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Description
“A haunting evocation of pain and pleasure, and the power of food.” —Nigella Lawson
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.
A food story to binge.
A ghost story to devour.
A love story to savor.
Konstantin Duhovny is a haunted man. His father died when he was ten, and ghosts have been hovering around him 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 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.
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.
A food story to binge.
A ghost story to devour.
A love story to savor.
Konstantin Duhovny is a haunted man. His father died when he was ten, and ghosts have been hovering around him 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 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.
Product Details
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Publish Date | May 20, 2025 |
| Pages | 400 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Hardback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781668061596 |
| Dimensions | 228.6 X 152.4 X 33.0 mm | 553.4 g |
About the Author
Daria Lavelle is an American fiction writer. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and raised in the New York metro area, her work explores themes of identity and belonging through magic and the uncanny. Her short stories have appeared in The Deadlands, Dread Machine, and elsewhere, and she holds degrees in writing from Princeton University and Sarah Lawrence College. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, children, and goldendoodle, all of whom love a great meal almost as much as she does. Learn more at DariaLavelle.com.
Reviews
A CBS New York Book Club Pick
A Most Anticipated Book from Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, LitHub and Jordy’s Book Club
"This dark comedy set in the culinary world follows a Ukrainian American chef who can conjure spirits of the dead by cooking their favorite foods. Haunted by the death of his father and yearning to use his powers for good, Kostya opens a restaurant where loved ones reunite over one last meal. With carefully crafted depictions of grief and mouth-watering culinary adventures, this is the perfect novel for the always hungry and for fans of 'The Bear.'"—USA Today
“This story is full of love, grief, emotional rollercoasters and detailed, significant pallets of food…. Be prepared to find yourself snacking or even licking your lips as you flip through these pages…. This novel is addictive, rewarding and delicate. The pacing is well-balanced with enough highs and lows to keep you gasping aloud in disbelief at some monumental events and twists.”—BookTrib
"Heartbreaking and strange, this is a novel to savor, one bite at a time."—Apple Books
"Lavelle’s speculative approach is intriguing enough on its own, but it’s her skillful writing that ultimately makes Aftertaste such an evocative (and, yes, mouthwatering) read.”—Elle
"A ghost story, a love story, and a mind-bending adventure, Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle turns the concept of 'sense memory' into a delightful ride.”—Real Simple
"This is an extraordinary book...For foodies, for lovers, for those who like a side of the supernatural."—Booklist
"Delectable....the exuberant prose leavens the story’s bittersweet pathos, and the novel brims with tantalizing descriptions of international cuisines. This inventive tale of food and family is likely to whet readers’ appetites."—Publishers Weekly
“Lavelle spins a twisty plot filled with mouthwatering descriptions of food and some very hungry ghosts…A tasty variation on the supernatural thriller.”—Kirkus
"An original concept perfectly realized. Witty and poignant, surprising and satisfying, this lovely book about death is brimming with life."—KAREN JOY FOWLER, award-winning author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
"Daria Lavelle’s Aftertaste is pure magic; a story that nourishes the soul, breaks the heart, and lingers on the tongue long after reading. I am so glad to have been haunted by it. A sparkling debut from a writer gifted with wit and imagination to spare."—VIOLET KUPERSMITH, author of Build Your House Around My Body
"Aftertaste is practically exploding with love, life and flavour. I relished every word."—LOUISE KENNEDY, bestselling author of Trespasses
"Brilliantly constructed and wholly original, Aftertaste is like no novel you’ve ever tried before. It’s much more than your usual dish—it’s a whole literary tasting menu. Packed with ghosts, romance, fine dining, and the mob, it will leave you stunned, thrilled, and totally satiated."—JULIA PHILLIPS, author of Bear
“A haunting evocation of pain and pleasure, and the power of food.”—NIGELLA LAWSON
“A decadent debut that marks the arrival of a sparkling new voice. Dark and delicious, sincerely moving and at times laugh out loud funny, a heady, bittersweet, beautiful novel about life and death, grief and closure, passion and hunger. A must-read.”—RACHEL HARRISON, USA Today Bestselling author of So Thirsty and Black Sheep
“Aftertaste is a breathtaking novel. Combining the grit of the restaurant world with the magic of the afterlife, Daria Lavelle perfectly blends unexpected ingredients into a book you'll want to savor. It's a story about grief that's filled with humor, warmth, and astounding creativity, and I already can't wait to read it again.”—LAURA HANKIN, author of One-Star Romance and The Daydreams
“This is a terrific book. Aftertaste offers the glories of food and cooking—all the yes-chef details we now love—in a cool, brilliant, and suspenseful novel whose spec-fic plot wants to talk about the mysteries of sense-memory and death. I could not put it down.”—JOAN SILBER, author of Secrets of Happiness and Improvement
A Most Anticipated Book from Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, LitHub and Jordy’s Book Club
"This dark comedy set in the culinary world follows a Ukrainian American chef who can conjure spirits of the dead by cooking their favorite foods. Haunted by the death of his father and yearning to use his powers for good, Kostya opens a restaurant where loved ones reunite over one last meal. With carefully crafted depictions of grief and mouth-watering culinary adventures, this is the perfect novel for the always hungry and for fans of 'The Bear.'"—USA Today
“This story is full of love, grief, emotional rollercoasters and detailed, significant pallets of food…. Be prepared to find yourself snacking or even licking your lips as you flip through these pages…. This novel is addictive, rewarding and delicate. The pacing is well-balanced with enough highs and lows to keep you gasping aloud in disbelief at some monumental events and twists.”—BookTrib
"Heartbreaking and strange, this is a novel to savor, one bite at a time."—Apple Books
"Lavelle’s speculative approach is intriguing enough on its own, but it’s her skillful writing that ultimately makes Aftertaste such an evocative (and, yes, mouthwatering) read.”—Elle
"A ghost story, a love story, and a mind-bending adventure, Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle turns the concept of 'sense memory' into a delightful ride.”—Real Simple
"This is an extraordinary book...For foodies, for lovers, for those who like a side of the supernatural."—Booklist
"Delectable....the exuberant prose leavens the story’s bittersweet pathos, and the novel brims with tantalizing descriptions of international cuisines. This inventive tale of food and family is likely to whet readers’ appetites."—Publishers Weekly
“Lavelle spins a twisty plot filled with mouthwatering descriptions of food and some very hungry ghosts…A tasty variation on the supernatural thriller.”—Kirkus
"An original concept perfectly realized. Witty and poignant, surprising and satisfying, this lovely book about death is brimming with life."—KAREN JOY FOWLER, award-winning author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
"Daria Lavelle’s Aftertaste is pure magic; a story that nourishes the soul, breaks the heart, and lingers on the tongue long after reading. I am so glad to have been haunted by it. A sparkling debut from a writer gifted with wit and imagination to spare."—VIOLET KUPERSMITH, author of Build Your House Around My Body
"Aftertaste is practically exploding with love, life and flavour. I relished every word."—LOUISE KENNEDY, bestselling author of Trespasses
"Brilliantly constructed and wholly original, Aftertaste is like no novel you’ve ever tried before. It’s much more than your usual dish—it’s a whole literary tasting menu. Packed with ghosts, romance, fine dining, and the mob, it will leave you stunned, thrilled, and totally satiated."—JULIA PHILLIPS, author of Bear
“A haunting evocation of pain and pleasure, and the power of food.”—NIGELLA LAWSON
“A decadent debut that marks the arrival of a sparkling new voice. Dark and delicious, sincerely moving and at times laugh out loud funny, a heady, bittersweet, beautiful novel about life and death, grief and closure, passion and hunger. A must-read.”—RACHEL HARRISON, USA Today Bestselling author of So Thirsty and Black Sheep
“Aftertaste is a breathtaking novel. Combining the grit of the restaurant world with the magic of the afterlife, Daria Lavelle perfectly blends unexpected ingredients into a book you'll want to savor. It's a story about grief that's filled with humor, warmth, and astounding creativity, and I already can't wait to read it again.”—LAURA HANKIN, author of One-Star Romance and The Daydreams
“This is a terrific book. Aftertaste offers the glories of food and cooking—all the yes-chef details we now love—in a cool, brilliant, and suspenseful novel whose spec-fic plot wants to talk about the mysteries of sense-memory and death. I could not put it down.”—JOAN SILBER, author of Secrets of Happiness and Improvement
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