Author: Kirsty Greenwood
Genre: Romantic Comedy / Contemporary Fantasy / Feel-Good Fiction
Ideal For: Readers who adore heartwarming, high-concept love stories with a touch of magic. Perfect for fans of The Good Place, The Dead Romantics, and In Five Years—those who believe in second chances, soulmates, and finding love when (and where) you least expect it.
What happens when death gives you a second chance at love? That’s the irresistible question at the heart of Kirsty Greenwood’s latest novel, The Love of My Afterlife. Equal parts heartwarming rom-com and tender meditation on second chances, this book blends humour, poignancy, and a dash of magical whimsy into an unforgettable story. For fans of romantic fiction who enjoy their love stories with a twist, Greenwood delivers an absolute delight. This is easily a five-star read—funny, fresh, and surprisingly profound.
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
At the beginning of The Love of My Afterlife, we meet Delphie Bookham, a woman who has lived a quiet, somewhat unremarkable life. But just as she’s on the cusp of discovering what happiness might mean for her, tragedy strikes—Delphie dies suddenly and finds herself in the afterlife. Instead of peace or finality, she’s offered something extraordinary: one last chance to experience true love.
The catch? She has only a week to find the person she’s meant to be with. Fail, and she will fade away forever.
From this premise unfolds a witty, heartfelt journey through both the afterlife and the unfinished business of Delphie’s own heart. Greenwood infuses the story with a perfect balance of lighthearted romance and existential depth, making it a compulsively readable page-turner.
Themes and Ideas
Though pitched as a rom-com, The Love of My Afterlife offers more than just meet-cutes and witty banter. Greenwood gently asks readers to consider deeper truths about what it means to live—and love—fully.
- Life’s Fleeting Nature: Through Delphie’s sudden death, we’re reminded that time is finite. The urgency of her search for love mirrors the urgency we often ignore in real life.
- Second Chances: The afterlife conceit gives Delphie—and readers—a chance to reframe regrets. It’s not about rewriting the past, but about embracing possibilities in the present.
- Love as Transformation: Greenwood portrays love not just as romantic connection but as a force that encourages growth, courage, and authenticity.
- Humour in the Face of Mortality: By making the afterlife funny, Greenwood softens the heaviness of death while highlighting the resilience of human spirit.
These themes ensure the novel resonates on multiple levels. Readers will laugh, swoon, and perhaps even reflect on their own choices and what they value most.
Characters
Greenwood excels at crafting characters who feel both larger-than-life and deeply relatable.
- Delphie Bookham: As the heroine, Delphie is immediately endearing. She’s awkward, self-deprecating, and occasionally unsure of herself, but her inner warmth shines through. Her voice—wry, hopeful, and filled with vulnerability—anchors the narrative.
- The Love Interest: Without spoiling too much, Delphie’s potential soulmate is as compelling as she is. Their chemistry is sparkling, their interactions tinged with both humour and poignancy. Greenwood avoids clichés by giving the love interest layers beyond being “perfect.”
- Supporting Cast: The afterlife guides, side characters, and even fellow seekers add charm and colour to the story. Each one contributes to the novel’s blend of comedy and heart, though never distracting from Delphie’s journey.
The result is a cast that feels like a circle of friends you’d happily follow across worlds.
Writing Style
Kirsty Greenwood’s prose sparkles with wit. Her comedic timing is impeccable, delivering laugh-out-loud moments without undercutting the emotional beats. Dialogue flows naturally, balancing sharp banter with raw honesty.
Equally impressive is Greenwood’s ability to shift tone. One moment, you’re chuckling at a quirky afterlife mishap; the next, you’re quietly moved by Delphie’s reflections on what she missed in life. The balance ensures that the book never feels too heavy, yet always meaningful.
The pacing is spot-on, too. Chapters fly by, each ending with just enough intrigue or emotional pull to keep readers hooked. It’s the kind of book you could easily devour in a weekend.
Strengths
- Unique Premise: The blend of afterlife fantasy and rom-com is fresh, breathing new life into both genres.
- Relatable Heroine: Delphie’s imperfections make her easy to root for. She feels like an everywoman thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
- Emotional Range: Greenwood manages to be funny, romantic, and reflective—all in the same breath.
- Romantic Chemistry: The central love story is compelling and believable, full of charm and genuine tenderness.
- Uplifting Message: The novel ultimately celebrates the joy of living and loving boldly, a message that lingers long after the last page.
Weaknesses
While this is a five-star read, no book is without its minor flaws. Some readers may find the afterlife mechanics slightly underdeveloped—the rules of Delphie’s “second chance” aren’t always fully explained. But the novel’s emotional core is so strong that these details feel secondary rather than distracting.
Others might crave more time with secondary characters, whose humor and quirks add texture to the story. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise stellar novel.
Comparisons
Fans of Josie Silver’s One Day in December or Rebecca Serle’s In Five Years will find much to love here. Like those novels, The Love of My Afterlife blends the fantastical with grounded romance, asking readers to consider fate, timing, and the fragility of life. Greenwood’s voice, however, is distinctly her own—lighter, cheekier, and infused with warmth.
Final Thoughts
The Love of My Afterlife is more than just a clever rom-com with a supernatural twist. It’s a celebration of love in all its messy, imperfect, exhilarating glory. Greenwood captures the universal desire to be seen, cherished, and remembered, all while reminding readers not to wait for “someday” to start living.
What makes the novel so powerful is its balance. It’s equally likely to make you laugh out loud as it is to leave you misty-eyed. And beneath the humor lies a surprisingly profound message: life is fragile, love is transformative, and we rarely appreciate either until they’re almost gone.
This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish it—not because of grand twists, but because of the emotions it stirs. Whether you’re a diehard romance reader or simply someone looking for a hopeful, uplifting story, The Love of My Afterlife deserves a spot on your shelf.
Kirsty Greenwood’s The Love of My Afterlife is a rare gem: a romantic comedy that’s as funny as it is profound, as whimsical as it is wise. With an unforgettable heroine, a clever premise, and writing that sparkles on every page, it’s easily one of the best rom-coms of the year.
This is a novel that reminds us to live—and love—as though we don’t have a second chance.
