Back After This

Back After This

Linda Holmes

Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

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?


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  • Emilyb101
    Mar 25, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

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  • bookgang
    Mar 30, 2025
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    Linda Holmes is back with her third cozy romance novel, which will undoubtedly satisfy her fanbase. Julia Whelan has narrated the author's previous novels, but the coveted audiobook narrator did not have enough room in her schedule to narrate this year's selection. Linda disclosed that Julia encouraged the NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour host that she had the chops to narrate her own book, so this will be the author's first selection narrated in her voice- what a treat!

    Cecily had a massive podcast hit on her hands when she partnered with her boyfriend on a project, although she was barely thanked in that show's credits. When the show became a runaway success, she was left in the dust and struggled to find her footing after losing him and the assignment. With the studio now in financial peril, they need a podcast sensation to save everyone's jobs. What could be more exciting than a dating show to help Cecily find love that could also net them a profit? As the studio books show sponsorships that focus on drinking alone, dining alone, dying alone, and cat toys, Cecily begrudgingly takes on the show's challenge for her to engage in 20 blind dates and coaching from an influencer life coach who can help her find the love of her life.

    The thing is, Cecily met an amazing man right before this show, and thanks to his odd jobs, he keeps showing up, from being her headshot photographer to her waiter on her awkward dates. As the chemistry blossoms, Cecily has to decide how to follow her heart in love, keep the studio happy, and stay true to herself. 

    Much like Whelan's Thank You For Listening, which gave us insider tips on the audiobook narration world, this novel offers a bit of inside baseball in podcast development. These details hindered the plot for some readers, but I found it fascinating to hear what noises Cecily couldn't stand, her sensitivity to white noise, and even the sometimes controversial clipping of breath in shows. Holmes offers a behind-the-scenes pass to show production, and I loved every second of it.  

    The life coach certainly builds in some cringe-worthy moments for the reader, but as we understand her journey more, we realize that building a fanbase is hard stuff, especially with the ever-changing platforms and algorithms. I do not doubt that this character would be devastated by the TikTok outage we experienced. 

    The banter in this novel is top-notch,  the snappy humor made me laugh out loud several times throughout this story, and the podcast scripts were a joy to page through in this mixed-media experience.  I wish the novel had dove more into Cecily's twenty dates, but Holmes skips this to propel the reader to its happily ever after. Overall, this is my favorite book by the author yet. 

    TAG: Books With Animals, Books About Podcasts, Books About Influencers
     

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  • MissUnderstood
    Mar 28, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

    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.

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