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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi
Rosemary Shaw is a popular author of historical horror novels, one of which is being made into a movie. She also wrote the screenplay and is going to be an executive producer. Which is all new to her. However, she feels that they have cast the MMC all wrong.
Ellis Finch is a seasoned actor, mostly known for his roles in action movies. However, he really wants to branch out from those roles and is excited to be in this film adaptation. He has heard that the writer thinks he's wrong for the part, and he can't wait to prove her wrong.
They finally meet, and it's definitely not a meet cute. 🤣 Slowly, they begin to realize that there's more to each other than their public personas. They become friends and start spending time together. Secrets are revealed by both of them, and they begin a secret relationship. Together, they manage to find their HEA through a few ghost encounters, a horrible agent, some media drama, and even a 3rd act break-up.
These two are perfect for each other from the start. There's definitely some hate to love vibes happening, and there's excellent banter and spice. Use caution, I cried every single time Hank was in a scene. Like a full-on blubbering mess! And the first time I read Rosemary's dad's full name, my brain was like, "Ooh, Jensen Ackles." 🤣
I received an ARC of this book, but these opinions are my own. I would like to thank the author, Nadia El-Fassi, Dell Romance, and Net Galley for allowing me the privilege of reading her work. ❤️
Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi
Rosemary Shaw is a popular author of historical horror novels, one of which is being made into a movie. She also wrote the screenplay and is going to be an executive producer. Which is all new to her. However, she feels that they have cast the MMC all wrong.
Ellis Finch is a seasoned actor, mostly known for his roles in action movies. However, he really wants to branch out from those roles and is excited to be in this film adaptation. He has heard that the writer thinks he's wrong for the part, and he can't wait to prove her wrong.
They finally meet, and it's definitely not a meet cute. 🤣 Slowly, they begin to realize that there's more to each other than their public personas. They become friends and start spending time together. Secrets are revealed by both of them, and they begin a secret relationship. Together, they manage to find their HEA through a few ghost encounters, a horrible agent, some media drama, and even a 3rd act break-up.
These two are perfect for each other from the start. There's definitely some hate to love vibes happening, and there's excellent banter and spice. Use caution, I cried every single time Hank was in a scene. Like a full-on blubbering mess! And the first time I read Rosemary's dad's full name, my brain was like, "Ooh, Jensen Ackles." 🤣
I received an ARC of this book, but these opinions are my own. I would like to thank the author, Nadia El-Fassi, Dell Romance, and Net Galley for allowing me the privilege of reading her work. ❤️
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
There is so much love in this book. Rough yet tender romantic love (shown through bi, gay, and straight relationships), everlasting love among friends, unconditional love between humans and their companion animals, undying love between a parent and child, passionate love for creating art and growing plants. This book is overflowing with love and reading it was a warm balm to my soul.
Nadia El-Fassi knows what she’s doing when against the backdrop of a sleepy and moss-covered British cottage, her couple is getting it on. I love the juxtaposition and duality she gives her FMCs. Yes they can be smart and witty and enjoy quaint hobbies like bird-watching, but they can also be confident in their sexuality and their desires. Like Persephone, they run a little garden and also the gates of hell. But then we always come back to the cozy warmth of a cup of tea in the crisp October air, a freshly baked goodie, or a delicate bundle of herbs, and we know we are safe in Nadia’s world.
I really appreciate the care and queer-normative way Nadia’s books are built. Everyone is at least a little gay, and we see so many different types of journeys of self-love and self-acceptance. She confronts homophobia and biphobia, but through the lens of regency era ghosts and a modern day Mr. Darcy? Say less. I am also here for every single Jane Austen reference. From the heated discussion between Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey (an Austen book way underhyped imo), and Persuasion — to the (many) scenes of a certain puffy white shirt getting soaked in the rain (“Ellis’s billowing white shirt had been sent to torment her”), and then of course the reference to Fordyce’s Sermons that made me crack up. This is the ultimate read if you ever wished to hear Jane Austen, ghosts, and queerness all in the same sentence.
The dom/sub power play between Ellis and Rosemary was really well done. You got the sense that the characters truly felt safe around one another and that trust was the backbone of their physical relationship. It made me so happy to see a curvy queen like Rosemary getting her flowers!! We love thick thighs and we cannot lie.
I will always turn to a cozy yet erotic Nadia El-Fassi romance on the cold autumn nights when life gets a little tough. This is a beautiful book, and I am really grateful to have read an early copy.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
This was a fun cozy paranormal romance. Rosemary Shaw is a horror book author and one of her books is being made into a movie. She also has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. She goes to the UK to be involved in the film adaptation of her book and meets Ellis Finch, who Rosemary absolutely did not want as the actor in the lead role. There is a bit of insta-attraction, so their relationship felt a little rushed to me, but I still enjoyed it. While Rosemary & Ellis are figuring things out between themselves, ghosts are haunting and disrupting the set and Rosemary decides to help them out. This little side plot was one of the highlights for me. Love at First Fright was a fun quick read – and is a perfect choice for a fall read.
Thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
4.5⭐️
This was a fun, paranormal read! I love a good paranormal romance and this one had all the ghostly elements that I want in a paranormal romance. I thought the setting was perfect for this type of book! I loved Ellis and Rosemary and their chemistry. Check this out if you’re looking for a ghostly read this fall!
Thank you Dell and NetGalley for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.
This was a fun, paranormal read! I love a good paranormal romance and this one had all the ghostly elements that I want in a paranormal romance. I thought the setting was perfect for this type of book! I loved Ellis and Rosemary and their chemistry. Check this out if you’re looking for a ghostly read this fall!
Thank you Dell and NetGalley for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
👻 Bookish Thoughts
This was such an adorable cozy paranormal read! I was sold the second I realized there was a ghost dog involved 😭 Hank totally stole my heart, and I stayed obsessed with him the whole time.
This was such an adorable cozy paranormal read! I was sold the second I realized there was a ghost dog involved 😭 Hank totally stole my heart, and I stayed obsessed with him the whole time.
I immediately loved Rosemary and Ellis! They had great chemistry, and I loved the author x grumpy actor relationship. The spice was 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Them living in a haunted manor together was fun. I LOVED the sapphic regency ghost lovers and the surprising amount of queer rep throughout the story. This whole section of the book was cozy, funny and would make for a perfect book to read during spooky season!
Them living in a haunted manor together was fun. I LOVED the sapphic regency ghost lovers and the surprising amount of queer rep throughout the story. This whole section of the book was cozy, funny and would make for a perfect book to read during spooky season!
That said, I really didn’t care for the Agent Brody storyline. It made the last portion of the book feel like a different book. The tone changed, the pacing felt off, and the wrap up felt super rushed. It honestly pulled me out of the cozy, paranormal vibes I was loving so much.
I wanted to give this 5 stars. It was that close. But the last 80 pages just didn’t work for me.
🐕 What You Can Expect
• Ghost dog bestie
• Cozy haunted manor
• Author x actor dynamic
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
• Grumpy MMC
• Age-gap romance
• Queer rep
⭐Final Score: 4 stars
📅 Pub Date: September 16, 2025
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
What a delight, I think I liked this even more than I liked Nadia El-Fassi’s first book. Was it perfect? Probably not (there are some plot holes, and I don’t condone sex while actively operating a vehicle), but it’s been a while since I didn’t want to put a book down. I’d stay up too late reading this before bed, wake up early to read before work, and read it during my lunch hour just because I wanted to get back to Rosemary, Ellis, and all the charming ghosts in chilly England. (Escapism from our current summer heatwave? Maybe.) I hope there’ll be more to come in this world.
2.5 stars! I received an ARC for Love at First Fright from NetGalley. The premise behind the book was interesting and well thought out. It was extremely spicy, almost to an eyebrow raising point. Please note that the author does a good job of noting trigger points before the story. I (honestly) should have read the triggers better. Overall, the book was good and had a good flow to it. I just think it wasn’t the right book for me. Thank you again for the ARC!
I absolutely loved Best Hex Ever so I was really excited for this one. I think I enjoyed it overall, it just didn't hit the same as Best Hex Ever. The ghost-seeing didn't really seem crucial to the plot and I thought the 3rd act conflict was pretty forced. The pacing also seemed a bit off. There is dom/sub dynamics and a lot of spice so keep that in mind when deciding to read
Overall this was fine!
3/5
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for a review copy of this book--all opinions my own!
Overall this was fine!
3/5
Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for a review copy of this book--all opinions my own!