Back After This by Linda Holmes

In a media landscape overcrowded with dating advice and relationship gurus, Linda Holmes’s third novel “Back After This” arrives like a breath of fresh air—or perhaps more aptly, like the perfect podcast episode dropping into your feed when you need it most. Following her successful previous works “Evvie Drake Starts Over” and “Flying Solo,” Holmes once again demonstrates her gift for creating characters who feel startlingly real and situations that balance humor with genuine emotional stakes.

Drawing from her extensive experience in the audio industry (Holmes is an NPR correspondent and co-host of the popular “Pop Culture Happy Hour” podcast), she crafts a story that gives readers an insider’s view of the podcast production world while delivering a romance that feels both contemporary and timeless. The novel’s exploration of career ambition, personal authenticity, and the courage to claim what you truly want resonates strongly, even when the execution occasionally stumbles.

Story Synopsis: Finding Her Voice

Cecily Foster has spent years behind the scenes as a talented audio producer, patiently building her career while waiting for her chance to host. When her boss Toby finally offers her the hosting opportunity she’s been dreaming of, there’s a significant catch: she’ll have to make a dating podcast where she’s the guinea pig, guided by influencer/relationship coach Eliza Cassidy through twenty blind dates.

Despite her reservations, Cecily agrees, partly to secure her friend Julie’s job and partly to advance her own career. As the project unfolds, Cecily meets Will, a photographer/waiter who captures her interest during a chance encounter chasing a runaway dog. Their paths continue to cross in ways that feel destined, but Eliza insists Will isn’t “successful” enough for Cecily.

As Cecily navigates Eliza’s manufactured dates, her growing feelings for Will, and the behind-the-scenes machinations of her workplace, she must ultimately decide which voice to listen to—the external expectations of others or her own inner truth.

Strengths: Audio Verisimilitude and Authentic Characters

Linda Holmes’s greatest achievement in “Back After This” is her ability to make the podcast production world feel absolutely authentic. The novel brims with insider details that audio enthusiasts will appreciate:

• The technical language of waveforms, room tone, and “actualities”
• The eternal struggle with mouth noises and awkward edits
• The emotional investment producers make in creating perfect audio
• The precarious nature of the industry itself

As Cecily explains audio editing to Will: “It’s mostly things that nobody is ever going to notice.” This meticulous care for invisible details extends to Holmes’s character work as well. Cecily comes alive as a fully realized protagonist whose competence at work contrasts with her uncertainty in relationships. Her Beast (the overstuffed bag where she keeps everything from emergency snacks to pens) becomes a perfect metaphor for how she approaches life—prepared for every contingency except, perhaps, her own happiness.

The supporting cast is equally strong, particularly:

• Julie, Cecily’s loyal producer friend whose own career moves create genuine conflict
• Molly, Cecily’s sister who provides both support and straight talk
• Will, whose charming personality and comfort with career uncertainty make him a refreshing romantic lead
• Buddy, Will’s enormous adopted dog who serves as both comic relief and an emotional barometer

Thematic Depth: Work, Worth, and Autonomy

Beneath its romantic comedy framework, “Back After This” by Linda Holmes explores substantial themes about professional fulfillment and personal agency. The novel thoughtfully examines:

1. The conflict between ambition and authenticity
2. The courage required to reject exploitative work arrangements
3. The challenge of claiming credit for creative work
4. The particular struggles women face in male-dominated industries

One of the novel’s most insightful moments comes during a confrontation between Cecily and Eliza, where the influencer points out that Cecily’s helpfulness might mask a need to have people indebted to her. “What sucks,” Eliza tells her, “is wanting to be thanked instead of loved, because you can believe you deserve it.” This observation cuts deep precisely because it contains an uncomfortable truth about Cecily’s approach to relationships.

Areas for Improvement: Pacing and Plot Contrivances

Despite its many strengths, “Back After This” by Linda Holmes occasionally suffers from pacing issues. The novel’s early chapters move briskly, establishing Cecily’s world and her reluctant agreement to the dating project. However, the middle section—chronicling the twenty dates—can feel repetitive, with several encounters blurring together. While Holmes attempts to differentiate each date with unique details (the poker player, the doctor, the architect), some feel like sketches rather than fully realized scenes.

The novel also relies on several coincidences that strain credulity, even for a romantic comedy:

• Will appearing in Cecily’s life repeatedly in different capacities
• The dramatic email revelation that exposes the show’s manipulations
• The convenient timing of various confrontations

These plot mechanics sometimes feel like shortcuts rather than organic developments. Additionally, the final act’s resolution, while emotionally satisfying, wraps up certain professional conflicts too neatly, considering the industry realities the novel otherwise portrays so accurately.

Writing Style: Conversational Charm with Audio Precision

Holmes writes with the conversational warmth of someone who understands the power of voice. Her prose style is accessible without being simplistic, peppered with pop culture references and audio metaphors that never feel forced. Dialogue is a particular strength—characters speak distinctively, with exchanges that capture the rhythm of real conversation.

The novel’s structure, with its podcast-like “episodes” framing the narrative, works effectively to underscore themes about storytelling and authenticity. Holmes also demonstrates a knack for humor that ranges from situational comedy (like Cecily’s disasters at Madeline’s restaurant) to sharper observations about workplace politics and the absurdities of dating advice.

Verdict: A Smart, Satisfying Romance for the Podcast Era

“Back After This” by Linda Holmes succeeds as both a contemporary romance and a workplace novel with specific insights about creative industries. Like a well-produced podcast, it combines entertainment with substance, leaving readers with thought-provoking questions about what we truly want versus what others expect of us.

The novel should particularly appeal to:

• Fans of contemporary romance with workplace settings
• Podcast listeners and media industry workers
• Readers who enjoy strong female friendships alongside romance
• Anyone who’s ever struggled with balancing professional ambition and personal fulfillment

If you enjoyed Holmes’s previous novels, you’ll find similar strengths here—complex characters, witty dialogue, and emotional intelligence. Readers who appreciate Beth O’Leary’s workplace romances or Emily Henry’s balance of humor and emotional depth will also find much to enjoy in “Back After This.”

Final Thoughts: Finding Your Own Wavelength

What ultimately makes “Back After This” by Linda Holmes resonate is its central message about listening to your own voice amid the noise of others’ expectations. As Cecily learns to stop editing herself according to others’ preferences, the novel encourages readers to consider where in their own lives they might need to adjust the volume on external input.

Like the perfect audio edit that Cecily seeks in her work—one where you don’t notice the cuts but simply hear the story—Holmes has created a romance that focuses on what matters while cutting away distractions. Despite occasional rough edges in execution, the emotional truth comes through clearly, making “Back After This” a satisfying addition to Linda Holmes’s growing body of work and a worthwhile read for anyone who’s ever felt caught between what they want and what others think they should want.

In the end, like audio that captures not just words but presence, Holmes delivers a story that lingers after the final page—a testament to finding not just love, but your own authentic voice.

For Fans Of…

If you enjoyed Back After This, you might also appreciate:

• Beach Read by Emily Henry, for its exploration of professional rivalry turned romance
• The Idea of You by Robinne Lee, which similarly examines relationships in public-facing industries
• The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon, another romance set in the audio industry
• Holmes’ previous novels, particularly Flying Solo, which shares themes of self-discovery and choosing one’s own path