#chip pons

Official Summary:

For fans of MM romances like Heated Rivalry and The Entanglement of Rival Wizards, a sexy Hades-inspired gay rom-com, in which the former god of the Underworld turned grumpy funeral director must find a loophole in the Immortal Retirement Act that banished him to Earth, until the florist next door begins to unravel all his carefully laid plans. Hope is a dangerous thing for gods. Even former ones. Hayden Harlow, once the mighty Hades, has spent centuries quietly resenting his fall from immortality. Stripped of his godhood by the allegedly irreversible Immortal Retirement Act, he now runs Harlow and Sons Funeral Home—a front for his eternal sentencing among mortals, and a bleak reminder of the purpose he's lost. Still, he's determined to claw his way back…if only the Fates at City Hall would stop toying with him. Enter Levi Wilder: a florist with an artist's heart, an infectious smile, and a gift for finding beauty in life's messiest moments. When Hayden storms into Levi's shop to complain about a bouquet of sunflowers—an offensive choice for a funeral, in his opinion—their worlds collide. Hayden is all restraint and shadows; Levi is all sunshine and charm. But beneath the clash lies an undeniable spark neither can ignore. As their connection blossoms, Hayden finds himself caught between the life he once knew and the bright future Levi dares him to imagine. But trusting Levi means risking the walls he's kept in place all these years—and it's not just his heart on the line. Because in the threads of fate, one choice can change everything.

My Thoughts:

 The book opens with Hayden, formerly the God of the Underworld and currently the town's funeral director, being irritated with Levi, the local florist. Hayden can't believe that Levi had the audacity to put sunflowers in a funeral bouquet, and he lets his dismay be known. Despite their rocky start, the two are drawn together. They may be total opposites, but there is definitely an attraction there. 

The romance in this is very steamy! The sex scenes are numerous, well-written, a little paranormal, and very hot. The romance is also surprisingly sweet and supportive, and the two encourage so much emotional growth in each other. This is one of the better Grumpy/Sunshine dynamics that I've encountered; Hayden's is grumpy, but it's in a completely charming and often funny way. Levi's bright and open, but he has layers and is far from a one-dimensional character. 

Both characters have truly great growth arcs. I was expecting Hayden's arc, as a former God learning to live and love as a human, but Levi's arc surprised me. In a book that casts Hades as a literal "Shadow Daddy," Levi's moving storyline adds a welcome dose of realism and emotional depth. Levi's story is genuinely one of the best parts of the book, and I think many readers will connect with it. 

There is also a large cast of really great supporting characters. Many of the side characters have a great Found Family dynamic with Hayden and Levi, but we also get some interesting scenes with biological family members. I thought this was a good blend, and I loved the contrast of the eternally supportive Found Family with the complicated histories of biological families. Also, two supporting characters we meet late in the book are practically begging for sequels that focus on them. 

I enjoyed this and recommend this most to readers of Achillean romance who want something very spicy and with great characters that you will almost certainly fall in love with. The summary compares this to Sara Raasch's The Entanglement of Rival Wizards, but this reads more like a classic, high-heat romance than a romantasy to me, since the Greek Mythology elements don't get much focus. I'd suggest going in expecting a fun, steamy romance with a sprinkle of mythology and a dash of paranormal fun. 

My Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘 (4.25/5 stars)

Pages: 400 (Kindle Edition)

Tropes/Tags: Queer, Achillean, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Grumpy/Sunshine, Greek Mythology

Contains Depictions Of: Death, Grief

Links: Storygraph | GoodReads | Pagebound | ChipPons.com

Dearly Departed will be released on June 16, 2026, and is available for pre-order!

I received an advanced copy of this book for free, thanks to Netgalley, Putnam, and Penguin. The above are my honest feelings about the provided book.

Not to jinx it or anything, but the stars seem to finally be aligning for Will Cowen. After accepting a dream promotion at one of New York City’s most renowned publishing houses and moving in with his oldest friend, he’s ready to dive headfirst into this new chapter and take the literary world by storm – that is, until he crosses paths with Graham Austin. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t help but put the wrong foot forward in front of the all-business and inconveniently gorgeous heir to the publishing empire. So, when a heartbreakingly beautiful manuscript lands on his desk, Will seizes the opportunity for a win. Could this prized new author be his big break or, his downfall? Will’s confidence and hope for his professional future is obliterated when the author ghosts him at an important publishing event. Fueled by insecurity and an open bar, he finds himself in need of comfort, which comes from the least likely person, the normally cold and distant Graham. This small glimpse behind Graham’s icy exterior is the spark that sweeps these two up in an epic and unforeseen romance. As his author’s manuscript begins to take shape, the words that initially brought them together become more and more tangled, making it painfully obvious to Will that despite your best efforts, there is truly no hiding from the past. But can it be rewritten?

Promotion length: Unknown

Markets available: Amazon

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