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qupcns's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25
I enjoyed the Seven Year Slip by Poston so I picked this up since many had enjoyed it so much. I don't have a problem with predictable stories, but the predictability of this one was paired with uninteresting characters and did not keep me invested. Poston framed the story around the complexities of death and memory, which are challenging topics to execute well. The magical realism was good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying and Toxic relationship
nikimorr's review
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
This book is all about a ghostwriter who sees ghosts and is running away from the ghost of her past. A bit predictable? Yes. Still endearing? Also, yes.
Florence is a ghostwriter for a major romance author. She is struggling to finish her very last book under the ghostwriting contract because she has stopped believing in love. She wants another extension to finish the book from her new (attractive) editor, but he declines and puts on the pressure. In the midst of all of this, her dad dies and she has to come home to help plan the funeral and put the pieces back together.
However, she learns that she’s always been surrounded by love while back visiting her hometown and family after a decade away. And an unexpected ghost appears helping guide her through her grief and stress. The journey becomes even more complicated when she begins to grow feelings for the ghost.
I enjoyed this story mostly because of the characters - I found them relatable, quirky and funny. The author also did a fantastic job describing a small town in the south. Sometimes, it felt a bit difficult to get through the writing, and I found myself re reading sections often. I also spotted a number of mistakes and found it ironic that this book about editors and publishing companies had so many missed edits.
The ending is extremely easy to foreshadow, but I still enjoyed the journey and never grew bored. I was cheering for a happy ending, but the ending was a bit too perfectly wrapped up in a bow. Romance or not, I enjoy when a book shows that life is never perfect and we may have regrets and losses but learn to keep moving.
Florence is a ghostwriter for a major romance author. She is struggling to finish her very last book under the ghostwriting contract because she has stopped believing in love. She wants another extension to finish the book from her new (attractive) editor, but he declines and puts on the pressure. In the midst of all of this, her dad dies and she has to come home to help plan the funeral and put the pieces back together.
However, she learns that she’s always been surrounded by love while back visiting her hometown and family after a decade away. And an unexpected ghost appears helping guide her through her grief and stress. The journey becomes even more complicated when she begins to grow feelings for the ghost.
I enjoyed this story mostly because of the characters - I found them relatable, quirky and funny. The author also did a fantastic job describing a small town in the south. Sometimes, it felt a bit difficult to get through the writing, and I found myself re reading sections often. I also spotted a number of mistakes and found it ironic that this book about editors and publishing companies had so many missed edits.
The ending is extremely easy to foreshadow, but I still enjoyed the journey and never grew bored. I was cheering for a happy ending, but the ending was a bit too perfectly wrapped up in a bow. Romance or not, I enjoy when a book shows that life is never perfect and we may have regrets and losses but learn to keep moving.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Death of parent
mels_reading_log's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
Ashley Poston is your person if you are looking for a slightly weird romantic comedy. She brings it up in this book that the concept could be corny, but the way she writes makes it just so perfect! I love that this book was set in a funeral parlor and the cemetery but never once was it creepy, it was filled with joy and love, not just romantically but for her family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
bellasierra's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident and Alcohol
likeagilmoregirl's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Abandonment
citrarowan's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.0
Mmm… Definitely not her best book but I can’t say I did not enjoy it. I love the way it was written, and I liked how romance was not its main focus, but neither was grief? I’m yet to find a way to describe this book, but it was good! Not sure if it’s 3 or 3.5 stars but yeah!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying
leannanecdote's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Cancer and Car accident
lovereads19's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this book was beautifully written, the way ashely poston writes about grief and love is heartbreaking and true, it’s just so beautiful and relatable
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
bookishlucy's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
This book was like a love letter to life and death. It was so much more than just a romance!
It beautifully showed the love of Florence and her family while they grieved for her father. This book touched me in a way I wasn't expecting. It made me feel all the feelings. I cried and laughed, sometimes at the same time. While this was a love story between Florence and Benji, this was also a story of love. Love for family, friends, yourself, life and even death. It was messy, it was heartbreaking but mostly, it was beautiful.
It beautifully showed the love of Florence and her family while they grieved for her father. This book touched me in a way I wasn't expecting. It made me feel all the feelings. I cried and laughed, sometimes at the same time. While this was a love story between Florence and Benji, this was also a story of love. Love for family, friends, yourself, life and even death. It was messy, it was heartbreaking but mostly, it was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Car accident
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Infidelity, Murder, and Alcohol
lucyatoz's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston is a quirky paranormal rom-com about Florence Day who is a ghost writer and can also see and speak to ghosts.
Following a break-up from Lee Marlow, who used her as a muse to write a novel, she checks in with her new editor, Benji Andor, who thinks she is an assistant to, rather than the ghost writer of, Ann Nichols, famous romantic novelist...but only if she can find her own happily ever after to submit the final book in her contract.
The death of her Dad sees her returning to the small town where she grew up after 10 years in New York, and to the family run funeral home where she is startled by the ghost of Benji Andor! Confused, she helps to organise her Dad's memorial, which must include 1000 wildflowers, grouped by colour, and Elvis singing at the grave whilst Benji follows her around as she grieves. Can she find her "happily ever after" in the mist of her sadness?
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on BorrowBox. I read this for prompt 21, written by a ghostwriter, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Following a break-up from Lee Marlow, who used her as a muse to write a novel, she checks in with her new editor, Benji Andor, who thinks she is an assistant to, rather than the ghost writer of, Ann Nichols, famous romantic novelist...but only if she can find her own happily ever after to submit the final book in her contract.
The death of her Dad sees her returning to the small town where she grew up after 10 years in New York, and to the family run funeral home where she is startled by the ghost of Benji Andor! Confused, she helps to organise her Dad's memorial, which must include 1000 wildflowers, grouped by colour, and Elvis singing at the grave whilst Benji follows her around as she grieves. Can she find her "happily ever after" in the mist of her sadness?
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on BorrowBox. I read this for prompt 21, written by a ghostwriter, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol