I liked this story of a podcast producer dealing with all of the quirks of modern dating. This would be a good book to take on vacation.

It was cute, I simply don't think I was the right reader for it. The vibes feel less "fresh and modern romance," more "chick lit." It's likely intended for an older audience or a casual romance reader. That said, there was a lot of good stuff going on, and much of the story was compelling. The romance was not in the forefront (as is my personal preference), so I found myself a bit bored at times. But solid overall.

This was an amusing story about a woman finding love unexpectedly and resisting it because it does not fit the plan. Cecily is a podcast editor and is quite good at her job. However, she has not experienced the degree of success she expects or wants. To protect her job and her best friend’s job, she agrees to participate in a podcast where an influencer (Eliza) will set her up on twenty dates and coach her on how to find true love. This presents the opportunity for numerous moments, but in the interactions between Cecily and Eliza, and the dates arranged for Cecily. Some of the dates/men are decent, while others are a disaster.

However, complicating things is that before the podcast starts, Cecily meets Will (waiter, soon to be dog owner, photographer, etc.) in a rather amusing fashion involving Buddy the dog. Circumstances seem to keep bringing Cecily and Will together, and an attraction develops. However, Will only expects to be in DC short-term and is not sure what he wants to do for a career long-term, a big contrast to Cecily, who knows exactly what she wants (or so she thinks). Also, Eliza doesn’t think Will the waiter is right for Cecily or that a Cecily-Will relationship will help Eliza sell her relationship coaching program to others. For much of the story, the reader will likely have a negative view of Eliza, although she somewhat redeems herself at the end.

My first book by Linda Holmes and I immediately added more to my TBR. A laugh out loud rom- com with the best banter! Cecily Foster is a podcast producer who works behind the scenes without the recognition she deserves. With dreams of hosting her own podcast, she finally gets that opportunity but it's not exactly what she had in mind. At a time in her life where she had given up on love, a podcast about her dating life with a popular relationship coach was the last thing she wanted to do. In order to help protect the jobs of her colleagues and friends she reluctantly agrees to do the podcast. With 20 blind dates coming up she is bound to find love but it might find her elsewhere when she least expects it! It was such a good cozy read that shows the messy process of finding love. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random house publishing for the ARC!*

So, I really really wanted to like this book but I think o wanted to quit it at least 5 times. It was extremely slow in the beginning and I also felt like it was a little repetitive and it rambled on quite a bit. It wasn’t until almost the 70% mark that it finally picked up for me and I actually got into it. I wanted Cecily to put her boss and Eliza in their places so bad. And in a way I guess they kinda did, but I wish she stood up more for herself. It kinda also just ends. You don’t really know what Cecily is going to do or Will, I mean it’s kinda hinted that Will is going to keep doing what he’s doing but as for Cecily, not really. Overall, 2.5/5 for me.

A fun lighthearted romantic comedy that will appeal to fans of the genre but overall, it is not as good or as moving as EVVIE DRAKE.

Gotta love a cute story with a happy ending. I thought it dragged at times, but I am happy I finished! I think this would be a good summer beach read!

Readers who appreciate humorous and character-focused romantic comedies will find this book particularly engaging. The story delves into the complexities and absurdities of modern dating, while also exploring the journey of self-discovery. The protagonist navigates the challenges of a demanding career and finds guidance from unexpected mentors, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative. This book appeals to those who enjoy lighthearted yet thought-provoking stories about relationships, personal growth, and the pursuit of happiness in today's fast-paced world.

This rom-com was a quick and fun read. The book follows Cecily who is a hardworking podcaster. To save her job, Cecily agrees to star in a podcast about going on 20 blind dates to find her perfect partner.
I really loved it, such a cute read!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy.

I’m a big fan of Evie Drake Starts Over so I was excited to read this book.
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Unfortunately for me this book was a slow start and I really had to push myself to finish. I don’t know if it’s because the podcast theme has been pretty popular and I’ve read some books with a similar plot.
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I did like the romance between Cecily and Will. The meet cute was adorable. A dog always makes the story better. ❤️🐶
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Thank you netgalley and Ballentine books for the opportunity to read this book.

Read Completed 3/1/25 | 3.75 stars | Book #23 of 2025

I'm a little sad! I wanted to love this but something about it just never really panned out for me. Sadly, I don't think the audiobook narration helped. The author, Linda Holmes, narrated it herself, and she did a fine job, but if I didn't know it was the author, I would have been really disappointed in it. The narration was flat and not super varied. I do appreciate when the author narrates their own books sometimes because I know we're getting it exactly how they wanted it delivered, but it was a little lacking for me.

I liked the characters and the romance. Cecily had a great connected with her love interest and they had awesome chemistry. I really liked their connection, their banter, and their story.

I don't know! There's just something missing here for me where I always felt on the outside of the story, like it just never really pulled me in. I don't know if it was an audiobook barrier or something else. I enjoyed the book, but I'm left a little disappointed for some reason.

Loved the premise of a podcasting producer ending up on a self improvement/dating podcast, it created an interesting plot line and corresponding situations. While the podcast itself didn't really require the FMC to grow, the situations surrounding it really helped to wake her up and make the changes she wanted to in her life. The meet cute was amazing and the coincidental meetings were just absurd enough to be believed. A fun look at the podcasting industry, how to make life decisions, and let yourself be in a relationship that you want to be in.

This delightful romance weaves its love story into the dynamic world of podcasts and dating shows. Cecily Foster, a seasoned podcaster and editor, dreams of finding true love and hosting her own podcast. To help save the company where she works, she agrees to go on 20 dates, guided by Eliza, an influencer who will select her potential suitors. The entire adventure will be documented as a podcast.

Cecily is a relatable character who struggles with self-esteem. Her confidence grows as she develops a relationship with Will, the charming waiter from one of her early dates who keeps reappearing in her life. I was impressed by how intricately the book portrayed the world of podcasting, offering insights into a creative field I don't often read about in novels. Will is a wonderful character, and the banter between him and Cecily is both fun and engaging.

One of the book's strengths is its nuanced portrayal of Eliza. Instead of being a one-dimensional character, she's given depth and complexity, through her characterization and interactions with Cecily. Holmes does a commendable job subverting the typical "villain" trope.

Overall, this book is a witty and charming romance set in a unique professional world. If you're in need of a comforting read to soothe the worries of the world or the heartbreak of literary fiction, you might want to give this book a try.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is an enjoyable romantic read with very likeable characters. Cecily Foster works as a podcast producer who finds herself backed into a professional corner and now needs to "play nice" with a romance/life coach in an effort to make her own content. Cecily agrees to go on 20 dates and document her journey, but unfortunately for everyone involved, she also finds herself falling in love with a man outside of these dating parameters.

This novel gives great insight into the amount of work that goes into creating and editing a podcast and also the trials of adult dating. Linda Holmes always writes delightful novels that I would happily recommend to any romance lover.

“Well, I asked you what love looks like to you, and you described a person. You said he would be funny, smart, kind, and passionate about things. But you didn’t describe the relationship itself. You didn’t say how he would treat you, or what being together would look like. Do you see what I mean? You described a person you see yourself loving, but not what it would look like for them to love you.”

Sometimes books come along at exactly the right moment. I guess it’s “good” that I’m behind on my ARC pile because I can’t think of a better time to read about dating in DC. BACK AFTER THIS follows Cecily Foster, a thirty-something woman who loves to make podcasts for a company that keeps overlooking her. When she finally has a chance to host her own show, she’s thrilled until she learns what’d it be about—her dating life, which is indefinitely on hold following a disastrous breakup with a colleague.

Still, she agrees to make a show featuring herself, a dating coach, and 20 first dates. But then she meets Will in real life in a very unexpected meet-cute. What follows is a story of self-discovery, self-interrogation about what Cecily actually wants, and a lot of funny commentary on dating in general. While I hoped this would touch on dating in DC more acutely, I did identify with the FMC a lot.

The dating coach, Eliza, gives a lot of useful advice even if she sometimes steers Cecily away from the person most people around them think is the right choice. Specifically, she encourages Cecily to look at the “whole picture.” There’s a spark? Great! There’s witty banter? Excellent. There’s fundamental incompatibilities? Very bad. Recognizing that the “right person” is the one who chooses you, who shares your vision of a life together, and who treats you well is at the core of Cecily’s character development.

Back After This by Linda Holmes is a heartfelt and engaging story about love, loss, and the unexpected ways life brings people back together. With her signature warmth and wit, Holmes creates relatable characters whose emotional journeys feel authentic and deeply human. The dialogue is sharp and natural, and the blend of humor and tenderness makes the book a compelling read.

While the pacing slows a bit in the middle, the charming characters and emotional payoff keep the story moving. Holmes’ talent for capturing the messiness of relationships—both romantic and platonic—makes this novel feel refreshingly real. Back After This is a touching and hopeful story about second chances and the healing power of connection—a perfect pick for fans of character-driven, emotionally rich fiction.

Linda Holmes is one of the author's I consistently stalk to see if she's working on a new book. There's just something comforting in a nice story, with a happy ending. This one felt a bit slow moving for me but still like picking up an old friend.

Cecily is a podcast producer with a history of bad relationships. Her boss has never helped her get ahead but suddenly he offers her a new podcast to host. The catch is that she is also the subject of the podcast where she will be coached through 20 blind dates. Cecily hates the premise, but she will do anything to secure her future in podcasting and protect the jobs of people she cares about.

This book was a cute, funny, easy read. I enjoyed Cecily's growth and personality a lot. Definitely recommend for a easy read with a great character arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of Back After This.

Another romantic podcast that was super fun and flirtatious! I don’t know if I liked it as much as BK Borison’s first time caller, but I still really liked it enough to give a four stars. A fun and quick read! Thank you, Ballantine books for my E – ARC!

I'm a longtime Linda Holmes stan due to her brilliance on Pop Culture Happy Hour and I've loved every one of her books. This one is no different. She is the best at developing characters that you care about and her books are so much more than romances. I loved the podcast element of this one, too.