Linda Holmes has tended to be my go-to author for reading about older women who don't need the happy ever after to have a happy ending. This book is a different tune. And while I appreciate the romance aspect of the story, I think the strongest part of this book was Cecily's experience as her professional and dating lives took her down paths she never expected. Linda Holmes knows how to write middle-aged women who have a strong sense of self, and I greatly appreciate that.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes a focus on career crossroads, protagonists fighting to make their voice heard when they're mostly surrounded by people who won't listen, and people who enjoy a bit of dog hijinks and sweet romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Cecily is a podcast producer whose job is on the line. Her boss comes to her with an offer to save herself and her coworker. She has to host a show and go on 20 first dates to help find her soulmate with this dating coach.

While concept of this book is super fun and unique, the book itself just didn’t grab me like I’d have wanted. And I think that’s a me problem and not the book. Maybe wrong book wrong time for me. I’m not sure.

I want to talk about the audio though and give major props to Linda Holmes. She narrates the book herself and she did a fabulous job!! 👏🏻

Overall, I think my issue was just that the book was a but predictable. From the first meet cute to the dates and everything else that happens you just could forsee it all. The story was still fun and the podcast aspect was cool but just didn’t hit home.

I really enjoyed the author's debut but absolutely LOVED this book! The banter is top-notch - every exchange of dialogue is perfection. The romantic chemistry/tension is chef's kiss and the conflict feels authentic and never forced. I truly enjoyed everything about this book, from the first page to the last and each one in between.

After loving one of the author’s previous books, I was excited to read her latest!

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the plot, it felt really fun to learn more about the podcast world and I enjoyed the angle of the MC going on 20 first dates. This was more of a side plot though, with the main plot being the MC finding herself.

I really enjoyed Will and how his and Cecily’s relationship grew over the book. They had a natural chemistry and I loved their banter.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

What a pleasant surprise! This book wasn’t at all what I expected, but I really loved it. As a single woman, it felt so amazingly relatable! It’s definitely set up a little different than a typical romance and felt almost like a podcast within a podcast. Like Holmes’ previous books, it is heavier on the women’s fiction, but this one still had a lot of romance. If you know me, you know I love a perfect mix!! This book - and its sweet ending - left me with a smile!

What to expect:
•Chance encounters
•BTS podcasts
•Relatable FMC
•Golden retriever MMC
•Rescue dog
•20 blind dates
🔥 Fade to black

Fun romantic story! I liked Cecily and the premise was unique and cute. There is a good amount of humor and the storyline and romantic obstacles are not ridiculous (as they often can be). A solid read!

Linda Holmes does a lovely job of writing relatable characters. This one takes place in DC amongst the podcast scene which was extra interesting. Cecily, the main character, is forced and subsequently chooses to do a lot of soul searching, something that has been showing up a lot in my life lately. I was left with some nice food for thought.

Book Review: Back After This by Linda Holmes

In Back After This, Linda Holmes presents a delightful romantic comedy that intertwines the intricacies of modern dating with the behind-the-scenes world of podcast production. The story follows Cecily Foster, a dedicated podcast producer recovering from a professional and personal betrayal by a former colleague and lover. When offered the chance to host her own show, Cecily is hesitant upon learning it will chronicle her own dating experiences under the guidance of influencer-turned-relationship coach Eliza Cassidy. Reluctantly, Cecily embarks on a series of first dates, all while grappling with her growing feelings for Will, a charming photographer she meets serendipitously. As Cecily navigates the challenges of her new role and the complexities of her emotions, she confronts questions about authenticity, vulnerability, and self-discovery. ​

Holmes crafts a narrative filled with witty dialogue, relatable characters, and an authentic portrayal of the podcasting industry, reflecting Holmes' own expertise in the field. The novel evokes a spectrum of emotions, from laughter at Cecily's dating misadventures to empathy for her journey toward self-acceptance and genuine connection. ​

This novel is recommended for fans of character-driven romantic comedies that explore personal growth and the search for meaningful relationships. Readers will enjoy Holmes' ability to blend humor with heartfelt moments.

Thank you @NetGally and @RandomHouse for the advanced reader copy to review.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is a wonderfully written story.
I loved this booked.
I absolutely loved the main character.
This book will make you have all the feels and make you smile. It is the perfect rom-com and if you like rom-coms, one you should definitely grab!

This book was super cute! I loved the meet-cute with Buddy the dog, and the fun just continued from there. I think Cecily’s struggle to find what she really wants out of life is a struggle that many will relate to. As someone who enjoys podcasts, I also really liked that aspect of the story. The studio, the apartmentments where they lived, and even the bank lobby where they waited out the rainstorm, all had a great and realistic sense of place. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a fun rom-com with some depth to keep the story moving.

Back After This is the third novel by author Linda Holmes. This story takes the reader into the world of podcasts, social media, and influencers. Podcast producer Cecily Foster has much experience, perhaps too much, in this arena. Her earlier work with her then boyfriend Justin was going well until he decided it wasn’t. Now, many years later, Cecily is a producer at a struggling D.C. podcast company. With the struggles, the company is searching for a product that will bring them back to black and find it working with influencer Eliza Cassidy. However, Cecily has to buy in to the concept of being the center focus of Twenty Dates as Eliza guides Cecily in seeking her perfect mate. The biggest problem is, however, that Cecily may just have found him, or at least the universe keeps bringing him across her path.

With insight into the world of podcast production, this story has so much more to offer. Great characters in a very different world bring a most enjoyable story. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

When I read the description of this book it sounded like it would be a fun read. That it is written by an author I like made it more enticing. I listen to a lot of podcasts (as so many of us do or what would there be so many?) of many genres so thought this would be a great read. For me, it was just okay. Cecily loved her work. was amazing to work for and is generally a good kind person. And yet, she is again and again treated like a doormat. Rather than getting the autonomous project she’s earned and deserves, said boss guilts/forces her into an assignment of following the direction of a love life influencer with the listening world following along and part of the process was that she had to do exactly as told no exceptions. I didn’t find much chemistry between Cecily and Will, nor her other dates and didn’t find any of the main characters terribly likable. Loved the dog though. Love the author, this for whatever reason, just wasn’t my favorite.

This book made me happy! Set in Washington, DC, with a fun peek into the world of podcasting, it felt fresh and different in all the best ways. Linda Holmes writes characters you want to root for — even the ones who frustrate you — and the mix of humor, heart, and self-discovery kept me hooked.

Also, there’s a dog who completely stole my heart (of course).

If you like stories about friendship and finding your way with plenty of laughs — this one’s a fun choice!

4.5 rounded up

Honestly, this rom-com was totally adorable. I loved it and laughed out loud several times. Cecily is a great character whom will do anything for those she loves and for her job.

The devotion to these is how she ends up doing a dating podcast that she’s skeptical about. However, she learns a lot because of it and finds herself discriminated against way to happiness.

Advanced reader copy provided by Random House and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

This was such a cute read! It’s my first time picking up a book about podcasts, which made the experience more enjoyable. Love the characters. The chemistry the mc and fmc has was A++++. Just took me a long time to finish cause I felt that some parts were dragging.

This was such a heartwarming book! I thought the general setting of Washington DC, and being in the podcasting world, was unique and added a bit of extra interest, at least for this reader. Holmes is so good at interspersing interesting plot lines, and mixed with her hilarious dialogue, her books are always a hit for me. I thought the characters in this book were excellent, we had plenty of people to love and loathe (some a little bit of both!) and of course a very special dog :) Overall, this was an excellent story of self discovery, friendship, and love.

This is a must read for romance readers and podcast listeners alike! 4⭐️

First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book so much! I think the premise was really fun - a podcast producer turns host for a new dating podcast and of course things don’t go according to plan. I love podcasts and the behind the scenes aspects of that world were so fun for me to read.

I loved all aspects of the romance in this book: the main characters (so relatable but also interesting); the chemistry (believable and realistic); the side characters (obsessed with some, infuriated by others and its the perfect balance); the meet cute (adorable); the storyline (unique and fun).

I highly recommend this book especially if you have any interest in podcasts. Once the story got going I didn’t want to put it down! The only reason this doesn’t get 5 stars is because I’m not sure I would reread it and that’s a must for a 5 star rating for me. But I still loved this and highly recommend. I may even pick up a physical copy for my collection!

This was just so heartwarming! Cecily is a podcast producer who has been single for years, after her ex dumped her and took over their very successful indie podcast at the same time. Now she’s vaguely lonely and worried about job security when her boss tells her she has the opportunity to cohost a new show with an influencer who will set her up on 20 blind dates and engineer Cecily’s way to true love. Because she’d never meet someone on her own.

I found Linda Holmes’ writing style to be so warm. The main character’s voice was realistic and relatable, and she was someone I wanted to be friends with. I also loved that while the podcast dates were a (hilarious) part of the story, they weren’t the main point—the main point was Cecily’s inner story as she figured out how to bloom out of a life she’d outgrown. And the love interest!! Everything about the developing relationship was so cute, even though there were a few moments of tension near the 80% mark (iykyk!) that had my stomach twisted in knots with worry. If you have any interest in podcasting, that’s an added bonus—I loved getting a little glimpse into the inner workings of that world. A well-written, interesting book that I’m glad I stumbled into.

If you asked me my thoughts on a book centered around a mid-30s woman working for a podcast company, who unexpectedly meets a charming waiter and a dog, that’s been tasked with dating 20 different men, I’d initially say, “That’s sooo 2025,” but I’d also acknowledge that it’s a delightful little rom-com. Cecily is such a relatable character with a multitude of thoughts and emotions that I’ve definitely connected with. I’m incredibly grateful that I decided to read this book.

What a delightful rom-com! I find myself tired of books about podcasts, but this was a fresh angle that I really enjoyed. So much to love about this book- Cecily and Will were both interesting characters, not annoying, and had actual chemistry. I liked both of their individual family’s dynamics too, especially the sisters. There was a lot of good underlying commentary about what makes a job valid or important. Also, Buddy the dog was an excellent character.