Linda Holmes, you created the most fun, darling story! I could not put this book down. It was fantastic! Loved the main character and her realness. It was so relatable, and fun to follow her throughout the story.

Our FMC Cecily is a long time podcast producer. She has been grinding it out. Editing. Pitching. Managing Talent. She's had her ideas passed as male coworkers--you know, she's a "team player," that puts the company first and her relationships and life on the backburner.

When her boss approaches her to star in her own pod, she pauses. He wants her to date ON AIR and be coached by influencer/life coach Eliza.

I loved this one. It has a cute dog, a handsome guy with the best meet cute, and extremely interesting niche nerdy content regarding podcasting/audio world that makes for a great "romance ++." (Romance ++ for me is a great story with a HEA, but we get a little more character development and real life.)

And, Cecily is dealing with the great dilemma of life. If we live to work, what life do we have?

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the review copy. Back After This releases February 25, 2025.

Linda Holmes' writing is so clever and heartfelt that I wish she would release a book more frequently than every three years. I know she's busy with her job at NPR (I am a regular Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast listener), but right now I'm delighted to be able to sit down and read an advance copy of her newest, Back After This, which I devoured in a couple of sittings.

Linda knows a thing or two about podcasting, and so does the main character, Cecily. Her boss treats her more like a utility player, even though he swears she is his best editor and producer, while Cecily dreams of having her own podcast. With the business in financial trouble, a guaranteed-killer podcast is needed to save them from cutbacks. That's the only reason Cecily reluctantly agrees to be the centerpiece of this podcast where, under the direction of a popular influencer and relationship coach, she goes on 20 dates to find her soulmate. I should mention that Cecily's love life has been stalled since her breakup with a man who stole her work and conveniently fell out of love with her.

I'm happy to say that there is very brief coverage of most of the dates, and that the focus of the plot is squarely on Cecily coming to terms with--and being able to articulate and even demand-- what she wants from a man, her career, and herself. I love the depth Holmes has given not only Cecily, but also her loyal sister and friends and (eventually) her coach, not to mention an appealing man who is not part of the show and doesn't have it all together either, but who has showed up unexpectedly to change everything. Then there's the 160-pound dog who becomes a cherished character. I also enjoyed getting some insight into what podcast editors and producers do, and what goes into making the podcasts that I enjoy.

Linda Holmes is high on my must-read author list, and I recommend all three of her novels. I think this one may be her best, especially for her ability to come up with unique characters I haven't read about before, and for exceptional writing that brings them to life.

My thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Podcast meets reality TV dating and we are here for it. Thank you Random House and NetGalley for access to this advance read.

"Back After This" is a sweet and heartwarming read! Cecily's journey as a podcast producer navigating modern dating is both relatable and charming. The balance between humor and vulnerability makes her story shine, and the chemistry with Will adds a perfect touch of romance. The dynamics with influencer Eliza create tension that keeps you turning the pages. A beautifully crafted story about love, friendships, and finding your voice. Highly recommend!

Summary: A podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love?” I really enjoyed both of this author’s previous books. I’m not interested in podcasts so the author was the main draw. I really enjoyed the humor and writing. This is a fun and fast read.

This was ok! Cute romcom contemporary piece that was quick to read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who needs a pickmeup

This might be my favorite of Linda Holmes' romance novels, even after loving "Evvie Drake Starts Over" and its dual POVs. In "Back After This," Cecily has signed up to host a podcast, getting her first turn on the mic after producing and coming up with tons of others, but the catch is that it requires her to be submitted to a makeover style intervention to go on dates with men picked for her by others – even as serendipitous encounters are really pointing her to someone she'd like to pick herself instead.

The banter is witty, the meet cute and subsequent encounters are fun, and the conversational style of writing is sparkly to an Ephron-like degree (appropriately there are "Sleepless in Seattle" and "When Harry Met Sally" vibes; also a tad of "Easy A" in terms of wordplay). And the setting (related to the podcasting world close to Holmes' bio) makes the characters in "Back After This" feel especially lived in.

Cecily has a mix of media industry jadedness and quick-mindedness that really resonated with me, working in media as well, and that makes her scenes with the MMC especially lively and warm — and also makes a lot of the dialogue *laugh out loud* funny. Highly recommended!

Spice levels: There's open door romance but not explicit
It's not a particularly tropey book, which I liked, but it does hit on some of these if they're of interest to you: a bit of friends to lovers, matchmaker/relationship coach, a dash of star-crossed lovers, brains are hot, blind dates