Cecily is a producer in DC recovering from a breakup that also screwed up her career trajectory. After being dumped and having her podcast idea stolen, Cecily's feeling pretty low. It's just at that moment that her boss dangles a great opportunity in front of her: her own show. The only catch is that it's going to be a show about her love life and she's obligated to go on dates for content.

As a huge fan of Evie Drake Starts Over, I worried Back After This couldn't live up to the hype but it absolutely does. Linda Holmes writers main characters that are so alive they jump off the page and I always want to be their friends. I loved Back After This and in a world full of lots of bad things, it was a joy to live in Cecily's world for a few days.

I loved Linda Holmes's previous two novels, and this might be her best yet. I loved learning about all that goes into being a podcast producer. Well-written characters, and everyone in the story communicated well, which is always a plus! A great concept and excellent execution!

Cecily is a very hard working dependable team player in the podcast world. She is still bruised from a past relationship where her boyfriend left her but basically took the podcast that she had helped to create with him. She wants to create her own podcast but her employer presents her with a different challenge. If Cecily will go on 20 blind dates set up by an influencer looking to break into a matchmaking/counselor role, she will get the opportunity to start her own podcast. To really force Cecily into the blind-dating show, he also lets her believe that it's the only way that her dear friend will get to keep her job.
Of course as Cecily is working on this podcast, she meets Will, a local photographer serendipitously. Cecily is instantly attracted to Will but is not sure whether it's a valid response or whether she should be picking a potential partner using the influencer's suggestions instead.
This story delved a little too hard into the world of podcasting at times which dragged down the plot but it was a really good story. I loved reading about Cecily's growth and how she dealt with balancing her own desires with those of others.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publsher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Back After This, a contemporary romance, is set in the world of podcasts. Cecily is a thirtysomething producer in Washington DC at a company that creates podcast content. Her work takes up most of her life, especially in the 4 years since losing her boyfriend and the successful podcast that they co-created. Her boss guilts her into creating a podcast series that follows Cecily on 20 dates set up by influencer Eliza.

I loved the behind the scenes of the creation of a podcast as well as the representation of the world of an influencer. I really enjoyed the main character Cecily and was really rooting for her. She seemed very down-to-earth and, to me, seemed to represent the typical single woman who would love to find love.
I also loved Holmes' novel Evvie Drake Starts Over and so I was eager to read this when I discovered it. I'm thrilled to report it did not disappoint and I blew through it because I wanted to find out what happened.

Many thanks to #RandomHouse #BallantineBooks and #NetGalley for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Long time fan of Linda Holmes, and this book doesn't disappoint. Charming, realistic, and romantic. Highly enjoyable!

ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, but the opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up!

Cecily is a talented podcast producer who has always dreamed of having her own show after building other people's shows for years. She finally gets her chance when the audio company she works for strikes a partnership with dating coach/influencer Eliza Cassidy. Cecily is not at all keen to be set up, made over, and have her personal life put up for public consumption, but her boss promises her that if she does the show, she'll have creative freedom in her next project. Before they start recording the podcast, Cecily runs into a handsome stranger named Will who is chasing a lost dog, and they exchange numbers. Throughout the recording and twenty blind dates she is forced to go on, Cecily keeps running into Will randomly and can't help the pull she feels towards him, even as her love coach is trying to convince her he isn't a serious match.

This was such a fun and fresh read! I was trying to think of what tropes this book had and had trouble really thinking of any, which to me is a sign that it really is a unique story. I so empathized with Cecily's resistance to the whole blind date process, and her reasons for accepting the project in the first place. You could tell that she was actually giving the whole thing the old college try, but that her feelings towards Will were a pull that couldn't be denied! Not only was the romance in this story so endearing and fated, but it was also a laugh-out-loud funny book. I actually appreciated that the whole date experiment was almost secondary to the main romance and more importantly, Cecily's growth as a person. Overall, this was such a fun, humorous, and authentic read I'd recommend!

Cecily has built a successful career as a podcast producer, but she's been frustrated by a lack of opportunities to grow at her job. She allows herself to be talked into starring in a podcast that would have her working with a social media influencer to be set up on twenty dates. In the meantime, she meets someone special, right in the middle of her "required" dating. Heartfelt and humorous, this is a great read, mainly because the characters are so relatable. I look forward to recommending this title.

3.5 stars

I found this enjoyable but not super memorable. I had a decent time but I can't really remember why. The background information I learned about podcasts was interesting and I'd probably listen to the podcast they made with a bunch of first dates. And the romance was...fine. I liked the characters but nothing felt super amazing about their connection to me. Which in real life sure that happens more often than not but in a romance novel, I'd like a little more (though that was a great first kiss/romp). Overall, I'd recommend it but I don't think this would be one I'd read again.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Cecily loves working in podcasts, she yearns to lead her own podcast, after the one she worked so hard on and came up with is stolen by her ex. When her boss pressures her into being the subject of a self-help dating podcast with a beauty influencer turned "dating expert", she agrees because she thinks it will allow her friend to keep her job and for Cecily to get to create a pilot of a new podcast. However, right as things are getting started with her dating twenty different men, she meets Will while helping him chase a Great Dane through the city. When they seem to run into each other at every turn, Cecily has to decide whether she wants to follow fate or let Eliza the dating guru tell her what to do.

To be honest, if you put a Great Dane on the cover of a book, I will read it. I have two block headed beasts at home that are the loves of my life and I was excited to see one featured in a romantic comedy. He ends up in more of the book than the first scene but I missed him in the interim! I really liked the chemistry between Will and Cecily. I thought it was wonderful how it pointed out that we do not always know everything, nor should we be expected to.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. There were a few parts were it dragged and I wanted to return to the one I was listening to the audio of, which was disheartening but once I stuck with this I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Net Galley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

I loved, loved, LOVED this book. Linda Holmes has a powerful knack for creating extremely relatable and lovable characters who can banter their adorable little heads right off, and she knocked it out of the park again with Back After This. If you need some joy in your life, and who doesn't right now, GET. THIS. BOOK.

Back After This was an adorable, cozy, romp! I loved the meet-cute between the two characters. This was a perfect rom-com and I can't wait to read more by Linda Holmes. The characters were swoon worthy and well written. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for my complimentary advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this. I was very intrigued by the fmcs dating adventures and her journey in asserting herself and the love story was sweet. I did feel like something was missing but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Some things felt rushed at times.

“Back after this” by Linda Holmes is a delightful and witty novel that I’m sure I’ll return again. The main character, Cecily Foster is a podcaster. Although her ex basically taken credit for all the podcasting work they had done before after he broke up with her, she still is an idealist. But she’s also single. Her struggling company comes up with a plan for a new podcast that they will let Cecily produce—a dating series where she she works closely with a romance coach and goes on a number of dates, hoping to find her soul mate. Cecily really doesn’t want to do this, which will propel her into the public light, but she feels she has to. None of the dates go well. And besides, before the series began she met Will, a handsome and engaging man who is a bit of a rolling stone. He is nothing like the men the romance coach is setting her up with. He’s much, much more.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this fun book. I really loved this book and my opinions are my own.

I loved this book. Cecily works as an editor for a podcast company. The company is not doing well. She is asked to collaborate with an influencer who wants her to find her perfect match by going on 20 different dates with the dates being recorded for a podcast. Cecily takes the project. Of course, right before the project begins she has continual chance meetings with someone who is not in the pool of men selected and the influencer does not want her to date.
This all comes to a head that was very satisfying.
Linda Holmes has become an author that I will automatically buy her books. Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m not 100% sure what to think about this one. I enjoyed the podcast production vibe, it was well written, and to a good degree, well-plotted; but then there were times when I was confused why she was spending page count on one thing and not on another (e.g. the twenty dates.) The main character annoyed me at certain moments with her occasional sense of superiority and self-importance, but at other moments the characters felt very realistic. A 3/5 read I think.

Linda Holmes is back! After reading Evvie Drake Starts Over and loving it, Flying Solo fell short for me. But I was excited that Holmes was back with a new novel and eager to dive in. And this one did not disappoint! Back After This brings back the magic. Holmes's strength is that she writes such a mature rom com, the characters are well developed and have lived life. They have their flaws, but they are growing and figuring out what is important. The whole dating podcast angle was interesting...it had the potential of veering into I've read this type of story before, but Holmes has such a strong voice that it still felt fresh and engaging. Well done!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC.

Author Linda Holmes is 3 for 3! That’s 3 books she has written that I have absolutely adored. She has such a wonderfully witty way of telling romantic stories that are both humorous and heartwarming.

Cecily Foster is an audio producer for podcasts. She is smart, amazing at her job, and still raw from her ex ending things 4 years prior. Cecily’s boss convinces her to host a new dating show…with one catch, she is the subject of the dates. Working with Eliza Cassidy, a dating coach and popular social media influencer, Cecily will go on 20 blind dates in hopes of finding a good match.

This whole process will open Cecily’s eyes to many things, most importantly that she needs to put her wants and needs first and telling the truth is always the best idea. She will also learn that bumping into waiter/photographer Will throughout the city is much more than coincidences.

Cecily and Will’s banter is hilarious and charming. Their developing friendship is full of chemistry but also caution as both of them have uncertain paths. I love this story and enjoyed every minute of Cecily and Will seeking happiness.

“I’d started to think about real happiness as not just precious but owned, kept, borrowed, shared, stolen, divided, and sacrificed.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the eARC of Back after this by Linda Holmes.

I really wanted to love this book to give it four stars but at 60% of the book there just still wasn’t enough pizazz for me for a good romcom. I loved our FMC and MMC. I loved the idea of the book and towards the end when Cecily seemed to have some spark to her character and began to fight for herself I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the ending and her overall growth throughout the book. I just felt like the whole thing was very slow until halfway.

I look forward to reading more from Linda Holmes. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

This was cute, but felt a little surface level. I did like that I felt invested in the love story without a ton of smut. Great context and background setting

I loved this book! I really enjoyed the author's voice- I thought it was so confident and committed to the characters and the plot. The characters were realistic and well rounded in the way that real people don't always have everything figured out and aren't always likeable when they're in the process of figuring things out. The main characters and the side characters were beautifully layered and complex while also being funny and light hearted. I loved everyone's character arcs together and separately. There is an aspect of the story that I loved and I won't share because it is a spoiler but just know that I got the impression that this story could actually occur in real life and that was refreshing. It honored the fact that happiness can look all kinds of different ways and that includes embracing where you are at the moment. I ended this book smiling and feeling fulfilled.
This beautiful book is publishing soon on February 25 and I highly recommend checking it out!
Thank you so much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!