Cecily is the best podcast producer in her small media company. She works for a toxic boss, but loves and is good at what she does, even though she'd like to host rather than produce a pod at some point. Her boss pitches her a new show: a series where Cecily will work with a life & dating coach and go on 20 blind dates. This has tie-in sponsors and is meant as a launching pad for coach Eliza. While Cecily is open to the idea of these men, she's also met someone "the old fashioned way" and while Eliza tries to steer her clear of "the waiter," Cecily needs to learn whether to trust her instincts or listen to advice.

I adored Linda Holmes's first two books and was really excited to read Back After This. This starts off with a little more of a rom-com tone, and maintains a more comedic bent throughout than her other books. As is typical with her style, though, Holmes has a poignant way of looking at life and love, and I love how she pulls it off.

I rather famously dislike most first-person romances, but my struggle is usually being in the head of a 20-something main character. While Cecily is working on pulling parts of her dating life together, she's also a well-adjusted and relatable 30-something professional woman with some questionable work-life boundaries. The book focuses not just on her forced dating life, but also on her relationship with her job, her coworkers, and her sister.

I loved this book for everything it was AND everything it wasn’t. It wasn’t gimmicky or tropey. The plot didn’t always go exactly where you thought it would and the ending was satisfying but not unrealistic. When the Cecily, the main character spoke, she was thoughtful and used logic and restraint. The editing on this book was fantastic. I was fully invested the whole time and the side characters each had their place and added to the storyline. I laughed out loud at Cecily’s dry and snarky humor and my stomach dropped when hers did. She was self-aware and relatable. I really enjoyed this author’s last two books but this one was exceptional. I’m not sure if it was that she herself is a podcaster and was very knowledgeable or that this storyline was more layered, but it worked really well for me. If you’re looking for a general fiction book with visible character development, a romance subplot, and appreciate well-rounded characters with depth, I would highly recommend this book. Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine for the advanced copy!

This is the third book I’ve read by Linda Holmes and I enjoyed it a lot. Like Holmes’s previous novels, this one fell more into women’s fiction for me, but the romance is more front and center this time around.

Back After This had some very hilarious romcom moments, but it also explored the ideas of success and fulfillment. I liked Cecily’s character arc and I loved the message of prioritizing one’s own wants and desires. Yes, she frustrated me at times, but she also showed a lot of growth. The fade to black romance with Will was cute, but I wish his character would have been more fully developed. I found the information about podcasts and production interesting, but there was so much page time devoted to it that it bogged down the story.

The audiobook was overall enjoyable, but I had some difficulty with Holmes’s narration. Her comedic timing was great, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough variety in the voices she used. It made it very challenging to determine who was speaking since everyone sounded the same.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 3.5 stars
Story 4 stars

CW: job and financial insecurity, manipulative boss

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

I enjoyed this one from Linda Holmes! I don't think anything will beat her first, Evvie Drake, for me though. I couldn't stand her second book, sadly. This one was an improvement, but it did annoy me at times.

I often relate the protagonists like the ones Linda Holmes writes, but this time around, I found myself relating to Eliza (who EVERY DAMN GOODREADS REVIEWER CALLS BITCHY). I've worked in social media for over a decade, I've constantly had to reinvent myself, I love helping people, I'm good at self promotion, and I just have to keep bulldozing ahead no matter what. Meanwhile, Cecily stays in the same awful job at the same awful company as if she has no agency to leave??? Ugh. Boring.

I really enjoyed Will's character. He was probably my favorite part of the book. For there being a dog in the story, it almost felt like this was written by not a dog lover, because the giant great dane is barely there. So weird.

The drama between Cecily and Will felt manufactured. The book moved quickly and was an easy read. It was enjoyable enough, but not an all-time fave.

Back After This is a heartwarming and charming story of self-discovery, love, and unexpected connections. Cecily Foster, a talented but reluctant podcast producer, finds her life turned upside down when she’s forced to host a show about going on twenty blind dates. As someone who’s faced workplace heartbreak, her hesitation to put her love life on display feels completely relatable—but stepping outside her comfort zone might just lead to something beautiful.

Cecily’s dating misadventures are equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, filled with awkward encounters and surprising chemistry. Her dynamic with Eliza, her upbeat dating coach, is pure entertainment—two opposites clashing in the best way. But it’s Will, the sweet and charming photographer, who truly steals the show. Their chance meetings over a lost dog feel like fate, and their chemistry is undeniable, even though Will wasn’t part of the plan.

Linda Holmes’ writing makes the characters feel like old friends, and the podcast setting adds a fresh, modern twist to this romantic journey. Beyond the romance, the story explores deep, universal questions: How do we balance dreams with reality? What happens when love doesn’t fit into our plans? Can we truly find ourselves while searching for someone else?

More than just a love story, Back After This is a warm, feel-good read that embraces the beauty of being messy, imperfect, and human. It’s the perfect book for anyone who loves authentic, character-driven romance—one that will leave you smiling, laughing, and believing in the magic of unexpected connections.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cecily Foster is a long time podcast editor and producer who has always worked in the background without getting the credit she deserves. When her boss assigns her to a new podcast that requires her to go on 20 first dates, Cecily reluctantly does it to help her company and hopefully save the jobs of herself and her friends. When she has a meet cute with someone outside of her apartment, though she hits a snag in her plans. This is a cozy romance that isn’t a just a romance but a story of friendship, empowerment and the hope that we don’t have to fit in a box. Thank you #netgalley for this early copy of Back After This.

Cecily Foster is a podcast producer who reluctantly agrees to host a new show that places her love life (or lack thereof) front and center. Agreeing to work with Eliza Cassidy, an “expert” in the field, the plan is simple. Cecily will go on twenty, curated dates-all in the quest to find true love.

The only problem is Cecily isn’t really looking for love. What she is looking for her is away to secure her co-worker’s paycheck. By agreeing to take part, she’s hoping to cement her mentee’s place at the station where they both work.

Then yet another glitch comes in the form of a man, Will whom she randomly meets outside the twenty dates. Although their initial meeting already has Cecily’s head spinning, it’s their additional run ins that take their meet cute to new levels. With fans of the podcast swooning over Will, the choice seems obvious. But Eliza, the matchmaker extraordinaire, begs to differ-thus begging the question. Do you have to look to find a meaningful relationship, or can a meaningful relationship find you?

Back After This is a cute, albeit, not super original love story. In fact, the whole, “looking for love with an audience” trope is one I just read in the recently released, First Time Caller, as well as a few others. I wanted more out of the dates themselves, even if the reader knows none of them are end game. The point I’m trying to make is this isn’t ground breaking stuff, even for a genre known for a degree of predictably. However, if you are looking for a sweet story to escape in, the easy listening vibe of Back After This just might be broadcasting on your frequency.

Sigh. I love loved loved this book. It's been a while since I've read a romance that had me smiling almost the whole time, and I just devoured this. Cecily is a podcast producer who is of course a workaholic, and her boss enlists her to host a show where an influencer-turned-relationship-coach sets her up on twenty dates. Shenanigans ensue, as they always do, and it's all so much fun.

Cecily is such a likable protagonist - incredibly loyal, really good at her job, no bullshit, confused about many things - and being in her head felt like talking to a friend. The love story is super sweet, funny, and relatable, and I love when a book explores the protagonist's personal growth outside their love life (this book is very good at it). This book also really highlighted the tension that a lot of single people feel - how much effort should I put into it? How specific should I be what I'm looking for? Where do I even find someone? The questions are exhausting, and I appreciated the way this book had Cecily work through all of these things. Above all else, this was just such an enjoyable read!
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ugh Linda Holmes you just know how to write a book that is so fun to read. It is such a good palate cleanser and light book to read. More characters like Will pls!!

4.75 STARS

A dog-related meet cute, an inside look at the world of podcasting, and charming characters make this a delightful contemporary romance all around.

When podcast producer Cecily is finally asked to step up to host her own show, it seems like a dream come true. The catch is that the show her network envisions is focused on her own dating life and she’s expected to be mentored and coached by life coach and influencer Eliza Cassidy through the whole process. Despite her misgivings, Cecily agrees to do the show, but only as a way to protect her friend’s job at the same time. Of course, just as the wheels begin turning for the show, Cecily meets Will by happenstance when she helps him catch a runaway Great Dane on a busy street. Complications, shall we say, ensue.

This may be my favorite Linda Holmes novel yet and I thoroughly enjoyed both the romantic storyline and the intimate insights Holmes gives into the podcasting world. If you love contemporary romance and enjoy a story that gives you more threads to follow than just the central relationship, this would be a great pick for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance review copy of this book!

This was so sweet! A light and fluffy, while still filled with substance and grit, sweet little read. I loved reading a new-to-me-author and falling in love with this story!

I am a huge fan of Linda Holmes’ work and have been since her first novel, Evvie Drake Starts Over. Back After This is another winner!

Cecily is a podcast editor whose boss asks her to do a dating podcast to help solve their company’s financial problems. She would be paired with a relationship coach/influencer, Eliza, who would give Cecily a makeover and tips on dating. Eliza would choose men that she thinks would be a good match for Cecily and Cecily would be sent on 20 blind dates. Cecily is not thrilled to do this, but agrees to do it to help her co-workers escape potential layoffs and/or loss of jobs. In the meantime, Cecily keeps running into Will, a really nice guy with a Great Dane. Cecily is drawn to him, but Eliza is convinced that the only way to find a perfect match for Cecily is through her more scientific approach. She forbids Cecily to see Will.

This is NOT a story of 20 blind dates. The dates actually play a small part in the story. Instead, it is the story of a woman who had been so hurt by a disastrous previous relationship that it affected her confidence in all aspects of her life. It is the story of her growth and self-discovery.

I love the characters. They are authentic and relatable. Even the Great Dane had a personality! I love the interaction and chemistry between Cecily and Will.

I thoroughly enjoyed Back After This. It was funny and well-written. In addition to enjoying a delightful romance, I learned a lot about the world of podcasting. I highly recommend Back After This and I look forward to Linda Holmes’ next novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I really enjoyed Linda Holmes's debut novel (have yet to read her second one, but it's definitely a priority now!) but this one might be my favorite so far. The story follows Cecily, a talented podcast producer who's worked behind the scenes for years, while longing to step into the spotlight and host her own show. She's beyond excited when her boss finally gives her the chance...only to learn that the show will be all about Cecily's dating life *and* she'll have to be mentored by famous dating coach, life coach, and influencer Eliza Cassidy. Cecily is less than thrilled to broadcast her love life to a public platform, especially because the last time she mixed work with romance, it ended in disaster. Still, she goes along with the scheme, but to add to all the chaos, she can't stop thinking about Will, a photographer she met serendipitously and keeps unexpectedly running into since. Eliza is convinced that Will is bad news, someone she believes is no better than Cecily's exes, but Cecily isn't quite so sure. Will she finally go for what—and who—she truly wants in both her career and love life, or will she fall in line with the choices she thinks she's "supposed to" make?

BACK AFTER THIS has just about everything I love in a book: fantastic writing, witty banter, swoon-worthy romance, and a compelling story of self-discovery and realizing your own worth (plus, a dog—who could ask for more?). I was utterly charmed by Cecily and Will's love story, and maybe even more so by how realistic it felt. Even things in romcoms that might seem implausible, like when the characters keep running into each other at the most random moments, were handled so believably here. Selfishly, I wanted to see even more of their relationship—I would have read pages and pages of them just hanging out together, lol! In general, all of the different relationships Linda Holmes explores throughout felt so authentic yet entertaining, from Cecily and Molly's sisterly bond to the dynamic Cecily has with Eliza. All of these characters felt like real people, whose journeys you couldn't help but get invested in! I also enjoyed learning more about what it's like to work on a podcast, which Holmes clearly has so much experience in. The details included about the world of audio production were super fascinating, and added a fresh, creative touch to the story. Overall, needless to say, I would highly recommend BACK AFTER THIS! It's such a comforting, uplifting read that could see myself returning to again and again. I can't wait to see what Linda Holmes writes next! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

thank you netgalley for this e-arc! i really enjoyed this title. i found with her previous work, i either couldn't get into the story or the writing was not grabbing me. this book was well-written, funny and had substance to it. i didn't catch on the trouble with the life coach until they revealed it through her emails. i'll be looking forward to the author's next books.

This novel was so so good!! I was instantly attracted to the cute cover - any book with a dog will already be an amazing read! Back After This was romantic, comedic, and so real. The story truly embodied how it just takes one person to change your life and happiness, no matter how you met that person. The book was very well written and had a clear sequence of events, as well as very good characters to accompany. Even the minor characters, such as Buddy the Dog, Julia, and Justin, were important characters to Cecily's development.

Sometimes the book was a little slow and a little over descriptive, but the funny and witty dialogue made up for it and the memorable moments that went along with it!

This was the first novel I've read by Linda Holmes, and I will defiantly be reading more of her books.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book!!

I adored this cute story! This was a solid 4.25 stars for me but Buddy the Great Dane takes this up to 5 because helloooo as a Great Dane x2 Mom myself how can he NOT be my favorite character!?

This pubs Feb 25th and I'd recommend you grab it if you love:
-a sweet romance (no descriptive spicy scenes here, sadly/ good for some, lol)
-hilarious and memorable Meet Cute
-'dating show' vibes with the podcast theme
-lots of audio talk as the FMC works in audio production
-some mixed media with podcast/ video transcripts included

I thought this was such a fun, cute story. I LOVED how Will and Cecily kept running into each other and having these hilarious, sweet moments together. The podcast and Cecily's character growth are central to this storyline but the romance storyline and scenes were my favorite to read. I was so invested in Will and Cecily's blooming 'friendship' :)
There's a little 3A breakup which I dislike as well as some miscommunication (ick) buuut we circle around and get a HFN ending which we all love in a romance.

Overall, I adored this and couldn't read it fast enough.

I enjoyed this far more than Flying Solo but Evvie is still my favorite of her books.

Cecily is a podcast producer who ends up being the host and star of a self-help/dating podcast where she goes on 20 dates to find a partner.

I loved learning more about audio and the podcasting world - you can tell this is where Linda shines and where her own expertise comes from. The story reads more like women's fiction with romance. I loved the very convenient run-ins with Will (but after a few, they did start to feel too much). However, Cecily also read as unlikable at times and flipped to be hard to root for. I would have liked to see more reflection and growth after some of the comments she made.

This novel is completely charming—from making the most ridiculous and unlikely constant run-ins appear completely plausible, to the most un-cliched ending. It’s also got all my favorite things, superb banter, great writing, a story of self discovery, a lovely romance. I’ve actually already ordered a print copy for myself because it’ll become the most perfect of comfort reads.

Loved this story. Both MCs were fun and relatable, I appreciated the way their relationship developed and grew, plus, there's a dog! Always extra points for a dog.
Watching Cecily deal with being underappreciated at her job, being kind of steamrolled by the influencer, and trying to protect her friends job all made for a great story. Will was an interesting character and I love that he clearly truly liked his friendship with Cecily, found her to be an interesting person, and that's how they grew their relationship throughout that story. Eliza, Eliza, Eliza... the influencer working with Cecily... she was something else, they definitely gave the character more depth than I had expected, still didn't like her, in the end haha. While this book was a cute, fun, flirty romance, I think it was also good commentary on what it's like for women working in many careers and I appreciated that piece to it.
I'd give it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5, there were a few things that I thought should have been addressed, but unfortunately were not. I would definitely read more by this author!

Publish to Goodreads on 2/11/25

This is an ARC review thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine.

This was a very cute and easy read. The story line was well built and keeps you interested to find out what is next. It is very relatable to real life which made connecting with the characters much more enjoyable. I enjoyed the bit of drama it had. Not too much and not too little. Just enough to keep things interesting.