Reviews

Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places by Claire Kann

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anniekslibrary's review against another edition

4.0

Many thanks to PRH International for the digital review copy.

I love stories about haunted houses, but I'm also a huge scaredy cat, which you'll be able to tell doesn't typically match well. But a romance novel set in haunted house? That pretty much has my name on it!

I had so much fun reading this, because it was just the right amounts of cosy and creepy. I did think the haunted (or rather, sentient) house was creepy at times, and it made for a very mysterious setting that I couldn't wait to find out more about. But the cast of characters, not even just the romance, but the entire film crew, made everything feel so warm and loving. Lucky is someone who's been very closed off to other people for a long time, and it was amazing to see these people worming their way into her heart, and Maverick making her realize she deserves to open herself up for love. Maverick is a single dad who has a 10-year-old daughter, and Rebel was an actual fleshed out character in the book, which was so lovely to read.

danidsfavereads's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this somewhat paranormal romance.

It follows Lucky who has ESP abilities. She joins a team that is investigating a home that is seemingly haunted. She utilizes her abilities and skills to test the house and determine why it does what it does. She also develops a relationship with Maverick, one of the team members.

I liked seeing Lucky use her abilities with the team, the house and in other interactions. I liked seeing her explain her abilities and how they’ve had an impact on her life.

I also liked seeing the progression of Lucky and Maverick’s relationship. There were some moments that I felt a bit confused, but perhaps that’s because there was a lot of conversation. I really appreciated how they discussed Lucky’s asexuality and how that will play into their relationship.

This one was enjoyable and fun. It was a little bit of a different book for me.

Thx PRH Audio for the advanced listening copy.

sarah_bell's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A romance set in a haunted house where I found myself more invested in the haunted house than the romance.

I did really enjoy the supernatural elements of this. Lucky's ESP (extrasensory perception) was a fascinating concept and I particularly liked the exploration of had effected her life and her various relationships (familial, friendships, and romantic). I also really liked the mystery of Hennessee House and Lucky's investigation of it. It was when the narrative was focused on either of these aspects that this book was at it strongest for me.

I did also enjoy Lucky and Maverick, her LI, as separate characters. However, I didn't particularly enjoy the beginning of their relationship, especially their initial interactions, and I never really felt their connection. There was also a few discussions/ arguments in the later half of the book that felt like they happened simply to cause tension and didn't feel organic to the characters.

Kann has always excelled at her handling of asexuality in her stories and that is no different here. With Lucky, she gives us an ace character who has a good sense of who she is and what her boundaries are regarding sex and attraction.

Overall, an interesting haunted house story with a romance that didn't work for me, but I can see how it might for others.

jennireadsmaybe's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

LFLiatHP is the cozy, spooky, paranormal romance that trad pub has been missing!!! It had just the right amount of ESP, haunted house, and paranormal shenanigans, especially if you're a fraid-y cat like me. It was super intriguing from the start.

Lucky is Black, ace, bi, and a little bit supernatural (ESP as she calls it). She's risking everything by taking the job as Hennessee House caretaker/investigator. She's a super interesting main character because she's seemingly all on her own and always ready to get into a bit of trouble. Honestly, I don't think any other character would have suited the story as well as she did.

Her romance with Maverick is so completely heartwarming and charming. He is always there with a listening ear and a willingness to learn that quite literally any other love interest could never live up to. They suit each other so well and everyone around them knows that.

There's so much more I could say about this one, but I'm going to end it here. Pick this up if you're looking for a cozy, spooky, single-dad, LGBTQ+ read.

Content Warnings

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

This is a slower-paced, character-driven novel as we follow Lucky, Black, bisexual, ace, ESP-powered MC, who gets a new job as the caretaker of the allegedly haunted Hennessee House, and works alongside the tv/podcasting team to discuss what is going on inside the house. Lucky gets to know Maverick, his kid Rebel, and the rest of the team as she unravels more about herself too. She can read people with her ESP when she first meets them and looks into their eyes, which is wild, and so damn cool, but also why she wears glasses to shield herself from doing this all the time, as it is draining!

Rebel, Maverick's kid, and how the team treats Rebel as a valid part of their team: "Watching them each talk to Rebel was fascinating. Under the hurt and disappointment, Lucky realized they were taking Rebel seriously. Being an intern wasn't some fun, honorary title because Maverick couldn't find a sitter. She really was a part of their team, held to the same standards as everyone else. Progressive discipline and all." (49) I appreciated this commentary on treating kids with dignity and respect, and giving them more credit than most folks do. Rebel was goofy, adventurous, brave, and like, her dad made his bed with naming her "rebel," idk mannnnn!

Maverick gave Lucky so much credit and validation too, both in Lucky's writing, her sexuality, her occupation, and her feelings. Maverick really is a wonderful LI, who affirms and tries to listen with an open mind and heart. Many cishet men could learn a thing or two from him, and I'm genuinely begging them to read *one* modern romance novel. Maverick was patient, gentle, and sincerely curious in getting to know Lucky. He was exactly the LI that Lucky needed, and I rooted for them to find their way to each other. "You can tell a person who they are after meeting them once. You're full of stories waiting to be written." (107) This is in response to Lucky claiming no one is interested in anything she has to write beyond essays and blog posts. Maverick isn't dismissing her feelings, but he is challenging the way she speaks poorly about herself.

"She was so close to falling apart and he just sat there next to her. Patiently waiting and refusing to let her fake her way through an answer." (151)

Cishetwhite man of the year award goes to Maverick. I love him, your honor!!!

"He's the worst. I hate him."
"Yeah," Lucky agreed, fully aboard the sarcasm train. "It's kind of annoying how much he believes in people. How dare he." (172)

Truly, this just adds to Maverick's character of believing in, rooting for, and empowering people, especially the femmes around him. An icon if you will.

"You called me a collector. What is that?"
"That's who you are. You search for people and bring them in, give them somewhere to belong." (331)

*sobs*

The representation of Lucky as ace was lovely; Claire Kann writes her characters with such great care, and Lucky is so precious. Lucky feels unlovable, and as if no one will understand her, so she simply chooses to disengage from those relationships, rather than be left behind again and again. She leaves before anyone else can leave her, which is a specific heartache. Her family and friends had abandoned her and belittled her occupation/sexual orientation/interests, so finding folks who actually want to learn about her and encourage her to share her experience about being ace, and any other aspects about her is brand new, and uncomfortable because she almost can't believe people care this way. Lucky dialogues with Georgia about being ace (Georgia's brother is ace), and we slowly see Lucky break down her walls, and understand what chosen family could mean. That was lovely, and I appreciated that she was brave in sharing her feelings around sex and attraction.

Claire Kann notes she is a horror fan, and I can understand why she wrote this paranormal romance. It was a bit goofy, silly, but still invited reflection from this sentient house. I thought the way the house's intentions and how it operated was fascinating, and loved that commentary. It was another example of displaying this human need to try to provide what others need, and to want to be paid attention to. I love that about the horror genre in general.

Sometimes, it felt like a slog to get through, specifically between 30-60%. The pacing fell off a bit for me, and even though some of the chapters were indeed super short, I feel like another run through of shortening certain parts of this book would have been helpful to keep it a bit more succinct.

Overall, it was a fun, eerie, swoon-worthy story, and one that I'd gladly watch if it was optioned and adapted for tv!

Random things I loved about Lucky:

"Look, I'm not trying to be difficult, but I answered the question." (128)

I'm going to use this response when someone does not take my answer as sufficient

"I noticed you're an avid ketchup person."
"It's true. I am," she said. "But I hate tomatoes."

she is me and I am her!!!!!! This tomato-hater representation was everything, thank you!

"That's how I know people can do bad things and still be a fundamentally good person. They've just lost their way and need time to sort it out. But knowing that doesn't change how much they hurt me in the process."
It also didn't mean she had to forgive them or give them a second chance. That was for her to decide. (216)

Content Warnings

aieshab's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

What sets "Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places" apart is its unique blend of romance and the supernatural. While the paranormal element may not be the central focus of the story, it adds an extra layer of intrigue and whimsy that sets it apart from your typical romance novel. From the quirky characters to the cosy setting, Kann has created a world that is both enchanting and relatable.

Speaking of characters, Kann deserves praise for crafting a cast of characters that feel refreshingly real and multi-dimensional. Lucky is a protagonist you can't help but root for, with her infectious enthusiasm and unwavering determination. And while Maverick may seem like your typical leading man, he has a depth and complexity that make him truly memorable.

That being said, the novel is not without its flaws. The small amount of slang used by the protagonist is very 2020s, and is likely to be out of the popular consciousness in the next decade and may cause some confusion with future readers. However, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise enjoyable read.

This book is a cosy romance with the merest hint of the supernatural, if you're looking for a feel-good read that will leave you believing in happily ever afters, look no further than "Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places."

mothreadsbookssometimes's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places is a romance and paranormal story about Lucky Hart, an aspiring researcher with ESP, who signs on as a caretaker for the haunted Hennessee House. While dealing with the spooky shenanigans of the house, she falls in love with Maverick Phillips.
I loved this book. It was a perfect combination of the paranormal and romance genres. The story arcs for each genre were separate, but also managed to intertwine in a balanced way. The haunted house aspect was intriguing and not super creepy. The romance had so much chemistry and I was rooting for Lucky and Maverick through the whole book.
Claire Kann writes the best child characters. Rebel is sassy and mischievous and I could’ve used way more of her in the story. The entire cast is diverse: Black characters, a queer and asexual main character (and queer side characters), and plenty of mental health representation.

The one issue I had with the book was that some of the conversations got very confusing. There were times where the characters talked in circles until I lost track of what they were even talking about. I could tell that Kann knew what was happening, but it didn’t translate to the page.
If you don’t like horror, Love in All the Haunted Places is a great book with a haunted house that isn’t scary. It focuses mainly on the emotions of the characters, and fear is a minimal part of that.

CW: emotional abuse (trauma), aphobia, mental illness, isolation, sexual flirting (nothing sexual happens on or off page), mentions of death (ghosts of dead relatives appear)

Content Warnings