Read/Listen If You Like:
❤️ Ghosts/ Supernatural
❤️ Non-Traditional Romances
❤️ Author Female MC
❤️ Books set in small towns

Book Review:
When I finished this one I had a strong feeling that even though we are not yet halfway through the year, that this one will easily make my top 10 of the year. It was such a refreshing and smart take on a romance and the only way I can truly express how much I loved it is to say that I wish it was longer so I could have stayed in the story and with the beautifully written characters a bit longer.

I loved the use of publishing as the work setting for Florence and that she was working as a ghost writer for a popular romance novelist… and then to have the double ghost where she can see/speak to ghosts was such a wonderful way to form the plot and have a play on words… and that it was something her and her father had in common which was further interesting as her family ran the only funeral parlor in their small town. I just loved how the characters were quirky, but they weren’t weird or creepy, they were just real.

I really loved the character development of the main characters and the side characters as they all felt fully developed and gave me the feeling they were all well rounded and what I needed from the characters and the plot.

I don’t often re-read books, but this one is such a wonderful story on so many levels that I strongly believe I will circle back and re-read this one again to be able to experience the wonderful writing, development, and all the little things I can’t possibly pack into this review.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Books for the ARC of this book! I am so grateful to obtain a copy to read in advance of its release in exchange for my honest feedback!

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of this book!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pub Date: June 28, 2022

First off, I am SO GLAD I accepted this book when Berkley Romance reached out. I was on the fence because I don't read a lot of paranormal romance books, but I took a leap of faith...and I loved it!

First off, this book is emotional. I would give this book a pretty high TW/CW for parental loss, emotional manipulation by a significant other (in the past), and emotional trauma. The female main character has been through a lot, including basically having her creative work stolen by her former boyfriend (and of course he turned it ugly). Then, her father dies...and all the emotions start coming into play. She heads home for the first time in a long time, and all the things she's run from start hitting her. Add in the ghost of her hot boss...and well, it's a lot. I would say the paranormal romance was a large part of the plot, but really, the emotional journey towards happiness was the bigger aspect. Florence needed back her own right path, and Ben helped her see that. I loved their chemistry! And, there were definitely a few spicy scenes thrown in that gave me Ghost (the movie) vibes. Yum!

Second, this book delivers on all levels of fulfillment. You get emotion, spice, family drama, friendships, the whole nine yards. And, what I like even more, is that this book gives adequate attention to each element. The balance is perfect, and I felt like each individual plot point was fully hashed out when I finished the book. There is no better feeling than that!

My only complaint was I got really frustrated with Florence running from Ben and her problems in town. She would sit down, something would go "wrong" in her mind, and she would jump up and run away from it. It got tedious.

Otherwise, I loved everything about this book. And that ending? Swoon!

This is the book that delivers the kind of story every Casper lover wanted. It’s more than just a romance, it’s an exploration of grief, death, and family relationships. It has dry, witty, dark humor that is just light enough to make you smile. I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The heroine is a strong character that has an eclectic family. As the daughter of a mortician she had a colorful upbringing plus she also sees ghosts. It was more than what I bargained for. I was apprehensive thinking this was going to be dark but it was so much more than just about ghosts. I loved the family and I would read more about all of the characters

Loved this book. The characters were real and the dialogue humorous. The romance was off the charts. I will definitely recommend this one to library patrons. I read a lot of romance titles and this is among the best of the recently published.

This book pulled me out of reading slump so deep, I was damn near the pits of hell!

Pitched as Beach Read meets Ghost, I had high hopes for this book as well as a lot of fear. Afterall, those are huge comps and even bigger shoes fo fill. This author did not fail to deliver. Absolutely loved every second of this book, it sucked me in from page one and I couldn’t put it down. In fact,. I almost forgot I had kids for a minute. Plus kudos for all the puns, my inner dad loved them all.

Definitely recommend. Check triggers

Ashley Poston’s first Adult Fiction is charming. It sounds like it’s going to be a light and fluffy romantic comedy, and sure there are elements to that. But it also surprises the reader with depth and life questions that you don’t see coming.

Florence Day is back in her hometown and realizes that she can’t run from the person she is, or who she was. What doesn’t really help her is her incredibly handsome editor has followed her there, not by his own choice. He is a ghost, having been in a car accident the day before and now he’s obviously got some unfinished business with Florence. But what could it be???

I really enjoyed this book. There were some issues I’d rather not think of ever (parents dying for instance) that made me truly sad for Florence and her siblings. And there were some wonderful rom com moments that had me rooting for Florence and, dare I say, a ghost? I love that Ben is a ghost. It really allows Florence to open up to him and explore her feelings not only because he’s hovering around her a lot, but also because he is safe and this allows Florence to really get to know him on a personal level. A level I don’t think they would have gotten to know each other if they both had been alive. (Steamy make out session in a hallway anyone?) Not that good relationships don’t start there, but given Florence’s emotional hang ups, it seems safe to say that she allowed herself to open to Ben because she felt safe around him. I also really enjoy Florence’s family. Her strong mother and her friction with her sister and her delightful brother. All of the characters really brought color to the story and it filled out the world not just as a setting. It helped me SEE who Florence was, and who she had been.

It’s quirky and weird and Benji is giving off some serious Adam Driver vibes and I am totally here for it.

On a heavier note, it does touch upon grief and family and it has some really beautiful sentences that brought tears to my eyes. It’s not a book to pin into one genre and I like that about this. I can see some wonderful author references in this story, because Florence is a ghostwriter, that I really enjoyed. I mean, who doesn’t love reading about Christina Lauren, Nora Roberts or everyone in between in the romance section? I enjoyed watching for these fun romance author shout outs. Be still my heart.

That said, there was one part that did kinda bother me. It was the part where Ben accidentally appears in the bathroom and sees Florence naked. I think it’s a callback to older romantic comedies, but it just felt a little odd? And then he made a comment like “shortage of perfect breasts” or something like that. And we all know where that line comes from (The Princess Bride, people. Seriously? If you don’t know that, then you are dead to me.) But it kinda dragged me out of the moment and just made me think of The Princess Bride.
But that was honestly my only complaint about the book.

I loved it. I’m buying a physical copy when it comes out. I’m making all of my book club read it.
Now go get your own copy. Because you can’t have mine.

This was sweet and sad. Hopeful and fun. Ashley Poston definitely knows how to tug on my heart but make me feel comforted all at once. I loved this book and hope to read more romance soon.

This is a unique, heartwarming romance between Florence and her editor Ben. Florence sees ghosts, and Ben conveniently happens to be one. Florence has gone through a bad breakup and needs help believing in love again, a challenge that has paranormal proportions.

I love the themes of family in this romance. It definitely reminds me a bit of Emily Henry, how there are certain parts, especially about Florence and her dad that will just bring tears to your eyes. I would've wanted more depth and character exploration from Ben though. All in all, a worthy romance!

Once I started this book I didn't want to put it down. It grabbed me from the start and kept me there with all the funeral parlor humor and wit.
Florence is a ghost writer for one of the best romance authors out there, but she is stuck. After her breakup and betrayal of trust, she doesn't believe in love anymore. Love is dead. She can't finish the book she has had over a year to complete and to top it all off, her new editor won't give her any more extensions. Good thing he is nice to look at or she would hate him even more than she does.
When tragedy strikes and Florence has to return home, she also gets a visit from her new editor there.. and he isn't quite alive anymore. Florence has always been able to see ghosts, but this time she might get more than she bargained for. She is grieving and Ben being with her is a great distraction, but how long can it last? He's not really there, but the more time she spends with him, the more she feels connected to him. Maybe, just maybe, he can help her believe in love again.
There were parts of this book that brought me to tears and there were parts that had me laughing out loud. I absolutely adored Florence's quirky family and the drama that went on between siblings. I have always been interested in the paranormal, so this book hit right on the mark for me. Not to mention Ben was just such an amazing hero. Fate brought them together for a reason and I was so happy we got a HEA for these two who have been through so much.
Thank you to Berkley, Ashley Poston and Netgalley for an early copy.

There isn't much quite like picking up a book that contains a genre you don't consistently read with no expectations and really, really enjoying it. Ashley Poston wrote an entertaining paranormal romance novel. The quirky main characters themselves were good but together created scenes so vividly romantic. A love that is out of reach but so powerful at the same time is a strong force in reading romance. It makes your heart ache in the best way. I found it compelling that Poston, who's wonderful writing, created this feeling while also managing to fill the story with humor and hope.

More than the lovely romance, though, were themes of family and grief and death that deeply struck me. These themes were handled tenderly but also with bold humor and a vulnerable honesty that I truly appreciated in the writing. Not everything can be neat and tied up securely. Sometimes life is messy, most times really. How Ashley Poston went about conveying those feelings through her ghost story was illuminating, reverent, and fun to read. This story will provide for all book lovers. The paranormal lovers, the romance lovers, the women's fiction lovers, the ghost story lovers, the small town feel lovers, the family drama lovers; there's a little something for everyone all woven together providing a unique, entertaining story.

I really enjoyed this cute romance with a supernatural twist. I enjoyed the characters, some of them a bit quirky, and the setting and the writing were wonderful. And even though this is a romance, this is also a story of grief for loved ones and for love and how we as humans work through that and come out stronger for it.

Florence was a delightful leading lady and I certainly could not blame her for not believing in love or that romance was dead. Her piece of work ex-boyfriend and what he did to her would certainly devastate the most ardent romantic. (Of course her first hint should have been that he called her bunny all the time!) She was well rid of him, but that experience shaped her year and made it hard for her to write romance novels. She does seem to be on the track to losing everything when she meets her new editor and then her dad dies sending her into an even deeper and different kind of grief.

I just adored Benji, her editor and ghostly companion. He was just as mystified and shocked to find himself a ghost and hundreds of miles from where he died. But I think he caught on to why he was haunting Florence way quicker than she did, but he did have some insight she didn’t have. I also figured out pretty quickly what was going on with him, but I didn’t let that detract from the story. In fact it made me happier in the end that I was right.

I loved the dynamics between all of the characters in this story. I loved Florence’s quirky family and how they embraced life even though their work was embracing death. It certainly gave me Six Feet Under vibes in all the good ways. Florence had some issues with her siblings, but they were realistic in nature. I also loved that her father was present in her memories and in the stories the family and town told about him.

The writing was well done and the descriptions of places and people wonderfully rich and made you feel as if you were visiting this small town along with Florence. My only complaint is I wanted a bit more about when Florence was thirteen and solved a murder with a ghost. We got the bare minimum of that story, but it seemed so central to Florence and who she grew up to be and why she left town, that I wanted a little bit more about that story. The ending was perfect though and I loved that she finally got the last say with her ex-boyfriend.

A really fun romance with a supernatural twist, but one that also had a serious side in that Florence was dealing with grief over her father’s death as well as her hope in romance and in love. A well done adult debut by this YA author and I hope to see more adult books from her in the future.

This book was such a breath of fresh air! Such a bizarre concept and I'm totally in love with it. I read it in one sitting because I just could not stop until I knew how it ended. Totally ended a reading slump for me. I can't wait to buy it for all my friends.

The Dead Romantics blurs the lines between supernatural and romance in this ghostly tale that will take you on an endearing story about grief, family, love, and living life to the fullest.

After a devastating breakup, Florence Day passionately believes romance is dead. The problem is she lives and breathes grand gestures, meet-cutes, and happily ever afters for a living as a ghostwriter for a famous romance novelist. But when tragedy suddenly strikes, Florence must go back to her hometown, where her conflicted past and present haunt her. Will she find a spark of inspiration or will her grief overtake her?

This book is for the ones who love a little bit of spooky mixed with a little bit of the forbidden, and I was HERE for it, as well as the Addams Family/Casper vibes along with the heartfelt journey of self-discovery. While there is romance in this story, and it is very present (Benji Andor *swoon*), this is also very much a story about grief in many ways. Grief in losing trust, losing a loved one, and learning how to move forward.

I absolutely ADORED Florence, her adorable family, and her friendship and romance with Ben. The complex dynamics between them all brought depth and dimension to this otherworldly story. And I just LOVED all the little ties back to the centerpiece of the novel, her dad.

It was such a sweet story that I would have loved for more of it, more of Florence’s true crime backstory, family history, and her and Ben’s simmering connection.

If you’re in the mood for a book to make you feel all the feels while you chuckle and swoon, definitely check this ghost story out. I can't wait to read more of Poston’s work!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This one was very cute.

I will say, it took a bit for me to really connect with the characters, especially Florence. But I think that was more about me at the time of reading than the writing.

I enjoyed seeing Florence return home and come to terms with her hometown. I liked seeing her shed the feelings she had about other people’s actions. And I liked seeing her really reconnect with her family.

Her relationship with Ben was sweet and a little steamy. Or as much as it can be between a human and a ghost. I really enjoyed seeing how they supported each other and helped each other.

I am not sure if it was on purpose, but I really like how Lee was likened to AJ Finn and not in the good ways. It was an interesting comparison if you know about Finn and his history (look it up).

It was toward the end that I really became invested and had an ‘ah ha’ moment with the story.

This one gives me ‘Just Like Heaven’ vibes & I might just have to watch that movie now. I mean Reese Witherspoon & Mark Ruffalo.

Definitely recommend.

[cw - death of parent]

super unique romcom, I really loved all the character development and the interesting family dynamics as well! Also all the yearning and stuff was so fun!

I LOVED THIS BOOK! The concept was entirely new to me, and that just made me love it even more. I mean, come on. The guy who you are attracted to, make out with in an alleyway once, who just so happens to be your new editor shows up on the doorstep of your family’s small-town funeral home? Oh, yeah, and he’s a GHOST??! I mean the angst that is packed into that premise alone should be enough for anyone to want to pick up the book and boy does it DELIVER on the angst. Admittedly, I was able to put together pretty early on what the truth of Ben’s whole ghostly situation was, but that did not stop me from enjoying every second of his and Florence’s interactions together. Combine their swoon-worthy romance with a small-town setting, supporting characters that are to die for, and an overall beautifully written story that will tug on every last heartstring, and you’ve got one of the best and most original romances of the summer.

When Florence Day goes through a horrible breakup, she believes love is as good as dead. This means her career as ghostwriter for a bestselling romance author is now on the line when she can no longer manage to write a happy ending and her new (and handsome!) editor Benji refuses to give her an extension on her book deadline. Feeling doomed, Florence gets a call with even worse news. Her beloved father has died and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help with his funeral at her family’s funeral parlor. If that all isn’t already enough, once there, suddenly the ghost of her editor is knocking at her door. How will Florence get through this week back in the town that ran her out, lay her father to rest, meet her deadline (is there even still a deadline with her editor now dead?), and potentially help said editor cross over?

This book was truly such an interesting reading experience! For the first 2/3 of it, I wasn’t terribly wowed. The story was cute, I liked the MC, that she’s an author, and the ties to books/publishing. Florence and her family’s history of running a funeral parlor and her seeing ghosts was intriguing enough, but there were some parts of the plot that had me scratching my head. Her dad has died and suddenly her editor has too? And now he is haunting her miles and miles away after they’ve meet once? Hmm. I was prepared to finish reading this book and write a review stating it was was a cute, light read but not something I would scream about from the rooftops… until I hit that last 1/3 of the novel that is. I don’t know WHAT exactly Ashley Poston put in the last 1/3 of this book but OH MY GOD? I went from feeling sort of meh to crying and grinning like a fool?! The reveal that occurs and how things wrap up for our characters was beyond what I could have hoped for. I am simply obsessed with the ending of this book!!

3.75 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for access to an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was really good! The family relationships, the romance, and the work struggle were all fully fleshed outand I cheered Florence on the entire book. I've enjoyed Poston's YA books and this is a great adult debut. Highly recommended!

Personal circumstances have soured romance ghostwriter Florence Day on love, inhibiting her ability to write the necessary HEA to meet her deadline. A couple of brief largely unsatisfactory encounters with her attractive new editor weigh on her as she departs Manhattan to return to her hometown after a decade away, following the death of her father. Not only is Florence's family responsible for the multi-generational funeral home, but her father shared Florence's ability to occasionally see ghosts. Florence's reunion with her mother and siblings is strained beyond the circumstances of their grieving, even before she starts being visited by a ghost -- not that of her dad, as half-anticipated, but rather the ghost of her editor. Poston's love for both North Carolina and romance publishing shine through the very non-traditional path to Florence's Happily Ever After.

The Dead Romantics has been on my radar, and frankly on my "most anticipated releases of 2022"-list, for the longest time now - so, when I was presented with the opportunity to read an advanced copy, I jumped at the chance! The official release is still a month away, but I just couldn't stop myself from reading it and now you will all have to contend with me screaming about my love for it for eternity.

Sometimes, books just find you at the exact right moment in your life and I would say that The Dead Romantics is a prime example of exactly that happening. I've had the most fun with a romance in a while, but at the same time, there were instances where I just bawled my eyes out. This isn't simply a story about love, but also grief and family and we all know I'm drawn to grief-books like moths to light. But at the same time, nothing about this book left me sad. I'd even go so far as to argue and say that it brought me hope, all the warm feelings inside and a whimsical smile on my face once I turned the last page.

THE CHARACTERS

Florence Day - our narrator throughout the story - is the typical small bean but mighty and messy tornado of a person that I think many of us can relate to. She's into fan fiction, buying books despite having a massive TBR already and she loves a good love story. In fact, she used to believe in the big love, in finding that one person who might be the exception to the rule, until she got disappointed in the worst ways. And you just understand her reluctance, her despair, and then life just knocks her down some more.
Enter - Benji Andor! He's meticulous and tall as a tree (one would like to climb) and seemingly stoic, while actually being very kind and considerate once you get to know him a little bit and he definitely wants a happy ending for Florence. I loved him as a counterpart for Florence, although I would have loved it even more if we had gotten to spend some more time with him. I feel like, we, the readers, didn't get to know him that much, but even Florence acknowledges that several times throughout the story. Their connection is based more on vibes and actions rather than exchanging hobbies and favorite songs, which is fine, but I just enjoyed his character and would have loved to learn even more about him. It really seemed like it had quite the story of his own.

Aside from our two leads, there was an array of formidable side characters. We had supportive best friends, authentic sibling relationships and the despicable ex. A stand-out for me was Florence's dad though, because his presence could be felt on nearly every page and that stuck with me. It very much reminded me of someone I lost and how sometimes a whole town can show up for that person and their family, when things get tough.

THE SETTING

First things first, I loved the supernatural twist to it all. It never felt forced or out of place, but just like something that naturally fit the story.

But the settings in general were so special and intriguing. On the one hand, you have the funeral home and something that usually holds a lot of sadness for people filled with so much life. A thing of beauty really! And then there's just something so fun about reading a book that takes place within the publishing industry. I don't know how accurate it is, but it felt like an inside look and gave way to a lot of references to real life publications, which I loved.
Parts of it are in the big city, parts of it are in a small town and it all just made sense?

VERDICT

I don't know why writing reviews for books I absolutely adore is the hardest thing ever. It might be, because I just want to do a key smash and thrust the book into people's hands for them to read it, but that wouldn't be very informative now, would it? I hope this gave you a bit of a clearer idea of just how charming yet quirky I found The Dead Romantics! I genuinely hope that many people will pick it up, because it filled my heart to the brink and I would without a doubt just read sequels where they help different ghosts together. I'm greedy and just want more, please!

Fazit: 5/5 stars! There's something so incredibly satisfying when an anticipated read turns out as amazing as you had hoped.