This story was interesting enough, but it was nothing special. I appreciated the growth of the main character throughout. There was some good banter, and the dog subplots were cute. I listened to a bit of this audio in between my ebook reading, and I liked the audio element a lot since the story took place as a podcast.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for this ARC!

3.5 ⭐️

Back After This is a fun if somewhat uneven story of Cecily, a people-pleasing podcaster who is put on a special assignment: go on a series of blind dates set by a relationship coach/ influencer. Hijinks ensue, and along the way, Cecily begins to figure out what she does - and doesn’t- want for herself- and finds a bit of romance as well. This was a nice light quick read overall.

Thank you Linda Holmes, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.75🌟

I thought this was a cute story about a podcast producer who gets roped into being the host of a new self-help show about women getting their "lives together and dating in their 30s." She has to go on 20 dates and hopefully will find her true match by the end of the season. What she didn't count on was randomly bumping into someone along the way who seems to be a much better fit for her.

This book felt a little too self-help/moral of the story in some places, but overall, it was sweet. Cecily loses her way and has to find her way back to herself and find what she really wants out of a partner as well as life.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Cecily Foster makes podcasts for a living and loves what she does, but she’s yet to make a big name for herself. When an opportunity to host her own show finally comes, it comes with a catch. Before she’ll be able to make the show she really wants to make she must first host a show where influencer and relationship coach, Eliza Cassidy, sets her up on twenty dates in hopes of finding the one. This is the last thing Cecily wants to do, but it might be the best way to get her own show. While going through the motions of finding love on the podcast, Cecily might just stumble upon her true love elsewhere. How will the podcast dates play out? Will Cecily actually find the relationship she’s always hoped for and will she get the show she really wants in the end?

I am not a huge podcast person, so I know nothing about the podcast world, but thought the description of this book was intriguing. I liked Cecily from the beginning and was interested in seeing how her sorry would play out. This book was full of comedy the made it a quick read and easy to get through. The romance in this book was sweet and full of all the feels. It was so easy to get into this book and I found myself lost in the story and humor as it played out. I am glad I gave this book a chance and really enjoyed my time with this book. If you are looking for a romantic comedy with a lot of podcast info tied in this book is a good one to try.

In a last ditch effort to save both her job and her love life, Cecily Foster hires a dating coach to set her up with her dream man who she hopes to find after she goes on twenty first dates. The catch? She has to broadcast her journey on air for the new podcast 20 Dates. Even though she's been historically unlucky in love (we won't even talk about her last boyfriend who stole her idea for a podcast and broke up with her more casually than he would cancel a dentist appointment), she's willing to try it out. That is, until a large dog runs down the street chased by a man in a (haircutting) cape who might just be the love of her life?

The premise reminded me a bit of First-Time Caller and a bit of Is She Really Going Out With Him?. I liked it more than the former but less than the latter, and would recommend it to fans of either. Back After This is a charming and witty story about a woman realizing that what she wants for her life doesn't have to be what everyone else wants and that's okay.

3.5 rounded up

Are you, or do you know, someone that is always fixing or looking out for everyone around them? That is Cecily. She loves so deeply, and always is trying to take care of others. This is what leads to her agreeing to share her dating life on air, with a life coach helping her make her choices, in exchange for a chance to run her own show. Eliza (the life coach) is convinced that her way is the only way, and meeting someone in the wild is not the answer. Despite that a handsome photographer, named Will, continues to pop up everywhere. Almost like the universe is trying to throw them together... This was such a fun story to watch play out, and I loved watching the character growth and learning while also seeing the love story play out.

I ended up listening to this on audio and it was fine (Holmes, while a good podcaster, is perhaps not the ideal narrator), and it was cute enough.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is a delightful novel that will keep you engaged and bring you joy! Cecily Foster loves podcasts and has devoted her life to them. She has had bad relationship with a colleague who took her ideas and now is really not about relationships. Her boss wants her to meet with an influencer and go on 20 dates and commit to the process. Only catch is she can date no one else. Which sounds good until she meets Will when he is chasing a dog and he keeps showing up everywhere.

I found this a fascinating read. The whole idea of do you find love spontaneously or systematically drew me in. The story is told from Cecily’s point of view and I appreciated her perspective on life. Cecily changed and became more aware of her value as a person, knowing what she really wanted in life, and was transformed in the story.

You have to love the meet-cute, the great Dane rescue dog, learning about podcasts and the world of influencers. The story was amazing. I highly recommend Back After This by Linda Holmes.

I was given a copy and not required to write a positive review.

Fans of Evie Drake Starts Over will likely enjoy this new release by Linda Holmes. If you like witty banter, podcasts, and a loveable big dog, Back After This is for you. Save it for your beach or pool bag.

Ok , while this is fun to read I found the set up quite interesting. Sometimes it feels like she is writing on a journal or sorts , or if she is telling us what happen which it was fun. I definitely enjoyed the meet cute , serious that was funny and cute. And I like how the characters develop and grow . Overall a easy read.

This was a fun meet cute. The banter was fun and I think fans of Emily Henry would like this book. A fun little peek into the world of podcasting too.

Very well written!

Cecily Foster is a podcast producer. She used to do a podcast with her ex-boyfriend, but when he dumped her, she lost her home, her show, and her lover.

A couple of years later, and at her work, things are tense. There are rumors that they might be letting some people go. Cecily's boss calls her into his office to tell her that they have a new idea for a new podcast, and Cecily will be the one running it. She will also be the main feature. His boss wants her to partner with an influencer who is now a dating coach. The dating couch is setting her up with twenty blind dates, and she assures Cecliy that she will find love by the end of the dates. Cecily has never seen herself as someone who will want to do this, but she hopes that if this goes well, no one will lose their job, and it may help find her a companion. Yet, the universe has another idea. Just before the new podcast begins, she meets Will, a photographer who is trying to catch a great dane that was running away. Sparks fly between them after they keep on bumping into each other. What is Cecily going to do when she is not supposed to see anyone else who is not part of the podcast?

I fell for Will and Buddy, the great dane, right away. In my head, there was no reason to go on other dates. I was rooting for Cecily to pick them.

This was a nice rom-com with likable, down-to-earth, and relatable main characters.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Ballantine Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Channeling Evvie Drake, Linda Holmes has once again drawn a character, Cecily Foster, who is constantly being abused and allowing it. Oh, she has plenty of excuses, protecting a friend, afraid of causing the loss of a job, hers included, how to stand strong on her own, not really owning that she deserves the chance, the recognition and accolades, the money, even though she knows she does.

I really liked Cecily, her quirks, preferring headphones to something that she has to look at after it has been in her ear, her deprecatory manner, her quick comebacks, and the way she really loves her friends. I really dislike when talented women refuse to look in the mirror and acknowledge that they are important and worthy of being noticed. But if Cecily had that mettle this would have been less of a very good story. There were laugh out loud moments and subtle humor throughout as well as those god awful cringeworthy “how could you do that” situations. The characters who inhabit this story are so well drawn that you can’t help but feel as if you know them and have met their counterparts in your life.

Holmes has written a fun and insightful rom-com that may be just a little more than that. I want to thank Ballantine Books/Random House and NetGalley for a copy.

This was a fun and fast read for me! I loved the podcast blind dates storyline — it was so intriguing and interesting to me. I loved Eliza the dating coach as a side character! The characters were fabulous and loveable — Cecily and Will's meet-cute and friendship and the lighthearted intimacy.
It's so fun how Will keeps being there in things
related to the podcast/dates! I didn’t want this one to end! Great read for me!

Lighthearted, easy read that makes you reflect on why you make the choices you make in life! How many times in life have we made decisions thinking we were helping others at our own expense when they did not even ask for our help in the first place?!? This book brought up a lot of self-reflecting questions. I enjoyed the characters and love any book that includes a rescue dog!

What a treat! Linda Holmes takes on the world of podcasts in a fun and comedic way. I enjoyed reading this book. Am thankful for the opportunity to share my opinions.

I enjoyed Linda Holmes' first book, Evvie Drake Starts Over, so I was excited to read this one! I really enjoyed getting to know Cecily, a dedicated podcast producer, who is offered the chance to host her own show about modern dating. The catch? The show requires that she put her practically nonexistent dating life up for public consumption under the guidelines of influencer-turned-matchmaker, Eliza, who will be sending her on twenty blind dates.

This was a fun, witty, entertaining read. I enjoyed the characters and was thankful that the twenty dates weren't too drawn out in the storyline. Pick this up if you’re looking for lighthearted fun!

🎧 The narration is excellently done by the author, who I've just discovered hosts her own podcast.

Read if you enjoy: contemporary fiction with a good meet-cute romance, realistic main characters, podcasting, witty banter, modern dating, Great Danes 🐾

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣

A big thank you to @PRHAudio and @netgalley for this #gifted #audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Not as good as her previous two novels, but still entertaining and worth the read. The characters were (mostly) likeable and the story flowed but some of the situations the main character found herself in could have easily been avoided.

Cecily Foster loves the research, editing, and production of podcasts. She puts her whole self into it, and it's a big part of why she's always the one who steps up to fill in when needed. But between the long hours and a relationship that left her brokenhearted and without her brainchild podcast, she has no time for romance. Until her boss gives her an ultimatum: make and star in a show with an influencer about finding love the logical way, and not only will she get to make the podcast of her dreams, but her best friend will get to keep her job. It sounds good, until a random meet-cute involving a giant dog and a guy with a cape makes her start to rethink everything.

It's a very fun story that's full of wonderful little meet-cute moments between Cecily and Will that build up the romance by showing how good they can be together. Will doesn't fit the criteria that influencer Eliza is trying to convince Cecily will get her the perfect couple, but a big part of the plot is about accepting that things that look good on paper might not be what's best in real life. This is perhaps what I liked most about the story, the way that Cecily is slowly forced to look at things how they are instead of how she wishes them to be or thinks they'll eventually be like. It makes the moments of realization hit just right and shows great character growth.

Overall, it's nothing particularly genre-defining, but it's a fun and romantic read that I enjoyed from beginning to end. What more can any reader ask for?

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the fun read!

Started this book in October, wasn't vibing with it, and then picked it back up in April and finished it. Glad I finished it! It was a solid 3-star book, but not much more than that. It was an interesting premise, but I was expecting more from the dates - just the few sentences about each one were honestly not that appealing to me. I also didn't fully get Will's appeal besides the fact that they ran into each other all the time and the chemistry was there, but I don't feel like they are "end game." Overall, I am happy I picked it back up and would recommend it to my friends who love a fun romance, but it wasn't my favorite unfortunately :(

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley. I am sorry it took me so long to finish this one up!!