Move aside big-city romances, the small-town love story is making moves. Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks, first in the Love in Galway series, is a friends-to-lovers romance that is equal parts sweet and spicy, bringing the elements of romance I like to the table. I think it’s safe to say I devoured it in one sitting.

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 stay 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 he dreads Lark’s imminent return to the states. If they think it’s possible to ignore their connection, they’re dead wrong.

First off – we have some excellent character representation. Not only does Morbidly Yours give us demisexuality representation, but we also have a male main character with social anxiety. On top of all that, we have representation of Irish Gaelic culture and language, maing for not only an interesting and authentic character in Callum, but a romance that is intriguing, layered, and at times challenging to navigate. I think this is a showcase of how diverse representation can be done and not just for commercial intrigue. It is through characters like Callum that I get a sense of realness in these storyworlds, and not only that, but a real sense of understanding for the circumstances and perspectives of such people. It is good to see this representation in books and media, and I hope I come across more of it.

That isn’t to say Callum is the only character in Morbidly Yours that shows such depth of character. Lark is a wonderful character with a different background in the romantic sense seeing as her recent past is plagued by trauma she is still getting over, and the heartbrek is still very raw and open. Having a character with such a history in a romance novel is incredibly heart-warming to see because it shows that romance stories and romance can happe to anyone. There is no limit or boundary to love, and having characters who care for each other and respect each other shows a real tenderness for humanity and common decency that I appreciate in romance books.

The plot is entertaining with a perfect blend of cosy romance and exciting tension with cute moments exploring Galway and the surroudning areas and others where you are waiting for the sparks to catch. The other characters make up a mixed bag of real-life human beings, and I love how they all interact with each other. The dynamics are great, the tensions and conflicts engaging, and overall it creates an engrossing novel. Morbidly Yours was such a fun read, and I will be on the lookout for more novels from Ivy Fairbanks to fill my afternoons, and I already have Heart Strings in my library requests.

I would definitely recommend Morbidly Yours to all romance readers out there. It is short, sweet, spicy, and sets the scene for other novels in the series. The setting is magical and I know so many will enjoy it. Pick it up from your local library or bookshop and have a nice relaxing afternoon with Morbidly Yours in one hand and a hot drink in the other. You won’t regret it!