Reading challenge category - 2025 PopSugar: Main character is an immigrant or refugee (Ukrainian)

This story follows Konstantin Duhovny (Kostya/Stan,) starting as a grieving boy of 10 years who lost his father soon after immigrating from Ukraine to the US. Kostya and his father had a fight right before his sudden death. His mother is paralyzed by grief, leaving him to take care of them and attempt to provide for them, even food. Kostya then begins to taste his father's favorite meal out of nowhere (occurrences he nicknames 'aftertastes'). As he gets older, this happens with other meals. He finds that if he recreates the meal/food/cocktail for the person attached to the ghost, it can bring them back for the duration of the meal. This part was fabulously written.

We then diverge into a fantasy horror hodgepodge instead of magical realism. The ghosts don't actually disappear or get closure. Problems pile up for Kostya and his girlfried, Maura (who has problems of her own). Ending on a bitter note that leaves the reading feeling unsatisfied. It started out so strong and had potential, but the second half was a slog.

Thanks to #Netgalley for the ARC.

I loved this book from the very beginning and the more I read, the better it got.

As someone who lost her dad, I felt connected to the characters wanting to have that last moment with a loved one.

One of the best books of 2025!

After Taste is a totally unique story. It is the story of a guy who can taste the favorite foods of ghosts and decides to use this skill to bring back the dead. So weird, so dark and just such a good book. A story of grief, forgiveness and resilience. Heartbreaking and funny all at once. Just so clever and so well done.

Aftertaste was a mixed bag for me. I really loved the concept—it had a unique hook and the setting was mostly well executed. However, the story seemed to be trying to juggle too many genres at once, which left it feeling a bit unfocused. While there were moments that stood out, the overall experience didn’t quite come together in a satisfying way for me. Solid potential, but not quite the flavor I was hoping for.

Aftertaste was such a weird, tender, funny surprise in the best way. Konstantin (Kostya) is a Ukrainian-American dishwasher turned accidental medium, whose grief literally rewires his body to taste the emotions of the dead. That premise could have been heavy-handed or overly quirky, but Daria Lavelle pulls it off with this perfect blend of heart, satire, and magical realism. I was so invested.

The writing is rich—like, you can taste it. Kostya’s sensory experiences, especially when he recreates final meals to help people connect with their lost loved ones, were honestly emotional and strange and beautiful. The Spectral Sour? The pechonka? The smoky fish head? I was both hungry and slightly haunted the entire time.

What really worked for me was the balance: it's about grief, yes, but it’s also about reinvention, found family, and the chaos of being alive. The secret supper club! The psychic romance! The ghost tour guide named Frankie who helps Kostya navigate this weird underworld of flavor and feeling! It all sounds wild on paper, but it works.

Everything in this book is textured and alive (even the ghosts). This is a book I will be recommending to everyone.

3.25 stars

Interesting concept but ultimately not executed as well as I was hoping. I was entertained enough to finish but I feel like this just tried to do too many things. It felt too predictable and most of the characters felt pretty surface level. The ending was also...a lot. Everything felt very rushed.

I had really high hopes for this book. It seems like everyone was rating it super well, but unfortunately it fell short for me. The beginning was beautiful and full of love and grief that felt tangible, but it fizzled out for me quickly. A ghost story that is also about food felt right up my alley, but I struggled to get through it. It started to feel a little cheesy and rushed in the middle for me. Maybe I will pick this book back up again in the future and get the hype, but for right now I would say it’s a solid three stars.

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle is the book that I can not stop thinking about it over a month after reading it! It was also so much better than I expected a non-horror book about ghosts to be. Konstantin Duhovny has been haunted for as long as he can remember. His father died when he was ten, and ghosts have been hovering around Kostya ever since and he can never shake the feeling he needs to talk to his dad one last time. Kostya connects to the spirit world through "after tastes" or flavors of a very specific meal or drink that he can taste every portion of even though he's never eaten it. He's experience these after tastes for year and one day he decides to recreate what he's tasting and he opens a world of possibilities. The meals of the aftertastes can bring back a loved one for one final time. The description of the New York City culinary world was my favorite part of the book, but Lavelle wrote beautiful characters, a love story, and really hit on the topics of grief and love in a way that's not been done before! Absolute standout of 2025 for sure!

Is this a ghost story? A love story? A thriller? Magical Realism? All of the above! And also a great audio experience. I could listen to Ari Fliakos talk about food all day long! The story explores grief and the connections we make between food and the ones we love. Kostya gave off Carmie vibes (the troubled, genius chef from The Bear) while Maura was more oblique to me. I struggled to follow some of the scenes set in the ghostly realm and it got more complicated as the story went on. Other than that, this genre-mixup was a surprising treat and definitely made me hungry.

So many emotions reading this book. I would love to have another moment with some of my loved ones, but this book made me second guess that, and maybe that's not a bad thing. Kostya was such a great character and you experience all of his ups and downs throughout the book. I was cheering with him, crying with him, angry with him, all of it. I really enjoyed all of the food aspects of the book, and the descriptions of the way things tasted were so great. This was like a dangerous love story set in the culinary world, and I'm there for that, great book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle is a beautifully unique blend of magical realism, culinary fiction, and emotional depth. Konstantin Duhovny lives with a strange gift—or curse: he can taste the favorite foods of nearby ghosts. When he discovers that preparing these meals can bring grieving people face-to-face with their lost loved ones for one last meal, Kostya dives into the high-pressure New York restaurant scene to perfect his skills.

Lavelle masterfully balances dark humor, romance, and grief, while delivering rich, sensory food writing that leaps off the page. The world of professional kitchens is vividly drawn, and the novel's high-stakes emotional core is both touching and thought-provoking. Kostya’s journey is equal parts tender and haunting, with just the right touch of whimsy and heartbreak.

While some plot twists stretch believability and a few character arcs could have used more development, Aftertaste remains a deeply satisfying and original read. Fans of Under the Whispering Door and Sweetbitter will savor every bittersweet bite.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. The novel included magical, romantic, and culinary elements that really created a unique and intriguing story. I especially enjoyed the detailed descriptions of food and restaurant life. I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone wanting to read something emotional, moving, and unique!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Aftertaste absolutely blew me away with its premise—so unique, so clever, and unlike anything I’ve read lately! I was immediately hooked by the concept and found myself fully invested in the characters, who were beautifully written with such emotional depth. Watching their growth throughout the story was incredibly satisfying. My only wish is that a few parts of the narrative had been built out a bit more—there were moments where I wanted to linger longer in the world or dive deeper into certain plot threads. Still, this was such a compelling, memorable read that I’d absolutely recommend!

WOW this book. If you've ever felt all consuming grief--the desire to talk to one you have lost one last time--and if you believe in the power of food and the way it can connect us--this is for you!

Food has the ability to connect us--that's why so many of our major holidays and celebrations (regardless of culture!) center around food or meals. It connects us to each other, or to a place. Sometimes both. So why should that connection end upon death? Why can't food also connect us to the afterlife?

Well, because ghosts get hungry too. And you don't want to mess with a hungry ghost.

This combines so many things that I love in a book--cultural connections, characters doing their best with what they have while still being human, emotional growth,....Food. I should be embarrassed by the number of times I wanted to reach for a Reese's--dented or no.

This story was so well written, had the perfect ending, and touched on so many important themes regarding grief, the human condition, and love--I don't have a single negative thing to say.

“A haunting story of pain and pleasure, and the power of food.

"What if you could have one last meal with someone you’ve loved, someone you’ve lost?Aftertaste is an epic love story, a dark comedy, and a wonderful adventure through food and grief.

" A food story to binge.
A ghost story to devour.
A love story to savor."

Konstantin Duhovny the main character, is a haunted man. His father dies when he was ten, Ghosts have been hovering around him ever since. Kostya can’t exactly see the ghosts, but he can taste their favorite foods. Flavors of meals he’s never eaten will flood his mouth,a sign that a spirit is present. Kostya has kept these aftertastes a secret for most of his life, but one night, he decides to act on what he’s tasting. And everything changes.

Kostya then discovers that he can reunite people with their deceased loved ones—at least for the length of time it takes them to eat a dish that he’s prepared. He thinks his life’s purpose might be to offer closure to grieving strangers, and sets out to learn all he can by entering a particularly fiery like Hell: the New York culinary scene. But as his kitchen skills catch up with his ambitions, Kostya is too blind to see the catastrophe looming in the Afterlife. And the one person who knows Kostya must be stopped also happens to be falling for him.

Set in the busy world of New York restaurants and chalked full with mouthwatering food writing, Aftertaste is a too die for romance, a heart-wrenching look at love and loss, and a ghost story about all the ways we hunger—and how far we’d go to find satisfaction."
A haunting story of pain and pleasure, and the power of food.

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.

A food story to binge.
A ghost story to devour.
A love story to savor.

Konstantin Duhovny is a haunted man. His father died when he was ten, and ghosts have been hovering around him ever since. Kostya can’t exactly see the ghosts, but he can taste their favorite foods. Flavors of meals he’s never eaten will flood his mouth,a sign that a spirit is present. Kostya has kept these aftertastes a secret for most of his life, but one night, he decides to act on what he’s tasting. And everything changes.

Kostya discovers that he can reunite people with their deceased loved ones—at least for the length of time it takes them to eat a dish that he’s prepared. He thinks his life’s purpose might be to offer closure to grieving strangers, and sets out to learn all he can by entering a particularly fiery ring of Hell: the New York culinary scene. But as his kitchen skills catch up with his ambitions, Kostya is too blind to see the catastrophe looming in the Afterlife. And the one person who knows Kostya must be stopped also happens to be falling in love with him.

Set in the bustling world of New York restaurants and teeming with mouthwatering food writing, Aftertaste is a whirlwind romance, a heart-wrenching look at love and loss, and a ghost story about all the ways we hunger—and how far we’d go to find satisfaction.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was definitely different but in a good way. I love how this book touches on food, romance, family and the after life all together wrapped up in one story. It sure caught my attention and I didn't want to put it down. Once it had me, it definitely had me! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Happy reading y'all! 😊

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle is an absolutely deliciously inventive read that lingers on the palate long after you finish. What struck me most was the sheer creativity behind Lavelle’s storytelling. The way she builds a world where food, taste, and the paranormal are intricately and hauntingly connected is nothing short of brilliant. Every flavor, every dish, and every bite carried emotional weight and hidden meaning, weaving together a narrative that felt both otherworldly and deeply human.

Lavelle doesn’t just describe food. You feel it. Taste becomes a conduit for memory, longing, and even fear, and I was captivated by how skillfully she infused that sensory experience into the plot. This isn’t just a story about food. It’s about how what we consume consumes us right back, how desire can haunt, and how flavors can evoke the most unexpected emotions.

Aftertaste is the kind of novel that stirs something deep inside you. It’s lush, evocative, and hauntingly original. If you’re looking for a read that will both move you and challenge the way you think about the everyday and the otherworldly, this one’s for you.

Well, this was certainly different. Konstantin can see ghosts. Kostya can taste the food that the ghosts loved. Sounds like a match made in heaven!

This was funny at times but also handled topics surrounding death and grief in a serious nature. I think it was very well written and I enjoyed that it was a fresh story that hasn't been done 100 times over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC <3

Aftertaste is the fictional story of Konstantin Duhovny, a man who lost his father at a young age and went on to develop "clairgustance" (a new word!!) --- or the ability to perceive or taste things in the future. So, instead of visions of what's to come, he can taste food/meals associated with the dead. He spends years cooking meals and helping people reconnect with their loved ones, if only for a few bites. But, unknowingly, he's about to unleash hell.

What I liked:
-The premise was so fresh and well explored
-The idea of reconnecting with a deceased loved one, if only for one meal, makes you reflect on the people you've lost and what meal you'd love to share with them one last time. Very touching and heartbreaking.
-Konstantin was a perfectly imperfect character, and I enjoyed following along with his story and life.

What needed work:
- The part where basically all the dead burst through the veil and wreak havoc and kill a bunch of people (!!!) kind of felt a little out of place considering the tone of the book leading up to it.
- I did not totally get the ending? It felt convoluted. Like why did he have die? and why did it happen like that?

Overall, I would recommend this to others and enjoyed reading this.

As a NYC native, reading any mention of Brighton Beach has me like "woah!"

That aside - what an emotional, compelling story. As someone who spent the better part of this past year navigating the muddy waters of grief, I think this book came to me at just the right time... Such a unique concept, especially when so much of memory is rooted in the olfactory senses - scent is memory, and memory is a gift for those who are grieving.

Aftertaste sounded so intriguing, and the hype I saw on social media had me really excited to dive in. Unfortunately, it just didn’t land with me. The story felt overly long, and it almost tried to do too much with multiple genres meshed into one story in a way that didn’t fully come together for me.

That said, the writing itself was strong and lyrical, and I can absolutely see the author’s talent. This just wasn’t the right story for me.

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