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thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.25
A very sweet and—despite being about ghosts—realistic look at loss, love, and life events. This isn’t strictly a romance, but the romance found within the pages is tender and charming and at times, a little sad and a little bleak. But that’s what makes it feel so real. The writing reminded me of Beth O’Leary meets Sally Thorne.
In a word, this story was unexpected. I was expecting more of a cute paranormal romance, but that’s not really what it was. I was expecting it to go in many different directions than it did. In the end, I really loved where it went.
I would also say this book is like (the family drama of) The Haunting of Hill House mixed with a touch of Sixth Sense meets Ghosts (UK version all the way) with a little Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Just Like Heaven and Six Feet Under. If that gives you any idea at all of the genres this novel encompasses. In other words, a great book for the season that isn’t scary!
AND great LGBTQ+ rep in this one!!
In a word, this story was unexpected. I was expecting more of a cute paranormal romance, but that’s not really what it was. I was expecting it to go in many different directions than it did. In the end, I really loved where it went.
I would also say this book is like (the family drama of) The Haunting of Hill House mixed with a touch of Sixth Sense meets Ghosts (UK version all the way) with a little Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Just Like Heaven and Six Feet Under. If that gives you any idea at all of the genres this novel encompasses. In other words, a great book for the season that isn’t scary!
AND great LGBTQ+ rep in this one!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Blood, Abandonment, and Alcohol
threeundertwopnw's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
5.0
I wept, I screamed. An impossible romance that is unexpectedly profound. A beautiful story that helped me with issues around death and grief. Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
kfmcf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
This book was a solid read overall. It was quick and enjoyable. I liked the premise, I liked the characters, it was a good time.
I really liked the town of this story. I understood the people, it felt like a real town but with a little extra magic. Florence's family was also fun and the dynamics were enjoyable her never seeing her dad as a ghost was the correct choice. It would have been really hard to pull off well so I think her seeing the ghost of him in what he left behind was far more effective </spoiler >
I was frustrated by a few things:
1) the twist. this twist was not hard to see and that's fine, it doesn't need to be mind blowing. But obviously Ben was in a coma. I wish Florence had known and was working with him to wake up instead. It could have still worked without Ben knowing he wasn't dead. The twist about her being a literal ghostwriter tho was fun.
2) Ben was unbelievable as a real guy. He felt very much like a geeky girl's dream. I wanted a bit more depth from him. I like The Princess Bride as much as the next but oy the quote. I also found it hard to believe that her book, that sold extremely poorly, changed his whole outlook on novels (romance in particular). Especially if his grandmother was so prolific.
3) the NAME dropping my gosh. We get it you read. This book made so many references to other authors and books and every time it just completely yoinked me out of the story.
I also want to say, that when the MC is supposed to decompress by writing smut - you expect the spice to be great. And it really wasn't. It was very late and felt super tacked on. I think the chemistry between the two leads not being the best might have contributed.
These complaints are more nitpicky than they seem - I did still really enjoy the book and will pick up what the author writes next.
I really liked the town of this story. I understood the people, it felt like a real town but with a little extra magic. Florence's family was also fun and the dynamics were enjoyable
I was frustrated by a few things:
1) the twist.
2) Ben was unbelievable as a real guy. He felt very much like a geeky girl's dream. I wanted a bit more depth from him. I like The Princess Bride as much as the next but oy the quote.
3) the NAME dropping my gosh. We get it you read. This book made so many references to other authors and books and every time it just completely yoinked me out of the story.
I also want to say, that when the MC is supposed to decompress by writing smut - you expect the spice to be great. And it really wasn't. It was very late and felt super tacked on. I think the chemistry between the two leads not being the best might have contributed.
These complaints are more nitpicky than they seem - I did still really enjoy the book and will pick up what the author writes next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Car accident
Minor: Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
maria1085'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
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book surprised me in the best way! It was not your typical rom-com and I think that is what I liked best about it. The writing was great, the character development was well done. I liked that it had deeper issues, especially the topic of grief. It was funny, heartwarming, and just overall a delightful read. I really also liked the main character Florence. Her cynical, disillusioned beliefs about love being dead was a fun perspective.
Florence is a ghostwriter for one of the most famous romance writers and needs to finish her last book. But how can she write a love story when she doesn't believe in love. Her new editor Ben tells her she needs to finish it, but when her father dies and she goes home everything changes. Ben is all of a sudden dead and comes to her as a ghost. The events that follow of course include them developing feelings for one another, but what kind of future can she have with a ghost?
If you like the 90s classic Casper with Christina Ricci, felt like you never really fit in, or just like an emotional, touching love story, then you will love this book! ~Maria
Florence is a ghostwriter for one of the most famous romance writers and needs to finish her last book. But how can she write a love story when she doesn't believe in love. Her new editor Ben tells her she needs to finish it, but when her father dies and she goes home everything changes. Ben is all of a sudden dead and comes to her as a ghost. The events that follow of course include them developing feelings for one another, but what kind of future can she have with a ghost?
If you like the 90s classic Casper with Christina Ricci, felt like you never really fit in, or just like an emotional, touching love story, then you will love this book! ~Maria
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Unquestionably one of my top 5 reads so far this year. A touching and resonating novel that deals with grief and love in equal measure, with a happy ending that is completely earned, not forced. I feel like this review isn’t doing it justice. Just read it!
Content warnings: death of a parent, details of funeral arrangements, past emotional abuse and gaslighting in a relationship
Content warnings: death of a parent, details of funeral arrangements, past emotional abuse and gaslighting in a relationship
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
professor_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
headinthepages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
stardustandrockets's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
This book deserves ALL OF THE STARS! Poston really outdid herself with this one. The feeling of grief was so viscerally present throughout the book. I spoiled myself on events of the ending about halfway through because I kept reading the questions in the Reader's Guide at the back of the book. I also guessed a major plot point about the ending about 100 pages in, but that didn't ruin anything for me. This has been the first book to make me cry in my adult life (if you don't count Fruits Basket). It's such a beautifully written book and it'll stay with me for a good long while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Car accident, Murder, and Alcohol
There's one HP reference in relation to publishing, so not a pop culture referenceiamsammie27's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
This book is adorable and heavy (weird combination, I know) and combines some of my favorite things: romance books, cemetery/death humor and over the top puns. Did it make me cry? Yes yes it did. Did I stay up until 2am because I needed to know the ending? Also, Yes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Emotional abuse, Car accident, and Gaslighting
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