I have “Evie Drake Starts Over” on my TBR list and so was excited to receive the Advanced Reader Copy of Linda Holmes latest “Back After This”. “Back After This” is about Cecily who is a podcast producer who gets a new podcast that teams her up with a lifestyle/relationship coach/influencer to help Cecily find love. During this time – Cecily keeps running into Will and finds him funny and attractive which causes an issue for the podcast.
I enjoyed this book and thought it was cute. I liked learning more about the podcast/influencer business. I liked seeing Cecily grow in the book and liked the ending. Thank you to Ballentine and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader copy.

"Back After This," is a clever take on podcast and dating culture from author Linda Holmes. As a fan of "Evvie Drake Starts Over" and "Flying Solo," I was excited to read Holmes' latest standalone novel. 

Cecily Foster is a podcasting producer who is nursing a broken heart while looking for her next passion project. When Cecily's boss, Toby, pitches her as the main character in a dating podcast about her life in exchange for support on her passion project, Cecily can't refuse. Cecily is set up with a dating coach and contracted to record 20 dates. As luck would have it, Cecily meets the perfect man just as her contract begins. As lines begin to blur between entertainment and reality, Cecily wonders which path she should take.

Holmes crafts well-rounded characters and easy prose that lifts off the page. Cecily is a realistic character with insecurities and flaws. These realistic character depictions are something Holmes excels at. Cecily was relatable, which made it easy to root for her. Holmes' writing has a lightness to it, and Cecily's banter with Will was fun to read.

Holmes also depicts the ups and downs of podcast culture and its fanbase well. She provided enough background knowledge about podcast producing that made it easy to understand Cecily's role at work. It was interesting to learn more about this particular type of job. 
Cecily and Will's meet-cute was fun and interesting. It happened organically without feeling too made up. 

This was a sweet, unique rom-com. It provides enough tension to make you want to keep reading without too much heaviness. This is the perfect book to read if you're looking for a light, fun spring read!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Back After This is a novel you will keep returning to. The story is about podcast producer Cecily Foster who was unlucky in love. Cecily is great at producing but has always harbored thoughts of being on air. When her boss makes her a deal she can't refuse, Cecily becomes the subject of a dating podcast. She is to follow the advice of a guidance influencer who will help her to systematically find love. Surprisingly Cecily may have already found love with the handsome man she met when he was chasing a dog down the street. Holmes' characters are relatable and the pages seem to turn on their own. You will not want to put down Back After This.

This book was so fun and gave me insights into the podcasting world through the eyes of Cecily. I loved the premise of this podcast (something I would absolutely listen to), and then found love when she least expected it. I found the meet cute, banter, and follow up run-ins between Cecily and Will to be so fun to read.

Cecily drove me nuts at times because her character seemed to be very focused on doing things she thought she should, rather than what was actually best for her. I was glad to see character growth throughout the novel as well.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me the latest rom com by Linda Holmes. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Cecily Foster loves to make podcasts, but is worried about the company she works for and the boss who always disappoints her. When he offers her the chance to host her own show, she's thrilled until she learns that it is about her dating life and she will be coached by an influencer, Eliza Cassidy. The premise is that Eliza will find Cecily 20 dates, all to be recorded for the podcast. To add to the mix, Cecily meets Will on the street while he's rescuing a dog, and they seem to have a spark, but Eliza warns her off.

While rom-com is not usually my favorite genre, there are a few must read authors for me, and Linda Holmes is one. She writes about characters you will care about, with sharp dialogue, and realistic settings. Plus in this one, you'll learn a lot about the behind-the-scenes world of podcasts and audio, as well as social media. And there's Buddy the Great Dane! It's a good story of finding love without losing yourself.

This book was so good. The premise, the writing, the plot. It made me laugh and it stressed me out, the way it examined modern dating. I know nothing about making a podcast but I thought Holmes did a really good job not making the technical bits too overbearing like some experts can do in their books.

I would have loved to get to know the side characters a little more. We were so in Cecily’s head but her sister and her best friend seemed so interesting and could have been great in expanded roles. And Will was just adorable. The third act breakup felt wholly avoidable and out of place. But when doesn’t it, honestly?

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC.

I really just love Linda Holmes. I love her characters, their journeys, their relationships and growth. This book was really interesting with the audio/podcast element. I was so proud of Cecily and really just loved her journey. So good.

I had never heard of Linda Holmes before, so I was excited to dive into a new author and explore something fresh. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't the right fit for me. The premise involving a podcast/audio format simply didn't resonate with my personal taste. I can see how it might appeal to others, but I found it hard to connect with that aspect of the story. The pacing felt sluggish at times, especially with all the backstory and character details that, in my opinion, weren’t entirely necessary for the plot. It seemed like the author spent a lot of time going into areas that didn’t contribute much to the main narrative, which made the story feel like it dragged on longer than it needed to.

One thing that really bothered me was the lack of the "happily ever after" ending I typically crave in a book. I always hope for a sense of resolution or a satisfying conclusion, but this book didn’t deliver that for me. While I understand that not every story has to have a fairytale ending, it left me feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.

Overall, while I can appreciate the effort put into the book, it just wasn’t what I was hoping for. The story didn’t connect with me, and I felt that it didn’t provide the closure or emotional payoff I enjoy in a novel. I’m sure this book will resonate with others, but it simply wasn’t for me.

To try and keep her job, Cecily agrees to take part in a dating podcast, but along the way she keeps meeting Will. He is supposed to be off limits and not staying in town anyway but will that stop her falling for him? A fun read.

Once again, Linda Holmes delivers an intelligent romance with a central character who feels like she could be someone I know. She’s that believable and interesting. I laughed out loud at some of the situations Cecily finds herself in, and i read it way to late into the night every time I picked it up.

Tons of thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a free copy for review.

The premise of this story was cute. There’s a podcast that is going to be focused on finding love for one of the Palmetto Media's hosts and producers. Cecily, the host, will be put in the hands of Eliza, a self-proclaimed expert in the field of love, who will match her with men and help her find the one. What can go wrong.

So many thoughts. I realize that I have been out of the dating game since 2003, but 20 blind dates in just a few weeks seems like a whole lot of people and does not sound fun at all. Also, it seemed kind of crappy that the authentic meet cute that happened at the beginning of the book between Cecily and Will was dismissed so thoroughly by said love guru. It seemed like the opposite of what Eliza was trying to get Cecily to do with all of her dates, so the irony was kind of enjoyable, especially since the audience so clearly disagreed with her as well.

While there were a lot of tropes cycling through this book, in a way I found it really relatable, and I think that other readers might as well. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy!

I was a HUGE fan of Evvie Drake Starts Over, which made me a little nervous to go into Back After This, hoping that it would meet my accidentally high expectations. Good news: it did! Cecily was a great character, and I loved that this little romcom had depth. Linda Holmes has the gift of creating page turners that feel like coming home, and I was thrilled to get to dive into this story. If you were a fan of Evvie Drake or similar books (such as Nora Goes Off Script or My Oxford Year), I think you'll love this one!

Back After This is an engaging romcom that provides a behind-the-scenes look at podcasting.

Cecily is a hardworking podcaster. When she is approached about hosting a new podcast series about modern dating, she thinks this might be her big break. There are complications: the show will also feature Cecily and her dating life; this project comes with a life coach; Cecily can’t stop thinking about a randam meet-cute with Will. Can Cecily navigate all these complications, keep her job, maintain her reputation, and explore a future with Will?

A fun meet-cute is my favorite element in a romance! This one is great, and we can predict from the beginning where this will lead. As usual, the fun is in how we get there. Hint: it involves a dog…a big dog. What’s not to love? The author includes an adequate dose of witty banter that elevates this romance to a romcom. I always like a romance that includes other substantial themes like life/work balance, loyalty, and following your heart.

It took me some time to warm up to Cecily. She’s so wrapped up in her success and achievement that we can see her path to happiness miles before she does. I grew in appreciation for her sense of loyalty and commitment. Cecily’s struggle to find a work/life balance is well done and relatable. I think less reflection and more time devoted to Will might have made the story even better.

If you are a podcaster, a die-hard podcast consumer, or an influencer, you might enjoy the technical jargon and behind-the-scenes look at this world. It wasn’t that interesting to me and I skimmed over a lot of that without losing the gist of the story. The author is a podcaster (see bio below), so this lends authenticity and credibility to the story. A story written from an author’s area of expertise adds an extra level of enjoyment.

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 TBR worthy. Save it for your beach or pool bag.

Thanks #NetGalley @RandomHouse #BallantineBooks for a complimentary eARC of #BackAfterThis upon my request. All opinions are my own.

📻 Book Review 📻

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

Publication: Out now! (Feb 25, 2025)

Rating: I enjoyed it!

This was my first book by Linda Holmes and it didn’t disappoint! It was the perfect palate cleanser for me. I loved seeing Cecily take charge of getting her life together and Will complimented her so nicely.

Overall, I perfect read for the pool/beach in the summer!

For fans of:
📻 First person POV
🎧 Chapter titles
📻 Dates picked by someone else
🎧 Workplace romance
📻 Chance encounters
🎧 Golden retriever MMC
📻 Messy FMC
🎧 Closed door

🌟 What to Read Next 🌟
💫 Is She Really Going Out with Him by Sophie Cousens

4.25/5 stars

I really enjoyed this rom com that had a bit more depth to it than others I've read recently. I was also a fan of Holmes' "Evvie Drake Starts Over", so I was excited to see if this one was also a winner...it was.

There were a few moments where I was a bit frustrated with our heroine, Cecily Foster, however. While she was an intelligent, diligent and talented woman, she also came across as too much of a doormat on certain issues. Of course, as her character's growth began evolving, these issues were taken care of as she "saw the light" on several things.

The MMC (Will) was swoon-worthy and lovable as a down-to-earth jack-of-all-trades with some wandering-lust issues on the side. I especially loved how the build-up to the romance was slow and allowed both Cecily and Will to develop a friendship first.

Overall, I found this a humorous, cheer-worthy and fun read and am happy that Holmes is retaining her spot on my Must-Read Author's list.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine Books for providing the free early arc of Back After This for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Absolutely adored this one!!!! As a fellow Great Dane owner, I fell in love with Buddy and was so glad to see him sprinkled throughout the book. Cecily works for an absolute drag of a boss and although she is incredibly talented, finds herself agreeing to doing basically anything she is asked, except for producing her own show. When her boss asks her if she would be interested in hosting a blind dating podcast, she thinks immediately no, but is persuaded by her boss.

I enjoyed the fun dialogue and witty mind of the main character, Cecily. This was my first by Linda Holmes and am looking forward to enjoying more of her books!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

Back After This by Linda Holmes is the perfect book for anyone who recently loved ‘First Time Caller’. The main characters were completely lovable who fell in love over a rescue dog. After trying to find love on a podcast Cecily realized she couldn’t stop thinking about Will. Without giving away the storyline you will love being with Cecily and Will as they navigate their new friendship.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone wanting a good time. The spice is low that it will appeal to the masses.
I will be adding Linda Holmes to my list of authors to watch for.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books And NetGalley

This was my first novel by Linda Holmes, but it will certainly not be my last! Back After This was engaging from the start and I absolutely loved the premise of someone falling in love over the rescue of an escaped dog. The podcast show that had Cecily go on first dates with 20 men was important to the storyline, but it was not focused on too heavily that it became the only storyline which I really appreciated. I highly recommend this novel and I am very happy to have read it!

This book was hilarious at the start. I liked the way the plot began and felt the story was well paced. It was only the romance that I felt was lacking. Although the two characters kept meeting it sort of felt like they barely spent time together. It made it hard to believe there was anything deeper going on between the two of them. Although I liked the ending I would say it just an okay read.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

Back After This had all the charm and wit I love from Linda Holmes! The characters felt real and relatable, and I enjoyed the cozy, easy flow of the writing. While it didn’t leave as deep of an emotional imprint as Evvie Drake Starts Over, I still found myself smiling through so many moments. The podcasting element added a fresh and fun layer to the story, making it a unique and enjoyable read. Overall, I appreciated it for what it was: a heartfelt, feel-good novel!