A review by risse
Ghosted by J.M. Darhower

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

four stars! ★ It left me with a bittersweet after-read. 

Ghosted hits differently. I like how the characters really have depth within their stories and personalities. It has a second chance romance and a pregnancy romance. What makes this interesting for me is the addiction, drugs, and alcoholism elements here, because it's a taboo topic for me, and I always get terrified with stories that tackle similar topics because I always think that it will end badly. 

However, this story took a turn. It was inspiring. I hadn't admired a character this much until Jonathan and Kennedy. (Though I have a love-hate impression of Jonathan.) 

I admired Kennedy so much! Reading her side of the story through her notebook was so heartbreaking for me. Kennedy was so young to fall in love and face the rough parts of the world and industry that she tried so hard for Jonny to get in. Kennedy has a self-less love for Jonathan, which I find so brave because you put that person as your priority. At the same time, it breaks my heart because it makes you so fragile and vulnerable, and once that person leaves, it will absolutely destroy you. 

He took my heart with him when he left, but I’m going to need it back. I’m going to need it for what’s to come, so I can try to protect it, so it doesn’t shatter when this new version of you hits bottom.

Which takes me to Jonny/Jonathan. I like that he loves Kennedy and chooses to run and chase his dream. It always makes a story so heartwarming with characters chasing the dream they love. But I think he got so blinded by that dream. With addiction, drugs, and women, he destroyed himself... and Kennedy as well. I hate that to the core. 

Because it’s coming, Jonathan. Your dream has become my nightmare, and I’m begging you to let me wake up.

Though it was admirable of him to muster the courage to seek treatment for himself, Kennedy, and their child. Maddie was such a sweet girl, and Kennedy was a strong and brave woman. The side characters were awesome too. Meghan and Jacks were hilarious and real go-getters. 

How I wish the story or the author gave Kennedy some time to shine more. She was portrayed as always writing, so I thought later in the story she would be successful and write her own book. Kennedy helped Jonny to achieve his dream. I was hoping that Jonny would reciprocate that support too.  I think the author decided that Kennedy's only purpose (and success) was to have Maddie (their kid), which was fine; she's a mother now. But was it so bad to have an external success? 

You don’t know this, but that woman? Even as she smiles, she’s utterly terrified. Your love is more than enough for her, but she feels pieces of it slipping away. Something inside of her is disintegrating. Her dream. She’s losing it.

Nonetheless, I love the story, the characters, the elements, and all! Though it definitely left me bittersweet because the ending was somewhat anti-climatic, I was really looking forward to seeing Kennedy. 
Highly recommended!

It became the story of a wandering man, one whose dream was killing him.
It became the story of a heartbroken woman, one who found her purpose.


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