Book: Dearly Departed by Chip Pons
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 5/5
ARC REVIEW
Dearly Departed by Chip Pons
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
I absolutely fell in love with Hayden and Levi. Their romance is so beautifully layered. On one level, it's a joyful, swoony queer love story. On another, it's a thoughtful exploration of grief and the ways people carry it with them throughout their lives. Chip Pons continues to have an unfair ability to make me laugh one minute and cry the next, and Dearly Departed is no exception.
Hayden is such a fascinating character. Once upon a time, he was Hades, God of the Underworld. Now he's stuck on Earth, running a funeral home under the guise of "retirement" while spending decades searching for a loophole that might restore his former life. He's resigned himself to an eternity of disappointment until Levi walks into it.
And Levi? He is sunshine personified. A florist with an endless smile and a seemingly optimistic outlook on life, he's the perfect contrast to Hayden's shadows. But beneath that cheerful exterior lies a sadness he's carried since childhood. Levi is so used to being whatever everyone else needs him to be that he's forgotten he deserves someone who will care for him, too.
What I loved most was how perfectly these two fit together despite appearing to be complete opposites. Hayden no longer wants to hide in the shadows, hiding behind the walls he has constructed to keep others out. He wants Levi to know the real him. And Levi wants to be the person who stays with Hayden. The person who helps him put down roots on Earth. Watching them slowly open up, trust each other, and ultimately fall in love was equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking. And yes—the chemistry absolutely delivers. This book is every bit as steamy as it is emotional.
The supporting cast is just as lovable as the main couple. Levi's best friend, Dominic, and his husband, Elijah, stole every scene they appeared in. They are hilarious, endlessly supportive, and immediately welcome Hayden into their lives. Their thirst for attractive men had me cracking up, and I would happily read an entire spin-off featuring them. In fact, I have fully convinced myself that Hayden's brother Zane should eventually join them and create the throuple of my dreams.
Overall, this is a deeply emotional, funny, romantic story about learning how to live after loss and finding someone who makes you want to stay.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Putnam for providing an ARC!