REVIEW: Casket Case by Lauren Evans

In Casket Case by Lauren Evans, Nora Clanton never aspired to work for her family’s business selling caskets in her hometown of Rabbittown, Alabama, but that’s exactly where she finds herself at age thirty. The life she built in Birmingham–her financial adviser job, her apartment, and even her boyfriend–disappeared into thin air when she moved home after her parents’ death. Now Nora feels stuck. And she’s not sure if she should sell the house and the business or stick with it for a while longer. Then a handsome guy stops in the shop for directions. Garrett Bishop knocks her for a loop with his devastating smile and his perfect mix of sexy and charming. Nora agrees to a date, wondering if she’s out of her league. It doesn’t take long after their first outing to the local ice cream parlor, though, before she knows this is something special.

‘He leans down for another kiss. As he pulls away, she can see from the look in his eyes that he feels the same way. Like it’s way too soon, but there’s something here.’

The only problem–at first–is how much Garrett travels for work. Then there’s the fact that Nora really isn’t sure what his job, a logistics coordinator, entails. It normally wouldn’t raise red flags for her but given how her last relationship imploded, Nora tries to piece together where he goes and what Garrett does. When he does finally give her the entire truth, that he works for Death, he’s worried he’s pushed her away for good. Or maybe she thinks he’s mentally imbalanced. But in his defense, he figured Nora, a woman who is literally surrounded by caskets on a daily basis, might possibly see where he’s coming from and why he chose the job. It’s not an easy feat, but Garrett feels like if he can just prove to Nora the good that he does for people, he might be able to win her heart forever.

‘The more he had seen her standing in that room filled with caskets, the more a little voice inside told him she could be the one to understand.’

CASKET CASE was a debut rom-com by Lauren Evans that was infused with just as much subtle, dry-witted humor as it was good old-fashioned Southern charm which made for a pleasant reading experience.

He clears his throat. “I work for Death.”
…”I don’t know whether my boyfriend has serious mental issues or if he’s the Grim Reaper.”
“A little of both.”
She rolls her eyes and takes a few steps away from him.

CW: View Spoiler »Grief, depression, terminal illness death (historical), cheating (historical). « Hide Spoiler

Laura Evans’ debut novel, CASKET CASE, certainly had a unique magical realism premise–which I think she delivered on nicely. I will warn readers that this might not suit everyone. Both main characters had jobs that were related to death: Nora ran her family’s business selling caskets and Garrett worked for Death. The mentions of local people passing away as well as memories of a few of both character’s family members dying in the past could be triggers for those sensitive to the subject.

But what kept the story from getting mired in grief and loss overall were the light touches of comedy that Evans added. Nora was still getting over her parents passing away about a year earlier so her feelings were either basically non-existent or she was flooded with every emotion possible. Couple that with her natural social awkwardness and you have a recipe for laughter and cringe-worthy moments. It did also mean that some of her conversations, particularly with Garrett, came across as stilted, but to me it seemed to fit their situation as well as their personalities, so it was more endearing than anything. As was her penchant for drowning out her loss with old school TV shows she could get swept away in for a while.

I won’t mention too much of Garrett’s job as it’s important to learn about it in the way Evans smartly presents it throughout the book from Garrett’s POV and Nora’s. I have a feeling that readers with an open mind will likely think of him as the kind, generous, lovely guy that he proved himself to be. And the twist at the end–as well as one last heartbreaking scene, *sniff*–will be what brings Nora and Garrett’s non-traditional romance full circle.

QOTD: Nora’s daily comfort TV shows were Cheers and General Hospital. Do you have any go-to comfort shows or movies?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: September 10th, 2024 | by Dell |

In this charming debut rom-com, a young woman returns home to run her family’s casket business and falls in love with a seemingly perfect stranger. But there’s just one problem . . . he works for Death.

Nora thought she was finished with Rabbittown, Alabama, for good. But an unexpected tragedy turned her life upside down, and she’s found herself back in her tiny hometown running the family casket business.

There aren’t exactly a lot of prospects for a single woman in her thirties in a place like Rabbittown. Until Nora Clanton’s ordinary, casket-selling day is interrupted by a handsome stranger wandering into her shop and asking for directions—as well as a date.

Garrett Bishop seems like the ideal guy. He’s thoughtful, he’s kind, and he has a lucrative job as a logistics coordinator, for which he seems to have a passion. She’s not totally sure what “logistics” entails, but she knows it means long hours, lots of travel, and urgent calls in the middle of the night.

When a few of Rabbittown’s residents suddenly pass away—a heart attack here, a car crash there—and Garrett is spotted at the scenes of, well, all of the deaths, his frustratingly vague job description starts to become increasingly . . . suspicious. What is it that Garrett actually does for a living?

He’s a logistics coordinator for Death.

When Nora discovers the truth, she is unable to reconcile the wonderful man she knows with the unthinkably cruel job he loves. Will she ever be able to understand how he can do what he does, or will she have to lay her best chance at love to rest?

Casket Case is the heartfelt story of a small-town girl who feels surrounded by death—literally and figuratively. This clever, endearing, and romantic debut explores how love and loss are forever intertwined . . . but death might not be as scary as it seems.