What a thrilling and immersive journey for the reader. I look forward to reading this book again one day

Outstanding. I'll be sorry to not have it to read tonight, but couldn't put the book down! I was fully immersed in this from the start… fascinating!

Thank you so much to Post Hill Press for the chance to read and review this book prior to release.

First of all, the cover is beautiful and the synopsis sounded so deep and unique that I couldn't wait to dive in. I enjoyed reading about Liz and was moved deeply by her past trauma. Parts of this will be hard for most readers to read.

Unfortunately, it didn't hold my attention as much as I would hope!

I do think a lot of people will resonate with this and it will be a hit!

It is available now!

Thank you to the author, Post Hill Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel is centered around a 40-ish woman - wife, mother and partner in an event-planning business - who sees cracks developing in all areas of her life. The title plays on the morphing of the event-planning business, which of course is suffering during a financial downturn, into also helping people plan for their death. This topic has always been a huge problem for the protagonist and we learn that she has a lot of unresolved trauma from her childhood. It turns out she is one of the most suitable candidates for therapy ever - but instead of dealing with it, she seems intent on papering over the cracks. However, when her mother becomes ill and death is on the table, things slowly start to change. This was billed as hilarious and heartbreaking - I found it an okay read, but nothing memorable, perhaps because I found myself annoyed and irritated by the protagonist a majority of the time.

This book didn't take the course I thought it would: That it would be mostly about the event planning business taking on the project of funerals and celebrations of life. That was included but the book centered more around Liz, who is the best possible candidate and poster child for therapy that I have ever seen.

Liz lost her sister, Maggie, at the age of 6 in a house fire and resents the fact that her mother literally drowned her sorrows in alcohol and she had to stop being a kid to keep her family together. The story is about Liz's continued anxiety dealing with anything related to death and dying and her overwhelming fears of something dreadful happening to her family.

The book centers around multiple deaths, one of which I questioned the author's use but I'll let the reader guess which one. I appreciate Liz's business partner, Gabbi, having a realistic take on keeping her business afloat by taking on such a challenging event without being tacky, though I think Liz's controlling nature and unwillingness to conquer her fear, thus Gabbi should abide by the same rules, is ridiculous.

I did enjoy the book but overall, I found Liz's character to be tedious and downright unlikeable at times and that cost this book a star.

A sweet, fun, lovely story of love and loss and how we deal with such loss.

I think this will resonate with anyone who reads it. At times it had a Hallmarky vibe and times I felt the story became a bit convoluted, but overall this was a nice read!

This is a very charming book, but not really something in my wheelhouse. It’s a bit too much like a Hallmark movie for me. It’s a fast, light read that many people will enjoy.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

I was privileged to receive this ARC from Post Hill and NetGalley. This review is my own true opinion. Liz and Gabbie are partners in an event planning business. They have been best friends for many years, raising their children together and being there for each other during divorce and family woes. So they said, but I never felt the friendship between them as other than a business venture. Liz and Gabbie seem to not share or talk with each other of much importance, even when Gabbie could potentially wreck their reputation when she shows poor ethics. The book description suggested that this would be an emotional book but the characters did not live up to the drama I expected. Other than that, it was a good book with lots of events and happenings on-going.

In the Event of Death
A Novel
by Kimberly Young

I loved this book. It was filled with humor, and some very touching moments, and touched me. It is an easy read, but one I read all the way through in one day. Made me think of how I would like to go out of this world.

An enjoyable book that was a quick and easy read. It was well written with a storyline that engaged me right from the beggining and I became lost in it. The characters were well developed and all brought something to the storyline. Definitely worth a read.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Post Hill Press and #NetGalley. Thank you to the publishers, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

If you want to take time off from life and immerse yourself in a lovely story this is the one.