Callum would rather stick a fork in his eye than go on a date, but he’s got a deadline: marry before he turns 35, or lose his family’s funeral business.
Lark, is a lively American cartoonist who’s in Galway to escape her own grief.
They navigate disastrous dates and growing feelings, finding themselves fighting against their own blossoming attraction. It’s a perfect angsty slow burn that had me hooked!

his was such a fun and cozy read. Truly a friends to lovers book and almost a slow burn. It had me screaming “JUST KISS ALREADY” at the half way mark.

I'll start with the fact that I love the setting being in Ireland. Lark is an American that has come to get away from her husband's death. She moves in next door to Callum, who runs the family mortuary business. He needs a wife in 9 months or he will lose his grandfather's estate. Of course, Lark offers to help him find his person and then they end up having sparks. A good read with some spice.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Wow, I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. You cannot tell that this is a debut book by Ivy Fairbanks because she writes like a seasoned Romance writer. The grumpy hero of this book is Callum, an Undertaker who stutters, and prefers to be alone. The sunshine of this scenario is Lark, an animator who has moved to Galway to escape her grief over the death of her husband. They are neighbors who become friends who then become more than friends. Their chemistry is off the charts, but what really made me love this book is how sweet they are to each other. Fairbanks does an excellent job of building their friendship as Lark tries to help Callum save his family business, and Callum helps her to have fun and open up again after her devastating loss. I mean, the sex scenes are hot too. Let’s not forget that. I am going to happily read any book from Ivy Fairbanks in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lark is an animator who comes to Ireland from Texas following the tragic death of her husband and career difficulties. She is a bright light and accidentally meets her neighbor, Callum, who is an undertaker. He is caught in family drama where he must get married to save his family business by the time he turns 35 in a few months. Lark has no interest in relationships but she and Callum become friends and she offers to help him find "the one" for him to marry to fulfill his need for a wife. As they be come closer, things become more complicated and their feelings for each other grow into something neither of them expected. This is a spicy rom-com with cute banter between the characters. There is discussion of issues of death and grief, so keep that in mind. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series.

A sweet, funny, emotional and very open door debut novel. Callum Flannelly loves his family mortuary business in Galway, Ireland. To fully inherit it from his grandfather’s estate he must be married by his 35th birthday which is only nine months away. Lark Thompson is his new next door neighbor. She is American and came to Ireland to get away after her husband's death. She is a talented animator and cartoon creator with a one year business contract. The pair become friends and she offers to help Callum, who is a bit of an introvert, find a spouse. Callum is demi-sexual and I liked the representation. Lark isn’t looking for love but that doesn’t mean friends with benefits are off the table.

There is humor in awkward dates. Lark is still dealing with guilt, grief and loss. But the two are a fun pair. I enjoyed the novel and appreciated the glossary of Gaelic words, even the naughty ones. I thought the cover fit the story well. And appreciate that the villain faces consequences. I will look forward to the next Love in Galway novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the copy and I am leaving an honest review.

This was such a delightfully different rom com. I fell in love with both of these characters. Take a sweet Irish undertaker with a stutter and social anxiety and throw him together with a bubbly blonde Texan who adores Dolly Parton, and you get an unforgettably sweet story. However, as with anything that I read, there may be some things that people may find difficult in the book.

Trigger Warnings: Misogyny in the workplace, death, caring for dead in a funeral home, death of a spouse, grief, terminal illness, explicit sex scenes

If you can get past the content warnings, this story is sooooo good. I knew I would be hooked to when the "meet cute" happened at what Lark thought was a bed and breakfast (she couldn't read gaelic), but actually turned out to be a funeral home. She had mistakenly gotten a package meant for Callum that ended up being body bags. She could not for the life of her understand why a bed and breakfast would need those. Lol! Obviously they work through this miscommunication. The rest of the story is equally sweet, spicy, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. If this book had a flavor it would be Umami because it was so well rounded. It really touched on what it's like to be human and experience love and loss. The representation of grief, anxiety, speech impediment, and demisexuality really topped off such a well rounded cast of characters. I absolutely loved this. The setting was also perfect as I have actually been to Ireland myself, and it is one of my absolute favorite countries.

Thank you to the author for allowing me the privilege of being an ARC reader for this story.

5⭐️
3🔥

Quick Breakdown

Ireland Setting
Neighbors
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Demisexual Rep
MMC w/ a Stutter
Widowed Heroine
Grumpy x Sunshine
Matchmaking
It’s Just a Hookup
Slow Burn
Dual POV
Open Door – Moderate Detail
 
If you’re in the market for a book to give you the warm and tinglies, look no further!
 
In need of a change after the loss of her husband, Lark moves to Ireland temporarily on a work visa. While unpacking, she finds a box full of body bags meant for her neighbor & quickly realizes the house next door isn’t a cozy inn; it’s a funeral home. It’s there she meets Callum, the quiet & reserved mortician. The pair are equally fascinated by each other and their friendship forms. Callum is in quite a predicament, though. He needs to marry by his 35th birthday in order to fully inherit the family business from his grandfather.  On top of his introverted personality & demisexuality, finding a woman worth asking on a short timeline has proved difficult. As his new friend, Lark wants to help Callum find a wife, but can she help him find another woman as she slowly acknowledges her feelings for him?
 
Another book I can’t believe is a debut. I’d heard (rightfully) wonderful things about this book when it debuted as a indie pub romance, so when it was announced to be re-released as trad pub, I jumped on the opportunity to pick it up. It’s filled with both quirky humor and a soft & swoony romance surrounded by a genuinely unique plot.
 
I loved the overlaying themes of overcoming grief – Lark and her journey of self-forgiveness after the death of her husband and Callum with the loss of his grandfather and possible impending loss of the business he care for deeply. I also adored all the representations we got here, Callum especially. He was such a cinnamon roll. I enjoyed his demisexual rep and the fact that there are dating apps that cater to that. Watching him grow closer to Lark and the subsequent feelings and sexual tension that went along with it really worked for me. So many swoony moments stood out for me. Their trip to the Cliffs of Mohr, visiting the Christmas fair and how Callum couldn’t help but stand up to Lark’s horrible coworker.
 
I think this one would be perfect for fans on Chloe Liese. I highly recommend! All my thanks to @putnumbooks for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Morbidly Yours starts with a quirky premise involving an undertaker MMC and an American ex-pat FMC who mistakenly receives a funeral home's body bags, but it is so much more under the surface. There are themes of grief, forgiveness, and guilt but the love story is beautiful, and the banter and pining are delicious. I'm not at all surprised that this originally self-published book took off so enormously and am sure it will find many more fans in the traditional version. I, for one, can't wait to read the author's next book.

The story's premise is unique and cute. The grumpy/sunshine and opposites attract tropes are prominent throughout. It was also interesting to see two paths of dealing with grief and loss intertwine throughout the story. Lark was still dealing with the loss of her husband, and Callum, an undertaker, deals with loss daily. The cast of secondary characters also really stood out on their own throughout the story, and it was great to see the character-building that was happening outside the main couple.

This may be the first book I read with an explicitly stated demisexual main character. Callum was just yummy goodness wrapped up in an undertaker’s body. He was thoughtful and kind to Lark, and to me, that is what makes a good book boyfriend. And when he falls in love with Lark, there is no stopping him from really showing it through his actions and words. The way that these characters helped each other break down their self-constructed barriers was also a major plus in this book. It was a slow burn to the point where I was concerned the couple wasn’t going to act on their feelings and release the sexual tension that was building.

Thank you to NetGalley, P.G. Putnam’s Sons, and Ivy Fairbanks for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The premise of this book caught my attention from the start. It talks about processing and handling grief throughout. We see how people handle loss differently. Pain can sometimes recognize pain and you may find a friend in the most unlikely of places.

Lark is dealing with survivor's guilt in a way and blaming herself for the death of her husband. Her best friend Rachel lashed out and hurt her when she needed her the most so she packed up her life for a new start in Ireland.

The introverted man next door struggles to put himself out in the world and he must if he intends to keep his family business. His grandfather wanted him to carry the torch, but he also wanted him to find someone to share life with. Now he must marry before his 35th birthday.

Lark befriends Callum and helps spruce up his dating profile. She has sworn off marriage herself, but is willing to help him get out of his comfort zone. They become each other's support system during life's struggles.

It is a cute story with room for more. I expect this will be a series that follows some other characters that we have met along the way. The ending felt a little rushed, so it would be great to have a bit more information in a future book. I loved that this author did not shy away from the topic of grief. It is an important topic that authors often shy away from.

I am not 100% certain why I requested this but it was not a great fit for me. Quite a bit spicier than I normally read and the main female character, Lark was a bit much.. Bad communication tropes are not my jam and that is 100% what this one is. Slightly entertaining but otherwise just ok.

🪦 Friends to lovers
🪦 Fish out of water (Texas to Ireland)
🪦 Opposites attract
🪦 Neighbors
🪦 MMC is demisexual
🪦 MMC has a stutter
🪦 He falls first
🪦 FMC is a widow

This was such a cute debut! Lark is a widow who left Texas and went to Ireland for work. She unknowingly moves in next to a funeral home. She meets a cute, peaky blinders look a like mortician. He's shy, doesn't get out much and has a stutter. They quickly become good friends. Callum is on a mission to find a wife to save the funeral home and needs a marriage of convenience!

There is so much drama that goes down in this one I wouldn't call it a romcom maybe a rom-drama?! Lark has drama at work, Callum has drama at the funeral home with his family and we have drama. With a mutual friend.

Lark and Callums banter is so good and kept me interested throughout the book. Then the spice hits and it's HOT!

Thank you for this arc

3.75⭐️

Lark has taken a temporary job in Ireland to escape Austin Texas and the memories of her late husband. When she receives her neighbors package of body bags accidentally, she is introduced to Callum, the shy demisexual mortician next door.

I enjoyed this story, it did take a bit for me to get into it but once I did get into it I grew to love these characters. Lark's grief was something I could relate to in a way. I have felt grief and guilt and have found it difficult to move on, I really felt for her in this book. Even though she was deep into her grief she was also the sunshine in this book and I liked that contrast in her character. She brought so much life to Callum and the others she encountered. I adored Callum and how he allowed Lark to pull him out of his shell a bit. He fell so hard and so fast for her and it was so sweet.

There was the added aspect of Callum desperately trying to save his family’s funeral home business. Once his grandfather died, his will had a stipulation that Callum had to be married by the time he was 35 in order to inherit the funeral home. If not it would go to his father who wants to sell it. That leads Callum to go on a series of bad dates that added a lot of fun to this book too. I loved reading about the horrible dates, I loved how Cal dating led Lark to get jealous. How those dates made her realize that she had real feelings for Callum.

There was also some work drama for Lark, she had a coworker that was truly awful. And again I saw myself in Lark, I am also a people pleaser and do not like conflict, so I really understood her just wanting to keep the piece. But I also wanted to scream at her to stand up for herself.

Overall, I enjoyed this book.

Guys, I might be in my "quiet simp of a man" era... because I ate this book up.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks  

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Love in Galway character series. Book 1. 

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. Courtesy of NetGalley.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance 

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Grumpy/sunshine, neighbors, dating lessons, vacation vibes.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Lark is a beautiful and colorful animator, spending time in Ireland on a major film project. It's no surprise that the girl who makes friends everywhere catches the eye of her neighbor - Callum, a mortician who has a hard time in crowded rooms. The unlikely pair strike a friendship, but when Lark finds out Callum is under a time crunch to get married, she decides to help.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I've read three books this month where the MMC is quiet, bumbling, can't get out of his own way.... where he shows her his feelings through actions and not words... and man, I am loving this turn of events. Maybe I am a quiet man girly!

I don't know if that's entirely true, but I do know that I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so layered and interesting - I love when I get to read characters that are unique, especially after reading so many romance novels. 

Cal will have your heart, and you'll be rooting for him, mark my words. I mean, who wouldn't?  He's adorably ruffled, teaches her Irish sayings... tricks her into thinking he's dirty talking her while he really is just saying he loves her... I swooned - quite literally with a hand on my forehead.

I know this is a trad published release for this book, but I'm glad I finally got to read it. I can't wait to dig into more in this series.

 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

Thank you Ivy Fairbanks, NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons for my copy of Morbidly Yours. 🤍 I received this book for review, all opinions are my own and given freely.

I was invited to read this book by Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons on NetGalley. Ultimately, I did not finish this book. It just didn’t work for me.

Unfortunately this one did not work for me! I thought I would love the quirkiness of the plotline and the Ireland based setting. However, the relationship and dynamic between the two main characters felt so awkward and not romantic at all? Like I would have rather them be friends than lovers with how the progression of their relationship turned out and when I cannot root for the main characters to get together... the whole story sadly falls apart for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an early copy.

absolutely loved! cover is perfect. story is perfect. as someone who loves a slowburn -- this GAVE. their interactions had me giggly hard. uggh i love them! i need all my friends to read this immediately!

Morbidly Yours was a delightful read! Callum and Lark had such a fun grumpy x sunshine dynamic, and they really brought out the best in each other's character. The setting of Galway was so lovely unique, paired with their professions, it provided an atmosphere unlike any I've read in the genre before. Being a Texan, I often felt like Lark was bit a of a caricature of a Texan -- listening to the audiobook felt like this doubly so (no one who is born and bred in Austin has an accent like that!) and it took me out of the story a few times, but it's a testament to how much I loved the overall romance that this was still a banger for me!

I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did. With a mortician who lives next door to a grieving widow it’s bound to be dark right?! Wrong.

I’d rather get myself fitted for a wooden onesie than give a eulogy.”

It had humor, anxiety rep, asexual rep, grief, and work nemesis behavior, and an elder lesbian who rode a Vespa. It was so multifaceted and kept me so engaged. At the heart of it was also love, as unconventional as it may have been.

“Lark, I’m more myself with you than anywhere else.”

While grief does have a huge part in Lark’s unwillingness to make her feelings for Callum real, she also can’t help but be his friend first. Callum struggles with connecting but he must marry before his next birthday or lose his family business. He doesn’t seem to have that problem with Lark though. His stutter is almost not present with her, feeling at ease to be himself.

There were so many moments I loved in this book and I highly recommend it.

“A terrible thing, that. But all we can control is how we choose to move through life. With honesty. With bravery. With love. I know you can do it.”