“I don’t think anyone can necessarily make someone grieving feel better.”

All I can say is wow!! This book made me feel so many emotions! I finished this book within 48 hours. I was completely immersed from start to finish. Whenever I wasn’t reading the book, I was constantly wondering about the characters within.

As a person who has dealt with plenty of grief throughout her life, I felt myself resonating with Cass. The way the author unraveled her grieving process throughout the book was done in a very real way. I loved how Vince was understanding throughout the whole book, making the romance a beautiful addition.

I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc! 💗

'You pretend like you can't do anything else, when I think you're just afraid of trying'

Cass considers herself the black sheep of her family, but when her brother and best friend Ray dies unexpectedly not only does she need to learn to live with her own grief but she needs to keep everyone around her afloat too. The last thing she expects to happen is for the funeral directors son Vince to enter her life and start her heart beating again. but can Love really blossom in the throws of grief?

I wasn't overly sure what to expect when I picked up this book but I am so glad that I did it was truly beautiful, hopeful and heart-wrenching. It had a depth and realness that I was not expecting and it made me feel all the emotions of the characters right along with them.
While yes this story does involve a romantic element and the MMC is a cute cinnamon roll with a surprisingly filthy mouth the overall story focuses more on loss and grief and the journey a person goes through after losing someone they are close to.

The story has light and hopeful moments and the ending is heart-warming so the book isn't all doom and gloom but when there is sadness it is necessary to the overall book. I genuinely believe these kinds of stories are needed, They reflect how everyone copes differently with death, the kinds of responsibilities that you take on that you never asked for, the survivors guilt you can feel and they way it affects relationships you already have or how you approach new ones. Overall I think the biggest thing I loved about this book is that it gives people on opportunity to feel seen when they have lost a sibling, that although a sibling relationship may be different you should still be able to grieve loud and it be okay.

I loved this book and urge others to read it too, I very much look forward to seeing what this author produces in the future.

A real rollercoaster of emotions and tied up in a bow with this book.

A real raw line of grief intertwined with a beautiful love story. Vince was perfection with his patience. I haven't felt that much emotion for a book in a long time. I cried at least 5 times (which is verrrry unlike me).

I can be a difficult read if you have/are experiencing grief in some way but highly comforting too.


*I recieved an ARC copy in return for my honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity*

This book is like a love letter to hopeless romantics who are grieving. Aka me. A girl just trying to live life after the loss of a loved one.

I was drawn to this book for a few reasons first was the cover. The second was Cass having a crush on a funeral director (my sister owns a funeral home) and third how she has dealt with the loss of her brother (I am also trying to find a way to deal with the loss of a loved one as stated above) as well as how to manage and cope with how others grieve and how you yourself grieve.

I just wanted to hug Cass throughout the book. She’s trying to process but still pick up the pieces around her with very little support but also trying to figure out who she is along the way. Vince may be my favorite Italian Funeral Director (don’t tell my sister) He’s her rock and support even though he also lost someone special to him.

I laughed, I cried, at times was so angry for Cass at the way people treated her. This book may not be for everyone but it was perfect for me.

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

My interest was peeked when I saw the title and then read the summary. I love a good brother's best friend trope, and the way it was done was a bit different from the ones I usually read. This was an emotional read, that focuses on grief and healing. I definitely needed my tissues and was happy I had them close by as I was reading. Even though it was an emotional read and heavy at times, I enjoyed reading this.

Such a sweet story about handling grief and all the baggage that can come with it.

Be forewarned, have the Kleenex ready, anyone with a heart will cry. A. Lot. But the tears are worth it.

There were so many moments that resonated in the book. I appreciated the growth Cass has in the story. Good things can come from our darkest days.

This was a solid 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 — so I’ll round up 😉

A sweet story about comfort in the face of unspeakable tragedy. We can only hope that we find friendship and love that will support us through anything.

If you’re looking for a book that will make you sob from start to finish then look no further.

‘Love at a funeral and other awkward conversations’ has one of the most realistic and refreshing depictions of grief that I have read in a long time. I have not personally experienced the loss of a sibling (and I pray that I never have to) but I have experienced the loss of other family members and found so many aspects of this book incredibly relatable. Such as how you notice the tiny things that change whilst others may not, such as Cass parking her car in Ray’s old spot at Shayna’s, or the guilt of feeling that you’re grieving differently to others, are you doing enough? Or are you doing too much?

It was as if Sophie was reaching into my brain and pulling all of my thoughts out and even though this book has some heavy subject matter, I would still recommend it to everyone because it’s so beautifully done. Just have some tissues at the ready and don’t read it in public!

Also loved the romance, it was sweet but not cringy! I was worried that the love interest was going to come along and suddenly cass would suddenly just be in so in love that all of her troubles would go away and it would turn mushy and unrealistic. But that did not happen - yay! And the ending… I won’t give away spoilers but I happy cried (for the 500th time)

Not your traditional romance novel, but such a powerful story that is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming. This is a rollercoaster of emotions as we follow Cass’s journey through grief as she deals with the sudden death of her brother. This really shows how grief is a process that we all experience differently. Cass truly struggles to balance her own grief and attempt to hold her family together following the earth shattering news. Unexpectedly, she finds support from the funeral home director…who is also her brother’s old high school best friend and her childhood crush.

I found Cass to be very relatable in how she processes everything being thrown at her, even though it is not always easy to read. While I would not say that the love story is the focus of the plot, I absolutely adored witnessing the Cass and Vince’s relationship develop. The fact that the author pulled so many elements of this book from her own experience with losing her brother really makes this hit home even harder.

3.7⭐️



Fue un libro difícil, es el diario de quien está pasando por la perdida de su hermano mayor. Podemos ver como la gente enfrenta la pérdida de diferentes maneras.

Por un momento pensé que se utilizaría el amor como aquello que lo cura todo, afortunadamente no fue así.

Hubo una cosa que no me gustó y fue como se trató como la mala a Shayna (la esposa de Ray) y en cambio a la amante se le vio como una buena persona.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for and honest review.

4🌟🌟🌟🌟

🩶grief
🩷love after loss
🩶overcoming grief
🩷self discovery
🩶brothers best friend

Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversions is a journey through the grief of after losing her brother. The heroine, Cass, experiences alot of different emotions as she now has to cope emotionally but is now the only one holding their family together. Her lone support comes from the director of the funeral home that did her brothers service... who was also her brother's high school best friend and her crush.. ..Vince
This is an emotional book. We witness the heroine's journey through grief and how she manages to stand on her feet. The subject is rather delicate, death of a sibling and it's not the easiest read to get through.
Cass suffered through a lot of difficult decisions, moments amidst the grief.
This book is a very rare, raw, journey.
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for allowing me to read in advance.

I was immediately drawn to the description of this book on NetGalley and couldn’t resist requesting the ARC. To my delight, I was approved to receive it. I feel privileged to have the chance to dive into this special story. While the story delves into grief, it also offers a journey of healing and resilience. The author’s heartfelt note resonated with me, and I admire the strength and courage it took to write this book. It’s incredible how art and literature can provide solace during difficult times. Although the book delves into the intense emotions of loss, it also captures the power of love and support. Vincent, as a love interest, adds a lightness to the narrative, balancing the weight of the theme, but I don’t know if I would really label this as a romance. I felt like we could have done so much more with Vince in this story and since we did not, perhaps this could just be a story of loss, family and self-discovery? We get a more in-depth look at Cassandra’s grieving process than the romance element, which is totally fine, but I was kind of expecting more romance. The romance element is there, but I wanted more. If that makes any sense, because of that, I would rate this book 3 stars.

Vince and Cassandra are both grieving the loss of someone who was important to them. When Cassandra is left to arrange her brother's funeral and simultaneously deal with her grief somehow, she leans on Vince for support and comfort.

I really appreciated the emotional depth of this book. This book focused on heavy topics, like death, the grief process, and self-healing. We see how Cass's brother's death impacted everyone around him and how Cass is forced to pick up the pieces of her family in the aftermath while dealing with her own feelings (or not dealing with them). I really empathized with her feelings and how she processed her grief. Grief really isn't something you get over, but you learn to live with as it stays with you for the rest of your life. I was touched by the author's acknowledgement at the end, in which she explains that she, like Cass, had also suddenly lost her brother and had her own journey through grief.

There's also a bonus chapter from Vince's POV, and after reading an entire book through Cass's POV in which she viewed herself in such a negative light, it was sweet to see how her through someone else's eyes and how she's been able to thrive in the years after her brother's death.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!

Oh boy!
I got more of a read than I was expecting from this one, and I was wholly unprepared! This author is new to me, and I wasted no time in diving into their book after receiving a complimentary copy from Netgalley. The range of emotions in this rollercoaster ride is intense, and the satisfying happily ever after adds to its appeal.

While the title initially seems to encapsulate the contents well, it ultimately falls short. It doesn’t let you know how easy it is to relate to Cass and her awful new reality. Or when she realizes her world is falling apart and there’s nothing she can do. Also, it says nothing about how the author’s words make you feel the characters’ pain and frustrations as you journey with them.

This story is crafted in such a way that it’s incredibly difficult to stop reading. I recommend making sure you have enough time to fully immerse yourself in it, and don’t forget to have tissues nearby because it’s guaranteed you’ll need them. I truly appreciated Vince and how he added a sense of normalcy and lightheartedness to the story, despite his own struggles with RJ’s passing.

I won’t spoil the story, but I can assure you that Cass gets a happy ending, and I’m delighted with the way this storyline concludes. I am delighted to have read this book, and I am voluntarily providing my review, highly recommending it. It’s a highly relatable and emotionally captivating book that I thoroughly enjoyed. (Not the sobbing part - I could have done without that! Hahaha.) I hope you connect with it as well as I did!

I don’t think I’ve ever loved a book that has made me cry so much! Sophie Andrews’ Love at a funeral and other awkward conversations was a devastatingly beautiful story of grief. I usually steer away from sad stories, but I don’t regret requesting this novel, and I think it will stay with me for a long time. The story is wonderfully written, heart wrenching in places but leaves you uplifted at the end. Cass and Vince’s story was perfectly intertwined to keep from overwhelming the reader with sadness. I definitely recommend reading! Thank you to NetGalley and Sophie Andrews for the ARC!

This book takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster ride, delving into the aftermath of Ray's passing and exploring how his friends and family navigate the grief. While the narrative touches on various characters, it primarily centres on Ray's sister, who grapples with finding her identity amidst her profound loss. Before her brother's death, she lived in his shadow, escaping the pressure of constantly pleasing others. However, with his absence, she finds herself thrust into the spotlight, forced to confront her own desires and needs.

The storyline unfolds as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, undergoing significant character development along the way. The slow burn trope adds depth to the narrative, though occasionally, her interactions with Vince evoke frustration, albeit understandable given her inner turmoil. The complexity of loving someone while struggling to love oneself resonates throughout the narrative, offering poignant insights into human relationships and inner battles.

While the plot captivates, there are occasional distractions in the form of fragmented passages that detract from the overall flow. These instances, whether grammatically flawed or conceptually unclear, momentarily disrupt the immersive experience. Nevertheless, the book compensates with numerous thought-provoking and relatable quotes. Lines such as "I want to make my life better, but I can’t, so when I finally get something good, I mess it up" and "the family I knew doesn’t exist anymore" encapsulate the characters' emotional depths and existential struggles.

Amidst the turmoil, the narrative highlights the importance of steadfast companionship and resilience. Quotes like "Everyone should have a friend like mine, to help you up from the bottom and who shares an umbrella in the storm" underscore the significance of supportive relationships in navigating life's storms. Ultimately, the protagonist's journey towards independence and self-reliance, symbolized by her reluctance to lean on Vince or anyone else, reinforces themes of personal growth and empowerment amidst adversity.

This novel was such an emotional journey through grief and love that captivated me from the get-go. I spent the first 30% of the book in full tears. Although the love story between Cass and Vince is secondary to the grief Cass goes through, it still packs a punch. Vince is a perfect book boyfriend, giving Cass the support she needs throughout the book. This is honestly one of the best novels I have read this year.

I went into this thinking it was a cutesy, maybe rom-com type of book, and whilst the title mentions a funeral, it looked very cutesy.

However, I was pleased to find that this book has so much more depth than that. Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations by Sophie Andrews is an emotional journey through the stages of grief when a woman loses her brother unexpectedly. This book delves through tonnes of complex emotions, and does so beautifully - you can see the main characters struggles as she tries to navigate her own emotions, take care of her emotionally absent parents, even as she tries to maintain a job.

This book is so raw, and whilst there is still a romance, it isn't a cheesy romance that I've come to expect from books with similar cartoonish covers. Seeing this friendship and relationship grow, wilt and flourish over the course of the book, and seeing how the death of her brother and all the emotions that comes with that and all the following events... it just felt so real. It wasn't a "everythings ok" type of love story, she felt anger, survivor's guilt, depression, until she finally comes to acceptance towards the end of the book, and each of those stages affects her relationship with those around her.

I would half argue that this is a love story about self love and self discovery. It's a story about learning the new normal that you're forced to find when you lose someone significant in your life. That being said, there is a romance in this book, and it's woven into the story so well.

Not many novels address the death of a sibling, and it's a pain I could never imagine. And I'm in awe of how well Sophie Andrews has written this story with so much emotion on every page.

Thank you NetGalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Don't let the cute cover fool you: this is a deeply emotional and poignant look at grief.

We are thrown into it at the very start, with police showing up at Cass's door: her beloved older brother collapsed and was found dead. Soon the rest of her family is thrown into disarray: her mom numbs herself with pills, her dad grows violent and leaves the house for days at a time, and Cass tries to keep everything together. With the help of Vince, the town funeral director and Cass's childhood crush, she navigates her grief and how to get through a life without the one who held them together.

There were so many positives to this story. It shows different facets of grief, including how it changes over time, especially how it can cause mourners to feel guilty about feeling happy. It stresses the importance of getting help and not facing things alone, and it never shames Cass for being emotionally unstable and for floating through life. I also loved how it did not portray Ray to be a perfect person; it talks a lot about martyrdom after death and how we tend to only remember the positives, even though Ray was not necessarily a good person. The uniqueness of sibling relationships is explored. The inclusion of Instagram posts is particularly strong, a unique spin on epistolary storytelling.

Honestly, the only thing that knocked this down a star for me is the romance itself. A lot of the development in their relationship was glossed over, and the ending was pretty rushed. He was an absolute gem and I wish I could have seen more of him. If this is being advertised as a romance, and not as a coming-of-age or meditation on loss, then give me some more romance!! Especially when the date and spice scenes are that good :)

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I loved this one!

Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversions by Sophie Andrews is an emotional journey through the grief of a woman after losing her brother. She experiences an array of emotions as she navigates how to not only cope emotionally but also how to hold her family together. With her parents emotionally absent, her only support comes from the director of the funeral home that buried her brother... who also happens to be her brother's high school best friend and her crush.

This book is so raw and candid but also has a story of self-discovery and love as well. I haven't seen many novels that address the death of a sibling, let alone the emotions and stages of grief that come with it and it was sad but significant.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for early access to read this memorable story in exchange for an honest review. It was a great read.