Aftertaste

What if you could have one last meal with someone you’ve loved, someone you’ve lost? Combining the magic of Under the Whispering Door with the high-stakes culinary world of Sweetbitter, Aftertaste is an epic love story, a dark comedy, and a synesthetic adventure through food and grief.

A food story to binge.
A ghost story to devour.
A love story to savor.

Konstantin Duhovny is a haunted man. His father died when he was ten, and ghosts have been hovering around him ever since. Kostya can’t exactly see the ghosts, but he can taste their favorite foods. Flavors of meals he’s never eaten will flood his mouth, a sign that a spirit is present. Kostya has kept these aftertastes a secret for most of his life, but one night, he decides to act on what he’s tasting. And everything changes.

Kostya discovers that he can reunite people with their deceased loved ones—at least for the length of time it takes them to eat a dish that he’s prepared. He thinks his life’s purpose might be to offer closure to grieving strangers, and sets out to learn all he can by entering a particularly fiery ring of Hell: the New York culinary scene. But as his kitchen skills catch up with his ambitions, Kostya is too blind to see the catastrophe looming in the Afterlife. And the one person who knows Kostya must be stopped also happens to be falling in love with him.

Set in the bustling world of New York restaurants and teeming with mouthwatering food writing, Aftertaste is a whirlwind romance, a heart-wrenching look at love and loss, and a ghost story about all the ways we hunger—and how far we’d go to find satisfaction.

This discussion guide was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster.

Book club questions for Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

As Kostya discovers, aftertastes are food memories so potent and special that they form a tether between the Dead and the Living who love them. What would your aftertaste be? Who would it connect you to?

Share an early memory of food or cooking, and the “flavor” that memory has for you. (Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, savory, spicy, etc.)

Kostya keeps his clairgustance a secret for most of his life. If you had the power to taste the Dead, would you keep it hidden?

Vera’s fear and inability to cope after Sergei’s death is one of the things haunting Kostya into adulthood. How do her actions and their relationship impact Kostya’s decision making?

Which of Kostya’s restaurant experiences did you like best? Library of Spirits, Saveur Fare, Hell’s Kitchen, or DUH? What did he learn about his gift at each one?

Kostya goes to extreme lengths to see his dad again—how far might you go to see someone you loved one more time?

Who (or what) is the villain or antagonizing force in Aftertaste? What causes the conflicts in the living world? What causes the issues arising in the Afterlife?

Maura’s confession at DUH sends Konstantin reeling. What might have happened if she had chosen to be honest sooner? Why do you think she kept her hunger and her visits to the Afterlife hidden, and did those reasons change during the story?

The characters in Aftertaste keep many secrets throughout the book. Which were the most surprising to you and why?

The book is structured with chapters that alternate between narratives from the living world (Kostya’s story) and the Afterlife (Frankie’s tour, Everleigh’s experience, Maura’s trips), meaning that the reader always knows more than Konstantin does about the effect his food is having. How would your perspective change if you only had access to Kostya’s narrative?

Would you make a reservation to dine at DUH if you had the chance?

What were some of your favorite foods or aftertastes from the novel? Why?

Which of the fictional (or real!) restaurants would you love to dine at in real life?

One of the core themes in Aftertaste is that love is a way of counter-acting grief, and that food is a way to keep someone with us after they’ve passed. Do you agree or disagree with these concepts? Why or why not?

Kostya’s life as an immigrant shapes his early experiences around food (and his clairgustance amplifies them); flavors and tastes both bring him joy and comfort (like his tasting game with his dad) and deliver the feelings of despair and exclusion (like when the kids on the boardwalk make fun of his meal.) Has food ever brought those feelings out in your life? Has your relationship with certain foods evolved as you’ve aged?

How did different characters in the book respond to the loss of someone they loved?

In the book, spirits who experience Hunger (and later, Hanger) in the Afterlife are the ones whose Living become so consumed by their grief that they’re unable to live full lives. In terms of the famed Kübler-Ross grief cycle, they’re stuck in “denial, anger, bargaining, or depression” and never reach acceptance or closure. Recently, David Kessler, Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’ co-author, added a step beyond acceptance to the cycle: finding meaning. By the end of the novel, which characters have found meaning? Who is still seeking it?

The ending of Aftertaste is bittersweet, with the promise of a “happily-ever-afterlife”. How did you feel about Kostya’s decision to stay in the Afterlife but send Maura back? How does it reflects what he’s learned about love and letting go throughout the book?

Aftertaste Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the Aftertaste discussion questions

A Most Anticipated Book from Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, LitHub and Jordy’s Book Club

“A haunting evocation of pain and pleasure, and the power of food.” —Nigella Lawson

“This story is full of love, grief, emotional rollercoasters and detailed, significant pallets of food…. Be prepared to find yourself snacking or even licking your lips as you flip through these pages…. This novel is addictive, rewarding and delicate. The pacing is well-balanced with enough highs and lows to keep you gasping aloud in disbelief at some monumental events and twists.”—BookTrib

"Heartbreaking and strange, this is a novel to savor, one bite at a time."—Apple Books

"Lavelle’s speculative approach is intriguing enough on its own, but it’s her skillful writing that ultimately makes Aftertaste such an evocative (and, yes, mouthwatering) read.”—Elle

"A ghost story, a love story, and a mind-bending adventure, Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle turns the concept of 'sense memory' into a delightful ride.”—Real Simple

"This is an extraordinary book...For foodies, for lovers, for those who like a side of the supernatural."—Booklist

"Delectable....the exuberant prose leavens the story’s bittersweet pathos, and the novel brims with tantalizing descriptions of international cuisines. This inventive tale of food and family is likely to whet readers’ appetites."—Publishers Weekly