If you’ve ever watched The Bear and thought, “needs more ghosts”… The quickest way to the heart isn’t through the stomach but summoning your dead granny over dessert *shudder* I found the humour in this super sharp, and the story has a big heart, but cohesively it felt like a tasting menu - lots of little plates to try but nothing substantial - ghost story, romance, Masterchef. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t stop me grabbing a Big Mac on the way home.

I read this as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.

My jaw was on the floor when I finished reading this. It’s a read in one sitting for sure. I was a little skeptical when I started reading as to whether I would enjoy it, but it did not disappoint. I loved it!

What an unexpected book! Fans of "The Bear," Adi Alsaid's "North of Happy," and "Kitchens of the Great Midwest," will devour this book. Coming from reading rom-coms, I found the beginning a bit heavy, but the book perfectly balances the heavy with the hopeful. The writing style is very different from modern rom-coms, but I found Lavelle's shorter sentences and slightly choppy intonation a good match for her foundering characters. I also liked the blending of death rituals and eating to create a bridge to the afterlife. After the first few chapters, I was hooked and could not put this book down!

Overall, this book was not a straight-forward kitchen fiction, but a winding tale of love and loss, pondering mortality while serving excellent food.

I wasn't immediately struck with opening chapters of this, it seemed a bit maudlin and too close to Perfume by Patrick Suskind for my taste, (no pun intended) but I am incredibly glad I stuck with it. The magical element of clairgustance is not one I had known of, so that was very intriguing, plus the way this was structured with the mystery people's monologues added an element of foreshadowing that kept me hooked.

The sections about cooking and taste appealed to the fan of The Bear in me, making this feel less magical realism and more reality based, as well as fleshing out the character of Kostya into more than a lost grieving son, giving him a purpose that made this readable. All the food descriptions are delectable, even the less appealing ones, so I did feel so hungry throughout. The book has made me think differently about the significance of food and flavour to humans, given how it can literally summon ghosts here. The feeling of both nostalgia for a time and a person is so keenly portrayed here, my heart hurt at points, such as when Sister Louise is eating the soup. There are enough twists to keep me locked in - the end of En Flambe?! - and this was a surprisingly engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The ending was extremely poignant, not the ending I was expecting but moving all the same.

Too many issues around grief which are highly triggering for me personally to continue reading. DNF sorry

Thank you to netgalley and bloomsbury books for the arc but unfortunately I didn't care about this book at all. Had an interesting plot but didn't deliver

Kostya Duhovny is no ordinary medium. The dead appear to him as flavours of unfamiliar dishes, and, in order to help them and those who mourn them, Kostya becomes an accomplished chef. However, when dealing with the world beyond the veil, you must expect that something will certainly go wrong. Daria Lavelle's Aftertaste has the acidity of grief, the sweetness of nostalgia and the saltiness of love, and it satiated me with emotions like few books do.

Daria Lavelle's Aftertaste arrives with a truly delicious premise, one that immediately piqued my interest and had me eager to dive in. The core concept of a culinary journey extending beyond life into the afterlife is nothing short of brilliant, offering a fresh and intriguing take on how food brings communities together and preserves memories. For this imaginative foundation alone, Lavelle deserves commendation, and it's what initially drew me so strongly to the book.

I truly wanted to love this book and would have been quite happy if the premise was Kostantin connecting his patrons with their loved ones on the other side. However, I didn’t really enjoy the spirit side of this book and the ‘food tour’. I found it really jarring in comparison to the rest of the novel.

Overall, very interesting concept. 3/5 stars

A very enjoyable treat for the taste buds! I found the 'narrator' pulled me out of the story at times which I found a little annoying, and although an interesting approach to telling Kostya's story I don't think it added anything. I also found the narrative a little chaotic towards the later stages of the book but overall it was an enjoyable read. Many thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

A novel about loss, regrets, and second chances, told with a tenderness that speaks straight to the heart. I loved the author’s vivid writing style and the constant references to food, which turn the reading into a truly sensory experience. And then there’s the restaurant atmosphere — vibrant and intense. If you’ve watched The Bear, you’ll instantly recognize that same frantic and magnetic energy between the pages.

What I liked
The rich, evocative language filled with food-related metaphors. It almost felt like I could taste every word.
The main character’s personal growth. Dealing with loss is never easy, but the way he learns to live with it is one of the story’s strongest elements.

What left me a bit confused
Some of the narrative shifts between chapters weren’t entirely clear. I have to admit, the structure puzzled me all the way to the end.

Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. It’s a deep, heartfelt novel that speaks both to your heart and it gets there, especially through food.

When I started Aftertaste, I thought it was one of the most bizarre stories I’d come across. At one point, I wasn’t sure it was for me but I’m so glad I kept going. The writing is incredibly vivid and immersive; I could practically taste the memories with Kostya. What begins as strange slowly transforms into something truly beautiful and clever. It’s a unique, sensory, and unforgettable read that leaves a lasting impression.

Aftertaste was such a quirky concept that worked so well. How the idea of food supernatural nostalgia was introduced was brilliant and from there, the plot unfolded in a continuously unexpected way. I don't think I've read anything quite like it nor probably will I.

I don't know what I was expecting when I went into Aftertaste, but it wasn't this. In the most complimentary way possible.
It seems obvious in hindsight but the exploration of death and taste was so well done, so interesting and towed the line of supernatural so well. I adored this

I really like food-centered books, even more so if they are a bit magical, and this turned out to be a great mix of culinary success tale and hungry ghost story. It's about Konstantin Duhovny who suddenly developed the ability to taste food without actually eating it. Over time he finds out that it's not just a random occurrence but a message from the dead who want to stay in touch with their living loved ones. Actually making the food Konstantin's tasting brings them back as ghosts and opens the opportunity to reunite people separated by death. He first has to learn how to cook, though. The book follows Konstantin from a young age as he discovers his gift and starts a journey through the New York culinary scene, working in different restaurants, learning everything he can and eventually becoming a chef himself. I really liked that part of the story and all the food descriptions were top tier and made me hungry. The beginning was a bit rough for me with its sped-up storytelling and all the time jumps, but the book eventually found its pace. Konstantin wants to offer his services to the public, but his gift doesn't make for that much of a reliable business model and he is also very much messing with the spirit realm. Luckily, he is not alone on his journey and great side characters accompany him. I really liked both Frankie and Maura. I didn't care for the romance at first, because it started as instalove, but it developed in an intriguing way as Maura was explored more as a character. By the end I liked her more than Konstantin himself, because he mostly stayed a strangely distant character to me. The ending to his story really got me, though, and made me surprisingly emotional. It took some time, but "Aftertaste" really convinced me as a story, and I overall have to call it a fantastic debut.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Aftertaste is such a unique novel with a supernatural element that was wuite compelling, it took a little getting into but once you put aside the weirdness of it it all starts to come together and with the powerful descriptions you soon find yourself immersed into Konstantin's ethereal world. Definitely worth reading.

Not just a book but a sensory experience.

A vivid, richly descriptive tale with deep emotion and a bizarre, dream-like style of storytelling that made it oddly compelling.

Many thanks to the author, Daria Lavelle, @netgalley, and the publisher, Bloomsbury, for a digital ARC of this novel, which came out in the UK and Ireland on 22 May.
Normally, I would write a short synopsis at this point, but I think it’s best to read this book without knowing too much of the plot, so I'll keep my summary to one sentence: Konstantin Duhovny can taste the memories of the dead. That's all you need to know. What unfolds after that is an incredibly creative mix of lusting after food, romance, some Japanese folklore, cook-off competitions for the ultra-rich, an investment from a wealthy Russian financier who may or may not be a gangster ...this book reminded me of Terry Pratchett in its originality, its sudden and unpredictable plot twists, and the way that everything mentioned throughout the novel comes together at the end.
This is also a very sensory book, filled with sights, smells, tastes, and the hectic pace of life in a city like New York. And If you're a foodie like me, this book will make your mouth water. There's so much about food in here, and many of the dishes mentioned sound delectable.
Aftertaste is the most original book you'll read all year, probably all decade. If you're looking for an inventive page-turner that offers something different, or a good book for summer holidays, I would recommend this.

I want to start by saying this book didn’t immediately grip me, the concept around Kostya and his clairgustance had me intrigued, but I couldn’t put together the story that felt a little jagged. However, I was so glad that I persevered because about half way into the story I started to begin to see the threads that Daria was weaving together and how the story began to slot together. From then on this book had me gripped, I became heavily emotionally invested in the characters and the outcome of the story, so much so that by the end I was a sobbing mess. This tale is a carefully told one of grief, death, loss, love and letting go, Daria handles sensitive topics marvellously to create a supernatural thriller with a plot twist I can guarantee you will not see coming. From the mouthwatering descriptions of food to the New York restaurant food scene with a whole host of hungry ghosts, this book was a refreshing take on life after death.

Kostya’s life seems bleak at best, with his dead-end job dishwashing, he unexpectedly discovers his ability to taste the last meals of those long departed to help those that they left behind have a final conversation, to get closure. With this revelation of being able to summon spirits through the food he cooks, Kostya embarks on a journey through the New York City restaurant scene eventually being able to open his own restaurant to cater to both the dead and the living. However, when the party psychic who tried to warn him off summoning the restless spirits providing his aftertastes stumbles back into his life and the relationship between them starts to shift into something more, will her secret connection to the afterlife stay hidden. With more signs appearing in the living world that something is amiss in the spirit realm will Kostya be able to let go of his grief in time to help the spirits find rest?

Kostya as a character goes through huge development during this story, we initially meet someone so overcome by their grief and just floating through life with no direction and aim. His aftertastes give him purpose, but try and try as he might getting them to work for him is not as easy as it seems. He wants to make a dent, to leave behind a legacy, do something good, his motivations are balanced, both selfless and selfish. His gift allows him to feel a connection to the world around him and with misfortune never far around the corner he clings to his connection to the other side despite the advice of others around him and the visible signs. Maura, is all fire, with a hunger for life but with plenty of hidden secrets, she shifts Kostya’s perspective on what he wants and needs from his life.

The romantic subplot is subtle but perfect for the story, it provides in my opinion that edge that brings the story together, all of the thread becoming more closely woven when Maura enters the plot. I absolutely adored the descriptions of the food, so vivid you could almost taste it despite its sometimes fantastical nature. Also, exploring the New York restaurant scene and having a lot of the book take place within a kitchen, both professional and novice provides the aspect that I was looking for within this story. As I’ve mentioned before this story takes grief and death and puts a new refreshing spin on the topic, the idea of having one last meal with departed loved ones and how letting go is such an important part of a sensitive process. With the ending the way it was, I almost wanted more but at the same time feel fulfilled with the outcome and where the characters were left. Having said that, I did not see the plot twist coming, and it took my breath away.

This was so unique! I got pulled into the story from the first few pages.

The book follows Konstantin, who, after losing his father, starts experiencing strange aftertastes of the departed's favourite food. He goes through his childhood, and adulthood, with this strange new ability, until one day he decides to make the thing he is tasting, and accidentally brings someone back from the Dead. Only it's not as awesome as it sounds, and things soon start to go awry...

The story deals with grief, loss, love and friendship in a wonderful way. Using food as a way to connect with people, and bring them closure - it was heartbreaking to read certain stories.

I loved Frankie's character, and would have loved to see more from him. The love story, in my opinion, was not as convincing as it could've been, though I see why it was necessary for Konstantin's growth and development as a character. I just didn't feel as connected to their relationship as I would normally. Though I did find Maura as a character quite relatable, and I enjoyed the glimpses we got of her past.

Overall great writing, good pacing and loveable characters. An enjoyable read, and certainly out of my comfort zone!

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book.

I thought this book was a great spirit fantasy and running through it there’s a very real thread that, I’m sure speaks to us all. Who wouldn’t want an hour with loved ones we’ve lost but at what price?
As well as this theme, we encounter the very real sadness of suicide, not letting go and being unable to move on.
I was totally absorbed into this story. Who would have thought Konstantin, a Chef, could cause such havoc in the spirit world! Then there’s the sacrifice he made to put it right.
It’s a really good and easy read and gives us food for thought.