Well. I certainly wasn't expecting to read this book in one sitting and stay up until 3:00 AM on a school (work) night to finish it. I'm paying for that one today, but it as worth it.

This was a lovely story about an Irish undertaker who needs to marry before he's 35 in order to keep the family business and the American expatriate looking for a fresh start after the death of her husband.

While the characters were well fleshed out and the plot line well done, there were many moments where the book lagged or had ups and downs that felt repetitive. There were many times where I even considered not finishing the book. While I think it works as a more mindless beach read kind of book, there was a lot that wasn’t as well done as it could have been that took away from the story as a whole, leaving it with a three star/just okay rating from me. It definitely has an audience, but unfortunately I don’t believe I am a part of it.

4.5 stars. If you told me that I’d adore a male character who is an undertaker as part of the family business and he handles his job in the most dignified way, but is also a demi-sexual who gets nervous at the thought of socializing, I’d say challenge accepted. And that when I finished the book, I couldn’t be more charmed by Callum Flannelly.

In the backdrop of lovely Ireland, Lark Thompson is doing a hard reset of her life and takes it upon herself to be Callum’s friend. Even better, he needs a wife to keep the family business under his ownership and what better friend objective is there for Lark than to help him find that lucky woman. I loved their chemistry because of this friendship and usually friends to lovers is not really my jam. But this friendship was special because there were no pretenses, Callum could still be his usual self and Lark was intuitive enough to know how to keep him comfortable in a safe space, but also push his boundaries. Her personality made him want to explore more and to take risks. There was just something incredibly endearing about them together.

The sarcasm and humor is on point in this one, especially the references to Callum’s job. With his profession and background, he really needed someone who brought a lot of cheer and light into his life and accepted him as is. They both have their own hurdles to overcome, especially Lark, and Galway, Ireland might just be the perfect place to call home for her after all with her job and a certain someone. I enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to more from this author, especially about some of the other characters.

This book was a bit of a mixed bag of highs and not-so-highs for me, but I ultimately enjoyed it.

First things first, my favorite thing about this book was that both characters had such unique professions. Lark being an animator was so cool to me. Callum being a mortician could have been very gimmicky, but it was portrayed beautifully with his character showing compassion, care, and honor in his family legacy. I appreciated all that his undertaking role added to his character and to the story.

I enjoyed the friendship Lark and Callum developed early on in the book. They both found something they needed in each other, even without adding in the mutual attraction. More than anything, I thought that was lovely. I like seeing them support each other in so many different ways and how they would show up for each other even when they were at odds.

Lark frustrated me a bit. I tried to put myself in her place and remind myself that I’ve blessedly never had to experience a loss like her character had. I had to find empathy as I struggled with some of her choices and her actions with Callum. As things eventually came full circle, I was relieved to see her self-reflection and resolve in moving forward.

There were some ebbs and flows with pacing for me and what made it to the “show” portions of the book and what got relegated to the “tell” part. I wish there had been a bit more time on page with Maeve. I enjoyed her character and the advice she gave, but felt like a lot of her connection with Lark was told rather than shown and I was missing that.

Overall this one kept me interested, entertained, and rooting for the characters to find their wins. I’m intrigued to read more in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s a cute & quirky romance. I’m realizing that the miscommunication (or lack of communication in this case) trope just really drives me crazy. For crying out loud, just have a conversation!!!

Anyway, the grumpy vs sunshine is always a win in my book and I enjoyed their banter and watching the relationship evolve.

It was a likeable read, but I didn’t love it.

This quirky little book now holds a very special place in my heart.

Dead people jokes - check
Sobbing over grief - check
Grump and sunshine - check
Demisexual Irish grump - check
Drained social battery - check

I received an ARC of this book and the only reason I decided to give it a shot was the title. I was like, wow I love dead people jokes. I read the trigger warnings and got a little nervous. An undertaker and a widow… but this book just worked. So many laugh out loud moments. So much visibility to accessibility. So much grief processed appropriately - both about grief of dead ones and the grief of losing someone you expect to have in your life forever. Grief can look so many different ways.

I reached out to the author yesterday and happily got a response, learning we have so much in common (chronic health, grief, etc). So glad this indie book got picked up!

~Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Faculty Lounge in exchange for an honest review. ~

I literally cannot describe how much it hurts to DNF this book. From the pun title to the adorable cover and the fun set-up, I was so damn excited for this. And what hurts even more is probably the first 75 pages of this book were going so well!

Lark’s an animator from Austin, TX who recently moved to Galway and didn’t realize her next-door neighbor is a funeral home. She’s run away for a job after her husband passed in a car crash, for which she blames herself. Callum’s an undertaker who wants to continue the family business but is being forced into marrying before his 35 birthday by his grandfather’s will. Rough thing for him, he’s demisexual and only has six months.

The opposites attract thing is fantastic and I loved the banter between these two immediately. The death and funeral home puns had me cracking up and I loved that Lark was able to weasel her way into Callum’s shell. What I didn’t love was the stupid fucking excuses of why they can’t be together. Oh my god did they seem so contrived and ridiculous. They got old SO fast.

Lark’s sworn herself to singledom and believes that she’ll kill any man who deigns to love her which, babe, please get some fucking therapy. I’d find her line of reasoning believable if her husband’s passing was fresh, but it’s been over two years and she’s still thinking this way! Callum’s forced to focus on a real romantic chance for the sake of his business, but develops feelings for Lark anyway and won’t tell her for fear of ruining their friendship. Ugh, so cliched. Then every single time they spend time together seems like a date in all but name.

I wish this would have actually taken the jump into a marriage of convenience instead of leading me to think that way and then putting a poor girl with actual feelings for Callum in the middle of the situation. I loved Callum, stutter, black clothing, dry sense of humor and all! But the leading on of another woman while lusting after Lark made me so angry.

Also, the writing around Callum’s demisexuality just… didn’t feel authentic. The coming out scene with Lark was genuinely painful and seemed like it was throwing out every stereotype asexual people have to battle. Only for him to then develop feelings for Lark rather quickly and begin lusting after her? It just didn’t really make sense. It felt like representation for the sake of representation, but not well-researched or utilized.

The pacing was odd as well with their friendship developing quite quickly and certain scenes that I think would have been really great to convince me of their growing feelings were glossed over or only referenced. Yet, the story itself was also starting to feel quite long?

I’m just so sad. So sad. I did not think I’d be writing up a rant review of this when I got an ARC from Netgalley.

characters were hard to get into with the writing style
too much going on in sub plots, took away from the romance and made everything move too slow

I was immediately drawn to this book because I thought the cover was adorable and then after reading the blurb I just knew I had to give this one a try. Overall my first impression was pretty accurate, this was an adorable, fun read and while it did also touch on some tougher topics (death of a spouse), it was done in a respectably way and didn’t get too heavy. Callum is literally the sweetest guy. I loved unlikely the connection between him and Lark. If you are okay with some morbid humor, the banter between them will have you laughing out loud. At least it did for me. Haha. The only reason I rated this four stars instead of five was because of the circumstances surrounding the third-act “break-up”. I was just not a fun of that entire scene and honestly thought it was unnecessary.

- Grumpy X Sunshine
- Friends to Lovers
- Set In Ireland
- Widowed Animator from Texas
- Shy Mortician who lives next door
- Love After Loss
- Demisexual Rep
- Slow Burn

4 stars
——————

I love a sweet romance and one with death elements? Sign me up!

Following Callum and Lark was certainly a fun experience. Their stark differences sure made them interesting. I enjoyed their dynamic immensely and found their relationship evolution realistic. I just wish they had been developed a bit more. I liked the depiction of their emotions, but them as people needed more for me personally. Our background characters added a fun element, making a really well rounded character base. I just found I enjoyed the background characters better than our leading couple.

I loved the overall plot of the book. The depiction of grief was incredibly raw and I found myself feeling for Lark. Her emotions are handled well, her feelings surrounding her moving on in a new place. Callum’s own subtle grief was well written. I was engaged in the plot throughout and it was paced really well. The conclusion and epilogue was sweet.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this one. I’m glad I took a chance on this book because I found myself really enjoying it.

Thank you @putnambooks for the #gifted digital copy of the traditional publication version of Morbidly Yours - one of my favorite indie reads of 2023. If you’ve read this before, there are some fun updates and additions that make a re-read very worthwhile. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this one yet, you are in for such a treat!

A romance about an Irish mortician and a Texas cartoon animator? Yep, it 100% works!

Lark has left her painful past in Texas and come to Ireland for the next few months. She has no furniture, friends, or desire to have another serious relationship - and will immerse herself in work. That is until a shipment of body bags is accidentally delivered to her apartment, leading her to discover that she lives next door to a funeral home, not a bed and breakfast. Callum has been working in the family business - undertaking - his whole life. But when his grandfather dies, a clause in the will states that Callum will only inherit if he marries by the time he turns 35 (less than a year away). The problem is Callum doesn’t date, and the prospect of finding a wife is unlikely. Lark and Callum form an unlikely friendship as she helps him find dates - even as it becomes more difficult to deny their mutual attraction.

Everything about this book works. It is sweet, spicy, quirky, heart-wrenching, and funny. From Callum teaching Lark Irish dirty talk to her breaking him out of his shell to never being able to look at a black necktie quite the same way again, this story has so much heart. This version has some new chapters, an additional spicy scene, and a handful of places where the same scene now plays out through a different POV. It was interesting to see how Ivy tweaked the book while keeping the story's tender joy intact - including Dolly Parton references, roller skates, scooters, chess matches, a pet mouse, a trip to the ER, and lots of popcorn.

The characters are cute, and they like each other, which is also cute, and the sex scenes weren't bad at all! But it's one of those romances where miscommunication is key (or, in this case, just complete aversion to communication, setting up huge self-imposed roadblocks to communication, just installing a permanent lead case over ever communicating effectively, to make the book longer I guess). And both characters, but particularly Lark, are viciously and alarmingly self-hating. One of those books where everything would get fixed pretty quick if you could ask either character to accurately describe their current situation to a therapist, please, any therapist.

I really loved Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks. This offbeat rom-com is funny, touching and hopeful. The setting of Galway is charming. I loved the lessons about how to talk about romance in the Irish language. Impressive debut by Ivy Fairbanks with her witty and compassionate style. So glad to see that this is part of a series. Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the eARC.

This book is really sweet and though there are heavier topics and the characters are dealing with grief, it's handled in a sensitive way that doesn't feel overly heavy. I loved Callum and Lark's chemistry and the characters are wonderfully fleshed out. That said I did think it dragged a bit in the later parts. Overall would definitely recommend!

This was such a sweet and spicy read that beautifully tackles grief, and love after loss.

Lark and Callum were well developed characters who complimented each other perfectly. the relationship developed naturally and at a realistic pace… and they were so so so easy to root for.

Fairbanks did a fantastic job of writing this story as a dual POV. Both perspectives were strong, and I never found myself wishing to hurry through a chapter.

If you read the description of the book, and Callum’s job as an undertaker gives you pause… let me reassure you that the scenes involving his career are handled with dignity and respect.

There is also demisexual rep (MMC) in here, and he has a stutter. AND the author also highlights the important of therapy towards the end which I really appreciated.

My one complaint was that I wish the villain was a little less obvious. While most of the characters in here were well rounded, the antagonist came off a bit stereotypical.

I’ve heard this is the first in a series… after reading this book, I think I know who book 2 may focus on and I am EXCITED.

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: kitchen sink popcorn

“I held a bowl aloft. Ribbons of caramel and chocolate oozed down a mountain of fluffy popcorn kernels topped with coconut flakes. ‘This is popcorn?’ ‘Somewhere under there. It's what my cousin Cielo used to make when I was sad. We called it the kitchen-sink mix. Comfort food isn't supposed to be healthy.’”

Triggers: death of a spouse, car accident, brief mentions of possible suicide, terminal illness, sexual content, ableism, abandonment, brief mentions of child death, bullying, detailed descriptions of caring for the dead in a funeral home

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions are my own.

My review is posted on my Instagram @bedtimesandbooks

3.5 Spicy Galway Stars

This unique character pairing is a first for me—an undertaker and an animator. Lark is an American trying to make a fresh start in Ireland with a new job. Callum is running the family business with a huge stipulation coming up: he needs to get married or lose the business.

The pair meet as Lark has moved into an apartment next door to the mortuary (a fact she didn’t know before arriving). Lark’s bubbly personality has no problem taking the lead in Callum’s more introverted life. Callum is especially nervous around women and has a stutter.

As the two developed a friendship (and maybe something more), it became clear that they were developing feelings. Lark was having some struggles at work (which drove me crazy!), and she didn’t want to get involved romantically.

They decide to experiment with their feelings, and this is where the book gets really spicy! Fair warning to readers. There are also themes of grief and workplace negativity.

Bonus ½ star for the Irish setting and the banter between the characters that I found humorous. This is the first of a series.

A fun, cozy read that is perfect for the chilly fall months. Not quite a slow burn but also not an unrealistic escalation of romance. There are moments where I really just wanted to smack both the characters in the head and the entire third act annoyed me to no end, which is what caused my drop my rating down to a 3.5 (rounded down). I think there is room for some storyline pacing work by the author.

Morbidly Yours is a wonderful debut from Ivy Fairbanks and I can't wait to see how they continue to develop as an author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

This was just adorable from start to finish. Like any good rom com, there was so much more going on than just the romance (which was FABULOUS) and I loved Lark and Callum SO MUCH. Getting both of their POVs was such a treat. I really enjoyed seeing Lark learn to stand up for herself at work and Callum learn to have fun and not take himself too seriously. The spicy scenes were very well done, in my opinion. Honestly from the second these two met, I was internally screaming “JUST KISS ALREADY!” However, I loved that they developed a strong friendship first. Also, the fact that this is a debut really surprised me because it was just so good. I will absolutely read anything this author writes next. Maybe a Cielo book next?!
CW: death of a grandparent, bullying, death of a spouse, sexual harassment, death

Thank you to NetGalley and Lassen Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Super cute and spicy read! This book is perfect for fall, I absolutely loved this read and the cover is also perfect!!

I was a little bored at the beginning of this. I also didn't like the weird dead body references, especially during the sex scenes. But about halfway through I started enjoying it more and wound up liking it by the end.