The book follows Cecily Foster, who’s been working at a podcast company doing primarily behind the scenes editing and producing projects. She’s pitched numerous projects to her boss, Toby, but they’ve always been sidelined, until he calls her in and suggests her to be talent for a self help dating podcast where she goes on 20 dates ushered by an influencer turned dating guru. Cecily is understandably not that enthusiastic about putting herself out for consumption for a project like this but faced with company layoffs and fewer hit projects at their company, she feels pressured to say yes and go on this new journey.

I had a great time reading this book, it was so interesting honestly to just learn about the podcast/audio process from the backend. It was also a journey to see someone contemplate the decision to put their personal life out for public consumption and how your shifting vision of what you expect out of your life can be a hard transition to come to terms with. It feels like a really relatable about slowing down to enjoy life again, and reintroducing yourself to what inspired you to enter a career in the first place.

Also for the DC folks it’s set here and it is always so fun to read a book that you can place all the different spots where things take place. Solid light read for folks that need a good vacation book or something to get them out of a rut!

*Back After This* by Linda Holmes is a charming and deeply thoughtful novel that explores the complexities of relationships, career, and self-discovery. The story follows the journey of a woman who returns to her hometown after a life-changing event, grappling with her past while seeking new purpose in her present. Holmes excels at creating fully realized characters whose emotions and struggles feel authentic and relatable. The novel delicately balances humor and heartache, offering moments of lightness while also diving into deeper, more introspective themes. The setting is rich and vivid, providing the perfect backdrop for the emotional journey the protagonist undergoes. Holmes’s writing is warm and engaging, with sharp dialogue and a keen understanding of human nature. *Back After This* is a tender, uplifting exploration of second chances, resilience, and personal growth, making it a truly rewarding read for fans of contemporary fiction. A beautiful and satisfying story.

I became an avid fan of Linda Holmes after reading Eve Drake Starts Over, so I was super excited to read another title by her. This story did not grab my attention as readily, mostly because the podcast/radio host theme is something I am not as familiar with. Because of that and all of the affiliated lingo, it took me a moment to get into the storyline. I found the protagonist, Cecily, to be entirely relatable and found myself rooting for her success much like I do with the women in my life. I love that she is in her 30s and still figuring life out, which as someone who can root herself in the same camp, is often a faux pas in a society where “having your life figured out” is indicative of success. I will definitely recommend this book to friends!

Loved every minute of this book! I’ve read Linda Holmes other books and while I loved those, this one was on another level. The build up between Cecily and Will felt very real and not forced. I also enjoyed a bit of behind the scenes into the podcasting world. Highly recommend!

I thought this was a very cute and sweet story!

Cecily is a podcast editor, but that’s not all because she has a lot of ideas for shows. She seems to do a lot and is probably not being paid enough like a good chunk of us in the world. She is essentially the only option in the office for a new podcast that her boss wants to start due to new sponsors and what they want. Always comes down to money. (You can tell that Cecily is under-appreciated from the beginning.) She agrees to do said podcast on the conditions that her job, and her friend’s job, are safe since layoffs are coming. The podcast is technically all about self-help, but it’s really a “set you up on a bunch on blind dates” dating podcast. Cecily agrees, even after meeting a cute guy, Will, who is saving a dog for someone else. Of course, things get messy as the blind dates continue and she keeps running into Will.

I definitely recommend this book. I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Evie Drake is starting over by this author and was so excited to read this. It did not disappoint. Linda Holmes has such a easy, relatable way of writing that feels emotional but also like a warm hug. Highly recommend to women's fiction fans.

And just like that, Linda Holmes has transformed from an author I really like to one I love.

I truly loved this book. The story follows Cecily, who reluctantly agrees to be the subject of a self-help podcast which involves her working with an influencer/"dating coach" who will set her up on 20 blind dates to help her find a partner. The only problem is the guy she's met on her own, who she keeps running into and is really starting to like...

This was the exact kind of romance that I like to read. There's a meet cute. There's banter. There's humor. There's likeable characters. There's no explicit spice. There's conflict -- of course there's conflict -- but it makes sense in the context of the story and feels natural. There's COMMUNICATION between the male and female main characters. It was just a really fun story where all the tropes worked for me, and I look forward to its publication when more people get to read it.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Ballantine Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this quick and engaging read. Loved the behind the scenes stuff into the making of podcasts. The romantic "misunderstanding" was slightly more annoying than most but overall the book made up for it.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group—Ballantine and Netgalley for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

BACK AFTER THIS was not a book I had on my radar this year at all. I originally only requested it because I had read and loved EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER by Linda Holmes and, coupled with the knowledge that I enjoyed Holmes’s writing style, the premise sounded interesting enough that I thought I’d at least have another good book to read if I got approved.

BACK AFTER THIS is so much more than just another good book. It’s an original idea that kept me reading long after I should have taken a break. I would put the banter between our main character, Cecily, and the other characters on an Emily Henry level of banter, which is the highest of compliments in my opinion. I also loved getting a glimpse at the world of podcasts and audio, an area that I definitely don’t explore enough of.

The relationships between the characters were also explored in a way that felt realistic. I loved how close Cecily was with her sister and brother-in-law, and best friend, and, of course, I loved getting to see her navigate dating the different guys (done in such a clever way that meant I wasn’t constantly trying to put another name with a personality!) before ultimately finding the one for her.

Cecily was a perfect protagonist and I could have read fifty more random run-ins between her and Will and Buddy.

4.5 ⭐️s

Something about Linda Holmes' writing just feels like a big ol' hug to me!

I really enjoyed this one! Loved the characters so much and I love learning more about podcasts and the audio world because I am someone who knows nothing about any of it 😅

A solid book with super solid characters!

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

I’ve been following Linda Holmes a long time and was delighted to get to read her new book early. I loved her first one (Evvie Drake Starts Over) and was not as charmed by her second one but this one was very fun, a romcom set in the world of podcasting. There’s a meet super duper cute, there’s fake dating (but not with the love interest!), there’s a cute dog, and there’s personal growth as our main character learns to speak up for herself. A good combo that got me out of a reading funk.

📖: Back After This
✍🏼: Linda Holmes
⭐: 4/5

Quick thoughts: Picked this book because of my love for “Evvie Drake Starts Over.” This story was more of a slow burn, but after I got about 30% through it I couldn’t put the book down. The main character, Cecily, is driven and is focused on having a successful career. She gets thrown into a new work project where she finds herself “in front of” the microphone vs. “behind” it as she dates 20 men looking for her special someone. Then, Will and his dog Buddy enter the picture.

Loved:
➝ Puppy-prompted meet cute
➝ Learn about the podcast world
➝ Strong character development

Perfect for: Anyone who loves a rom-com (PG13) that’s full of quick-witted dialogue and laugh out loud moments.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of this eArc!

A Heartfelt and Hilarious Journey

Back After This is a delightful and heartwarming read that perfectly captures the complexities of modern dating. Lindquist's witty prose and relatable characters keep you engaged from start to finish.

Cecily's journey is both funny and poignant. Her struggle to balance her professional aspirations with her personal life is something many readers will identify with. The dynamic between Cecily and her overbearing mentor, Eliza, is both amusing and frustrating, adding depth to the story.

The novel explores themes of self-worth, friendship, and the importance of embracing vulnerability. Lindquist's ability to blend humor with heartfelt moments makes this book a truly enjoyable read.

If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer for the characters, Back After This is the perfect choice.

Loved ‘Back After This’! Loved that it was set in the podcasting world and learning about making a podcast (as an avid Pop Culture Happy Hour listener). Loved Cecily’s journey and her chemistry with Will.
Overall, another great read from Linda Holmes!

Linda Holmes's books are like a warm hug. There was a little bit of tough love in this one, too, but everyone ends up better for it. If you are used to listening to Linda Holmes on Pop Culture Happy Hour, this will feel like an extension of that. Her sense of humor, cultural commentary, and kindness are in there, so much that I would tell my family "I'm off to hang out with Linda" when I went to read.

There's a chapter that's just quick summaries 20 blind dates, which is the kind of thing I nearly always skip over. It was so funny and readable, it might have been my favorite chapter, though! What can't she write?

I was not a very big fan of this one. It felt very predictable and reminded me a lot of another book I read. Almost to a T. While I understand there's only so many tropes to write about, this one was too similar.

4.5 stars rounded up. This was so fun to read after a big rom-com slump.

First, I always love a main dog character.

Second, I liked the relationship Cecily forged with Wliza. It could’ve stayed very surface level, or fallen into tropes, but it felt like a realistic portrayal of two people who are suspicious of one another, I appreciated the tension, as well as how they ended up in the end of the story.

I appreciated Cecily’s growth overall, especially as she recognizes that she’s just kind of let her career happen to her. (It resonated!)

And the love story was cute. Lots of good banter and chemistry between her and Will.


Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the arc!

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!

A podcaster makes a deal with a matchmaker to go on 20 dates with people she had been matched with, including one practice date for the matchmaker to see her dating style.

I enjoyed the premise of this book, but I’m struggling to decide whether it was the book or my ADHD that made it hard for me to follow at times. Overall, it was good!

Cecily Foster is a podcast producer, living and working in Washington DC. The company she works for is on the brink of failure, and her boss presents her with a new podcast idea that he is sure will help to save the company, but one that would require her to become a host. The idea? Cecily works with a dating/self-help/influencer "guru", Eliza, to go on 20 blind dates with the men of Eliza's choosing. Cecily must follow her advice and guidance with the idea that her help will ensure that Cecily is no longer single and on her way to true love. Of course, the complication here is that Cecily keeps meeting up with and having amazing chemistry with a man in her neighborhood, who Eliza tells her is absolutely off limits.
Linda Holmes is a great writer, with snappy dialogue and great character development. The chemistry between Cecily and her waiter/photographer man, Will, is amazing and nearly palpable. As with her previous books, the banter and back and forth is well written and also believable. Overall, the book was a fun read, my only criticism was how quickly and easily it felt like things wrapped up, but it was a relatively short book at only 320 pages.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

This is the perfect book to pick up if you want a rom-com that will leave you with a smile on your face. One of the things I especially enjoyed about this was the great blending of romance, comedy, and women’s fiction. This can be a difficult category for me because I often crave more romance and more comedy, but this was just right.

I also enjoyed the way Washington D.C. and the surrounding area was depicted, it felt as if I were transported there in a very natural way. The audio and podcast profession was another aspect I enjoyed. The main characters were believable and there was a perfect amount of interesting secondary characters and storylines.