Read Completed 3/1/25 | 3.75 stars | Book #23 of 2025

I'm a little sad! I wanted to love this but something about it just never really panned out for me. Sadly, I don't think the audiobook narration helped. The author, Linda Holmes, narrated it herself, and she did a fine job, but if I didn't know it was the author, I would have been really disappointed in it. The narration was flat and not super varied. I do appreciate when the author narrates their own books sometimes because I know we're getting it exactly how they wanted it delivered, but it was a little lacking for me.

I liked the characters and the romance. Cecily had a great connected with her love interest and they had awesome chemistry. I really liked their connection, their banter, and their story.

I don't know! There's just something missing here for me where I always felt on the outside of the story, like it just never really pulled me in. I don't know if it was an audiobook barrier or something else. I enjoyed the book, but I'm left a little disappointed for some reason.

Loved the premise of a podcasting producer ending up on a self improvement/dating podcast, it created an interesting plot line and corresponding situations. While the podcast itself didn't really require the FMC to grow, the situations surrounding it really helped to wake her up and make the changes she wanted to in her life. The meet cute was amazing and the coincidental meetings were just absurd enough to be believed. A fun look at the podcasting industry, how to make life decisions, and let yourself be in a relationship that you want to be in.

This delightful romance weaves its love story into the dynamic world of podcasts and dating shows. Cecily Foster, a seasoned podcaster and editor, dreams of finding true love and hosting her own podcast. To help save the company where she works, she agrees to go on 20 dates, guided by Eliza, an influencer who will select her potential suitors. The entire adventure will be documented as a podcast.

Cecily is a relatable character who struggles with self-esteem. Her confidence grows as she develops a relationship with Will, the charming waiter from one of her early dates who keeps reappearing in her life. I was impressed by how intricately the book portrayed the world of podcasting, offering insights into a creative field I don't often read about in novels. Will is a wonderful character, and the banter between him and Cecily is both fun and engaging.

One of the book's strengths is its nuanced portrayal of Eliza. Instead of being a one-dimensional character, she's given depth and complexity, through her characterization and interactions with Cecily. Holmes does a commendable job subverting the typical "villain" trope.

Overall, this book is a witty and charming romance set in a unique professional world. If you're in need of a comforting read to soothe the worries of the world or the heartbreak of literary fiction, you might want to give this book a try.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is an enjoyable romantic read with very likeable characters. Cecily Foster works as a podcast producer who finds herself backed into a professional corner and now needs to "play nice" with a romance/life coach in an effort to make her own content. Cecily agrees to go on 20 dates and document her journey, but unfortunately for everyone involved, she also finds herself falling in love with a man outside of these dating parameters.

This novel gives great insight into the amount of work that goes into creating and editing a podcast and also the trials of adult dating. Linda Holmes always writes delightful novels that I would happily recommend to any romance lover.

“Well, I asked you what love looks like to you, and you described a person. You said he would be funny, smart, kind, and passionate about things. But you didn’t describe the relationship itself. You didn’t say how he would treat you, or what being together would look like. Do you see what I mean? You described a person you see yourself loving, but not what it would look like for them to love you.”

Sometimes books come along at exactly the right moment. I guess it’s “good” that I’m behind on my ARC pile because I can’t think of a better time to read about dating in DC. BACK AFTER THIS follows Cecily Foster, a thirty-something woman who loves to make podcasts for a company that keeps overlooking her. When she finally has a chance to host her own show, she’s thrilled until she learns what’d it be about—her dating life, which is indefinitely on hold following a disastrous breakup with a colleague.

Still, she agrees to make a show featuring herself, a dating coach, and 20 first dates. But then she meets Will in real life in a very unexpected meet-cute. What follows is a story of self-discovery, self-interrogation about what Cecily actually wants, and a lot of funny commentary on dating in general. While I hoped this would touch on dating in DC more acutely, I did identify with the FMC a lot.

The dating coach, Eliza, gives a lot of useful advice even if she sometimes steers Cecily away from the person most people around them think is the right choice. Specifically, she encourages Cecily to look at the “whole picture.” There’s a spark? Great! There’s witty banter? Excellent. There’s fundamental incompatibilities? Very bad. Recognizing that the “right person” is the one who chooses you, who shares your vision of a life together, and who treats you well is at the core of Cecily’s character development.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is a heartfelt and engaging story about love, loss, and the unexpected ways life brings people back together. With her signature warmth and wit, Holmes creates relatable characters whose emotional journeys feel authentic and deeply human. The dialogue is sharp and natural, and the blend of humor and tenderness makes the book a compelling read.

While the pacing slows a bit in the middle, the charming characters and emotional payoff keep the story moving. Holmes’ talent for capturing the messiness of relationships—both romantic and platonic—makes this novel feel refreshingly real. Back After This is a touching and hopeful story about second chances and the healing power of connection—a perfect pick for fans of character-driven, emotionally rich fiction.

Linda Holmes is one of the author's I consistently stalk to see if she's working on a new book. There's just something comforting in a nice story, with a happy ending. This one felt a bit slow moving for me but still like picking up an old friend.

Cecily is a podcast producer with a history of bad relationships. Her boss has never helped her get ahead but suddenly he offers her a new podcast to host. The catch is that she is also the subject of the podcast where she will be coached through 20 blind dates. Cecily hates the premise, but she will do anything to secure her future in podcasting and protect the jobs of people she cares about.

This book was a cute, funny, easy read. I enjoyed Cecily's growth and personality a lot. Definitely recommend for a easy read with a great character arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of Back After This.

Another romantic podcast that was super fun and flirtatious! I don’t know if I liked it as much as BK Borison’s first time caller, but I still really liked it enough to give a four stars. A fun and quick read! Thank you, Ballantine books for my E – ARC!

I'm a longtime Linda Holmes stan due to her brilliance on Pop Culture Happy Hour and I've loved every one of her books. This one is no different. She is the best at developing characters that you care about and her books are so much more than romances. I loved the podcast element of this one, too.

This was such a delight! I always really enjoy Linda’s books and this one was no exception. It read so easily while maintaining depth and lots of emotional oomph. Loved!

I really wanted to love this but found it was just okay. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the two love interests. And not nearly enough time was spent on the 20 blind dates, which was the whole premise.

Holmes' voice really shines through. As an avid PCHH listener, could really hear her when reading this book.
My favorite things about the book:
- Buddy, the great dane, was flawless!
- Learning more about the podcasting/audio industry--so many interesting tidbits!
- Cecily's relationships with her friend & sister

Unfortunately, the synopsis was quite misleading as I thought the novel was going to be focusing more on the 20 dates that Cecily goes on. In the long-run think was forgettable but made for a fun read.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to have access to this electronic arc. Cecily Foster has always wanted to host her own show and to get what she wants she must first agree to a show her boss wants her to do. A show that involves her going on dates chosen by an influencer. Right before the show is set to start she meets a man named Will in the wild as he's chasing down his Great Dane, Buddy. They hit it off, but the Influencer/Dating Coach doesn't think that Will is right for Cecily, but the two of them keep bumping into each other. This sweet and engaging rom-com will have you reaching for your cozy blanket as you settle into this story.

As a fan of Linda Holmes since Evvie Drake Starts Over, I was thrilled to get a copy of Back After This. Once again, Holmes created a world and characters that kept me reading. Having read several books with a similar premise, I was not sure if Holmes's take on a dating contest would bring anything new, but I was pleasantly surprised. Cecily's foray into on air podcast talent working with a popular influencer revealed much about the podcasting industry and the life of an influencer. Although I felt sure how this one would end, I was still engaged throughout as I discovered the twists and turns that were in store for our protagonist. Three for three Linda Holmes, anxiously awaiting number four!

I devoured this book in 2 days. It was like a warm hug or a comfort rom-com movie. Loved the characters, the banter, the premise - even the classic miscommunication/misunderstanding felt earned. Though I don't expect anything less from Linda Holmes. I have loved her previous novels and this one is no different.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books for an advance read copy of Linda Holme's newest book, Back After This!
Cecily Foster has been working and striving for her next big break in her podcasting career.  Always loyal to her company and coworkers, Cecily reluctantly takes on a role in a new dating series which will finally place her in a host position.  Cecily's dating life has been in a dry spell since her former podcasting boyfriend Jusitin, took advantage of her skills and ideas leaving her high and dry without giving any credit where it was due.  With Justin increasingly gaining success and Cecily stuck in a rut, she is tossed full fledged into the dating scene undergoing 20 dates set up for her by influencer and relationship expert, Eliza Cassidy.  Cecily ends up finding a man who she clicks with but not through Eliza's curated methods.  Will is fun, but will he be able to set down roots and unexpected and dating him brings a whole lot of unplanned consequences for Cecily's career.      
I absolutely loved Evvie Drake starts over and was thrilled to be able to read this book in advance.  While I liked it more than Flying Solo, I didn't love it as much as Evvie Drake.  Cecily's character was well developed but there were so many minor characters that it was often difficult to keep track of who was who.

This is a cute rom com. I really liked Will, liked Cecily, and loved Buddy. The reason this one was only three stars for me is that I felt the storyline of Cecily’s dating podcast got very lost in the rest of it. We got zero interaction with the guys she dated after the “test date” and it just almost seemed to be an afterthought. Just felt like it wasn’t carried through completely. Regardless, I thought the book was worth the read and I will read more Linda Holmes in the future.

This book had what I like in romance books. It wasn’t solely about a relationship, it wasn’t a ton of buildup to one or two steamy scenes, but it was about a woman finding love and self acceptance, while becoming empowered to decide what she wants, rather than what others always assume she will do. The romance was pretty closed door, but I felt that it went well with the overall tone of the book.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review. I have adored both previous books by Linda Holmes and Back After This was no exception.

Back After This follows Cecily, a podcast producer who is talked into hosting a show where she is set up on 20 first dates in order to save her struggling media company.

Holmes has a way of making her characters feel so incredibly real and grounded. They never come across as contrived or fake in any way. She also does a great job of exploring the changing media landscape and the pitfalls of influencer culture as well. Highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed her previous two books or is a contemporary romance fan.