Scan barcode
whatiskatelynreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ultimately, this was just not for me. The depictions of grief were sincere and well done. There was just too much millennial cringe in this one for my taste, and the near-constant references to real life books and authors took me out of the story every time they popped up. I loved the concept but the book dragged for me, was too predictable and repetitive, and felt too much like reading fanfic for my taste.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
heytaytayhey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Cursing
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Death
royalwaves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My thoughts while reading: Well, fuck another book that’s gotten me tearing up. I swear if there isn’t a twist at the end where the editor isn’t dead but is just in a coma I’m gonna be pissed. Also, fuck Lee the thing he did is one of my biggest fears as a writer. I Love Mayor 10/10 best boy. What’s with people's fascination with big hands? Like seriously why? Also, the climbing him like a tree comment. I could never answer the question of who my book boyfriend was but Ben might fit that for me. I just love Florence’s family I feel like I could easily fit in and breathe. Smiles all around because of this man. This is 100% going to be my first 5-star romance of the year and possibly the only one of the year. This low-key made me believe in love again. I didn’t think I lost my belief in it until I read this and shit. Blinking away tears constantly and need to go out and buy a physical copy. I don’t care for sex scenes so I was kind of happy that there was only kind of one and the… I honestly don’t know how to describe it. But, it not actually being physical and it just being Ben telling Florence what he wanted to do didn’t bother me. Called the twist. Happy tears.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity and Bullying
vnavarro's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
hellosarahpham's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
fuchsiarascal's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Okay, I'm gonna say it: this isn't a romance book. If you're looking for a fluffy romance, this probably isn't it. There's romance in it, sure, but that's not really the focus. But what it is is great: a story about a woman coming to terms with her father's death, as well as her unique skills that have brought her a lot of trouble in her life, as she's going through a tumultuous year and rethinking everything she thought she knew (can we say Saturn return?). And yes, as someone who has Dead Dad Issues (tm), the focus on her father's death, and all the feelings that come along with that, made me tear up a lot. Even the good moments.
There are plenty of things that don't make sense and are just "quirky", sure. Like this town "ran her out" because she was a teenager who helped solve a murder and said a ghost helped her... but then that same town has a freaking dog as a mayor? (And really, it just seems like it was the "popular kids" who had an issue with it, but... teenagers are awful, no reason to say the whole town ran you out.) Towns that elect dogs, three elections running, as mayor are way more likely to be accepting of someone talking to ghosts, in my opinion.
There's romance. It's not light, it's not fluffy, it's with a ghost who is leaving this world behind faster than most, faster than she'd like. It's romance in the old tragic tales, and it's beautiful.
(And here be spoilers.)
And on that note... honestly, I'd been spoiled on the twist, but I was pretty disappointed with the actual ending. The ending at 84%, when Benji leaves for the last time, was beautiful and tragic and wonderful. It hit all the right notes of those tragic romance Merthur fanfics I used to read. It's probably just me, but I would've liked the story better if the author had committed to Benji being dead and not just in a coma that he woke up from. Even in the context of the character's development, Benji being dead but her believing in love again because of him and their ghostly connection would've made a ton of sense. But romances need their happy endings, I guess. (I definitely read very different fanfic lol.)
Even aside from that, the last couple chapterswhen she goes home for her brother's wedding run the problem of continuing after the story was done, wanting to tie everything up with a nice little bow. I was listening to the audiobook and thought the book was over a couple times before it actually ended. They weren't terrible chapters, but they were extremely superfluous and left nothing to the readers' imagination about the future. They weren't even labeled as an epilogue, I could've seen that (although still unnecessary), but... yeah, I think the book should've ended before it did.
Still, it was a very enjoyable read, it hit a lot of emotions for me, and I'd recommend it as long as people aren't expecting a fluffy romance.
There are plenty of things that don't make sense and are just "quirky", sure. Like this town "ran her out" because she was a teenager who helped solve a murder and said a ghost helped her... but then that same town has a freaking dog as a mayor? (And really, it just seems like it was the "popular kids" who had an issue with it, but... teenagers are awful, no reason to say the whole town ran you out.) Towns that elect dogs, three elections running, as mayor are way more likely to be accepting of someone talking to ghosts, in my opinion.
There's romance. It's not light, it's not fluffy, it's with a ghost who is leaving this world behind faster than most, faster than she'd like. It's romance in the old tragic tales, and it's beautiful.
(And here be spoilers.)
Even aside from that, the last couple chapters
Still, it was a very enjoyable read, it hit a lot of emotions for me, and I'd recommend it as long as people aren't expecting a fluffy romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol
kathkaf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
autumnlpalmer1976's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
jackie_recommends's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
chapters_and_pages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love a cute romance and this one definitely didn’t disappoint!
After a bad breakup, Florence Day has lost all belief in love, which isn’t ideal considering she’s the ghostwriter of a popular romance author. Struggling to finish her next book, Florence’s problems begin mounting up with the death of her beloved father. Returning to her childhood home and the family run funeral parlour, Florence must deal with not only the passing of her father and her grieving family, but the sudden and ghostly appearance of Ben, her handsome new editor. Romance is most certainly dead…
I really enjoyed this book! It did get a little too cheesy for me in places, hence the 4 stars but overall I really enjoyed it.
I’ll be honest, about halfway through, I did guess the ending, and although, I can understand why some people weren’t a fan of it, I actually didn’t mind it too much.
I loved the characters of this book, particularly the two leads, Florence and Ben, as well as Florence’s sister, Alice, and I’d love a spin off book about her!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death