Disclaimer: This book is a participant in the Indie Ink Awards 2023 and I read it as a judge. My personal rating does not reflect its score for the contest.

If this was his last week alive, he was getting a fucking bagel and lox.

Necromancing and romancing. Sweet and funny at times and written in simple prose, this one has quite a cozy feeling. It’s a book you can read in one sitting.

The audiobook didn’t work for me. From the narrator’s pronunciation I thought one of the main characters was named Philippe Galvin before realizing he was latinx and his name was actually “Felipe Galván”.

One of the main characters is autistic and most of the romance arc relied on it due to his struggles starting a relationship. I could relate to his portrayal, like biting back comments, having trouble navigating social situations, enjoying the calm of the night to work, dreading the touch of strangers, and of being “upsetting” to others. While I appreciate this type of representation, I think it’s enough to explain it when we’re getting to know the character and then showing it on his every reaction and interaction. I got tired of it being spelled-out even 3/4 into the story.

The plot was straightforward and predictable. I enjoyed the first part more as the interactions became repetitive and the plot stalled. I loved the inclusion of a diverse family structure, and the magical nature of the Institution the main characters are a part of. It’s a fun mystery with diverse characters and lots of pining.