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jupiter_01's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
The beautiful cover of this novel set my expectations high, and I was very pleased with the outcome! The premise of Happily Haunted Afters really appealed to me for multiple reasons: the thriller elements, messy characters, strained relationships, and the shared goals between the two MCs. I jumped on the opportunity to read this with just the blurb alone.
Just like Em, I, too, love to peruse real estate websites and idealise properties and life plans I can only dream about. I loved that she had a clear goal that was both creative and administrative in nature. The tenuous relationship with her family—and as such, having to deal with feeling like a failure—was another uptick from me.
At the start, I didn't like Jack because he was self-described as cold and clinical, but it quickly became apparent that this wasn't really the truth. He was funny, warm, thoughtful, and caring. He was logical and to the point, but these traits are as much a bonus as they are a (sometimes frustrating) negative.
Their friendship and banter was great. Their attraction and desire for each other was clear and both tender and spicy. It was a nice balance.
Since the story leaned so heavily into spookiness, I would've liked the climax/resolution to be drawn out a little more, but it worked well enough in its current state. I savoured my time with each chapter, which is something I rarely feel! I was very satisfied with how Jack and Em grappled with their feelings of betrayal and love and whether they could reunite. I felt the bonus epilogue was the better ending. Loved that they chose to go full speed ahead!
Thanks to Hidden Gems Books for a free e-ARC.
Just like Em, I, too, love to peruse real estate websites and idealise properties and life plans I can only dream about. I loved that she had a clear goal that was both creative and administrative in nature. The tenuous relationship with her family—and as such, having to deal with feeling like a failure—was another uptick from me.
At the start, I didn't like Jack because he was self-described as cold and clinical, but it quickly became apparent that this wasn't really the truth. He was funny, warm, thoughtful, and caring. He was logical and to the point, but these traits are as much a bonus as they are a (sometimes frustrating) negative.
Their friendship and banter was great. Their attraction and desire for each other was clear and both tender and spicy. It was a nice balance.
Since the story leaned so heavily into spookiness, I would've liked the climax/resolution to be drawn out a little more, but it worked well enough in its current state. I savoured my time with each chapter, which is something I rarely feel! I was very satisfied with how Jack and Em grappled with their feelings of betrayal and love and whether they could reunite. I felt the bonus epilogue was the better ending. Loved that they chose to go full speed ahead!
Thanks to Hidden Gems Books for a free e-ARC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Stalking
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