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A review by nikimorr
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
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