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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
“It’s not fair that she can see my friends but I can’t see hers. I just see Ariel. I only have eyes for her.”
I cannot express how much I LOVE this book. The relationship between Joe and Ariel is absolutely one of my favourites. The love they have for each other is so heart warming even though they from different times.
I cried at the end, I really thought it was going to be Troy but I’m happy to know that it definitely wasn’t him. But at least now he’s moved on and will be waiting for her, wherever he is.
I hope she keeps Max Simpson, wouldn’t that just be so sweet? She’ll have someone that is close to Joe!
I’d love to see more of her with her ghost detective role.
I couldn’t recommend this more!
I cannot express how much I LOVE this book. The relationship between Joe and Ariel is absolutely one of my favourites. The love they have for each other is so heart warming even though they from different times.
I cried at the end, I really thought it was going to be Troy but I’m happy to know that it definitely wasn’t him. But at least now he’s moved on and will be waiting for her, wherever he is.
I hope she keeps Max Simpson, wouldn’t that just be so sweet? She’ll have someone that is close to Joe!
I’d love to see more of her with her ghost detective role.
I couldn’t recommend this more!
✨ First, short and simple;
This was a lovely read. I didn’t have high hopes to be honest, fully focused that this was going to be a sappy romance, but it definitely turned out far, far better than expected. The characters are clear, the story is super fun and to me quite unique, and you get a bit of strange romance, mystery (!!) and self-discovery (albeit smaller) in one.
It was also great how the chapters alternated between the two main characters, without any chapters feeling like they seemed out of place. Not easy to do, I feel.
✨ Now on to the longer version,
the first few chapters didn’t quite have me sold, because basically, the summary goes “Joe is completely perfect” but after reading the second chapter he just seems like a dick?? And alright, he seems to be struggling so I suppose we can let it be a little. But if you don’t read the summary or take it with a grain of salt, I’m sure it hits pretty well. Especially when things pick up with Joe because oh my.
Once I got through the first few chapters, Joe seemed to get better as a person (except to Lucas, poor poor Lucas), and although the summary only describes what happens in the first 90 or so pages, it becomes clear enough how the story will progress -what they’ll do- not long after.
One of the things I like about books, or even movies, series etc. is when you know something is going to happen to the person, they may get killed or undergo something very big, but the story starts a while before it. Like it builds up to it properly. And this book hit that spot on.
Same with the ‘discovering it with the character’, which was just perfect if we look at both characters, but especially Joe.
✨ Spoiler part (although minor);
I couldn’t hold it each time Joe ended up eating the weirdest stuff. Like, a plate?? A shoelace?? Man oh man.
This was a lovely read. I didn’t have high hopes to be honest, fully focused that this was going to be a sappy romance, but it definitely turned out far, far better than expected. The characters are clear, the story is super fun and to me quite unique, and you get a bit of strange romance, mystery (!!) and self-discovery (albeit smaller) in one.
It was also great how the chapters alternated between the two main characters, without any chapters feeling like they seemed out of place. Not easy to do, I feel.
✨ Now on to the longer version,
the first few chapters didn’t quite have me sold, because basically, the summary goes “Joe is completely perfect” but after reading the second chapter he just seems like a dick?? And alright, he seems to be struggling so I suppose we can let it be a little. But if you don’t read the summary or take it with a grain of salt, I’m sure it hits pretty well. Especially when things pick up with Joe because oh my.
Once I got through the first few chapters, Joe seemed to get better as a person (except to Lucas, poor poor Lucas), and although the summary only describes what happens in the first 90 or so pages, it becomes clear enough how the story will progress -what they’ll do- not long after.
One of the things I like about books, or even movies, series etc. is when you know something is going to happen to the person, they may get killed or undergo something very big, but the story starts a while before it. Like it builds up to it properly. And this book hit that spot on.
Same with the ‘discovering it with the character’, which was just perfect if we look at both characters, but especially Joe.
✨ Spoiler part (although minor);
I couldn’t hold it each time Joe ended up eating the weirdest stuff. Like, a plate?? A shoelace?? Man oh man.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-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:
No
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
Easy to read, surprisingly emotional . Great twists & ending.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
So weird, and unexpectedly complicated
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
* For all intended purposes, continue taking my burst of YA reviews with a pinch of salt because I have to read them for my dissertation project *
But omg??? This was so surprisingly good??
I am lucky that I couldn't find any spoilers online (and believe me I tried because my stress levels were running high) so the twist and ending really hit me how it was meant to.
I though Ghosted was brilliantly executed. The mystery and crime were very well done and the emotions behind the characters and the story were running high throughout the novel. I love the circular theme in the end with the Prologue character popping up for the Epilogue (I was wondering if she was going to appear) and I loved the complexity of Lara's character and her final decision. Sometimes I catch myself thinking of a specific brief mention about Ariel and the realisation of the connecting will come through
No 5 stars because of some genuinely annoying unfinished plot points like why was Troy writing 'HELP ME' on the wall? I understand that Ariel could see Joe and Mia because of her connection to their murders (same with Troy) but this was never explicitly explained in the book. Could Ariel be able to see Lara? We never know (I guess it's not as important, but it was set up that Ariel was going to visit Lara and Leo and it never happened).
Love the queerness in the story, love the repetition of the first few chapters; it really solidified the plot for me. Not sure if I actually believe in the next point because I believe it, or because I'm reading these books in a hurry but, it could've been at least 50 pages less.
But omg??? This was so surprisingly good??
I am lucky that I couldn't find any spoilers online (and believe me I tried because my stress levels were running high) so the twist and ending really hit me how it was meant to.
I though Ghosted was brilliantly executed. The mystery and crime were very well done and the emotions behind the characters and the story were running high throughout the novel. I love the circular theme in the end with the Prologue character popping up for the Epilogue (I was wondering if she was going to appear) and I loved the complexity of Lara's character and her final decision. Sometimes I catch myself thinking of a specific brief mention about Ariel and the realisation of the connecting will come through
No 5 stars because of some genuinely annoying unfinished plot points like why was Troy writing 'HELP ME' on the wall? I understand that Ariel could see Joe and Mia because of her connection to their murders (same with Troy) but this was never explicitly explained in the book. Could Ariel be able to see Lara? We never know (I guess it's not as important, but it was set up that Ariel was going to visit Lara and Leo and it never happened).
Love the queerness in the story, love the repetition of the first few chapters; it really solidified the plot for me. Not sure if I actually believe in the next point because I believe it, or because I'm reading these books in a hurry but, it could've been at least 50 pages less.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Violence, Murder, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated