I wasn't prepared for how much I loved Kirsty Greenwood's new novel!
I expected this to be a cute, fun rom-com with magical realism elements, and I got all that but also much more. Witty and engagingly written, this runs much deeper than its quirky premise. It is the journey of a young woman who doesn't truly learn to live until after she has died, and it is full of heartfelt moments and laugh-out-loud humor. There are themes of taking chances, self-growth, grief, and found family.
Delphie is a wonderfully well-developed character, complex and flawed, with a heart of gold. However, due to her past, she has developed some self-protective behaviors and closed herself off. She is naive, socially awkward, and very endearing. In a literal life-and-death race against the clock, her character experiences tremendous self-discovery and growth. It's been a while since I rooted this hard for a character. She also made me laugh with her dry, sarcastic wit. The side characters were also great, and I especially loved Delphie's neighbors in her building. And the romance book/trope references that were woven in were a lot of fun.
This gave me a massive book hangover—part guilty pleasure, part hopeful reminder to live life to its fullest. I loved how unexpected, touching, and entertaining this was! A must-read!
Sofia Oxenham narrated the audiobook and was brilliant at capturing Delphie's energy, sense of humor, and range of emotion. She brought the story to life, and this was fantastic on audio!
Pub Day: July 2, 2024
384 pages
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Penguin Random House Audio for the free book and audiobook!
My steep was Goddess Green by Club Magic Hour. This green tea with apricot, lychee, and lemongrass is delicious iced!
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS
If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment. Not only did she just die by choking on a microwaveable burger, but now she’s standing in her ‘shine like a star’ nightie in front of 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 back down to earth. And here Delphie was thinking her luck might be different in the afterlife.
When Delphie is offered a deal in which she can return to earth and reconnect with the mysterious man, she jumps at the opportunity to find her possible soulmate and a fresh start. But in a city of millions, Delphie is going to have to listen to her heart, learn to ask for help, and perhaps even see the magic in the life she’s leaving behind…
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