Casket Case by Lauren Evans

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal | Publication Date: September 10, 2024

Thank you PRH Audio for the free audiobook!

☕ Quick Take:

A charming and bittersweet rom-com with a unique paranormal twist that explores love, loss, and the inevitability of death in a small Southern town.

📖 Synopsis:

In this heartfelt paranormal rom-com, Nora reluctantly returns to her small hometown of Rabbittown, Alabama, to run her family’s casket business after a tragedy. Life in Rabbittown is far from exciting, especially for a single woman in her 30s—until a mysterious and handsome stranger, Garrett Bishop, wanders into her shop asking for directions and a date.

Garrett seems perfect, except for his suspicious job as a "logistics coordinator" that involves long hours, frequent travel, and being at the scene of several sudden deaths in town. When Nora discovers that Garrett actually works for Death, she’s faced with the impossible task of reconciling her love for him with the grim reality of his job.

Casket Case is a quirky, romantic debut about finding love in unexpected places—and learning that death, and even love, may not be as frightening as they seem.

💭 My Thoughts:

Casket Case is a delightful blend of rom-com sweetness and emotional depth, with an intriguing paranormal twist. Nora's struggles with grief, self-doubt, and fear of losing those she loves are so relatable, and I found her character to be incredibly genuine and endearing. Her relationship with Garrett had this light, amusing dynamic, especially when Nora’s suspicions about his job started surfacing. I appreciated how Garrett remained patient and amused rather than frustrated with her fears.

The love triangle between Nora, Garrett, and Johnny added a small layer of tension that kept me engaged, and I genuinely didn’t know who I was rooting for at one point! But I’m happy with how things wrapped up, and I think the resolution was fitting for Nora's journey.

The paranormal aspect—Garrett working for Death—added a fascinating, bittersweet element to the story. It gave the romance a deeper, more contemplative edge that made me reflect on how love and loss are intertwined. The supernatural twist didn’t feel overdone or heavy-handed, but rather added a touch of magic to an otherwise grounded story about coping with grief.

Narration-wise, Bailey Carr and Sean Patrick Hopkins were wonderful. They did a fantastic job bringing the emotions and nuances of the characters to life without overdoing the Southern accents, making the audiobook even more enjoyable.

🌟 Final Thoughts:

If you’re looking for a romance with a little extra heart (and a dash of the supernatural), Casket Case is a quirky, emotional, and thoroughly enjoyable read. It offers a sweet love story that balances the heaviness of death with the lightness of humor and hope. Highly recommend for fans of heartfelt rom-coms with a twist!