A Tender, Witty, and Unforgettable Exploration of Love After Loss

Nearly Departed, Lucas Oakeley’s debut novel, is a bold, genre-blending story that left a deep impression on me. It's a heartfelt, darkly funny exploration of grief, healing, and the strange, winding paths we take to find love again—even when the past refuses to stay buried.

The novel opens with Joel, whose long-term girlfriend Beth has died suddenly, leaving him shattered. The depth of Joel’s grief is palpable, and Oakeley does a remarkable job of portraying that raw emotional landscape. The premise alone—Joel makes a reluctant promise to fall in love again within three years of Beth’s death, only for Beth to return as a ghost just as he meets someone new—sets the tone for a story that is both emotionally resonant and unexpectedly playful.

Beth’s ghost is a standout character: sharply drawn, emotionally intelligent, and full of life (ironically). Her chapters add richness and texture to the story, offering a refreshing perspective that deepens our understanding of both her and Joel. The supernatural twist isn’t just a gimmick—it’s woven meaningfully into the emotional core of the novel, allowing for a beautiful exploration of unfinished love and the complexities of moving on.
Oakeley writes with honesty and a touch of irreverence, capturing the contradictory nature of grief—how it can be sad, absurd, awkward, and even funny, sometimes all at once. There are moments that made me laugh out loud and others that completely caught me off guard with their emotional truth.

Joel is a deeply introspective protagonist, and while his journey is often messy and uncomfortable, that’s what makes it feel real. His connection with Nina is gently developed and believable, and while she may seem "too good to be true" at times, she brings light into the story exactly when it’s most needed.

This book won’t be for everyone—but it was definitely for me. I found it original, affecting, and full of humanity. Oakeley has a real talent for capturing the awkwardness and authenticity of love in all its stages, and I’m genuinely excited to see what he writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would this a really fun but sad read at parts .
You could really feel Joel,s grief .
Beth haunting him but it being a love story not a ghost story was interesting.

Parts were a bit slow but it mostly was because it was building up Nina and Joel,s potential relationship.

I will definitely read this author again.

Firstly, a massive thank you to NetGalley / Bedford Square Publishers for the ARC of Nearly Departed in exchange for my honest review.

I won’t lie, it was definitely a slow-burn for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! There was a lot of moments I found quite relatable and often found myself chuckling away.
The storyline touched beautifully on a lot of different parts of the grieving process, and moving on after loss.
Joel had some real cringeworthy moments, heartbreaking scenes and fantastic break-throughs that had me cheering him on on his journey through Life-After-Beth.

It was very detailed and poetically descriptive throughout, giving the reader a vivid image of every scene, thought and emotion.

Overall I rated this book 3.5 ⭐
It had some great bones to it but did drag on a little, in my opinion.
Bonus points for the ghost aspect 👻

Do I recommend it? YES.

I was desperate to love this book -the premise hit all the things I love in books - a protagonist stuck in their ways, romance and the supernatural but I failed to fully connect with Joel and then Nina. The exploration into grief was powerful and explained well and the characters had so much potential. I found the head hopping from Joel's, Beth and then Nina POV disorientating at times bringing me out of the story.
Beth is the stronger character and wished she appeared sooner to increase the pace. Despite all this, it is still a good book and worth reading and I look forward to seeing what Lucas Oakeley does next.

I finished this book last night, and I find it quite challenging to review. The narrative weaves together clever and profound themes, but there are also elements that felt lacking, leaving me with mixed feelings.

One area where the author, Oakley, truly excelled is in depicting the intricacies of grief. The portrayal of messy, complex emotions surrounding loss is striking. Oakley captures the nuances of what it means to grieve—those unspoken thoughts, unfinished conversations, and the struggle to move forward after tragedy. This depth adds a layer of authenticity to the experience of loss.

However, where the novel fell short for me was in its character development, particularly with the protagonist, Joel. While I understand that he is grappling with a traumatic event, his character felt somewhat one-dimensional, lacking the emotional depth I hoped to see. I can certainly relate to how Beth, the other main character, might feel frustrated with their relationship. Joel's responses often lacked the complexity necessary to convey the weight of his experience.

On a more positive note, I found Beth's ghost to be the most compelling character in the story. She brought a unique perspective, and her presence highlighted the themes of unresolved emotions and communication—yet I was puzzled by her choices. Without giving too much away, it was difficult for me to understand why it took her so long to express her feelings to Joel. This delay created moments that felt drawn out and, at times, even cringeworthy, especially as Joel struggled to move on.

Overall, while there were elements that could have been stronger, I still consider it a worthwhile read. Given that this is a debut novel, I believe Oakley has showcased a commendable talent for storytelling and a deep understanding of human emotions.

I want to extend my gratitude to the author, the publishers, and NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book. My review reflects my own thoughts and opinions.

📚 review 📚
nearly departed - lucas oakeley

THE HAIKUS INSTEAD OF FLOWERS HAS RUINED ALL MEN FOR ME.

right, now that’s out of the way, lemme tell you about this book - it’s a love story. with ghosts. but really the scariest thing about it is trying to date in your thirties. especially when you’re trying to fall in love by a deadline, have met a girl you like and are being haunted by your dead ex who you happen to still be madly in love with. also can we take a moment to appreciate the cover? cos dayum.

much like you - i’m not that into dating ghosts (though no kink shaming here) but i am very into this book - it was genuinely funny and genuinely sad in equal measure, and i thought joel’s grief was handled with sensitivity but also allowed for the hilarities of every day life without taking away from it. it was also refreshing to have a male pov in a romance (and a male writer) - it’s not something i’ve come across much and i’ll be looking out for more from lucas oakeley in the future!



also if he would like to send me haikus i would not be opposed.
thank you @netgalley for the early copy, nearly departed is out in august.
👻♥️👻
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(Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive a proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

3.5 ⭐️ (But easily a 4⭐️ when formatting issues are resolved.)

Nearly Departed is the story of modern day dating with the added ingredients of grief, but most importantly, the ghost of your ex girlfriend in the mix.
A comical yet poignant voice, Oakley’s writing style is brilliant. He got me tearing up, he got me laughing out loud, he got me doing the cute little “aww” nose scrunchies. The rare breed of a male written and male lead rom-com, I adore this!

The characters here are so real and very well written. I could definitely believe these cast of characters are a part of my own friendship group. I also felt like the depiction of grief was very honest and raw where it needed to be. I appreciated that. I also loved the route the story took. (I didn’t see it coming!) I just wish the beginning wasn’t so drawn out. Honestly, if the pacing at the start had been a little quicker, this could have been a 5 star read for me.

The formatting of the copy I received was quite messy. The header and footer of “Nearly Departed” and “Lucas Oakley” appeared randomly and sporadically throughout the novel, which was very jarring. Especially when I was particularly engrossed in a plot point. Also parts of the book felt like they had been copied and pasted in the wrong place. For example, Joel starts mopping up a drink mid conversation at one point, which feels quite random, only to turn the page and then read about the spill happening as the conversation ends. Again jarring, but easily fixed.

Overall though, what a debut! The perfect spooky season read for us romance readers. I look forward to hearing of Oakely’s success and maybe see more rom-coms from him in the future?

Nearly Departed by Lucas Oakeley is one of those books that just sneaks up on you - in the best possible way. It’s a story about grief and love, but it’s not overly dramatic. Instead, it’s tender, funny, and surprisingly comforting.
The emotional moments hit you right in the chest, but they’re balanced out with these little sparks of humour and charm that make the whole thing feel beautifully real. I found myself laughing, tearing up, and then laughing again within the span of a few pages. It’s sad, yes, but also sweet and quietly hopeful in a way that really sticks with you.
The characters are so well written - flawed, relatable, and completely believable. You genuinely care about them. And the writing style is easy to get into.
It's got that perfect mix of heart and humour that makes it ideal for a summer reading session. I would love to see this being adapted into a film.

Big thanks to Lucas Oakeley, the publisher, and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy - what a lovely, memorable read.

I had to DNF this book I'm so sorry but I got to 21% and it was so incredibly dull. It wasn't funny or witty. It just wasn't for me.

Nearly Departed is a poignant love story that follows the path of Joel Foster, a man who lost his long-term girlfriend in a tragic accident. Even after three years he's struggling to overcome the grief he feels over her loss, but he's trying to move on by dipping his toe back into the dating pool. He had promised her that he would move on within three years, but he's finding dating again to be a juggle when the ghost of his girlfriend is around every corner (figuratively), and then quite literally as he starts getting haunted by Beth.

Love stories that feature ghosts have become a personal favourite, but despite me wanting to enjoy the story more it just didn't happen that way unfortunately. What I did enjoy about the book was the friendships Joel had in the book and that the complexities of grief were handled delicately. What I didn't enjoy was that Joel as a main character just came across as gloomy, even when he started to try move on with his life he didn't ever appreciate who and what he did have left in his life. I also thought the references to alcohol were overdone in an unnecessary way. There were times when the book made me laugh, but all in all it was a slow read that left me wanting more from the story.

Joel’s heartwarming and entertaining story of re-entering the dating scene with the ghost of his ex-girlfriend in tow is bound to have you in high spirits.
After the loss of his girlfriend, Joel gives himself three years to fall in love. But there’s just two weeks to go and when he actually starts to make progress, Beth appears in his life once more from beyond the grave. In true rom-com fashion the path doesn’t run smoothly, walking around talking to your ghost ex-girlfriend and said girlfriend accompanying you on a date will have that effect.

I loved that we readers got to meet Beth briefly and see how full of life her character was before jumping ahead to meeting Joel almost three years after she’s gone. Joel is a loveable and relatable character, fumbling his way through modern dating while having a ghost along for the ride. Lucas Oakeley's writing allows you to navigate Joel’s dating ups and downs while simultaneously subtly giving a wider context from the perspectives of the other characters with aplomb. Nearly Departed has all the sweet, warm cosiness of your favourite 90s rom-coms delivered without the sugar crash. It’s hopeful, with emotional twists and turns and romantic moments that will bring both smiles and laughter but surprisingly, given the inclusion of ghosts, has a sense of… realism? It’s like Joel’s practicality is built into the foundation of the text. The result is a lovely book that is ideal for escaping into this summer, or to bring the romance to your spooky season reading.

When Joel's girlfriend of five years, Beth, dies suddenly, he feels like his life is over. He thought they'd be together forever, and he doesn't know how he is supposed to start all over again with someone new. Reluctantly, he makes a promise to himself to fall in love again before three years elapses since Beth's death, and, with this milestone fast approaching, he can't believe his luck when he meets Nina. Beautiful, honest and funny, Nina could be the woman Joel thought he would never meet. But, just when he starts to imagine that falling in love again could be possible after all, Beth is back, and her ghost has plenty of ideas of what Joel should be doing with his life in her absence.

Nearly Departed, Lucas Oakeley's debut novel, has a unique premise which unfortunately fell down in execution for me. Joel is a mopey, introspective protagonist, which is the point, but I just didn’t find his rambling narration engaging or sympathetic. Asides from peripheral characters, such as Joel's friend Alice, don't add anything much and feel like a waste of story space. Beth's ghost is by far the strongest presence and most defined character, and the chapters which are written from her perspective are those which really drive the narrative towards a resolution. They also give the reader a new perspective on Joel's hapless nice guy persona.

There are moments, especially when Joel reminisces about his and Beth's sex life in off-putting detail, where a neon sign might as well announce, 'This was written by a man.' I don't think Oakeley intended for the line 'he filled her mouth with his penis' to be uncomfortably aggressive, but that's how it read to me. I wasn't invested in the burgeoning romance between Joel and Nina, who seems like far too much of a catch to invest as much time as she does in this weirdo.

There are amusing moments, and I did think that Oakeley did a good job of capturing the long-term experience of grief and its myriad associated, often contradictory, emotions, but ultimately this one wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A tender, ghost-kissed story about grief, love, and the chaos of trying to move on.
Joel’s one true love is gone. Until she isn’t. Trying to date again proves difficult enough… even more so when your dead ex keeps reappearing.

Lucas Oakeley delivers a phenomenal debut that blends heartache with humour and just a pinch of the supernatural. It’s heartfelt, relatable, and surprisingly uplifting. I loved this odd little journey of letting go. One that somehow feels like a hug and a gut punch all at once.

3.5⭐️ - Proof copy from NetGalley

I enjoyed Nearly Departed. The story follows Joel, whose girlfriend Beth tragically died nearly three years ago after being hit by a cement truck. Joel has a self-imposed deadline of three years to move on and find love. As that deadline approaches, he reluctantly signs up for dating apps to try and move forward. But just as he begins to dip his toe back into the dating world, he sees Beth and she starts haunting him.

What unfolds is a unique and surprisingly funny exploration of grief, guilt, and letting go. Oakley strikes a delicate balance between emotional depth and humour, and his writing brings the characters to life in a way that feels genuine and human. Joel’s voice is particularly strong - flawed, heartfelt, and easy to root for.

I did find myself hitting a bit of a slump in the middle, but I’m glad I stuck with it.

A heartfelt, quirky read about what it really means to move on.

i really enjoyed how carefully this book handled the themes in this premise, especially the one of grief. and also how even how we see the person once they are gone changes over time. and made me think on that in itself. this book had that feeling some books have where it almost reads like a flowing poem. its got that different note to it. and there were moments in my read i wanted to just sit with that part for a minute. it feels weird to say that when the themes can be tricky ones. but its handled so well, and thats telling you something in itself that i enjoyed it so much.
the cover was also a little bonus.
Joel is someone that is easy to read a story about, and you find yourself rooting for his journey which is done with a well thought out balance. as you get to know him and the story carries on more layers appear and more of this story you feel involved with.
this held all the things i really love in my romcoms. and i am a lover of the genre but all also had something completely fresh and new for me and that felt cool too.
the story of Beth, Joel and Nina was a joy to read and it will sit on a little shelf of my book heart for a while to come.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC :)

The premise of this sounded a lot more lighthearted than tragic - so although unexpected, the author handles Joel’s grief in a tender and almost comforting way.

However, I did struggle to connect with the characters of Joel and Beth, and the technicalities of the ‘haunting’ raised more questions than answers… The story took until the halfway point to really pick up - and Joel’s relationship with Nina was far more interesting, but this felt more like a side plot than a key part of his journey in moving on. Overall, an interesting concept but alas, the potential seemed greater!

I was hoping for more with this book after reading the reviews but I would not describe this book as a comedy. More a tragedy. I loved the plot line although I do not think it was explained why Beth decided to return as a ghost almost 3 years after her death. Maybe it was and I missed it but I didn’t see the point of such a huge gap? I thought Beth’s character was cruel. The part of the book where we find out why Beth returned is unnecessary and really spoilt the book for me. For me this book reads like a dating help book. Girlfriend died so we are forced to read about man going on dates until he’s no longer alone. I found the use of “big” words quite annoying which were sporadically input into this book, I’m assuming to show how intelligent the author is? 3 stars as a I love a ghost story.

Nearly Departed is an incredibly likeable story about grief and love. It’s both sad and sweet, and it’s shot through with moments of humour.

The characters are well written, and the style is easy to read - I flew through the book in two sittings.

This would be a summer read to lie on a blanket in the sun with.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

Really enjoyed this book! Thought it was such an interesting and funny take on grief and modern dating. I really enjoy when contemporary romances don’t just use cliche tropes and are actually clever about how a romance is woven into the story. Looking forward to seeing what Lucas writes in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I love romance novels and I love mystical, ghostly stories, so this sounded right up my street.

The cover really grabbed me. It's simple but it looked so cute.

It's an interesting look at death and grief. I will say now that I fully believe in ghosts and spirits and whatnot, and I believe I have seen the ghosts of passed loved ones, and so the idea that you may still be able to see a loved one after death (even if not in the best of circumstances) is very comforting for me.

I liked that our protagonist was a man. Most of the romance books I read involve a lot of female main characters which I have no issue with, but it's a fresh take on it to see it thorough a male character. I admit, it did mean I struggled to really feel a connection with Joel but I did like him.

It surprisingly manages to be funny and jokey but at the same time be sensitive and tender. It's the perfect balance.

Whilst I enjoyed it from the off, I found it got even better as it went along. Lucas has really found a strong voice as it gets to the second half. So whilst the beginning was good and enjoyable, it got stronger and became really good as it went on. It was more developed, more layered.

Lucas has created a great sense of place and environment to support the characters' stories.

I read a lot of romcoms, and whilst I generally enjoy them, they can get a bit samey, but that's okay because it's what I want and expect from the genre. But it was refreshing to read a romcom that was unique. It still gave me everything I expected from the genre, but he's made it fresh and exciting which piqued and held my attention.

I read it one sitting. Even though it has some difficult topics, it doesn't feel too heavy and is quite easy to fly through.

I believe this is Lucas' debut and I think it is a promising start and I'll keep my eye out for what comes next.