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A review by bookishvalkyrie
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
The way I LOVED THIS BOOK. 🥹 it’s definitely high on my list of recommendations, because I think it was so well done, and so well-balanced.
I’ve always struggled with contemporary romance books — sometimes I devoured them in a day, but more often, I DNF’d them. This book finally helped me pinpoint WHY that is. I need a good balance! It can’t just be about the romance, and Ashley Poston has done this so well, in The Dead Romantics! The romance is almost a subplot, as you also see themes of Florence coming home to town where she’s never really been welcome, strained family dynamics, processing and navigating grief, all while kind of falling in love with a dead guy… trust me, it makes sense when you read it. 💀 in any case — the balance made it unputdownable.
And Florence. OH MY GOSH, Florence. There is so much about her that feels like me. 🥹 I love finding characters that I can relate to. She is fiercely independent, sometimes the point of detriment. She loves reading and writing, kind of awkward in social situations, but also really good at playing it cool. 😅 She doesn’t share a lot of the deep parts of herself, because history has shown how disastrous that ends up being. All in all, a solidly relatable character, for me. 🥹
FLORENCE’S DAD. We only get small glimpses of him, as his is the funeral she’s gone home for (not a spoiler! It’s in the synopsis.) but the bits we do get?? Oh my goodness, does he remind me of my own dad. 😂🖤 right down to jamming out to “Build Me Up Buttercup” at full volume.
And yes, I did enjoy the romance (even if it was with a ghost - also in the synopsis). Ben was my favorite brand of slightly-buttoned-up-but-also-a-golden-retriever. 🥹 Their dynamic is one that I really enjoyed! I remember at one point, while reading on FT with friends, I said “Guys! I think I’m falling in love with a ghost!” 😅
All in all, a new favorite, and one that I absolutely recommend! 🖤
‼️CW: sudden death of a parent. (The passing is mentioned in the synopsis, but want to put it here, just to be safe)
I’ve always struggled with contemporary romance books — sometimes I devoured them in a day, but more often, I DNF’d them. This book finally helped me pinpoint WHY that is. I need a good balance! It can’t just be about the romance, and Ashley Poston has done this so well, in The Dead Romantics! The romance is almost a subplot, as you also see themes of Florence coming home to town where she’s never really been welcome, strained family dynamics, processing and navigating grief, all while kind of falling in love with a dead guy… trust me, it makes sense when you read it. 💀 in any case — the balance made it unputdownable.
And Florence. OH MY GOSH, Florence. There is so much about her that feels like me. 🥹 I love finding characters that I can relate to. She is fiercely independent, sometimes the point of detriment. She loves reading and writing, kind of awkward in social situations, but also really good at playing it cool. 😅 She doesn’t share a lot of the deep parts of herself, because history has shown how disastrous that ends up being. All in all, a solidly relatable character, for me. 🥹
FLORENCE’S DAD. We only get small glimpses of him, as his is the funeral she’s gone home for (not a spoiler! It’s in the synopsis.) but the bits we do get?? Oh my goodness, does he remind me of my own dad. 😂🖤 right down to jamming out to “Build Me Up Buttercup” at full volume.
And yes, I did enjoy the romance (even if it was with a ghost - also in the synopsis). Ben was my favorite brand of slightly-buttoned-up-but-also-a-golden-retriever. 🥹 Their dynamic is one that I really enjoyed! I remember at one point, while reading on FT with friends, I said “Guys! I think I’m falling in love with a ghost!” 😅
All in all, a new favorite, and one that I absolutely recommend! 🖤
‼️CW: sudden death of a parent. (The passing is mentioned in the synopsis, but want to put it here, just to be safe)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent