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The Undertaker's Guide to Love, Loss & Other Messy Things
Not yet published
Expected 8 Jul 26In Morfaeth, everyone knows Ben Reeves' story. He's the undertaker with the dead wife.
Ben knows how to deal with loss. It's the rest of life he's less prepared for.
Since Jo died, the days have been carefully structured - work, avoiding his mother-in-law, and his daily walk by the sea. It's a life that holds together (just about) until unlikely friendships, community, and unforeseen possibilities begin to edge their way back in.
As Ben slowly learns that loss doesn't mean life is over, he's forced to confront the things he's been avoiding - love, change, and the uncomfortable truth that carrying on might actually be allowed.
Warm, darkly funny, and quietly hopeful, The Undertaker's Guide to Love, Loss & Other Messy Things is a novel about what grief leaves behind, and how life, given half a chance, finds ways to surprise us again.
For readers who love thoughtful contemporary fiction with emotional depth, wit, and stories about love, friendship, and second chances.
Ben knows how to deal with loss. It's the rest of life he's less prepared for.
Since Jo died, the days have been carefully structured - work, avoiding his mother-in-law, and his daily walk by the sea. It's a life that holds together (just about) until unlikely friendships, community, and unforeseen possibilities begin to edge their way back in.
As Ben slowly learns that loss doesn't mean life is over, he's forced to confront the things he's been avoiding - love, change, and the uncomfortable truth that carrying on might actually be allowed.
Warm, darkly funny, and quietly hopeful, The Undertaker's Guide to Love, Loss & Other Messy Things is a novel about what grief leaves behind, and how life, given half a chance, finds ways to surprise us again.
For readers who love thoughtful contemporary fiction with emotional depth, wit, and stories about love, friendship, and second chances.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 28, 2026
I received an ARC via BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.
First WOW, just WOW! I absolutely loved this book. It was difficult to pace myself and not read it in one sitting. I do fancy dark, depressing, melancholic type stories. This my friends, is a great story about how heart wrenching it is for the spouse, family, friends, partner and kids to go on after a loved one dies.
The dialogue was very believable. Interactions for those who lost someone and other people in their lives was very real. I’ve had some similar musings, crying, and topics talked over after I’ve lost people in my life. I’m preparing for more since 2 close friends have late stage cancers.
I felt for Ben, Lee, & Margaret trying to navigate their grief after their beloved Jo passed away. Ben has tremendous guilt over an incident he had after his wife Jo was diagnosed. You get to see how that guilt is eating at him and coloring the way he moved on. The kicker is how Ben works through his own grief in a way I don’t think a lot of people would do.
I wish more writers wrote about grief and moving on as honestly as Adam Prior in his first novel.
First WOW, just WOW! I absolutely loved this book. It was difficult to pace myself and not read it in one sitting. I do fancy dark, depressing, melancholic type stories. This my friends, is a great story about how heart wrenching it is for the spouse, family, friends, partner and kids to go on after a loved one dies.
The dialogue was very believable. Interactions for those who lost someone and other people in their lives was very real. I’ve had some similar musings, crying, and topics talked over after I’ve lost people in my life. I’m preparing for more since 2 close friends have late stage cancers.
I felt for Ben, Lee, & Margaret trying to navigate their grief after their beloved Jo passed away. Ben has tremendous guilt over an incident he had after his wife Jo was diagnosed. You get to see how that guilt is eating at him and coloring the way he moved on. The kicker is how Ben works through his own grief in a way I don’t think a lot of people would do.
I wish more writers wrote about grief and moving on as honestly as Adam Prior in his first novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review