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lurieta 's review for:
Love At First Fright
by Nadia El-Fassi
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! This is the second book by Nadia El-Fassi that I have read, and while I think I enjoyed Best Hex Ever more, I did find myself really drawn to Rosemary's character in Love at First Fright. Since she was young, Rosemary Shaw can see and communicate with ghosts. It has helped fuel her career as a horror writer, and now one of her books is being adapted into a feature film! There's just one problem: the leading actor, Ellis Finch, Rosemary is convinced, is completely wrong for the part. But for Ellis, this is an opportunity to break out of his action star role to participate in a more serious film, if only the writer and one of the producers, Rosemary, would give him a chance.
Much like in Best Hex Ever, I was often more interested in Rosemary's career as a horror writer, her interests and insecurities as someone branching into a new stage of their career, and of course her powers as someone who can communicate with the dead. While I love an enemies to lovers plot as much as the next person, and Rosemary and Ellis' dynamic grew on me, I did find it hard in the beginning to see the attraction between the two of them, as it felt a bit forced. Later in book, I liked how they naturally bonded and their tenderness and understanding of each other's needs, their past losses and insecurities grew. Overall, I was just less interested in Ellis as a character in the beginning, but I appreciated that his character developed more nuance over time, especially as he explores his bisexuality. Rosemary's friendships with Dina and Immy always warmed my heart, and I loved the ruminations that this book gave on the many forms of grief that Rosemary and Ellis experience that eventually brings them closer together.
Nadia El-Fassi is fast becoming an auto-read author for me, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!
Much like in Best Hex Ever, I was often more interested in Rosemary's career as a horror writer, her interests and insecurities as someone branching into a new stage of their career, and of course her powers as someone who can communicate with the dead. While I love an enemies to lovers plot as much as the next person, and Rosemary and Ellis' dynamic grew on me, I did find it hard in the beginning to see the attraction between the two of them, as it felt a bit forced. Later in book, I liked how they naturally bonded and their tenderness and understanding of each other's needs, their past losses and insecurities grew. Overall, I was just less interested in Ellis as a character in the beginning, but I appreciated that his character developed more nuance over time, especially as he explores his bisexuality. Rosemary's friendships with Dina and Immy always warmed my heart, and I loved the ruminations that this book gave on the many forms of grief that Rosemary and Ellis experience that eventually brings them closer together.
Nadia El-Fassi is fast becoming an auto-read author for me, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Death of parent