This was a fun meet cute. The banter was fun and I think fans of Emily Henry would like this book. A fun little peek into the world of podcasting too.

Very well written!

Cecily Foster is a podcast producer. She used to do a podcast with her ex-boyfriend, but when he dumped her, she lost her home, her show, and her lover.

A couple of years later, and at her work, things are tense. There are rumors that they might be letting some people go. Cecily's boss calls her into his office to tell her that they have a new idea for a new podcast, and Cecily will be the one running it. She will also be the main feature. His boss wants her to partner with an influencer who is now a dating coach. The dating couch is setting her up with twenty blind dates, and she assures Cecliy that she will find love by the end of the dates. Cecily has never seen herself as someone who will want to do this, but she hopes that if this goes well, no one will lose their job, and it may help find her a companion. Yet, the universe has another idea. Just before the new podcast begins, she meets Will, a photographer who is trying to catch a great dane that was running away. Sparks fly between them after they keep on bumping into each other. What is Cecily going to do when she is not supposed to see anyone else who is not part of the podcast?

I fell for Will and Buddy, the great dane, right away. In my head, there was no reason to go on other dates. I was rooting for Cecily to pick them.

This was a nice rom-com with likable, down-to-earth, and relatable main characters.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Ballantine Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Channeling Evvie Drake, Linda Holmes has once again drawn a character, Cecily Foster, who is constantly being abused and allowing it. Oh, she has plenty of excuses, protecting a friend, afraid of causing the loss of a job, hers included, how to stand strong on her own, not really owning that she deserves the chance, the recognition and accolades, the money, even though she knows she does.

I really liked Cecily, her quirks, preferring headphones to something that she has to look at after it has been in her ear, her deprecatory manner, her quick comebacks, and the way she really loves her friends. I really dislike when talented women refuse to look in the mirror and acknowledge that they are important and worthy of being noticed. But if Cecily had that mettle this would have been less of a very good story. There were laugh out loud moments and subtle humor throughout as well as those god awful cringeworthy “how could you do that” situations. The characters who inhabit this story are so well drawn that you can’t help but feel as if you know them and have met their counterparts in your life.

Holmes has written a fun and insightful rom-com that may be just a little more than that. I want to thank Ballantine Books/Random House and NetGalley for a copy.

This was a fun and fast read for me! I loved the podcast blind dates storyline — it was so intriguing and interesting to me. I loved Eliza the dating coach as a side character! The characters were fabulous and loveable — Cecily and Will's meet-cute and friendship and the lighthearted intimacy.
It's so fun how Will keeps being there in things
related to the podcast/dates! I didn’t want this one to end! Great read for me!

Lighthearted, easy read that makes you reflect on why you make the choices you make in life! How many times in life have we made decisions thinking we were helping others at our own expense when they did not even ask for our help in the first place?!? This book brought up a lot of self-reflecting questions. I enjoyed the characters and love any book that includes a rescue dog!

What a treat! Linda Holmes takes on the world of podcasts in a fun and comedic way. I enjoyed reading this book. Am thankful for the opportunity to share my opinions.

I enjoyed Linda Holmes' first book, Evvie Drake Starts Over, so I was excited to read this one! I really enjoyed getting to know Cecily, a dedicated podcast producer, who is offered the chance to host her own show about modern dating. The catch? The show requires that she put her practically nonexistent dating life up for public consumption under the guidelines of influencer-turned-matchmaker, Eliza, who will be sending her on twenty blind dates.

This was a fun, witty, entertaining read. I enjoyed the characters and was thankful that the twenty dates weren't too drawn out in the storyline. Pick this up if you’re looking for lighthearted fun!

🎧 The narration is excellently done by the author, who I've just discovered hosts her own podcast.

Read if you enjoy: contemporary fiction with a good meet-cute romance, realistic main characters, podcasting, witty banter, modern dating, Great Danes 🐾

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣

A big thank you to @PRHAudio and @netgalley for this #gifted #audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Not as good as her previous two novels, but still entertaining and worth the read. The characters were (mostly) likeable and the story flowed but some of the situations the main character found herself in could have easily been avoided.

Cecily Foster loves the research, editing, and production of podcasts. She puts her whole self into it, and it's a big part of why she's always the one who steps up to fill in when needed. But between the long hours and a relationship that left her brokenhearted and without her brainchild podcast, she has no time for romance. Until her boss gives her an ultimatum: make and star in a show with an influencer about finding love the logical way, and not only will she get to make the podcast of her dreams, but her best friend will get to keep her job. It sounds good, until a random meet-cute involving a giant dog and a guy with a cape makes her start to rethink everything.

It's a very fun story that's full of wonderful little meet-cute moments between Cecily and Will that build up the romance by showing how good they can be together. Will doesn't fit the criteria that influencer Eliza is trying to convince Cecily will get her the perfect couple, but a big part of the plot is about accepting that things that look good on paper might not be what's best in real life. This is perhaps what I liked most about the story, the way that Cecily is slowly forced to look at things how they are instead of how she wishes them to be or thinks they'll eventually be like. It makes the moments of realization hit just right and shows great character growth.

Overall, it's nothing particularly genre-defining, but it's a fun and romantic read that I enjoyed from beginning to end. What more can any reader ask for?

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the fun read!

Started this book in October, wasn't vibing with it, and then picked it back up in April and finished it. Glad I finished it! It was a solid 3-star book, but not much more than that. It was an interesting premise, but I was expecting more from the dates - just the few sentences about each one were honestly not that appealing to me. I also didn't fully get Will's appeal besides the fact that they ran into each other all the time and the chemistry was there, but I don't feel like they are "end game." Overall, I am happy I picked it back up and would recommend it to my friends who love a fun romance, but it wasn't my favorite unfortunately :(

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley. I am sorry it took me so long to finish this one up!!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I ended up finishing the book in just a few sittings and really enjoyed the story and characters.

I adored Linda Holmes' Back After This far more than I expected. After feeling let down by First Time Caller by B.K. Borison, a similar themed romance centered around a radio show rather than podcasting, I was a bit wary. But I needn't have worried. This one was every bit as good as Evvie Drake Stars Over and probably better than Flying Solo.

Cecily is a single podcast producer who’s talked into working with a social media influencer to find her perfect match in 20 dates. But what happens when the man she helps catch a stray dog keeps turning up in her life. Cecily and Will are the perfect match. Their charm and witty banter are nearly perfect. And that big, goofy, dog is the icing on the cake.

This book may be for you if you enjoy:
* Adorable meet-cute
* Witty banter
* Opposites attract
* Dating in the world of social media
* Real, relatable main characters
* Podcasting
* A lovable Great Dane that will steal your heart

Rounding up to 4.5 stars!

Just no all around this was about black mail and pure bullying of a boss to do and she went alone with it do better.

What a bookish delight! This fun, light read centered around the development of podcast, and I loved learning insider information about how podcasts are created. Will was a fun character, but Buddy the dog stole my heart. I loved watching Cecily (main character) grow as a character.

If you are a fan of Evvie Drake Starts Over then do yourself a favor and read this new novel by Linda Holmes! You will be sucked in from the first page and will find yourself thinking about the characters long after you put this down. Highly recommend!

BACK AFTER THIS was a sweet if predictable read.

I enjoyed Cecily’s journey of learning what it was she really wanted in her work life and in her relationships.

The romantic partner she ended up with was never in doubt for me. I’m not sure it was even meant to be a mystery, despite the twenty dates. She just took a while to figure it out for herself.

Cecily was a likable, fun main character to hang out with.

*Thanks to Ballantine Books for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*

Overview: Cecily is a seasoned podcast producer who is given an opportunity to create and host her own podcast - the only catch is that she will have to work with a relationship coach/social media influencer, who will help Cecily find “the one” by setting her up on 20 blind dates.

Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book!! Cecily was such a great character in that her personality was well developed and her inner monologue throughout the book was SO humorous and clever. The contrast between Cecily’s blind dates and her accidental run-ins with Will were super effective in demonstrating the point that sometimes chemistry between two people just has to happen organically.

Take home message: Back After This is the perfect book for podcast junkies who happen to love a good rom-com (the author also happens to be a real-life podcast host and correspondent for NPR).

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you SO much for the ARC! I thought that this was a cute, good read - I knew there was something special right there from the beginning. Linda Holmes writes sweet reads and this one was no exception! I'm looking forward to picking up more of her titles.

I love Linda Holmes's writing- witty and sensitive - she writes relationships really well. This book was no different - I truly enjoyed the story about a podcast producer and the unlikely way in which her love life develops. Highly recommend!

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Ballantine Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. It was such a cute fast romcom. I liked the main characters. I loved the meet cute between them. Once they met, they seemed to keep running into each other. Cecily is a pod caster and to save not only her job, but one of her best friends she agrees to be on a podcast show where she goes on 20 first dates that is set up by a matchmaking internet influencer. The problem is, is that she is falling for Will.

Like I said this was a cute, and at times had me laughing romcom. Perfect if you are just in the mood for a light romance.