Reading Back After This felt like wrapping myself in a cozy blanket while sharing secrets with my best friend. I fell head over heels for this enchanting story of self-discovery that had me laughing, tearing up, and cheering from the very first page.

I normally fall right in love with Linda Holmes' characters and books but this one took me a little longer to get into, however once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it! Holmes has a way of writing flawed characters in a way where you still root for them and want them to figure out their lives, even when they are actively working against themselves - and that is exactly how this book felt, which could be frustrating at times. However, the writing was great and overall the book was enjoyable!

Linda Holmes returns with Back After This, a witty and emotionally resonant novel that delves into the complexities of modern love, personal growth, and the world of podcasting. Building on the charm of her previous works, Holmes offers readers a story that is both humorous and heartfelt.

Cecily Foster, a seasoned podcast producer, finds herself at a crossroads when her boss offers her a chance to host her own show—with a catch. The podcast will chronicle her journey through twenty blind dates, guided by influencer-turned-dating-coach Eliza Cassidy. As Cecily navigates this unconventional path to love, she unexpectedly meets Will, a photographer whose presence challenges her scripted quest for romance.

Holmes masterfully explores themes of self-discovery, authenticity, and the tension between personal ambition and societal expectations. Cecily's journey is not just about finding love but also about reclaiming her voice in both her personal and professional life. The novel's backdrop of podcast production adds a unique layer, offering insights into the intricacies of audio storytelling.

The characters in Back After This are richly drawn and relatable. Cecily's interactions with Eliza provide both comedic relief and poignant commentary on the influence of social media personas. Will's character, while charming, could have benefited from deeper development. However, their chemistry is palpable, and their evolving relationship adds depth to the narrative. I felt the novel's blend of humor and emotional depth resonates with readers, making it a standout in the genre.

Back After This is a compelling read that offers a fresh take on the romantic comedy genre. Holmes' insightful narrative and endearing characters make this novel a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and those interested in the behind-the-scenes world of podcasting.

This was my first book by this author and I had a lot of fun. It was a nice refreshing read after reading so many similar things, and I’ll be sure to check her out again

Engaging, quick read by Linda Holmes. I loved both Cecily and Will., as well as relationship expert, Eliza. Cecily’s boss is another story, but in the end all is made right.

This missed in a way that Flying Solo and Evvie Drake didn't. Partially, there was no discussion about the emotionally and physically neglectful relationship with her parents and how that might shape her personality. It's weird to talk about it but not explore it. However, I found the imperfect but real life ending to be delightful.

Cecily has made herself indispensable at the podcast production company where she works. She's a great editor and producer, and literally wrote the book on how to save and properly access the company's audio files. She's been pitching her own ideas for podcasts for ages, and while her boss has shown some interest, there's always been one reason or another to not produce them. So when he comes to Cecily with a plan to center her on a self-help podcast with a trendy influencer, she says she'll participate but only if her newest idea can finally get produced. He agrees and suddenly Cecily finds herself the subject of Twenty Dates, a podcast in which influencer and relationship coach Eliza sets her up on, you guessed it, 20 dates, promising to find the right guy for Cecily.

There is something hard to believe about the setup of the podcast, and the fact that Cecily goes along with it (especially knowing her boss's track record with promises), as well as some of the other elements of the book that I won't spoil here. However, Cecily as a character is ridiculously relatable, as I feel like every hardworking woman has, at some time or another, been overlooked or taken for granted at a job, and can probably relate to the revelations Cecily has throughout the book. Overall, it's a good, enjoyable read, especially if you want a behind-the-scenes view of creating podcasts along with your drama.

Overall a wonderful, light hearted read. The characters were relatable. Love the in depth look into the world of podcasting. But mostly, the introspective look at your past and untangling yourself to who you want to be makes this book more than just a bubble gum read.

This was a cute story of a woman learning to listen to her own voice, and no longer let others walk all over her. In order to save her and her friends job, she agrees to work with a woman who promises to find her love. Our FMC is set up on 20 dates, all while interacting with a man she keeps running into and starts developing feelings for. None of the 20 dates had any sparks, her ex kept popping up, and her job took a turn for the worse when her ex popped back up. She struggles to do what she’s told at the expense of her gut instinct, and eventually has to choose who to listen to. Would recommend, especially for those interested in podcasts & audio.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It took me a little bit to get into this one. It was a sweet, non-spicy rom-com, but it just fell flat for me. The story just dragged on and went nowhere. Character development was non-existent.

This story was interesting enough, but it was nothing special. I appreciated the growth of the main character throughout. There was some good banter, and the dog subplots were cute. I listened to a bit of this audio in between my ebook reading, and I liked the audio element a lot since the story took place as a podcast.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for this ARC!

3.5 ⭐️

Back After This is a fun if somewhat uneven story of Cecily, a people-pleasing podcaster who is put on a special assignment: go on a series of blind dates set by a relationship coach/ influencer. Hijinks ensue, and along the way, Cecily begins to figure out what she does - and doesn’t- want for herself- and finds a bit of romance as well. This was a nice light quick read overall.

Thank you Linda Holmes, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.75🌟

I thought this was a cute story about a podcast producer who gets roped into being the host of a new self-help show about women getting their "lives together and dating in their 30s." She has to go on 20 dates and hopefully will find her true match by the end of the season. What she didn't count on was randomly bumping into someone along the way who seems to be a much better fit for her.

This book felt a little too self-help/moral of the story in some places, but overall, it was sweet. Cecily loses her way and has to find her way back to herself and find what she really wants out of a partner as well as life.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Cecily Foster makes podcasts for a living and loves what she does, but she’s yet to make a big name for herself. When an opportunity to host her own show finally comes, it comes with a catch. Before she’ll be able to make the show she really wants to make she must first host a show where influencer and relationship coach, Eliza Cassidy, sets her up on twenty dates in hopes of finding the one. This is the last thing Cecily wants to do, but it might be the best way to get her own show. While going through the motions of finding love on the podcast, Cecily might just stumble upon her true love elsewhere. How will the podcast dates play out? Will Cecily actually find the relationship she’s always hoped for and will she get the show she really wants in the end?

I am not a huge podcast person, so I know nothing about the podcast world, but thought the description of this book was intriguing. I liked Cecily from the beginning and was interested in seeing how her sorry would play out. This book was full of comedy the made it a quick read and easy to get through. The romance in this book was sweet and full of all the feels. It was so easy to get into this book and I found myself lost in the story and humor as it played out. I am glad I gave this book a chance and really enjoyed my time with this book. If you are looking for a romantic comedy with a lot of podcast info tied in this book is a good one to try.

In a last ditch effort to save both her job and her love life, Cecily Foster hires a dating coach to set her up with her dream man who she hopes to find after she goes on twenty first dates. The catch? She has to broadcast her journey on air for the new podcast 20 Dates. Even though she's been historically unlucky in love (we won't even talk about her last boyfriend who stole her idea for a podcast and broke up with her more casually than he would cancel a dentist appointment), she's willing to try it out. That is, until a large dog runs down the street chased by a man in a (haircutting) cape who might just be the love of her life?

The premise reminded me a bit of First-Time Caller and a bit of Is She Really Going Out With Him?. I liked it more than the former but less than the latter, and would recommend it to fans of either. Back After This is a charming and witty story about a woman realizing that what she wants for her life doesn't have to be what everyone else wants and that's okay.

3.5 rounded up

Are you, or do you know, someone that is always fixing or looking out for everyone around them? That is Cecily. She loves so deeply, and always is trying to take care of others. This is what leads to her agreeing to share her dating life on air, with a life coach helping her make her choices, in exchange for a chance to run her own show. Eliza (the life coach) is convinced that her way is the only way, and meeting someone in the wild is not the answer. Despite that a handsome photographer, named Will, continues to pop up everywhere. Almost like the universe is trying to throw them together... This was such a fun story to watch play out, and I loved watching the character growth and learning while also seeing the love story play out.

I ended up listening to this on audio and it was fine (Holmes, while a good podcaster, is perhaps not the ideal narrator), and it was cute enough.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is a delightful novel that will keep you engaged and bring you joy! Cecily Foster loves podcasts and has devoted her life to them. She has had bad relationship with a colleague who took her ideas and now is really not about relationships. Her boss wants her to meet with an influencer and go on 20 dates and commit to the process. Only catch is she can date no one else. Which sounds good until she meets Will when he is chasing a dog and he keeps showing up everywhere.

I found this a fascinating read. The whole idea of do you find love spontaneously or systematically drew me in. The story is told from Cecily’s point of view and I appreciated her perspective on life. Cecily changed and became more aware of her value as a person, knowing what she really wanted in life, and was transformed in the story.

You have to love the meet-cute, the great Dane rescue dog, learning about podcasts and the world of influencers. The story was amazing. I highly recommend Back After This by Linda Holmes.

I was given a copy and not required to write a positive review.

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 for you. Save it for your beach or pool bag.

Ok , while this is fun to read I found the set up quite interesting. Sometimes it feels like she is writing on a journal or sorts , or if she is telling us what happen which it was fun. I definitely enjoyed the meet cute , serious that was funny and cute. And I like how the characters develop and grow . Overall a easy read.