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2.88 AVERAGE
2.88 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this Arc!
This book is both horror and romance. I don’t really like to be scared so like why would I read this book?? I don’t usually read horror so to me it was a bit creepy at certain parts, but it wasn’t super scary overall. I’d say this book is mild horror, so win for a scaredy cat like me! The romance was good, but I did feel like their switch from enemies to lovers was a little fast and their hating each other wasn’t built up enough for me. But Neil?? I loved him
This book is both horror and romance. I don’t really like to be scared so like why would I read this book?? I don’t usually read horror so to me it was a bit creepy at certain parts, but it wasn’t super scary overall. I’d say this book is mild horror, so win for a scaredy cat like me! The romance was good, but I did feel like their switch from enemies to lovers was a little fast and their hating each other wasn’t built up enough for me. But Neil?? I loved him
adventurous
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
lighthearted
Edit: I've lowered the rating to 1 star after TAAF recently released a report that Colby Wilkens's claims of Cherokee and Choctaw ancestry cannot be verified. Lots of Americans have some sort of "family myth" about an ancestor being from a nation, but that becomes particularly harmful when it's 1) hasn't been proved, 2) appropriated/used as a core part of that person's identity, and 3) used for marketing and profit. There are real Native American authors to read and support!
October 2024:
I was SO excited for this book because who wouldn’t want to read a book set in a haunted castle in Scottland??? The premise just sounded awesome.
If I Stopped Haunting You follows Penelope, an Indigenous writer who has been experiencing some tough times lately. She hasn’t produced a book in over 5 years and the whole literary world hates her after a public spat she initiated at a book convention.
The other side of this spat belongs to Neil, another Indigenous writer who had no problems lately. Penelope can’t stand the sight of him because she believes he’s had no problems in his life for two reasons: he is a man and he looks Indigenous. Penelope has struggled her whole life with people saying she isn’t Indigenous enough because her skin tone is white.
Lets start with the pros: setting, location, and writing. I really liked Colby Wilkens writing. It was easy, but I didn’t feel lazy. I have Wilkens’ next ARC on my kindle, and even though I didn’t enjoy this one much, I will be reading her next. Of course, the setting and location were great. I enjoyed the spookiness of the castle, but I wish we got to see Scottland more.
Now for the cons: The characters and the plot. I didn’t like Penelope and I only kind of liked Neil. I didn’t like the decisions that were made and I didn’t like how Penelope treated Neil. The whole reason her feud with Neil began was so dumb and I couldn’t believe someone could dislike someone so much because of such a pointless reason. I also didn’t enjoy how insta-lusty the relationship between Pen and Neil was. There was no longing, no love, no pining. Instead, Pen absolutely hates Neil on day one and wants to jump his bones on day two. Some people may enjoy that kind of romance, but I want there to be some substance in the relationship.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 2024:
I was SO excited for this book because who wouldn’t want to read a book set in a haunted castle in Scottland??? The premise just sounded awesome.
If I Stopped Haunting You follows Penelope, an Indigenous writer who has been experiencing some tough times lately. She hasn’t produced a book in over 5 years and the whole literary world hates her after a public spat she initiated at a book convention.
The other side of this spat belongs to Neil, another Indigenous writer who had no problems lately. Penelope can’t stand the sight of him because she believes he’s had no problems in his life for two reasons: he is a man and he looks Indigenous. Penelope has struggled her whole life with people saying she isn’t Indigenous enough because her skin tone is white.
Lets start with the pros: setting, location, and writing. I really liked Colby Wilkens writing. It was easy, but I didn’t feel lazy. I have Wilkens’ next ARC on my kindle, and even though I didn’t enjoy this one much, I will be reading her next. Of course, the setting and location were great. I enjoyed the spookiness of the castle, but I wish we got to see Scottland more.
Now for the cons: The characters and the plot. I didn’t like Penelope and I only kind of liked Neil. I didn’t like the decisions that were made and I didn’t like how Penelope treated Neil. The whole reason her feud with Neil began was so dumb and I couldn’t believe someone could dislike someone so much because of such a pointless reason. I also didn’t enjoy how insta-lusty the relationship between Pen and Neil was. There was no longing, no love, no pining. Instead, Pen absolutely hates Neil on day one and wants to jump his bones on day two. Some people may enjoy that kind of romance, but I want there to be some substance in the relationship.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Penelope and Neil are Indigenous authors with a tumultuous past; at a recent BookCon panel, Pen wound up pelting Neil with a book after berating him for betraying their people with his writing. Since then, she's gone into hiding and neither have had any success getting work done. So when a mutual friend sets up a writers' retreat in a haunted Scotland castle, they both accept...not knowing the other is there.
This book is part romance, part horror/thriller. At the castle, Pen and Neil both pretty much immediately start having strange experiences, while the other two writers don't. (Also, I always assumed writers retreats were more formal, with more people? I don't know.) There's ghosts and then there's Neil and Pen thinking about how attracted to each other they are, with Pen spending a lot of time being like, "But I hate him!"
The premise of the book isn't bad, but the execution isn't really there. Pen has complicated reasons for disliking Neil, but I spent a lot of time thinking that the backstory didn't fit her actions. Neil I liked more, but still found their relationship...off. And I got a bit of whiplash going between their story and the ghost story. The ghost story was also not great. The "mystery" of the ghosts was fairly obvious, and I was annoyed with the characters for just, like, putting aside the journal and letters they found. And the conclusion of the ghost story was both underwhelming and completely bizarre.
That said, I really appreciated the discussion of the issues facing BIPOC authors in publishing. That was great.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
This book is part romance, part horror/thriller. At the castle, Pen and Neil both pretty much immediately start having strange experiences, while the other two writers don't. (Also, I always assumed writers retreats were more formal, with more people? I don't know.) There's ghosts and then there's Neil and Pen thinking about how attracted to each other they are, with Pen spending a lot of time being like, "But I hate him!"
The premise of the book isn't bad, but the execution isn't really there. Pen has complicated reasons for disliking Neil, but I spent a lot of time thinking that the backstory didn't fit her actions. Neil I liked more, but still found their relationship...off. And I got a bit of whiplash going between their story and the ghost story. The ghost story was also not great. The "mystery" of the ghosts was fairly obvious, and I was annoyed with the characters for just, like, putting aside the journal and letters they found. And the conclusion of the ghost story was both underwhelming and completely bizarre.
That said, I really appreciated the discussion of the issues facing BIPOC authors in publishing. That was great.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
The premise of this book sounded so cute and fun. I was excited for a romcom set in a haunted castle with two enemies/rivals romance.
So, what made this not work for me? The assault right up at the front. When someone intentionally throws a book hard enough to leave a scar? That’s honestly unsettling. If the roles were reversed and he hit her? Would that be okay? No. This could’ve been done with Pen missing Neil — but no.
I really wish things were done different but she gaslights and blames him. And I just feel it was toxic and not cute. Also way too many usages of “fingers”
This book, and this author aren’t for me.
So, what made this not work for me? The assault right up at the front. When someone intentionally throws a book hard enough to leave a scar? That’s honestly unsettling. If the roles were reversed and he hit her? Would that be okay? No. This could’ve been done with Pen missing Neil — but no.
I really wish things were done different but she gaslights and blames him. And I just feel it was toxic and not cute. Also way too many usages of “fingers”
This book, and this author aren’t for me.
fast-paced
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I mean…what’s not to like? Forced proximity? Good! Enemies to lovers? Goooodd? Horror? Ghosts? Good and good! I loved this book! Should be perfect for a near Halloween release
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-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