Aftertaste

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

What if you could share one last meal with someone you’ve loved—and lost?

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle is a genre-bending, emotionally rich novel that blends the magical tenderness of Under the Whispering Door with the high-pressure culinary world of Sweetbitter. Part love story, part ghost story, and part foodie fiction, this darkly funny, achingly beautiful tale will leave you hungry in more ways than one.

Konstantin “Kostya” Duhovny has always been haunted—literally. Ever since his father’s death when he was ten, he’s experienced “aftertastes”: sudden, vivid flavors of meals he’s never eaten that flood his mouth when a ghost is near. He can’t see the dead, but he can taste their memories—and it’s enough to change everything.

One night, on a whim, Kostya decides to cook the dish he’s tasting. The result is staggering: the spirit lingers long enough to be seen by their loved one, brought back just long enough to share one final meal. With this discovery, Kostya finds a calling—offering closure to the grieving through the meals their loved ones left behind.

To refine his gift, he dives headfirst into the ruthless world of New York fine dining, battling egos, expectations, and his own past. As Kostya's abilities and ambition grow, so does the danger—because opening the door between life and death comes with a price. And while he's busy chasing purpose, he doesn’t see the one person who might have to stop him—someone who also might be falling in love with him.

A novel rich with heartache, humor, and haunting beauty, Aftertaste is a powerful meditation on food, grief, connection, and the bittersweet flavor of goodbye. Perfect for fans of magical realism, culinary fiction, queer romance, and stories that ask: how far would you go for one last moment with the person you lost?