4.5🥺⭐️ highly descriptive food scenes that are just so unique & magical. I was hooked on page one…the writing oozes with wry dark humor that’s heartbreaking and super passionate. Set against a New York City ambiance, it follows Kostya as he learns to navigate his special gift and becomes a ghost calling chef, with really interesting mini-stories throughout and the people he meets and helps. I was really moved by this premise and how it all played out.
- Some of the subplots were The Bear level stressful, deeply depressing, and exhausting though & the emotional weight of the story made it slower to finish.

I have never read a book with a concept like this before and wow was it good! Although this book was darker than I had anticipated going into it, I enjoyed the connection built between the afterlife and finding closure.

Trigger Warning: be sure you have a well stocked kitchen or plenty of Instacart coupons before opening this book!

Even with a belly full of homemade deliciousness, I found myself salivating over every page. In the spirit of A Spoonful of Time and Before the Coffee Gets Cold, this is a tale of ‘clairgustance’. But because this takes place in modern Manhattan, the cuisines, flavors and ingredients know no boundaries!

The food descriptions take it to a whole nother level.

“Thin-skinned dumplings bursting with lightly sugared sour cherries, their warm, dark juice flooding your mouth. Or the cheese kind—soft, sweet kernels of curd luxuriating in a pool of liquid butter. The meat ones, his dad’s take on pelmeni, beef and pork and black pepper and onion, boiled first and then pan-fried, brown and crispy, doused in a poultice of white vinegar and sinus-clearing Russian mustard and thick sour cream.”

There is a murder mystery of sorts as well as the requisite childhood trauma healing. The story also tackles death, mediums, religion, toxic kitchens and much more with no-nonsense dark comedy.

Aftertaste is one of those books with a really unique concept that makes you wonder if it would actually work. I mean, it's food and the afterlife. I'm here to say 1000% give this book a chance. It is such a meaningful book dealing with grief that will have you looking back at your own memories that are linked with food, particularly memories with those who are no longer here.

I have always had strong memories attached to food. My grandfather used to make fudge when I was a child and he would let me scrape the pot when he was done. Just the smell of that fudge takes me back to sitting with him and watching the magic unfold.

Aftertaste takes the concept of food as memories and brings it full circle. Konstantin Duhhovny lost his father at a young age. Throughout his life he has experienced “aftertastes” of meals he has never eaten. One night, he decides to take action on an aftertaste and he opens a world of possibilities. The meals bring spirits back for one final visit—for closure.

His ability to bring back these spirits for one final meal brings all of the things he never thought he would have—money, fame, accolades, love. But there is a darker side.

This book was fantastic. It’s a unique concept that not only took me into Konstantin’s world but took me back into my own memories. I found myself thinking of what I would say if I could make goulash one more time with my grandma, have grandpa’s fudge one more time. What would I say to them? What would they say to me? The concept of aftertastes was fascinating, enticing, and satisfying. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel! I’m already hungry for more!

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Daria Lavelle, Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance digital copy for review.

This was a really interesting book! I liked the mix of the afterlife and seeing someone you had been missing for a long time, plus the culinary world. It was a weird mix but so so interesting. For some reason it was reminding me of The Menu even though they differed a lot. It had some good themes, and the writing style was so good!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Aftertaste is a stunning debut that blends magical realism with the high-stakes world of professional kitchens. Kostya, a chef who can taste the favorite foods of ghosts, uses his gift to bring grieving people a brief moment of closure with their lost loved ones—one dish at a time. Set against the vibrant New York culinary scene, this book beautifully explores grief, love, and connection, with rich, mouthwatering descriptions that will leave you hungry for more. It’s a ghost story, a love story, and a food lover’s dream all in one—and I absolutely devoured it! If you love the TV show 'The Bear', you’ll definitely want to check this one out. Can’t wait to read what the author does next!

Congratulations Daria for creating such a powerful and unforgettable story. Your debut novel is one that I’ll be recommending to everyone. And to Simon & Schuster, thank you so much for providing me with an ARC of this book. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to read and share this beautiful story ahead of its release.

I already know this will be one of my top books of 2025. AFTERTASTE by Daria Lavelle is a stunning book full of poignant moments, meditations on grief and love and death, and surprising humor. Food descriptions that will make you capital H Hungry. What an incredible debut!

I don't even know where to begin.

I finished Aftertaste a few days ago, and have found it impossible to pick up another book because the pages of this book have stuck with me long after I finished it. This novel so perfectly deals with grief, love and how food is defined and weaved into by both. Food for me has always taken me back home in the way's the main character, Kostya connects to food in the book. I was immediately hooked on this book when reading the description. Food + Ghosts + Love, sign me up.

Kostya is working a job that he wants more from when he finally gives into a his first aftertaste. I love that there was a mix of mystical and sci-fi, about the afterlife. I felt the ghost fix well into the story. I didn't forsee some of the twists and turns this book took which is refreshing and enjoyable as a reader. Kostya for me even had a character arc of growth as he was faced with new grief and new love. I thought this was so well written and I truly can't wait to read what's next by Daria.

I can't wait to buy a copy of this novel!

Review Copy

I loved this book. The author's writing was so descriptive that I could taste every bite of food, see every item through the characters eyes and hated when the book ended.

If you've lost a loved one and could and speak with them just one more time, would you do it? I would do/give pretty much anything to see/speak with my husband again.

This is without a doubt the best book of 2025. Grab a box of kleenex and buy this book.

Awesome, sometimes sad but creative ghost story. It will make you hungry, but also remember meals, ingredients, and flavors that make you think of loved ones.
Kostya can sense the dead's proximity by feeling an aftertaste. When he finally decides to cook what he is tasting, ghosts appear. Against all recommendations, he directives to share this gift with others, but he doesn't yet understand what it's at stake. Amazing read. The middle slows down a bit focused on their relationship, but then the end is emotional.

Okay, this is a unique book. I really admire the premise and the approach, with the mysterious, 3rd person tiny chapters. It reminded me very much of a movie in that regard. But for me, I failed to feel engaged by the protagonist. There's a great deal of telling, rather than showing, up front. At about page 40, something more engaging and in the moment happens, but it focuses the initial response of the characters (the reaction to the event) on a person we've only just met and frankly, didn't care about. Shortly after that scene, I felt so disengaged, I stopped reading. Now, I think my reaction won't be the norm! This is an entertaining and refreshingly structured book. If you feel invested in the protagonist earlier, I think you'll love it--if you love quirky tales.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the chance to read this advance copy.

I enjoyed Aftertaste's unique take on summoning the dead. Konstantin has never gotten over his father's death. And he can taste what food the dead crave. He discovers that making the meals makes the ghosts appear for a final goodbye. Add in some romance and you have a spooky romance full of vivid food descriptions that gave me a few meals I kind of want to try. I didn't enjoy the chapters narrated by a different character as much as Konstantin's chapters, but I appreciated the unique take on ghosts and food and exploring the grief we carry for lost loved ones.

This uses the romance and ghost aspect perfectly, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It had that concept that worked overall and enjoyed the humor in this. The characters had that feel that I wanted and was glad I got to read this. Daria Lavelle wrote this perfectly and can’t wait to read more from them.

Even as a child, I was obsessed with books that show pictured pictures of food or that described food. This book combines that with ghosts so what's not to love. It is hard not to be rooting for Konstantin throughout this story because his childhood pain is so real and raw and permeates throughout his life. Every decision he makes is because of it. This is a beautiful and haunting story.

Ok, after a good night sleep, I can tell how I feel about this book.

I don't think I've ever read a book that had me feeling so many emotions AT ONE TIME.
There were times I was crying with tears rolling down my face. and once again towards the end, I was sobbing so hard, I was afraid my husband would see me and ask if i was okay lo.

amazing story omg. THIS WILL BE THE BEST BOOK OF 2025 JUST WATCH OUT!!!!
1 like

This was different but intriguing! Had a good time with this one. Daria writes about grief in a meaningful, painful, and beautiful way. It was not my absolute favorite of the year, but it was good! The beginning was quite slow, but the rest did make up for it.

Struggling with rating this one - I found the first quarter of so of this book very compelling. Konstantin is a loser -- drifting through life, feeling impermanent, and shackled to grief. He has never processed the death of his father, and feels a bone-deep sense of abandonment from both that loss and from his mother's reaction to it. He can also "taste" ghosts.

Where the book really kicks off, and for me, collapses is when he meets Maura. A violet-haired goth girl with a snarky attitude, working at an artsy nightclub as a psychic. (yeah I know) Maura, the book's love interest and driving force for Konstantin, has a paper thin characterization and more "MPDG" tropes than you can shake a stick at.

I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of food, and the obvious passion the author has for the topic -- I feel like romance readers will enjoy this more than I did. I just felt that I was told there was a lot of chemistry between these two characters and never felt it was shown. This lead to the ending falling flat for me in a way that really dampened my enthusiasm for the parts I did enjoy.

I would recommend it for fans of romance who can handle a bit of darkness, as this tale does revolve around grief, loss and the afterlife.

I devoured this book! Pun intended. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite reads of the year. The way it explores the connection between grief and food is both moving and relatable, capturing how a simple bite can bring back powerful memories. The food descriptions were so vivid and enticing, I found myself salivating with every page. If you’re looking for a story that tugs at your heartstrings, this one’s a must-add to your TBR!

I really enjoyed this book. the premise was so different. I think it will be a big hit. memory and food are a very interesting topic together. thank you netgalley and Simon & Schuster