What if you could have one last meal with someone you’ve loved, someone you’ve lost? Combining the magic of Under the Whispering Door with the high-stakes culinary world of Sweetbitter, Aftertaste is an epic love story, a dark comedy, and a synesthetic adventure through food and grief.

I loved this book, the speed, details, and weave of storytelling as just amazing. Thank you to NetGalley for this copy!

This book really has everything. It's a restaurant drama, a romance, a ghost story, an examination of grief and memory and food.

I loved Kostya, I loved watching him grow and change over the course of the story. He broke my heart but he also healed it.

The descriptions of food are mouthwatering, and the connections drawn between grief and food and love made me tear up more than once. I'm normally not a romance person but I found myself so charmed by Maura and Kostya.

I loved this book - it's going to stay with me for a long time, like the memory of a fantastic meal.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This has the potential to be my favorite book of the year. It certainly is my favorite four months in.

Magical realism, speculative fiction, foodie, life-and-death-and-love. This book covers it all with incredible descriptions not just of the NYC restaurant scene, but the gritty aspects of cooking your way to fame. Add in the emotion of the MC losing his father young (his immigrant father) and you have grief, and tenderness and emotion told in such perfect detail. I think you could also say this book touches on synesthesia, a fascinating subject to me.

Above it all is the magic of food, whether it helps depict your culture, your family traditions; how food and its preparation and presentation can trigger memories and emotions.

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. Exquisite.

Speculative Fiction at its finest. A bit of a thriller, high stakes magical realism wrapped up in a novel which makes you think. The MMC is an immigrant who loses his father young. The loss haunts him and shapes his life...and his dearh. An interesting exploration on food, grief, loss, love, and the memories that tie us to those we have lost. A unique novel, Aftertaste made me think about who my person would be, and what we would eat.

I loved the food descriptions and kitchen scenes. Those who like stories about the culinary experience will enjoy this one. Some of it was hard for me to understand but in the end I think I put it all together.

Aftertaste is no doubt going to be one of the biggest books of the year- I am totally obsessed with it.

I laughed out loud, I cried, I felt deep grief, and deep hope all at the same time.

A book has never ever moved me as much as this book did.

Aftertaste is about a man, Konstantin, whose life is haunted by his last interaction with his father, prior to his father’s unexpected death.

When he starts to experience unexplainable “tastes” in his mouth, of his father’s favorite meal, he reaches out to his mother for help, believing his father is trying to contact him - but all she gives him is a stay at a mental hospital.

As he grows up, Konstantin realizes he actually has a gift- one that links him with the supernatural world, and can help him reunite people with their deceased loved ones for one last meal , but is it really a gift, or a curse?

I can not hype this book up enough.

Aftertaste is a story about so many things- food and how it makes us who we are, a love story, a story on grief and healing, and a ghost story, all rolled into one perfect book.

All of the characters have heart and felt so real and I ached with them all and their pain.

Please read this book now, it will change your life, it’s that good!


Thank you to the author, Daria Lavelle, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is about a man named Konstantin who immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine as a child. Konstantin has the ability to taste the favorite meals of the dead. When he cooks the meal and feeds it to a loved one of the deceased, he can bring them back for the length it takes to eat the food.

It's part paranormal, part love letter to fine dining and the culinary scene in New York City. I haven't seen it, but I've heard of the movie The Menu and it reminded me of that but less killing people.

Though I love baking and cooking and food, I can't really connect to the fine dining culinary experience type of cooking so I think maybe that was lost on me.

This book was really well written and so engaging! I could tell the author really had a love for the New York culinary scene. There was some great commentary about the culinary career and the rich who consume fine dining. There is also a discussion to be had about memories and the food we enjoy with others and its meaning in our lives. Lavelle wrote a beautiful novel that would be a great book club pick.

I really try to finish the books I start but sometimes one sneaks into my list that I will not force myself to read nor take up my valuable time. This is one, at about 15% it came to a DNF.
I am sure others will be able to appreciate and overcome the sadness it portrayed for me. The storyline did sound interesting but the main character was unlikeable for me. 2 stars is the best I can do.

I could not convince myself to like this. It’s well written, it’s just not for me. I felt like it was dragging on for the entire book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. Aftertaste is a new speculative fiction novel that experiments with the idea of the main character, Kostya, who can experience vivid aftertastes of the favorite meals of those who have passed away. Kostya first discovers that he has this power at a young age, shortly after he experiences tragic loss himself, and later in his life, he even learns that this power lends his ability to bring back visceral ghosts of those who’ve passed away, for a short time. The rules defining this power, Kostya’s ambitions and experiences, personal drivers, etc. unfold as we progress through the novel.

The premise of this book was so unique and drew me in right away! I thought the format of this book was clever, switching between a narrative third person format and a ghost hosting an experience tour of this story… without revealing too much, the voice of these two styles and narrations are clever and certainly engaging. I think the author did a great job at developing the nature of this aftertaste power throughout the book and tying in discussions about grief with is, as well. It’s also worth noting that if you are a foodie, you will be salivating over some of these food descriptions!

I did struggle a bit with Kostya as a character, I found him a unlikable at times and his attitude just frustrating to contend with in the novel. But, I don’t think this was overpowering enough to take much away from the book.

I think this book will be a hit for many and look forward to seeing what others think when this is published! I’d recommend this book to contemporary fiction fans and those who like speculative fiction that is grounded in reality.

Evocative food writing with a haunting and thoroughly original concept, Aftertaste is a book you’ll easily devour in a single sitting.

While I’m not usually a fan of strictly supernatural stories, or anything too far removed, I do love a ghost story grounded in reality. Here, author Daria Lavelle cooks up a perfect blend, with the fantasy elements rooted in a well-developed relationship drama. There are plenty of twists and turns, and I think if there was anything to critique, it would be that the plot can at times be a bit confusing to keep straight. Between Kostya’s career, his ghosts, his father, his budding romantic relationship with Maura, dealing with Russian mobsters, and his friendship with Frankie, there’s a lot going on!

This unique book is a must-read for 2025.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC to review. All opinions are my own and this book will be published on May 20,2025. This one was just 3 stars for me. It was a blend of horror, culinary arts, and a dash of horror. The problem was it did not gel into a cohesive cake. The main character of Kostya and the romance with Maura seemed at odds with each other at times. The style of writing did not catch my attention and hold it even with a somewhat compelling story idea. It just did not translate into the writing itself.

Bordering on cozy horror almost, Aftertaste was such a unique concept as a storyline because who wouldn't give anything to see your passed love ones again through food?

The author's way of describing the aftertastes that the MC experiences is so vivid and well written, I could almost taste them too! I really lved being able to see how people experience their grief and their closure through food, especailly since food is a very important thing in my household.

Despite this, I felt like there were too many plot threads bringing us to the ending, and it sometimes was really confusing to me as to where the story was going, and what was actually happening to the spirtis. I kind of wish the author would have streamlined the storyline vs including other POVs.

I also honestly was NOT a fan of the ending- for a book that's compared to TJ Klune's writing, I really feel like there needs to be more of a happy ending than what we got, even though it did make sense in the whole of the plot, i was left feeling realy disastified.

I will keep an eye on this author for sure, i really overall loved the story and it gave me the good fuzzy feelings inside!

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle is a heartfelt and refreshingly original story that blends humor and grief in a way that feels both genuine and deeply touching. The characters are beautifully written—flawed, lovable, and achingly human. I found myself truly caring about their journeys and emotional growth.

What sets this book apart is how it balances light and dark moments. Just when the weight of grief begins to settle in, Lavelle masterfully introduces moments of comedic relief that never feel forced. These lighter scenes offer space to breathe while still honoring the depth of loss and healing.

Overall, Aftertaste is a unique, moving read that lingers long after the final page. It's a reminder that even in the messiness of life, love, laughter, and connection can still thrive.

A good indicator of how much I enjoyed a book is how much I think about it after I’ve finished reading. I finished Aftertaste two weeks ago and have thought about it almost everyday since. Part ghost story, part romance, part culinary experience, this book is different from anything I’ve read before! Kostya can communicate with the dead through food. A taste is sent to him from a nearby ghost and Kostya must prepare the food for the loved one the ghost wants to communicate with. When the food is eaten the ghost comes back to the land of the living for a short bit seeking closure so they can pass on, no longer being in limbo as a hungry ghost. No book is perfect but the negatives are hard to find in Aftertaste. The pacing was a little slow for my liking and there’s a subplot/conflict that felt unnecessary but it makes up a very small portion of the book. There’s a lot chatter about this book still weeks before the release and I really hope it’s well received, I really want to see more from Daria Lavelle.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing, Simon Books, and Netgalley for an ARC of Aftertaste in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of Aftertaste!

Are you hungry? I’ve got the perfect book for you.

Aftertaste is original, delightfully funny, and full of heart in every way possible.

We follow the MMC, Kostya, through love, loss, happiness, pride, and most importantly death? He has clairgustance (like clairvoyance but with tasting things - not in the way you’re thinking nasty!). He can bring your loved ones back for one last meal through his cooking but as we find out there are repercussions.

The thing I loved most about this book is the connection between food and memory. As humans, we naturally derive meaning from cultural and important moments that we share via meals. That one pot wonder my mom made growing up? The gravy my grandma made? Eating pizza in bed hungover in college? Thinking about these meals drives a sense of hunger, nostalgia, yearning. But there’s also power in these memories, in the lives we’ve lived, the feelings we felt so intensely, and ultimately the recipes we leave behind. And that’s what Lavelle captures perfectly in “Aftertaste.”

I really wanted to like this, but I just couldn't get with the main character. I didnt enjoy them at all, I didnt find their motivations and actions to line up in a way that made the story mesh for me. Im sure this is for someone, just not for me.

having worked the front of house at many restaurants in my day this was a fun read. A lot happened that I did not expect, oddly I think it would make a great illustrated novel too. The various incidents the lead chef encounters make for a captivating read. Thank you for sharing this!

I can’t even put into words how much I loved this book and everything about it! The food, the restaurant scene, the romance, the magic. It came together to be a beautiful debut.

3.5 stars….This felt like a foodies love letter to the delectable delights they taste intertwined with a ghost story. It took me a little while to get into it but once I did it was an enjoyable read! I especially liked the tour guide aspect and how it framed the journey. I definitely feel like this was different from anything else I have read which was a nice surprise. I think we can all think of a dish or flavor that reminds us of someone we lost or a time we wish to go back to and that connection was felt while reading this book.