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bzliz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I do love an awkward MMC and a bubbly FMC and this was a perfectly fine book, though it had some more challenging undertones than a lot of the rom coms on the market. Readers need to be aware that there is off-page spouse death & on page grief.
I found myself flipping between feeling that the grief was handled too lightly at times and too heavily at others. There is no “right” amount of time to “get over” grief. I also felt like Callum didn’t get to have his own grief over his grandfather’s death because the focus was so trained on Lark’s feelings and the threat of losing his business. There was more to be explored there.
I found myself flipping between feeling that the grief was handled too lightly at times and too heavily at others. There is no “right” amount of time to “get over” grief. I also felt like Callum didn’t get to have his own grief over his grandfather’s death because the focus was so trained on Lark’s feelings and the threat of losing his business. There was more to be explored there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, and Car accident
Minor: Child death
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
plampertz's review against another edition
1.0
While the overarching storyline is intriguing, Fairbanks tries to tackle some meaty issues in her characters. The description of these traits barely scratches the surface, makes assumptions, and reads as thrown in merely for dramatic effect. They are in a strange middle ground that borders on offensive, and the narrative would have been infinitely better if they went all in or kept just it surface level.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Bullying
heidirgorecki's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I was actually pleasantly surprised with the first half of this book. The title and cover felt kind of tacky to my taste honestly and I sort of apprehensively accepted the ARC when it was offered. However, I thought it was well written and had some good depth to it. It dealt with grief and social difficulties, and had some funny scenarios. I was enjoying a lot of the awkward situations and much of the character development.
But the second half just tanked the book for me. The constant doormat situation with a subordinate was really frustrating for one. But mostly, the whole friends with benefits is so cringey and distasteful, not to mention completely selfish on Lark’s part, which yes, she realized and yet did nothing but constant yo-yo-ing and more selfishness. I really disliked her in the 2nd half. And the ending was a complete let down. I just don’t get it.
All in all so much potential cuz again, the writing flowed well and everyone started out really good. But the content and then lack of substance and actual character in a main character just ruined it for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.
But the second half just tanked the book for me. The constant doormat situation with a subordinate was really frustrating for one. But mostly, the whole friends with benefits is so cringey and distasteful, not to mention completely selfish on Lark’s part, which yes, she realized and yet did nothing but constant yo-yo-ing and more selfishness. I really disliked her in the 2nd half. And the ending was a complete let down. I just don’t get it.
All in all so much potential cuz again, the writing flowed well and everyone started out really good. But the content and then lack of substance and actual character in a main character just ruined it for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
gabichatslit's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Penguin and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
MY was a cute friends to lovers romance with a lot of heart and I enjoyed reading Callum and Lark’s story. However, despite the sweet and steamy moments coursing through the pages, this is truly a story about navigating grief and what it means to live a full life. How we are transformed by grief and again by love. And I think the book shined when exploring that topic. That being said, I wish it had done that a bit more. I think there was an opportunity to explore how Lark hid from herself and her feelings through the early stages of her and Callum’s intimate relationship that didn’t go as deep as it could’ve. And I would’ve loved to see Lo and Lark talk about grief counseling/therapy and Cal’s reaction to the development rather than it be mentioned off-handedly. I liked learning bits of Irish culture and slang; and I learned way more about the mortuary business than I thought I would. My favorite part about Cal’s character was learning more about the ace spectrum, and in general, really enjoyed being in his POV.
I was left wanting more from a few character dynamics (her misogynistic coworker deserved worse) but I laughed quite a bit while reading, so it was enjoyable for me.
MY was a cute friends to lovers romance with a lot of heart and I enjoyed reading Callum and Lark’s story. However, despite the sweet and steamy moments coursing through the pages, this is truly a story about navigating grief and what it means to live a full life. How we are transformed by grief and again by love. And I think the book shined when exploring that topic. That being said, I wish it had done that a bit more. I think there was an opportunity to explore how Lark hid from herself and her feelings through the early stages of her and Callum’s intimate relationship that didn’t go as deep as it could’ve. And I would’ve loved to see Lo and Lark talk about grief counseling/therapy and Cal’s reaction to the development rather than it be mentioned off-handedly. I liked learning bits of Irish culture and slang; and I learned way more about the mortuary business than I thought I would. My favorite part about Cal’s character was learning more about the ace spectrum, and in general, really enjoyed being in his POV.
I was left wanting more from a few character dynamics (her misogynistic coworker deserved worse) but I laughed quite a bit while reading, so it was enjoyable for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
gondorgirl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Terminal illness
pagesbysabrina's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Lark, a vibrant animator from Texas, relocates to Galway on a work visa, hoping to heal from a recent loss. There, she meets her new neighbor, Callum—a mortician on a mission to marry before his 35th birthday to keep the family business. On the surface, they seem like polar opposites, but their connection runs far deeper than anyone could imagine.
As soon as I was approved for this ARC, it went straight to the top of my TBR. This story beautifully illustrates how opposites not only attract but also complement and uplift each other. Lark may have her stubborn moments, but the dynamic between her and Callum is captivating and wholesome. She helps lift his spirits, while he grounds her, making them seem like two perfect halves of a whole. I loved every moment of this story and couldn't put my kindle down until I finished.Fingers crossed the next book in the series is Cielo and Aidan!!
Thank you NetGalley, Ivy Fairbanks and Penguin Group PUTNAM for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
As soon as I was approved for this ARC, it went straight to the top of my TBR. This story beautifully illustrates how opposites not only attract but also complement and uplift each other. Lark may have her stubborn moments, but the dynamic between her and Callum is captivating and wholesome. She helps lift his spirits, while he grounds her, making them seem like two perfect halves of a whole. I loved every moment of this story and couldn't put my kindle down until I finished.
Thank you NetGalley, Ivy Fairbanks and Penguin Group PUTNAM for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Bullying
Gore is related to his job, there are only a few sections that go into graphic detail about someone in the morgue.battyaboutbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
🦇 Morbidly Yours Book Review 🦇
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
❓ #QOTD What do you want people to remember you for? ❓
⚠ Trigger Warnings: Grief, Death, Car Accident, Ableism, Bullying, Body Horror, Child Death
🦇 Painfully shy Callum Flannelly would rather dive into an open grave than take a stranger to dinner. But he can only inherit the family undertaking business under one condition: He must marry before his 35th birthday. Texan animator Lark Thompson moved to Galway, Ireland, to restart her life and career, not be reminded of losing her husband by moving in next to a funeral home. Can Lark help Callum find The One, or has she been standing right in front of him all along?
💜 Ivy Fairbanks has done a wonderful job at developing vibrant, realistic characters who will, no doubt, steal your heart. Despite the grief and guilt weighing on her, Lark is a ray of sunshine, and there's no discounting the charm Callum is hiding behind his seemingly dark exterior. Initially, I worried they were TOO different for chemistry to spark between them, but the progression is easy and natural, the two of them bringing light to one another despite coming from very different, dark places. The little moments between them truly build into romance, making their friends-to-lovers progression both realistic and raw. You'll fall in love as they fall in love, feel your heart ache as their hearts ache, and watch both characters grow with every page. Beyond that, Fairbanks directs readers directly into Ireland, the setting's natural beauty and rich history seeping out of the page until you can't help but breathe in the scent of flowers blooming after a heavy rain. This book is a journey, both through Galway and its intense character growth. Callum's stutter is well-represented, as is his ace/demisexual orientation. As someone who is in love with a demi-goddess (hehe), I was glad to see it depicted so richly and honestly. Lark researching to understand Callum better was all too sweet.
💙 Normally, I have limited interest in a marriage of convenience plot, but it really works well here. You feel the pressure Callum is experiencing without it seeming like a hokey plot device. I also appreciate that both characters have both internal and external conflicts they need to resolve. That being said, I do think Lark's enemy comes off as a one-dimensional villain, when so many other characters live off the page. I've encountered coworkers who are willing to take credit for another person's work, throw someone under the bus, and bully to feel powerful, but honestly, there's usually a deeper reason motivating them. I also think we should have experienced more panic from Lark when she realized how Callum planned to fix the marriage problem. Instead we skip that scene and go straight into her finding a solution.
🦇 Recommended for fans of Tessa Bailey, Hanna Bonam-Young, and Tara DeWitt.
✨ The Vibes ✨
🪦 Dual POV
🌻 Contemporary Romance/Romantic Dramedy
🪦 Marriage of Convenience
🌻 Set in Ireland
🪦 Opposites Attract
🌻 Ace/Demisexual MMC (w/ a Stutter)
🪦 Forced Proximity/Neighbors
🌻 Friends-to-Lovers
🪦 Open Door Spice
🌻 First in a Series
🪦 Debut Novel
🦇 Major thanks to the author @IvyFairbanksBooks and publisher @putnambooks for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #MorbidlyYours
💬 Quotes
❝ Lark’s vibrance made me fall for her. Stifling it would be akin to plucking a wild, rare bloom, only to watch it wither under a bell jar. ❞
❝ To love was to accept risk. In all honesty, the half-century old scooter was a thousand times safer than giving anyone my heart—and I’d done that months ago. ❞
❝ My heart thumps like a drum, with the taste of your lips, the sweet breath in your lungs. I tried not to fall, but I had to succumb. ❞
❝ Swear on this life, beside you I’ll stand. ❞
❝ “Mo chuisle? It means ‘my pulse.’ I never quite understood it before, what it meant to have another person be the d-driving force behind the pump of your blood, but it’s true. Lark, your smile saved me like an emergency transfusion. Your laugh is the song my every blood cell dances to. Your touch revived me from darkness. You are my pulse. You make me feel alive even when I’m surrounded by death.” ❞
❝ “I can’t b-b-believe you named my character Plague Rat.” “What can I say? You inspire me.” She shrugged. ❞
❝ “Illusions aren’t lies. They’re gifts. They give the audience something to believe in,” she replied. “Help me put a little magic in the world.” ❞
❝ “You’re absolutely gorgeous,” he murmured. “You say that after I take your glasses off?” I smiled. “I don’t need them to see you.” My heart swelled. He did see me, and it felt so right. ❞
❝ In an interview, my animation hero Hayao Miyazaki once said that he strived to portray love as a relationship where two people mutually inspire each other to live. ❞
❝ We would cherish the light and honor the darkness, together. ❞
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
❓ #QOTD What do you want people to remember you for? ❓
⚠ Trigger Warnings: Grief, Death, Car Accident, Ableism, Bullying, Body Horror, Child Death
🦇 Painfully shy Callum Flannelly would rather dive into an open grave than take a stranger to dinner. But he can only inherit the family undertaking business under one condition: He must marry before his 35th birthday. Texan animator Lark Thompson moved to Galway, Ireland, to restart her life and career, not be reminded of losing her husband by moving in next to a funeral home. Can Lark help Callum find The One, or has she been standing right in front of him all along?
💜 Ivy Fairbanks has done a wonderful job at developing vibrant, realistic characters who will, no doubt, steal your heart. Despite the grief and guilt weighing on her, Lark is a ray of sunshine, and there's no discounting the charm Callum is hiding behind his seemingly dark exterior. Initially, I worried they were TOO different for chemistry to spark between them, but the progression is easy and natural, the two of them bringing light to one another despite coming from very different, dark places. The little moments between them truly build into romance, making their friends-to-lovers progression both realistic and raw. You'll fall in love as they fall in love, feel your heart ache as their hearts ache, and watch both characters grow with every page. Beyond that, Fairbanks directs readers directly into Ireland, the setting's natural beauty and rich history seeping out of the page until you can't help but breathe in the scent of flowers blooming after a heavy rain. This book is a journey, both through Galway and its intense character growth. Callum's stutter is well-represented, as is his ace/demisexual orientation. As someone who is in love with a demi-goddess (hehe), I was glad to see it depicted so richly and honestly. Lark researching to understand Callum better was all too sweet.
💙 Normally, I have limited interest in a marriage of convenience plot, but it really works well here. You feel the pressure Callum is experiencing without it seeming like a hokey plot device. I also appreciate that both characters have both internal and external conflicts they need to resolve. That being said, I do think Lark's enemy comes off as a one-dimensional villain, when so many other characters live off the page. I've encountered coworkers who are willing to take credit for another person's work, throw someone under the bus, and bully to feel powerful, but honestly, there's usually a deeper reason motivating them. I also think we should have experienced more panic from Lark when she realized how Callum planned to fix the marriage problem. Instead we skip that scene and go straight into her finding a solution.
🦇 Recommended for fans of Tessa Bailey, Hanna Bonam-Young, and Tara DeWitt.
✨ The Vibes ✨
🪦 Dual POV
🌻 Contemporary Romance/Romantic Dramedy
🪦 Marriage of Convenience
🌻 Set in Ireland
🪦 Opposites Attract
🌻 Ace/Demisexual MMC (w/ a Stutter)
🪦 Forced Proximity/Neighbors
🌻 Friends-to-Lovers
🪦 Open Door Spice
🌻 First in a Series
🪦 Debut Novel
🦇 Major thanks to the author @IvyFairbanksBooks and publisher @putnambooks for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #MorbidlyYours
💬 Quotes
❝ Lark’s vibrance made me fall for her. Stifling it would be akin to plucking a wild, rare bloom, only to watch it wither under a bell jar. ❞
❝ To love was to accept risk. In all honesty, the half-century old scooter was a thousand times safer than giving anyone my heart—and I’d done that months ago. ❞
❝ My heart thumps like a drum, with the taste of your lips, the sweet breath in your lungs. I tried not to fall, but I had to succumb. ❞
❝ Swear on this life, beside you I’ll stand. ❞
❝ “Mo chuisle? It means ‘my pulse.’ I never quite understood it before, what it meant to have another person be the d-driving force behind the pump of your blood, but it’s true. Lark, your smile saved me like an emergency transfusion. Your laugh is the song my every blood cell dances to. Your touch revived me from darkness. You are my pulse. You make me feel alive even when I’m surrounded by death.” ❞
❝ “I can’t b-b-believe you named my character Plague Rat.” “What can I say? You inspire me.” She shrugged. ❞
❝ “Illusions aren’t lies. They’re gifts. They give the audience something to believe in,” she replied. “Help me put a little magic in the world.” ❞
❝ “You’re absolutely gorgeous,” he murmured. “You say that after I take your glasses off?” I smiled. “I don’t need them to see you.” My heart swelled. He did see me, and it felt so right. ❞
❝ In an interview, my animation hero Hayao Miyazaki once said that he strived to portray love as a relationship where two people mutually inspire each other to live. ❞
❝ We would cherish the light and honor the darkness, together. ❞
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death
takarakei's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pros: stutter and demisexual representation in Callum - Callum in general was a pro, he was so sweet. I like the becoming friends first into romance (a slower burn). I bet if they got the right narrators this would be good on audio (to hear Callum's accent).
Cons: My biggest issue with this book was Lark's coworker enemy who is quite possibly one of my most hated book characters ever (so I guess props for writing a villain so well?). I just don't really feel the need for a villain in a romance (unless they turn into the romantic interest!). Maybe it's just my past experiences with shitty men at work that it really just made me mad and even tho I suppose he gets what he deserves in the end (kinda he's still an ass), it just really took away overall enjoyment of this book.
This has the beginnings of marriage of convenience trope, but ended up being a slow burn so the 'reasons' Callum has to get married ultimately become a barrier to their romance (perhaps maybe that just wasn't what I expected from the first few chapters).
While I understand Lark's qualms with moving on after the death of her husband, it did feel a bit repetitive to continue hearing about it without much development (until the end).
Something about the writing style and pacing also felt a bit awkward at parts.
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Cons: My biggest issue with this book was Lark's coworker enemy who is quite possibly one of my most hated book characters ever (so I guess props for writing a villain so well?). I just don't really feel the need for a villain in a romance (unless they turn into the romantic interest!). Maybe it's just my past experiences with shitty men at work that it really just made me mad and even tho I suppose he gets what he deserves in the end (kinda he's still an ass), it just really took away overall enjoyment of this book.
This has the beginnings of marriage of convenience trope, but ended up being a slow burn so the 'reasons' Callum has to get married ultimately become a barrier to their romance (perhaps maybe that just wasn't what I expected from the first few chapters).
While I understand Lark's qualms with moving on after the death of her husband, it did feel a bit repetitive to continue hearing about it without much development (until the end).
Something about the writing style and pacing also felt a bit awkward at parts.
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Sexual content, and Car accident
Minor: Child death
There are some descriptions of what Callum does as a mortician, so if you're not into that prob not the book for you.salomegf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Ableism