A Stunning Exploration of Loss Through Food

The best thing I've ever eaten? Cold, hospital-prepared scrambled eggs and potatoes. I'd just gone through an unmedicated labor where the last three hours were a hellish 10/10 pain level. My healthy, beautiful baby was finally (finally!) on the outside. And I was SO HUNGRY. You better believe I DEVOURED those eggs and potatoes. I still think about them. And, if I were a ghost lingering among the living, that meal would certainly be my aftertaste.

This is the kind of reflection I had while reading Daria Lavelle’s gorgeous debut novel Aftertaste. The book follows Kostya, a fledgling chef haunted by the aftertastes of the dead.

Like her main character, Daria is a Ukrainian immigrant and wrote much of this book during the invasion of her homeland. While nothing on the surface of the story is about the war, as a reader I could feel her poignant sense of grief and loss coming through the page.

This may be a novel about hangry ghosts and lingering grief, but at its heart, this is a story of how food is intimately linked with memory, family, and love. The DETAILS of the meals Kostya prepares left my mouth watering. My favorite was the varenyky (Ukrainian dumplings) Kostya prepares with his girlfriend Maura. Three kinds—meat, cheese, and sour cherry. Carefully rolled thin and not over-stuffed. For Kostya, preparing the dumplings with Maura reminds him of cooking with his parents as they made hundreds of dumplings by hand to freeze and eat year-round. And it made me think of preparing hundreds of spanakopita, empanadas, and mini-pizzas with my mother and grandmother for my self-catered wedding. There is something special about the act of preparing food with people you love that Daria captured so well on the page.

Aftertaste is also a love letter to New York City. Daria's love of the city and the culinary scene shines through on the page. The prose is stunning, and I wish I could share excerpts with you, but the publisher has asked that quotes wait for the final book. You'll just need to pick up a copy for yourself!

Finally, as a fellow writer of speculative fiction—Daria has taken on ghosts while my books are set in space—I have deep admiration of how she grounded this book in characters, relationships, and vivid settings. Daria demonstrates the power of speculative fiction to explore what makes us human.

Upon reading the synopsis, I knew I had to request this book. I lost my mom when I was 17 years old and a senior in High School. In the story, Konstanin lost his father at a very young age. The book Aftertaste takes the concept of food and turns it into memories. Throughout his life, he has experienced “aftertastes” of meals he has never eaten. Konstanin decides to open a restaurant full of lost loved one's aftertastes. He gets money, fame, love, but there is a dark side to it. Aftertaste is such a unique concept, and I'm grateful I was chosen to read early.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

Sadly, I had to DNF this at 10%.
The writing is beautiful - it's just not a style I enjoy reading.
I would still recommend this book to certain people.

Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC.

Aftertaste is a spellbinding novel that blends food, love, and the spectral realm into a rich, emotionally resonant story. At its center is Konstantin Duhovny—a man haunted not just by memories of his father’s death but by the literal aftertastes of spirits lingering around him. The novel’s premise is both unique and profoundly moving: Kostya can prepare dishes that allow the living to reconnect with their deceased loved ones, if only for the length of a meal. What begins as a gift of closure soon spirals into a dangerous obsession as he plunges into the cutthroat world of New York’s culinary scene, unaware of the cosmic consequences brewing in the Afterlife.

The author’s food writing is nothing short of intoxicating—flavors practically leap off the page, evoking a sensory experience that makes the novel impossible to put down. The descriptions of food are not mere embellishments but vital to the story’s emotional core, symbolizing connection and longing. Each dish Kostya creates is imbued with nostalgia, grief, and fleeting hope, making the meals feel almost sacred.

But Aftertaste is far more than a food lover’s fantasy. It’s a poignant meditation on grief and the lengths we’ll go to fill the empty spaces left by loss. The romance that unfolds—achingly tender yet shadowed by inevitable tragedy—adds a layer of bittersweet beauty. The tension between Kostya’s growing culinary prowess and his unraveling morality keeps the pages turning while the supernatural stakes build with a creeping sense of dread.

Darkly enchanting and deeply affecting.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely delectable piece of literature that embodies grief and connection in a unique and beautiful way. Ukrainian born - New York built - author Daria Lavelle presents us with Konstantin Duhovny, a haunted young man plagued with an uncanny and inexplicable ability to communicate with the dead- through taste. In Aftertaste, using a perfectly balanced blend of dark humor, heart pounding tension and speculation, Lavelle explores the dichotomy of living and dying, of satiety, fulfillment and desperation in grief. Truly a phenomenal story that I will be purchasing and gifting as soon as it’s available. I cannot wait to explore what other works Lavelle has to offer. Updated review after sitting with this piece.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book. I want to start off by saying that this book is out of the norm for me. That may explain why I didn't enjoy it as much as other reviewers. I found the book to be overly wordy and hard to follow at times. It did not reel me.

Honestly, I thought I’d be hungrier… or scared. I kind of just feel tired.

Dipping its feet into the waters of horror, romance and culinary drama, this book falters from not being willing to go deeper into any of them. It wades into the shallows and wiggles its toes, but never takes the plunge. And that dryness just makes me feel chapped.

I wanted to see more of Kostya and Maura. Or I wanted to better understand the ghost world in all its ghastly machinations. But because the book was trying so hard to straddle both genres, I felt like I didn’t get either. But I did get mobsters for some reason, so I guess we can throw that into the genre stew and stir.

I kind of want a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

This story is delectable! Grief, memories, love, poetic food descriptions, and a unique, catchy plot line! I stayed up late and neglected tasks and finished this book in less than 24 hours. Kostya, Frankie, Maura, and their lives and choices will draw you in and make you want more. I definitely recommend adding it to the top of your TBR list!

many thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for offering me an advanced copy of this book. i am in the minority of readers, most of whom adored this book. not me. this was probably 3.5 stars for me. i LOVED the food. the idea was interesting. i loved the kitchens. but i found it too convoluted, couldn't keep track of what was going on part of the time. lovely ending. favorite character: freddie.

Wow. I had a feeling a few chapters in that this was going to pull on my heartstrings, and boy did it!

If you enjoy speculative fiction and are a foodie, you MUST read this! It poses the question of what would you do if you could have one last meal with a dead loved one, even if there might be consequences from bridging the gap between the living and the dead. The main character explores this as he discovers and develops a skill using “aftertastes” to help people see their loved ones one more time to find closure. The story takes readers through a whirlwind of a culinary and personal journey (for many of the characters) and ends in a way that makes you think.

This one will stay with me for a long time, and I plan to savor it like my favorite dessert.

Aftertaste is a very unique read - unlike anything I’ve read in a long time. It follows Konstantin Duhovny, who has an unusual gift, he can taste the last meal a person ate before they died. If he recreates that meal, their loved ones get one final chance to see them. What starts as a strange and deeply personal ability turns into something bigger when he opens a restaurant where people can reconnect with the dead. But, as you might expect, messing with the afterlife comes with its own complications.

I was completely hooked from the start. It’s part literary fiction, part supernatural mystery. It ended up being darker and more emotional than I expected, but in a good way. The way it explores grief, memory, and the connection between food and loss is so well done. I really appreciated the way it was written, to be easily read by anyone and so very immersive! I foubd it very hard to put this book down!

For me! Aftertaste is stunning, deeply moving, and unlike anything I’ve read before. If you’re into books that explore grief in a unique way, or if you just love a story that makes you think, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster

A stunning, bittersweet, haunting romance that will stick with me for a long, long time. I read this book while grieving for a loved one and it touched me so deeply. I know I'll be returning to it again and again.

Daria Lavelle’s Aftertaste is a sumptuous blend of culinary artistry, supernatural intrigue, and profound human emotion. At its heart is Konstantin “Kostya” Duhovny, a man haunted not by visions but by tastes. After losing his father at a young age, Kostya discovers his gift of clairgustance—the ability to taste the favorite foods of nearby spirits. This peculiar ability leads him to an ambitious goal: mastering the culinary arts in the high-stakes world of New York restaurants, where he hopes to offer the grieving a fleeting reunion with their departed loved ones through food. Lavelle’s evocative writing immerses readers in the bustling ambiance of gourmet kitchens, capturing the intricate dance of flavors and aromas. With her Ukrainian roots and deep appreciation for food’s emotional power, she weaves an immersive tale where each dish becomes a portal between the living and the dead. Kostya’s journey is enriched by a vibrant supporting cast, including Maura, a clairvoyant with her own ties to the afterlife, and Frankie, his charismatic best friend and fellow chef. Their relationships add humor, warmth, and tension, making this story as much about human connections as it is about its supernatural elements.

Praised by renowned chef Nigella Lawson as “a haunting evocation of pain and pleasure, and the power of food,” Aftertaste has rightfully earned its acclaim. Lavelle’s masterful blend of magical realism and culinary expertise creates a novel that is both unique and universally resonant. Kostya’s emotional arc—filled with grief, ambition, and redemption—makes him a deeply compelling protagonist, while the novel’s exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of food lingers with the reader long after the final page. For those who enjoy richly sensory storytelling, deeply emotional themes, and a touch of the supernatural, Aftertaste is an absolute must-read.

Daria Lavelle's Aftertaste is a rich tapestry of love, loss, and culinary delights. The story beautifully intertwines the protagonist's personal journey with her passion for cooking, creating a sensory experience that is both heartfelt and delectable. Lavelle's descriptive prose brings each dish to life, making the reader's mouth water. The emotional depth of the characters adds a profound layer to the narrative, making it a truly satisfying read. This novel is a feast for the senses and the soul.

Huge thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The book’s premise is simple. What if you could share a meal one last time with someone you’ve lost? What would you do for that one last meal?

The first 20 pages of this I knew it was going to hurt in the best way. I knew there were going to be tears. And there absolutely were, in the best way possible. This book is beautiful. The loss in Konstantin’s life drives him to what makes him unique. A way to bring back the dead for one last meal, so the living can heal and let go. It’s the Aftertaste that brings your soul (and theirs) to peace. Or does it? Everything has a cost, even Aftertastes. Are you truly willing to pay?

I mean, damn. Right. In. The. Heart.

I tell you, I never ran to preorder this book faster. This belongs with the precious few others that are in the “change your life after you read” category. And this one? It’s skyrocketing to the very top.

Run, don’t walk and get yourself a copy on May 20. I tell you, no…I guarantee you will not regret it.

Perfect for fans of Ghost Whisperer and Top Chef, Daria Lavelle’s Aftertaste tells the story of Konstantin, or Kostya, a Ukrainian-American man living in New York, who is more or less drifting through life for the past twenty years since his father’s untimely passing. It is after his father’s death that Kostya develops the ability to taste the food of the dead that they have a strong emotional attachment to, a phenomenon he calls “aftertastes”. When one day while working at a bar, Kostya inadvertently discovers that he can temporarily summon spirits from the afterlife for a final goodbye by recreating the aftertastes that grace his tongue. This prompts Kostya, along with his chef best friend Frankie, to open a restaurant dedicated to giving people the ability to find closure with those they’ve lost, something Kostya himself has been dreaming of having with his own father. But dealing with the dead, especially Hungry Ghosts, is not as simple Kostya would hope, and soon discovers that the best way to love someone is to let them go.

Daria Lavelle has really crafted an emotionally potent novel with an intriguingly unique premise, smooth pacing, a main character whose battle with grief and anxiety is one that speaks to a wide audience. The themes of food as a love language and learning how to forgive oneself are quite touching, and the romantic plot of the novel is intense in a way that doesn’t feel rushed or undeserved, making the conclusion all the more gut-wrenching in its beauty.

I loved this book! The premise is so unique and I found the writing to be really engaging. I was shocked to find out that this is a debut novel. It was well written and made me reflect on my own grief in ways I had never thought about before. I already know this is going to be a favorite of 2025 and I am so glad I got to read it a little early. Fair warning - this book will make you hungry, so proceed with caution!

This won't be to everyone's ....taste 👀 but I thought it was brilliant, such a unique concept and it was executed beautifully, thought provoking and evocative!

I don't recall ordering this book, but I was willing to give it a try. It sounded interesting, and I enjoyed how the author described the food that this young man was tasting. I could picture it. Things went along, and this young man tried to figure out why he had this unwanted gift. He consults a woman with tara cards, and they try to make sense of his tastes.

I was having a hard time connecting to the situation; I also didn't want to read about suicide and more about death.

I stopped reading after three or four chapters! I just couldn't finish!

Absolutely loved Aftertaste! It tugged at my heartstrings. Will definitely be a forever favorite. I will be recommending to everyone!