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Back After This
Author: Linda Holmes
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: Feb. 25, 2025

It’s so fun to get a cozy romance like Back After This with witty dialogue and some highly likable lead characters. Our lead protagonist, Cecily, is a single podcast producer for a struggling media company when asked to participate in a special series about finding love after four long, dry years. She agrees to twenty dates and is expected to find a love match at the end of her dating journey. You can imagine how well a professional female receives this proposal, and the weird options of 20 men she dates are lame. As luck would have it, just before taping begins, Cecily accidentally meets Will, who tugs at her heart, but he is in her life at the wrong time since she is doing this podcast series under duress to try to save her job and the jobs of others at her current media company. The story was great, with funny conversations, odd dates, a funny dog, and great background characters. In addition, you get a behind-the-scenes look at creating a podcast. It’s not as easy as we think. I promise this is one of the cutest, most charming romance reads for 2025. I loved it. I loved it a lot. #BackAfterThis @lindaholmes97 @netgalley #romance #chicklit #media #podcast #audio #love #future #dog #cozy #fun @ballantines #laughoutloudfunny #charming @penguinrandomhouse
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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Linda Holmes brings another heartwarming story with lovable characters that you are instantly rooting for in Back After This. If you haven’t read Evie Drake Starts Over, then definitely check it out.

Back After This is about talented podcast editor, Cecily Foster, whose ex-boyfriend broke her heart and stole her ideas. Since then Cecily has been doing all the grunt work the past 4 years at her job when he boss finally dangles an opportunity to host her own show. However, the catch is she has to take the advice of the social media relationship guru, Eliza Cassidy, while going on twenty dates looking for love. The idea of her love life being put on public display is not very appealing but her boss negiotiates that the next show can be her own to host.

Along the way, Cecily, has a funny fiasco of a meet cute with Will and his giant 160-pound dog, Buddy. For some reason, Will keeps reappearing in her life and just happens to be the waiter at the restaurant of one of her dates. The podcast goes wild for the “hot waiter”, but Cecily promises Eliza she will not date Will…if he would just stop popping up in her life at every turn.

I absolutely loved the adventures of Cecily’s dating journey and learning a bit about podcast producing too. As Cecily’s life seems to completely implodes she truly learns more about herself that she could ever expect.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me an advance digital copy of this book. Linda Holmes is a talented writer and has a gift for storytelling.

This hit the spot- needed a fun, quirky, light read and this delivered. I'm a big cover person, and this matched the feel of the book. Good character developement, and a current day scenario with podcasts. You don't have to know much about podcasts or be someone who listens to them to enjoy this book, just a pretty light read that you can start and finsih pretty quickly. Recommend!

Linda Holmes delivers another charming, heartfelt novel with Back After This, a story filled with humor, warmth, and the complexities of adulthood. At its center is Cecily, a down-to-earth and deeply relatable protagonist whose self-deprecating wit and quiet determination made me root for her from the very start. Holmes' writing is sharp, funny, and effortlessly engaging, making even the smallest moments feel meaningful.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was its setting in the podcast world. Following two characters who are still figuring themselves out years into their careers felt refreshingly real—proof that personal reinvention doesn’t have a deadline. The book captures the messy, nonlinear path of success, passion, and relationships with both heart and humor.

Beyond Cecily, the supporting cast was equally compelling. Holmes creates a wonderfully fleshed-out group of friends and colleagues, each adding depth and richness to the story. Their interactions felt authentic, providing moments of levity and insight that made the book even more enjoyable.

Overall, Back After This is an entertaining, thoughtful read about ambition, reinvention, and the power of friendships—perfect for fans of smart, character-driven fiction.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is a story that I had a hard time putting down. (Who needs to sleep?)

"Cecily works as a producer for a company that makes podcasts. Her boss, Toby, offers her a chance to host her own show - but there's a catch. First she has to work with Eliza Cassidy - a relationship influencer. Eliza will set Cecily up with Twenty first dates. All of them will be recorded and packaged as a podcast and everyone will know what Cecily is like on a date. Can she do it? Can she put up with the embarassment and indignity to save her friend's job? Is it worth it for her own show? And what happens with this guy she keeps running into? What does she do with those sparks?"

This book has a podcast flavor but it's more about the people making podcasts. Cecily is a character that seems to be exceptional at what she does, never settling for anything less than great. But that carries over into many aspects of her life with sometimes negative consequences.
Holmes makes these characters seem like real people. It feels like you could run into Will and Cecily on the street (probably chasing Buddy, the Great Dane) We all know a Justin - someone full of themselves and taking credit for your work. I like what happened to him.

One thing I like about Holmes stories is that there is just enough left vague at the end. Everything is not tied up with a neat bow and I can imagine some of the ending I want for these characters.

Add this book to your list this year.

Absolutely loved this sweet book! I loved the inside look at podcasting, the friendships, the sister relationship, the Great Dane and of course the romance. Such a treat. Cannot wait to hand sell this!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, @randomhouse, and @prhaudio for the #gifted advanced reading and listening copies of this total charmer!

Cecily is a brilliant podcast producer who has always preferred to stay behind the scenes. But when her boss pitches a new podcast idea that could bring financial stability to their company, she’s all in - until she realizes that she will be the subject. The premise? Social media influencer Eliza Cassidy will curate 20 dates for Cecily, using her own matchmaking methodology, all in the name of finding love (and boosting downloads). Cecily has been burned by mixing work and romance before, but after negotiating some serious ground rules, she reluctantly agrees.

As she embarks on this highly public dating experiment, one person keeps appearing in her orbit: Will. He’s not one of her assigned dates - he’s just there, always at the right (or wrong) time. One minute he’s chasing a dog, the next he’s waiting tables or snapping photos. But he doesn’t fit into Eliza’s carefully crafted dating formula. And as Cecily’s podcast gains momentum, so does her undeniable attraction to Will - except her job, her best friend’s job, and the company’s future may depend on her following through with the podcast’s intended love match.

Well, this was ADORABLE! I love quirky romances, and Will’s recurring presence in Cecily’s life is peak rom-com charm. There’s even a peanut butter/dog-related meet-cute that’s impossibly sweet. But beyond the swoon, I loved Cecily’s journey of self-discovery - though the podcast was meant to help her find love, it ultimately led her to deeper realizations about herself.

Her dynamic with Will was another highlight; they helped each other grow in ways neither expected. While the story is undeniably Cecily’s, Will is such a green-flag book boyfriend—patient, kind, and quietly dealing with his own struggles, which Cecily helps him navigate. If I had one small critique, I would have loved a bit more of his story, but I completely understand why the book leans into Cecily’s perspective.

🎧 About the Audiobook 🎧 Narrated by the author, this audiobook is a total delight! Linda Holmes brings so much warmth and personality to the narration, making each character (and the podcast itself) feel so real. If you’re an audiobook lover, this is a fantastic way to experience the story!

Cecily works in podcast production and when her boss offers her a chance to host her own show, she's thrilled, until she realizes the show will be about her dating life and she has to follow the guidance of an influencer/relationship coach.

I enjoyed this one as it was both a blend of romance and women's fiction as we follow Cecily's journey of self-discovery. Cecily is balancing her career and friendships and dipping her toe back in the dating world. I was immediately intrigued by Will after he and Cecily had multiple chance encounters, and enjoyed watching her juggle her work obligations with her personal feelings.

I appreciated that the characters were a bit messy as life doesn't follow our carefully laid plans. Overall recommend picking it up!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this arc.

Sometimes it’s harder to write reviews for books I’m giving an A grade to as I want to do them justice. The cartoon cover and premise of the story scream kooky rom-com so I can’t actually recall what made me decide to give this one a shot. Maybe I hoped that it wouldn’t be those things? Anyway, it’s not pratfalls or filled with embarrassing dates. People act like adults with some common sense even if they do make mistakes.

Cecily has done what a lot of people, especially women unfortunately, have done, which is work hard with someone they love only to lose what they’ve created because they never thought he’d say, “I don’t think I love you anymore” and walk away. Cecily is skilled at her job and has made a comeback but it still hurts her to hear about her ex’s successes that he’s built off of what she put so much effort into. I like that she’s still, at times, angry and sad about all this. She’s a person who takes on the care of others which makes her a great friend, sister, and co-worker but when someone points out to her that what she does actually hurts her at times, I’m glad that she listens and works to change. Cecily does a lot of self discovery and growing throughout the book.

The dating part of the story and the person behind it are very millenial/Gen Z. Lots of Instagram, TikTok, collabs, influencing, etc are mentioned but I think the book will still appeal to a variety of readers. The dates aren’t for laughs and most of them are not actually “real time” in the book. When the Plot Twist is revealed, Cecily has to overcome her initial feelings about what has happened but then, and this was amazing, she is honest about what she’s gained from all of this and admits it. Cecily does find someone and I love this person. It’s fairly obvious who it is and she and he spend a lot of time together with lovely/funny scenes that make me sigh so this is more a romance than Chick Lit/Women’s-fiction.

But how does it end? Does Cecily find love through a podcast? Nah, I’m not gonna ruin that. She and he do think a bit and realize that they said some regrettable things in the heat of the moment and they both apologize – just that. Apologize without the expectation that this will fix everything but rather just because the other person deserves the apology.

Cecily also does some thinking about herself, what she’s allowed people in her life to do and what she won’t allow anymore. Then she and he honestly talk some more, some other threads are wrapped up and we get a HFN/HEA epilogue with a lot about the dog, Buddy. And it’s lovely. A

Pretty cute! I didn't know much about what went into making podcasts, so the backdrop of this story being centered around a podcast was very interesting! The romance was cute. Would recommend for a quick, lighthearted read.

I didn’t read the synopsis and just requested based off previously liking a book by this author. I think if you’re a fan of the author you’ll enjoy this one. I just don’t like romances that involve much of the work place.

This was a fun book. I love it when a lighthearted book can teach you about something; for this book, I got a schooling on the world of audio production and podcasts. It was easy to digest and kept me turning pages. I would recommend this as a summer read. It was well written and all the characters had great banter with each other.

I loved Evvie Drake Starts over so I was excited to read Linda Holmes’ newest book. Back After This was just as delightful and I enjoyed it so much. Cecily is such a fun, witty character. It was entertaining reading about her 20 dates and continually randomly bumping into Will, “the waiter”. I really appreciated the supportive relationships Cecily had with her coworker/friend Julie and with her sister Molly. I loved the message of being open to new things in all parts of your life (work, love, etc). This book made me laugh out loud but was also poignant and I was rooting for all the good things for Cecily.

3.75⭐️ rounded up
Release date: February 25, 2025
Spice level: 0.5🌶️

Cecily Foster is a podcast producer who longs to one day host her own show. Then, the opportunity is presented to her when her boss presents an idea to her. The premise of the show is that she has to go on 20 blind dates set up by a popular relationship coach & the podcast will be about those dates & her journey to find “the one”.

Right before the dates are supposed to start, she meets Will & they hit it off, & keeps running into him everywhere. However, Eliza Cassidy (the relationship coach) forbids her from dating him because he is not one of the people she selected for her.

This book was a nice feel-good rom-com with a storyline unlike any that I’ve read before. I would’ve liked to see more details about the 20 dates (each one is summarized in one chapter) but I also feel like that would’ve made the book too lengthy. There were some parts that dragged but overall I really enjoyed it & I liked that it wasn’t a story I feel like I’ve read 100 times already.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC.

This was a quick, cute and easy read. It kept me interested to find out what would happen next. I enjoyed the bit of drama and just enough to keep this interesting.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a solid 4.5 stars. I haven't read anything by Linda Holmes but this was beautifully written. It was a fun ride and I loved the relationship between Will and Cecily. It was really an overall cute romcom.

I love Linda Holmes! Her books wind romance in to a book that is about life, work, where you find your value, people pleasing, and more. I love Cecily and feel many could relate to her. There were no parts of the book that felt fake or contrived for the story. I felt like I could go down to D.C. and run into Will and Cecily walking Buddy.

I'l read *anything* she writes.

This was a fun read—great humor, engaging storytelling, and a cool deep dive into the podcasting world (which Linda Holmes is an expert in and it shows). The chemistry between Will and Cecily was on point, with witty banter and meet-cutes that felt fresh. I also liked the subtle reminder that, yes, you can still meet people in real life and not just through apps.
That said, Cecily’s decision-making midway through had me shaking my head. She’s smart but somehow clueless when it comes to relationships, and I really don’t love the miscommunication trope. But Holmes turned it around, and by the end, I was satisfied—no rage-posting necessary.
Solid read. Worth picking up!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This was my first Linda Holmes book and I am a fan! The characters were complex and interesting and I enjoyed getting a peak in the world of podcasting. I appreciate older, mature characters in romance novels and this definitely checked that box.

This book is pure fun! Cecily Foster loves to make podcasts. Her relationship coach, Eliza wants a life that is set up for social media but not real life. This books goes back and back forth between both lives in which Cecile is caught in the middle. I enjoyed this so much! Highly recommend!