This was a fantastic read addressing loss and grief. As someone who works in the funeral service industry, I can absolutely attest to the accuracy in which the death of a loved one is approached. It’s a breath of fresh air to read something so realistic yet compelling. I was so lost in the story I almost felt as if I had just experienced this loss for myself.

Listened to the audiobook and learned of net galley and was so happy to found this tile on it and really enjoyed it! It is beautifully written in the way of coping with lost and grief. I connected with the story a lot and it was definitely more than just a book about romance. Cant wait to read more books from this author.

The title and the cover did it for me, I read the blurb and it sounded good. But damn was it really focused on grief, well duh you may think. It really showed how people grief differently. Some make stupid choices some show their true selves. It was heavy and very emotional, and my tears were real. It showed that friends are saviors. Vince was a real one, he showed up and he stayed and even at the end he was waiting, he too deserves the whole wide world.

This book is a beautifully sad story about finding love during your grief. Cass just suffered the loss of her brother who she was very close to and her parents are lost in their grief. Her high school crush Vince is the towns funeral director and helps her to navigate the funeral. He also ends up helping her navigate through her grief as well. This story is very emotional and very beautifully written. I would caution everyone to read cautiously if you have experienced loss recently as it is a difficult read.

This book exceeded my expectations in more ways than one. While I anticipated a sweet romance, what I found was a poignant exploration of grief that left a profound impact on me.

At its core, this book delves into the intricacies of grief and how individuals cope with its weighty burden. We witness a spectrum of reactions among the characters, from initial shock to navigating life in the aftermath of loss. Each portrayal tugged at my heartstrings, leaving me emotionally raw at times.

The narrative centers on Cass as she grapples with the devastating loss of her brother. Her inner turmoil and raw emotions were palpable, evoking a deep sense of empathy within me. I longed to offer her solace, though I found solace in witnessing her bond with Vince, who provided a source of comfort and support.

Their relationship blossomed amidst Cass's journey of self-healing, unfolding in a manner that felt authentic and genuine. However, while the romance between Cass and Vince was endearing, I couldn't help but yearn for more moments of their connection. I felt that the romance could have been more prominently featured, enhancing the overall narrative.

In conclusion, while this book beautifully captures the complexities of grief and the process of healing, I couldn't help but desire a greater emphasis on the romance between Cass and Vince. Nonetheless, their relationship remains a shining beacon of hope amidst the darkness of loss.

“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.”

Thank you to the Author and NetGalley.com for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Oh my gosh. When I say cried and cried and cried and the most therapeutic way possible throughout this book is an understatement. As an older sister, with 1 blood related brother who is currently living his best life — I could still relate so heavily to the messages shared through the story.

What do you do when your whole world is collapsing while simultaneously getting heavier on your shoulders? Cass walks us through that with the help of her brother’s childhood bestfriend who is also the local funeral home owner protégé. She comes to so many different realizations along her journey but not before hitting several rock bottoms due to self-destructive behavior.

I could not recommend this book enough. Will be buying a copy for my shelf as soon as it is published and adding all of the authors other books to my TBR 🫶🏼✨ To the top of my 2024 highest rated list it goes.


*** note to author, I did find a grammatical error at the 7% mark — He’s boy I used to love when I was a girl who had nothing but dreams in her head and hearts in her eyes. —-

After the tragic, sudden death of her older brother, Ray, Cass is left alone to not only mourn his death but also try to hold her family together. She finds comfort in Vince, the funeral director and her brother's best friend, whom she also had a crush on a few years ago.

I usually steer away from topics like death, grief, and loss because I try to lean toward happier subjects when I read (why look for more sadness). But something about this book made me very curious.

Sophie Andrews dives into the raw stages of mourning the loss of a loved one in the most candid ways I've ever seen. She doesn't sugarcoat it. At all. She perfectly demonstrates the sadness, anger, and resentment one feels towards not only the people around them but also the loved one she lost. Cass mentions multiple times how it angers her how people are "selfishly" living their lives, while her brother is gone.

I loved how Andrews gave the theme of "love and loss" so many layers. mourning the death of a loved one, a marriage crumbling amidst the terrible grief of losing a child, and the struggling relationship between Cass and her parents who are neglecting the only child they have left. I loved how she wove them together so seamlessly.

For the story between Vince and Cass, I think it added a whole other layer to it. It showed us how Cass's inner turmoil with her struggle with self-love was seeping into her relationship with Vince, and how she felt like she was using him as a temporary fix and as an escape from her reality. I loved that she acknowledged what she was doing, instead of stringing him along. I felt like their relationship was very realistic and raw, and I appreciated that it wasn't a fluff piece for the story and it actually added depth to it.

I could write a whole essay on this book, but I'll sum it up and say that I loved this book! It was different from anything I've ever read, and I can't wait to read more of Sophie Andrews's books!

I just reviewed Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations by Sophie Andrews. #LoveataFuneralandOtherAwkwardConversations #NetGalley
https://www.netgalley.com/book/361207/review/1350762

What a beautiful and heart wrenching book. This was such a stunning read about love, loss, and growth. This book had such a raw honesty about it and it was genuinely beautifully written. The main characters Cass and Vince were gorgeous and I personally loved that the romance plot line was secondary to the sibling grief storyline.

I honestly can’t think of anything I would change about this book! Five stars from me 🌟

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

Sophie Andrews totally stole my heart with this beautiful, heart-wrenching and emotional journey of a novel. From exploring the grief of losing a sibling, whilst feeling the weight of responsibility to hold the family together - to the bittersweet juxtaposition of seizing life and love, alongside the backdrop of unfathomable loss.

The characterisation was just perfect - I adored Cass and her character journey - and I think you’ll struggle to find anyone who won’t fall in love with Vince and his pure, steadfast heart too. Their love story is a joy to unravel, and one that anyone who has had a crush on a brother’s friend / neighbour will resonate with all too well!

Andrews writes with such warmth and even unexpected humour at times - and I just know that this book will provide so much healing and solace for those who have also lost a sibling well before their time.

A truly special thank you to Sophie Andrews and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my review. I adored it!

Despite my usual inclination to gravitate towards lighter reads for my downtime, this book called to me. It’s not the type of book I typically reach for, but there was something about it that whispered, "Give it a chance." And I am glad I did.

From the very first chapter, I found myself deeply invested in the lives of Cass and Vince, the main characters who felt refreshingly authentic and relatable. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I often struggle to connect with main characters in literature, but these two are the exception.

The writing is nothing short of exceptional, effortlessly drawing me in and refusing to let go until the final page was turned. In fact, I devoured this book in two days, unable to tear myself away from it.

But what truly sets this book apart is its portrayal of grief. Rather than tiptoeing around the subject, the author confronts it head-on, delving into the messy, tangled emotions with a raw honesty that struck a chord deep within me.

So, if you're like me and tend to shy away from heavier topics in your reading material, I implore you to give it a chance. Its a good reminder that sometimes, the most profound solace can be found in the most unexpected of places.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't even know where to start in describing how I felt about this book. I still keep thinking about it days after I have finished it. It was such a well written book and incorporates the feelings of grief, family, self discovery and love. It's the first book I have read which has dealt with the death of a sibling and it was emotional and raw to read.

I felt like this story was handled with care and dealt with some really difficult topics. There is some romance in this story so that help to lighten the weight of this book but overall would recommend for people to read as it made me think about my sibling and life itself.

Cassandra “Cass” lost her brother Ray to a heart attack. Cass is struggling to manage her grief, and she is also parenting her parents; her mother is shell-shocked after hearing news about Ray’s death, and her father doesn’t stay at home. Amidst heartbreaking news and grief, Cass reconnected with Vince, Ray’s best friend and funeral director.

Cass was helpless and trying to figure out everything around her. I love how the author depicted Cass’s emotions. I loved reading about her journey of coping with and overcoming her loss throughout the book. Vince is very supportive of Cass; he is there whenever she needs him. They developed romantic feelings for each other.

The author has also shown how different people experience grief for their loved ones and the complexity of human emotions.

A beautifully written book about loss, love, and family.

4.5

All my life, I've identified with a number of characters, although usually exclusively in fantasy or science fiction literature. I was taken aback by this book since it seemed as though Sophie Andrews had written my entire life narrative. Reviewers have noted that Cassandra has moments of being unlikeable, but who doesn't have moments of unlikeability when grief strikes?

Vince was simply dreamy. He really is my ideal man. I adore how perceptive and compassionate he was. Most of all, I find it unbelievable that I'm falling for a funeral director.

This book deftly examines grief, and you can tell that the author took great care to accurately convey the experience. The guilt of survivors, the psychological conflicts (like Cass's reactions and those of her mother and father), and the long-term effects may all be felt. However, this work also exudes optimism. As you observe, Cass gradually begins to embrace everything, and you cannot shut yourself up for the rest of your life.

This book literally made me laugh, made me cry, and made me want to recommend it around. It sounds morbid but it's really a form of coming of age in a way that no one wants -- to figure out who you are after the death of a close family member.

Cass idolized her big brother but was definitely aware of all the faults of the golden child of the family. But when her brother dies suddenly and unexpectedly, Cass becomes the one who is trying to keep her family together as everything seems to be falling apart. Both parents handle the loss in different ways but both are too lost in grief to think of her. She finds that there's a lot of help for losing a spouse or child but none for losing a sibling. As she navigates this new world and crushing grief, trying to pull her family back together, she also reunites with her brother's best friend, and her high school crush. There's a lot of talk about the layers of grief, complicated grief, recovery, found family, family trauma.

#arc
#netgalley
#loveatafuneralandotherawkwardconversations

This book! How can Sophie Andrews write a book that makes me cry nonstop and yet tell everyone I know that they must read this book!? It's one of my top 5 books ever (and I read many, many books!) that was impossible to put down. Vince Mancini is the man we all hope to have next to us as we go through unimaginable loss and the emotions that the loss brings with it. Adding in the shared history (especially as best friend of the deceased) and he becomes nothing short of the hero of this book! Please, please, Sophie Andrews, give us a second book with these characters!! Highly recommend (as if you didn't already know this!)

Love At a Funeral
 Cassandra's older brother suddenly dies, and she and her family fall apart.  This book was heart wrenching and insightful.  Cassandra had to learn how to grief, and it took her a long time to come to terms with her loss.  I was drawn to this book because I have been married into the funeral home life (25 years) or as Cass calls it the Underworld (I love the Persephone and Hades references).  This book touches on so many parts of humanity: Grief, death, loneliness, family, romance and healing. Parts of this book had me in tears, then other parts had me swooning for Vince and Cassandra's relationship.  The parts of the book that deal with the loss of her brother are raw and gut wrenching.  I think the author did a beautiful job balancing the pain of losing a brother and all of the family drama that took place.  It was healing for me to read how Cass worked through her pain with her parents.  Highly recommend this one.  
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC!

3,5 ⭐

I have so much to say about this book... I went in expecting a cutesy romance (which I got btw) but it was not the main focus of the book.

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.

And finally, thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

When I came across Love At A Funeral And Other Awkward Conversations on NetGalley, I hesitated. Many books with pretty covers had let me down, and the title seemed cliché. But I still read it anyway!

This book left me ugly crying between pages while also making me blush, giggle, and kick my feet as the depressing narratives were balanced with amusing banter and declarations of love. The blend of somber themes and lighthearted banter was masterful. What stood out most was the portrayal of grief. The story delved into the different ways people cope with loss, the harsh realities of death, and the rays of hope that come with acknowledging grief's actuality.

Cassandra, the protagonist, was portrayed with depth and complexity. She wasn't always pleasant, but that's what made her so exceptional. Her character displayed strength and vulnerability, insecurity and confidence, harshness and gentleness—all coexisting within her. I was particularly impressed by her brilliant mind, which was both revolutionary and liberating. The author, Sophie Andrews, did a commendable job of giving voice to the grief experienced by characters like Cassandra. I deeply appreciate how this book treated grief with the seriousness it deserves, as there's the heart to educate, inspire, and support—and these are the things I find beautiful in this story. I love a book that has substance!

Joanie and Vince were also highlights for me. Their patience and love towards Cassandra during her grieving process were heartwarming. I can only hope that in real life, people dealing with grief find such compassionate souls to help them through.

While I didn't expect the spicy scenes, they added an unexpected layer to the romance subplot.

I'm glad to have read this story! I recommend reading this as it sufficiently explores what grief is all about, sprinkled with witty banter and heartfelt moments. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity, and for including Vince's POV, which added another dimension to the story. I definitely don't regret reading this one!

When Cass’s brother dies suddenly at the age of 30, her family implodes. Her mum goes into a shell, her dad finds solace in drinking and it’s left to Cass to try to hold things together.

As an only child I can’t fully comprehend the bond between siblings but this story asks how we respond to people when we hear that a sibling has died. Somehow that’s not perceived as being as bad as losing a partner, parent or child, but the author questions this perception through the character of Cass. Written from personal experience, she explores the depths of Cass’s grief.

Cass finds herself alone in the world and although there is a strong attraction to the undertaker, a friend of her brother’s, she feels she needs to get herself together before she can commit to any kind of relationship.

I enjoyed this book and will consider my response in future if I hear that someone has lost a sibling.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

♡ 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5!) ♡

Keep your tissues ready, reader; you’ll need them!

The title of this book alone made me want to read it! Then, I read the blurb and was more than convinced. Alas, I requested an ARC and off I went. I finished the book the day I started because I was so hooked.

This book was a journey of emotion. As much as romance was involved, I feel like this book centred on grief and healing more, with romance as an extra (much appreciated) addition – which I loved. It also had real depth and feelings about Cass’s grief and healing, feelings that I think many people will relate to in their journeys. Not many novels get that grief/healing arc right in romance, but this book did it perfectly.
Throughout the book, I wanted to hug Cass (also my sister’s name!!) to let her know she would be okay. In my eyes, she deserved more out of her situation. I feel like she wasn’t treated as well as she could have been by those around her, minus Vince.

All in all, I loved this book and think others should definitely read it. I’ve already recommended it to some friends for their TBRs.

*I received an eARC copy in exchange for my honest review of this book*
Big thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Andrews, and the publisher for allowing me the chance to read this book.