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A review by okiecozyreader
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book just made me smile so much (and I loved how it was a book about how a girl made a boy smile, who hadn’t smiled in a long time). It had a little spice, but not so much, which was perfect for me.
In her letter to GMA readers, the author wrote how she had moved from a tiny village to London and it felt like she was starting her life over, and she met so many new friends who witnessed her life and noticed her. She also had a “desire to write something completely unabashed, something magical, weird, funny and in total celebration of the romantic comedy genre.”
This was both of those things. I love British romance and community, books that also deal with loneliness and grief. This wove all these things together in a charming way.
Delphie wakes up in the afterlife, with a woman named Merritt, who is a huge fan of romance novels. About the same time, Jonah wakes up and they have a connection. Bored, Merritt makes a deal with her that if she can get Jonah to kiss her, she will use her “get one free” card to allow Delphie to live. Delphie lives in her parents’ old apartment, along with a couple of other neighbors, an older man with mutism, and a cranky guy who drives her crazy.
“I’m Merritt, twenty-eight years old—always will be—and my absolute favourite things are curry and romance novels, the hotter the better on both accounts. I’m your assigned Afterlife Therapist.” Ch 1
“…you’re such a mess and it was funny and romantic like a juicy Sophie Kinsella novel.” Ch 15
So fun to see how all of it came together with a couple of surprises, that I didn’t figure out.
“…trying to do the scary thing is almost as good as actually doing the scary thing.” Ch 15
““Because life is too short to wait around on a good idea.” Ch 36
It is such a fun nod to authors and books including Josie Silver, Sophie Kinsella, The Hating Game, Twilight, Bridget Jones, Sally Thorne (and probably others!) and tropes including enemies to lovers, “like forced proximity, sharing a bed, love triangle, fake dating, and taming the womanizer popping out at me.” Ch 47
“…being alive is about experiencing the full gamut of emotions. If you’re not feeling pushed and pulled and scared and delighted instead of just safe—then you’re not doing it right.” Ch 48
In her letter to GMA readers, the author wrote how she had moved from a tiny village to London and it felt like she was starting her life over, and she met so many new friends who witnessed her life and noticed her. She also had a “desire to write something completely unabashed, something magical, weird, funny and in total celebration of the romantic comedy genre.”
This was both of those things. I love British romance and community, books that also deal with loneliness and grief. This wove all these things together in a charming way.
Delphie wakes up in the afterlife, with a woman named Merritt, who is a huge fan of romance novels. About the same time, Jonah wakes up and they have a connection. Bored, Merritt makes a deal with her that if she can get Jonah to kiss her, she will use her “get one free” card to allow Delphie to live. Delphie lives in her parents’ old apartment, along with a couple of other neighbors, an older man with mutism, and a cranky guy who drives her crazy.
“I’m Merritt, twenty-eight years old—always will be—and my absolute favourite things are curry and romance novels, the hotter the better on both accounts. I’m your assigned Afterlife Therapist.” Ch 1
“…you’re such a mess and it was funny and romantic like a juicy Sophie Kinsella novel.” Ch 15
So fun to see how all of it came together with a couple of surprises, that I didn’t figure out.
“…trying to do the scary thing is almost as good as actually doing the scary thing.” Ch 15
““Because life is too short to wait around on a good idea.” Ch 36
It is such a fun nod to authors and books including Josie Silver, Sophie Kinsella, The Hating Game, Twilight, Bridget Jones, Sally Thorne (and probably others!) and tropes including enemies to lovers, “like forced proximity, sharing a bed, love triangle, fake dating, and taming the womanizer popping out at me.” Ch 47
“…being alive is about experiencing the full gamut of emotions. If you’re not feeling pushed and pulled and scared and delighted instead of just safe—then you’re not doing it right.” Ch 48