Ever since his father's death, Konstantin Duhovny has been able to taste the dead - their favorite foods to be exact. For years he kept these ghost flavors - these aftertastes - a secret, but one night, one drink, changes everything. Konstantin discovers that as long as people are eating their loved one's favorite dish, a dish he alone can prepare, they can be reunited for one last meal.

First of all, the descriptions in this book were gorgeous and exactly what you'd expect, and need, for a book about food. Lavelle does a wonderful job of bringing the reader into the world of professional chefs, but through the eyes of someone who started on that path later in life and completely fell in love with all it had to offer. Konstantin was such an interesting character, flawed and scarred and still so easy to root for. I loved him and the found family he surrounded himself with. The relationships between the characters added so much soul to the story, fleshing out an intriguing concept into something magical and a tiny bit heartbreaking. Finally I adored the New York City setting. The city that never sleeps was truly the perfect place to bring this book to life. There's just something otherworldly about somewhere so filled to the brim with people, memories, and life.

Whether you're a foodie, a lover of magical realism, or simply a reader looking for a new world to escape to for a bit, I recommend giving Aftertaste a go. It's a beautiful story of love and loss and absolutely left me hungry for more from Daria Lavelle.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.