Morbidly Yours
Ratings24
Average rating3.6
Falling for the wrong person? Bury your feelings.
Callum Flannelly would rather dive into an open grave than take a stranger to dinner and a movie. But he can only inherit the family undertaking business and carry on their legacy under one condition: He must marry before his 35th birthday. So it’s out of the mortuary and into the dating scene.
Lark Thompson would rather get crushed by a falling anvil than live next to a funeral home during her stay in Galway, Ireland. The vivacious American cartoon creator and animator came here to embrace life, not be reminded of losing her husband.
When Lark learns of Callum’s dilemma and aversion to marrying out of necessity rather than love, she agrees to help the introverted mortician. Although sworn off love herself, she is optimistic that Callum can find The One and secure his inheritance.
But as the dating project progresses and their friendship grows, so does a mutual attraction. The more time she spends with serious, sarcastic Callum, the more she dreads finding him a match. And the more disastrous dates he endures, the more trepidation he feels for Lark’s imminent return to the states.
If they think it’s possible to ignore their connection, they’re dead wrong.
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Morbidly Yours is an adult contemporary romantic comedy. While optimistic and humorous, the story contains frank and sometimes graphic depiction of caring for the dead in a funeral home, navigating grief after the loss of a spouse, terminal illness, and explicit sexual content between (enthusiastically!) consenting adults. Brief mention of ableism is also present, condemned by the characters, the narrative, and by the author.
If you are sensitive to these themes, please be mindful.
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1 primary book#1 in Love in Galway
Love in Galway is a 1-book series first released in 2023 with contributions by Ivy Fairbanks.
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Narration: First person past tense, dual POV
Representation: Set in Ireland, Irish/Gaeilge language, main character with a stutter, demisexual main character
What happens when the epitome of the sunshine of the grumpy/sunshine fame moves next to a funeral home? What happens when the kinda grumpy (mostly introverted) owner of the funeral home melts down his defenses in the face of such insistent sunshine?
Lark is grappling with the loss of her husband and is not ready for a relationship. She feels a bit unmoored at the beginning of the book and throughout, Callum, new friends, and her job help her settle in and grow roots. The exploration of her grief was done very well.
I liked Callum the most in this book. He's very good at pushing people away and usually seems pretty serious, but with Lark he's himself, he's vulnerable, he's adventurous, he can be silly. I love a book partner that let's love into their heart easily. He's so genuinely sweet, it's hard not to love him as the reader.
The two were very sweet together. I loved their interactions, how they're there for one another, how even when they weren't dating, it was clear to everyone else that they were or would be. This is a bit of a slow burn, even after they both realize they're interested in one another, mostly because of Lark's misgivings about being in a relationship. You see them be infatuated then slowly fall in love, you see that love slowly erode their hard edges and you see them grow until they're ready to let one another in.
I liked a lot of the side characters as well, especially the old lady Maeve. I love how she and Lark bond over their losses and how she helps Lark in profound ways.
The villain of the story feels a bit extreme. This whole plotline felt unnecessary as is, and could have been much better if it was handled with more nuance. Neither Lark nor her coworker friends stand up for her as she's being bullied until something very clear-cut happens and that didn't feel right.
I also loved reading about Irish language and mythology!
Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
