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relin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Dementia, and Abandonment
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death
blewballoon's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.25
I think this is the fourth "fake medium" book I've read in the last couple years, and every time I pick one up I am hoping that the "fake medium" will encounter a real ghost. This book finally gave me what I wanted! I had a great time with this story, I thought Gretchen was a complex yet sympathetic character to follow. I would have liked having Charlie's perspective as well for the romance aspect, but I can see why we didn't for narrative purposes. I was surprised that we never got a resolution to the plot with Gretchen's father. I had assumed he was the con man who tricked Charlie's grandfather out of thousands of dollars for unfulfilled repairs on the farm and he was going to come into the plot of saving the farm and also Gretchen might get some closure. I suppose she got her own form of closure without him actually appearing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Dementia
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
davschi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Animal death, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
clairebartholomew549's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I hate to say this because I really loved Mrs. Nash's Ashes, but this book was just very silly and I couldn't get behind it. I obviously don't mind unbelievable fantasy plots, but something about this story felt really childish and outlandish to me. I was not charmed by Gretchen's Rule to leave people better than she found them when she is a literal con artist - I just did not buy all her justifications and felt like she was sort of a bad person - and it didn't really track for me that Charlie got over his initial true disdain for her. I love enemies to lovers, but this didn't feel like that because Charlie's contempt of her was based in her personality; he didn't really have any misconceptions about her. Everett as a ghost had some pathos to him, but so much of his interactions were Gretchen felt surface-level and forced. Sadly, this one was a big miss to him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Blood, and Abandonment
ehwhateverest's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Grief
Minor: Death and Abandonment
breeburkitt's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Gretchen Acorn makes her living as a fake medium and she can't say no when one of her clients offers her an obscene amount of money to exorcise a ghost from a friend's farm. But Charlie wants absolutely nothing to do with Gretchen and her scam. Content to take the money and run, Gretchen is left with little choice when she learns the property is actually haunted, she can talk to the ghost there and Charlie's life is on the line.
"Happy Medium" is a quirky rom-com. It's peak grumpy-sunshine trope with really great chemistry between Gretchen and Charlie. The premise is fun, but it's a bit lackluster overall. The pacing is off and everything goes on much longer than needed. The romance between Gretchen and Charlie didn't feel as strong as it should have given the amount of buildup.
Everett the Ghost is my favorite. However, it felt like I was seeing more of him with Gretchen rather than Charlie and Gretchen.
Many thanks to the author, NetGalley and Berkley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
"Happy Medium" is a quirky rom-com. It's peak grumpy-sunshine trope with really great chemistry between Gretchen and Charlie. The premise is fun, but it's a bit lackluster overall. The pacing is off and everything goes on much longer than needed. The romance between Gretchen and Charlie didn't feel as strong as it should have given the amount of buildup.
Everett the Ghost is my favorite. However, it felt like I was seeing more of him with Gretchen rather than Charlie and Gretchen.
Many thanks to the author, NetGalley and Berkley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Dementia, and Abandonment
prispris88's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
5.0
I really liked this author’s first book & was excited for this one! I loved the chemistry of Gretchen & Charlie and the whole storyline with the curse, ghost, goats, and enemies to lovers trope. There is some 🌶️ but nothing crazy or weird. I did like that the author included an epilogue at the end too. Note: I listened to the audiobook & the voice actor(s) did a great job with all the voices! Can’t wait for her next book 🤗
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Dementia, and Abandonment
booklvrkat's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
When Gretchen Acorn, fake spirit medium slash con woman, is hired by one of her clients to roust out the ghosts at a farmhouse the current owner is trying to sell, she wasn’t expecting what she found. First of all, there is a real-life ghost that she can see *gasp* and the sexiest farmer that wants nothing at all to do with her. These two tangle like cats and dogs in a mud puddle. It’s messy, it’s fun to watch, and there are a whole lot of moving parts they know nothing about.
This story was so much fun. I loved the whole premise of the love story intertwined with a ghost on a farm. If you like a little paranormal with a fun romance this was an easy read, medium to fast paced, and easily an afternoon read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Dementia, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
crystalleighwrites's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Abandonment
libraryofjazz's review
4.75
Sarah Adler you are a star!
Listen I read Mrs. Nash's Ashes back in March and I still can't stop thinking about it. It's one of my perfect books; so when I saw that this book's pub date fell on my birthday it was like faith okay. This book and I were meant to be in each other's lives. That being said... the big question.... does this live up to Mrs. Nash's Ashes? Well, the answer is no, but honestly it's kind of hard to follow up a book like that. And I think Adler was able to create a story with Happy Medium that is sweet, charming, and just a little ridiculous in it's own loveable way.
The beginning was a grower for me and I think really that was my biggest (and not even that big) complain. I didn't find myself attached to Gretchen the way I had Millie, so it took a while for me to get into the grove of it all. However, once I did I was fully in. This story is funny, it's sweet, and complex. Are the characters immature and a bit dumb sometimes? Yeah. But they're also self-aware and by the end I found they had grown not just within themselves, but with their feelings towards each other.
So all in all, read this book if you love ghosts, goats, and hot tattooed farmers (because who doesn't like that stuff)!!!!
Listen I read Mrs. Nash's Ashes back in March and I still can't stop thinking about it. It's one of my perfect books; so when I saw that this book's pub date fell on my birthday it was like faith okay. This book and I were meant to be in each other's lives. That being said... the big question.... does this live up to Mrs. Nash's Ashes? Well, the answer is no, but honestly it's kind of hard to follow up a book like that. And I think Adler was able to create a story with Happy Medium that is sweet, charming, and just a little ridiculous in it's own loveable way.
The beginning was a grower for me and I think really that was my biggest (and not even that big) complain. I didn't find myself attached to Gretchen the way I had Millie, so it took a while for me to get into the grove of it all. However, once I did I was fully in. This story is funny, it's sweet, and complex. Are the characters immature and a bit dumb sometimes? Yeah. But they're also self-aware and by the end I found they had grown not just within themselves, but with their feelings towards each other.
So all in all, read this book if you love ghosts, goats, and hot tattooed farmers (because who doesn't like that stuff)!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Minor: Grief and Abandonment