The most beautiful ghost story ever. This is not a horror novel by any means. Grief, love and memory are poured into these pages like fine sea salt.
Konstantin Duhovny lost his father when he was 10. He never stops missing him or regretting that his last words were in anger. After his father passes, Kostya starts to have "tastes" of one of his father's favorite dishes. We get to see Kostya's journey from poverty all the way to executive chef of his own restaurant, all while figuring out his clairgustance; a clairvoyant power of bringing the dead back through tastings. The food is a way to help hungry ghosts move on and let their Livings have closure. But Kostya has rendered a rip in the Veil and the ghosts are getting hungrier.
I cannot stress enough how brilliant and beautiful this story is.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this digital e-arc.*

**Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this free digital review copy.**

I am a sucker for a chef novel, and with the marketing comparing Lavelle's writing to TJ Klune, I knew I had to give this book a shot. I would actually compare this instead to "Before the Coffee Gets Cold," but since that's also a story I really enjoyed, it's not a knock on this book. Food is full of memory, and I was quickly drawn into the magic of this novel; even when things started getting darker, it never felt without hope (though trigger warnings abound). Even with the darkness, it remained truly funny, full of wit and wordplay that was so much fun. And I even came close to getting emotional toward the end because I had come to care about the characters so much. This is very impressive as a debut novel, and I'm interested in what Lavelle will do next!

This book’s concept was five star material, but the execution fell somewhere around three. It was magical realism that didn’t quite read as magical, but instead as slow moving contemporary fiction. It was character-focused without enough world building to support its otherworldly premise. Having said that, the character development definitely yielded the necessary emotional connection to turn on the waterworks multiple times. So kudos for that! The pacing was slow and I never felt compelled to pick it up (until I hit the last 5-10%). It really just wasn’t a hit for me, as much as I wanted it to be. It also never made me hungry, which was an exceptionally unexpected outcome.

I don’t even know how to start this review. This book left me; Hungry, because the meals that Kostya was describing and cooked when he was getting the aftertastes from the dead loved ones were literal YUM even the weird snacks lol, AND left me in TEARS. This book is magical, the characters were everything. When Kostya hones on his gift, that he can taste food from people who has passed on and when he started to make those meals, or drinks or snacks, He thinks he’s doing something good for the living who want to say their last goodbyes, he has his best friend Frankie who is even supportive of him and this journey. And when he meets Maura, he falls for her and then months later she plays such an important part in his life. This book has all the romance I needed, and fantasy/paranormal (those are not my type of reads, but this one was an exception I was willing to take.)

I guess I did have something to say when it comes to this book, lol. This book was just amazing, its a book that will stay with me for a while.

Easily one of my top reads of the year, Aftertaste takes you on a culinary journey through grief. What if you could have one last meal with someone you’ve lost? What if you could give that gift to others? Kostya has been lost in his grief for a very long time when he accidentally discovers his ability to help bring people closure. This sets him on an adventure through the New York culinary scene. Through helping all these lost souls, perhaps he can find healing himself.

I think it’s a rare beauty when a story your soul strongly connects with comes into your life at the perfect time. It’s something like magic. This beautiful debut by Daria Lavelle did just that. Her writing is like diving into a cool pool on a hot summer day—refreshing, poetic, and healing. She guides us through the many kinds of grief and the importance of acknowledging what hurts us most. We are shown how heavily these losses can weigh us down and how vital it is to learn to let go. She does all of this with wit and heart, and I found myself constantly highlighting favorite quotes. If one of your love languages is food, read this. If you have lost someone and are hurting, read this. If you love deeply poetic writing and are willing to suspend disbelief for a few hundred pages, read this. I hope you find healing when you do.

I have a love/eyeroll relationship with this one. I found the first half endearing and interesting. Flirts the line of being cliche and clunky but it wasn’t hard to overlook.
The last quarter didn’t have the same effect. It seemed to dull and then the ending solidified it. Idk I gotta say it - Me and Aftertaste ended on a sour note. The epilogue was written like fluff but in reality it felt callous and mismatched with the tone of the book. (To me.)

What an interesting concept for a book. One part fantasy, one part paranormal, and one part romance. It dabbles in all, but never really quite brings about any true depth. This is, perhaps, a good fit for someone who loves the above listed sub-genres or perhaps those who appreciate YA.

I’m sure this will find an audience, but it didn’t with me. The concept fell flat and felt too forced. Just an average story that never quite delivered its conclusion.

Thank you to author, Daria Lavelle, publisher, Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review. It is available on May 20th, 2025

What if you could share one last meal with someone you lost? This is what hooked me. The book follows Konstantin, a Ukrainian immigrant who suffers a lot of loss. We meet him as a child who loses his father, and his mother as she drowns in her grief. One day, he gets a taste of a meal he’s never eaten. An aftertaste. As he grows up neglected, alone, and bullied, these aftertastes continue.

One night, while working a dishwasher job in a bar, he makes a drink for a depressed patron, and brings his departed wife back for one more conversation. We follow Konstantin’s obsessive search for more information as he works to provide this service to others. But there is always another side to these things.

This book jumps a couple different POVs which can be difficult to catch up with but once you get used to it, it works really well. There is grief, death, depression, discussions of suicide and self harm. But there is also tenderness, humor, love, and salt. We see Konstantin work through all the good and bad to grow.

We learn there is a cost on both sides of the veil, and that love and closure only do so much. The interactions are so sincere and heart-wrenching. This book did make me tear up a few times.

Overall, this is a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you want a ghostly story with heart, you’ll find it here.

You know that icebreaker game, if you could share a meal with anyone, past or present, who would it be? Well Aftertaste takes that many steps further. What if you could share a dish or a drink with a lost (deceased) loved one, something particular to a point in your relationship? You don't even need to know what the dish would be, because this genius chef has been receiving "aftertastes" for most of his life, and, if he connects with your loved one, he knows exactly what you need to see them again and gain closure. BUT.... there's always a but! Read the book. It's amazing. One of the best and most unusual things I've read in years. The cover art drew me in, the description caused me to request the ARC. Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster!

4.25 stars. What a creative and interesting story. Parts of it reminded me of A Starless Sea and Water Moon, other parts reminded me of The Bear. I loved the unexpected romance and the friendship between Kostya and Frankie. Other than some pacing issues in the first 30%, I thought this was such a well done and engaging concept.

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this.
This might be the most unique book I've read in: could not tell you when.
Stan is able to get 'tastes' from the dead: snapshots into the food emotion that is tethering them to this world, and uses that gift to open a restaurant to connect those living with those who have moved on. You get multiple POV's: mostly Stan's, but also multiple viewpoints from those in the 'Food Hall Afterlife'. Each chapter is titled after something in the food industry and, as Stan continues to connect with the dead, we're driven through the 'plot points' of a dinner, so to speak.
I wish I could write more without ruining this but I'm not sure you can: it's immersive, visual, and stunning. The food descriptions are beautiful and scrumptious. It's magical realism but done in a way that's just completely enjoyable and thought provoking. The ending is beautiful if not bittersweet.
This is just gripping from cover to cover, and I don't think anything exists quite like it.

Have you ever wished you could have one last meal with a loved one after they begin their final journey? Well, there’s an app for that…um…I mean a book for that.

Aftertaste is the story of Konstantin Duchovny who has a special ability not only to interact with ghosts, but know their favorite food as well. He initially ignores this ability, but then puts it to good use by helping others to have one last meal with a departed loved one. Not everything that glitters is gold, however, and Duchovny soon finds himself facing the consequences he has tried so hard to ignore.

This a good book with a unique story to tell. We not only follow Duchovny’s journey through grief, but also explores the different ways we will all face our own grief journey. I did, however, ultimately find it hard to really connect with the book. Some of the story felt short and “choppy” to me. It made it hard for me to follow. This is still a good book, however, and I will try reading it in hard copy form to see if that makes it easier to read for me. Sometimes a different format can make a big difference.

This was an interesting story that combined the supernatural with food. Konstantin has the ability to taste the favorite foods of people who have passed. When he makes the meals, that ghost will join him while he finishes the food. He thinks it's his purpose to reunite people with those they have loved and lost. That is until he meets someone he loves & they question the morality of what Konstantin is doing. I thought it was great book that focuses on loss, grief, healing, & what people would do to have one last meal with the person they love.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader copy of Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle. Aftertaste is a unique speculative fiction novel available 5/20/25. It’s a surprisingly dark and emotional story of grief, memories and love. I was so intrigued by the premise: after the death of his father, Konstantin “Kostya” discovers that he can "taste" the flavors of meals that ghosts have eaten. He trains as a chef and eventually is able to recreate these meals and serve them to grieving relatives, making himself a bridge between the living and the dead. The mourners are able to briefly reconnect with their lost loved ones and find closure, but at a steep cost.
I really enjoyed the stunning description of various foods that Kostya prepares and of NYC restaurant culture. I didn’t expect to feel so emotional as I delved deeper into Kostya’s relationships with his mother, his best friend and his girlfriend. I had some difficulty staying invested in the last quarter of the book which leans heavily on the dead and the afterlife. And the ending! 🥹 I’m not sure this will be for everyone, but readers who enjoy imaginative, emotional stories featuring magical realism should check this out. 3.5/5⭐️

AMAZING BOOK! I had to pause reading just because I didn’t want it to end. I’m so excited to finally leave a review for this one! The characters are incredibly rich and the humour is absolutely on point. Daria, you really know how to make us cry, laugh, and fall in love all at once! There’s so much emotional depth packed into this story—and I almost forgot to mention how hungry it made me. The food descriptions were mouthwatering!

If I had one piece of feedback, it would be about the ending. The world-building got a little complex in the final chapters, and it felt like a lot was packed in at once. Still, it didn’t take away from how much I adored this book. Thank you for writing it!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

This book has been on ALL of the summer "must read" lists! That's no surprise with such a unique story idea. I love the concept of Kostya bringing back a loved one through food, and that not turning out exactly as he envisioned.

However, I felt like there was a lot going on to add to the intensity - maybe too much. I think the book could have been just as compelling with fewer stories (threads?) to follow. I found myself wishing the book was about 50 pages shorter.

Overall though, this was a good read that kept you wondering how things were all going to work out in the end! This is a fun twist on a ghost story.

4.5 stars. Holy cow this is a special book. It deserves all of the hype and I hope it gets it. So many books these days, though they may be sweet and well written, just follow the exact beats you are expecting, this book is just wholly different.
Aftertaste tells the story of Kostya, the child of Ukrainian immigrants, who yearns to be reunited with his dead father. Throughout his early years he experiences these aftertastes, he can taste fully formed meals and flavors that someone else has eaten. By accident he realizes he can summon the ghost of a person’s loved one through these aftertastes. The way he explores his powers and his relationship with a mysterious woman named Maura form the bulk of this story.
Aftertaste is a clever and funny story that explores friendship, love, loss and longing but also a story of rising to your potential and finding a way to use your talents for good.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy of this book.

Wow what a wonderful crazy book! Definitely not my normal read but I absolutely devoured it and left no crumbs behind! This is a must read!

Aftertaste is a ghost story, a love story, and a food story all in one. Kostya can taste the favorite meals of nearby spirits—and soon discovers he can use this gift to reunite the living with their lost loved ones through food. But as he dives into the cutthroat New York culinary scene, his search for purpose stirs up more than just flavor, putting both the living and the dead at risk. I enjoyed this book, different from what I normally read!

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster and the author for an e and physical copy!

I was able to receive and eARC thanks to Netgally. On my feed, there were several people who recommended this book! The synopsis had me very intrigued, but I did not expect for there to be so much culinary aspects involved. You could tell the author had done extensive research and it showed through. This was an easy read, I enjoyed.