Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an advanced readers copy of this book.

I've been putting off writing this review because I don't even know where to start. I LOVED IT. I fell in love with sweet and shy Callum, but shot over the moon for the new and improved Callum plus Lark. I loved how she naturally brought out the best in him... and how she eventually allowed him to bring out the best in her. Plus, he punched an a-hole for her. *swoon*

Some might find the talk of death and the handling of bodies after death a tough nut to swallow, but the author did a great job giving just enough detail without being really gross. Although, there's your warning - you've been warned. (Death, dead bodies, funerals, etc.)

While a little predictable, this was a perfectly cute little story. I spied a set up for the next installment... and I'll be the first in line to read it. I'm very much looking forward to what Ms. Fairbanks gives us in the future.

📚Trope(s): Grumpy/Sunshine, Friends-to-Lovers, Marriage for Convenience
What you get: 🪦💖🛵✈️🐁
⭐️Plot: 4/5
🔥Chemistry: 5/5
🌶️Spice: 4/5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
351 pages

“𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩.”

this is my first @ivyfairbanksbooks and i adored it! Callum and Lark are the cutest little black cat and golden retriever couple 🖤

this is an open-door, sloooooow burn kinda book. these two dance around each other forever, BUT it was so worth it once they finally get together. 🥵 their chemistry was amazing!!

also! this book features an asexual and demiromantic mmc. Callum can only be with someone who he has feelings with and it’s so sweet how he develops and leans in to Lark. it was so nice to get more representation in a spooky fall read!

if you’re looking to add more to your cozy spooky fall reads, you HAVE to add this one! 🪦🥹

Absolutely adored this book! It was steamy. It was quirky. The main characters are beautifully described so you really fall in love with them. The setting is something I can so easily picture in my mind based off the writers words. The way both character’s grief is handled and described is beautiful. Highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a romance read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks is an enchanting romantic dramedy that masterfully blends humor, heart, and a touch of the macabre. This delightful tale follows Callum Flannelly, a shy Irish mortician who faces an unusual dilemma: to inherit his family’s funeral business, he must marry before his 35th birthday. Enter Lark Thompson, a Texan widow seeking a fresh start in Galway, who moves in next door to Callum's funeral home and unwittingly becomes part of his journey.

Fairbanks excels at creating a unique and engaging premise. Callum’s character is wonderfully complex—painfully shy yet deeply caring, his struggles with social anxiety are both relatable and endearing. Lark, on the other hand, is vibrant and full of life, despite the shadows of her past. Their contrasting personalities set the stage for a charming opposites-attract romance that feels fresh and authentic.

The chemistry between Callum and Lark is palpable as they navigate their shared experiences. Initially focused on helping Callum find a suitable partner, Lark’s project soon leads to unexpected emotions and connection. I appreciated how Fairbanks deftly explores themes of grief, healing, and the courage it takes to open one’s heart again.

The writing is witty and poignant, filled with delightful banter that kept me laughing while also tugging at my heartstrings. Fairbanks has a knack for creating vivid imagery and capturing the essence of Galway, making it a character in its own right.

Overall, Morbidly Yours is a delightful read that balances humor with depth. It’s a story about love in unexpected places, the healing power of connection, and the importance of embracing life’s uncertainties. If you’re looking for a charming romance that offers both laughs and heartfelt moments, look no further—this book is a must-read! 🌟💀❤️

I really enjoyed this unique love story. Everything from the idyllic setting, to their professions, personality differences and the themes of loss and grief were done so well that you truly felt like you knew Lark and Callum. They were the perfect match for each other and were truly grounding presences in their lives. Lark brought Callum out of his shell turning his monochromatic world into a brightly colored kaleidoscope of sunshine. Callum’s heart and presence slowly melted the frozen wall around Lark’s heart and gave her the safe space to grieve and grow and to accept the love she thought she didn’t deserve again in her life.

I hope to see more books from Ivy Fairbanks in the future especially a book for Lark’s cousin because I would love updates on where Lark and Callum are in their happily ever after lives.


Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

This was such a charming, sweet, fun story! Death and grief can be a rough topic to cover, Ivy dealt with it so well. It's a great story about how we move forward in life after losing the person we love most in the world... honoring them and their memory while trying to figure out who we are and allowing ourselves to find joy in life without them. I got mad every time I had to put it down once I got started. Already received my first order of the book and put it on my staff recs shelf.

A fun and funny romantic comedy set against the wholly unromantic backdrop of an Irish funeral home. Lark is a Texas girl who who, after the death of her husband, emigrates to Ireland. She meets the socially inept Callum, who owns (for now, at least) his family’s funeral home. They have an easy and warm connection that makes the reader root for them from the jump. And generally speaking, the writing is smart and sharp, making Fairbanks a debut author to watch for me.

For me, Callum’s ultimatum to get married or lose the funeral home is a bit too contrived and dampens my overall enthusiasm for the story, while Lark’s approach to grief is a underdeveloped and sometimes hard to grasp. The pacing also starts to lag as the book focuses too much on the Lark’s co-workers and Callum inheritance drama, but the steamy second half of the book makes this one a memorable read nonetheless.

This is not a story I typically gravitate towards, but Fairbanks’ writing makes this one an easy book to recommend for fans of the genre.

Thanks very much to GP Putnam’s Sons & NetGalley for the Arc.

I loved Morbidly Yours as an indie book, and adored it as a traditionally republished book.

Lark and Callum are the epitome of what a good romance should be. Ivy Fairbanks is a breakout voice in the genre - fresh and brilliant.

What a delightful twist on the marriage of convenience, modern romance. It was also a tasteful treatise on grief and the residual pain it causes. Impressive debut that takes a sweet spin on the slightly spooky, but utterly loveable funeral director and the nosy neighbor next door. Ivy Fairbanks is someone I'll definitely be keeping an eye on.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

A huge thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the eARC! This was such a delightful romance. I read with the audio in tandem and was absolutely enamored with the narration. Angela Dawe (known for narrating the Finlay Donovan series) kills it as Lark and Callum’s narrator had me swooning!

I adored how the characters and their relationship as a couple was handled. The side characters were diverse and well-rounded, making the setting and environment feel realized. I was rooting for Callum and Lark throughout and I truly enjoyed the plot aspects that were separate from their romance as well. I’m so glad that we’re going to get another book (sounds like another interconnected standalone series - my fave!). This is an absolutely perfect spooky season romance. Add this to your TBRs, immediately.

The perfect fall romance. Cozy, sweet, and funny. It deals with heavier topics, so be mindful of triggers. The neighbors to friends to lovers vibes were fantastic. This one’s a winner!

Cute rom-com focusing on moving on after grief but in an unlikely way as Lark finds love after the loss of her husband with an undertaker. I enjoyed the characters, especially Callum's experiences of social anxiety. I wish there was a bit more character development and exploration of love after grief.

First of all, this cover is beautiful. I could see this being a really great audiobook with an Irish accent. This covers many topics & tropes that are difficult to write & for a reader to connect with which I did. Death with a wedding date!

Fun and light fluffy romance. I would read another romance novel in this series for sure. The characters were fun, but sometimes felt a bit unrealistic which took me out of the story a bit. I loved the Galway setting, it really made me want to visit!!!

Sweet and spicy. Lark leaves Austin to work on an animated film in Ireland while hopefully leaving the hurt of losing her husband and best friend behind her. Meeting the sarcastic undertaker next door, she's all in for helping him find a wife before he turns 35 so he can inherit the mortuary. Of course, after a bit, she's unsure about him dating anyone else. Irish details enliven the story. Didn't buy into the reasons for the third-act break-up though.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review! This is a perfect fall read to get you excited for fall. Filled with cozy and spice between Lark and Callum! Who knew a mortician could be so hot? 🔥 I liked seeing the growth of Lark as she navigated her way through the grief of her husband and trying to understand the undeniable connection with Callum. I also understood Callum's wants of finding a true love match in order to get married instead of settling to keep the funeral home.

This is a super solid debut! Be warned- this is a SLOW burn. But when it finally burns 🔥🥵

I apprexiated the way grief was handled in this book. As well as Cal’s stutter.

I can’t wait for the next in the series!

I'm always delighted when I read a debut book that just hits. If you haven't already, pick up Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks - it's the perfect romance read for Fall featuring an awkward cinnamon roll mortician who has all the feels for his sunshiney neighbor.

✔️ Opposites Attract
✔️ Friends to Lovers
✔️ It's Just Sex
✔️ Nurse Back to Health

I admit, at first the setup sounded a little corny to me but push through - the execution is deft. Lark and Callum are much more than their archetypes - making him not a grump and making her friendly and soft but not boisterous made them feel a lot more real.

I loved seeing their attraction grow - the pining was delicious torture as they both have pretty valid reasons for not crossing the line.

Overall, a fun read! 4⭐️. Thanks to @gpputnam for the ebook.

Steam 🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕💕

Loved the fall, ghosty vibes in this grumpy x sunshine romance. Loved the setting and the MMC. Very brooding and mysterious. A great read for fall.

This book just didn't do it for me. I thought the premise was unique enough but I couldn't really connect with the characters or feel their chemistry.