This was a great read. I really liked that it felt raw rather than the sanitised version of grief often in books, especially romance.
Cass was a believable, likeable character; I enjoyed every bit of her journey following her brother’s death.
It was a story of romance, but it wasn’t the main feature and nor should it have been. I enjoyed it very much.

I saw the cover, title, read the author's note and still said to myself "this can't be that sad". Well, let me tell you it was very sad indeed.

I've been grieving different family members since I was a kid, so this was extremely hard to read at times, but also very raw and touching. It had me crying since the beginning, I thought the death part would come later on in the book, but it literally hapenned on the second page, so the whole story is very grieve heavy with some romance intertwined.

I'd say the romance in it made me want to keep going because it made it a little less heavy. Vince (the love interest) is such a good guy, I was rooting for him and Cass so hard.

Cass made some decisions that I didn't agree with, however as this book pointed out, everyone grieves differently, so who am I to judge her.

Very good book, but really triggering, read with caution if you've lost people in your life.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Received via netgalley as an ARC COPY

I really enjoyed this book, it was deep and moving, heart breaking and lighthearted!

Now choosing the read it 35 weeks pregnant wasn't my smartest decision, I was overwhelmed by emotions and repeatedly reduced to tears

Thank you Victory Editing and Sophie Andrews for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback. I thought this was an amazing depiction of grief and love while grieving. I throughly enjoyed it while it simultaneously broke my heart.

When I saw this cover and title on NetGalley, I requested this arc instantly. I didn’t read what this book was going to be about, I love going in blind. Blind I was. I thought this would be some cute but eccentric love story. Which I guess in a way it was but the love aspect of this story was secondary. Grief is the foremost of this story.

I was not expecting such an emotional, raw, candid and honest outlook of living a life in the aftermath of losing a sibling. Twenty pages into this book and I was a sobbing mess. I thought that would be the end of my tears for this book, what an idiot I was. I cried and cried and cried, when I thought I had no more tears to shed, I cried some more.

I can honestly say, I’ve never read a book like this. One that touches on navigating through life and grief after losing a sibling. Normally it’s parents or friends, never a sibling. Sophie takes you on Cassandra’s journey of manoeuvring through her life, grief, self destruction and self discovery. It was truly heartbreaking to read but also highly impactful.

How truly incredible it is to have a book make you feel everything and so heavily at that. What a portentous event it was to read this book.

Thank you again NetGalley & Sophie Andrews for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The book begins and we jump straight into the story and the traumatic event in Cass's life. I must admit that in the first 20 pages and especially during the tragic announcement, I felt overwhelmed and I had difficulty understanding what was happening because all the thoughts in Cass's head were so overwhelmed and that we moved from one idea to another. When you think about it, these few pages bear witness to the reality of a person who has just learned that one of their loved ones has died. All thoughts are racing and the situation makes little sense. Subsequently, the book clearly shows the different ways of experiencing mourning. This shows that it is constant work and that many people react differently. The book also tackles more difficult topics like the detrimental impact that death can have on a family and survivor's guilt, which is rarely covered in other books. I really liked the relationship between Cass and Aunt Joanie as well as the relationship that developed with Vince throughout the novel. It's not the kind of perfect relationship like in the other books, but a more complex relationship where when we feel like its going great it is not. It is just like grief. Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it if you are going through this type of situation.

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and of course Sophie Andrews for allowing me to read the ARC of "Love at a funeral and other awkward conversations" in exchange for an honest review.

When you think this is a lovely romance read, then you are mistaken.

Well, you are not ENTIRELY mistaken, it is absolutely a lovely read, and it absolutely has romance in it as the title might already exposes, the happy ending is also not really a secret, but the road up to this happy ending, that is something, let me tell you.

This book left me a wreck as well as it had me laughing tears at times.

We follow our main character, Cass, on her journey to cope with grief, self discovery, finding love as well as getting her life in order and what a ride this is. Surely, we all know this from personal exprience as well and in the way Andrews writes it, so raw, so emotional, so real, I could not any different than to catch my breath sometimes, laugh and cry with Cass, suffer with and through her.

It shows you all the ugly sides of grief, not only the sadness, but the anger, the denial, the downs, the loneliness that comes with it.

Read it. It might help you in a way, too, in the future. At least I know it helped me, for my past grief as well as for all the moments in the future where I will find myself grieving. It is okay to be lost, it is okay to hurt, it is okay to feel broken and empty. Just remember, there IS a way out, eventually and the pace is dictated by no one else but yourself. Grief takes however long you need to accept it, to embrace it, to come to terms with it.

The love story is also very great, a perfect performed slow burn with a very loveable male lead, Vince.

Title: Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations by Sophie Andrews

Release Date: May, 31st, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars


After Cass’s brother's sudden death, Vince Mancini, her brother's best friend and her childhood crush turned funeral director, becomes her unwavering support. Despite her shattered heart, his presence feels like a lifeline. He sees through her facade, aiming to mend her, though her heart feels irreparably broken. Yet, against all odds, she feels a flutter of something unfamiliar in her chest, complicating an already overwhelming situation.

This book took me by surprise; despite its title and blurb, I wasn't prepared for its emotional depth and focus on grief. I cried my way through the first third and beyond, moved by its raw honesty. It's a poignant exploration of self-discovery and love amidst tragedy, shedding light on the rarely discussed topic of sibling loss. While romance is present, the core of the novel lies in Cass's journey of coping with her brother's death.


Thank you to The Publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op , The Author Sophie Andrews & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Wasn’t really my cup of tea but was vey thought provoking and you could tell the author spend a lot of time on the premise of the book. Even though it wasn’t for me I’d still urge people to try it out.

The story revolves around Cassandra who recently lost her only sibling and her hardships and struggles to cope with all of it, including her family issues and job. The novel is given the title of a romance novel, and from the cover, it looks like a light read, but it is not. It heavily revolves around grief, loss, trauma, and also the fact that the FMC has self-doubt and she thinks that she's good for nothing to which Vince comes to the rescue. Vince is the sweetest person ever to exist.LITERALLY.
While the FMC is very complicated and gives off black cat energy, the MMC is the complete opposite, a golden retriever. It also captures the point of self-healing which I could relate to. All in all, it was up my alley.



PS. Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to review this amazing ARC. It was a delight!

Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations by Sophie Andrews
Rating: 3.5/5

I devoured this book wholeheartedly.

At its core, it delves into the theme of grief and explores the myriad ways individuals navigate such profound loss. We witness a spectrum of reactions to the news and the aftermath, each one poignant in its own right. Time and again, this book just ripped me apart. I too have suffered a loss only recently, so the wounds are still fresh for me.

Centered on Cass grappling with the loss of her brother, the narrative unveils her raw, authentic inner turmoil, evoking a desire to offer her comfort in any sort of way.

Cats and Vince’s relationship blossomed in a refreshingly realistic manner, despite Cass battling her inner demons.
While the story primarily focuses on grief and self-restoration, I really just wanted a more pronounced romantic element throughout.

The bond between Cass and Vince was undeniably sweet and endearing. However, I found myself wishing for more of their relationship to offset the weight of the grief that filled the story. Finding a better balance between the two aspects would have enhanced the overall experience of the book.

Thank you so much to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and the author, Sophie Andrews, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I really wanted to love this book! It wasn’t bad but it also wasn’t my favorite, I felt like I didn’t get enough of Vince and cass. But i definitely can relate to grief and going through the motions

This book was so heartbreakingly beautiful and so so emotional. *4.5 stars* I was very much not prepared to be sobbing in the first 10 percent of the book. It speaks heavily on subjects of loss, grief, and the various emotions and actions of people who have experience loss. This book was SO GOOD, and handled these topics in such a gentle and relatable way. While I have not quite experienced loss to the caliber (thank god) of the characters in this book I found myself feeling the emotions that our FMC was having, and relating to them in the ways that I understood from my own losses and those of the people I love.

If you are in an emotional space to read something like this, it is definitely worth the read. The way this story is written can be relatable for so many readers who have gone through loss in their life, and especially for readers who have loved ones who have experienced great loss.
* single POV/FMC
*minor spice, open door

This review will also be posted on instagram on 5/9/24, link provided below.

I still think about our MCs Cassandra and Vince way too often.
The story was great, yet predictable like most romance books are, but that didn't make it a bad book!
I think the author has a way with characters that makes you devour the book. They compliment each other nice and click - with each other and me as a reader. It was so easy to built a connection to them and their life. It also wasn't anything "special" but a normal story out of a normal life that was written so well, you just were consumed by it.

"We never get enough time with each other, no matter if someone lives till 60,15, or 99."
- Andrew Garfield

I absolutely adored this book! It dealt with real problems related to grief and encompassed what many of us 'silent mourners' feel when death happens in our lives. Cassandra was such a relatable main character—she was ordinary, which made me like her so much. The author put me in the characters' shoes through her excellent writing, and Cass's journey through her grief paralleled what readers feel within themselves.

In terms of romance, Vince was a fantastic character who complemented Cassandra in such a heartwarming way. They were total opposites, and that is what made them click. I also enjoyed how the romance was a side part of the story and didn't overpower Cassandra's journey through her grief.

So, readers, you'll definitely need to bring some tissues because this book will make you cry (I certainly did).

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC!

I was unable to connect with the protagonist and the story was not really for me. I appreciate the message it told and the details, however I do think it could have been better. There is not that much that kept me interested besides her self growth and relationship with Vince which was handled rather messily.

This was such a beautiful book, I felt every inch of Sophie’s grief, my own grief from past loss and healing from it as well. I really loved the romance sprinkled in to help guide Cass through such a loss, Vince was perfection:) A great story to help understand that grief looks different on everyone and has no time limit, we all just move forward the best we can!

Spoiler Free Review

This was such the cutest book!

I love a brothers best friend trope and this DELIVERED! The characters had great chemistry and adorable banter. This will be a book that I'll buy the physical copy just to have on my shelf!

I plan to do a reread and I RARLEY do that, so yes, this book was THAT good!

100% will recommend this book to my followers.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

FIVE STARS!

There is a foreword from the author at the beginning of the book which everyone should read. The story starts with the loss of the FMC's brother, so that is something you need to be prepared for.

Emotion-heavy does not even begin to describe this book. Admittedly, I lost my sister 8 years ago on May 10th, 2016, and I just said "see you later" unexpectedly to a very good friend of mine last week, so it's safe to say I'm emotionally wrecked right now. That being said, I think it wouldn't matter the time of year or even if you've lost a loved one - the pain that the author wrote about is palpable, and heart-wrenching. It was beautifully written, and I relate in many ways to the author including finding out about a heart disease I have simply because we lost my sister due to an undiagnosed heart condition.

The romance in the story was perfect. Vince is an amazing book boyfriend, and the love between them felt natural, not forced, and not like it was born simply out of Cass' need to be supported. While my parents did not fall apart like the ones in this story did, our relationship did change, especially when my Dad got sick and passed away a little over 2 years after my sister did. I'm still not sure that if she was alive he wouldn't also be. But that's neither here nor there.

I'm a big proponent of no one gets to tell anyone else how to grieve, but reading about how each person handled their grief in this story was hard. I handle my grief in solitude, much to the dismay of my mother; I'm able to do that, I think, because I know I have an amazing support system, including my husband, even though he never met my sister - or my dad.

It wouldn't be hard for me to go on and on about this book, but I definitely think it's worth a read...just be prepared for the emotional turmoil that you may experience.

Although this book is a gut punch and an emotional roller-coaster a lot of the time since reading about grief isn't easy, it is also beautiful, tragic, but so utterly beautiful.

The novel follows Cass, a 27-year-old self-proclaimed fuckup who lives in her parent's basement and works a dead-end job. But after her brother suddenly dies, her life is turned upside down. With her mom shutting down and dad checking out, it's on her to try to keep her family together.

Luckily, Vince, her brother's high-school best friend whose family owns a funeral home, is there to help. What starts out as Vince helping Cass through the funeral arrangements turns into a friendship and maybe, eventually, something more. Can Cass learn to live again and love despite the dark hole her brother's death threw her in?

Cass hooked me in with her sarcasm, humor, and incredible strength during a terrible tragedy. While Vince drew me in with his gentle nature and the steady friendship he offered to Cass.

If you don't mind a good cry, strong emotions, and a tiiiiiiiiny bit of spice, you should definitely give this book a try. It had me sobbing and then laughing and then swooning and then sobbing again.

Yes, it is heavy, but the raw honesty of the FMC and the moments of levity, be it humor or romance, gave a reprieve that helped me through the book (I read it in less than 24 hours!).

It's an incredible journey through grief to love and acceptance - the road might not be pretty or easy (much like grief isn't that either), but it's real. And there's a HEA to look forward to!