This was an interesting read about love, grief, closure, ghosts, and culinary ambition. Kostya is our main character who discovers that certain food can bring back a memory or even a spirit and thinks it's his life's mission to reunite people and those who have past away with a dish in order to get closure. Then we have Maura, a spiritual artist and Kostya's love interest, who warns him of the delicate balance between the living and the Afterlife and the dangers of messing with it.

The characters in this story were well written, the plot kept me intrigued, and the descriptive writing brought the scenes and food to life. This was a unique take on a ghost story and the Afterlife, at times heavy, but with touches of humor and romance.

*Aftertaste* by Daria Lavelle absolutely wrecked me—in the best, most delicious way possible. Five stars, zero hesitation. From the first page, I was hooked like a contestant on a cursed cooking show where the prize is emotional devastation. The writing? Unparalleled. Lavelle’s prose is so rich and precise, it feels like every sentence was marinated overnight in metaphor and then seared to perfection. It's literary fiction with flavor—literally and figuratively.

Let’s talk about the food. The descriptions had me genuinely salivating. I had to put the book down at one point and go make something—anything—just to survive. Lavelle doesn't just write about food; she *worships* it. Every dish is a character. Every bite is tied to something deeper: memory, grief, love, identity. If you’re the kind of reader who’s ever cried over a perfectly described bowl of soup, congratulations—we are kin, and this book will spiritually feed you.

But beyond the sensory bliss, the story and characters had me in a full-body narrative chokehold. The emotional arcs, the tension, the way relationships unfold and unravel—it all felt *earned*. Not a single moment rang false. I cared deeply. Possibly too deeply. These characters moved into my brain like emotionally complicated roommates, and I’ll be thinking about them every time I cook for someone I love. *Aftertaste* is sumptuous, sharp, and soulful—a book that doesn’t just stay with you, it *seasons* you.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a digital copy for review!

I don't think I have read a book quite like this one. This book combines romance, horror and culinary drama in an interesting way. This was fast paced with quirky characters, humor and grief as well as hope. I love that this shows how memories can be tied to food, I would totally agree with this! This was addictive and easily bingeable. This book took me by surprise and was really good!

I didn’t really care for the story. It was over written and slow. I like novels that have frank discussions surrounding food culture, but this book was so flat and lifeless. I was expecting so much more. I wanted more complexity and nuance.

Thank you to Simon & Shuster and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Aftertaste. It was such a unique story that I was easily drawn into. I found the premise to be intriguing. Think John Edwards but add food! Such a well written book. A lot of food talk that definitely made me hungry! I would definitely recommend the book to friends. Wish all the best to this debut author.

Unlike anything I've read in my entire life, this one is magical and heartwarming and sad and heartbreaking all at once.

3.75 out of 5 stars.

After Konstantin/Kostya/Stan/Kostochka's father dies, he is haunted - by guilt, by memories, and by flavors, a lot of which he's never tasted before.

Rooming with Frankie has been a good way to save money, and he and Frankie have become close friends. Working behind the scenes at a speakeasy, The Library of Spirits, he's put to the front when a bartender fails to show. Right before closing time, a man comes in and wants a drink. It's almost closing time, and the man wants a drink to toast his dead wife. The guy is agitated, and while Kostya is decided whether to serve him - and what to serve him - the guy starts breaking glasses.

In that moment, Kostya gets a strong taste, and so he crafts a drink from the taste that isn't his.

He calls it a Spectral Sour.

When the man drinks it, his wife begins materializing in pinpricks of light. Kostya, spooked, retreats to the back and nearly has a panic attack. Curiosity, though, prompts him to go back to the door and listen in to their conversation. It's bitter sweet, and he discovers the man had planned on saying goodbye to life that night after toasting his wife, but she convinces him he needs to live.

He tells the man the drink is on the house and not to tell anyone.

Fired from Library of Spirits, Kostya lets Frankie convince him to go to a party, and also convinces hims to go see a mystic. The Spiritual Arts by Madame Everleigh, unbeknownst to Kostya at the time, is actually run by Maura. When he explains to Maura what he experiences with the aftertastes, and what he did with the Spectral Sour in bringing the patron's wife back, Maura tells him not to mess with the dead. When he tells her that he's tasting Reese's, she just about loses her mind. She tells him not to ever make food for the dead again, warns him against Hungry Ghosts, calls him a coward who thinks he's special because he brought a ghost back.

After Kostya walks out, Maura tries to after him, but she isn't able to find him.

Frankie ends up landing Kostya a job with Saveur Fare, and he learns some tricks from the staff. He was working in the back, but when the saucier takes off the night of a huge party, Kostya is set to replace him. Things are going well, until he gets an aftertaste, and instead of focusing on the party, he begins to try to make the dish. He brings his father back, but when the head chef realizes dishes are going out with the wrong sauce and finds that he's been making a whole other dish, he loses another job.

What follows is an attempt to make his own restaurant to bring spirits back for closure. When he is shut down by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and loses Frankie to a horrific kitchen accident, he begins looking for more. He gets sleeve tattoos, and during a reaction to the ink near the end, Maura walks in to the shop, and distracts Kostya while Cal, the tattoo artist, puts ointment to make the swelling go down, then wraps his arm up.

Maura has come around to accepting Kostya's "gift," and even encourages him to accept financial backing from Viktor, a Russian who owns various clubs and restaurants, to help him open a restaurant whose whole concept is connecting to dead loved ones through food. As the opening day grows closer, Kostya's mom tries to warn him off Viktor who she claims is a gangster, Maura tries to warn him off of bringing anymore ghosts back because there's getting stuck after he brings them back, and Viktor warns him of what will happen if he doesn't successfully run the restaurant that he's invested so much time and money on.

A very interesting book. The magical realism was spot-on in this. There were times I laughed, times I choked up. There was a lot going on, but the author did a good job with the culmination. I felt that Maura's character changes throughout the book in way that is jarring. I also felt the ending was quite disturbing, but... It worked. A dark debut by an author to watch.

I so desperately wanted to like this book. The blurb got me super excited and I immediately requested an advanced copy. But I struggled and it didn't hold my attention at all. The first scene where he connected a loved one with their deceased loved one was so emotional. I wanted more of that magic that I felt reading that scene. But it just fell flat for me and I just couldn't feel connected to Kostya. I made it about 40% before I decided to DNF.

1.5 star rating, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher listed for an advanced copy for my honest review.

I love books that describe food (as a lifelong picky eater there is something about reading descriptions of foods I'd never eat that is so much better than actually trying that food lol) so when I saw the premise for this book, I knew I wanted to give it a read. And it did not disappoint! Not only does it describe lots of food, but it often describes it as feelings and memories that specific characters have experienced which really took the descriptions over the top (personally, I'd love something that tastes like an afternoon in a beach house air bnb after hitting the beach for a walk in the morning when everyone is sprawled around reading). Plus, the magic "system" of the book where the main character experiences an aftertaste associated with someone's memory and can bring to back a ghost of that person by having a loved one eat that food? Weird and brilliant. A fascinating story about grief as well as the power that food has a deeply human experience.

I adored this. The writing was stunning. The descriptions of the food were immaculate. The plot/concept was so unique. It paired perfectly with a glass of bold red wine.

3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review!

I had no idea what I was getting into with this one. So when it started, initially I was scared I would hate it. I am NOT a foodie or have any appreciation for food reality TV, or cooking shows in general. That being said, the moment the spirit/ghosts came up, I was hooked!

Kostya loses his father early - and has regrets for what became his last words to him. As he grows, he doesn't know what's happening at first but then realizes that he can taste the favorite foods of the ghosts that are around him. His first spirit "show" ignites thoughts and ideas as he grows, to first make money, but then he meets someone who brings him "back down to earth" and makes him remember the gift that it is. Kostya, afterall, wants only to see his dad one last time to let him know how much he loved him.

Honestly though, for me, the book fell flat about midway through and dragged a bit too much. By the end, there were some endearing moments - but the novelty wore off. I found myself just "needing to get to the end", and I never want to feel that way about a book.

So I'm giving this 4 for the start and unique concept, but 3 for the remaining delivery.

So many of the books I've loved this year have been debuts and 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘 is another one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Daria Lavelle's deliciously dark comedy about a chef who summons ghosts for reunions with loved ones by cooking meals that are meaningful to them totally surprised me. It's got so much heart and the food descriptions will have your mouth watering. The full cast audiobook narration is wonderful, and with the mystery and romance woven into this supernatural story, I found myself savoring every page.

Thanks to Simon Books, Bloomsbury Publishing and Simon Audio for the copies to review.

"Aftertaste" is like a hot new restaurant that changes up its menu in exciting ways. Just when you think you know what you'll find, Daria Lavelle serves up an entirely new course, a delicious dish that catches you by surprise. It's no surprise that "Aftertaste" has already been optioned by Sony Pictures. The book has a bit of everything but is nonetheless a cohesive whole. Readers encounter immigrants, a fatherless boy, a love affair, ambitious chefs, the NYC food scene, deep friendships, a Russian mobster, haunting memories and ghosts who can be summoned by our hero, Kostya. Plus, a ton of Easter eggs to keep you laughing. A great debut

“Sometimes the people you love hurt you. Sometimes they mean to. And sometimes they don’t mean, but cannot help. It is you who must decide to keep loving them anyway.” 🥺

I. Love. Food. I am half Italian but my husband is ITALIAN Italian and man oh man have I eaten good food since knowing him.

With that being said this book is, in a word, weird. But the best kind of weird. It’s about love and loss and guilt and forgiveness. But also food. Food is the at the center of my Italian heritage and an integral part of this story. And, in my humble opinion, it is one of the greatest enjoyments in life.

I almost don’t want to say more because reading this is like experiencing good food for the first time. It’s a little curious, definitely pleasant, and has you craving more. Try this one for yourself!

“Every time I try to process her death, it only makes it worse. Grief’s like leftovers that way. Like you made this four-course meal out of your love, but they only got to eat one little bite. So now you’re stuck with all this food you can’t bear to throw away, and all you can do is shove it in the back of the fridge to rot, or make yourself sick trying to binge it on your own.”

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review.

Aftertaste was different from anything I've read before. You can't help but root for Kostya as he desperately tries to reunite with his father, for even just a few moments, so that he can mend his heart after losing him so suddenly. As Kostya learns more about his strange ability, it's heartwarming to see all the people that he helps to gain closure with one last reunion with their loved one through consuming their most memorable meal. It's also a lovely reminder that the legacy of those we love can be shared, remembered, and passed on. The ending is bittersweet, and I personally enjoyed it. I hope you also enjoy this unique story of love, remembrance, and the power of connection.

I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley, in return for my honest review.

Aftertaste is a slower paced, yet thoroughly intriguing novel. I try to go into each new read as blind as possible. Even if I had reread the synopsis, I don’t think I would have been prepared for what I was about to read. It is an emotional read, with some family drama aspects that I didn’t expect. While it is a quirky, paranormal ghost story primarily, the heart and haunting character development were the real stars.

I have posted this review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Storygraph

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/7c5413e1-bc99-4bc7-b046-88a010e3baa2

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7582295919

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Ahh. Chefs kiss. At first I was NOT engaged in this book. It took a good 100 pages to get me intrigued. However, throughout the rest of the book I was engaged and loving it!

Aftertaste is a stunning debut that combines speculative fiction and romance with culinary arts and hungry ghosts in the Afterlife. It’s also an exploration of grief, of the toll it takes, and of how to truly move on and let someone go.

Konstantin has a special gift, one that he’s kept a secret from everyone but his mother for most of his life: he can taste the food memories of the dead. After his father passed away as a child, these “aftertastes” have come to him in random moments…glimpses of some meal or dish that the dead hold on to. When he decides to recreate one of these aftertastes for a grieving man at a bar, he finds that he has the ability to bring that lost soul back to the land of the living to reconnect with their loved one and find closure during a final meal together.

Konstantin then begins experimenting with his ability, while perfecting his skills in the culinary arts. He also meets Maura, who warns him against entertaining the dead and seems to know more about the Afterlife than she wants to share.

As his relationship with Maura turns into more and his career begins to take off in the culinary world, Konstantin opens a new restaurant highlighting his talent of reconnection with those lost. But Maura’s warnings come back to haunt him (literally), as he soon realizes that the dead are not finished with him, and that every moment he recreates has a cost that demands payment.

Quite simply, if you love speculative fiction, ghosts, and the culinary arts, read this book. Lavelle does a phenomenal job describing the art of cooking, and all the senses, flavors, and emotions that go into creating a perfect, memorable meal. The writing style is so descriptive - you can practically taste, smell, and savor all of the dishes that Konstantin makes. The author also explores the deeper themes of how creating specific dishes connect us to our past and our loved ones, how we cope with grief, and how to move on after loss.

I did get a little confused on some details of the Afterlife towards the end, but it didn’t detract from my overall feeling as I finished this book. The ending was bittersweet, and left me with a lump in my throat. Anyone who has lost a loved one, has struggled to move on, or understands the complex nature of grief will feel the same…like an old (or new) wound has reopened a bit, but in doing so, allows your heart just a moment to feel all the depths of it.

“I love you like salt.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this gifted eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5

I so enjoyed this book and the very unique premise of helping people connect with their loved ones one more time through the sense of taste and favorite dishes. The mix of paranormal, grieving, finding your way, romance, mystery and chef stories was great.

Such an original story, never read anything quite like this! Foodie books always capture my attention, and this one was sensational … lush, sensory descriptions of taste, texture and temperature, so vivid you can almost taste them. And it’s not just fancy restaurant food, it’s real food - the food of your best memories and connections. I found myself thinking of my own memorable bites, trying to decide what my aftertaste would be, or those of my loved ones.

The afterlife concept that Lavelle creates is so unique and yet so believable in a way, when you think about how food brings people together it feels like it could be this powerful to the dead as well, and her writing style was full of imagery that really brought the place to life in my mind. It was well paced, with surprise reveals throughout that delighted me. The ending took me on a crazy ride to places I didn’t expect at all and I had no idea where it was going to end, but it did so perfectly in my opinion and it was such a fun time.

I also snagged the audio from the library and listened to some parts, there was dual narration and some cool sound effects that made it a great listen, and the narrator did a fantastic job with the foreign accents and food names that brought it to life even more.

Highly recommend for all you bookish foodies like me out there, or anyone that enjoys a unique ghost story.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Publishing for sending this DRC for review consideration.