Review: Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I have been a fan of Jen DeLuca’s work since her debut, Well Met, came out in 2019. That was the Summer I really got into contemporary romance and I credit that book for being a part of it! When I saw this cover and title, and then read the synopsis, I knew it was going to be a must read for me! And I really enjoyed it. Thanks to Libro.fm I also got to sample the audio and I think it was such a fun way to read this book!
Synopsis:
“Small Florida coastal towns often find themselves scrambling for the tourism dollars that the Orlando theme parks leave behind. And within the town limits of Boneyard Key, the residents decided long ago to lean into its ghostliness. Nick Royer, owner of the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, embraces the ghost tourism that keeps the local economy afloat, as well as his spectral roommate. At least he doesn’t have to run air-conditioning.
Cassie Rutherford possibly overreacted to all her friends getting married and having kids by leaving Orlando and buying a flipped historic cottage in Boneyard Key. Though there’s something unusual with her new home (her laptop won’t charge in any outlets, and the poetry magnets on her fridge definitely didn’t read “WRONG” and “MY HOUSE” when she put them up), she’s charmed by the colorful history surrounding her. And she's catching a certain vibe from the grumpy coffee shop owner whenever he slips her a free slice of banana bread along with her coffee order.
As Nick takes her on a ghost tour, sharing town gossip that tourists don't get to hear, and they spend nights side-by-side looking into the former owners of her haunted cottage, their connection solidifies into something very real and enticing. But Cassie's worried she’s in too deep with this whole (haunted) home ownership thing…and Nick's afraid to get too close in case Cassie gets scared away for good.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—I am not ready to let go of Summer this year at all, so this was the perfect book to read in August while everyone starts getting excited for Fall. It has Fall vibes with a ghost mystery and small town setting, but keeps things summery with the romance and location.
The Mystery—I LOVED Meg Cabot’s Mediator series so much and I’m always chasing the high of binging that series. I thought this book was a balanced with being contemporary and having those paranormal elements.
The Pacing—I listened to the audiobook and kept wanting to continue, which is always a great feeling!
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Wanted a Little More Development of the Romance—The romance fell to the B plot and I just wanted things to have a bit more groundedness so I was invested in the couple!
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
mentions of domestic abuse, mentions of infertility, death, misogyny, toxic relationship