The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
Ghost PNR Romance
July 2, 2024 by Berkley
ARC

Review by Angela

I have a lot of luck with quirky romances that don’t really fit into a specific genre. When I read the blurb for The Love of My Afterlife, I thought that it seemed like something that would be right up my alley.

This book starts out when Delphie chokes on a burger and wakes up to find herself in a processing center for the afterlife. There she meets Merritt, her afterlife therapist in Evermore. The two couldn’t be more different and Delphie can’t believe this is who is supposed to help her find her way after death. Then suddenly a man appears in the processing center, and there is an instant connection–but he’s not really supposed to be there, so he’s sent back. Merritt gives her a chance to find this man, who is one of her soulmates, by sending her back and giving her ten days to find him and elicit a kiss.

This was a sweet romance. I would compare it to the Dead Romantics, but without the heart wrenching grief subplot and more of a found family aspect. Delphie is a lonely figure. Her only friend an elderly neighbor, Mr. Yoon, but she likes it that way. She doesn’t venture too far from her hometown, and she doesn’t often veer off her normal schedule. But now she has ten days to find the mystery man she met in the afterlife, with only a first name and last initial to go by, which means stepping out of her comfort zone and asking for help.

Yes, this is a romance, but it’s also centered around Delphie breaking out of the shell she’s built for herself, forming friendships and getting to know herself and her community. The romance is quiet but features quite a few beloved romance tropes that are sure to make readers happy- enemies to lovers, only one bed, and fake relationship to name a few.

As Delphie goes on her quest, she manages to acquire a huge group of friends, and find love. The ending is a bit unexpected, but I quite enjoyed it. That’s all I’m going to say about that. I don’t really want to spoil the plot as the journey is well worth going in blind.

All in all, an enjoyable read. I’m kind of hoping to read Merritt’s story in the near future.

Grade- B

Content warnings- death of a sibling, parental estrangement, bullying