A review by katiedatie21
The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero

emotional hopeful mysterious 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? No

5.0

I'm in awe over just how stunning this book was. I was drawn in by the beautiful cover and intrigued by the description of the story, and it did not disappoint! This magical, wonderful story starts with 16 year old Ilana being sent to Prague for a summer to study, reflect, and get her priorities in order. Her only desire is to make music, but her parents do not approve. When she arrives at her aunt's home in Prague, on Rose Hill, she discovers a long-forgotten Jewish cemetery. Ilana decides to care for the graves, and it's here that she meets a ghost, Benjamin, and the secrets of Prague, both magical and dark, are revealed to her. Ilana experiences love and loss, learns to fight for herself and those she cares about, and to follow her heart and her dreams. 

What I loved about this story is the realness of the magic, of the ghosts, of the secrets. It all felt so plausible. The way Ilana develops over the course of the story, and the love between her and Benjamin made my heart swell and break. This was just an unbelievable story, and I'm impressed by how much happened in such a short space (it's over 300 pages, but in prose). Seriously, go read this!! It's wonderful ❤
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