What if you could have one last meal with someone you’ve loved, someone you’ve lost? Combining the magic of Under the Whispering Door with the high-stakes culinary world of Sweetbitter, Aftertaste is an epic love story, a dark comedy, and a synesthetic adventure through food and grief.

Konstantin Duhovny is a haunted man. His father died when he was ten, and ghosts have been hovering around Kostya ever since. Kostya can’t exactly see the ghosts, but he can taste their favorite foods. Flavors of meals he’s never eaten will flood his mouth, a sign that a spirit is present. Kostya has kept these aftertastes a secret for most of his life, but one night, he decides to act on what he’s tasting. And everything changes.

Kostya discovers that he can reunite people with their deceased loved ones—at least for the length of time it takes for them to eat a dish that he’s prepared. He thinks his life’s purpose might be to offer closure to grieving strangers, and sets out to learn all he can by entering a particularly fiery ring of Hell: the New York culinary scene. But as his kitchen skills catch up with his ambitions, Kostya is too blind to see the catastrophe looming in the Afterlife. And the one person who knows Kostya must be stopped also happens to be falling in love with him.

Set in the bustling world of New York restaurants and teeming with mouthwatering food writing, Aftertaste is a whirlwind romance, a heart-wrenching look at love and loss, and a ghost story about all the ways we hunger—and how far we’d go to find satisfaction.

Lavelle’s debut is a multi-course tasting menu of a book that will sate, delight, excite, comfort, and inspire even the pickiest of readers.

Wow. Just—wow.

This is one of those books I went into knowing very little about. I picked it from BOTM on a whim and went in hoping that at best I’d find it entertaining. I absolutely devoured it. Chef’s kiss. (Pun absolutely intended.)

The concept is unlike anything I’ve read before. Our main character, Konstantin—Kostya to some—is just your average guy. Quiet. A little awkward. Haunted by the loss of his father and a lifetime of being overlooked. But he has a secret: he can taste the food that dead people once loved. Not exactly your everyday superpower, right?

These aftertastes flood his mouth out of nowhere: random meals, unique flavors, and when he finally acts on one and makes a drink for a grieving stranger based on a taste, something incredible happens. The man gets to reconnect with his dead girlfriend. Just for the span of a drink. But long enough to say what needed saying so he can move on.

And suddenly, Kostya’s lonely life has purpose. But it also comes with a price.

This is a debut, but it reads like the work of a seasoned writer. The magical realism in this book is handled so beautifully. It’s not flashy or over-explained. It just is, and you go along with it, fully believing in this world where grief can take the shape of flavor and closure might be found in a big, juicy steak.

Kostya is such a sympathetic protagonist. He’s not a chosen one or some elite chef. He’s just a guy who’s been through it. He was bullied as a kid, mostly ignored, and has spent a good portion of his life grieving his father. His journey isn’t about becoming the best or the most successful. It’s about finding meaning. And when he finally gets attention for his gift? You feel the shift. The way people begin to want something from him. And how quickly things start to spiral.

There’s romance in here too, though I have to admit, I had mixed feelings about Kostya’s love interest. I couldn’t quite get on board with her fully, and as the story progressed, I understood why. (No spoilers.)

Also, I cannot emphasize this enough: the food writing in this book is divine. You’ll want to snack constantly while reading. Maybe keep a meal nearby. Maybe light a candle. It’s that immersive.

My favorite part, though? The way the story gently explores the cost of reaching backward. You can’t keep calling on the dead without consequences. That’s not just a spooky warning, it’s a deeply human truth. Sometimes closure comes at a price. And sometimes, the peace we crave can only be found by moving forward.

Honestly, this book made me think. If someone I loved could connect with me through food … what would I taste? What would we say if we had one more conversation? That haunting, beautiful idea lingers throughout the story and gives it real emotional weight.

Would I recommend this? With every fiber of my being. It’s thoughtful, strange, emotional, and delicious. A book about hunger in all its forms, love, grief, and success. But it also comes with a warning. Honestly, it had it all. No notes. Except maybe … more, please?

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