
Back After This
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Linda Holmes
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By:
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Linda Holmes
From the New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo, a podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love?
“Romantic, smart, and exactly the book we all need right now. I adored this.”—Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script
“You’ll sink into this story and never want it to end.”—Elissa Sussman, author of Funny You Should Ask
Cecily Foster loves to make podcasts. She fiercely protects her colleagues, dearly adores her friends, and never misses dinner with her sister. But after a disastrous relationship with a colleague who stole her heart and her ideas, she’s put romantic love on hold.
When the boss who’s disappointed her again and again finally offers her the chance to host her own show, she wants to be thrilled. But there’s a catch—actually, two catches. First, the show will be about Cecily’s dating life. And second, she has to follow the guidance of influencer and newly minted relationship coach Eliza Cassidy, whose relentlessly upbeat attitude seems ready-made for social media, not real life.
Cecily would rather do anything other than put her singledom on display (ugh) or take advice from the internet (UGH). But when her boss hints that doing the show is the only way to protect a friend’s job, she realizes she has no choice.
To make matters more complicated, once she’s committed to twenty blind dates of Eliza’s choosing, Cecily finds herself unable to stop thinking about Will, a photographer she helped to rescue a very big and very lovable lost dog. Even though there are sparks between the two, Will’s own path is uncertain, and Eliza’s skeptical comments about Cecily’s decision-making aren’t helping. On the one hand, Will seems great. But on the other hand . . . don’t they all?
As Cecily struggles to balance the life she truly desires and the one Eliza wants to create for her, she finds herself at a crossroads. Can Cecily sort through all the advice and find a way to do what she loves without losing herself in the process?
©2025 Linda Holmes (P)2025 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
“Hugely uplifting and hilariously funny, Back After This is the kind of smart, grounded romance that’s made Linda Holmes one of the most beloved voices in fiction. She’s just so good.”—Katie Cotugno, New York Times bestselling author of Birds of California
“Back After This is a propulsive, heart-warming journey through the difficult—and often petty—world of podcasting. I gobbled this book up in a single night, enchanted by Holmes’s all-too-real characters and their dogged pursuit of love. This book is a much-needed distraction—a fun, exciting, and sexy reprieve from the real world. I cannot wait to recommend it to all my friends.”—Kelsey McKinney, host of Normal Gossip and author of You Didn’t Hear This From Me
“To know Linda Holmes—whether through her work at NPR as a correspondent and host of the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast or as the author of warm-hearted, chatty novels Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo—is to love Linda Holmes. Her third novel, Back After This, is a delightful combination of her two fields.”—BookPage
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Like a warm and cozy hug
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It’s fine for background listening but characters are thinly drawn and motivations don’t make sense from one moment to the next. The behind the scenes of podcast production was kind of interesting but would have been better if any character had a real love for audio storytelling.
Not her best
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Wonderful story
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Her best yet!
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Well what do you know about pod casts
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Cecily Foster is a strong and capable woman who excels in her endeavors. She’s always willing to support her friends and colleagues, but when it comes to her own needs, she’s more easily manipulated.
Her boss, Tobie, wants her to host a podcast and participate in an influencer’s "Guide to Finding Your Match After 20 Blind Dates," where influencer Eliza Cassidy uses her method for finding the perfect match. Cecily agrees, but only on the condition that she can also host a podcast she’s passionate about and that both her and her colleague Julie’s jobs are secure.
After a string of disappointing dates and a constant imbalance between her work and personal life, it seems like things couldn’t get worse for Cecily. But they do: especially when an unexpected new factor, named Will, Will’s dog Buddy, and an email, are about to shake things up.
Always learn to prioritize your desires w/o shame
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Pronounced furniture as fun-it-ture is this a joke? A commentary on the audio industry?
Had to DNF - Terrible Narration
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Really needs professional narrator
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Listen to your Gut
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Narration added to the story
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