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The Dead Husbands Society
Hi. I’m Birdie Lawson.
I used to run the PTA, plan polite birthday parties, and write thank-you notes on monogrammed stationery. Then my husband dropped dead in the butterfly garden, and my picture-perfect suburban life went with him.
If you, too, have a dead husband, questionable coping skills, and an inconvenient crush on your late husband’s infuriatingly hot ex-best friend who happens to be your mailman… pull up a chair. You’re one of us now.
The Dead Husbands Society
No dues. No dress code. Bring snacks. We’re tired of casserole.
Perks of
Two wildly inappropriate widow friends, a pink glitter notebook full of grief dares (most dares include the hot mailman), and questionable recovery tactics.
I’m done with well-behaved mourning. Now I’m here for messy living—complete with a Conga line, an ill-advised goat wine bar, and forbidden late-night kisses with the man I should absolutely not want… but absolutely do.
Please join us. We have t-shirts and kombucha.
The Dead Husbands A wickedly funny, unexpectedly sexy novel about grief, friendship, and letting yourself fall hard—for life, and your mailman, all over again.
I used to run the PTA, plan polite birthday parties, and write thank-you notes on monogrammed stationery. Then my husband dropped dead in the butterfly garden, and my picture-perfect suburban life went with him.
If you, too, have a dead husband, questionable coping skills, and an inconvenient crush on your late husband’s infuriatingly hot ex-best friend who happens to be your mailman… pull up a chair. You’re one of us now.
The Dead Husbands Society
No dues. No dress code. Bring snacks. We’re tired of casserole.
Perks of
Two wildly inappropriate widow friends, a pink glitter notebook full of grief dares (most dares include the hot mailman), and questionable recovery tactics.
I’m done with well-behaved mourning. Now I’m here for messy living—complete with a Conga line, an ill-advised goat wine bar, and forbidden late-night kisses with the man I should absolutely not want… but absolutely do.
Please join us. We have t-shirts and kombucha.
The Dead Husbands A wickedly funny, unexpectedly sexy novel about grief, friendship, and letting yourself fall hard—for life, and your mailman, all over again.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2025
14 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
December 3, 2025
"Grief doesn't always roar. It hums. It lingers in mundane chores, quiet rooms, and in the way we try to put ourselves back together in the middle of it all."
"I follow, a little breathless, not sure if it's from the impromptu jog or the fact that my perimenopausal, irrational body responses were short circuited at the sight of veins in a man's arm."
"And for the first time in a long time, I laugh so hard I cry. Or maybe I cry so hard, I laugh. Either way, I don't feel so alone."
Wow, wow, wow that was an emotional ride.
In this book we follow Birdie, a 49-year-old widow mourning the loss of her husband, who passed away nearly two years ago after 26 years of marriage. She’s been completely drowning in grief and struggling to separate who she is from who she was as a wife. What does she like? What does she want to eat? What music does she actually enjoy? She loved her husband Owen so deeply that even the smallest step forward into this new life feels like a betrayal and a step away from him. When her son and daughter finally have enough they sit her down and insist she finds support. So, Birdie turns to online groups and ends up befriending two women who have also lost their husbands. Together, they form a group chat and christen themselves the Dead Husbands Society. All three are suffocating under the weight of their grief and know they need healthier ways to move forward. They begin setting each other weekly grief dares which are small but meaningful challenges to help them reclaim their joy and rebuild their lives. Birdie’s dares often revolve around getting to know the neighbourhood postman, Noah. The thing is though, she actually met Noah at College before she met Owen and when Noah and Owen ended up being college roommates, Noah had to watch whilst the girl he was falling for, fell for someone else.
First of all let me just say that I LOVE that Birdie is a slightly older FMC. She’s so hilarious, relatable, and managed to tug at every single one of my emotions. I adored that this book explores so many forms of love from loving someone who’s passed, love for family, friendship, self-love, and yep you guessed it..… maybe even love for someone new. I swear, this isn’t just a romance though. This is predominantly a story about someone fighting with everything they have to confront their grief and emerge on the other side transformed.
The writing is super fun, it’s under 300 pages, the relationships feel real, and the dialogue is genuinely hilarious.
"I follow, a little breathless, not sure if it's from the impromptu jog or the fact that my perimenopausal, irrational body responses were short circuited at the sight of veins in a man's arm."
"And for the first time in a long time, I laugh so hard I cry. Or maybe I cry so hard, I laugh. Either way, I don't feel so alone."
Wow, wow, wow that was an emotional ride.
In this book we follow Birdie, a 49-year-old widow mourning the loss of her husband, who passed away nearly two years ago after 26 years of marriage. She’s been completely drowning in grief and struggling to separate who she is from who she was as a wife. What does she like? What does she want to eat? What music does she actually enjoy? She loved her husband Owen so deeply that even the smallest step forward into this new life feels like a betrayal and a step away from him. When her son and daughter finally have enough they sit her down and insist she finds support. So, Birdie turns to online groups and ends up befriending two women who have also lost their husbands. Together, they form a group chat and christen themselves the Dead Husbands Society. All three are suffocating under the weight of their grief and know they need healthier ways to move forward. They begin setting each other weekly grief dares which are small but meaningful challenges to help them reclaim their joy and rebuild their lives. Birdie’s dares often revolve around getting to know the neighbourhood postman, Noah. The thing is though, she actually met Noah at College before she met Owen and when Noah and Owen ended up being college roommates, Noah had to watch whilst the girl he was falling for, fell for someone else.
First of all let me just say that I LOVE that Birdie is a slightly older FMC. She’s so hilarious, relatable, and managed to tug at every single one of my emotions. I adored that this book explores so many forms of love from loving someone who’s passed, love for family, friendship, self-love, and yep you guessed it..… maybe even love for someone new. I swear, this isn’t just a romance though. This is predominantly a story about someone fighting with everything they have to confront their grief and emerge on the other side transformed.
The writing is super fun, it’s under 300 pages, the relationships feel real, and the dialogue is genuinely hilarious.
October 15, 2025
"You're not broken Birdie. You're just rebooting."
Oh my gooood you guys. This book... This book is it. It had me in ALL MY FEELS by chapter two.
I LOVED our FMC Birdie. She's grieving, she's funny af, she's SO relatable and I adore every single thing about her. Her husband dying, and her navigating all of her feelings and trying to move forward in life had me crying more than once.
Then her putting herself out there and meeting her two online besties who are also grieving and creating 'The Dead Husband's Society' group chat killed me (no pun intended) and made me love their friendship and how they were there for one another even more.
I adore everything about this book. I loved the characters SO MUCH, I loved the story, I loved the slowwww burn and second chance tropes because nothing felt forced, nothing felt rushed, it all tied together so well and so beautifully this is an absolute MUST READ.
Thank you SO SO MUCH @adeline_aimes_author for this arc. This book is available NOW and I can't wait for you guys to read it!!!!!
Oh my gooood you guys. This book... This book is it. It had me in ALL MY FEELS by chapter two.
I LOVED our FMC Birdie. She's grieving, she's funny af, she's SO relatable and I adore every single thing about her. Her husband dying, and her navigating all of her feelings and trying to move forward in life had me crying more than once.
Then her putting herself out there and meeting her two online besties who are also grieving and creating 'The Dead Husband's Society' group chat killed me (no pun intended) and made me love their friendship and how they were there for one another even more.
I adore everything about this book. I loved the characters SO MUCH, I loved the story, I loved the slowwww burn and second chance tropes because nothing felt forced, nothing felt rushed, it all tied together so well and so beautifully this is an absolute MUST READ.
Thank you SO SO MUCH @adeline_aimes_author for this arc. This book is available NOW and I can't wait for you guys to read it!!!!!
September 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Dead Husbands Society by Adeline Aimes is such a moving and heartfelt story about grief, friendship, and second chances.
Birdie’s journey after losing her husband is raw and deeply relatable, showing how grief can take over but also how love, laughter, and friendship help bring us back to life. The “Dead Husbands Society” was one of my favorite parts—watching Birdie, Marin, and Viv create their own little found family through support, grief dares, and humor was beautiful.
The romance with Noah was tender, messy, and real. I loved how it honored grief while opening the door to new love. The slow burn tension felt so natural, and I found myself rooting for them to take that leap.
What surprised me most was how often I giggled. The characters’ banter, the little moments of joy, and the references that pulled me back to how things felt in college reminded me that even while getting older, those flashes of youth and connection still linger.
Aimes captures the truth of grief, but also the resilience of joy. This story made me tear up, laugh, and reflect—and I adored every page. Highly recommend for anyone who loves books about found family, messy-but-real romance, and the reminder that even through loss, there’s still love and laughter to be found.
ARC Note: I received this book as an advance copy, but my review is completely honest and all opinions are my own. Thank you, Adeline Aimes and The Author Agency.
The Dead Husbands Society by Adeline Aimes is such a moving and heartfelt story about grief, friendship, and second chances.
Birdie’s journey after losing her husband is raw and deeply relatable, showing how grief can take over but also how love, laughter, and friendship help bring us back to life. The “Dead Husbands Society” was one of my favorite parts—watching Birdie, Marin, and Viv create their own little found family through support, grief dares, and humor was beautiful.
The romance with Noah was tender, messy, and real. I loved how it honored grief while opening the door to new love. The slow burn tension felt so natural, and I found myself rooting for them to take that leap.
What surprised me most was how often I giggled. The characters’ banter, the little moments of joy, and the references that pulled me back to how things felt in college reminded me that even while getting older, those flashes of youth and connection still linger.
Aimes captures the truth of grief, but also the resilience of joy. This story made me tear up, laugh, and reflect—and I adored every page. Highly recommend for anyone who loves books about found family, messy-but-real romance, and the reminder that even through loss, there’s still love and laughter to be found.
ARC Note: I received this book as an advance copy, but my review is completely honest and all opinions are my own. Thank you, Adeline Aimes and The Author Agency.
September 4, 2025
I am so grateful to have received this ARC because this is now one of my fave reads this year. This is a GENUINE 5 star review. I have never felt so emotional reading a book, throughout the ENTIRETY of a book. It’s hard to describe but I felt like anxious while reading this book, but not in a bad way. I cannot imagine the pain and grief of losing your husband and I think this book did such an amazing job at showcasing what grief can look like. I absolutely adored all of the characters and their wit and banter. Like I said, 5 star read through and through 😭😭
September 4, 2025
Widowed for two years, stay at home black belt PTA mom Birdie has her routine down: she runs the same route every day, regularly talks to her college student daughter and son, and she braces for impact when her grief comes calling at unexpected moments. She had difficulty letting go of her husband’s effects, and she sure as heck doesn’t want to consider dating again anytime soon. She’s also fearful she’ll forget the man with whom she spent more than a quarter of a century, and she’s terrified of her dormant libido perking up at the very thought of her late husband’s bestie and very hunky mailman Noah. After all, she met Noah first in college before the man who became her husband.
Not a day has gone by that Noah hasn’t felt guilty about the feelings he’s harbored for Birdie, but he promised his best friend he’d respect their relationship and quit the field before anything went anywhere. When a new version of Birdie begins to emerge as her online girlgang push her to stretch her boundaries and try new things, declining those which she doesn’t find fulfilling. A very good if slightly awkward date results in a night of very satisfying intimate relations, but guilt overwhelms Birdie and she pushes Noah away.
Can Birdie let go of her guilt long enough to reach for the possibility of being with Noah, and perhaps experiencing happiness again?
This was a very funny, very poignant look at not just life and finding love again after spousal loss, but the way in which women show up for each other in difficult times, offering encouragement and support as well as commiseration and sisterhood. I devoured it in one night, and I’m so glad I was selected to receive an advance reader copy from The Author Agency. I’m pleased to share my honest and enthusiastic review.
Not a day has gone by that Noah hasn’t felt guilty about the feelings he’s harbored for Birdie, but he promised his best friend he’d respect their relationship and quit the field before anything went anywhere. When a new version of Birdie begins to emerge as her online girlgang push her to stretch her boundaries and try new things, declining those which she doesn’t find fulfilling. A very good if slightly awkward date results in a night of very satisfying intimate relations, but guilt overwhelms Birdie and she pushes Noah away.
Can Birdie let go of her guilt long enough to reach for the possibility of being with Noah, and perhaps experiencing happiness again?
This was a very funny, very poignant look at not just life and finding love again after spousal loss, but the way in which women show up for each other in difficult times, offering encouragement and support as well as commiseration and sisterhood. I devoured it in one night, and I’m so glad I was selected to receive an advance reader copy from The Author Agency. I’m pleased to share my honest and enthusiastic review.
September 1, 2025
Rating: 4.75/5
This book, I could not put it down. It hits you right in the chest, but man, oh man, is it a great story.
Birdie is having to restart her life in this harrowing tale of finding yourself after a tragic loss. How does one simply move on after your husband dies in a tragic way and your left in a house where you raised two kids, and had an amazing life with your now dead husband.Her journey is ugly, as life usually is when your person dies, but it's honest and truthful. She finds some friends along the way, and in a hysterical turn of events, somehow creates this group called The Dead Husbands Society.
This book will make you cry, from laughter and from sorrow. There are high highs and low lows, and grief is something intertwined throughout, but it was one of the best novels I have read about someone's journey. The friendships, the awkwardness of learning yourself again, and the hilarity of getting back into the world were magical to read.
It gives you a true picture of how one has to learn how to survive through it all, how to pick yourself up at an age that you never expected for something to occur so soon and how to live again. It definitely will leave something with you after you're done, I definitely will have this story with me forever. I very much enjoyed this novel, and I am so happy to have been an arc reader. All thoughts are my own.
This book, I could not put it down. It hits you right in the chest, but man, oh man, is it a great story.
Birdie is having to restart her life in this harrowing tale of finding yourself after a tragic loss. How does one simply move on after your husband dies in a tragic way and your left in a house where you raised two kids, and had an amazing life with your now dead husband.Her journey is ugly, as life usually is when your person dies, but it's honest and truthful. She finds some friends along the way, and in a hysterical turn of events, somehow creates this group called The Dead Husbands Society.
This book will make you cry, from laughter and from sorrow. There are high highs and low lows, and grief is something intertwined throughout, but it was one of the best novels I have read about someone's journey. The friendships, the awkwardness of learning yourself again, and the hilarity of getting back into the world were magical to read.
It gives you a true picture of how one has to learn how to survive through it all, how to pick yourself up at an age that you never expected for something to occur so soon and how to live again. It definitely will leave something with you after you're done, I definitely will have this story with me forever. I very much enjoyed this novel, and I am so happy to have been an arc reader. All thoughts are my own.
November 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Owen, the love of Birdie’s life, unexpectedly dies at the young age of 48. They’ve been married for 26 years. They have two kids. And Birdie doesn’t know what to do with herself now.
Stuck in a cycle of grief, self-doubt about her ability to move on, and grappling with how to find a new normal, Birdie is introduced to the world of social media by her daughter in an attempt to find a grief group to help her cope. She connects with two other women who also have recently lost their husbands and together they form the Dead Husbands Society. They laugh together, they cry together, they cheer each other on, and they give each other grief dares to help them move towards acceptance and a life full of purpose, hope and meaning instead of staying collective stuck in a cycle of despair.
This is a story of female friendship, letting yourself love and be loved and accepting things you cannot change while letting go of things that are holding you back. So many little nuggets of truth spoken throughout this book and it is a true testament to the difficult path forward when life doesn’t go as you expect. It is silly at times, out loud funny at others, unfailingly honest & poignantly painful. I cheered for Birdie every step of the way.
Owen, the love of Birdie’s life, unexpectedly dies at the young age of 48. They’ve been married for 26 years. They have two kids. And Birdie doesn’t know what to do with herself now.
Stuck in a cycle of grief, self-doubt about her ability to move on, and grappling with how to find a new normal, Birdie is introduced to the world of social media by her daughter in an attempt to find a grief group to help her cope. She connects with two other women who also have recently lost their husbands and together they form the Dead Husbands Society. They laugh together, they cry together, they cheer each other on, and they give each other grief dares to help them move towards acceptance and a life full of purpose, hope and meaning instead of staying collective stuck in a cycle of despair.
This is a story of female friendship, letting yourself love and be loved and accepting things you cannot change while letting go of things that are holding you back. So many little nuggets of truth spoken throughout this book and it is a true testament to the difficult path forward when life doesn’t go as you expect. It is silly at times, out loud funny at others, unfailingly honest & poignantly painful. I cheered for Birdie every step of the way.
November 2, 2025
4.5⭐️ I know this is a story about grieving the loss of a husband, but this book had me giggling from beginning to end. I also appreciated the little drops of 90s nostalgia as well. I could totally see this on the big screen as a funny rom-ish-com as well. My only critique, that kept this from being a personal 5 star read was that it was a bit wordy and there were a lot of conversations that seemed a bit lengthy. I would have loved more spontaneous outings and outrageous dares. But with all of that said, I think it deserves a 5 more than a 4.
September 14, 2025
Amazon
Birdie has been without her husband for 2 years when she stumbles upon a post online that sparks up friendships, a group, with 2 new friends, all of whom are too going through their own grief at losing their husbands. Though they only know each other online, then through the phone, fast friendships are formed and ideas of grief dares are created to help Birdie, Viv, and Marin through their grief. It's because of one of those dares that Birdie's friendship with her husband's best friend, Noah, becomes something more. But is she really ready to finally step out of her routine and into love with someone that's not Owen? Especially with his best friend, someone who is also her own friend?
Poignant, funny, and heartfelt, Birdie, Marin, and Viv's journey is somehow relatable even though I've not lost my own husband. Reading their hilarious, snarky banter that turned tearful at the drop of a hat, I laughed with them, I teared up with them, and I sighed with them. And most of all, I loved with them. With Birdie as she rediscovered her love with Noah and remembered, cried, and kept her love with Owen, with Viv and Marin as they mourned their husbands and set out on their own journeys of life after loss, and with Harper and Matt as they struggled with losing their dad. This story of friendship, grief, and love is quite simply - beautiful, sweet, and will stay with me for a very long time.
ARC provided by The Author Agency for an honest review.
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September 10, 2025
The Dead Husband Society is one of those books that understands the messy, complicated parts of real life, and what's more, Adeline Aimes conveys it in a way that feels utterly believable and with an element of dark humour and is woven with truthful hope. I highly recommend it!
I’ve never lost a spouse, so I can't pretend to have any real understanding on grief like that, but the way grief is written in The Dead Husband's Society felt unbelievably real and raw throughout. There was no over-the-top drama,just the quiet, honest reality of what it's like to navigate loss long after the funeral.
The book was smoothly paced with vivid interesting characters and a thread of black humour that really worked for me. I have a similar sense of humour and I think 'laugh so you don't cry' can be a healthy way of coping which, hand on heart, we have all used at some point. I loved the stupid situations Birdie ended up in, which were patently absurd and yet still the kind of anecdotes you can imagine friends telling you and laughing over a drink. What I loved most about this book is how down to earth and real it felt. Seeing the three women wade through the morass of despair and back towards being themselves - not exactly as they were before, as that's not possible, but as the best version they could be right then with all their experiences and heartbreaks. It's a goal we should all aspire towards..
And somehow I haven't yet mentioned Noah, a light in the dark for Birdie. He is the college friend who has been there quietly throughout so much. He isn't the dark romance mafioso or seductive fae in a fantasy book, but instead he's an kind, funny and ordinary guy who is just doing the best he can. Less blockbuster but a dream partner that not everyone meets.
Another element I really liked is how, though the book features three widows in the aftermath of coping with their spouses' death, it doesn't equate their grief as the same. They aren't in the same place, they don't experience it exactly the same, and even their emotions towards their late husbands aren't the same. Grief is impossible to replicate, and expecting it to be something cookie-cutter is foolish. Seeing them all go on different journeys was so rewarding, and I loved Birdie, Viv, and Marin.
Ultimately, this book is a beautiful, heartfelt story about finding your way back home to yourself, with the help of some incredible friendships. It's elevates itself to touch a number of genres - a warm hearted romance; an inspiring story of healing; several women discovering a friendship to help find themselves later in life and this is a great metaphor for the beautiful chaotic mess that life is.
I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a character-driven story with a huge heart!
Thank you to the Author Agency and Adeline Aimes for the gifted ARC. All thoughts are 100% my own.
Rated 4.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up to 5)
I’ve never lost a spouse, so I can't pretend to have any real understanding on grief like that, but the way grief is written in The Dead Husband's Society felt unbelievably real and raw throughout. There was no over-the-top drama,just the quiet, honest reality of what it's like to navigate loss long after the funeral.
The book was smoothly paced with vivid interesting characters and a thread of black humour that really worked for me. I have a similar sense of humour and I think 'laugh so you don't cry' can be a healthy way of coping which, hand on heart, we have all used at some point. I loved the stupid situations Birdie ended up in, which were patently absurd and yet still the kind of anecdotes you can imagine friends telling you and laughing over a drink. What I loved most about this book is how down to earth and real it felt. Seeing the three women wade through the morass of despair and back towards being themselves - not exactly as they were before, as that's not possible, but as the best version they could be right then with all their experiences and heartbreaks. It's a goal we should all aspire towards..
And somehow I haven't yet mentioned Noah, a light in the dark for Birdie. He is the college friend who has been there quietly throughout so much. He isn't the dark romance mafioso or seductive fae in a fantasy book, but instead he's an kind, funny and ordinary guy who is just doing the best he can. Less blockbuster but a dream partner that not everyone meets.
Another element I really liked is how, though the book features three widows in the aftermath of coping with their spouses' death, it doesn't equate their grief as the same. They aren't in the same place, they don't experience it exactly the same, and even their emotions towards their late husbands aren't the same. Grief is impossible to replicate, and expecting it to be something cookie-cutter is foolish. Seeing them all go on different journeys was so rewarding, and I loved Birdie, Viv, and Marin.
Ultimately, this book is a beautiful, heartfelt story about finding your way back home to yourself, with the help of some incredible friendships. It's elevates itself to touch a number of genres - a warm hearted romance; an inspiring story of healing; several women discovering a friendship to help find themselves later in life and this is a great metaphor for the beautiful chaotic mess that life is.
I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a character-driven story with a huge heart!
Thank you to the Author Agency and Adeline Aimes for the gifted ARC. All thoughts are 100% my own.
Rated 4.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up to 5)
September 2, 2025
The Dead Husbands Society is a really cute book and I do mean it's really frigging cute! It is full of comedic grief...like how is that possible, but it totally works! I laughed, I lamented, I wanted to call my best friends and have my own crazy grief dare nights, but above all that this book made me want to hold my loved ones extra tight because at the end of the day life is short and there are no guarantees about tomorrow.
Birdie lost her husband about two years ago and as she's adjusting to life after loss she begins to have "feelings" for her long time friend Noah, or it could just be perimenopause.😉 There is a tangled web that surrounds this friendship since Noah was also her husband's college roommate and long time best friend, so Birdie has been there for the entire ride. It's complicated to say the least, and it's just the beginning of this long standing relationship.
Aside from the budding romance between Noah and Birdie, this book really focuses on hope, healing, and navigating life, especially after the kids have left the house and your spouse is gone. While most people think of widows as white haired old ladies, The Dead Husbands Society is actually a membership of three still very much in their...um...later prime, but still have lots of living left to do prime years. And as these widows prove throughout the book, their friendship, starting over after this kind of loss is about finding themselves and discovering who they are again. As they discuss, it's been a hot minute before they were truly alone, so thinking about themselves as a singular person is sometimes harder than it sounds. What are their dreams, what do they want, this leads to some daring answers. 😉
Viv and Marin are part of the society and they are a riot. They add so much color and life to the story, everyone needs friends like these two women. Both Viv and Marin lost their husbands and were feeling lost and alone as well, but until they all connected and began bonding over their grief, they became so much more to each other, hence The Dead Husbands Society was born. With grief dares and daily chats they each began to restart their lives and soon found their path to "grieving and thriving".
This entire book is sweetly adorable and also laugh out loud funny. It's a big win for hitting all the right moments that made it enlightening and hopeful, but also a bit comedic, especially with a topic that can be heavy.
Birdie lost her husband about two years ago and as she's adjusting to life after loss she begins to have "feelings" for her long time friend Noah, or it could just be perimenopause.😉 There is a tangled web that surrounds this friendship since Noah was also her husband's college roommate and long time best friend, so Birdie has been there for the entire ride. It's complicated to say the least, and it's just the beginning of this long standing relationship.
Aside from the budding romance between Noah and Birdie, this book really focuses on hope, healing, and navigating life, especially after the kids have left the house and your spouse is gone. While most people think of widows as white haired old ladies, The Dead Husbands Society is actually a membership of three still very much in their...um...later prime, but still have lots of living left to do prime years. And as these widows prove throughout the book, their friendship, starting over after this kind of loss is about finding themselves and discovering who they are again. As they discuss, it's been a hot minute before they were truly alone, so thinking about themselves as a singular person is sometimes harder than it sounds. What are their dreams, what do they want, this leads to some daring answers. 😉
Viv and Marin are part of the society and they are a riot. They add so much color and life to the story, everyone needs friends like these two women. Both Viv and Marin lost their husbands and were feeling lost and alone as well, but until they all connected and began bonding over their grief, they became so much more to each other, hence The Dead Husbands Society was born. With grief dares and daily chats they each began to restart their lives and soon found their path to "grieving and thriving".
This entire book is sweetly adorable and also laugh out loud funny. It's a big win for hitting all the right moments that made it enlightening and hopeful, but also a bit comedic, especially with a topic that can be heavy.
September 23, 2025
Hands down - one of the top 5 reads in 2025 - and that's with ~200 books covered in 2025.
Birdie and Noah. She's been a widow for almost 2 years and he's her dead husband's best friend. Birdie & Noah were friends first, before she met her husband (Owen), but the beginnings of chemistry, were quickly extinguished when she met Owen. Fast forward, Owen passes away suddenly from a brain aneurysm, their kids have flown the coop and Birdie is left trying to figure out who she is without the traditional identifiers of wife, SAHM, PTA snack provider etc. She meets Viv and Marin online, fellow widows, and together they start the Dead Husbands Society, to support each other through their grieving process. Then, there's the tricky issue of her morphing feelings towards Noah.
Firstly, this book is just a brilliant, sensitive, thoughtful discourse on grief, wrapped in a hilarious shroud of girlfriend solidarity (complete with wacky but authentic characters) and real life. The vignettes through which Birdie remembers Owen are a portrait of their marriage but also a dipstick for the depth of her grief, one that seems so overwhelming & all encompassing in the beginning. With the Club and soul sisters like Viv and Marin, she starts a "grief dare" challenge where they face the gnarliest parts of their grief, slowly untangling the mess of emotions to seek and accept their new realities, but within the trojan horse of a light hearted narrative.
Honestly, Adeline Aimes is a genius. The writing is top shelf. Consistently. It is smart, witty, humorous but you also get the interspersed moments of the sobering grief. I've been educated on "kombucha sommeliers", "bus schedule gremlins" and "womb wisdom" - just to name a few gems you'll find.
For those of us in our 40s, trying to figure out the next phase of life while we're being ravaged by perimenopause - Birdie, Viv and Marin will make you feel seen. They're smart, unapologetically honest with experience and slightly unhinged. And there is beauty in all their layers that get peeled back and exposed, across the course of this book.
Look, if you're not already convinced: There is a mangy dog rescue, PTA and HOA showdowns, conga lines at goat wineries and a hot mailman. If that doesn't spell recipe for an amazing literary orchestra ....
Birdie and Noah. She's been a widow for almost 2 years and he's her dead husband's best friend. Birdie & Noah were friends first, before she met her husband (Owen), but the beginnings of chemistry, were quickly extinguished when she met Owen. Fast forward, Owen passes away suddenly from a brain aneurysm, their kids have flown the coop and Birdie is left trying to figure out who she is without the traditional identifiers of wife, SAHM, PTA snack provider etc. She meets Viv and Marin online, fellow widows, and together they start the Dead Husbands Society, to support each other through their grieving process. Then, there's the tricky issue of her morphing feelings towards Noah.
Firstly, this book is just a brilliant, sensitive, thoughtful discourse on grief, wrapped in a hilarious shroud of girlfriend solidarity (complete with wacky but authentic characters) and real life. The vignettes through which Birdie remembers Owen are a portrait of their marriage but also a dipstick for the depth of her grief, one that seems so overwhelming & all encompassing in the beginning. With the Club and soul sisters like Viv and Marin, she starts a "grief dare" challenge where they face the gnarliest parts of their grief, slowly untangling the mess of emotions to seek and accept their new realities, but within the trojan horse of a light hearted narrative.
Honestly, Adeline Aimes is a genius. The writing is top shelf. Consistently. It is smart, witty, humorous but you also get the interspersed moments of the sobering grief. I've been educated on "kombucha sommeliers", "bus schedule gremlins" and "womb wisdom" - just to name a few gems you'll find.
For those of us in our 40s, trying to figure out the next phase of life while we're being ravaged by perimenopause - Birdie, Viv and Marin will make you feel seen. They're smart, unapologetically honest with experience and slightly unhinged. And there is beauty in all their layers that get peeled back and exposed, across the course of this book.
Look, if you're not already convinced: There is a mangy dog rescue, PTA and HOA showdowns, conga lines at goat wineries and a hot mailman. If that doesn't spell recipe for an amazing literary orchestra ....
September 8, 2025
4⭐️ ┇ Bookstagram ┇ BookTok
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
"𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗄𝖾𝗇, 𝖡𝗂𝗋𝖽𝗂𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀."
This was a great book about grief, friendship & life after loss. This follows Birdie, who lost her husband suddenly a couple years ago. She goes online to find some grief support and finds Marin & Viv, who have also lost their husbands. They form the Dead Husbands Society through a group chat where they end up supporting each other and start giving each other grief dares, to try and help each other pretty much enjoy life again. Sprinkle in a hot, old friend mailman Noah and you get a slow burn, second chance romance.
The characters were so funny. The friendships were everything. The tension was good. Watching Birdie & her friends grow together through their grief was beautiful.
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Growing Through Grief
➳❥ Second Chance Romance
➳❥ Friends to Lovers
➳❥ Found Family
➳❥ Slow Burn
➳❥ Grief Dares
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼
“𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾'𝗌 𝗇𝗈 𝗀𝗎𝗂𝖽𝖾𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗈 𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖼𝗍 𝖺 𝗀𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗀𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗅𝗒. 𝖦𝗋𝗂𝖾𝖿 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗌 𝗎𝗉 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗅𝖺𝗂𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝗍 𝖺 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾.”
"𝖱𝖾𝗍𝗎𝗋𝗇 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖬𝖺𝖼𝗄? 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗍'𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗌𝗈𝗇𝗀?"
𝖧𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝖽𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖾𝗆𝗇𝗅𝗒. "𝖨𝗍'𝗌 𝗀𝗈𝗍 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝖱𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗅𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾. 𝖦𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗏𝖾. 𝖠 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗒𝖺𝗅 𝖺𝗋𝖼. 𝖫𝗈𝗏𝖾.𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗉? 𝖢𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗈𝗇. 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗍'𝗌 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾'𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅, 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗍 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝗏𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗒𝖺𝗅 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝗄𝖾𝗒 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾."
"𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗈𝗐𝖾 𝗆𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾. 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗈𝗐𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾𝗅���� 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗋𝗒. 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗆𝖾 𝗈𝗋 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖾𝗅𝗌𝖾."
“𝖬𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖭𝗈𝖺𝗁. 𝖨𝗍'𝗌 𝗆𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗒. 𝖬𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝗂𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝖾. 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝖿 𝗂𝗍 𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗎𝗉 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗆𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍'𝗌 𝖾𝗇𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁."
Thank you Adeline Aimes & The Author Agency for this eARC ㅤ♡
Release Date: 9/12/2025
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
"𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗄𝖾𝗇, 𝖡𝗂𝗋𝖽𝗂𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀."
This was a great book about grief, friendship & life after loss. This follows Birdie, who lost her husband suddenly a couple years ago. She goes online to find some grief support and finds Marin & Viv, who have also lost their husbands. They form the Dead Husbands Society through a group chat where they end up supporting each other and start giving each other grief dares, to try and help each other pretty much enjoy life again. Sprinkle in a hot, old friend mailman Noah and you get a slow burn, second chance romance.
The characters were so funny. The friendships were everything. The tension was good. Watching Birdie & her friends grow together through their grief was beautiful.
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Growing Through Grief
➳❥ Second Chance Romance
➳❥ Friends to Lovers
➳❥ Found Family
➳❥ Slow Burn
➳❥ Grief Dares
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼
“𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾'𝗌 𝗇𝗈 𝗀𝗎𝗂𝖽𝖾𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗈 𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖼𝗍 𝖺 𝗀𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗀𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗅𝗒. 𝖦𝗋𝗂𝖾𝖿 𝗆𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗌 𝗎𝗉 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗅𝖺𝗂𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝗍 𝖺 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾.”
"𝖱𝖾𝗍𝗎𝗋𝗇 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖬𝖺𝖼𝗄? 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗍'𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗌𝗈𝗇𝗀?"
𝖧𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝖽𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗅𝖾𝗆𝗇𝗅𝗒. "𝖨𝗍'𝗌 𝗀𝗈𝗍 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝖱𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗅𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾. 𝖦𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗏𝖾. 𝖠 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗒𝖺𝗅 𝖺𝗋𝖼. 𝖫𝗈𝗏𝖾.𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗉? 𝖢𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗈𝗇. 𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗍'𝗌 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾'𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅, 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗍 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝗏𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗒𝖺𝗅 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝗄𝖾𝗒 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾."
"𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗈𝗐𝖾 𝗆𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾. 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗈𝗐𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾𝗅���� 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗋𝗒. 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗆𝖾 𝗈𝗋 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝖾𝗅𝗌𝖾."
“𝖬𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖭𝗈𝖺𝗁. 𝖨𝗍'𝗌 𝗆𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗒. 𝖬𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝗂𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝖾. 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝖿 𝗂𝗍 𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗎𝗉 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗆𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍'𝗌 𝖾𝗇𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁."
Thank you Adeline Aimes & The Author Agency for this eARC ㅤ♡
Release Date: 9/12/2025
September 14, 2025
I absolutely loved this book from the first page to the last. 5/5 stars - No notes.
I don't even know where to begin to even do this justice. But I'm going to try my hardest.
Birdie is a widow who finds herself still in the clutches of grief two years after her husband has passed. She's lost her sense of self and is in a holding pattern, so to speak, while she tries to move past the pain and loneliness that still consumes her. At her daughter's suggestion, she goes to social media to try and find solidarity in grief groups. Not finding what she needs in these groups, she stumbles across the profiles of two women who seem to be in the same situation she is in - living with their grief. In an act of bravery, Birdie messages both of them, and from that, it grows a sisterhood like no other - The Dead Husbands Society.
Birdie, Marin, and Viv then begin to work through their grief and rediscover who they are on the other side through a series of dares they issue to one another. What follows is a journey through the grieving process that is equal parts hopeful, heartbreaking, and downright hilarious. I couldn't put it down. I full-on belly laughed, and I ugly cried, sometimes within a few pages of each other.
This book resonated with me on a level that few books have in recent months, and I found a certain solidarity with Birdie and her friends that was both unexpected and endearing. I haven't lost my husband, like these women have, but I can't say that the thought of losing him, and how devastating that loss would be, hasn't crossed my mind a time or two. I have lost a parent unexpectedly, and I think it's the way grief is written in this book that resonates with me - the way it sneaks up, unawares, in an instance and knocks the wind out of you.
But there is also so much humor, warmth, joy, and hope in these pages. And I can't wait to see what this author writes next because I will not hesitate to snatch it up and devour it like I did this one.
I don't even know where to begin to even do this justice. But I'm going to try my hardest.
Birdie is a widow who finds herself still in the clutches of grief two years after her husband has passed. She's lost her sense of self and is in a holding pattern, so to speak, while she tries to move past the pain and loneliness that still consumes her. At her daughter's suggestion, she goes to social media to try and find solidarity in grief groups. Not finding what she needs in these groups, she stumbles across the profiles of two women who seem to be in the same situation she is in - living with their grief. In an act of bravery, Birdie messages both of them, and from that, it grows a sisterhood like no other - The Dead Husbands Society.
Birdie, Marin, and Viv then begin to work through their grief and rediscover who they are on the other side through a series of dares they issue to one another. What follows is a journey through the grieving process that is equal parts hopeful, heartbreaking, and downright hilarious. I couldn't put it down. I full-on belly laughed, and I ugly cried, sometimes within a few pages of each other.
This book resonated with me on a level that few books have in recent months, and I found a certain solidarity with Birdie and her friends that was both unexpected and endearing. I haven't lost my husband, like these women have, but I can't say that the thought of losing him, and how devastating that loss would be, hasn't crossed my mind a time or two. I have lost a parent unexpectedly, and I think it's the way grief is written in this book that resonates with me - the way it sneaks up, unawares, in an instance and knocks the wind out of you.
But there is also so much humor, warmth, joy, and hope in these pages. And I can't wait to see what this author writes next because I will not hesitate to snatch it up and devour it like I did this one.
September 8, 2025
**Learning to Live Again!
I recently read "The Dead Husband Society," and it’s such a heartfelt and amazing story! It follows Birdie, a woman who has lost her husband, Owen, and is on a journey to rediscover herself in this new chapter of her life. With her kids heading off to college, Birdie has been stuck in a routine for the past couple of years. Now, she's finding herself developing feelings for Noah, Owen's college friend. They were friends long before Owen and Noah became roommates, and it’s a bit complicated for Birdie because these new feelings come with a lot of guilt.
Fortunately, Birdie has the fabulous support of four other women in an online community called The Dead Husband Society. They encourage her to take that next step with Noah, which is so uplifting! This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I can’t wait to read more from her! She did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life and showcasing the different ways people cope with grief.
The friendship among the women is a wonderful reminder of what a true girl squad looks like. Their witty banter and unwavering support for each other during tough times are heartwarming. The slow-burning connection between Noah and Birdie is beautifully written, allowing both of them the time to heal. They share the experience of losing Owen, which really helps to deepen their bond.
I truly hope this is just the beginning of a series because I’d love to see more of Birdie and her friends!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I recently read "The Dead Husband Society," and it’s such a heartfelt and amazing story! It follows Birdie, a woman who has lost her husband, Owen, and is on a journey to rediscover herself in this new chapter of her life. With her kids heading off to college, Birdie has been stuck in a routine for the past couple of years. Now, she's finding herself developing feelings for Noah, Owen's college friend. They were friends long before Owen and Noah became roommates, and it’s a bit complicated for Birdie because these new feelings come with a lot of guilt.
Fortunately, Birdie has the fabulous support of four other women in an online community called The Dead Husband Society. They encourage her to take that next step with Noah, which is so uplifting! This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I can’t wait to read more from her! She did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life and showcasing the different ways people cope with grief.
The friendship among the women is a wonderful reminder of what a true girl squad looks like. Their witty banter and unwavering support for each other during tough times are heartwarming. The slow-burning connection between Noah and Birdie is beautifully written, allowing both of them the time to heal. They share the experience of losing Owen, which really helps to deepen their bond.
I truly hope this is just the beginning of a series because I’d love to see more of Birdie and her friends!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 13, 2025
I went into this book completely blind. Which I know is kind of silly since I was an ARC reader and all. But I don’t read descriptions, I just look at covers and genre and say “giddy up let’s go!”
I was so pleasantly surprised that this is outside the scope of what I would normally read. This book was all about grief over losing a loved one and the struggles you face when trying to overcome them. But not the immediate grief. The grief that has stayed with you for years. The kind that knots in your belly, that gives you heartache at random moments, that leaves you sobbing on the laundry room floor because their favorite shirt doesn’t smell like them anymore.
Birdie is at the ~2 year mark of losing her husband suddenly. She is still struggling to survive as anything a widow, so her daughter, who is also still struggling in her own ways, helps Birdie get onto an online grief forum. Birdie ends up connecting with two women going through similar situations and creates “The Dead Husbands Society”.
I love how the women are so different but still come together to bond and help each other. They become fast friends in this close knit group and truly want the others to thrive.
I’m not gonna talk about Noah here, other than to say his whole part was adorable and he was a man I could really get behind (or let get behind me). I really felt like Noah, while integral to the story, was not the entire point of the book.
“GRIEF IS NOT LINEAR BABY!”
I was so pleasantly surprised that this is outside the scope of what I would normally read. This book was all about grief over losing a loved one and the struggles you face when trying to overcome them. But not the immediate grief. The grief that has stayed with you for years. The kind that knots in your belly, that gives you heartache at random moments, that leaves you sobbing on the laundry room floor because their favorite shirt doesn’t smell like them anymore.
Birdie is at the ~2 year mark of losing her husband suddenly. She is still struggling to survive as anything a widow, so her daughter, who is also still struggling in her own ways, helps Birdie get onto an online grief forum. Birdie ends up connecting with two women going through similar situations and creates “The Dead Husbands Society”.
I love how the women are so different but still come together to bond and help each other. They become fast friends in this close knit group and truly want the others to thrive.
I’m not gonna talk about Noah here, other than to say his whole part was adorable and he was a man I could really get behind (or let get behind me). I really felt like Noah, while integral to the story, was not the entire point of the book.
“GRIEF IS NOT LINEAR BABY!”
September 4, 2025
Oh. Em. Gee!!! I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN! I mean I did, obviously, but only because...well, life.
This book was everything I could have expected, but also soooooo much more. The characters are incredibly funny. The prose is perfection. The friendships are beautiful. The story is heartwarming. The banter was on point. The tension was fire. And, the story felt so incredibly authentic and real. These women SHOW UP for each other in a way that all women should. They are GOALS. Like, "squad for life" goals. And, I was totally here for it.
Birdie is our FMC (female main character). The backstory is based on grief after the unexpected loss of our Birdie's husband...so the book returns to that theme throughout. I mean...the title is a dead give away...pun intended. But, this story is not only for widows. It is a story of rebirth. It is a story of connection and friendship, both old and new. And, it teaches us that love comes in so many forms, and sometimes...when we least expect it. So if you've ever been in a relationship, you WILL take something away from this book.
Side note: I am not generally a friends to lovers girlie, but this book may have changed that for me. I cannot wait for this author's next book. Amazing read.
Thank you to The Author Agency and Adeline Aimes for the advance copy.
This book was everything I could have expected, but also soooooo much more. The characters are incredibly funny. The prose is perfection. The friendships are beautiful. The story is heartwarming. The banter was on point. The tension was fire. And, the story felt so incredibly authentic and real. These women SHOW UP for each other in a way that all women should. They are GOALS. Like, "squad for life" goals. And, I was totally here for it.
Birdie is our FMC (female main character). The backstory is based on grief after the unexpected loss of our Birdie's husband...so the book returns to that theme throughout. I mean...the title is a dead give away...pun intended. But, this story is not only for widows. It is a story of rebirth. It is a story of connection and friendship, both old and new. And, it teaches us that love comes in so many forms, and sometimes...when we least expect it. So if you've ever been in a relationship, you WILL take something away from this book.
Side note: I am not generally a friends to lovers girlie, but this book may have changed that for me. I cannot wait for this author's next book. Amazing read.
Thank you to The Author Agency and Adeline Aimes for the advance copy.
September 11, 2025
What a beautiful story! It had so many big feelings, tearful moments, relateable grief that takes your breath away, and complicated joy.
Birdie is a woman in her late forties trying to figure out how to live without her best friend & love of her life after he passed away suddenly two years ago. Her daughter forces her to get on social media to connect with other people in grief groups. She does not vibe with those. But she does find two women posting content that resonates with her and she does the bravest thing and asks if they want to be friends. And so the Dead Husbands Society is born.
There is a lovely and complicated flirtation/romance possibility with Birdie's mailman, who also happens to be her husband’s best friend. It is so sweet and tough and wonderful.
This is such a beautifully written story about love & grief and all the complex emotions & thoughts that accompany those two things. And the different ways & times that grief makes its presence known. I also really enjoyed the discussions around finding yourself and identity.
This is an emotional read, so I would keep the tissues close.
Cannot recommend this book highly enough.
I received this book as an ARC and am so grateful. Rest assured this had no influence on my review, which is based entirely on the quality of the story.
Birdie is a woman in her late forties trying to figure out how to live without her best friend & love of her life after he passed away suddenly two years ago. Her daughter forces her to get on social media to connect with other people in grief groups. She does not vibe with those. But she does find two women posting content that resonates with her and she does the bravest thing and asks if they want to be friends. And so the Dead Husbands Society is born.
There is a lovely and complicated flirtation/romance possibility with Birdie's mailman, who also happens to be her husband’s best friend. It is so sweet and tough and wonderful.
This is such a beautifully written story about love & grief and all the complex emotions & thoughts that accompany those two things. And the different ways & times that grief makes its presence known. I also really enjoyed the discussions around finding yourself and identity.
This is an emotional read, so I would keep the tissues close.
Cannot recommend this book highly enough.
I received this book as an ARC and am so grateful. Rest assured this had no influence on my review, which is based entirely on the quality of the story.
September 3, 2025
Thank you so much to The Author Agency and Adeline Aimes for this e-ARC! 💌💐
This book made me feel all the emotions! 😭😂💖 I laughed, I cried, and I reflected. I honestly couldn’t imagine losing a partner 💔, and the story captured that weight of grief so beautifully. But at the heart of it, this isn’t only a book about loss, it’s about daring to live again, challenging yourself to try new things, and finding pieces of yourself you thought were gone. It was such a powerful reminder for me personally.
Birdie Lawson lost her husband a couple of years ago and has felt stuck ever since. In her search for answers, she connects with Marin and Viv online 💻👯♀️, and together they form The Dead Husband’s Society. Total opposites, yet somehow it works. The women make a pact to dare each other into new experiences (especially when it comes to dating, because who can turn down a dare? 😂). Birdie finds herself crushing on her old college best friend, the hot mailman 💌👀, and slowly begins to let go of worrying about what others think. Add in glittery parties 🎉, conga lines 🪇💃, a witty daughter named Harper 👧💬, and so many heartfelt (and funny!) moments, and you have a story that will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to rediscover who they are 💕.
This book is sad, quirky, funny, and inspiring all at once. Truly one of my favorites this year! 🏆
This book made me feel all the emotions! 😭😂💖 I laughed, I cried, and I reflected. I honestly couldn’t imagine losing a partner 💔, and the story captured that weight of grief so beautifully. But at the heart of it, this isn’t only a book about loss, it’s about daring to live again, challenging yourself to try new things, and finding pieces of yourself you thought were gone. It was such a powerful reminder for me personally.
Birdie Lawson lost her husband a couple of years ago and has felt stuck ever since. In her search for answers, she connects with Marin and Viv online 💻👯♀️, and together they form The Dead Husband’s Society. Total opposites, yet somehow it works. The women make a pact to dare each other into new experiences (especially when it comes to dating, because who can turn down a dare? 😂). Birdie finds herself crushing on her old college best friend, the hot mailman 💌👀, and slowly begins to let go of worrying about what others think. Add in glittery parties 🎉, conga lines 🪇💃, a witty daughter named Harper 👧💬, and so many heartfelt (and funny!) moments, and you have a story that will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to rediscover who they are 💕.
This book is sad, quirky, funny, and inspiring all at once. Truly one of my favorites this year! 🏆
September 2, 2025
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 2🌶️
Tropes:
- Second chance romance
- Friends to lovers
- Found family
- Slow burn
- Grief and healing
Two years after losing her husband unexpectedly, Birdie reluctantly joins social media looking for grief support groups when she ends up forming a bond with two widows she connects with online. Together, they create the Dead Husbands Society: their own safe space to lean on each other and dare each other (literally) out of their comfort zones while slowly learning to live again.
I really enjoyed watching Birdie, Viv, and Marin transform throughout the story. Their joking nature mixed with the support they provided to one another drew me in. Birdie’s journey felt so real and raw. And can we talk about the mailman?! Found family, friends to lovers, and second chance vibes were raging throughout this story and I loved every minute of it. 👏
The Dead Husbands Society is messy and wonderful. It captured grief, healing, friendship, and love in such a beautiful way. I laughed and I cried as I read this book non-stop in one afternoon. I know this story will stick with me for a long time. 🤍
Thank you to Adeline Aimes for the ARC—I’m so grateful I got to read this one early!
Spice: 2🌶️
Tropes:
- Second chance romance
- Friends to lovers
- Found family
- Slow burn
- Grief and healing
Two years after losing her husband unexpectedly, Birdie reluctantly joins social media looking for grief support groups when she ends up forming a bond with two widows she connects with online. Together, they create the Dead Husbands Society: their own safe space to lean on each other and dare each other (literally) out of their comfort zones while slowly learning to live again.
I really enjoyed watching Birdie, Viv, and Marin transform throughout the story. Their joking nature mixed with the support they provided to one another drew me in. Birdie’s journey felt so real and raw. And can we talk about the mailman?! Found family, friends to lovers, and second chance vibes were raging throughout this story and I loved every minute of it. 👏
The Dead Husbands Society is messy and wonderful. It captured grief, healing, friendship, and love in such a beautiful way. I laughed and I cried as I read this book non-stop in one afternoon. I know this story will stick with me for a long time. 🤍
Thank you to Adeline Aimes for the ARC—I’m so grateful I got to read this one early!
September 3, 2025
This was an ARC that drew me in based on the cover alone and it’s the first in a long time that didn’t lead me wrong. A delightfully hilarious and tender romantic comedy, The Dead Husband’s Society, blends grief and new beginnings into a freshly uplifting tale about friendship, healing, and secretly falling in love.
It works because it refuses to treat grief as a solemn rite of passage. Instead, it frames mourning as messy, unpredictable, and silly at times which is just profoundly human. It finds strength in the vulnerable and tenderness in the absurd.
The premise was quirky and set the stage for a deeply emotional and laugh-out-loud experience. Unlike many romance tropes, Adeline Aimes celebrates female friendships with fierce authority and ridiculously fun antics, teaching us that starting over is easier with your besties.
The evolving connection between Birdie and Noah is rooted in their shared grief and their history as friends. I’m not generally a fan of slow burns, but the slow simmer of their connection is one of the books strongest threads and each spark is adds an emotional stake.
I was fully invested, not just in the romance, but in Birdie’s journey toward rediscovering herself.
September 14, 2025
The Dead Husband Society is the kind of romance I've been wanting to read so badly but have had a hard time finding, until now. It's full of heart and has a prose style that is sophisticated and witty. It doesn't feel paint by the numbers - and the way it nails grief...as someone who has lost loved ones, Adeline Ames conveys the mix of emotions so, so well.
My favorite part of this book (besides the romance) is the connection Birdie, the main female character, has with a new group of friends she makes. I won't spoil the details, but her found family had me truly laughing out loud. Each friend had a distinct, lovable personality - and the way these women supported each other was both heartening and hilarious. And a book around women in middle age, finding romance? Fleshed-out, relatable characters who are over 40? More please!
This is a grown-up, realistic, yet utterly escape-worthy romance that I'm so glad I found. The quality of writing is very elevated without losing charm or down-to-earth humor, a level of quality I have a hard time finding in current romances. It's a diamond in the rough. I can't wait to read more by this author!
My favorite part of this book (besides the romance) is the connection Birdie, the main female character, has with a new group of friends she makes. I won't spoil the details, but her found family had me truly laughing out loud. Each friend had a distinct, lovable personality - and the way these women supported each other was both heartening and hilarious. And a book around women in middle age, finding romance? Fleshed-out, relatable characters who are over 40? More please!
This is a grown-up, realistic, yet utterly escape-worthy romance that I'm so glad I found. The quality of writing is very elevated without losing charm or down-to-earth humor, a level of quality I have a hard time finding in current romances. It's a diamond in the rough. I can't wait to read more by this author!
September 2, 2025
The Dead Husbands Society was such a delightful surprise, it was wickedly funny, heartwarming, and unexpectedly tender. Birdie Lawson's journey from perfect widow to someone trying to find herself again was beautiful. What I loved most was how she finally found a way not just to survive, but to enjoy life. There is a lovely moment where she sees herself after dancing, slightly disheveled but smiling, and realizes she's genuinely having fun for the first time since her husband died. It was raw, messy, and so incredibly powerful.
Birdie is the kind of character you want as your best friend; she'll cover everything in glitter, judge your bundt cake, and still be there when you need her most. Her chemistry with the hot mailman, Noah, brought just the right mix of humor and heat. When she finally makes the deal with herself to live fully, she does it in the rain, in her own perfect moment. IYKYK. Birdie proves that sometimes the best way to honor the past is to fully and joyfully embrace the future.
Birdie is the kind of character you want as your best friend; she'll cover everything in glitter, judge your bundt cake, and still be there when you need her most. Her chemistry with the hot mailman, Noah, brought just the right mix of humor and heat. When she finally makes the deal with herself to live fully, she does it in the rain, in her own perfect moment. IYKYK. Birdie proves that sometimes the best way to honor the past is to fully and joyfully embrace the future.
September 11, 2025
This book wasn't quite what I was expecting, but not in a bad way. The story concentrates on Birdie and her new friends learning to deal with the daily grief of losing their husbands and having to find a new normal without them.
I love the three women, they probably wouldn't have been friends without the shared grief, but they were hilarious together, they had some fun times and also some really sad times as they leaned on each other to navigate their new lives. Their friendship is the main theme of the book —the banter, the shared experiences, and the unbreakable bond.
Birdie begins to rebuild her life, and there is a blooming relationship between Birdie and her new love interest but long-time friend, Noah.
Birdie did confuse me, for someone who was so carefree and wild in her youth, how did she get to be such a boring PTA mom?
I loved Noah, but the poor guy has been waiting so long for his chance with Birdie.
It’s lighthearted without being fluffy, and it handles themes of grief and moving on with a gentle touch and a lot of humour.
I love the three women, they probably wouldn't have been friends without the shared grief, but they were hilarious together, they had some fun times and also some really sad times as they leaned on each other to navigate their new lives. Their friendship is the main theme of the book —the banter, the shared experiences, and the unbreakable bond.
Birdie begins to rebuild her life, and there is a blooming relationship between Birdie and her new love interest but long-time friend, Noah.
Birdie did confuse me, for someone who was so carefree and wild in her youth, how did she get to be such a boring PTA mom?
I loved Noah, but the poor guy has been waiting so long for his chance with Birdie.
It’s lighthearted without being fluffy, and it handles themes of grief and moving on with a gentle touch and a lot of humour.
September 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Star
📖 The book: It’s complicated.
🌟 My review: I’m in love.
This is a book I’ll be recommending to everyone, and I mean everyone.
❤️🩹 It’s for those that have experienced grief, especially early loss and the tricky ones to navigate.
❣️ It’s for people who haven’t been through the wringer with grief, as it’ll help you empathize and understand your friends who have.
You will laugh. You will cry. You will be angry. You will cheer. You will probably put yourself in their shoes.
The characters?! Oh my heart. They are lovely and beautifully written.
Need more reasons:
- it’s messy, it’s raw, it’s funny, it’s heartbreaking, it’s inspiring.
- discussions on guilt that comes with grief
- equal parts laughter with equal parts tears
- people pleaser learning to break old habits
- the characters
- flamingos, glitter, butterfly garden, goat wine bar (this line alone sold me)
- low spice
- could read in one sitting!
Thank you to The Author Agency and Adeline Aimes for proving an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is one of my favorite ARCs to date!
📖 The book: It’s complicated.
🌟 My review: I’m in love.
This is a book I’ll be recommending to everyone, and I mean everyone.
❤️🩹 It’s for those that have experienced grief, especially early loss and the tricky ones to navigate.
❣️ It’s for people who haven’t been through the wringer with grief, as it’ll help you empathize and understand your friends who have.
You will laugh. You will cry. You will be angry. You will cheer. You will probably put yourself in their shoes.
The characters?! Oh my heart. They are lovely and beautifully written.
Need more reasons:
- it’s messy, it’s raw, it’s funny, it’s heartbreaking, it’s inspiring.
- discussions on guilt that comes with grief
- equal parts laughter with equal parts tears
- people pleaser learning to break old habits
- the characters
- flamingos, glitter, butterfly garden, goat wine bar (this line alone sold me)
- low spice
- could read in one sitting!
Thank you to The Author Agency and Adeline Aimes for proving an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is one of my favorite ARCs to date!
September 13, 2025
Thank you to The Author Agency for my copy of The Dead Husbands Society by Adeline Aimes in exchange for my honest review.
5 stars? No...more like 10 stars. This book was perfection. It was heartfelt and raw with emotion, along with the perfect balance of comedic relief.
Birdie is widowed and finds herself in a funk. She goes to the internet and somehow manages to find some grief pages with all the clicking she does. She winds up making 2 good friends and they form the dead husbands society. They talk every day and become their own support system.
Birdie sends each of them a notebook and decides to give everyone dares to help them start living. Each of these widows finds themselves growing after loss. It was beautiful. Birdie happens to have her dare revolve around her mailman...also her husband's best friend...also one of her close friends from college...
This book was impossible to put down and is absolutely one of my favorites and one I will cherish for a long time. I feel like I know these women and just still have so much emotion over this one. A must read!
5 stars? No...more like 10 stars. This book was perfection. It was heartfelt and raw with emotion, along with the perfect balance of comedic relief.
Birdie is widowed and finds herself in a funk. She goes to the internet and somehow manages to find some grief pages with all the clicking she does. She winds up making 2 good friends and they form the dead husbands society. They talk every day and become their own support system.
Birdie sends each of them a notebook and decides to give everyone dares to help them start living. Each of these widows finds themselves growing after loss. It was beautiful. Birdie happens to have her dare revolve around her mailman...also her husband's best friend...also one of her close friends from college...
This book was impossible to put down and is absolutely one of my favorites and one I will cherish for a long time. I feel like I know these women and just still have so much emotion over this one. A must read!
September 13, 2025
This is such a beautiful book that will wrap itself around your heartstrings. It's an intimate love letter from Aimes to the reader, telling us all to live life.
Birdie has been widowed for two years, but as we all know, grief isn't linear and strikes at any time. Her children are heading off to college and her routine is being shaken up. Noah is a college friend and the best friend of her deceased husband, Owen. She finds herself developing feelings for Noah, which sparks guilt along with a whole host of other emotions. What's a widow to do?
Thankfully, Birdie has her group of online friends, The Dead Husband Society, to turn to as she wades through all of this. Even though our loved ones die, we're still here living and carrying on, time doesn't stop when they die, and neither can we.
Read it. Just read it. It's about all forms of love and who doesn't love, love?
🔥Slow Burn
🔥Friends to Lovers
🔥Found Family
🔥Second Chance Romance
🔥Older Romance (late 40s)
Thank you to the author and The Author Agency for the gifted copy!
Birdie has been widowed for two years, but as we all know, grief isn't linear and strikes at any time. Her children are heading off to college and her routine is being shaken up. Noah is a college friend and the best friend of her deceased husband, Owen. She finds herself developing feelings for Noah, which sparks guilt along with a whole host of other emotions. What's a widow to do?
Thankfully, Birdie has her group of online friends, The Dead Husband Society, to turn to as she wades through all of this. Even though our loved ones die, we're still here living and carrying on, time doesn't stop when they die, and neither can we.
Read it. Just read it. It's about all forms of love and who doesn't love, love?
🔥Slow Burn
🔥Friends to Lovers
🔥Found Family
🔥Second Chance Romance
🔥Older Romance (late 40s)
Thank you to the author and The Author Agency for the gifted copy!
September 4, 2025
I’ve been in a bit of a romance slump lately, where everything I picked up felt a little too predictable, overly tropey or almost “copy and paste.” But The Dead Husbands Society completely broke me out of that rut.
I loved that the protagonist was older, something we don’t see nearly enough of in romance, and that she was written with so much depth and relatability. rather than everything feeling a bit 'surface level'. The banter made me cackle, the side characters felt vivid, and the chemistry kept me hooked. But what really made this book stand out was the way it wove in themes of grief and healing without ever losing the warmth and joy of a love story. It gave the romance extra weight and made the emotional payoff that much richer.
This book reminded me why I love the genre in the first place. It’s witty, heartfelt, and full of charm. Easily a five-star read for me, and one I’ll be recommending to other readers who feel stuck in a slump like I was.
I loved that the protagonist was older, something we don’t see nearly enough of in romance, and that she was written with so much depth and relatability. rather than everything feeling a bit 'surface level'. The banter made me cackle, the side characters felt vivid, and the chemistry kept me hooked. But what really made this book stand out was the way it wove in themes of grief and healing without ever losing the warmth and joy of a love story. It gave the romance extra weight and made the emotional payoff that much richer.
This book reminded me why I love the genre in the first place. It’s witty, heartfelt, and full of charm. Easily a five-star read for me, and one I’ll be recommending to other readers who feel stuck in a slump like I was.
September 5, 2025
*ARC REVIEW*
Whoo, okay, get ready for this one.
So, I am probably not the target demographic for this book (married woman in her late twenties and childless), but that didn't stop me from enjoying this book thoroughly. I love Birdie. She is a wonderfully written character, and I felt like I was grieving her husband that I had never met right along with her.
*SLIGHT SPOILERS, but not really*
This book made me feel things that I wasn't ready to feel. I wasn't ready to think about who I am currently and think about if I'm changing as a person, and if I'm changing for the better. I wasn't ready to think about what would happen if the love of my life suddenly left it, no chance of ever coming back. And I certainly wasn't ready to think about the "what-ifs" that always lingered in the shadows. I loved it. I literally cried, and I'm going to need to talk these things over with my therapist.
Whoo, okay, get ready for this one.
So, I am probably not the target demographic for this book (married woman in her late twenties and childless), but that didn't stop me from enjoying this book thoroughly. I love Birdie. She is a wonderfully written character, and I felt like I was grieving her husband that I had never met right along with her.
*SLIGHT SPOILERS, but not really*
This book made me feel things that I wasn't ready to feel. I wasn't ready to think about who I am currently and think about if I'm changing as a person, and if I'm changing for the better. I wasn't ready to think about what would happen if the love of my life suddenly left it, no chance of ever coming back. And I certainly wasn't ready to think about the "what-ifs" that always lingered in the shadows. I loved it. I literally cried, and I'm going to need to talk these things over with my therapist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2025
This book was such a refreshing surprise. I hadn’t read anything by Adeline Aimes before, but now I’m officially a fan. The story follows Birdie, a widow trying to find her footing again after losing her husband. She’s a PTA mom, a black belt, and someone who’s been stuck in a routine for two years.
Birdie’s journey is emotional, funny, and full of heart. Her friendship with Viv and Marin, two other widows she meets online, is one of the highlights of the book. Together, they form The Dead Husbands Society and start daring each other to try new things. These “grief dares” are both hilarious and touching, and they help each woman rediscover who she is outside of her loss.
Noah, the mailman and Birdie’s old college friend, who also happened to be her late husband’s best friend. The humor in this book is spot-on. Even with such a heavy topic, there are laugh-out-loud scenes that balance the emotion perfectly.
Birdie’s journey is emotional, funny, and full of heart. Her friendship with Viv and Marin, two other widows she meets online, is one of the highlights of the book. Together, they form The Dead Husbands Society and start daring each other to try new things. These “grief dares” are both hilarious and touching, and they help each woman rediscover who she is outside of her loss.
Noah, the mailman and Birdie’s old college friend, who also happened to be her late husband’s best friend. The humor in this book is spot-on. Even with such a heavy topic, there are laugh-out-loud scenes that balance the emotion perfectly.
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