Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Wow, Ashley Poston’s The Dead Romantics blew me away & had me freaking crying before taking my kids to gymnastics the other morning 😆.

This book engaged me emotionally on every level—it kind of has a Book Lovers effect in that way. The story weaves in happiness & grief, joy & sadness, laughter & tears in a most affirming way—as the book makes us aware time & time again, that weaving is life itself. The sour sometimes but always the sweet too.

At the beginning of the book ghostwriter Florence Day asks to write the last book on her contract as a non-romance bc according to her, “romance is dead.” (Ok, Florence, check back in with me later 🙄🤣). The editor Benji Andor, a hottie who clearly turns cold by her ask, says no.

Shortly thereafter, Florence’s beloved dad passes & Benji Andor, her editor, arrives at her family’s funeral home as a ghost. Good thing that Florence can communicate with them—even if that actually made her infamous in her small town.

This book obviously deals with some tough topics, including the loss of Florence’s dad, but it handles them so lovingly, so eager to see the possible beauty left in the world even through tears & wrenching sadness.

I missed Florence’s dad even though he was only alive on page for a short portion of the book. Just as I was happy for her happy memories & the moments she shares with Benji—because Florence’s narration reeled me in & I could feel the fullness of her, of her family too, as a person.

Quirky, funny, loving, hopeful, this book hits every note & I loved living in it for a while. Every character in The Dead Romantics feels special & precious. More books like this one, please.

5 ⭐️. Release date: 06/28.

CWs: Death of father. References to Benji’s car accident. Benji was cheated on in the past. Grief. Past bullying. Florence helps a murdered child when she was a teen. Devastating break up that Florence is still hurting from.


[ID: a white woman wearing a blue dress with polka dots holds the ebook while standing in sunflowers. The first shot is from above; the second is from a small distance & shows her smiling.]

The Dead Romantics surprised me in the best way. A ghostwriter who is in a writing slump but also sees ghosts - yes! I love a good story with a paranormal aspect to it and Ashley Poston delivers with The Dead Romantics

Florence is a ghost writer for a famous writer and she is supposed to have a manuscript due, but there's one small problem - she has writers block and can't get the story on paper. After a bad break up, Florence isn't even sure she believes in love.

Growing up with an eccentric family in a funeral home, Florence knows what true love is - she's seen it often enough between her mom and dad. She hasn't been home in ten years - after the town solved a case with the help of Florence and the ghost she communicated with. She's not ashamed of her gift, but she also doesn't want to deal with the small town that made her life miserable. Except she has to go back when tragedy strikes close to home.

Not only will Florence have to grief the death of her father, but she also has to help a ghost who she's absolutely surprised to see - her new editor - Ben Andor - who she just briefly met. Will she be able to help Ben and put together a funeral for her beloved father?

The Dead Romantics is easily one of my favorite books of the year. I loved each and every character that was written throughout this book. I have so many passages highlighted throughout this book that resonated with me. I'd find myself laughing out loud one minute and then shedding tears the next. This book deals with grief - the grief of moving on, the grief of an ended relationship, the grief of having to bury a family member. But it also celebrates life and the living in the here and now.

I also had an opportunity to listen to the audiobook of The Dead Romantics and it was so good! I would often listen to this book on my run and quite literally had to pull over a few times because it made me that emotional. The narration by Eileen Stevens was perfection! I could totally tell the various emotions that Florence was experiencing throughout the book.

I highly highly recommend The Dead Romantics!

CW: death of a loved one, cheating (in past), gaslighting, bullying

As a fan of quirky stories, this romance was a delightful surprise. I was quickly drawn in and enjoyed the off beat plot. Florence is a ghostwriter for a very successful romance author. After a nasty break up, she can't find a happy ending for the last and final book she has been contracted to write. Also, Florence sees and talks to ghosts. This was such a unique twist to a traditional romance. The author then adds a deeper story line, which involves the death of her father and the grief that surrounds that event. The author has brought all these elements together in a way that created a story that was funny but also thoughtful and meaningful.

While Florence can talk to ghosts, she feels that it has ruined her life in many ways. She seems to hide so many aspects of her life and emotions from everyone. It is when she confronts the past and these feelings that we see her grow emotionally. Her family was written in an engaging way that made them endearing to me. In fact, all the secondary characters were well written, including amazing roommate.

Ben is a perfect romantic interest for Florence. Since he visits her as a ghost, it opens up a lot of fun situations between the two of them. While I figured out the twist early on, the story was one I didn't want to put down until I reached the end.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eArc and the opportunity to read and review.

Florence day is a ghostwriter as a popular romance author. Growing up in a small town she worked in her family’s funeral home. This suited her talents well as both she and her dad had the ability to see the dead and help them with unfinished business. After a betrayal and big breakup, she loses her faith in love and her romantic inspiration for her new book. Oddly enough, it is a spirit who helps to restore her belief in love and the happily ever after.

This book was a fun read. Florence is relatable, quirky, sarcastic, and unique. Her family is very interesting and I really enjoyed the thought put into the story. In addition to the obvious romance and Florence’s personal journey, a lot of the book approaches the subjects of grief, death and mortality. It is all handled quite well and with great understanding and empathy. While the book explores some pretty heavy subjects, the book also has some sweet, lighthearted moments. The relationship between Ben and Florence is really nice. At some points, it didn’t quite click for me, but for the most part I could ignore it. The connection, flirtation and chemistry is very natural and was a joy to read. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC, as well as the opportunity to read and review The Dead Romantics.

This is so chockful of pop culture references and I hated it. It’s so annoying that that’s a thing in books- like these things probably won’t be popular in six months much less years later??? I also hated how the end was- I’m glad it’s a happy ever after but come on? He was a ghost and then he was alive again. I had such whiplash from her perceived trauma of having someone break her heart.

It was just too much honestly, i wasn’t interested in half of it, I genuinely would have liked it better if it was from the sister’s POV or even from Ben himself.

Just not interested in how anything turned out.

THE DEAD ROMANTICS – Ashley Poston
Jove
ISBN: 978-0593336489
June 28, 2022
Romantic Comedy with Paranormal Elements

Mairmont, North Carolina – Present Day

Florence Day sees ghosts. It’s not something she sought out, but when she was younger, she solved a murder with the help of a ghost that only she could see. Of course, no one believes her tale and she left her hometown far behind her as she pursued her dream of becoming a published romance writer. Her one published romance flopped, and she ended up being hired as a ghostwriter for an elderly popular author. Florence has one more book to finish in the series, but she has a bad case of writer’s block. She’s been unable to write after learning that her then boyfriend was writing a book about her experiences with ghosts. Now all she can do is stare at a blank page.

Florence has a new editor that she has only just met. His name is Ben and as far as she can tell, he has no experience in romance writing and is not aware that she is the ghostwriter because he refers to her as the author’s assistant. While Florence is contemplating how to inform him of the truth, she learns that her father has died. Returning home to a family she loves but who thinks she is a little strange; Florence isn’t sure how she will be welcomed. She has barely arrived when she gets a call from her co-worker and friend. Ben has been hit by a car. As Florence absorbs the shocking news, she turns around to discover Ben in a ghostly form standing there.

THE DEAD ROMANTICS is an offbeat tale, to say the least. Florence always had dreams of becoming an author, but they were like her secret dreams. She did publish one novel, but it was a failure. But she was given the opportunity to ghostwrite for Ann Nichols, a bestselling author. Things were going well, and she made good money while she dreamed of one day getting a second crack at being a bestselling author herself. However, after learning that her boyfriend was stealing her ideas—and telling her life story, she mentally froze when it came to creativity. That last book in the series for Ann Nichols must be completed.

Fast forward to the present day and Florence coming face to face with her dead editor’s ghost, Ben. They really hadn’t known each other well. In fact, they’d just met when she’d gotten the phone call about her father. Only Florence can see Ben and he is there for her to talk to and be a sounding board. It also ends up bringing them closer. If only he hadn’t died… Throughout THE DEAD ROMANTICS, there are funeral preparations going on. The Day family owns the only funeral home in town, so guess who has to prepare the funeral? Florence’s family is quirky, to say the least, which only adds to the fun and charm of this tale.

By the time we come to the end of THE DEAD ROMANTICS, I had pretty much figured out what the twist in the story would be, but it was still cute to see. Ah, yes, something that is a dark romantic comedy can be fun. If you’re looking for something to read that is a bit different, then don’t miss THE DEAD ROMANTICS.

Patti Fischer

Who knew ghosts could be hotties?! The Dead Romantics was a cutie ghosty romance filled with lots of self discovery, forgiveness, and wholesome family moments. It was a very solid read. I was definitely skeptical about the love interest being a ghost but I think it worked! However, some of the pacing felt clunky and the chemistry didn’t jump off the page. Still a 4 star though for the creative concept!

From the beginning, I could tell that this was a book that the author enjoyed writing. It was filled with humor despite the morbid situations that were presented, and the puns were alive even if the characters were not.

I had no idea what I was walking into when I started this book, but the last thing I expected was for the main character’s new boss to show up at her childhood home when she returns home for her father’s funeral. And I most definitely didn’t expect this new boss to be dead.

Florence Day can talk to and see ghosts. So could her dad. But telling anyone outside of her family had only ever resulted in backlash. So she kept it to herself. But why keep anything a secret from a ghost?

In an attempt to recover her own connections with her family and her hometown, Florence attempts to help her new boss figure out why he’s stuck behind and how to move forward in the afterlife. The bond, playful banter, and genuine friendship that they share pulled at my heartstrings and almost made me wish I could have a ghost boyfriend (but I’ll keep my very-much-alive husband for now, thanks). Even though I predicted what would happen after only a few chapters in, the journey the characters take together is entirely worth reading.

A debut novel for Ashley Poston, I know I will be seeking out any and all books she writes in the future. This book is easily one of my favorites this year.

Florence and Benji were likeable and the story was sweet like hot marshmallows. I found myself rooting for them, and the ending was unexpected but satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Short synopsis: Florence is a ghost writer for a bestselling romance author. She’s way behind schedule on her next manuscript and her new editor Ben is mad. When her dad dies she goes back home for the services, and sees a handsome ghost in the parlor of the funeral home the family runs.

My thoughts: This started out so strong, I loved the witty humor and talk about books. The real life author name dropping was done so perfectly, and included some of the very best in romance! The middle drug on in my opinion and the ending was so cute. Just the best/sweetest ending.

I loved the lessons Florence learned about herself and asking for help from others, and thought the paranormal aspect was a fun twist on a romance. This was also fun to see some of the process of a romance author (who doesn’t believe in love) write romantic (or completely unromantic) scenes.

Read if you’re a sucker for:
* Family drama at Waffle Houses
* Night walks in graveyards
* Murders of crows
* Deadly puns

“Buying books always made me feel better, even if I never read them” - The Dead Romantics (chapter 2)

Florence Day’s family owned and operated a funeral home. Ghostwriting for the critically acclaimed bestselling romance author has been her career. Juggling between her next manuscript deadline, overcoming a messy breakup, and going home to help with her father’s funeral, Florence discovers her editor is a… ghost. What ties does she have with this ghost? Why is she the only one who can see her? How does she help him? But most importantly, how is he so hot?

BOOtiful! SPOOKtacular! This was deadly good, y’all. It’s my first Poston book and I was absolutely pleasantly surprised at how much I adored her writing, Florence’s voice, and all the intricate details, connections, the romantic development with a hot ghost. So much emotion, along the lines of grief, and the the mystery solving around Benji’s ghost. It was a joy of a read!

“Love isn’t a matter of time, it’s a matter of timing.”

When Berkley sends you a book there are a few necessary steps you must take...

1. Drop what you are doing
2. Leave work
3. Get home, take your bra off
4. Cuddle on up with the book
5. Don't stop until you finish

HOLY FREAKING SMOKE!!! Did I just get approved for a Berkley book? Not only was it a publisher that I admire but this book is absolutely amazing. I would like to give a big thankful hug to Netgalley, Berkley and of course Ashley Poston for allowing me to read and review this mind blowing book before the June 28th release!

This was my first time being introduced to Ashley Poston but it will not be my last. I fell in love with this author with every flip of the page. To say it gets better and better is an understatement. I was instantly captivated.

Do you know the feeling you get when you walk into a carnival and it's sensory overload? You can smell the cotton candy, taste the cheesesteaks, become consumed with all the lights and sounds from nearby games and rides? That is the feeling I got as I read this book. I could taste, smell, and see everything that was being described to me.

The characters are multi-dimensional and you fall in love with each and every one of them. Can you fall in love with a ghost? I did. Over and over again. Be prepared to laugh, and maybe even shed a tear or two. This book has it all!!!

This is going to be the HOTTEST book this summer. Anything short of 5 stars would be an insult. My gratitude is radiating from my body from being given this opportunity. This is a book that will be talked about for years to come and suggested amongst our social media communities. I can not wait to recommend The Dead Romantics to my book club for July!

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like this one, and I mean that in the most positive way. I loved the premise, the plot, and the characters.
Florence is a ghostwriter for a famous romance author and she can talk to ghosts. It’s something only she and her father can do. Her family runs mortuary/funeral home in her SC small town, but she’s moved to NYC after the townspeople find out about her ghostly talent.

She’s having trouble with her next romance book because she’s lost her belief in love. She goes to see her new editor, a handsome guy named Benji, with whom she shares a spark. Hw won’t give her a deadline extension, but none of it matters after she finds out her father has died.

She goes home to SC only to find her Benji waiting for her. Unfortunately, he’s dead. Can Florence discover her romantic spark again - with a dead guy?

I loved the relationships Florence has with her family. The book is funny and sassy, especially when she’s talking to Benji. This is one of the best books I’ve read all year. 5 stars.

Synopsis
A disillusioned millennial ghostwriter who, quite literally, has some ghosts of her own, has to find her way back home in this sparkling adult debut from national bestselling author Ashley Poston.

Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead.

When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.

For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it.

Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is.

Romance is most certainly dead . . . but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I received a gifted galley of THE DEAD ROMANTICS by Ashley Poston for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRHAudio and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

THE DEAD ROMANTICS follows Florence, a young woman who is used to keeping parts of herself locked away. She has to keep her vocation a secret since she’s the ghost writer for a much beloved romance author (a problem since she’s pretty much given up on love herself). She has a new editor to clue in both to her ghost writer identity and her current writing troubles.

She also has kept her ability to see and talk to ghosts under wraps, after this ability had her leaving her hometown and her family’s funeral home business in her rear view. When a family tragedy has her coming home, she has to confront all that she’s been keeping secret.

This book really sucked me in and I wound up flying through the audiobook in barely more than a day. It even got me out of bed early to finish up before starting work the next morning! All that said this is a book I would definitely recommend going into with eyes open. It deals in heavy topics of grief and loss and it is one that should come with some tissues at the ready!

I went into this book without checking out the synopsis, so there were a few surprises along the way. I will say that I did pick up on the big twist fairly early on in the book, but it still left me wondering how things would play out and it didn’t diminish my enjoyment at all.

I really enjoyed this book and I love the author’s writing. I enjoyed the author’s AMONG THE BEASTS & BRIARS, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this very different type of story, but I loved this one even more!

THE DEAD ROMANTICS is out today!

What I Liked: The concept for this book is what caught my attention for its uniqueness—a woman who has to confront the ghosts of her past while she literally sees ghosts? I wasn’t sure this was an idea that could be pulled off effectively and my fear was that the “seeing ghosts” aspect would be too over the top and not fit into the romance story. However, Poston managed to create a believable love story despite the hero being a ghost and pulls off the “quirky heroine” trope quite well. Florence’s family was a hoot and I wanted them to be real so I could live in a world where people like them exist. Despite her family’s oddness, their problems were believable, especially the issues Florence and her sister are dealing with. This book is also a wonderful reminder that everyone grieves in different ways and that grief takes time, sometimes more than you think.

What I Didn’t Like: I had a hard time believing in the romance at first because Florence seemed too all over the place and Ben seemed too put together for them to ever find the other attractive.

Who Should Read It: Fans of offbeat, weird stories will find this book fun. And if you’re a romance reader who is looking for something different, this would be a great pick.

Review Wrap Up: This book may be too “twee and quirky for the sake of being twee and quirky” for some but for me it was exactly what I was looking for at exactly the right time-a book that took me away from the real world for a few hours and made me laugh and cry happy tears. If you’re willing to immerse yourself in the world Poston has created and not think too hard, I thik you’ll enjoy this one.

Favorite Quote: “Love wasn’t a whisper in the quiet night. It was a yelp into the void, screaming that you were here.”

4.5 stars

The Dead Romantics was such a touching and unique novel. Once I started, the writing hooked me right away and I didn't want to stop. There is a wonderful paranormal romance, but I think Florence's personal journey is the highlight of the book. Watching her heal, gain confidence, and come into her own was really inspiring. I was not expecting this book to be so emotional though (grief is a major plot point), so readers should be aware of the content warnings prior to starting.

Things to look forward to:
- Favorite tropes like: small town, workplace romance, forced proximity-ish, forbidden romance
- A great paranormal/sixth sense premise. This type of twist has been done before, but The Dead Romantics managed to do it in a fresh and unique way. I really loved the funeral home spin and the name "Days Gone" was chef's kiss.
- A sweet love story. Yes, it's instalovey, but it worked for me. I loved Ben and Florence's progression from slightly disastrous meet cute to friends and then more. The unique circumstances that brought them together allowed them to be their most bare and vulnerable selves.
- Florence's character arc. Right from the get go I was rooting for her and it was so satisfying to see her grow and really shine. It's an emotional ride (that phone call and the journey home really hit me in the feels) and I thought Ashley Poston captured grief and healing so well in this novel.
- A wonderful cast of secondary characters and townspeople. Special shoutout to Florence's BFF, Rose, who was ride or die the entire novel and who added the perfect amount of comic relief. Even Lee played his villainous role so well and I loved to hate him.

I know some of you may be wondering how this could possibly have a happy ending when the MMC is a ghost (I know I had my doubts), but just trust the story and Ashley Poston's amazing writing. It all works out in the end ;)

CW: death of loved one (on page) as well as mentions of past loss, grief, panic attack (on page), car accident, family/sibling tension, discussion/mentions of: MMC's cheating ex-fiancé (past), bullying (past, as well as an on page encounter), and murder of FMC's classmate (past)

*I voluntarily read a review copy of this book*

This was an incredibly unique romance, diving into the paranormal. It's quirky, funny, sad, emotional and swoony all together and will definitely make those who are looking for something "different" pleased!

Florence Day is not your average 28-year-old. She’s living in NYC with her best friend, Rose, successfully ghostwriting for Ann Nichols, a famous romance author, after a childhood spent helping her family run their small town Days Gone Funeral Home.

Oh yeah: and she talks with ghosts.

It’s an ability she shared with her dad and the thing that drove her out of little Mairmont, South Carolina, and has kept her away for the last ten years. I guess people think you’re pretty weird when you talk to people they can’t see.

Now, after her ex betrays her past secrets, she’s decided love is dead, which presents one big problem: How is she supposed to finish her last book for Ann, when she no longer believes in the very ideas her books are built on? Her deadline is tomorrow, and Ann’s handsome new editor, Benji Andor, isn’t budging on it.

As fate would have it, death intervenes in more ways than one, and Florence finds herself back in her hometown meeting a shockingly familiar and attractive new ghost who, ironically, may be just the right person to bring her hopes for ‘happily ever after’ back from the dead.

This is Ashley Poston’s adult fiction debut after a number of YA books, and while it took me just a minute to warm up to, I thought it ended up being pretty darn adorable overall.

Florence’s relationship with her wacky but wonderful family felt authentic, as we all know being around family can bring out our less than mature qualities! Her interactions with her ghostly new gentleman were sweet and charming (and even a bit spicy!), and I loved that the story approached romance in a uniquely different way for a change. This was full of fun characters, the story had nice LGBTQ+ representation, and there were some fantastically funny lines.

My recommendation? Don’t overthink this one. There are some logical inconsistencies with how this story’s ghost world works, but if you can suspend that disbelief yet again you may just have a delightful time!

★★★ ½ (rounded to 4)

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley, and author Ashley Poston for this digital ARC which I’ve reviewed honestly and freely. It publishes on June 28th, 2022.

I'm not going to lie, i absolutely ADORED this book. The characters were funny and memorable and real, with deal drama. It was a romance that had so much else going on and yet I totally teared up and cheered at the end. It had all the emotions going!

Florence Day possesses a different view on death after being raised by undertakers in a small Southern town. Oh yeah, and she can see and talk to ghosts. She's been living in NYC for ten years and working as a ghostwriter for an extremely famous yet reclusive romance writer after her own novel failed. Her new editor, Benji, wants the ending of her new book, pronto; however, she hasn't been able to write a love story since the end of her own relationship a year before. When her beloved father suddenly dies, she has to return home for the first time since leaving for college to help make sure her father gets the sendoff he deserves. For some reason, Benji, the hot new editor, who she spontaneously kissed in a bar the night before, has followed her there... As a ghost. As Florence patches things with her family and her past, figuring out why Benji is attached to her becomes another priority.

For a book about a romance writer, there is surprisingly few sexy times. And I didn't care. The parts that had tension were GOOOOOD. I loved Benji so so so much. Seeing Florence and her family deal with their own grief after helping so many others through theirs was sad but refreshing. I ugly cried on my balcony a few times. I also loved Florence's family, particularly Alice. This was a lovely, unique romance, and I am here for more from Ashley Poston!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts.