Reviews with content warning for Death - Aftertaste

Reviews tagging 'Death'

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

49 reviews

foxwriter's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A emotional gut punch of a story, this book had me in a choke hold. Absolutely do Not Read if you've just lost someone close to you! or maybe do. this book is all about the ups and downs of life, and the process of grief in all it's forms. from those who linger in it like it's a hug, to those who ignore until it festers inside, every person in this book is dealing with grief and the struggle that it leaves in it's wake, none more so than Konstantine, who we follow through the many lows, and the glorious highs of his life as he struggles to deal with a power he does not understand, but clings to as a final hope to have one last connection to his father. i cried more than once reading this book, and it was cathartic in a way i was not expecting. plus the mystery of the power, and some of his spectacularly very bad ideas, make this a book full of twists and turns you never see coming.

Be sure to check your trigger warnings, as there is a lot of heavy themes in this book beyond grief including binge eating, drug abuse, overdose, murder, child neglect, a LOT of death, and more. this is a story all about the worst of life, and the grief that taints every aspect of a persons life ad it does not sugar coat any of it. a real and heavy look at life with a twist of the supernatural to bring it all home.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

Content Warnings

cornyylynn's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Content Warnings

darkdahlia9's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Bordering on cozy horror almost, Aftertaste was such a unique concept as a storyline because who wouldn't give anything to see your passed love ones again through food?

The author's way of describing the aftertastes that the MC experiences is so vivid and well written, I could almost taste them too! I really lved being able to see how people experience their grief and their closure through food, especailly since food is a very important thing in my household.

Despite this, I felt like there were too many plot threads bringing us to the ending, and it sometimes was really confusing to me as to where the story was going, and what was actually happening to the spirtis. I kind of wish the author would have streamlined the storyline vs including other POVs.

I also honestly was NOT a fan of the ending- for a book that's compared to TJ Klune's writing, I really feel like there needs to be more of a happy ending than what we got, even though it did make sense in the whole of the plot, i was left feeling really dissatisfied.

I will keep an eye on this author for sure, i really overall loved the story and it gave me the good fuzzy feelings inside!

Thank you Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the ARC~

Content Warnings

timetotalkbeauty's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Daria Lavelle’s Aftertaste is a gorgeously written, unforgettable novel that will linger long after the final page — much like the meals it so lovingly describes. At once a tender coming-of-age story, a meditation on grief, and a celebration of food as memory, Aftertaste offers a unique blend of magical realism and emotional depth that is both rare and resonant.

At the heart of the novel is Kostya, a young man who has the uncanny ability to experience the lingering “aftertaste” of meals once eaten by the dead. What begins as a strange, isolating quirk becomes a powerful gift, allowing him to reconnect the living with those they’ve lost through the alchemy of recreated meals. This premise — whimsical, spiritual, and deeply human — sets the tone for a story that is equal parts magical and emotionally grounded.

Lavelle’s prose is remarkable, especially in the way she evokes food. The descriptions are so vivid and sensory-rich that you can practically smell, taste, and feel every dish. But these aren’t just indulgent culinary interludes — they serve a greater purpose. Through food, Lavelle explores identity, memory, and love. As she writes, “Food could do that. It could tell stories... Leaving behind a recipe was a way to be remembered and savored and loved even after you were gone.” This sentiment captures the heart of the book, where food becomes a conduit between past and present, loss and healing.

Beyond its enchanting premise and exquisite language, Aftertaste is also a powerful narrative about family, immigration, and self-discovery. Kostya’s journey — from a boy grappling with grief and displacement to a man forging love and purpose — is moving and authentic. His relationships, particularly with the vibrant Frankie and the warm, sharp-witted Maura, add layers of charm and emotional nuance to the story. Their dialogue sparkles with humour and heart, and their shared moments are as nourishing as any of the meals Kostya prepares.

Lavelle doesn’t shy away from the ache of loss or the complexity of love. The ending, while emotionally wrenching, feels earned and true to the story’s themes. It may not satisfy every reader’s longing for a simple happy ending, but it offers something deeper — closure, continuity, and the comforting echo of what remains.

Ultimately, Aftertaste is a literary feast: immersive, poignant, and utterly original. With its seamless blending of the fantastical and the everyday, Lavelle crafts a novel that is as much about what we taste as it is about what we carry. It's a story that reminds us that to eat is to remember, and to remember is to love.

A must-read for anyone who has ever found solace in a recipe, a memory in a flavour, or a sense of home in a shared meal.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Content Warnings

breeburkitt's review against another edition

4.5

Aftertaste is one of those books that feel as though you've stepped into someone's life, e.g., Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, The Midnight Library, etc. It's immersive as it spans decades of Kostya's life, transcending traditional genres and form. Author Daria Lavelle moves seamlessly between New York City's very real food scene and the fantastical world of hungry ghosts, crafting both into a love story of its own.

Aftertaste is a haunting exploration of grief, love and the magic of food — quite literally a literary feast. It's a must-read and will likely be one of the best literary fiction books 2025.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance copy in exchange for my review.

Content Warnings

andareadstoomuch's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-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: Yes

Huge thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The book’s premise is simple. What if you could share a meal one last time with someone you’ve lost? What would you do for that one last meal?

The first 20 pages of this I knew it was going to hurt in the best way. I knew there were going to be tears. And there absolutely were, in the best way possible. This book is beautiful. The loss in Konstantin’s life drives him to what makes him unique. A way to bring back the dead for one last meal, so the living can heal and let go. It’s the Aftertaste that brings your soul (and theirs) to peace. Or does it? Everything has a cost, even Aftertastes. Are you truly willing to pay?

I mean, damn. Right. In. The. Heart.

I tell you, I never ran to preorder this book faster. This belongs with the precious few others that are in the “change your life after you read” category. And this one? It’s skyrocketing to the very top.

Run, don’t walk and get yourself a copy on May 20. I tell you, no…I guarantee you will not regret it.

Content Warnings

em23jjh's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I have mixed feelings about this book. I thought the story was pretty slow for the first half but the pacing was much better the second half. I really enjoyed the who concept of tasting ghosts. I like how Kostya is an imperfect and flawed character. His success in the restaurant world is driven by grief and childhood trauma. And honestly the end was not quite how I expected it. It's refreshing to read a story every once in a while that isn't a neat perfect, fairy tale happy ending.
For the most part I enjoyed the author's writing style. The ghost interludes were confusing and hard to follow. It took me a few of them to figure out what was going on. That said, you can't help but picture the food or what to make it yourself the way the author describes it.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Content Warnings