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A review by _onemorechapter_
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-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? No
4.25
𝑻.𝑾: Bullying, Loneliness, Parents’ Abandonment
💭 Y’all, I was NOT prepared for the magic and joy this book delivered!
Picture this: Delphie Bookham, a 27-year-old with zero romantic experience, chokes on a microwave burger and finds herself in the afterlife wearing a "sparkle and shine" nightie (because of course!). As if things couldn’t get worse, she’s standing in front of the hottest guy she’s ever seen—Jonah. Cue the awkwardness, right? Wrong. Sparks fly, but just when things are getting interesting, Jonah gets whisked back to Earth because, plot twist, it’s not his time yet! 😲
Enter Merritt, a quirky Afterlife Therapist who’s ready to spice things up. She strikes a deal with Delphie: if Delphie can track down Jonah on Earth and get him to kiss her within 10 days, she gets a second shot at life. No pressure, right?! 🕒
I’ve never read a death scene that was so funny! Delphie’s casual, almost ridiculous death was handled perfectly—it set the tone for the rom-com vibes without making it too dark. Greenwood nailed the balance between light-hearted humor and deeper emotions throughout. The premise itself is such a fun, quirky twist on a love story. Insta-attraction after you die and get a second shot at life by finding your soulmate? It’s totally out there, but it works! Lucky unlucky Delphie wasn’t about to turn down that deal.
What follows is the ultimate rom-com adventure as Delphie navigates the wild streets of London, with only her gut (and a bit of help from friends) to lead her to Jonah—her possible soulmate. What really set this book apart was how it’s not just about finding “the one.” It’s about Delphie learning to live and let go of the trauma that’s held her back for years. From high school bullying to her parents’ abandonment, her growth was the real love story here. Even though it’s mostly a romcom, it tackles deeper themes like loneliness, grief, and childhood trauma. The book shows how everyone deals with trauma differently, and I loved the message that life is meant to be lived to the fullest because you never know when you might kick the bucket!
If you’re a sucker for classic romance tropes like enemies to lovers, fake dating, one bed, and insta love, you’ll eat this up. Plus, there are some fun shoutouts to popular romance authors, books, and movies that make it feel so relevant and fresh. And let me tell you, the side characters stole the show! Delphie’s neighbor, Mr. Yoon, her bestie, Leanne, and her new friend, Frida, all brought heart and humor to the story. I actually found them even more layered than the lead couple at times, but they added so much charm that I didn’t mind.
The chemistry between Delphie and Cooper is off the charts, adding so much charm to their interactions. Their banter is fantastic—filled with laugh-out-loud moments that make the book quirky and satisfying. It’s those little exchanges that really make you root for them!
The *found family* vibes gave me all the feels. It took some time to build, but by the end, Delphie’s relationships with the people around her felt so genuine and heartwarming. I’m always a sucker for a good found family story, and this one hit the spot!
This book was such a feel-good, magical read with plenty of laughs, heartfelt moments, and swoon-worthy romance. While Delphie’s mission to find Jonah is the hook, it’s her journey to finding herself that truly stands out. Add in the witty banter, fun pop-culture references, and lovable side characters, and you’ve got yourself a winner. If you’re in the mood for a rom-com with heart and a touch of afterlife magic, give this one a try!
➡️What to Expect
- Enemies to Lovers
- Fake Dating
- One Bed
- Love Triangle
- Found Family
- Single POV
- Magical Realism
𝐏.𝐒 This was my first read by Greenwood and I loved it. I will be reading her more now!
🔸 𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
🔸 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4.12
🔸 𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Fantasy, Paranormal Romance 🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes!
The concept of this book was unique, and I think Kirsty Greenwood nailed it. It’s my first time reading one of her books, but I’m already excited to see what she writes next. If you're looking for something magical and heartwarming with all the swoon-worthy tropes, you’ll definitely enjoy this one!
🔸𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“The problem with so many people you encounter in life is that they're being the version of themselves they think they should be rather than the person they actually are.”
“Because life is too short to wait around on a good idea.”
“The thing about people is you have to let them drag you to places you don't want to go. Let them tell you things you don't want to hear. Let them break you and put you back together. Like my beloved Stephen Sondheim wrote—somebody hold me too close, somebody hurt me too deep. That's what being alive is.”
“What I'm saying is that tonight I saw those people singing 'Happy Birthday' and I got it. Those guests, friends, family, whatever. They were witnesses to that guy's life. The fact that they were there to see him change age - some arbitrary occasion - it marked it. It means that it will be remembered. That he will be remembered. Even when he's gone. Because he had, you know, witnesses.”
“Were you aware that emotional tears have a higher protein concentration than tears that come from irritation? I read online that the higher protein content makes them fall down your cheeks more slowly— increasing the chance they'll be seen by people and attract help. Your body is literally built for community. Tears attract people. So cry away!”
“Sometimes when people want to go, it’s easier to just let them.”
“I don't just hang around with people. Especially strangers. The woman pulls another face. 'Then they will always be strangers if you never hang out with them. Never friends.’”
“Fate has a way of giving you exactly what you need, when you need it.”
“Crying means you're feeling," Jan muses. "That you're living. That you're loving. That you're laughing.”
“Trying to do the scary thing is almost as good as actually doing the scary thing.”
💭 Y’all, I was NOT prepared for the magic and joy this book delivered!
Picture this: Delphie Bookham, a 27-year-old with zero romantic experience, chokes on a microwave burger and finds herself in the afterlife wearing a "sparkle and shine" nightie (because of course!). As if things couldn’t get worse, she’s standing in front of the hottest guy she’s ever seen—Jonah. Cue the awkwardness, right? Wrong. Sparks fly, but just when things are getting interesting, Jonah gets whisked back to Earth because, plot twist, it’s not his time yet! 😲
Enter Merritt, a quirky Afterlife Therapist who’s ready to spice things up. She strikes a deal with Delphie: if Delphie can track down Jonah on Earth and get him to kiss her within 10 days, she gets a second shot at life. No pressure, right?! 🕒
I’ve never read a death scene that was so funny! Delphie’s casual, almost ridiculous death was handled perfectly—it set the tone for the rom-com vibes without making it too dark. Greenwood nailed the balance between light-hearted humor and deeper emotions throughout. The premise itself is such a fun, quirky twist on a love story. Insta-attraction after you die and get a second shot at life by finding your soulmate? It’s totally out there, but it works! Lucky unlucky Delphie wasn’t about to turn down that deal.
What follows is the ultimate rom-com adventure as Delphie navigates the wild streets of London, with only her gut (and a bit of help from friends) to lead her to Jonah—her possible soulmate. What really set this book apart was how it’s not just about finding “the one.” It’s about Delphie learning to live and let go of the trauma that’s held her back for years. From high school bullying to her parents’ abandonment, her growth was the real love story here. Even though it’s mostly a romcom, it tackles deeper themes like loneliness, grief, and childhood trauma. The book shows how everyone deals with trauma differently, and I loved the message that life is meant to be lived to the fullest because you never know when you might kick the bucket!
If you’re a sucker for classic romance tropes like enemies to lovers, fake dating, one bed, and insta love, you’ll eat this up. Plus, there are some fun shoutouts to popular romance authors, books, and movies that make it feel so relevant and fresh. And let me tell you, the side characters stole the show! Delphie’s neighbor, Mr. Yoon, her bestie, Leanne, and her new friend, Frida, all brought heart and humor to the story. I actually found them even more layered than the lead couple at times, but they added so much charm that I didn’t mind.
The chemistry between Delphie and Cooper is off the charts, adding so much charm to their interactions. Their banter is fantastic—filled with laugh-out-loud moments that make the book quirky and satisfying. It’s those little exchanges that really make you root for them!
The *found family* vibes gave me all the feels. It took some time to build, but by the end, Delphie’s relationships with the people around her felt so genuine and heartwarming. I’m always a sucker for a good found family story, and this one hit the spot!
This book was such a feel-good, magical read with plenty of laughs, heartfelt moments, and swoon-worthy romance. While Delphie’s mission to find Jonah is the hook, it’s her journey to finding herself that truly stands out. Add in the witty banter, fun pop-culture references, and lovable side characters, and you’ve got yourself a winner. If you’re in the mood for a rom-com with heart and a touch of afterlife magic, give this one a try!
➡️What to Expect
- Enemies to Lovers
- Fake Dating
- One Bed
- Love Triangle
- Found Family
- Single POV
- Magical Realism
𝐏.𝐒 This was my first read by Greenwood and I loved it. I will be reading her more now!
🔸 𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
🔸 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4.12
🔸 𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Fantasy, Paranormal Romance 🔸𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒚: 🌶️
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes!
The concept of this book was unique, and I think Kirsty Greenwood nailed it. It’s my first time reading one of her books, but I’m already excited to see what she writes next. If you're looking for something magical and heartwarming with all the swoon-worthy tropes, you’ll definitely enjoy this one!
🔸𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“The problem with so many people you encounter in life is that they're being the version of themselves they think they should be rather than the person they actually are.”
“Because life is too short to wait around on a good idea.”
“The thing about people is you have to let them drag you to places you don't want to go. Let them tell you things you don't want to hear. Let them break you and put you back together. Like my beloved Stephen Sondheim wrote—somebody hold me too close, somebody hurt me too deep. That's what being alive is.”
“What I'm saying is that tonight I saw those people singing 'Happy Birthday' and I got it. Those guests, friends, family, whatever. They were witnesses to that guy's life. The fact that they were there to see him change age - some arbitrary occasion - it marked it. It means that it will be remembered. That he will be remembered. Even when he's gone. Because he had, you know, witnesses.”
“Were you aware that emotional tears have a higher protein concentration than tears that come from irritation? I read online that the higher protein content makes them fall down your cheeks more slowly— increasing the chance they'll be seen by people and attract help. Your body is literally built for community. Tears attract people. So cry away!”
“Sometimes when people want to go, it’s easier to just let them.”
“I don't just hang around with people. Especially strangers. The woman pulls another face. 'Then they will always be strangers if you never hang out with them. Never friends.’”
“Fate has a way of giving you exactly what you need, when you need it.”
“Crying means you're feeling," Jan muses. "That you're living. That you're loving. That you're laughing.”
“Trying to do the scary thing is almost as good as actually doing the scary thing.”