What a beautiful story about love, death and everything in between! Cass’s story felt so raw with how she and everyone else heals/deals with her brothers death. This will be one of my favorite books I read this year hands down!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"There is an end to what sometimes feels like endless human agony, and that is what makes all of this...whole being alive thing kind of beautiful."

This book was raw and honest. It candidly explores the ebb and flow of grief, grappling with loss and life moving on. The way the loss of a sibling is portrayed brought tears to my eyes many times. I haven't lost a sibling, but the way that Cass dealt (or didn't deal) with her grief is all too familiar to me.

The love between Vince and Cass is so heart warming. He was there for her during the worst days of her life. He sees her for everything she is, broken pieces and all. Cass struggles to see herself for who she truly is until she hits rock bottom and has to fight her way out. Cass's journey through loss, anger, self doubt, and love was beautiful.

TW: Death. Loss of a sibling. Heavy alcohol abuse. Infidelity

I really connected with this book in regards to grief and how to handle it. I wanted nothing more than to hug Cassie because I could feel for her so much. I felt the story was well written but would've liked to have more of the romance element between Cass and Vince.

The main focus of this book was grief and how everyone handles such a heavy topic. We see several different reactions throughout the book, how they deal with the news and how they deal with the afterwards. This book broke my heart time after time...

The story follows Cass as she deals with the loss of the brother. Her inner thoughts were so real and so raw that I just wanted to give her the biggest hug possible... I'm just glad Vince was able do it for me. Their relationship and how it developed was super cute and above all realistic, considering all the inner demons that Cass was fighting.

Although this is a story of grief and self-healing, I wished the romance element was more present in the book. I really enjoyed Cass and Vince's relationship and wanted to see more of them together as a couple, hence my rating.

4.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Sophie Andrews for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

When Cass’s older brother Ray dies suddenly and unexpectedly on Valentine’s Day, her world is turned upside down. She’s left to deal with the mess left behind, aka taking care of everything and everyone around her, and putting her own grief on the back burner. Then, as if she needed another curveball, Vince Mancini walks through her front door. Vince is the funeral director she’ll be working with… and also her brother’s best friend and her childhood crush. Now Cass is dealing with a whirlwind of emotions, including her own grief, anger, loss of direction, and all her feelings for Vince, both old and new.

I originally gravitated towards this book because of my love for The Dead Romantics, Morbidly Yours, and my fondness for books that walk the line between love and grief. Before I began my read, I learned of Sophie’s connection to Cass and her story, (which can be found in the author’s note) and I wanted to approach it delicately.

This story, in its essence, is not really a romance— however, it is absolutely a story about all different kinds of love. It’s tender, raw, and poignant. It also shows an accurate portrayal of the incredibly complex world of grief— of how it is slow, messy, isolating, and at the edges tinged with hope. Cass’s journey is not neat, it is not pretty, but it is her journey, and I think Sophie did an incredible job showcasing that. There were definitely a lot of heart wrenching moments that had me tearing up, but there were also plenty of moments that had me giggling and kicking my feet.

I really, really loved Vince. He is kind, gentle, patient and warm, and he never looks at Cass like she’s broken and he needs to fix her. And I think that’s my favorite thing about him. He’s also a total dreamboat. While a lot of the book is centered around Cass and her healing, the moments we get with her and Vince are so tender and sweet, I couldn’t get enough. Oh, and the spice— phenomenal.

My only critique is that I felt the ending was a bit rushed, which is why I gave it 4.5 stars instead of 5. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Love At A Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations, and I’d highly recommend checking it out.

Thank you so much for the ARC! I really enjoyed this book as it had me hooked from the beginning. I loved the storyline. It was very well written and the description of the main characters was amazing. I cannot wait to read other books written by this author.

When the title has the word funeral in it, you have an idea of what to expect. You know someone is going to die.
The author really captures the grief, overwhelming feeling, but also the emptiness that comes with the pain of losing a loved one. The story follows Cassie, who has found herself living back at home in her parents basement. She feels lost and alone, but she has her older brother she talks to daily. Well, had talked to daily. This story grips your heart, makes you feel so many emotions, especially if you have a sibling.
While making arrangements for the funeral, etc, a childhood friend of her brother comes back into her life. He's the funeral director, Vince. As he helps guide Cassie through the process of the funeral, they also become friends and obviously fall for one another because this is a romance. Duh.
I ate this sappy romance up. From beginning to end I had to keep myself from sobbing uncontrollably. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this story, and thank you to the author for sharing this story with readers. This review will be posted to Goodreads.

4.5 out of 5!! I loved this book! It was cute and honest as the FMC worked her way through grief. Losing a sibling would be one of the worst pains to face and this book takes us through that journey beautifully.

The ending was perfection and felt full circle. I would highly recommend this read to others!

I loved the author’s note at the end. It is stories like this that make you love the story even more. When you know what went in to the making of the book it offers another layer to the story.

7/10

Decent.

Similar to other 3-star reviews here, 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.

I really loved this story and how raw and relatable it was. It does a beautiful job showing the stages of grief and how every one deals with it differently.

If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. I lost my grandfather in September of 2020, and the grief, anger, confusion, and loss is still very much with me. Four years later, and I’m still trying to figure out who I am, what my purpose is, and how I can live when a piece of my heart left my body when my grandfather passed. This book truly encapsulates the complexities of grief and being a human being. Not only that, but it’s helped me in my journey and my healing. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Sophie Andrews, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read this amazing novel.

This was a very sad book but has an uplifting message. The death of a loved one is hard, especially if it's a sibling. Who are you after loss, what are your interests now, what do you do with your life? Those are what Cass was experiencing.

Vince is the funeral director/older brother (deceased) best friend was there for Cass during every emotion she experienced while she processed her brother's death. He was the sun to her storm, he was patient and everything you would ever want in a partner during a rough time in your life.

One big thing about this book is to not go in thinking it's a romance, it truly isn't. There's romance sprinkled in throughout the story, but the main point of the novel is how Cass processes her brother's death.

This was the saddest book I’ve ever read and I loved every minute of It. I was crying from start to finish and I could never put It down. The way the author handles the stages of grief and how different people drive was just so real. Sometimes you just have to face the fact that it’s okay not to be okay and you just need to give yourself time to heal. Everyone handles grief differently but trust there are people there who want to help you.

⅘ Stars

Firstly, I would love to thank NetGalley, Sophie Andrews, and any publishers who allowed me to read this book. It was not something I’d typically gravitate towards. I’ll be honest: I’m not really one for the sole wrenching, make-me-sob books most of the time. I hate to cry. But I went into this book with an open mind and an open heart, and I did quite enjoy it.

It is a book that will leave you feeling raw, feeling ripped open heart shredded to pieces. I did love that they really focused on her grief, and her struggles and challenges through it, rather than just someone finding love within a hard time. It showed bits of how other people deal with grief as well. With her mother being a shell of a person, and her father nowhere to be seen, she had little support within her family because everyone was so immersed in their own grief. Which made Vince even better as a love interest in the story. He was there for her, he anchored her, and really helped her through her grief.

One thing I would note for anyone who is thinking of picking up this book. Do not go into it thinking it's a love story. Yes there is romance and love within the pages. But this is not a romance book. It's an underlying theme. Its just something that happens through their story.

Love At A Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations is nothing short of gripping, raw, and a first-hand glimpse into the grief that comes with losing a family member. The emotion tied into every word in this book is remarkable and vulnerable and real. And then there’s Vince. Vince who soothes our aches and stings while reading a story about grief, just like he soothed Cass. Vince who is sweet and selfless and undeniably the perfect book boyfriend. Bring the tissues, stay for the love. This book is unputdownable.

5 ⭐️

I was not prepared for this book, but I’m so glad I read it. Once you pick it up it’s so hard to put back down.

This is a very emotional book about loss and grief. It’s sad, but honest on the ups and downs / feelings you have when you lose someone close to you.
I can’t lie, I was ugly crying through most of it.

Cass (FMC) is back home living with her parents and one day unexpectedly the cops show up to let them know that her 30 year old brother died from a heart attack. It then follows her life as she’s dealing with her loss while at the same time trying to keep her family together while they are also grieving.

The romance in it was a nice touch, I loved Vince! He helped Cass while being so patient/understanding and he was there the whole time for her 🥺

The ending was perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC 🫶

"I know right now this is all new and confusing. It's terrible, but it won't always be that way."

I absolutely loved this book. I finished it in one sitting. Being no stranger to grief, it was amazing watching all of the characters in this book navigate grief differently. This book will make you laugh, cry, and want to hug your loved ones.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book!

Thank you very much to NetGalley for the ARC!

SPOILER FREE REVIEW:
Cass is left floundering following the sudden loss of her older brother, and she seems to be the only one in her family capable of handling everything in the wake of his death. Her mother is catatonic, her father is absent, and her life already felt adrift with inconsistency and dissatisfaction. Funeral director (and her dead brother's high school best friend) Vince seems to be the only one who can anchor her amidst her grief.

This is not a book I would typically go for, but I did enjoy it! Be prepared for lots of personal navigation following the loss of a family member. The story itself is introspective and searching, and while there is indeed a romantic storyline (and a very sweet and thoughtful one at that), it's not what I would necessarily consider a "romance". Reader be warned! It's a good book with a lot of important messaging and a great deal of weight given to a heavy topic.

(Note for the publisher: A couple of small typos toward the beginning!)

“Why does everyone think I can manage their grief?” I ask Gracie. “I can barely manage my own.”

"Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations” was such a rollercoaster or emotions. I knew going into it that it was going to be, but I didn’t realize I would be so invested. I really felt like I was alongside grieving with Cass, and I empathized with the rollercoaster of feelings she was experiencing. It almost felt like it was happening to me, too.

In this book, Cassandra loses her older brother quite suddenly, and spends the rest of the book trying to handle her own grief, and also is somehow responsible for the grief of her parents and her brother’s friends and coworkers.

I find it interesting how different people handle grief, and I wonder how I would respond to my sibling dying. I have never lost a sibling, but after reading this book I definitely appreciate having my siblings in my life, and going forward I am going to make sure I make the most of my time with them.

The romance with Vince is secondary in this story; it is primarily about Cass navigating her grief and growth throughout this process.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for early access to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes I like to joke around and say that I get too emotionally attached to characters in the books I read, and as silly as it sounds, it’s almost hard for me to put into words just how proud I am of Cass and the journey she has been through. It’s almost as if I’m witnessing a friend who literally went through hell and back, yet is now thriving in the most beautiful way and you can’t help, but look back and say, “she did that.” She’s also just one of those characters you can’t NOT LOVE. My goodness, the black cat energy that is Cassandra St. George!

While this book has a splash of romance between Cass and Vince, which don’t get me wrong, Vince was swooning ME; it’s also a story about lost and grief. It’s true, no one really does talk about the grief you have when you lose a sibling. And as someone who is a younger sibling, but has fortunately not have had to deal with what Cass has, this story helped me unfold just how unique my relationship with my brother is and shed light on similar emotions to Cass that I didn’t realize I harbored in the first place.

“I thought I needed to be strong for everyone else. But by putting others’ grief ahead of my own, I unintentionally made it worse for myself. I self-destructed. And, sadly, I think it may be true for a lot of people who experience the death of a sibling. The putting others ahead of yourself, not the self-destructing part. What you experience with your sibling during your time together can span from black eyes to fits of laughter to screaming matches to “Hey, give me five bucks for a beer.” The connection between siblings is established from birth, and even though it can often be tenuous, it’s undeniable. We may not be burying our parents, children, or spouse, but our loss is just as great. Different, but significant. It’s a pain that deserves moments to say, “I’m not okay.”

Everyone processes grief differently. There’s no right or wrong, no book that can give you a timeline to go by and no way for you to really know when you’ll eventually find that solace you’re looking for. And as Cass processes her own grief, we also see how this lost affect the others in her family. There were times where I’d get really frustrated and ask myself, “why is x doing that!?,” and, “don’t they realize how this is affecting Cass too??,” but it felt wrong to stay mad because you realize that they’re grieving and this is how they’re processing.

Sophie Andrews, you’ve written a book that I will definitely be thinking about for some time! I can feel (and literally read) the careful thought and time you put into creating such spectacular characters, specifically Cass and Vince. For Cass, I’m literally that Lightening McQueen fan in the stands cheering them on meme, but instead of Lightening McQueen it’s Cass because I will forever think about her wit, strength and character development. And for Vince, I think one of the main reasons why I really loved his character was because of how thoughtful and understanding he was of Cass, yet he wasn’t suffocating. He knew she wasn’t in the right state of mind, and he constantly reassured her that he doesn’t mind, but he also gave her the space she needed.

Again, this was an amazing read for me and I definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a story that will bring tears to your eyes yet will also be the one to wipe them away as you continue reading. Thank you to Sophie Andrews and NetGalley for the ARC!