Your rating:
A podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love? From the New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo . Longtime podcast producer Cecily Foster has always operated behind the scenes. For years, she’s worked toward hosting her own show, putting everything, including her love life, on the backburner. So when her boss finally offers her the chance, she’s over the moon. But there’s a catch. Actually, two 1) The show will be about Cecily’s dating life 2) Cecily will be mentored by renowned dating coach/life coach/influencer Eliza Cassidy. Cecily would rather do anything else than put her singledom on display, especially since the last time she mixed work with romance the outcome was catastrophic. But when Cecily’s boss tells her that doing the show is the only way to protect her mentee's job, she realizes she has no other choice. To make matters even more complicated, Cecily finds herself unable to stop thinking about Will, a photographer she serendipitously met while chasing a runaway dog down a busy street. Even though there are sparks between the two, Eliza forbids Cecily from dating Will, whom she believes is no better than Cecily's disappointing exes. As Cecily struggles to balance her real romantic life and the one Eliza wants to create for her, she finds herself at a crossroads. Will she fall back into old patterns, or is this her chance to finally find love that lasts?
No posts yet
Kick off the convo with a theory, question, musing, or update
Your rating:
In Back After This, Linda Holmes' third novel, podcast editor Cecily is four years removed from her last relationship with a podcast producer/host that left her, taking their successful podcast--and credit for her work--with him. Cecily's boss ignores her ideas, leaving her stuck in her editor role, but admist financial troubles at the company manipulates her into hosting the Twenty Dates podcast. The catch? She's both the host and the subject, Social media influencer Eliza will choose twenty men for Cecily to go on first dates with and the podcast will follow her personal and romantic progress.
Before starting the dating, Cecily runs into waiter/photographer Will in an adorable meet-cute aided by Buddy the dog. The two keep running into each other and devlop a friendship that grows into more even though Eliza pushes Cecily away from him.
Holmes writes A+ banter! The dialog between Cecily and Will made me laugh out loud. Ceciily's friends and sister are the supportive relationships you hope to have. Eliza is an adversary but not a villain. Back After This is a warm blanket and mug of hot chocolate on a cold day and is my second 5-star read of 2025.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an eARC. Opinions are my own.