This story just kept getting better and better. Florence Day is it ghost writer for a famous romance author. And she believes love is dead and is struggling to turn in the last book on her contract. And she has a new editor, and she doesn't want to disappoint. As she's trying to figure out how to meet her deadline, she's pulled home to North Carolina and her family and her family's funeral parlor business due to a family emergency. She was basically run out of town 10+ years ago due to an unusual talent and hasn't been back. She can see ghosts. And she is surprised by the ghost she meets when she's home. I don't want to give any spoilers away, so I will stop there.

I loved so much about this book including the quirky voice, the ghosts, the family relationships, the unexpected love interest, the humor, the coming of age story (aka getting comfortable in your own skin), and so much more. I'm looking forward to whatever the author writes next!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own.

This was such a charming romance, full of heart, laughs, and romance novels. I adored Florence so much, and Ben was truly charming.
This book does heavily deal with grief and loss of a parent, so please tread lightly if these topics can be triggering for you.
Though this book is a romance, I do feel that we focus a little more on Florence than Ben, because of what she is going through with her family. The steam factor of this one is low, so also know that. I mean, it makes sense all things considered, but yeah.
All in all, I enjoyed myself, and will pick up more adult titles from this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, & Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

Absolutely. Loved. This. Book.

Ok, look ... I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this story, but I can unequivocally tell you it was not what I got - in the absolute best way possible.

I loved the characters. I loved the town. I loved the words. I loved the quirkiness. I loved the realness. I loved the joy that was threaded through the grief in such true and believable ways.

This is a ghost story - but it's also a love story. It's about a girl that has stopped believing in love and a boy that no longer has a reason to believe, but still does. It's about a mother and a father and their love story, and it's about their children growing up and growing apart and then finding one another again as adults.

It's a book about books, and how the right words come to us at the most unexpected of times, and how comforting that can be. It's a book about trust, and faith, and loyalty, and pride, and, just, everything. It's a book about being alive. But also about being dead.

It's a book best read outside on a gothic iron bench during a crisp day, either in May when it's not yet summer or in September when it's not yet fall. There should definitely be lots of crunchy leaves rustling around in the wind, and you should definitely have on a large oversized sweater, some tried & true jeans, and some hi-tops. Any warm caffeinated beverage would be a great accompaniment, but I think a battery acid zoom zoom juice coffee would be best (IYKYK).

Basically? It's a freaking fantastic book and it should get moved up on your TBR as soon as possible.

This was an absolutely lovely book that explored the themes of love, death and family. I adored Florence and her quirks. I loved the fresh feel of this story. Also, I am begging for a book about Alice!

Gender-bent Just Like Heaven meets Book Lovers

Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for providing an e-arc of this!! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it did NOT disappoint. This was absolutely everything I wanted from this slightly ghosty romance and so much more.

This book starts off with a punch. I knew it was coming because of the synopsis, but my heart was still not ready. Our heroine is not only dealing with the aftermath of a devastating breakup, but the sudden and unexpected loss of her father. While trying to still somehow manage her writing career.

I loved how relatable the heroine was. Florence and her struggles are something I think so many people will be able to see themselves in. I loved following her struggles with work, her loving but sometimes messy family relationships, her strained connections to her hometown. They're things that so many of us experience and can relate to and I thought the author captured those feelings to perfection.

The setting, the writing, the atmosphere, everything was so expertly crafted. I was sucked into this book from start to finish.

But the slightly magical element is what sets this book apart. I loved how the addition of ghosts was woven so seamlessly into this book. And it's what made the book a stand out favorite.

Ashley Poston's ability to make me invested, believe in, and feel the chemistry between 2 characters who physically can't touch was outstanding. The TENSION that she somehow built was so palpable. I'm all for a steamy romance, but the inability to have physical contact with each other skyrocketed the tension and made me believe in their romance so much more.

This is one of those books that just wraps you up and makes you feel safe. I read this book at the exact right time and felt so comforted by this story. While it has some heartbreaking moments, it's one of those romances that really makes you believe in love. These 2 characters stole my heart and I can't wait to read more from this author! I really hope she continues to write adult romances because this was absolutely fantastic.

Florence is a ghost writer who talks to ghosts. She's having difficulties with her fourth novel when her dad passes away and she's forced to go back to her hometown. While home, she meets a ghost with a familiar face who just might be able to give her the inspiration she needs for her writing.

I read The Dead Romantics shortly after I had dealt with a loss in my life and I'm so glad I did. Although there's a lot of death, mortality, and grief, there are also lots of laugh out loud moments and great characters that make you feel warm and fuzzy.

Wow!! This was delightful, insightful and so heartwarming. I love when a book surpasses all my expectations and that’s exactly what this book did. It filled me up and I’ll be sharing it with friends this summer. So glad I took a chance with this story.

This was a fun, unique story and I'm starting to realize that I really adore quirky contemporary paranormal romances! I LOVED the idea of girl-who-sees-ghosts, falls for her dead editor -- so fun!

The writing style was easy and digestible but also filled with detailed prose that really set the scenes.

But as much as I was anticipating this book, I was bummed that I didn' love it as much as I wanted to. I really had trouble connecting to the characters and their relationship and found myself putting this book down and picking it back up more times than I can count. But I will say, the last 100 pages completely sucked me in and I didn't want to put it down at that point. I just wish the rest of the story would have captivated me as much.

spice scale: 2/5

read if you like:
- small town settings
- books about writers
- books about books
- opposites attract

this book is the definition of "meh, its okay"
i've been seeing people categorize this as a romance but i don't know if i would consider it that since the romance didn't really start until like 2/3 into the book. definitely had more of a contemporary fic vibe.

I absolutely loved this title. I didn't expect to find so much love and joy in a story set while planning a father's funeral, but it's so pure and good. It's the kind of love you get from the Addams Family without the gothic attire. Mostly.

But I also loved Ben and Florence. I wanted even more of them and more of Florence's ghost helping. There's just so much in here that I could have kept enjoying.

I was honestly prepared to call this book a dud when I initially read the plot. BUT once I finished the book I couldn't be more wrong. Poston does a great job of creating a novel with a larger-than-life concept and makes it seem believable.

Florence and her dad share special gift. Both of them can see death people and help them fulfill their unfinished business. But when thirteen years old Florence helped to solve a murder case by talking with the victim also the ghost, she turned into town’s weird kid, bullied by her own piers which forced to leave the town as soon as she’s applied for college - vowing to forget her gift and become a writer.

The Dead Romantics will be one of my favorite books of 2022. I loved this sooooo much and am already excited to reread it.

Florence is a ghostwriter for a famous romance author - but after going through a bad breakup, she finds herself no longer believing in love and unable to finish the book that is currently due. When she goes to meet her new publisher to ask about writing a different type of book or getting an extension, he makes it clear that isn’t an option and the book needs to be complete on time or there will be legal ramifications.

If you want to know more - I think the goodreads synopsis gives a lot away - more than I would want to know. I suggest just going in without knowing more and letting it happen. This is a book that felt like it was written for me - like the author and I share the same pop culture references and I feel confident we would be friends if we just knew each other. When I was only 7% in, I was sending friends texts telling them to read it. I wanted to slow down and enjoy it but was still finished within a day.

I could go on and on but seriously - just pick it up and give it a shot. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy - I also bought the audiobook and will be purchasing the physical book for myself.

Bravo!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This book was a hit from start to finish! It was so so so well done. I know it’s early in the month but there is a very good chance that this book will be my favorite for July.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I ended up listening to the audiobook of this title and I really enjoyed it! I liked the concept - very much the Mediator series by Meg Cabot meets Book Lovers. It was less smutty than I thought it would be based on how much Florence talked about writing smut, but was still really lovely with a great plot behind it.

Completely different than my normal reads. And I think that’s good! Writing is amazing and the storyline was unique. I think readers should know it focuses a lot of grief and healing and has a some romance. I definitely shed some tears with some moments with family. I enjoyed the characters and their backstory’s.

I have been a big fan of Poston's YA releases, so I knew I couldn't wait for this adult romance debut. And I was not wrong. The premise, a milennal ghostwriter who is disillusion with love, who meets a her new romance editor who believes in love, but shows up dead. Like talk about a sizzling and unique concept. Within the first few chapters I was entirely captivated. But I think where The Dead Romantics truly shines are the characters. The ways in which Florence is so deeply hurt and betrayed.

And how it takes her time and a little push to realize that not all love has to end that way. That she doesn't have to take on the world's problems on her own. That theme - the necessity of support - resonated with me. As she's struggling to process her grief and not sure how to tell her friends and family, Florence has to realize she's not alone. That we should lean on the ones we love. Combined with the internal narration, The Dead Romantics is a win on my end!

This book was such a surprise and delight! It kept me guessing throughout the story. The way that the characters handled death and grief was refreshing and it somehow didn’t make the novel feel as heavy as I anticipated. There were unexpected twists and turns, and a whole lot of heart. I didn’t find the book to be triggering for me, but please be sure to check the content warnings above before you read this one, just in case! This book reminded me of the important of celebrating life while we can, and I am grateful that I took a chance on reading it!

Fasten your sheetbelts y’all, because The Dead Romantics is one boo-tiful ride. I came for the quirky concept, got hooked on the zoom-zoom juice, and stayed for the pun perfection.

Our FMC-Florence Day–is a romance ghostwriter who can literally talk to ghosts. She grew up in a small South Carolina town in a weird but loving family who owned a funeral parlor. When her boyfriend exploits her past to sell a book, Florence not only loses faith in love, but also the motivation to continue to write HEAs for a living.

Her new editor, handsome but grumpy Ben, refuses to give her a deadline extension. She gets a devastating reprieve when her beloved father dies, but when she returns home for the first time in ten years to bury him, the new editor has apparently found a new way to haunt her. Ben and Florence team up to find out what his “unfinished business” is, but the lines between life and death– and love and hate– get blurrier and blurrier.

If you’re a crier, you’ll fluctuate between quietly sobbing and boo-hoo tears. Ashley has an incredibly authentic voice, and is spot-on in how she writes about grief. I love that while the subject matter is sad and, at times, dark, the story doesn’t feel like that. I think it’s a really great balance of slightly mournful with a touch of sorrow, but also really joyful and even pretty funny.

“It’s never easy. It’s also never really goodbye–and trust me,we’re in the business of goodbyes. The people who pass through here live on in you and me and everyone they touched. There is no happy ending, there’s just,... happily living. As best you can. Or whatever. Metaphor-metaphor-simile shit.”

(Quote courtesy of emo little sis Alic and checked in finished copy.)

Honestly, I was nervous about how things would end up in the book. It’s a romance. He’s dead. How the hell are we getting a HEA? Ashley really pulled it off, with some unexpected little twists along the way. It will be one of my favorites of the year! Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for a review copy.

A ghostwriter is haunted by her editors ghost in this quirky loveable story of friendship, family and second chances.

“I can’t ever control how someone else treats me, but I can control how I choose to live and how I choose to treat others.

Okay, this book was not what I was expecting at all, but I LOVED IT SO MUCH! I absolutely loved the beautiful and unique writing this amazing book had. This book was magical, witty, entertaining, heartwarming and oh so very intriguing! I couldn't put it down! I loved the new relationships Florence formed, and the old ones that were revived. I thought all of the side characters were well developed, loveable and just as quickly as Florence was! This is a book that just made me smile while reading it.

Read if you enjoy:
• quirky characters
• returning home
• snall town charm
• second chances
• ghosts...
• forbidden romance
• author / publishing stories.
• stories dealing with grief

"I want to grow old with you. I want to wake up every morning and see you on the pillow beside me. I want to cherish every moment of our lives”

Thank you Berkley for my gifted copy and opportunity to be on this fun book tour! This review has been posted to Amazon, and will be posted to my Instagram/blogs on July 8th as part of a book tour.

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THE 411...

★彡 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬. 𝐖𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. 彡★

Florence Day is a ghostwriter for a prolific romance writer who happens to be on a deadline. After a very rough break-up, Florence can’t find it in her to write about love, she no longer believes in it. She’s on her way to meet her new editor and pitch him the idea for a book outside of the romance genre. She wasn’t anticipating him being an incredibly sexy “mountain of a man” or that he would deny her pitch at another book. The pressure is on and when Florence gets a call from her mother to come home because her dad has just passed…she has to return down south to a town that ran her off ten years ago. Florence sees ghosts, more specifically she sees those that need help crossing over. Her family runs the towns funeral parlor and the only other person who shared her gift was her dad. Ten years ago she helped solve the murder of a boy with the help of his ghost and that made headlines. Now back in town, she answers the funeral parlors doorbell only to find the ghost of her very handsome editor and his unfinished business. The one to make her question her new stance on love.

WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS...

THIS BOOK!!! Yes, I’m a sucker for father/daughter stories but I bawled my eyes out while smiling and laughing all at the same time. Having lost my own dad, whenever I find one in the pages of a book with as much character and life as my own had…it’s a 5 star read. Although the reason for which Florence returns to her hometown is sad, it's also treated as a celebration of life. Her family after all is in the business of death and preparing send offs, her father made sure that his is befitting that of his life. The whole family is awesome and supportive, quirky and honest. They have their issues like every family but they hash it out. The neighbors/town come to life and you get all the southern charm both good & bad. The romance was sweet, slow burn and hopeful! it doesn't get better than a love interest who also loves reading romance novels and restores faith in love. Last but not least there's a funeral parlor setting, Adams Family vibes, and queer siblings who fight and make up that made this a fun read with tons of personality! 🖤