This is the fifth novel from international bestselling author Kirsty Greenwood, who was born and raised in a small town in Greater Manchester. Previously a book editor and named a 2016 Rising Star in The Bookseller, she is now a full-time writer of love stories that make readers belly laugh and ugly cry.
Delphie has just died by choking on a microwaveable burger, but now she finds herself in a laundromat with a strange woman named Merritt, welcoming her to Evermore, the afterlife world. Frantic, she storms out of the laundromat and runs into the hottest man she’s ever seen. And he’s smiling at her. As they start to chat, everything else becomes background noise. That is, until someone comes running out of a door, yelling something about a huge mistake, and sends the dreamy stranger named Jonah back down to earth.
Immediately afterwards, Delphie demands she be sent back to Earth. When Merritt offers Delphie a deal in which she can return to earth and stay there if she’s able to find Jonah and get him to kiss her by his own free will within 11 days, she jumps at the opportunity. In a city of millions, and with only a first name to go by to find Jonah, the odds are heavily stacked against Delphie.
Beginning her search at the library, Delphie soon discovers she’s going to have to change her ways and interact much more with the outside world if she’s to have any chance at finding Jonah. When every lead she comes up with goes nowhere, she resorts to asking her enemy neighbour Cooper for assistance, as he has access to private information. Cooper agrees to help her in return for her pretending to be his girlfriend at a family dinner. Before she knows it, Delphie is getting to know a man she thought she hated, and time is running out to find Jonah and save her own life.
This 2024 summer release is an emotional, heartwarming, and charming story with some serious undertones. The book features several popular romance tropes, including enemies to lovers, forced proximity, shared bed, love triangle, and found family. Each of these tropes is wonderfully woven into the story and doesn’t feel deliberate or obvious.
Delphi is a character in desperate need of growth. Her journey forces her out of her comfort zone and into a myriad of uncomfortable situations and a roller coaster of emotions. She makes some terrible decisions that add comedy to the story. Her chemistry with Cooper is a highlight of the story and one readers will be rooting for by the end.
If you’re new to Kirsty Greenwood’s writing, this book will definitely make you want to read her other books. The story is incredibly unique, fast-paced, has fantastic characters, and many interesting plot points. It is very easy to envision this book being adapted into a film, as it’s the perfect recipe for rom-com blockbuster success.
Greenwood does an excellent job balancing romance, humour, and more serious topics such as grief, depression, and abandonment. Despite the main leads having serious personal and emotional issues, the story never feels heavy or dragging. There is an abundance of hilarious and witty banter between the characters that will keep readers engaged and smiling.
Narrator Sofia Oxenham does a phenomenal job narrating this audiobook. Her performance of Delphie is reminiscent of a perfectly cast actress in a romantic comedy—quirky, compelling, hilarious, and endearing! Oxenham’s narration is also well paced, providing distinct and authentic voices for each of the compelling characters. Her brilliant acting skills are on full display in this audiobook as she vividly brings every scene to life with great emotion and dramatic flair.
If you’re in search of a feel-good book with a highly original plot, loveable characters, and hilarious dialogue, look no further than this book. The audiobook narration is so entertaining that you’ll truly feel like you’re watching a movie in your mind. Don’t hesitate on this one!
