The Love of My Afterlife Summary, Characters and Themes
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood is a heartwarming and humorous romantic fantasy about second chances, love, and self-discovery.
The story follows Delphie Bookham, a 27-year-old woman who tragically dies after choking on a microwavable burger. In the afterlife, she meets Jonah, a man she believes could be her soulmate. She’s offered a deal: return to Earth for ten days to find Jonah and kiss him, or remain in the afterlife forever. What follows is a journey of self-realization as Delphie navigates her life, relationships, and heart in an unexpected, often humorous, twist of fate.
Summary
Delphie Bookham dies unexpectedly at 27 after choking on a microwavable hamburger. She awakens in Evermore, a vibrant laundromat-like afterlife, where she meets Merritt, an Afterlife Therapist, who helps her transition into the afterlife.
Merritt shows Delphie a review of her life, filled mostly with loneliness and missed opportunities, leaving Delphie shocked and uncertain about her fate.
While still in disbelief about her death, Delphie meets a handsome stranger named Jonah, and an instant connection sparks between them. Just as they begin to converse, Merritt intervenes, explaining that Jonah is there by mistake and sends him back to Earth.
This leaves Delphie heartbroken and desperate.
Merritt, a romance novel enthusiast, offers Delphie a deal: if she can find Jonah on Earth and get him to kiss her within ten days, she will be allowed to return to life. If she fails, she will remain in Evermore forever.
Delphie eagerly accepts the challenge, determined to reconnect with Jonah.
Delphie finds herself back on Earth, only to be greeted by her grumpy neighbor, Cooper, who checks on her after her supposed “death.”
Initially, Delphie doubts her experience in Evermore but receives text messages from Merritt that guide her on her quest to find Jonah.
Unsure of where to start in the vast city of London, Delphie reluctantly asks Cooper for help. Though they’ve always had a hostile relationship, Cooper agrees on the condition that Delphie pretend to be his girlfriend in a photo to deceive his meddlesome parents.
Together, they work to find leads on Jonah, with Delphie’s journey taking her across the city.
As Delphie spends time with Cooper, she forms an unlikely bond with him. She also begins to care for her elderly neighbor, Mr. Yoon, who has no one else to look after him. This sense of responsibility makes Delphie increasingly reluctant to leave Earth.
Along the way, Delphie slowly opens herself up to the possibility of relying on others and accepting help, something she struggled with throughout her life.
Cooper uncovers information that Jonah is attending a charity gala, and Delphie attends the event in disguise with Cooper. At the gala, she discovers that her former high school bully, Gen, is using Delphie’s tragic story for personal gain.
Delphie confronts Gen, throwing a drink in her face, before finally finding Jonah. However, the chemistry she once felt with him is now absent, and Jonah reveals that he is in a relationship and friends with Gen.
Heartbroken, Delphie and Cooper are kicked out of the gala and find themselves caught in a rainstorm. They are forced to stay in a hotel room together, where they develop a deeper connection, ultimately sharing a passionate night.
As the ten-day deadline looms, Delphie realizes that her feelings for Cooper have changed, and she’s falling in love with him instead of Jonah.
With only hours left to find Jonah and fulfill the contract, Delphie decides to let go of the need for a kiss from Jonah. Instead, she chooses to live the last of her days on Earth authentically.
She spends time with Cooper, throws a party for Mr. Yoon, and engages in things she loves, like painting.
Just as Delphie resolves to move forward with her life, she rushes to Jonah’s house, only to be involved in a car crash with Cooper.
Delphie wakes up in Evermore again, but this time, Cooper is with her. Cooper soon realizes that Merritt is his deceased twin sister, and Delphie is devastated when she starts to fade away.
However, Delphie awakens on Earth once again, only to find Jonah performing CPR on her, technically fulfilling Merritt’s contract. Delphie is rushed to the hospital, where she learns that Cooper has survived the accident but is in a coma.
As Delphie recovers, she finally accepts that she is in love with Cooper, and Jonah, realizing he cannot stop thinking about her, expresses his feelings.
However, Delphie rejects him, as she now knows her heart belongs to Cooper. Twelve weeks later, when Cooper wakes up from his coma, he attends Delphie’s art exhibition, and the two confess their love for one another.
Merritt reappears to explain that their love story wasn’t orchestrated, but was fate’s doing, and Delphie is ready to begin the next chapter of her life with Cooper.
Characters
Delphie Bookham
Delphie is the protagonist of The Love of My Afterlife, and her character is marked by an intense journey of self-discovery and growth. At the start of the story, she is a 27-year-old woman who has led a fairly isolated life, shaped by her experiences of bullying during her teenage years.
Her death, which occurs in an awkward and somewhat embarrassing manner—by choking on a microwavable burger—pushes her into a space of deep self-reflection as she enters the afterlife. Delphie’s time in Evermore, the afterlife waiting room, helps her realize that she has spent much of her life hiding from others, choosing isolation over connection.
As the story progresses, Delphie begins to confront her past, including her insecurities and her tendency to shut people out. Her relationship with Cooper, her gruff neighbor, is especially transformative, as she learns to trust and depend on him.
Delphie’s growth is not just about finding love but also about learning to embrace vulnerability and live authentically. By the end of the novel, she becomes someone who is capable of opening her heart, accepting help, and cherishing the relationships that truly matter in her life.
Cooper
Cooper, Delphie’s neighbor and reluctant partner in her quest to find Jonah, is a character who initially appears gruff and dismissive. He comes across as cold, with a deep aversion to socializing, partly due to his struggles with depression following the death of his twin sister.
However, as Delphie’s story unfolds, Cooper reveals a more vulnerable side. His interactions with Delphie gradually shift from antagonism to deep care and emotional support, particularly as they begin to spend more time together.
Cooper’s character is complex, as he is dealing with unresolved grief and loneliness. His role in the story is crucial, not only because he aids Delphie in her search for Jonah but also because he provides emotional stability when Delphie’s world starts to crumble.
Cooper’s growth parallels Delphie’s own, and by the end of the book, he is no longer the distant, disconnected neighbor but someone capable of love and acceptance, especially with Delphie. His eventual recovery from his coma represents the culmination of his emotional journey, as he finds healing and hope through his relationship with Delphie.
Jonah T
Jonah T is initially the romantic interest in the story, the man Delphie is drawn to during her brief time in the afterlife. He is described as charming, attractive, and someone with whom Delphie shares an instant, undeniable chemistry.
However, as the story progresses, Jonah’s significance shifts. Initially, Delphie’s quest revolves around finding him on Earth and securing a kiss from him to fulfill the terms of her contract with Merritt.
Despite the initial connection, Delphie eventually discovers that Jonah is not as perfect as she had imagined. Her pursuit of him reveals that he is already in a relationship, and the chemistry between them that once seemed so powerful begins to dissipate.
This revelation forces Delphie to confront the reality that her connection with Jonah may have been more about her own desire for a fresh start than about him as a person. By the end of the novel, Jonah is no longer the central figure in Delphie’s life, and her emotional attachment shifts toward Cooper.
Jonah’s role, therefore, is pivotal in Delphie’s emotional growth, as he serves as the catalyst for her realization that love cannot be forced and that true connection comes with authenticity, not idealization.
Merritt
Merritt, the Afterlife Therapist, serves as a guide for Delphie during her time in Evermore. She is perky, enthusiastic, and has a somewhat naive belief in the concept of the “happily ever after.”
While Merritt’s role is initially to help Delphie transition into the afterlife, she becomes a key figure in Delphie’s quest to return to Earth. Merritt’s love for romance novels influences her decision to offer Delphie the chance to reconnect with Jonah in exchange for fulfilling the terms of a contract that requires Delphie to find him and secure a kiss.
Merritt represents the idealistic notion of love, and her presence in the story is both comforting and a bit frustrating for Delphie. Merritt pushes her to pursue a love story that may not be as straightforward as it seems.
Merritt’s character serves as both a guide and a motivator, offering Delphie a chance at a second chance at life, but also pushing her into situations that challenge her assumptions about love and happiness. She is not without her own flaws, as her enthusiasm can sometimes feel overbearing, yet she does have a deep understanding of the emotional needs of others, particularly Delphie.
Mr. Yoon
Mr. Yoon, Delphie’s elderly neighbor, plays an important but often understated role in the narrative. He represents the quiet, often overlooked, connections that can be formed even in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Mr. Yoon has little family and no one else to care for him, and Delphie becomes his caretaker, offering her emotional support during a time when she feels isolated and alone. His presence in the story allows Delphie to realize that she does have a capacity for kindness and that her life can have meaning beyond her own desires.
Mr. Yoon also serves as a reminder for Delphie that the relationships we build are often the most important legacy we leave behind. His friendship helps to ground Delphie and reminds her of the value of human connection, especially in times of need.
Though his storyline is not as central as Delphie’s relationship with Cooper or Jonah, Mr. Yoon’s role adds a layer of depth to Delphie’s character arc and highlights the themes of empathy and the importance of community.
Gen
Gen is Delphie’s high school bully who reappears in the story as the host of an anti-bullying charity event. Her role in the novel is pivotal in terms of Delphie’s emotional growth, as Delphie is forced to confront her painful past.
Gen’s success and her use of Delphie’s own story for personal gain initially triggers a sense of powerlessness and anger in Delphie. However, by the end of the event, Delphie’s confrontation with Gen leads to a significant moment of closure.
Though Delphie does not reconcile with Gen, she is able to come to terms with her past, letting go of the anger and pain that had defined her high school years. Gen, though a secondary character, serves as a catalyst for Delphie’s self-empowerment and her ability to take control of her narrative.
Themes
Redemption, Love, and Personal Growth
The central theme of The Love of My Afterlife revolves around the concept of second chances, not just in love but in life itself. Delphie’s unexpected death, which stems from something as trivial as choking on a microwavable burger, sets her on a journey that explores the fragility and unpredictability of life.
After arriving in the afterlife, she is given a unique opportunity: to return to Earth and find love in order to avoid the permanence of death. This second chance is not just about a romantic connection, but about Delphie reclaiming aspects of her life she had previously avoided, like her passions, her social connections, and ultimately her emotional growth.
Through her quest, the novel probes how deeply intertwined the concepts of love, personal redemption, and self-acceptance are. Delphie’s journey showcases how, when given a fresh start, people can reshape their lives, re-evaluate their priorities, and transform not just their circumstances but their own identities.
The Illusion of Perfection in Romantic Relationships
The theme of idealized romance versus its reality is intricately explored throughout the novel. Initially, Delphie believes she is meant to be with Jonah, the handsome stranger she meets in the afterlife waiting room.
The attraction between them seems destined, and she even signs a contract to return to Earth to find him. However, the reality of their potential relationship turns out to be far more complicated and less romantic than Delphie anticipates.
The narrative expertly unravels the notion that love, especially when driven by external forces like fate or a contract, is often more complex than a straightforward “happily ever after.” Delphie’s search for Jonah forces her to confront her own deep-seated fears and insecurities, and she ultimately discovers that her initial idea of a perfect love story was more about escaping her past loneliness than truly understanding what it means to love.
The tension between her idealized image of Jonah and her evolving feelings for Cooper underscores how relationships that feel fated may not always align with personal growth or true emotional connection.
Breaking Down Emotional Isolation
Delphie’s life before her death was marred by isolation and loneliness, stemming from childhood bullying and a life spent hiding from emotional vulnerability. This theme explores how these past wounds shape Delphie’s approach to relationships and her view of herself.
Even in the afterlife, her loneliness is palpable as she is faced with the reality of a life she left behind—one of emotional withdrawal. Throughout the story, Delphie’s interactions with others, especially her interactions with her grumpy neighbor, Cooper, and elderly neighbor, Mr. Yoon, reveal how difficult it is to break free from the emotional walls built over a lifetime.
In her desperate pursuit of Jonah, Delphie is forced to accept the help of others, slowly dismantling the emotional barriers she has erected. The novel suggests that true emotional growth comes not from seeking perfection or hiding from one’s feelings but from allowing others to offer support, kindness, and understanding.
The theme of human connection, seen through Delphie’s growing bond with Cooper and her eventual realization that he is the one she truly loves, powerfully underscores how personal healing and growth often require stepping out of isolation and embracing the messiness of human relationships.
The Tragic Comedy of Life and Death
The novel blends dark humor with poignant insights about life and death, creating a narrative that simultaneously addresses the absurdity of human existence and the deep meaning that can be found in it. Delphie’s unexpected and embarrassing death, caused by something as mundane as a microwavable burger, sets the tone for a story where the lines between tragic and comic events blur.
The afterlife setting, with its quirky “Evermore” laundromat and Merritt’s role as an Afterlife Therapist, creates a space where death is not just a somber topic but a comedic backdrop for Delphie’s self-discovery. This balance between comedy and tragedy serves as a commentary on how human beings often fail to find meaning in life until faced with its end.
Delphie’s journey through the afterlife and back to Earth challenges the idea that life’s meaning must be grandiose or straightforward; rather, it suggests that meaning is found in small moments, in connections with others, and in the willingness to embrace life’s imperfections.
The humor in the narrative does not diminish the serious emotional work Delphie undergoes; instead, it highlights the absurdity of life’s unpredictability and the importance of finding joy, even in its most unexpected moments.
Reconciliation with the Past and the Dangers of Unresolved Emotional Trauma
Delphie’s emotional journey in the novel also explores the theme of confronting unresolved emotional trauma. Her life before her death was marked by years of bullying and emotional neglect, which left her emotionally scarred and fearful of connecting with others.
As Delphie attempts to rebuild her life, both in the afterlife and on Earth, she must come to terms with the painful memories of her past and learn how to heal from them. Her encounter with her high school bully, Gen, at the charity gala is a pivotal moment in Delphie’s emotional healing.
Rather than allowing Gen’s presence to reignite her past trauma, Delphie takes control by confronting her bully, refusing to be a passive victim of her past anymore. This act of reconciliation with her past, coupled with her growing emotional maturity, empowers Delphie to make choices that reflect her true desires and self-worth.
However, the novel also portrays the danger of unresolved emotional trauma. Delphie’s initial rejection of help, her self-imposed isolation, and her misguided belief that she can only find happiness through romantic love show how these unhealed wounds can perpetuate a cycle of fear and emotional retreat.
By the end of the novel, Delphie’s transformation is a testament to the healing power of confronting the past and choosing to break free from its grip on her future.
The Tension Between Destiny and Self-Determination
Another key theme in The Love of My Afterlife is the tension between fate and free will. While the narrative initially presents Delphie’s return to Earth as the fulfillment of a preordained contract with Merritt, it soon becomes clear that Delphie’s decisions are what truly shape her future.
The contract itself symbolizes a form of destiny, an external force driving Delphie toward a specific goal—finding Jonah and securing a kiss to continue her life. However, as the plot unfolds, Delphie learns that her happiness and future cannot be dictated solely by fate.
Her decisions to pursue Jonah, confront her past, and eventually embrace Cooper all reflect her agency in shaping her life. The novel suggests that while fate might present opportunities and challenges, it is ultimately through individual choice and self-discovery that one can forge their own path.
This theme challenges the reader to consider the role of destiny in their own lives and whether true fulfillment comes from waiting for fate to intervene or taking active steps toward personal growth and happiness.
Embracing Life’s Imperfections with a Smile
Humor plays a significant role in The Love of My Afterlife, especially in its approach to the darker, more somber themes of death, loneliness, and personal healing. The novel uses wit and light-hearted moments to counterbalance its deeper, more existential themes, offering a refreshing perspective on how to face life’s most difficult challenges.
Delphie’s sarcastic remarks and the absurd situations she finds herself in provide comedic relief, allowing readers to reflect on serious topics without becoming overwhelmed by them. This use of humor suggests that even in the face of death, personal failure, or emotional pain, there is always space for laughter and joy.
The light-heartedness with which Delphie navigates the afterlife, coupled with the supportive relationships she forms on Earth, serves as a reminder that life’s imperfections, struggles, and uncertainties can be met with resilience and, most importantly, a sense of humor.
By embracing both the tragic and the comic aspects of life, Delphie’s journey highlights how humor can be a powerful tool for healing and personal growth.