Reviews

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

typeonereader's review

emotional funny hopeful sad 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? Yes

4.0

andireadsromance's review

emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

5.0

This book wrecked me in the best way. Once I stopped I couldn’t stop reading. It’s so good! I am not a big cryer. I’ve read hundreds of romance books since 2020 and only a handful have made me tear up slightly. To say I was bawling at times with this is an understatement, so prepare yourselves with tissues. 

kris10v's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

This book was like a warm hug, as romance novels ought to be. Reading The Dead Romantics was such a celebration of personal growth, family, romance, and reading. Ashley Poston’s writing may be one of my new favorites with her quirky quips and passionate words which make the protagonist so much more endearing. 

I LOVED the ending, it was perfection and had me smiling from ear to ear for the last 5 chapters and I also adored all the little literary references. 

I wouldn’t say I was enamored or enthralled by the book, and it was more hard to pick back up then put down most times but that doesn’t take away from the warmth and love I felt while reading it. I will also be reading anything Ashley Poston writes from now on. 

eleana_p's review

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.75

amandalyn's review against another edition

3.0

3.25 stars.
I wanted to like this book so much, but the never ending pop culture references and name dropping really took me out of it. The writing was good, characters were interesting, and while the plot was a little predictable, it was still a sweet love story. But man, every time a name was drop or a reference was made (which was like every two pages) all I could think was how dated this book is going to feel in five years. Completely disconnected me from the story every time.

maiakunkel's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

4.0

alishalnixon's review against another edition

4.5

Okay this was delightfully weird. Kooky without being corny. Although the author kind of implies that SHE thinks it’s corny, I didn’t think so. There are so, so many romance books out there that get so corny I completely lose my disbelief and can’t wait for it to be over. This one wasn’t that way. In a world where a main character can see ghosts, I think you have some leeway with what those characters can do and how they can interact because the normal rules are gone.  Anyway, it was fun, the romance felt real, the pay off at the end was a big happy sigh. I did feel like it had multiple ending syndrome but… I didn’t mind. It was nice to see the story keep going. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

lottielussekatt's review

4.0

This might be one of the first romance books where I am happy it got a happy end. Also, maybe don’t read this book if you too had a parent die unexpectedly and are still way deep into your grief journey. Just saying, don’t think one is supposed to be crying reading a romance novel as much as I did. Anyway. Only four stars because I did think some parts were dragging way too long and also I feel like I would have liked the ending to be differently. Like when she goes to the hospital and punches Lee in the face? Surely Benji would have heard about it but he didn’t get in contact with Florence afterwards? Find that hard to believe…

emcclin's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

bookswithkarolina's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5