In these cold, dark days of winter, it’s nice to read something light and fun that still has some depth and that’s exactly what I got listening to 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 by Linda Holmes. I first became a fan of Holmes with her debut, 𝘌𝘷𝘷𝘪𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳 which had the same easy listening qualities to it. She definitely knows how to write a female character who has a life of her own with a little romance thrown in on the side.⁣
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In this case, Cecily Foster is a long time podcast producer who gets roped into hosting her own show. The catch? It’s a show that has her going on 20 dates selected for her by a well meaning “dating/life coach.” What could go wrong? As it turns out, a lot! Cecily struggles sticking by her coach’s recommendations when events in her own life collide with her many dates.⁣
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I’m not typically a big rom-com fan, but this one worked for me. I liked the fact that the entire story was told by Cecily. It made me feel as if I really knew her. I also loved the parts going behind the scenes of podcasting. As a bonus, many of the side characters were endearing, especially a giant dog who played a surprisingly large role. Were there eye-roll worthy moments? A few, but not as many as I’d typically expect. I also need to add that the audiobook is narrated by Holmes herself, and she did an excellent job. So, whether you’re a big fan of romance or are just looking for something fun, think about giving 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 a try! (Publishing on 2/25.) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re looking for a book that balances sharp dialogue with moments of heartwarming vulnerability, this is it. The author really understands how to connect a story line with character development. I read this and completely felt that the story was genuine and the characters all fully relatable.

I have read Linda Holmes previous books and this is my favorite. Keep writing ! Until the next book, I will make do with her podcasts.

Thank you Random House for this ARC.

Just what the reading doctor ordered! I flew through this novel about a podcast producer's entangled love and work life. Cecily is a relatable, down-to-earth heroine who, refreshingly, is surrounded by a sister and friend who have her back. Holmes avoids easy stereotypes and has created a smart, delightful novel that offers a fascinating glimpse into the podcasting world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the early galley.

Cecily finds herself hesitantly the focus of a dating podcast, and ultimately ends up finding herself in the process. I enjoyed the reading of this book, and I definitely felt pulled along and looked forward to seeing where the story went. I felt like I learned a lot about audio/podcasting/influencers and that perspective was interesting. There is a lot of text-heavy sections in the novel, as well as lots of inner monologue of Cecily. It actually felt like very little plot at all, and almost read more like a journal to me at times. I appreciated many of the full circle moments and lessons at the end of the book and overall I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

I read Linda Holmes’s first novel after being a dedicated PCHH listener for several years, and really enjoyed it. Admittedly I did skip her sophomore novel but was excited to see this one come up. Her knowledge and love of audio clearly shines here, and I enjoyed learning about the process. Great banter and thoughtful and funny remarks throughout. I don’t think these characters were quite as standout as in Evvie Drake, but this was overall a very delightful read that I would recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this one! I am not the best at writing reviews sometimes, but sometimes books take you by surprise and this one did just that. I got invested a few chapters in and couldn't put it done. It was so good! I highly recommend this one.

Another winner from Linda Holmes! I loved Evvie Drake Starts Over, so I was looking forward to this new book. I thoroughly enjoyed watching podcast producer Cecily explore Twenty Dates in the new show she's hosting, fall in love, and learn to ask for what she really wants. The podcasting world was fascinating, as were the relationships that the author created within this book. It's not quite as cozy as Evvie Drake, but it still gave me a lift as I followed Cecily through to the ending she deserved. Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine for the advance digital copy!

This was a super cute book, but it also contained a great message. I had not read anything by Linda Holmes before, but now I feel like I will be looking out for other books by her. I was able to become invested in these characters, pretty quickly, And I feel a little sad now that I am done reading their story. In fact, I would like it if she took this story further by making a sequel to it.

The main characters in the story are very relatable, even though I don’t live or work in places like the ones described in the story. Will, the love interest, is charming and funny, Eliza, the influencer, is both likable and annoying, you know that Toby, the boss, is going to be selfish the first time you meet him, and the main character, Cecily, is humorous, quirky, flawed, but learning how to love herself like most of us are.

Getting to go on this journey with Cecily was really enjoyable, and the book kept you guessing. I liked the format and the uses of various media to break up the text. It kept it interesting. There were several lessons to be learned in the story also, about believing in yourself and not being afraid to speak up for what you believe in. I felt like at the end I was inspired by the story. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this eGalley.

Linda Holmes is my favorite romance writer. I was so excited to hear she had a third book coming out and even more thrilled to receive an advance reader copy.

Cecily is a podcast producer in DC who gets roped into running and starring in a dating podcast featuring a local influencer-turned-dating-coach. She commits to going on twenty dates set up by the influencer. In the mean time, she has a meet cute with a guy walking a great dane, and they keep running into each other.

This book is everything I want in a romance -- smart, funny, romantic. The characters are complex and real. I loved rooting on Cecily and rolling my eyes at Eliza (and finding her just the slightest bit charming, just like Cecily did). Cecily and Will's chemistry was cute and believable. The only problem is that now the presumably long wait for Linda Holmes' fourth book begins!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Linda Holmes has done it again! Back After This is a beautifully crafted story about self-discovery, second chances, and the messy, wonderful journey of love. I was completely drawn into Cecily’s world—her past, her regrets, and, most importantly, her growth. Watching her evolve from someone tethered to the weight of old wounds into a person who truly embraces herself was both emotional and satisfying. I loved witnessing her personal growth, and honestly, I found parts of her journey deeply relatable.

And speaking of relatable—every single character in this book felt real. These aren’t just fictional people; they’re the kind of friends you text random memes to, the ones who show up when life falls apart, and the ones who know exactly how to push your buttons (for better or worse). The dynamics between Cecily and the people in her life—friends, family, and exes—felt so authentic that I caught myself nodding along like, Yep, I know someone just like that.

Another unexpected delight? The behind-the-scenes look at podcasting! I had no idea what really goes into the business of making a podcast, and Holmes weaves those details so seamlessly into the story. It never felt like an info dump—just an organic, fascinating peek into a world I hadn’t explored before.

And then there’s the romance. It’s messy. It’s complicated. It’s imperfect. In other words, it’s human. There are no easy answers or fairytale resolutions, just the raw, real search for love in all its confusing, heartbreaking, and hopeful forms.

If you love stories about reinvention, complicated relationships, and finding your way back to yourself, Back After This is a must-read. Holmes delivers another smart, heartfelt, and utterly engaging novel that lingers long after the final page.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review. This is a delightful "RomCom" reminiscent of an Ephron movie, but set in our world of Podcasters and Social Media Influencers. Great pacing, found-family, learning to stand up for oneself, and one massive adorable dog that leads to the "meet cute." This one is perfect for relaxing, take-your-mind-off-the news reading. Slightly open door, for those wondering.

This is an interesting story and really highlights the pitfalls of dating for an audience and ratings. Eliza was definitely too good to be true and she was the perfect questionable character. I loved the chemistry between Will and Cecily and could feel the comfortable yet sparky tension every time they were together. The audiobook is narrated by the author and that always seems to add another layer of depth for me and made this a fantastic read.

I have read all of Linda Holmes's books now and I think my opinion on then stands thus: great premise, average execution. Holmes is a good writer. Her sentences flow, the grammar checks out, each character feels like they have a voice, and yet there is something missing from each novel. That little extra zing that makes me truly love a book. I was intrigued by the idea behind this one. A podcast producer finally gets the chance to host her own show and falls in love while doing a dating challenge. That said, I felt coldly removed from our main character Cecily and the plot feels like it's happening to her instead of the other way around. She passively moves through the pages and by the end I don't really have faith that she learned anything or will do anything different. It was a nice story but deeply unsatisfying. I'm not sure I will be "back after this" for another Linda Holmes book.

Back After This follows Cecily, a podcast editor/producer asked to host Twenty Dates, a series that will follow her attempts at finding love. At the same time, however, she keeps inadvertently meeting Will, a photographer and waiter. She feels obligated to follow through on the podcast because it will hopefully save her co-worker friends and the podcast studio she works for, but she's increasingly drawn to Will.

I've been chasing the high of Evvie Drake Starts Over for ages now and I think Linda Holmes has done it again with Back After This. Evvie is so great because it is full of complex and flawed characters who work through their shit, friendships that challenge and support, and a gentle romance, which is important, but not key to the story.

Back After This has all of those great pieces. The greatest compliment I have for a book is when I know I'll read and re-read it. Evvie is my weighted blanket in book form, I can see Back After This playing a similar role.

And, as an excellent bonus, if you loved to hear about Halls of Power in Evvie Drake, it is back in this book with a lot more detail on the plot!

* Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7301885731
This book is a perfect escape—set in DC, yet no mention of politics! Cecily (what a great name) is the relatable working woman who puts others first. We get a glimpse into the work behind podcasts and all things
Audio. Great story and characters.
Probably will be a great audio book too!

Thanks for the advanced copy from NetGalley and Penguin Random House.

Review will be posted on my bookstagram @taylorleereads and on my Goodreads account: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/118402701

Thank you so much for the ARC! I am still very new to this but have loved reading for a very long time and am excited I’m now getting the opportunities to read amazing books early in exchange for honest reviews.

I absolutely adored this sweet book. There’s a comforting simplicity in the way Holmes’ writes that I’d forgotten about and have been missing since last reading Evvie Drake.

In Holmes’ latest we meet Cecily, podcast producer extraordinaire and classic workaholic who leaves little time for life outside of work (especially love). In comes her boss with a podcast idea that would not only send her on 20 blind dates but potentially save their podcast company as well. Reluctantly, Cecily agrees and begins working with influencer-turned-relationship-coach Eliza to find her perfect match. The only catch is that along the way she continually stumbles upon Will who might upend more than just the premise of the podcast.

I found myself drawn to this book and invested in Cecily’s journey from the beginning (#TeamHotWaiter forever). Though I’m happy with Cecily’s ending I do wish Eliza hadn’t turned out to be almost exactly what we all expected. While I think I came to understand her in the end, it didn’t necessarily make me like her and I think some additional character development would’ve done wonders. Nonetheless, this was an incredibly enjoyable cozy romance read that I’d recommend whole-heartedly.

Back After This by Linda Holmes will be out 2/25 💙 Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book manages to be an heir to When Harry Met Sally's perfect banter, while also being a completely refreshing new look on what Happily Ever After looks like. What makes the hero "perfect"? Can the heroine be a workaholic and still be desirable? (Yes)

There are too many wonderful parts about this book to fit here, but I finished it in one sitting, but I have thought about it for weeks later. The writing may be Linda Holmes's best yet. The banter (the banter!) between the characters is tight and packed with jokes, but the way she tells the story itself is a masterclass in writing while being conscious of every single word. Pick any page and there is a mentor sentence anyone can learn from.

The (best?) part about this book is that it seems to be a reflection on the romance genre as a whole. Most long time readers will agree that Romance is fantasy. It offers situations, people, jobs that may mirror what our day to day looks like, but at most we would like just the surface level, just the least stressful parts, because why break that fantasy of happy? The FMC or MMC may struggle with money or their job, but in the end something even better will come along. This book (gently) invites it's readers to consider maybe there is pleasure to be found in the grueling day to day. Perhaps we can find love while stressed, that love is not something that cures all our hardships. And that idea is almost more fantastic that the expected happily ever after.

I loved this book. I love the characters, (the side characters!!!!) and I am so glad that Holmes in the conversation about what HEA can look like.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed Linda Holmes other books but this one fell a bit short for me. I enjoyed the podcast/audio production setting, as that was new to me. The big dog was a fun character as well. The story felt a bit rushed and not as detailed as her other two. I would continue to read her novels because O enjoyed the others so much.

An engaging and sweet romcom - a story of self discovery that give you all the warm and fuzzy feelings.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Linda Holmes for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cecily Foster is a podcast producer and company go-to person. When business is hitting a rough spot her boss comes to her with an idea - Cecily hosting a self-help dating show with a famous influencer termed romance coach.

Cecily is about to say no, but her boss mentions potential layoffs and all her co-workers jobs at risk unless they get a hit show. Cecily agrees.

With 20 first dates heading her way she keeps finding herself running into Will, a handsome guy who she helped rescue a Great Dane recently.

There is a lot of podcast behind the scenes, some insight into some influence business, toxic/manipulative workplace and several awful dates.

The book was interesting and a cool concept with so many topical situations (podcasting, influencers, etc).