2 Stars I was really excited for this one after seeing people rave about it from when it was independently published on KU, but sadly it fell short of expectations. I was intrigued by the premise, but just couldn't really get into the story. I also really dislike when the MC wants to be with the love interest but does the "no, I can't, I shouldn't" because of whatever happened in their past. I did like the demisexuality representation and the honest discussions of grief.

Ivy’s writing takes you on a visceral journey emotional directly alongside Callum and Lark’s story. They are adorable and this novel is a poetic front row seat to a love you don’t wanna miss.

I was a little hesitant about this book but figured it was worth a shot. This book surpassed my expectations. I loved the characters and felt their chemistry. This book made me laugh and swoon while also dealing with heavier topics. The author did a great job of not glossing over hard topics. I enjoyed this book and found it to be a quick read.

I was given an Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley for an honest review.

Morbidly Yours is the first book in the “Love In Galway” Series by IV Fairbanks in the book we meet widow Lark, who has moved from Austin to Galway to flee the memories of her husband and being cut out of her friend group with the exception of Lolo. When opening boxes to move into her new apartment there’s one with body bags in it and she sees it was meant for her neighbor. To say she is curious as to why her neighbor needs five body bags is an understatement so she brings it to them and low-key hopes she can meet a new friend and that is exactly what she does. Her neighbor is Calum an undertaker in a family owned funeral home in little does he know but his new mate lark has an aversion to everything having to do with death and funerals. His neighbor isn’t his only issue though his dad wants Callum to sign over the funeral home because his dad thinks there is no way he will find a wife in the next six months and unfortunately that is one of the provisions his grandfather put in his will. Although Callum has no prospects he refuses to do it. Thankfully though his new neighbor and friend lark that’s going to help him find a wife… Until things get complicated and I’m not just talking about the stalker that follows her from Texas. Okay let me start with I really enjoyed this book I thought lark was lots of fun is definitely the only type that could bring a Callum out of his box to get more out of life but I don’t know why they have to have sex scenes in these books I mean either write erotica or romcoms. I wish sites where you get books would be more explicit about letting you know what’s in the book because I was looking so forward to reading this when I got to the nitty-gritty I just wanted to throw my phone at the wall. I was so let down having said that however it still is a fun book with a little bit of drama and a definite happy ending. I loved the concept and the execution they were just minor things and the sex scenes I could’ve lived without but having said that I still recommend this book.#NetGalley, #PenguinGroupPutnam, #IvyFairbanks, #LoveInGalway, #MorbidlyYours,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book to read and review.

I loved the idea of this and they synopsis sounded fun. Unfortunately, this one was not for me. I couldn't seem to get into the story and I found myself not wanting to pick it up.

This book was so beautifully written, I loved it and I loved the characters and relationships. The grief in the story was so accurately depicted and well written. I loved Lark and Callum and their relationship! The character development was also strong!

I can not get over how much I enjoyed this book!!! An Irish mortician falls for the Texan next door. Its the romance I didn't know I needed!! I fell for our MMC Callum immediately. Sometime about the shy man with the stutter just made my heart all gooey. I wanted him to get his HEA so badly. This was the slow burn of slow burns but not in an overly frustrating way. More in a damn I hope these two kids get it together and realize they are perfect for each other. I loved how easily they seemed to fit and the opposites attract was a big theme in this but it never felt forced. I give this book all the stars!

You'll love this if you enjoy:
📽Friends to Lovers
🖤Slow Burn
📽He falls first
🖤Marriage of convenience
📽Themes of overcoming grief
📽Grumpy/Sunshine

Oh my gosh, this story was just... *chef's kiss*.
Why do I love the grumpy/sunshine trope so. much? Okay... admittedly, Callum wasn't a complete grump. He was just kind of taciturn and shy.

Lark was just a complete Texas Treat!! Even after experiencing heartache she had this amazing, sweet personality.

By the end, I had just COMPLETELY fallen in love with these two crazy kids and they discovered just how perfect for each other they were--despite it seeming otherwise. And despite their differences.

There was definitely some steam--which was wonderfully done. And the butterflies were real with this one! These two made me swoon!

DNF @ 10%
I’ve only heard good things about this book and the reviews are high, so when I saw it was being picked up to be traditionally published and was on NetGalley, I jumped on the opportunity. Unfortunately it immediately wasn’t for me. The first chapter was terrible, but the next chapter I started seeing the warning signs. As much as I read, it seemed the writing style was depending a lot more on telling us character’s personality traits. Like you showed us the one character stutters, I’m smart enough to realize it wasn’t a one time thing without you telling me and for me to infer he probably had childhood trauma thanks to it. Meanwhile the FMC was a mix of manic pixie dream girl & cutesy camp millennial. It’s kind of annoying. And I’m saying this as a millennial. I knew then it was time for me to tap it.
I absolutely know this will be beloved by people (obviously if you see the reviews) and there’s a ton of people who like quirky FMCs, I’m just not one of those people. So I would recommend this book, but I probably would tell people about the characters before hand cause I think this character style is a hit or miss with people.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

3.75

This was such an unexpected cozy read. It was so cute and romantic. This is about an animator from Texas who moves to Ireland for a job to help get away from her grief. She moves into an apartment next to what she thinks is a cute bed and breakfast, but is actually a funeral parlor. She then strikes up an unexpected friendship with the quiet/quirky but very attractive mortician.

This was a friends to lovers slow burn romance. They developed such a sweet friendship that budded into a wonderful romance. It was really sweet to see Lark and Callum help each other through their grief. Callum really came out of his shell with Lark, and became such a protective and caring friend. Lark was also very patient with Callum’s quirky personality and insecurities. They both were so good for each other, and really brought out the best in each other. Also, the morbid humor was pretty funny.

Overall, this was a beautiful story about two unlikely people leaning on each other and helping each other get through the grief of losing their loved ones and falling in love in the process.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked it. I thought it was pretty good, even though it felt like the beginning of the story was a little too slow for my liking. I felt like the author did a good job with her interpretation of their trades into the story. The HEA ending was really well executed.

Morbidly Yours is friends to lovers done well. I enjoyed the characters, the different reps are handled with respect. The story is sweet with out being sappy, a high level of spice and still comforting. Enjoyable read.

I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Thank you to Putnam Books for the ARC of this book! I really enjoyed it over all and thought it was a really sweet, albeit quirky, romance. I will admit that some of the details about the main character involving death and being a literal undertaker had me hesitant, but I'm so glad I read this one! I enjoyed the setting in Ireland and both the Female and Male main characters. I would recommend this one and thought that it tied the complicated topic of grief into a romance really well. It's nice to read a romance that's a little different than your typical, too! I'll be looking for more from Ivy Fairbanks in the future!

This book was chef’s kiss! Give me a male main character that talks dirty in the bedroom in Irish and I’m in! The friendship aspect of Callum and Lark was so sweet. Callum was so patient and understanding in handling Lark and her past. Their banter and jokes were sublime. This was definitely a slow burn and I wasn’t sure how I initially felt but looking back I am glad that it was. The slowness allowed for Lark to truly trust Callum and for their friendship to really bloom and serve as a great foundation for their relationship. Great book, great story and great location.

Such a fun, spicy read! I was pleasantly surprised by the story and my desire to know what happens. Absolutely became one of my favorite romance reads so far this year. I found myself sad it ended!

Morbidly Yours is cozy, fun romance read about Callum and Lark.

Callum is an undertaker of his family’s funeral home must be wed by the time he turns 35 to inherit the business or it goes to his father who is ready to sell it to the highest bidder.

Lark left the US for a fresh start after a personal loss/ending of her marriage. She swore she’d never be in a relationship again…. And then meets Callum.

The way the story weaves the Irish/Gaelic language and culture while taking you on this friends to lovers romance journey just made it that much more fun.

100% worth the read and recommendation to other romance/book lovers!

Publish date 8/12/24

Morbidly Yours was a tough one for me. Im currently on a romance kick and was looking forward to this. The description makes it sound like it's going to be so much fun! The book fell flat for my tastes.

Morbidly Yours rotates between Callum and Lark. The description states Callum has to find a wife. Well Lark is going to help Callum find a wife. BUT about a quarter of the way in the book just becomes rotating chapters of how much the other one wanted the other one.

It just didnt flow the way I expected. Did I expect them to be together in the end? Most definitely! Did I expect the lust for each other at 25% when shes supposed to be helping him find a wife and the book barely got started? No

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A bit too wholesome and sweet with a gimmicky setup. I wanted something a bit more memorable and quirky. This was breezy and easy, just sadly not a favorite with anything interesting to say.

DNF. I had a hard time buying into their chemistry. I never felt particularly connected to either of the main characters. It wasn't a bad book, and I would feel comfortable recommending it if a customer asked for something specific (i.e. they wanted a romance specifically set in Ireland, or specifically with a mortician), but it doesn't stand out to me enough to recommend otherwise.

3.5

Lark is a cheerful animator who just relocated from Texas to Galway for a job. She is just settling in to her new apartment when she receives a package of body bags addressed to the house next door. Worried she might be living next to a serial killer, she discovers what she thought was a B&B is actually a mortuary. She then befriends the quiet mortician, Callum, struggling alone with his family's business.

The majority of this book felt like a solid 3.75-4 stars. I enjoyed the banter and slow burn friendship between Lark and Callum, as well as the culture hurdles Lark faced. However, there were some pacing and side plot issues that kept this from being rated that high. The book held my attention solidly for the first 75 percent, but it started to slide toward the resolution. And occasionally the mortuary details were a bit TMI, but the author did warn us about that.

Thank you, Net Galley, for this advanced manuscript copy to review.