I liked this book quite a bit. I liked Cecily as a main character and thought she was flawed while still being likable. I enjoyed learning about audio and all of the work that goes into making and producing my favorite podcasts. I listen to podcasts ALL THE TIME so I really should have more of an appreciation for how they’re made.

The premise of the book was a little wonky to me. To be honest, I don’t know realistically how well a show like Twenty Dates would actually do. But what do I know? All I can say is that it’s probably not something I would listen to.

Will was a fine character too, but I don’t really feel like we delved into his issues enough. In fact, I felt like there were several characters who could have gotten more screen time and personal development. Instead, it felt like every single character was only there to prod Cecily along. No development from any other character. I mean, I feel like we were teased with it. Will won’t go visit his parents, Molly and Pete’s relationship may not be as solid as it looks, Julie has a really crappy ex, Eliza had to sell her New York apartment. But we just don’t dive into any of those. Maybe it’s meant to show how self-centered Cecily is? But that isn’t ever really addressed either.

Anyway, that’s really what kept it from being a solid four stars for me. Besides that, I liked the writing and the book as a whole. I’ve read all of Holmes’ books and plan to continue to do so.

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Back After This by Linda Holmes.  It’s about Cecily who works at a podcast company, and really wants to host her own.  She gets her chance, but it means that she has to make her dating life public, and follow the direction of a coach who is also an influencer.  She decides she will make the sacrifice and put herself out there, but things don’t always follow a script.  And sometimes you meet the right person just when you are not looking for them.  It’s a cute story-yes with a dog involved.  Also interesting to learn about podcasting.  This would be a good beach read!  #backafterthis #lindaholmes #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #bookstagram #podcaststory #romance #lovetoread #readersofinstagram 

I'm an audiophile and romance fan who's skeptical of self help gurus. Of course I loved this book about a podcast producer navigating romance and the questionable advice of an influencer turned life coach. A delight worth staying up late for.

It’s been four years since Cecily’s relationship ended, but it’s ok because she is killing it at work. When her boss asks her to host their new podcast idea…she is thrilled until she finds out it will be about her dating life. While she would rather run ashow about anything else, she decides to say yes and use it to get her own show in the future. Too bad Cecily ran into a stranger that she is beginning to fall for, and the guys she gets set up with for the podcast leave much to be desired. 

 

As some of you know, reading has been a STRUGGLE for me right now. While this book took longer to read than normal, the fact that I could read at all is huge and a testament to Linda Holmes. She always writes the best stories and this one was no different! I loved the idea of the book centering around a podcast, and I was so interested in Cecily’s dates and attempts to find the right guy! I liked that the dates were quick paragraphs, and not super drawn out throughout the book, especially since there were 20 of them! They were the perfect length and gave you exactly what you needed to know. I was so excited to read this one and im thrilled that it hit the mark! 

 

Thank you to @randomhouse for my gifted copy of this book! 

Podcast producer Cecily encounters photographer/waiter Will in an adorable meet-cute involving a dog. Of course, she meets him shortly after she's signed up to host a new podcast wherein she will go on 20 blind dates and be coached by a social media influencer on how to up her chances for finding love. Cecily is skeptical about the project, but commits to doing it for Reasons. And though her initial meet-cute evolved into a flirty friendship and then into a budding romance, Cecily continues to deny she's found a real partner in Will--hurting him and her chances with him in the process.

Will was great. His flaw (?) seemed to be he wasn't ambitious enough and left his options open for future places to live and travel. The internet only needed to hear his voice on the podcast once to know he was a good option for Cecily. They had great chemistry and the scenes of them falling in love were sweet.

The problem for me was that I increasingly could not stand Cecily's poor decision-making. She wasn't a bad person, per se, but she was doing far too little to change the things she didn't like about her life. Her passivity, despite overwhelming evidence that she was on the wrong path, was grating. It would have been one thing if she had done anything to change things for herself. But everything here seems to happen to her rather than because of her. Her work bestie points out that she has more choices and agency than she allows herself to see, and it was the best advice she could have heard. And still, she has to be driven to the breaking point before making the smallest gestures.

This is not to say Cecily didn't deserve love--just that, at times, it was a more frustrating than fulfilling experience to read about her journey.

I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review. 

I can hear Linda Holmes voice in this book, in a way I couldn’t in the others. I think it’s because she is in audio and this book is about being a podcaster. It was a little slow to get going but I had fun on the journey.

New to Linda Homles, I had no idea what to expect from her writing...but after reading Back After This, I'm a fan for life.

As a fan of podcasts and romances, I was intrigued by the premise, and I really enjoyed the details and insight into podcasting that were weaved into the story. While it was a bit slow to get going, it didn't take too long to hook me in.

Cecily is a woman who's stopped taking risks and going after what she really wants, and thanks to her desire to save everyone around her, she ends up becoming the host of a self-help podcast featuring a dating coach. She agrees to take the advice of Eliza, an influencer and life coach, and to go on 20 first dates, in hopes of finally moving on from her ex and finding love. And then she meets Will (chasing after a dog, of course) and things get way more complicated.

After the first few chapters, the unfolding of this story was perfectly paced and I loved the depth of the main characters. In parts, it even felt a bit like this was a self-help book disguised as a novel, as Cecily was extremely real and relatable and I found myself reflecting alongside her as Eliza helped her see parts of herself she hadn't been able to acknowledge in a long time, if ever. 

While this wasn't a heavily plot-driven book, I didn't want to put it down once it got going. I enjoyed the humor and Cecily's banter with other characters, especially Will, lead to some laugh out loud moments. The ending was satisfying without being overly dramatic or drawn out, and I was happy with how it all played out. 

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun one. Cecily works as a podcast editor, and she’s really good at her work. She recognizes good audio (and bad), and when she’s approached to be the subject of a match making show with a popular influencer, she’s not so sure she wants to be on that side of the mic. 

While preparing for the show, Cecily keeps running in to the charming and handsome Will, and dating strangers becomes much more complicated. 

Back After This does a great job of creating real, human characters with normal flaws and anxieties about their lives and careers. Ultimately the book is rather low stakes but I wouldn’t consider it a gentle read. It’s just a real, grown up, normal and sweet romance. 

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title.