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Last updated on December 23rd, 2023
In today’s blog post, I am excited to dive into a review of Morbidly Yours by debut author, Ivy Fairbanks.
If you take The Dead Romantics and turn up the dial on the funeral home body preparation details while retaining the warm and fuzzy feelings associated with a feel-good romance, you get Morbidly Yours.
Morbidly Yours – Ivy Fairbanks
GENRE: Romantic comedy
PUB DATE: July 16, 2023
TROPES: friends to lovers, opposites attract
TWs: grief & death, graphic description of body prep in funeral home
An animator and mortician fall in love in this tender-hearted, delightful romance that you won’t want to put down.
Synopsis
Falling for the wrong person?
Bury your feelings.
Callum Flannelly would rather dive into an open grave than take a stranger to dinner and a movie. But he can only inherit the family undertaking business and carry on their legacy under one condition: He must marry before his 35th birthday. So it’s out of the mortuary and into the dating scene.
Lark Thompson would rather get crushed by a falling anvil than live next to a funeral home during her stay in Galway, Ireland. The vivacious American cartoon creator and animator came here to embrace life, not be reminded of losing her husband.
When Lark learns of Callum’s dilemma and aversion to marrying out of necessity rather than love, she agrees to help the introverted mortician. Although sworn off love herself, she is optimistic that Callum can find The One and secure his inheritance.
But as the dating project progresses and their friendship grows, so does a mutual attraction. The more time she spends with serious, sarcastic Callum, the more she dreads finding him a match. And the more disastrous dates he endures, the more trepidation he feels for Lark’s imminent return to the states.
If they think it’s possible to ignore their connection, they’re dead wrong.
Characters
Callum and Lark are such a fantastic pair of characters! The chemistry between them throughout the story is absolutely delightful. I loved how their relationship blossomed from being complete strangers to becoming the best of friends and, eventually, lovers.
The most charming thing about their connection was how they created a safe space for each other to be themselves. It’s truly a green flags kind of romance.
Callum
Sweet, shy, and soft-hearted Callum. He’s officially one of my favorite book boyfriends. He started out as demure and introverted, but when he opened up, I got to see a whole new side to him that was very swoon-worthy.
His love was genuine, and his journey from page one to the end is an amazing example of character growth. I couldn’t help but feel proud of him.
“Who are you, and what have you done with Callum Flannelly?”
“Lark, I’m more myself with you than anywhere else.”
Lark
Lark is an expert at “sucking the sweetest marrow out of life,” as Callum puts it. She’s so easy to relate to, hilarious, and a ray of sunshine.
Reading about her insecurities was never bothersome, and she truly comes across as genuine. I liked how she pushed Callum outside of his comfort zone just by being her authentic self.
Side Characters
The side characters added a delightful flavor to the overall narrative. The obvious ‘bad guy’ was there, but my favorites were the sassy best friends.
Plot
The plot was filled with delicious angst and a slow-burn romance that kept me reading this book into the wee hours of the night. While I didn’t particularly enjoy the conflict in the third act, I understood its relevance and how it aligned with Lark’s character.
Despite dealing with serious themes like death and grief, the book put a huge smile on my face because of the heartwarming romance between the characters.
It’s worth mentioning that there are explicit descriptions of bodies being sewn up and other procedures performed to prepare them for burial. However, as someone who went through medical school anatomy with cadavers, it didn’t bother me much.
But if you’re sensitive to these things, proceed with caution. Although it’s a small portion of the details, it may gross out some readers.
Writing
The writing style was engaging and kept me hooked from beginning to end. The author beautifully captured the emotions and intricacies of the characters, making them truly come alive.
The Irish slang was a bit hard to understand initially, but it didn’t significantly diminish the story’s impact. And Fairbanks does include translations for the important phrases.
And the epilogue was so sweet and adorable!
Best Quotes
Conclusion
Morbidly Yours is a novel that I plan to re-read in the future. The heartwarming romance and delightful characters made it a captivating book I couldn’t stop reading.
If you’re looking for a feel-good read, I highly recommend giving this one a chance.
Enjoyed this review? Then, add ‘Morbidly Yours’ to your TBR. And if you have already read this book and have some thoughts to share, drop them in the comments below. I would love to hear them!
