Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle (May 20, 2025) Many thanks to Simon Books for the gifted advanced digital copy of this wildly inventive, wholly unique, and utterly mesmerizing read!
Konstantin Duhovny can’t see ghosts, but he can taste them. When a spirit is near, he experiences their favorite meal as if he’s eating it himself – every bite, every nuance of flavor. For years, he’s ignored this unsettling ability, until one day he acts on it. He discovers that through a dish or drink tied to a person’s memories, he can reconnect the living with their departed loved ones. He believes he’s found his calling, and soon he’s poised to open a restaurant in NYC where diners might have the chance to commune with the dead. But meddling with the natural order of things comes at a cost, and by the time he understands the consequences, it might be too late.
Aftertaste doesn’t fit neatly into a single genre – it’s part love story, part ghost story, and part meditation on loss and family. I was especially moved by how Lavelle explores food as a deep, resonant memory that ties us to the people and moments that shape our lives. Food can be so transportive, anchoring us in a particular place and time, and this book captures that power beautifully.
Although Konstantin’s story is at the heart of the book, we also get to hear from numerous dead and undead voices, adding an even richer layer of perspective. And Lavelle’s writing? It’s simply stunning – passionate, evocative, and profoundly moving. Her mix of narrative prose, character musings, and almost poetic passages made this a truly immersive experience. This is a book that’s going to stay with me for a long, long time.
🎧 Audiobook Notes 🎧 The narration is exceptional: Ari Fliakos, Tessa Albertson, André Santana, and Kristen Sieh breathe such life into this haunting and heartfelt story. Their performances capture the raw emotion and deep connections that pulse through every page. (10 hrs 23 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Audio Performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Book Smart Kate 