Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by onelittlearchive
Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A personal goal of mine in 2025 is to find a contemporary romance I like. When it comes to romance I love it the weirder and more bizarre it is and contemporary doesn't usually give that to me. But why not start with the romance in a town full of ghosts!
Haunted Ever After is a pretty easy read. I liked the premise of Boneyard Key, this small tourist town in Florida known for being haunted because its residents stick around long after they die. Cassie, looking for a fresh start, buys the house everyone in town knows for belonging to a rather mean spirit but she doesn't.
Cassie and Nick's romance was fine. I didn't particularly love the conflict resolution and the "Cassie is going back to Orlando if I can't convince her to say" felt pretty manufactured. There was no time limit or some pressing circumstance that would make that feel inevitable nor was she so terrified of her haunted house that she felt like she had to get the hell out of there. She had felt forgotten by her friends and wanted to do something new so I didn't really think it was as big of a deal as Nick kept making it out to be.
I do wish there was more ghost stuff, which as someone who reads a lot of horror is definitely on me. Did I maybe think this book was about her falling in love with a ghost? Possibly. If you're a contemporary romance enjoyer who likes small town vibes and a little twist on the trope you'll probably enjoy this one.
Haunted Ever After is a pretty easy read. I liked the premise of Boneyard Key, this small tourist town in Florida known for being haunted because its residents stick around long after they die. Cassie, looking for a fresh start, buys the house everyone in town knows for belonging to a rather mean spirit but she doesn't.
Cassie and Nick's romance was fine. I didn't particularly love the conflict resolution and the "Cassie is going back to Orlando if I can't convince her to say" felt pretty manufactured. There was no time limit or some pressing circumstance that would make that feel inevitable nor was she so terrified of her haunted house that she felt like she had to get the hell out of there. She had felt forgotten by her friends and wanted to do something new so I didn't really think it was as big of a deal as Nick kept making it out to be.
I do wish there was more ghost stuff, which as someone who reads a lot of horror is definitely on me. Did I maybe think this book was about her falling in love with a ghost? Possibly. If you're a contemporary romance enjoyer who likes small town vibes and a little twist on the trope you'll probably enjoy this one.