I really like these books by Linda Holmes. I really enjoyed her first on paper and then fell into the audio of Flying Solo. I intentionally waited for the audio on Back After This not knowing that it's indeed a love letter to audio. As a one woman podcaster, I was in it. I could see the sound waves when she described them. I understood her opinions on mouth sounds and as a coach, I also enjoyed (but stressed over) Eliza.

This book was just right just for me and I enjoyed it so much. Not all books about my specific lines of work come across well for me and this one landed just right. If you like dogs, found and real family, finding yourself and unexpected romance, this is your book.

I am a Linda Holmes fan from Pop Culture Happy Hour, the NPR podcast she co-hosts, so it was lovely to see a fictionalized behind-the-scenes look into the podcasting business from her point of view. Obviously, this was different from her real life, but it was still fun to learn about room tone and other podcast-y things.

Cecily works as a producer at a podcast company, and her boss has an idea for a show she can host. She initially gets spooked by the weird companies wanting ads but eventually realizes this may be the show that saves her work bestie's job. She agrees to work with popular influence-turned-dating coach Eliza and go on 20 first dates in order to launch herself back into dating after four years out of a relationship (which was also crappy). Right then, she also has a meet cute with someone she keeps running into. Whatever shall she do?

This was super cute and very cozy, and I always love a good dog in a romance!

Thank you to Ballatine for the e-ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss and PRH Audio for the ARC/ALC.

This was another delightful book written by Linda Holmes. I don't think I enjoyed this one as much as I enjoyed her first two books, but I thought it was still a fun read. I enjoyed reading about Cecily's self-discovery and her journey to find love. I also have to add that there is an adorable dog in the book and that is one major reason to read this book in my opinion. The supporting characters at the podcast studio were also quite funny. Linda Holmes also narrates the audiobook, and I thought she had a really pleasant and soothing voice. I hope she considers narrating more of her books!

Thanks again to NetGalley, Edelweiss and PRH Audio for the ARC/ALC.

Thank you net galley for the ARC and chance to provide an honest review. This book left me conflicted. It starts a bit slow and bogs you down with some of the technical audio jargon--BUT it warns you that will happen so I went in knowing this and it was okay. Will and Buddy are awesome. Cecily has to re-grow on you however. I start out rooting for her, then got annoyed and then was back in her corner. The book definitely picks up about 25% in but unfortunately slows down a bit in the last 25% again. I loved Evie Drake starts over so perhaps a higher bar was set and this fell short. I also did the audio version of Evie which is so much better with bantering of characters imo. I am looking forward to going back to read her other book Flying Solo later this year regardless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the ARC of Back After This by Linda Holmes.

Cecily works in the world of podcast, but normally behind the scenes, though she has lots of ideas for her own podcast. Her boss, Toby, nominates her for the new podcast that’s a bit like a self-help program with influencer Eliza and completely not aligned with any of Cecily’s idea. The gist…date 20 guys to find the one. But then there is Will chasing Buddy the Great Dane down the street while wearing a cape (Will has the cape not Buddy!!). Who will make the cut, how much say will Cecily say, does Eliza have her best interest at heart, and will Toby keep his promises. More importantly does Cecily find love again?!?

Overall, this book was cute. I found it to be a little slow for my liking. Probably more of a 3.5⭐️.

Every time I read a Linda Holmes novel, I think- 'damn, she got in my head and wrote about me.'

Then I read the next one and, 'I'm like, no, wait --- this is the one that's all me.' Her books just get me.

Her latest is about Cecily, a single podcast producer who does a self-help series to help her dating life for altruistic reasons. Along the way, she learns about herself, removes some wool from her eyes, and goes after her dreams.

Cecily is smart and funny and is the only one who seems not to know this about herself. In her, the reader can find elements of themselves. A woman who gives too much of herself away and doesn't take at all.

A woman who doubts all of her moves. A woman reticent for help.

Enter Eliza the bubbly influencer and 20 first dates to help Cecily find herself and find love. But can she trust herself?

Holmes deftly creates a situation where Cecily is both growing and shrinking in the process-- and readers can see why and how it becomes a gray issue.

Follow her journey is enjoyable and educational. Highly recommend.

Rating: 4.5/5

Thank you to Random House Ballantine for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Back After This was an absolute delight—a Women's Fiction novel with a touch of romance, a compelling exploration of podcasting, and a thoughtful look at personal growth and work-life balance.

Cecily Foster, a talented podcast producer, finds her world flipped upside down when she unexpectedly becomes the subject of a dating podcast, agreeing to go on twenty blind dates set up by an influencer. The premise alone was fantastic, and it delivered in all the best ways.

The chemistry and banter between Cecily and Will were a highlight for me. From their meet-cute to the way they kept running into each other, their dynamic was engaging, charming, and full of heart. Linda Holmes has an incredible gift for writing characters who feel so real—flawed, relatable, and deeply human. I saw so much of myself in Cecily, even in ways that weren’t always flattering, which made her journey even more compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.
I’ve had Evie Drake in my TBR for what feels like forever so when I saw another book by @lindaholmes97, I was excited for the invitation and immediately accepted! This book was honestly exactly what I needed! It was adorable and it’s February (but read this in January) and there is also going to be strong competition for best book boyfriend. I LOVED Will! From their meet cute, to every other scene he was in, I simply adored him. Was he this perfect male specimen? No! And that was made him seem real and even more lovable! I also enjoyed Cecily’s personal journey throughout the book as well. Seeing the inner workings of creating podcasts was very interesting me too. This book just made me feel all the feels and I think any rom-com lover needs to check it out! This will be out on February 25th, so just a few short weeks!

A wonderful light romance with a flawed but loveable main character who wrests love from what seems to be a disastrous situation. An examination of podcast bros and influencer culture that's refreshingly light on crime. The author of the charming Evvie Drake Starts Over does not disappoint.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is a delightful novel that exudes warmth and charm, showcasing Holmes's unique writing style. From the very beginning, I found myself captivated by the story and reluctant for it to conclude. The dialogue is both sweet and sharp, and the characters are so vividly portrayed that they practically leap off the page.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing this ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up. This book took me a bit to get into, but once I reached about halfway, I started to enjoy it more. The beginning felt a little slow, but once the pace picked up, I was more engaged with the story. The main characters were relatable, and their banter was a definite highlight—funny and natural, which made it easy to get invested in their relationships.

I also appreciated the unique insight into the world of influencers and podcast creation, which felt fresh and intriguing. As a fan of Linda Holmes's previous work, I was excited to read this, and while it took some time to click, I'm glad I stuck with it. Overall, a solid read that offers a charming look at modern life in the digital age.

Back After This is a story about complex characters and how sometimes love finds you instead of you searching for it. Cecily works for a podcast company and is approached with the opportunity to work with a dating coach to hopefully meet her forever person. However just as she’s starting this experiment she meets a man while trying to rescue a dog. I found the characters to be complex, there were times when I didn’t like any of them, but some of them do seem to learn and grow by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Cecily works as a podcast producer who is set on a show where she goes on 20 dates to try to find love. But she unexpectedly keeps bumping into Will several times and his dog Buddy. She then falls in love with him despite all of the other men her dating coach had set her up with. I really enjoyed watching Cecily grow and be more comfortable with how she is and realize that she doesn’t have to change herself. This was a very cute book.
Thank you to Netgalley And Random House for the arc of this book, I really enjoyed reading it!

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC of Back After This. I really enjoyed this book and found the main character to be relatable in so many ways. It doesn't feel like a far-fetched story, not only romantically, but, more importantly, career and work-related. I really enjoyed how Cecily starts to take more ownership of her life and choices and finds her voice. The premise is that she's a podcast producer who is coerced into hosting and being the subject of a new dating podcast while being coached by an influencer trying to break into self-help. Also, fate steps in and Cecily also meets a great guy in a very random way (isn't that how most want to find love?!) and what ensues is her learning what she truly wants out of life and how to go after it. I thought the writing was good and the story flowed. Did I predict the ending? Sure. But it didn't make it any less enjoyable to read!
As with Evvie Drake Starts Over, Linda Holmes' well known book, there are some good life lessons mixed in with enjoyable writing and a lot of realistic situations. Would recommend!

There were some plot points right from the beginning that made the main character seem kind of bad at adulting/decision making, and I didn’t find her particularly relatable. It was pretty clear where we would end up all throughout the storyline, but I wish we’d gotten there with a little more flare and fanfare. Overall the book was likable, very middle of the road, not a lot of chemistry/swoon factor to the relationship, but still believable and just fine.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new romcom from Linda Holmes. The plot was engaging and the characters were likable. Highly recommend if you are a fan of this genre.

Wow, this book was such a refreshingly original take on a contemporary romance, and I absolutely adored it!

Cecily Foster is a podcast producer who lives for her job and her co-workers, despite a boss who takes advantage of her work ethic and commitment. When she finally gets a chance to host her own show, it involves working with a romance life coach determined to find Cecily a love match. The company and employee jobs are all dependent on this new show, so despite many hesitations, Cecily agrees to be set up on 20 dates. Except before the first one, she meets Will. And they keep running into each other. But Eliza, Cecily's life coach is having none of that! She is determined that Cecily will wind up with a man she chooses, no matter the cost!

I thought the premise of this book was just so much fun! I loved both Cecily and Will, who had such sweet banter and chemistry. I got so annoyed on Cecily's behalf when she had to go through all of her dates and deal with both her aggravating boss and her coach, who kept telling her that Will was not the man for her. But mostly I loved watching Cecily's character growth. She started the book letting everyone walk all over her, but seeing her confidence grow and watching her learn to stand up for herself made me so happy!

This book was fast paced, and I couldnt put it down. In fact I read it start to finish in one day! It was that fantastic. If you love contemporary women's fiction and sweet romances, definitely pick this one up!

Back After This publishes on Feb. 24th, 2025. Thank you to Netgalley And Random House Ballantine for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

3.5 stars rounded up

I thought this was a really cute premise and I really liked the writing. However I didn't completely love our main character Cecily, I don't fully know what it was about it but she just got on my nerves a little bit and I didn't completely feel like I understood her as a character. I didn't feel like I could get in her head all that well even though it was from her pov

People pleasers of the world will recognize themselves in Cecily Foster. A podcast producer, Cecily does her level best to meet everyone’s needs while ignoring her own. Single since an ugly break up four years prior that upended both her personal and professional lives, she has her arm twisted to produce a podcast where her love life is the focus.

Matched with a self help influencer, Cecily commits to going on twenty first dates in an effort to find her match. In an unexpected twist of fate, she meets a guy on her own, but is discouraged from pursuing a relationship with him by the people invested in the podcast. Their meet cute is one of the best I’ve read.

Linda Holmes has written a character who is easy to like. Cecily is kind and wants everyone to be happy. You can’t help rooting for her to figure out what she wants in life and find her voice. It doesn’t hurt that guy who might be the one is charming and considerate.

BACK AFTER THIS takes the reader behind the scenes of the audio entertainment industry which is quite fascinating. Like any good self discovery journey, the book moves at a pace that allows for reflection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. I really enjoy reading this authors books. This was the first I’ve read about the podcast/audio world! I was proud of Cecily and her ability to fight for what she wanted.