This book blew me away with it's unique and trippy concept. Kostya has the ability to experience a powerful taste of a meal/drink that is significant to a person who has passed away but whose spirit is still lingering nearby tethered to a still living human. When he recreates the taste perfectly and the living being consumed it the deceased is visible and can have a conversation for the duration of the meal. Kostya is obsessed with the idea of bringing back his father to make up for their ill fated last conversation. Focusing his entire life around food Kostya eventually creates a dining experience for others to have one final meal with their dearly departed. What Kostya doesn't consider is what is happening behind the veil, why these spirits are still present., and what effects his aftertaste meals have on the dead. This book was riveting and visceral. I wanted to eat everything Kostya cooked, was entranced by his love story with Maura, and was moved by the ending. This book isn't perfect, some parts were really bizarre, even more magical realism, and sometimes it went on a bit too much., But overall this was unlike anything I had ever read and I enjoyed it.

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle is a hauntingly beautiful novel centered on Konstantin, a man grappling with the immense loss of his father and a most unusual gift: the ability to taste the meals of ghosts. The core of this story is a poignant exploration of grief, weaving through its different stages—from denial to anger and, ultimately, a search for meaning.

The book excels at using food as a powerful metaphor for human connection. The meals Konstantin tastes are not just flavors; they are echoes of the people and memories attached to them, highlighting how our relationships are built and sustained through shared moments, often around a table. This unique premise offers a genuinely thoughtful look at how unresolved grief can impact both the living and the dead, and the necessity of finding closure in the face of loss.

The novel is a truly original and a deeply thoughtful read. It's a mystery that is less about what happened and more about how we process the things that happen to us. Aftertaste is a rewarding experience for anyone who appreciates a story with a quiet, emotional depth.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Shuster for this thoughtful read.

Is there a Foodie Grief Horror genre? There may be now.

Not for fast food readers with Tik Tok attention spans, Aftertaste serves up an exquisite seven course meal of supernatural clairgustance, grief horror, love and complications, with a cast of deeply flawed yet entirely believable characters.

Lavelle’s prose is spectacular, her world-building immaculate and complex, entirely immersive and addictive. I couldn’t put this one down. Not light on seasoning or layers of emotions, flavors, sorrow, or the everlasting power of love.

I heard so many good things about this book, and it lived up to the hype. Daria Lavelle adeptly blended magical realism and horror (not a genre I typically read) with a story set in the NYC food scene. I loved the uniqueness and of this story; there was one plot point that didn’t work for me, and I still enjoyed the book. While I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone, Aftertaste will be the perfect read for someone who is interested in experimental fiction.

What a spectacularly interesting and original story. I’m not usually into the fantasy and magical realism genre, but the description sounded too good to resist. I am so glad I went against my typical type. It’s about food and our relationship to it and to people. The story is about grief, love, and explores just about every emotion we have. Kosta has lost so much when he discovers he can help people find closure via his synesthesia. And so begins a really interesting and complex read filled with an interesting cast of characters. This book needs to be on your to-read list. Very different in a great way.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is one of my favorite reads of 2025. It’s a great concept: Konstantin Duhovny (Kostya) can taste a ghost’s most meaningful meal, prepare that meal for their loved one, and facilitate a brief reunion during that meal. Daria Lavelle uses this framework to tell an incredibly moving story exploring love, loss, grief, and hunger/longing. It includes an epic romance but delves into so many other forms of love. And while the ghosts play an important role in the story, I wouldn’t classify this as horror. I think it’s a beautiful example of magical realism with a generous sprinkling of dark humor.

Lavelle’s writing is brilliant and empathetic. I was immediately drawn into the story, with imagery so vibrant that I felt like I was there, experiencing what Kostya experiences. The characters felt real, like people I might know. They’re all flawed yet likable. The plot was more complex than I expected, and I was surprised by many of the twists. The story includes difficult subjects, and there were moments when I cried, and others where I genuinely feared for the characters. But the overall tone was sweet and hopeful, and I loved the ending.

I was surprised to learn that this is Lavelle’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next. Also, if you visit her website and share your own aftertaste, she’ll send you a bonus scene.

I received a free advanced review copy through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

Have you ever wanted to have one last meal with someone important in your life? Someone you desperately miss. If so, this is a book that you should read. Dark at times, but a great read.

This book gets 4 stars if for nothing else than its creativity. The author is a strong writer and I enjoyed the characters and plot. At times it felt a bit “out there” for me but when I just went with it, I ended up enjoying it. I put off reading this for quite a long time but I was glad I finally picked it up.

Fascinating concepts all around! I have always been intrigued by the concepts of death and the subsequent grief, and so I am naturally drawn toward works that explore both. I think it was a little bit slow to start, but once I was hooked, I was hooked. Will have to sit with my thoughts for a few more days, just to properly digest it all.

This was a weird tale of ghosts and culinary arts that I thought was clever and entertaining.
It was not horror or comedy despite the categories and descriptors I’ve seen, but more of a work of speculative fiction. It was also sad and dark in a sadder sort of way. I thought most of the characters were unlikable, but I genuinely enjoyed the paranormal aspect expressing itself through food and the way the story explored that.
I don’t know exactly who I would recommend this book to which is the trouble. I mostly enjoyed it but some of it was so over the top and some of it was wrong (what was with the whole tattoo scene?) and it was a weird book.
I think it work make a good movie or limited series, though.

This title was really interesting. I think the premise was was captivating and the writing took it to where it needed to go. I found the main characters relationships with those around him to be a little off putting but I also think that was intentional to make the rewards feel a way about him.

This was such a unique book. I really enjoyed it. The main character, Kostya has struggled his entire life to understand why he can taste certain foods - - specifically, foods that remind him of loved ones who've passed on. When he accidentally discovers a way to bring someone back briefly from the other side with a special cocktail that was this person's happy memory, it opens possibilities to him. It also helps him to know he isn't crazy.

Aftertaste is more than a story about food and ghosts - - it's also a romance. The pieces of this book all fit together perfectly to make for a beautiful and satisfying story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this early copy.

This was a really unique book. The story was well written and a fascinating concept. The characters were very real and well developed.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Simon & Schuster for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

I REALLY wanted to love this one more than I did - I was more than a little bummed that I just didn't enjoy the writing style.

The premise was great - the food portion of the story was next level amazingly good. The love story? Interesting. The ghosts and all of the elements to them and how they communicate? I liked - but felt the pacing could have picked up a bit.

The ending of this book is what bumps it up to 4 stars for me - because that ending was absolutely soul destructing and oh how I sobbed. ABSOLUTELY gorgeous ending, and a book I will highly encourage others to read.

My list of books to review was already far too long, but I couldn't resist the premise of Aftertaste, especially with Under the Whispering Door as a comp title.

I doubt many people would turn down the opportunity to share one last meal with a loved one who has passed on. When characters in this novel are reunited with that person, their brief time together is filled with both joyous highs and profoundly sad moments. I re-read several beautifully written passages. It's also clear the author is very familiar with the culinary arts from running a kitchen in the back of the house to the front of the house operations. Courses range from homecooked comfort food to the forbidden ortolan bird. Foodies will devour (pun totally intended) the detailed, mouth-watering food descriptions. Some odd dishes are also included, but everyone has their own unusual preferences.

Love interest Maura is a likeable, quirky character who experienced a tragic loss of her own, but the romance between her and Kostya plays into more of the plot than I expected. That's a me thing since I'm not a big fan of the genre. Her late in the story revelation made me waver in my opinion of her, but I decided her heart was in the right place.

For the first half of the story, I felt like I had a firm grasp of the ghostly realm and how the spirits are connected to food. Somewhere along the way the rules change and became a little murkier for me.

With Russian mobsters, a food court on the other side, and a unique spin on the afterlife, I'd recommend Aftertaste to readers who enjoy novels that explore the connection between food and memories, bittersweet tales, and stories about grief and love.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow wow wow!!! I loved every minute of this book! It was such a unique story line but there was still a familiarity from movies I had grown up with. It gave me all the Ghostbusters vibes mixed with Ratatouille and even The Bear tv show. It was really well done. All the food and cooking made me so hungry. I gave this book an easy 4.5 stars!! 👏🏼👏🏼

When the memory of a food brings back a ghost, any chef would strive to create that perfect meal. Especially one who has lost their father.

As you can see from the very high average review, this book is very much for a LOT of people. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them.
There is a very distinct writing style in this book, one that places as much emphasis on visual descriptions of the scene as the tastes of the food. While I thought the tasting portions really elevated this story, the languorous pace of the scene-setting struggled to hold my attention. I also didn't feel overly connected to the characters, despite following some of them for years.

Regardless, it would be difficult to argue that this is not one of the most unique fantasy stories of the year. The interplay between food and memory, already such a strong element of cultural appreciation and family history, translated into the summoning of those spirits was presented very powerfully. This is a strongly emotional book, as much about the consequences that follow us into the future as the events of the past.

I really loved the idea behind Aftertaste a chef who can taste the favorite meals of the dead and uses food to reconnect people with lost loved ones? That’s an incredible premise. There’s a lot of emotional potential here, and the food writing is mouthwatering and vivid. The combination of grief, romance, and culinary magic had me intrigued from the start.

But as much as I wanted to love this, it didn’t quite deliver the depth I was hoping for. The themes of loss and healing felt a little rushed, and the romance didn’t fully convince me. Some moments were touching, but others leaned too hard into quirk without grounding the characters. I also felt the “fiery ring of Hell” part was underdeveloped it felt more like a setup than a real challenge.

Still, it’s a unique and creative story, and readers who enjoy sensory writing and unconventional plots might find more to savor. I just wish it had gone a bit deeper beneath the surface.

Aftertaste is the debut novel from Ukrainian-American writer Daria Lavelle. It tells the story of Konstantin “Kostya” Duhovny, who discovers he has an uncanny gift: clairgustance, the ability to taste foods loved by departed souls. That sensory ability propels him from dishwasher to visionary chef, opening a restaurant to help the grieving reconnect with lost loved ones through their favorite meals from beyond the grave.

The mix here of magical realism, supernatural romance, dark comedy, and speculative fiction makes for an inventive debut that feels so original. At its core this book is a touching meditation on grief, closure, and finding purpose. Kostya’s journey, haunted by his father’s death yet driven to help others, is both heartbreaking and empowering. Characters like Kostya’s roommate Frankie bring warmth and comic relief. Meanwhile, the complex psychic Maura adds romance and tension, though I felt their relationship developed too quickly

Aftertaste is a bold, flavorful, and imaginative debut. Its rich sensory detail and inventive premise make it a fascinating read. It’s a novel that lingers, like an aftertaste, with emotion and unforgettable flavor. If you are a fan of magical realism, food writing, and bittersweet storytelling; this one’s for you.

I was excited by the premise of this story, but unfortunately, the excitement quickly left. I would read and read and think, there is going to come a point where everything comes together and sets this story ablaze. Sadly I felt like I was eating an endless bowl of porridge that never got any smaller. The story stagnated for me and I would put it down, read something else and come back to it, Still the same.. About 60% in I gave up. This is so rare for me, but I have so many other books waiting for my time.

You want my honest review, this was not for me. I know it will hit the sweet spot for others.

My Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.