Welcome to Litsy!

5⭐️ for most of the book, 3⭐️ for the ending. It worked so well for me because I consider myself a foodie and amateur chef. The food and taste descriptions, the kitchens, the cooking methodology-all of that was simply divine. The author is clearly a foodie too. The romance, the ghosts, the mafia-all of that was fine.

I wish the ending could have been different but I see what the author felt like she had to do.

#12BooksOf2025

November was another tough month to pick (The Serviceberry & Life With Picasso were right up there) but ultimately, I chose the tagged book because while not perfect, the premise was so unique that I am still thinking about it. I listened to the audiobook but might go back & read my #BOTM copy.

#Read2025

Getting all my November reviews in so bear with me! I finished this one a couple of weeks ago, switching between my #BOTM & the audio book & I quite liked this unusual story of a guy who can taste the favorite foods of the dead & make them appear when he cooks the dish. It did get a bit long in the middle but I was caught up in Konstantin‘s story & the blend of foodie novel & ghost story. It even ended up on my #AuldLangSpine2025 list.

I love food, cooking, and ghosts, so I knew I wanted to read this as soon as I saw it in BookPage magazine. The main character has a unique ability (clairgustance) to taste a dead person‘s favorite thing, down to the last detail. He makes the dishes, and briefly, the person appears. I was picturing Carmy from The Bear the entire time.

Speculative fiction is truly a reminder to me of what an unsophisticated reader I am. I had to slow down for this one, but I did like it because it‘s just such a genre bending unusual story. It was bit ghost story, immigrant story, love story, foodie story, thriller all wrapped up in one.

I started out really enjoying this, but as it progressed I felt it got a little long and redundant. Still, it was such an interesting concept and I enjoyed the uniqueness of it.

#botm

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Aftertaste is a literary feast, feeding the imagination and soul, lingering on the palate. I loved how unique and creative it is. I adored the clever wordplay. I salivated over the food writing. The NYC setting is palpable and the characters are to die for. It made me teary, it made me hungry, it made me wonder. What if you could share a meal with a lost loved one? What is the cost of holding on too tightly? #BOTM

Since a young age, Kostya has been getting intense aftertastes in his mouth around certain people. So one day he creates what he‘s tasting and gives it to the man before him and the ghost of the man‘s wife appears. I was a little hesitant about his one, and it did take a while to pull me in, but I ended up enjoying it. I do wish the climactic scene had been fleshed out a bit more.

'Aftertaste' was a beautiful, bittersweet novel. Our memories are one of the things that make us alive. Food is also a memory. Certain tastes and times stick with you, making you who are. Lavelle incorporated love and loss through his aftertastes so well that it was quite the feat. I loved the characters and the imagery throughout. I will live in my memory for awhile. 5 stars.

Finished # WickedWords with 2 books: 'A Letter From the Lonesome Shore' and 'Aftertaste.'
@AsYouWish

“A food story to binge.
A ghost story to devour.
A love story to savor.“

This was an emotional gut punch of a story, which follows the Highs and Lows of Konstantine, a man who can taste the food of the dead, and bring them back for the duration of a meal. packed with grief in all it's forms, and the worst, and best, of life, this is a story that you won't be able to put down! This book made me cry, in the most cathartic way. 10/10 do recommend!