My huge thanks to Rachel Kennedy for sending me a copy of The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood in return for an honest review. I can’t believe that this is my first Kirsty Greenwood book and I’m delighted to share my review today.

The Love of My Afterlife is published by Penguin’s Century on 20th June 2024 and is available for purchase through the links here.

The Love of My Afterlife

If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment. She’s entered the afterlife wearing the sort of pyjamas you don’t want anyone to see and finds herself face-to-face with the most handsome man she’s ever encountered. And he’s smiling at her.

As they start to chat, everything else becomes background noise – until someone comes running out of a door, yelling something about a huge mistake, and sends the dreamy stranger back down to earth.

In a twist of fate, Delphie is offered a deal in which she can return to her previous life and reconnect with the mysterious man she’s sure is her soulmate.

The challenge? She only has ten days to find him.

Ten days to make him fall for her.

Oh, and he has no recollection of them ever having met…

My Review of The Love of My Afterlife

Delphie Bookham has just choked to death on a burger.

What a brilliant, brilliant story. I found The Love of My Afterlife unbridled entertainment from start to finish. It has a slightly mystical premise as Delphie is given a second chance at life when she’s sent back to Earth to try to get Jonah voluntarily to kiss her, but it is still absolutely grounded in realism, making it a total triumph.

I thought the plot was brilliant and Kirsty Greenwood had me invested in it from the very first page. As Delphie attempts to track down Jonah, with the reluctant help of her curmudgeonly neighbour Cooper, she finds herself in a range of unusual situations that help unlock the mysteries of her own life to her. This might be a diverting and fabulous romcom read, but it has captivating and mature themes at its heart too. 

The Love of My Afterlife looks hard at how we live our lives – or rather, how we don’t. Kirsty Greenwood considers risk taking, making ourselves vulnerable, using our talents and being open to friendship and love of many kinds. Through this super story she illustrates how making the most of our chances, even when we’re afraid, can lead to all kinds of benefits. I adored this aspect of the narrative.

Delphie is a brilliant character. She’s spikey, awkward and insular. She’s also witty, caring and both physically and metaphorically beautiful. Her personal growth when faced with death feels natural and engaging. I was desperate for her to have her happy ending, because I cared about her completely. 

In fact, I thought all the characters were super – even the obnoxious, bullying, Gen because Kirsty Greenwood imbued them all with enough detail and realism to make them feel totally believable. I especially loved Delphie’s neighbour because, through him, not only do we get to see the softer side of Delphi, but we are given convincing insight into the way society frequently write off the experience and talent of the elderly. 

The Love of My Afterlife is absolutely perfect summer reading and I adored it. Make sure you put it in your suitcase! 

About Kirsty Greenwood

Kirsty Greenwood is a best selling author of funny, fearless romantic comedies about extraordinary love. When she’s not writing books she composes musicals and explores London where she lives with her husband.

For further information, visit Kirsty’s website, follow her on Twitter/X @KirstyStories and find Kirsty on Instagram and Facebook.