I absolutely loved this book! It was a super cute story with a just-unique-enough plot to help it stand out amongst others in this genre. I loved the sarcastic MMC and the spontaneous FMC and the banter between them.

Please drop everything and read this!

I knew before I was even halfway through that this was going to be a contender for one of the best books I’ve read this year. I laughed, cried, and wanted to shout from the rooftops. Incredible plot, loveable characters, the banter, comedic relief while tackling real life situations and problems, amazing representation of diversity in people, the real rollercoaster that is grief and how people process it so differently, the writing, and (IYKYK) THE CHESS SCENE 🫠🫠🫠! Easily my favorite book this year. 10/10 recommend, a million stars. I am literally obsessed and I cannot wait to read more from Ivy Fairbanks! Please see trigger warnings and take care of yourself while reading ♥️

Tropes:
Grumpy Sunshine
Opposites Attract
Friends to Lovers
Marriage of Convenience
Inheritance
Slow Burn
Dual POV
Rom Com
Love after Loss

TW:
Death of a spouse (off page)
Death of a friend
Funeral home director
Mortician and mention of tools and acts of preparing and caring for the deceased
Grief
Corpses
Terminal illness
Misogyny
Sexual content
Bullying
Gaslighting

3.75 stars but I rounded up! This was such a cozy romance! The dual pov really added to the character depth for both Lark and Callum. This is a perfect neighbors, to friends to lovers tale featuring a grieving widow and a stuttering undertaker who bring out the best in each other.

This book was so cute! It was sweet, heartfelt, funny and emotional. I liked the demisexual representation and the realistic depictions of grief.

This book was cute! i loved Callum and Lark's relationship. They tried denying their feelings for soo long and I loved the tension. i loved how they both helped each other grow so much throughout the story. The story was sweet, but also had spicy and hilarious moments.

*i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.*

“morbidly yours” is a novel that’s been on my tbr for a while, for the times i felt like reading a romance and i’m definitely glad i got a copy from netgalley, becausse if was the perfect book to take me out of this neverending slump. it’s such a cute story, with a wonderful cast of characters, but it also touches on some heavier subjects like grief with tact.

the writing style was easy to digest, as it definitely fits the romance genre quite well - it’s not poetic by any means, but it’s good. the dialogue especially was so well-written, i absolutely loved the banter between callum and lark. they were funny together. the times when we got more insight into the character’s past and feelings were also woderfully crafted.

even though the book was a blend of characters & plot, i think the characters made the story for me - they have very unique personalities and the author did a good job at keeping them consistent throughout the action. i also really liked how the MMC wasn’t the typical romantic interest - he still fits the description physically, but he’s an undertaker and he’s shy and reserved, which was refreshing to see. granted, i haven’t read that many romance books, so maybe i’m not the best judge on that, but you get the point. lark was a bit annoying at times because of some decisions she takes, but i think that can be looked over, since she’s been in a bit of a trauma. overall, i think they’re both very well crafted.

the romance was a slow-burn and i enjoyed how the author took their time with it - we get to see them become acquintances and then friends and, eventually, lovers, so nothing felt rushed or poorly done. i think the weeding subplot was a bit dragged out and i didn’t really like how lark constantly gave mixed signals to callum, as it got a bit repetitive towards the end, but that did not hinder my enjoyment that much. i also liked how we got to see a bit of their jobs - reading about an undertaker was more interesting than i expected and i’ve always loved animation, so that was a plus for me.

besides being very cute and swoon-worthy, the book also talks about grief, anxiety and some mentions of sexuality, which were well handled. there’s also a bit of smut involved, so if that’s not your cup-of-tea, maybe avoid it. it’s nothing too over-the-top, but still.

overall, “morbidly yours” is definitely worth reading if you’re in the mood for a romance between two polar opposites characters. i think it’s quite easy to read and it definitely puts you in a good mood. i’m so looking forward to reading the author’s future works.

This was so charming! It took me about 20% of the way through warm up to our FMC. It felt like it took a little bit to get to know her besides she was grieving and quirky. There was a very refreshing male pov. We still get the typical super tall, super strong man that appears in 99% of romance novels, but I enjoyed hearing his thoughts. They weren’t the overly aggressive and suggestive thoughts that happen so often in part to being on the ace spectrum. It felt human. Not a caricature. The best part of this story was watching their friendship blossom. Worst part was the overly villainous coworker.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but I enjoyed it. It was absolutely adorable. It was a unique romcom. I adored Lark and Callum. I didn’t want this book to end!

4 stars! 4 chilies!

I had been wanting to read this book for quite some time and was so excited when I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.

This book was so cute! I loved the witty banter between Lark and Cal. Their conversations never failed to make me belly laugh. I loved every pun I came across; Especially the puns that were based off of funeral parlors and being a mortician. Cal was the absolute cutest and he must be protected at all costs.

There were parts when I just wanted to smash the two characters together due to their miscommunication but when all was said and done, I was over thrilled to read them getting their very well-deserved happy ending.

The spice was also giving. I loved when he spoke in Gaelic to her, and she had no idea what was being said.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a lighthearted spicy romantic read and will be buying a physical copy once it is republished. (I do have it preordered on Amazon.)

Well done Ivy!

This was such a beautiful story about love and loss. And Lark and Callum’s friends to lovers journey is so cute! Definitely a book to pick up.

After losing her husband in a tragic accident that she blames herself for, Lark decides to start a new life in Ireland. All she wants is to run away from her grief, but turns out she’s moved in next to a mortuary and her neighbor is an undertaker. She has no choice but to confront death. And maybe find her way to happiness again. She might also be the spot of color and brightness that can bring Callum’s dreary world to life.

Thank you to Ivy Fairbanks, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for providing me the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Morbidly Yours follows two characters, Callum Flannelly (an Undertaker) and Lark Thompson (an animator), who both have ties to death and loss. As Lark escapes to Ireland to flee her tragic past, she is forced to come to terms with death and grief with the help of her friendly-neighborhood-next-door-Undertaker, Callum, who has been tasked with marrying by his birthday else he loses his beloved funeral home.

Despite some of the heavier topics like grief and sexism in the workplace, this was a more or less fun and light read. While the main plot of this book was the overall romance, I really enjoyed seeing the characters' friendship build and blossom in a way that took both of them out of their comfort zone not just for each other, but for themselves. I love stories where the characters are far from perfect, and the author succeeded in creating a well rounded cast of characters that aim to work through their flaws. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick and light-ish read!

Really cute and sexy fun! I loved the way the book didn’t shy away from giving the characters real problems and difficulties to deal with and putting a lot of thought into how real people would react to these very real and difficult types of situations. However, it felt a little drawn out with the will they, won’t they, where I feel like there were some repetitive chapters and moments where the characters are just talking themselves in circles to prolong the story. Overall, an easy and sexy read that is unique in many ways!

Morbidly Yours is set in Ireland as Lark, and American Animator, has moved in next door to Callum and his family’s funeral home. Lark is running away from America and her husband’s death. There was some extra fallout regarding his passing and she wants a fresh start somewhere new. Callum is facing a deadline in regard to the funeral home he inherited and the condition that he must be married by 35 or it can be sold.

After Lark and Callum officially meet, they strike up a tentative friendship. Lark finds out about the conditions Callum faces and offers to help him get better at dating. As Callum gets closer to Lark however, he starts thinking that she’s the one for him but is totally unsure how he can convince her to change her opinion on marriage

Things that worked for me:
- the tone to this was super well done! obviously this features some heavier topics regarding death but they were handled in a smooth way and the story was overall still happy
- the dual POV really helped build up the relationship when we had the tension and jealousy coming around
Things that didn’t work for me:
- the ending fell a little flat compared to what I was hoping for I think

First, thank you for NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me access to this ARC. I am a sucker for debut romance novels and the cover illustration on this one was icing on the cake. So many good things to say about book. I laughed, I cried, I thoroughly enjoyed every page from start to finish.

Falling for the wrong person?
Bury your feelings.

I struggled, minorly, with the Irish; however, the author was kind enough to give us a small dictionary, if you will, to help with definitions and pronunciations. I was too impatient to reference back and forth because I was too invested to care about my butchering of the Irish banter.

Smoking hot MMC, Callum Flannelly, a mortician in Galway, Ireland, has an unusual dilemma: to inherit the family's funeral business, he must find a wife before his 35th birthday. Not for love - but necessity. The story also discloses that Cal is "demi-sexual," meaning he requires an emotional bond with someone before feeling sexual or other forms of attraction, sometimes it's impossible. This trait is not particularly convenient for someone looking to enter a relationship quickly.

Quirky and super cute, FMC, Lark Thompson, an American cartoon creator and animator, arrives in Galway with her bright pink boots on desperate for a fresh start after losing her husband 2 years ago. She is eager to embrace positivity and leave behind the gloom; yet her new flat is flanked by a cemetery on one side and a funeral home on the other.

The meet-cute: Lark finds herself at the funeral home returning some packages that arrived at her apartment on accident. Body Bags of all things. Although their personalities clash at first, they are intrigued, and both seem to be desperate for companionship.

It turns out navigating the dating-scene, platonically, is not as easy as one would think. Lark and Callum have magnetic chemistry and they become best friends. When Cal isn't on one of his speed dates, they spend a ton of time together watching movies, rollerblading, site seeing, etc. While their very obvious and intense connection is palpable - they are both in denial because Lark does not plan on staying in Ireland and a relationship is not on the table.

“Mo chuisle? It means ‘my pulse.’ I never quite understood it before, what it meant to have another person be the d-driving force behind the pump of your blood, but it’s true. Lark, your smile saved me like an emergency transfusion. 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.”

Overall, my review is: Morbidly Yours is captivating and it brings together humor, grief, and unexpected connections. The writing was beautiful. The spice was spicy. I especially enjoyed the dirty talk via the Irish Language, as mentioned, it was butchered because I didn't reference the authors note; however, HOT HOT HOT. S T E A M Y.

READ IT NOW. ;)

I saw Ivy Fairbank’s book on Kindle Unlimited a few months ago and was hooked by the premise: Feisty Texas animator moves to Galway and ends up living next to a tall, awkward yet very sexy mortician who needs to find a wife in order to save his funeral home. Many many tropes that I love all set in one of my favorite places in the world. But Lark and Callum are more than mere caricatures, they are drawn with real depth and as a reader, you cheer for them not just as they are falling in love, but as they struggle with their professional lives. You will also laugh so hard, you might pee your pants (and decide to watch Xanadu). The secondary characters are also wonderful and provide our hero and heroine the support, and kick in the ass, they deserve.

I loved this book when I read it a few months ago and I loved it when I reread it. I think I could sit down and tear through it again and love it more. My only sadness is that this appears to be Ivy Fairbanks first book so she has no back catalog for me to dive into. Go grab this on Kindle and then pre-order the paperback which is coming out in August.

And Ivy please write more!

Calling all Ireland lovers!

Callum is terrified of the dating scene, which is problematic since he has to marry before his 35th birthday to keep is business (also - he’s a mortician?!)

Lark moved to Ireland after losing her husband to start over. Here, she moved in next to Callum and tried to “fix his problem” by setting him up on dates.

As you can imagine, living by a mortician would be a big problem for her and her grief process!

Sparks just FLEW with these two. Their chemistry was heartwarming and I loved watching them BOTH grow as characters throughout the story.

Callum just absolutely adored her and I was here for it! It was hard to not be angry at Lark, I wanted her to just give in! But she was on her own timeline and processing her past.

If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that is deep and not “fluffy” - then read this book!

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!


Slow burn
Grief
Grumpy sunshine
He falls first

Despite what the title may lead you to believe, Morbidly Yours is a very sweet romcom that doesn't focus on fulfilling tropes (despite there being soooo many good ones) but instead on character development. I point this out because one of the biggest trends we're seeing right now in romance/romantic comedy is a list of tropes with no real description of who the characters are or what the story actually is. People are going to label it things like "grumpy/sunshine" (it's so not, it's what I'd call two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl, to quote Pink Floyd) or "marriage of convenience" (absolutely not), but that's failing to really understand what Morbidly Yours actually is.

Morbidly Yours is a romcom, yes, but it also is a beautiful character study on how death affects everyone differently. Lark runs from it, letting it make her a shell of her former self; Rachel lashes out; Maeve accepts it head on; Callum dedicates his life to it. And the journey these characters take, interwoven with one another, really is the heart of the story, not Lark and Callum's romance.

That being said, Lark and Callum's romance? Whew. WHEW. WHEW!!!!!!! I adored them.

Finally, Galway felt like such a lovely setting for this story, but a) I'm not Irish/don't speak Irish and b) have never been to Ireland, so I can't speak for any accuracy there.

This was such a cute book!. I absolutely breezed through it. I really enjoyed reading Cal and Lark's story and watching their characters grow as the story went on. I'm really glad I gave into the hype with this book because it was worth it.

Thank you netgalley for the arc!

This was such a quirky read but loved the levity of it with the different representations of grief weaved in. The slow burn between the main character friends kept pulling me in and when they finally decided to be friends with benefits, boy did it not disappoint! Overall, the second half of the book was more my speed and had a bit more of the humor and spice I was looking for, but I really appreciated how developed the characters were and their storylines.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️I Loved This❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

For a book that had some heavy themes. They were handled with just the right amount of humor and style.

From Callum and Larks first meeting I was hooked. Callum is such an adorable, grumpy cinnamon roll.Yay, for the Demisexual representation. Lark is the sunshine he needs. Great slow burn romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read an ARC copy.