyable and educational. Highly recommend.

Rating: 4.5/5

Thank you to Random House Ballantine for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Back After This was an absolute delight—a Women's Fiction novel with a touch of romance, a compelling exploration of podcasting, and a thoughtful look at personal growth and work-life balance.

Cecily Foster, a talented podcast producer, finds her world flipped upside down when she unexpectedly becomes the subject of a dating podcast, agreeing to go on twenty blind dates set up by an influencer. The premise alone was fantastic, and it delivered in all the best ways.

The chemistry and banter between Cecily and Will were a highlight for me. From their meet-cute to the way they kept running into each other, their dynamic was engaging, charming, and full of heart. Linda Holmes has an incredible gift for writing characters who feel so real—flawed, relatable, and deeply human. I saw so much of myself in Cecily, even in ways that weren’t always flattering, which made her journey even more compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.
I’ve had Evie Drake in my TBR for what feels like forever so when I saw another book by @lindaholmes97, I was excited for the invitation and immediately accepted! This book was honestly exactly what I needed! It was adorable and it’s February (but read this in January) and there is also going to be strong competition for best book boyfriend. I LOVED Will! From their meet cute, to every other scene he was in, I simply adored him. Was he this perfect male specimen? No! And that was made him seem real and even more lovable! I also enjoyed Cecily’s personal journey throughout the book as well. Seeing the inner workings of creating podcasts was very interesting me too. This book just made me feel all the feels and I think any rom-com lover needs to check it out! This will be out on February 25th, so just a few short weeks!

A wonderful light romance with a flawed but loveable main character who wrests love from what seems to be a disastrous situation. An examination of podcast bros and influencer culture that's refreshingly light on crime. The author of the charming Evvie Drake Starts Over does not disappoint.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is a delightful novel that exudes warmth and charm, showcasing Holmes's unique writing style. From the very beginning, I found myself captivated by the story and reluctant for it to conclude. The dialogue is both sweet and sharp, and the characters are so vividly portrayed that they practically leap off the page.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing this ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up. This book took me a bit to get into, but once I reached about halfway, I started to enjoy it more. The beginning felt a little slow, but once the pace picked up, I was more engaged with the story. The main characters were relatable, and their banter was a definite highlight—funny and natural, which made it easy to get invested in their relationships.

I also appreciated the unique insight into the world of influencers and podcast creation, which felt fresh and intriguing. As a fan of Linda Holmes's previous work, I was excited to read this, and while it took some time to click, I'm glad I stuck with it. Overall, a solid read that offers a charming look at modern life in the digital age.