Interesting insight into the world of podcasts and radio/audio production, while also dealing with the issues that real people struggle with, such as staying at a job too long, and trying to find your path and partner in life. I really liked the exploration of self and being able to say "I want" instead of being a people pleaser and just going along. Definitely saved some good quotes to reflect on later and I always love when dogs are part of the story too! I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.

I've been reading Linda Holmes for over 20 years now, back when she was Miss Alli writing for Television Without Pity. I now listen to her podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR. This is her third book and my favorite of the three.

I liked that this book was set in the world of podcasts since I listen to so many of them. I wish we had more of Cecily and Will, since I thought they had good chemistry. I liked the premise of the podcast/book, and while it was predictable, I enjoyed the ride. My kingdom for a credible third act obstacle though. So frustrating to not have believable challenges to a relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: February 25, 2025.

I enjoyed how the romance was woven into this but the story was more about Cecile’s journey vs who she ended up with.

Linda Holmes' latest novel "Back After This" is a charming exploration of modern dating, career ambition, and self-discovery, all set against the fascinating backdrop of podcast production. The novel follows Cecily Foster, a talented podcast producer who reluctantly agrees to host a dating show where she must go on twenty blind dates under the guidance of an influencer-turned-dating-coach, Eliza Cassidy. The catch? Just as she begins this project, she meets Will, a photographer and dog rescuer who seems to keep appearing in her life through serendipitous encounters.
Strengths

Characters and Relationships
* Cecily is a relatable and well-developed protagonist whose journey of self-discovery feels authentic and engaging
* Will serves as a charming love interest with depth beyond the typical romantic lead
* Buddy the Great Dane emerges as a scene-stealing presence that adds heart and humor

Writing and Dialogue
* Holmes' writing style is warm, intelligent, and conversational
* The banter between characters gives some genuine laugh-out-loud moments
* The author's expertise in audio production lends authenticity to the podcast-focused elements

Theme and Setting
* The behind-the-scenes look at podcast production provides a unique and educational backdrop
* The book thoughtfully examines themes of career ambition, personal growth, and authentic relationships
* The workplace dynamics and industry challenges ring true

Romance Development
Here's where I wished for a few different things.

1. More scenes between Cecily and Will, particularly in the first half
2. The twenty dates concept, while interesting, felt rushed
3. The ending felt inevitable and slightly rushed

Final Verdict
Holmes has crafted a story that goes beyond conventions to explore meaningful themes while maintaining the warmth and charm readers expect from contemporary romance. The novel particularly excels in its authentic dialogue, well-developed characters, and unique setting in the podcast industry.

Linda Holmes is back with another great book. In this story, Cecily, a podcast producer, agrees to be the subject of a new podcast... One that has her meeting with an influencer who is an expert on relationships and is going to help Cecily find the one by going on 20 first dates. She agrees to this, in order to save her and her friend's job and to get to be the director on her own podcast. Only it doesn't go exactly according to plan.

This was fun. As per usual, my favorite character forever and always is the dog, but u think this was a lot of fun, I think it is one of an interesting take on things. I like it.

I snagged this ARC from NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the most enjoyable rom-com-ish books that I've read in a while. It was cute and fun while still having a plot with depth and substance. The characters were great and the relationships were believable. The dialogue never felt stiff and there were a few moments of excellent banter. The pacing was good and I never felt like the plot was dragging behind the central relationship, which sometimes happens in a romance book.

I received an ARC for Back After This from #NetGalley. It was a fun, sweet read. I enjoyed watching the main character, Cecily, progress in her journey to find herself. This was a quick, enjoyable read. Highly recommended for a 2025 read!

lIf you like Abby Jimenez or Emily Henry, you’ll love the charming writing of Linda Holmes! Back After This blends humor and heartfelt moments, making it a standout in the romantic comedy genre. With relatable characters and a fun, engaging story, Holmes creates a delightful escape that's perfect for fans of witty, emotional love stories.

This was a FUN read. Like one of those books you just have a good time reading. The star of the show was obviously Buddy, the dog, because how could it not be??
If you are a podcast listener, it’s super fun to hear about what all go behind the scenes of putting them together. It definitely gave me an extra appreciation for them!
I completely devoured it. A very cute, lighthearted read! Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

A quirky story about a podcaster. Who gets her chance to be a host of her own show while going on 20 dates. What could ever go wrong?? She of course meets a man on her own and has to decide how to manage all the things. It was funny and a quick read! I loved Linda Holmes previous books and this did not disappoint!!

Cecily is a podcaster, stuck in her less-than-fully satisfying job, stuck in the single life after a bad breakup four years ago. She stumbles into a meet-cute with Will, who she has instant sparks with but seems like destined to be a dead-end because he tells her immediately he plans to move out of the area when his lease is up in 3 months.

Cecily is approached by her boss to take on a new podcast project - where she will be the subject of a dating self help guru. The hook -- she has to go on Twenty First Dates and be coached along the way, in an attempt to find love. She begrudgingly agrees to this project, only with the agreement from her boss that she'll be able to take on whatever project she wants after this show is over.

She embarks on this journey with her Influencer self help guru, but she keeps running into Will. As the show continues, she has to decide what she really wants.

I really enjoyed this one - Cecily was so relatable and seemed like a real authentic person, contrary to many typical romance books. This plot really centers more on her personal journal, with the romance relationship somewhat taking a back seat until the last third of the book. Cecily comes to terms with--and becomes able to articulate and even demand-- what she wants from a man, her career, and herself. I also loved that our MMC was more realistic and nuanced than in your typical romance read, which is one of my main pet peeves in the genre.

Low spice, closed door scenes only.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy of this review in exchange for my honest review.

First, I want to say thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine for providing me with the ARC in exchange for a honest review!

Back After This follows podcast producer Cecily Foster as she finally gets a chance to host her own show. Unfortunately, it's not the show she had hoped for. The show will follow Cecily as she goes on 20 first dates in the hopes of finding “the one” all while getting coaching from influencer Eliza. Cecily agrees to host the show to help save her friend’s job and to hopefully host a show she is actually passionate about in the future. However, after multiple chance encounters with Will, known as dog rescuer, hot waiter, and photographer throughout the book, keeping focused on dating advice from Eliza becomes harder and harder as she has made her stance on “hot waiter” very clear. Will Cecily figure out what is important when it comes to work, love and friendships?

This book was a quick read with several laugh out loud moments throughout. While slightly predictable, I loved reading about all the chance encounters between Cecily and Will as learning about the podcasting world! There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake Cecily and shout STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!! I think people can relate to Cecily when it comes to her struggles at work and wanting to help ensure the success of those she cares about. I’m glad she figured it out in the end and got her HEA!

Thank you to Netalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I Flew through this one. Linda Holmes’ rom coms are so incredibly fun and this was no different. Cecily was such a great protagonist - uncomfortably relatable at times, which made it extra easy to root for her finding love, self-confidence, and joy.

While he had slightly less character development and depth than Cecily, Will was also a great love interest. It was so much fun to read about the process of creating a podcast, and the side characters were great.

Things may have wrapped up a smidge quickly and neatly at the end but, hey, that’s a good rom com for you! 4/5.

Despite her ex-boyfriend shafting her from the hit podcast she created, audio technician Cecily hopes her hard work and amenability will be rewarded with her own show. Her boss offers her a deal: he'll consider her ideas if she agrees to go on 20 blind dates for a new podcast featuring Eliza, an influencer turned life coach. Meanwhile she keeps running into the charming Will whom Eliza dubs ‘The Waiter’, insisting Cecily needs to be more intentional with her partner choices. But why is it she can't stop thinking about him? And why is Cecily finding it difficult to be recognised for her work?

I breezed right through this book. At times it’s a bit of a car crash you know is going to happen because you can see Cecily refusing to pay attention to the machinations at her workplace. She will frustrate, yet is relatable. Like many women, Cecily has been taught to put everyone else’s needs above her own before she'll be rewarded. This book focuses on her slowly learning how to start taking control over her life and fight for what she wants. I liked the contrast between Cecily the doormat and Eliza the steamroller who hustles with the confidence of a man.

Pace-wise I think we needed Cecily to finally start realising everything earlier, just to see her get her life on track more. Because the ending felt rushed and the epilogue felt like a bit of a let down given this book was also about her career.

With its well-drawn characters, workplace intrigue and two charming main characters, this was a delight.

Thanks to Random House/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Podcast producer Cecily Foster finally has a chance to host her own show, but it comes with a catch: the show will delve into her own dating life, guided by influencer and dating coach Eliza Cassidy. Though she’s hesitant to put her love life on public display, Cecily’s dedication to her job—and her mentee—compels her to give it a shot. Balancing a spark with Will, a charming photographer she meets by chance, and Eliza’s strict “no-dating” rules, Cecily’s journey is filled with romantic and personal crossroads as she strives to find happiness on her own terms.

As a fan of podcasts, I found this unique approach so refreshing. While many novels I’ve read about podcasts center around true crime, Back After This dives into the production side, which I found fascinating. Though I didn’t particularly relate to Cecily, I liked her as a character and enjoyed watching her growth. This book didn’t quite have the same spark as Evvie Drake Starts Over, but it was still a fun and thoughtful read. I loved the 20 dates she went on—they were entertaining but not overly emphasized, making this feel more like women’s fiction than a traditional rom-com. Plus, I learned so much about the behind-the-scenes work of creating a podcast, which added depth to the story for me. 3.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Ballantine Books for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I adored the story of Cecily and the deep dive into the fascinating world of podcast creation. I knew it was much more work than many people realize, but I didn’t grasp the extent of the dedication of the (many) people who work so hard to bring these amazing pieces of entertainment or education to life.

Besides the podcast/audio aspects, I found Cecily to be a great protagonist with an extremely quick wit. The writing is just wonderful and I could easily see how she’d get roped into doing a podcast where she’s the guinea pig for a relationship coach. The idea of going on dates with 20 different people in just a few weeks’ time sounds horrible to me, but it would certainly make an entertaining podcast!

Buddy the dog is FABULOUS. I'm talking main character energy there.

I loved seeing Cecily’s story unfold and the adorable ways she kept somewhat randomly running into Will. This is an endearing—and hilarious—story about daring to go after what you really want. I’d give it ten stars if I could.

As a huge fan of Evie Drake Starts Over, I had high hopes for Back After This, and Holmes' latest did not disappoint! This novel had everything: A satisfying peek behind the scenes of a world I don't know much about (podcasting), an adorable love interest with enough depth to be interesting, humor that made me laugh out loud (especially thanks to some awesome side characters), and enough depth and back story to make me feel accomplished and content at the end of reading. This was a refreshing break from some of the more formulaic romance novels I've read lately, and I'll recommend it to everyone!

I really enjoyed this Rom-Com! This was my first novel by Linda Holmes. I thoroughly enjoyed her witty banter. What an enjoyable read for audiophiles and podcasters alike. I would recommend to anyone who loves Sarah Adams or Katherine Center for auto-buy authors!

★★★★☆

I absolutely loved this gem! Linda's storytelling quickly captured me, just as it did with Evvie Drake Starts Over. Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an advanced ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've always been intrigued by the podcast world, and it was such a treat to see it from the perspective of our main character, Cecily. After years of commitment to other people’s shows, she finally gets the chance to host her own. The catch? It’s a show about how single she is, and she has to team up with a “dating influencer” to help her find a match. With looming layoffs, Cecily dives into the project - reluctantly at first — but is determined to make it a success for her colleagues' sake. And who knows? She might just find a suitable partner along the way. Except there's Will, who keeps appearing in her life, though he’s not on her show-approved list of potential dates.

This book is full of charm, and while the ending is a bit predictable, the journey is so fun!