I'm still debating on how to classify this one - as it dipped into horror, romance and some fantasy as well as culinary/food culture. Unfortunately, despite the unique premise I don't think it went far enough into any of them to be truly satisfying. I didn't love the romance between Kostya and Maura, but there were still aspects of this I enjoyed - specifically the initial concept of sharing a meal with the ghost of someone special and the recognition of how food and dining play such a meaningful role in our lives and memories.

4.25 (posting a review tomorrow on bookstagram)

4.25⭐️

Thank you Simon Schuster for a copy of this eARC and physical ARC.

The best way to describe this book is that I’m hungry and depressed. Reading the synopsis, I knew I was bound to shed a tear or two. After reading the first few chapters, I wanted to call my dad and give him a hug. The trauma 😭✋🏼

I know it was early in the book, but that part was written so well. Daria wrote about the experience of immigrating to a new country so well, all the way down to being judged and bullied for having different foods for lunch at school, silently wishing you had a hamburger like everyone else. Now, I’d kill for a bowl of sinigang and would not care if my classmates made fun of me for its “stinky smell”. And the fight Kotsya and his dad had with each other before he died? TRAUMA. I’m having flashbacks 😭

I will have to say that for some, the writing style may be at a slower pace. I know I found myself at times wanting it to pick up a bit more or the interchanging timelines to be confusing. Once you get the part where Kotsya begins training as a sous chef, or even when he makes the first man a Spectral Sour, it really takes off.

Beautifully written. Thank you for allowing me to read this!

Aftertaste is a beautifully written book, one of love, loss, grief, and what it is to finally find closure. I love how it is written in such a creative way, incorporating food and spirits. At first, the book was off to a rocky start. I could not see how food and its aftertaste could mesh with seeing spirits and bringing back the dead. But as I continued reading, I became intrigued. This is such a unique concept, and the way it is written, it becomes more and more beautiful with every page. By the end, I found myself in tears. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting a great read!
Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Daria Lavelle for this ARC. It's an outstanding debut, and I am looking forward to Lavelle's future works of art!

Aftertaste is a rich, inventive debut about a chef who can taste the favorite foods of the dead—and serve comfort to the living. With sharp writing, emotional depth, and a dash of the supernatural, Daria Lavelle serves up a story that’s equal parts heartwarming and haunting.

I was so excited to read this book. Between the fascinating and unique synopsis and all the hype I've seen, I was ready to be deeply immersed in this book. While the book absolutely kept my interest and attention, it really wasn't what I was expecting from the synopsis. For whatever reason, I expected a beautiful, poignant, heartwarming read. I expected really emotional scenes between the living and their deceased loved ones. I expected to be moved to tears and to have a lot of big feelings when reading this.
Unfortunately, my expectations were all wrong and unmet. It's not fair to blame the book for that; I misinterpreted what the book would be. But I still feel it's important to share my review for anyone else who might be expecting the same thing.
While there were a few short scenes that gave that warm feeling I was looking for, that was such a small percentage of the book. I loved the concept of the "aftertastes" and how the main character used those aftertastes to give the living a chance to have one last visit with someone they had lost. However, the book took a really dark turn that I didn't love. At times it was a bit confusing to me, and there were plot points that felt totally unnecessary to me (the gangster restaurant owner, for one).
The kitchen scenes, with all their intensity and fancy cuisine, did remind me of watching The Bear. However, I found myself getting bored with the detailed food descriptions at times. I understood and enjoyed the breakdown of the aftertastes, but I could've done without things like the extensive and detailed list of all the spices the main character had to acquire. That's just one example, but there were several times the food descriptions got so detailed that I found myself skipping paragraphs without it having any bearing on the plot.

I know this review makes it sound like I didn't like the book at all, but that's not the case. I do wish I had gone into it without incorrect expectations, because perhaps I would've responded to it differently. But even with the things I didn't love, I did still care enough about the story to see where it led, and I did care about the characters. I would still recommend this to others, but would also want them to know that rather than a beautiful, poignant magical realism story, it's more of a genre-bending magical realism-paranormal-light horror story.

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

This was a book that I know is going to stick with me and will be one that I recommend to everyone! It's unique and sucked me right in. A foodie, ghost book that deals with grief and memories through the meals tied to them. I loved the perception of the afterlife created in the story. You also get a glimpse into the cutthroat world of kitchens (fans of the TV show The Bear would like this book). Read it!

Enjoyable read! This story had all the feels for me. The ending had me in tears.

Konstantin Duhovny, or Kostya, lost his father was he was just a kid. He has grieved him every since. He's been wandering aimlessly through his life trying to find his place in it. His taste buds have been haunted by ghosts ever since, he can taste their favorite meals. Flavors he's never tasted before just burst over his tongue. That's how he knows that a ghost is present.

When he figures out that he can reunite a loved one with a ghost to get closure, it becomes his mission. It brings him joy to see people get closure. But the ghosts he brought back were now tethered to him instead.

When he meets Maura, who's sister had died, she figures out too late what she pushed him into. Now they must fix what happened on the other side of the veil before it's too late.

*I received a complimentary copy of this ARC via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Just like when a good meal can evoke emotions and memories of the past, when a book makes me feel anything, especially when I cry multiple times reading a book, I am going to love it.

And this book is a masterpiece in that sense. I love the normal idea of food evoking memories of loved ones and both good and negative things from the past. But Lavelle took that concept and ramped it up to 11 with the paranormal and allowing for people to get closure with their loved ones and set them free to the afterlife. The execution of this concept and the twist that throws it on its head are phenomenal.

There’s a part where a character is asked just how much they would pay for the chance to see their loved one that they lost again and that resonated. I would give quite a bit for the opportunity to see my grandma again and if that opportunity came in the form of a delicious meal, you bet I would pay whatever it takes.

On top of all of this there is a beautiful love story that also contains its own twists and turns, ups and downs and sex so good that one of them may just die a little. The ending of this left me shattered and broken, just like the barrier between to the afterlife and as I was picking up the pieces of me that were scattered about, I found so much beauty in the way this story was told, in the way that Lavelle wrapped it all up. I reread the ending before writing this and I am in tears again. I wish I did not wait so long to pick up this ARC. I would have been screaming about this one for months.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @simonbooks for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the idea of this book. A chef who tastes a spirit’s most meaningful meal and then can cook it and when the spirit’s loved one eats it, the spirit will be able to cross the veil and talk to their loved one.

Unfortunately, the book fell a little flat for me. It was trying to be romance and paranormal/horror, but for me, it didn’t really hit either properly. The romance between Konstantin and Maura felt like insta-love. There wasn’t enough development of it on the actual page. I really liked the world of ghosts when it was first introduced in the story, but I kept waiting to understand it more, but as more was explained, I just got more confused (this may have just been a me problem).

The other thing that wasn’t for me in this book was the ending. I knew the book would deal a lot with grief so I was expecting parts of it to be sad, but I was hoping for a happy ending and for me the book didn’t deliver on that. In my opinion it was more a bittersweet ending.

I did love the cooking aspect of the book and all the different recipes that were talked about. I also thought Konstantin was a strong character and I enjoyed reading about him.

THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. Easily one of my favorite things I’ve read this year. Here are five things I loved about this 5 star read:

The premise is so unique. It borders on kind of ridiculous at times but is so well balanced that it feels real and believable.

I fell in love with every single character in this book. They are very well developed and complex, and I couldn’t help but root for all of them and care deeply about what was happening to them.

The writing, especially about grief, is incredibly profound and moving. I cried several times. Also the descriptions of food were so vivid and made me so hungry that I basically became a hangry ghost myself

The pacing and way the story was divided allowed me to fly through this. I couldn’t put it down! It was so easy to read this in one sitting.

That ENDING. Oh my god. It GUTTED me. It’s EXQUISITE.

Aftertaste comes out 5/20 and is sure to be at the top of many end of the year reading lists. Don’t miss out!

Thank you to Simon Schuster and Netgalley for this ARC!

This is genuinely one of the best books I have ever read! I am so so thankful to have received an arc. The entire premise was just so unique and creative and the writing was perfectly executed. Konstantin’s beautiful unique story gave such a fresh perspective on love, loss & dealing with grief. I felt every single emotion while reading this. This is genuinely now one of my favorite books and I will never stop recommending it. What an amazing debut novel from Lavelle!!!

I absolutely loved the magical realism premise of this: a man can connect with the dead by tasting their favorite meal. The descriptions of different foods is truly mouth-watering, and these characters all felt fully fleshed out. However, at the end of the book, I felt like I couldn't give this five stars. First, it felt like there were multiple plot points that didn't really serve the overall storytelling (and which led to the book being slightly too long), and then there was the ending. The ending leaned way too far into fantasy for me. Magical realism always has to have a strong foundation in real life; we believe these things are possible because they happen in a grounded, realistic way. By going full supernatural for the ending, I felt let down by the time I reached the conclusion of this book. I'm still giving it four stars because it kept me captivated, but I'm disappointed that this one wasn't a slam dunk for me.

This book was probably one of the most unique reads of the year. The book focuses on a chef who has the ability to “taste” a passed souls favorite meal and when he cooks it he’s able to bring them back to gain closure. The chef himself is still holding on to his father, who died in an accident after a fight and he sees his abilities as a way to find closure himself.

I loved the characters, especially Frankie and Maura, as well as the whole concept of this book. And the ending… so well done without it being predictable.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you’re looking for an insanely bizarre read that will make you question the afterlife, feel some things, and make you hungry, this ones for you 🙌🏼 This was by far one of the most unique plots I’ve come across in a while and I loved watching Konstantin test the limits of his talents and gifts.

⚡️ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
- the dark humor
- the kitchen scenes - it reminded me of The Bear, and if you’re a fan of the show, you’d like Aftertaste

⚡️ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
- it felt a little long winded in some parts and the overly drawn out food descriptions lost me at times (AND I LOVE FOOD)
- non-MC perspective it switched to regularly confused me because the narrator wasn’t clear
- Maura

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this advanced copy!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this debut.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the book for me. I’m DNF’ing at 7%. I find the writing to be beautiful, but I’m not interested in reading more about the main character Kostya.

I’ve read so many raving reviews for this, so I’ll still recommend it. It’s just not for me.

Aftertaste is the story of Kostya, a young man who can taste the dead. Kostya’s father died when he was 10 and shortly after, he gets his first “taste” from the afterlife, a liver meal that his father had enjoyed. After that the tastes keep coming till one night Kostya decides to recreate the taste, and to his surprise, the ghost that the taste belongs to appears.
Kostya has help along the way from his best friend, Frankie, and a new girlfriend, Maura, and decides to try to help more people say goodbye to loved ones by recreating these aftertastes in exclusive private dining experiences.
I had low expectations for the book (judged it on the cover!) but ended up really enjoying it. Finished it quickly, in just two days. I thought it was a unique storyline with enjoyable characters. Definitely 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for access to this ARC.

3 🌟

"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."

Sounds great, right? Except I wish that authors/publishers/editors/whoever wouldn't put stuff like this in the description of their books. Know why? It sets my expectations unrealistically high. Under the Whispering Door is one of my favorite books. Aftertaste is not that at all. This book didn't provide the warm fuzzy feeling/hug to my soul that Under the Whispering Door provided. Stop comparing books like this. I see it all the time, and it's not helpful!

Now that my rant is over, I actually enjoyed several things about this book. Daria Lavelle is a good character writer. I liked Kostya and Maura; they felt realistic and not like some caricatures. Kostya got bullied in school for being different; he's not exactly a smokeshow; he doesn't have some fantastic, enviable life - he's a regular guy, for the most part. The grief portrayed in Aftertaste feels authentic and is handled well. The food descriptions made me hungry sometimes while reading. It made me wish I enjoyed cooking more.

Recommended for readers who enjoy some paranormal elements in their literary fiction.

Thank you to NetGalleyand Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

Thank you net galley! 3.5

I wish I liked this book more. Don't get me wrong its very intriguing and it's not bad at all. I enjoyed it. I just felt like it was trying to include to many genres.

Thank you Simon Books for my #gifted ARC and thank you Simon Audio for my #gifted ALC of Aftertaste! #simonbooksbuddy #Aftertaste #simonaudio #DariaLavelle

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐀𝐫𝐢 𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐤𝐨𝐬, 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫é 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐚, 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐡
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Kostya lost his dad when he was 10 and ghosts have been hovering around ever since. While he can’t see them, he can taste them their favorite food as aftertastes. He discovers that he can reunite people with their deceased loved ones through the dishes he’s prepared, and offer some closer in the New York culinary scene. But there are always consequences for disrupting the afterlife.

This book is so many things in one and nothin like what I expected it to be. It’s a story about grief, and about love, and the spiritual world. It’s about the culinary world and will have your mouth watering the entire time. It’s about how food brings out certain memories in people. It’s a work of contemporary fiction, combined with magical realism and paranormal elements. It was unlike anything I’ve read. Emotional at times. Quite the page turner. This book is for anyone who has ever wanted more time with someone they’ve lost. I felt a special connection with this one, especially after losing my dad a few years ago and who was quite a lover of food and the culinary world. This is one to definitely put on your radar!

🎧I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by a an amazing cast! I felt like they did such an amazing job bringing this story to life and I LOVED my time listening to this one. Ari Fliakos was exceptional along with Albertson, Santana, and Sieh. I highly recommend this one on audio!

Posted on Goodreads on May 17, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around May 17, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 20, 2025
**-will post on designated date

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Aftertaste
Author: Daria Lavelle
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: May 20, 2025

Aftertaste stands out as my choice for the most original plot of 2025. I am still contemplating the book and intend to reread it next month to appreciate its intricate plot better. The narrative begins with young Kosta, our lead protagonist, attempting to persuade his father to play a game before Dad leaves for work. Their impoverished circumstances require his father’s punctuality, so he consistently denies Kosta’s repeated requests. In a moment of anger, Kosta resorts to cruel words directed at his father, which will be the final thing his father hears before his untimely death on that very day. Kosta is overcome with grief and guilt, which will haunt him throughout his life, propelling him on a quest to reconnect with his father from beyond the grave. He wants a do-over. The concept of experiencing the presence of loved ones through the food they prepared or ate during life is a captivating element of the novel. Kosta’s decision to become a chef demonstrates the transformative power of food in bridging the gap between the living and the departed. While his quest is all-consuming, the supporting characters contribute significantly to the depth and complexity of the narrative. However, Kosta remains unaware that summoning the dead carries inherent risks. I wholeheartedly concur that the cherished memories of meals shared with loved ones are among the most precious gifts of life. I anticipate that Aftertaste will be tremendously popular and eagerly await other readers’ reviews.

#fantasy #fiction #romance #magicalrealism #paranormal #horror #ghosts #aftertaste @netgalley @daria.lavelle.author #food #ghosts #book #books #bookstagram @simonandschuster

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.