A really unique read that is unlike anything I have read in recent memory. Excellent writing and characters. I admit that I found some of the earlier parts a little confusing but that could have just been my attention while reading -- five stars for the utter uniqueness of the concept and the execution by the end.

I UGLY cried. Not cutesy. Not demure. Cried with every ounce of my body. Needed a Liquid IV (should they sponsor heart-wrenching book reviews 👀) This book took me on a journey of love, grief, life, and closure. I’m speechless. It just might be my favorite book of the month.

Swipe the pic for the GoodReads blurb!

What I loved:
Even with the paranormal aspect, the characters felt human and raw. I felt their grief and their struggles. I wanted them to win and I wanted them to feel the closure they needed to move on.

I have no complaints. ✨Spectacular give me fourteen of them✨

I know this is her debut and she will forever be on my auto-buy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Aftertaste by Daria LaVelle.
After reading the synopsis, I was very excited to read this book. Sadly, this one was not for me. I struggled through this one, and although it had promise, the writing style is not one that I enjoy.

This book was so unexpectedly sweet, endearing, funny and thought provoking. Konstantin loses his dad at a young age and realizes that he has these strange tastes that come to him, of very specific flavors and meals. They turn out to be memories basically of important foods from ghosts. He goes on a wild adventure of helping the ghosts connect with loved ones, finding love and closure himself and becoming a chef. He’s such a sweet well meaning character that you can’t help but root for him. The overall concept was so different and enjoyable. Some of the food descriptions felt a little much sometimes but I watch a lot of food shows so it was nice and gave you a good feel for the meal & the ghosts. Really wonderful book overall!

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for letting me read and review this!!

Aftertaste is a unique read. Kostya’s gift of tasting ghosts’ favorite meals is such a clever idea, and the way he uses it to help others is both touching and bittersweet. The vibrant New York culinary scene adds excitement,totally worth reading!

Delicious, captivating story about a mediocre guy with a very unique gift of a ghostly palate. Struck in the mouth by dead stranger's core meal memories like random lightning; Konstantin AKA "Bones" is capable of reuniting the living with their dead loved one for the time it takes to consume the memorial dish. Konstantin's personal loss combined with his gift become his blocker in life. Once he embraces his supernatural potential by diving deep into the top tier of the New York culinary world, things get complicated. There's love, loss, haute cuisine, Russian Gangsters, ghosts and a glimpse at the Afterlife. Highly recommend, this is a great time!

2.5 stars.

I want to be clear about this: I love food and I love ghosts. Normally, a book like this would have worked beautifully for me. And it did have a really cool concept. I love the idea of a chef being able to taste a spirit's most meaningful meal. There were lovely passages throughout the book, and I do think that Lavelle can write nice prose.

Here were my issues:

1. I didn’t like the main character, Konstantine. He was stubborn and surprisingly judgmental of everyone he met. The overall narrative tone confirmed this, as the mere descriptions of strangers often included insulting adjectives and felt negative for seemingly no reason. He was always cranky. I found him difficult to root for, even knowing many useful things about his difficult past. Something about his attitude and behavior just didn’t sit right with me, and I was mostly just annoyed. When confronted with drama involving the other characters, his choices and behavior in those instances only made me dislike him more. (While we're on the topic, I didn't really care for Frankie, either.)

2. The romance was way too sappy for me. Kostya's obsession with Maura came across as creepy and overbearing. She was so beautiful and perfect and flawless that when she finally did show a weakness it was too much for him. I wasn't feeling the magical couple thing. And some of their dialogue was honestly too corny for me. I almost put the book down permanently but I wanted to find out what was going to happen, so I pressed on. This book should have been emphasized more as a Romance in the description so that I knew what I was getting into.

3. The rules of how everything worked with the ghosts and the cooking became a bit too complicated. Things started out pretty straight forward, but then the rules changed and evolved and there was so much more to it that I got confused. I think that Lavelle was building up this world, but I had trouble following at a certain point. (May have just been me.)

There were aspects of this that I enjoyed. I liked the concept of sharing a brief meal with the ghost of someone special to you who has passed away, and how the act of dining as an intimate and meaningful experience plays an important role. It seems as though the idea of “temporary reunion with a spirit” is becoming a common theme in new fiction, because I’ve seen several books on my feed with this concept recently. This story had moments that were profoundly sad and dark, but the tone shifted too far into the realm of cheesy romance for me and kept me from feeling invested.

Minor nitpick, but there was also a scene in a tattoo parlor that was filled with inaccuracies. (Example: It's absolutely possible that I misread/misunderstood some things, but it sounded like the character was getting a full sleeve done in one appointment. That would take literal days. I also think that if you're going to have a bad reaction to the ink it'll happen before a full sleeve has been completed. But I've never had an experience like that when I've been tattooed, so maybe I'm wrong.)

"Aftertaste" WILL make you hungry! That’s the thing: Lavelle clearly knows a lot about the culinary arts, and honestly I could read her vivid descriptions of food all day long. These were the standout passages for me. If she were to release a work of nonfiction in which she talked about the world of cooking or even just critiqued restaurants, I would absolutely check it out.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Biggest TW: Disordered eating, Suicidal ideation/Self-harm, Depression, Substance abuse/Overdose

Daria Lavelle’s debut novel, Aftertaste, presents an intriguing premise: Konstantin “Kostya” Duhovny, haunted by his father’s death at a young age, possesses the unique ability to taste the favorite foods of nearby spirits. This synesthetic experience leads him into New York’s high-stakes culinary scene, where he discovers he can reunite the living with their deceased loved ones through carefully prepared dishes.

As a self-proclaimed foodie with a deep desire to reconnect with lost loved ones, I was initially captivated by this concept. The first half of the book engaged me, blending dark comedy and a heartfelt exploration of grief through the lens of gastronomy. The vivid descriptions of food were mouthwatering, and the emotional depth added a rich flavor to the narrative.

However, after the halfway mark, the story took a turn that left me feeling disconnected. The narrative became increasingly erratic, with an overuse of parentheses that disrupted the flow and made the reading experience feel disjointed. It was reminiscent of a Baz Luhrmann film, with a chaotic and unpredictable circus ringleader interjecting between chapters.

As the plot delved into darker, more macabre territory, it felt misaligned with the book’s initial marketing and my expectations. While I can appreciate this is an avant-garde, artsy novel with a touch of the paranormal and a deep dive into New York City’s cutting-edge foodie scene, this particular blend didn’t resonate with me as I had hoped.

That said, Aftertaste will find an audience. Readers who enjoy unconventional narratives that push boundaries and explore the intersections of food, love, and the supernatural may find this novel to be a delectable treat. While it wasn’t to my personal taste, I can see its appeal to those seeking a unique literary experience.

A Stunning Exploration of Loss Through Food

The best thing I've ever eaten? Cold, hospital-prepared scrambled eggs and potatoes. I'd just gone through an unmedicated labor where the last three hours were a hellish 10/10 pain level. My healthy, beautiful baby was finally (finally!) on the outside. And I was SO HUNGRY. You better believe I DEVOURED those eggs and potatoes. I still think about them. And, if I were a ghost lingering among the living, that meal would certainly be my aftertaste.

This is the kind of reflection I had while reading Daria Lavelle’s gorgeous debut novel Aftertaste. The book follows Kostya, a fledgling chef haunted by the aftertastes of the dead.

Like her main character, Daria is a Ukrainian immigrant and wrote much of this book during the invasion of her homeland. While nothing on the surface of the story is about the war, as a reader I could feel her poignant sense of grief and loss coming through the page.

This may be a novel about hangry ghosts and lingering grief, but at its heart, this is a story of how food is intimately linked with memory, family, and love. The DETAILS of the meals Kostya prepares left my mouth watering. My favorite was the varenyky (Ukrainian dumplings) Kostya prepares with his girlfriend Maura. Three kinds—meat, cheese, and sour cherry. Carefully rolled thin and not over-stuffed. For Kostya, preparing the dumplings with Maura reminds him of cooking with his parents as they made hundreds of dumplings by hand to freeze and eat year-round. And it made me think of preparing hundreds of spanakopita, empanadas, and mini-pizzas with my mother and grandmother for my self-catered wedding. There is something special about the act of preparing food with people you love that Daria captured so well on the page.

Aftertaste is also a love letter to New York City. Daria's love of the city and the culinary scene shines through on the page. The prose is stunning, and I wish I could share excerpts with you, but the publisher has asked that quotes wait for the final book. You'll just need to pick up a copy for yourself!

Finally, as a fellow writer of speculative fiction—Daria has taken on ghosts while my books are set in space—I have deep admiration of how she grounded this book in characters, relationships, and vivid settings. Daria demonstrates the power of speculative fiction to explore what makes us human.

Upon reading the synopsis, I knew I had to request this book. I lost my mom when I was 17 years old and a senior in High School. In the story, Konstanin lost his father at a very young age. The book Aftertaste takes the concept of food and turns it into memories. Throughout his life, he has experienced “aftertastes” of meals he has never eaten. Konstanin decides to open a restaurant full of lost loved one's aftertastes. He gets money, fame, love, but there is a dark side to it. Aftertaste is such a unique concept, and I'm grateful I was chosen to read early.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

Sadly, I had to DNF this at 10%.
The writing is beautiful - it's just not a style I enjoy reading.
I would still recommend this book to certain people.

Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC.

Aftertaste is a spellbinding novel that blends food, love, and the spectral realm into a rich, emotionally resonant story. At its center is Konstantin Duhovny—a man haunted not just by memories of his father’s death but by the literal aftertastes of spirits lingering around him. The novel’s premise is both unique and profoundly moving: Kostya can prepare dishes that allow the living to reconnect with their deceased loved ones, if only for the length of a meal. What begins as a gift of closure soon spirals into a dangerous obsession as he plunges into the cutthroat world of New York’s culinary scene, unaware of the cosmic consequences brewing in the Afterlife.

The author’s food writing is nothing short of intoxicating—flavors practically leap off the page, evoking a sensory experience that makes the novel impossible to put down. The descriptions of food are not mere embellishments but vital to the story’s emotional core, symbolizing connection and longing. Each dish Kostya creates is imbued with nostalgia, grief, and fleeting hope, making the meals feel almost sacred.

But Aftertaste is far more than a food lover’s fantasy. It’s a poignant meditation on grief and the lengths we’ll go to fill the empty spaces left by loss. The romance that unfolds—achingly tender yet shadowed by inevitable tragedy—adds a layer of bittersweet beauty. The tension between Kostya’s growing culinary prowess and his unraveling morality keeps the pages turning while the supernatural stakes build with a creeping sense of dread.

Darkly enchanting and deeply affecting.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely delectable piece of literature that embodies grief and connection in a unique and beautiful way. Ukrainian born - New York built - author Daria Lavelle presents us with Konstantin Duhovny, a haunted young man plagued with an uncanny and inexplicable ability to communicate with the dead- through taste. In Aftertaste, using a perfectly balanced blend of dark humor, heart pounding tension and speculation, Lavelle explores the dichotomy of living and dying, of satiety, fulfillment and desperation in grief. Truly a phenomenal story that I will be purchasing and gifting as soon as it’s available. I cannot wait to explore what other works Lavelle has to offer. Updated review after sitting with this piece.

Honestly, I thought I’d be hungrier… or scared. I kind of just feel tired.

Dipping its feet into the waters of horror, romance and culinary drama, this book falters from not being willing to go deeper into any of them. It wades into the shallows and wiggles its toes, but never takes the plunge. And that dryness just makes me feel chapped.

I wanted to see more of Kostya and Maura. Or I wanted to better understand the ghost world in all its ghastly machinations. But because the book was trying so hard to straddle both genres, I felt like I didn’t get either. But I did get mobsters for some reason, so I guess we can throw that into the genre stew and stir.

I kind of want a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

This story is delectable! Grief, memories, love, poetic food descriptions, and a unique, catchy plot line! I stayed up late and neglected tasks and finished this book in less than 24 hours. Kostya, Frankie, Maura, and their lives and choices will draw you in and make you want more. I definitely recommend adding it to the top of your TBR list!

many thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for offering me an advanced copy of this book. i am in the minority of readers, most of whom adored this book. not me. this was probably 3.5 stars for me. i LOVED the food. the idea was interesting. i loved the kitchens. but i found it too convoluted, couldn't keep track of what was going on part of the time. lovely ending. favorite character: freddie.

Wow. I had a feeling a few chapters in that this was going to pull on my heartstrings, and boy did it!

If you enjoy speculative fiction and are a foodie, you MUST read this! It poses the question of what would you do if you could have one last meal with a dead loved one, even if there might be consequences from bridging the gap between the living and the dead. The main character explores this as he discovers and develops a skill using “aftertastes” to help people see their loved ones one more time to find closure. The story takes readers through a whirlwind of a culinary and personal journey (for many of the characters) and ends in a way that makes you think.

This one will stay with me for a long time, and I plan to savor it like my favorite dessert.

Aftertaste is a very unique read - unlike anything I’ve read in a long time. It follows Konstantin Duhovny, who has an unusual gift, he can taste the last meal a person ate before they died. If he recreates that meal, their loved ones get one final chance to see them. What starts as a strange and deeply personal ability turns into something bigger when he opens a restaurant where people can reconnect with the dead. But, as you might expect, messing with the afterlife comes with its own complications.

I was completely hooked from the start. It’s part literary fiction, part supernatural mystery. It ended up being darker and more emotional than I expected, but in a good way. The way it explores grief, memory, and the connection between food and loss is so well done. I really appreciated the way it was written, to be easily read by anyone and so very immersive! I foubd it very hard to put this book down!

For me! Aftertaste is stunning, deeply moving, and unlike anything I’ve read before. If you’re into books that explore grief in a unique way, or if you just love a story that makes you think, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster

A stunning, bittersweet, haunting romance that will stick with me for a long, long time. I read this book while grieving for a loved one and it touched me so deeply. I know I'll be returning to it again and again.

Daria Lavelle’s Aftertaste is a sumptuous blend of culinary artistry, supernatural intrigue, and profound human emotion. At its heart is Konstantin “Kostya” Duhovny, a man haunted not by visions but by tastes. After losing his father at a young age, Kostya discovers his gift of clairgustance—the ability to taste the favorite foods of nearby spirits. This peculiar ability leads him to an ambitious goal: mastering the culinary arts in the high-stakes world of New York restaurants, where he hopes to offer the grieving a fleeting reunion with their departed loved ones through food. Lavelle’s evocative writing immerses readers in the bustling ambiance of gourmet kitchens, capturing the intricate dance of flavors and aromas. With her Ukrainian roots and deep appreciation for food’s emotional power, she weaves an immersive tale where each dish becomes a portal between the living and the dead. Kostya’s journey is enriched by a vibrant supporting cast, including Maura, a clairvoyant with her own ties to the afterlife, and Frankie, his charismatic best friend and fellow chef. Their relationships add humor, warmth, and tension, making this story as much about human connections as it is about its supernatural elements.

Praised by renowned chef Nigella Lawson as “a haunting evocation of pain and pleasure, and the power of food,” Aftertaste has rightfully earned its acclaim. Lavelle’s masterful blend of magical realism and culinary expertise creates a novel that is both unique and universally resonant. Kostya’s emotional arc—filled with grief, ambition, and redemption—makes him a deeply compelling protagonist, while the novel’s exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of food lingers with the reader long after the final page. For those who enjoy richly sensory storytelling, deeply emotional themes, and a touch of the supernatural, Aftertaste is an absolute must-read.