Florence keeps secrets, that is her work as a ghost writer for a famous romance author and that she sees ghosts. She's struggling with her latest book when her father dies and she has to return to her hometown for the first time in a long time. Expecting to see the ghost of her father, Florence instead finds the ghost of her editor. A unique twist on the rom-com but just as full of excellent dialogue and fun engaging story.

Thank you so much to Berkley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I LOVE the premise of this! I'm a huge fan for slightly speculative or otherworldly elements to genres like romance, so I couldn't wait to dive in!

This was everyhting I wanted it to be and more. It talks a lot about the process of grieving, as well as Florence's struggles with writing. A lto of aspects of the story-her being run out of her town because of bullying, her feeling like she has to do everything herself, and her struggles with her own career, felt very real.

I will say, although I loved the romance and really enjoyed Ben as a character, I do wish we'd gotten to know him more. He wasn't quite as fleshed out (ha) as I wanted him to be, but I did still really enjoy him as a love interest. It was alo really interested to see them develop a relationship while he's a ghost.

I did guess the twist early on (it is a romance, after all, and I'm totally okay with that) but I sitll loved the reveal! I loved the quirkiness of it, and the ending. OVerall, just a really sweet, fun take on a romance!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: death of a loved one (on page and major plot point), grief, family tensions, bullying (past)

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f paranormal romance
-insta attraction
-returning home
-forbidden romance elements
-I see dead people
-workplace romance elements
-forced-proxmity elements

I fell in love with ghost book boyfriends with Jesse in the Mediator series and in many ways this gave me the same vibes, with one notable exception, When Ben pops back into her life as a ghost she can no longer touch him. I loved how it was used to amp up the sexual tension. Florence in a lot of ways has given up on her dreams and is living a quieter life because of things in her past, but she loves to write and is now a ghost writer who you know can see ghosts.

When she has to return home with the death of her father, Florence has to grapple with her past in order to step into what she wants in the future. Both Florence's story and her romance with Ben, somehow this ghost story that takes place during a funeral was soft and lovely. I loved Florence hashing things out with her family, finding the joy and celebration of life while mourning someone you dearly loved. How much Florence adored her family yet also felt separate from them. And then you add in starchy Ben, somehow always brought back to Florence.

The ending really had me turning the page, desperate for these two to get the HEA they deserved and the payoff is great. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Steam: 2

I loved this quirky supernatural sorta romance. Adorably romantic and an absolute pleasure to read. Ashley Poston is officially on my watch list.

The Dead Romantics is a thrilling and exciting novel by author Ashley Poston. I didn’t see this book coming and it hit me with all the feels.

When we first meet up with Florence Day, we discover that she is a ghostwriter for one of the top romance authors in the industry. Unfortunately for Florence, she’s had writer’s block ever since her last breakup. Now with her script due, she has no idea what to do but ask for an extension. Sounds easy enough until her sexy new editor refuses. Florence has no choice but to bang out a manuscript no matter how awful it might be. Everything is going to plan until one phone call turns her entire world upside down…

The Dead Romantics is a quirky and well-written story. I was sucked in and intrigued from the very first page. I thought the plot was fun and unique. I loved the paranormal aspects of the story and how much they added to it. I enjoyed the characters and all the different dynamics they brought to the table.

There is so much more to The Dead Romantics than meets the eye. It’s a unique love story filled with humor, family dynamics, and dealing with grief. This book was highly entertaining and I devoured it in just a single sitting. In the end, I thought this book was a really fun read and had a wonderful time getting swept up in this story.

When a writer on a deadline finds out her father has died, she’s forced to come back to the hometown she hasn’t seen in years. As she deals with unresolved family issues and her ability to see ghosts, she discovers that you can go home again and maybe even discover love. YA author Ashley Poston offers readers her first adult novel in the sweet, funny, slightly idealistic book The Dead Romantics.

Florence Day has a big problem. She’s on a major deadline for the next book she owes her publisher, and she can’t ask for another extension. She’s already gotten three, and now her editor has retired. She’s nervous about meeting the new editor, but Florence knows one thing for sure: deadline or no deadline, she can’t finish this book.

As the ghostwriter for premier romance author Ann Nichols, Florence has spent the last five years creating novels that millions have loved. Florence doesn’t mind that Ann gets all the credit. She’s easy to work with, living in Maine while Florence lives in New York and letting Florence make all the big decisions about plots. Other than the fact that the world has no idea who she is, Florence is living a great life.

Well, it was great, until the breakup. When Florence met Lee Marlow, she thought they’d be together forever. Then he betrayed her in the worst way possible: Lee stole Florence’s secrets and turned them into a bestselling book of his own. Worse, when she told him she was leaving, he didn’t do much more than shrug.

Since then Florence has stopped believing in love and romance, which is kind of a professional hazard. Now Florence has to figure out how to get on the good side of the new editor, Benji Andor, fast. On the day she meets Benji, though, Florence gets the worst news of her life: her father has died.

Florence takes a deep breath and goes back to Mairmont, South Carolina, where she grew up, to help her family with her father’s funeral. It’s been 10 years since she’s been back to Mairmont. Florence and her dad were the only two people in town who could see ghosts, and Florence spent her childhood helping the ghosts move on to the next phase in their journey.

When she helped solve a murder at the age of 13, living in Mairmont became a nightmare. She tolerated the bullying, the sideways looks, and the hostility until she could leave and then ran away to New York. Nothing, she thought, could ever bring her back to South Carolina; it’s ironic that a death is the one thing that does.

As Florence tries to manage her grief and the strained family relationships she left behind, she opens the door to a complete surprise: Benji Andor’s ghost. The day after Florence left New York, Ben was hit by a car. It’s unfortunate because the more time Florence spends with him, the more she wishes he was alive. His kindness, thoughtfulness, and, quite frankly, his hotness make Florence wonder whether she was wrong to swear off love. But can she really fall in love with a ghost and handle her past at the same time?

Author Ashley Poston writes with a freshness that brings echoes of her experience in YA books. Florence is funny and observant, and some of the asides Poston gave her will make readers laugh out loud. With a delicate touch, Poston allows Florence and Ben to break the fourth wall in a way that endears them to readers, especially those who enjoy a good romance.

Florence’s grief rings true to life, and readers will appreciate that she doesn’t flip a switch on her feelings whenever Benji’s ghost appears. Some of the book’s minor subplots, however, are harder to buy into. For example, Florence claims she was ostracized in her small town because she can talk to ghosts, yet those same small town residents (who, true to the trope, never left) don’t bat an eye at a gay couple living there and a nonbinary person running Mairmont’s only B&B.

Also, while the romance lingers, the resolutions later in the book of all the conflicts feel a little too pat. Poston stays true to the genre in granting Florence a happily-ever-after with a “twist” that many astute readers may seem coming, but she manages to keep a secret until almost the end that makes the wait worth it.

Those looking for a feel-good romance will definitely enjoy this one.

This was one of those books that I absolutely adored, from start to finish. It was the timing of the read along with the quirkiness of Florence and her budding relationship with Ben that drew me in.

These two had a rough introduction, with Ben taking a hard stance on Florence's deadline (she's a ghostwriter for a beloved romance writer) on her latest manuscript, but their "relationship" really grew when she was back home for her father's funeral. I enjoyed Florence learning to let go of everything that has weighed down on her and realize that no matter what happened when she was younger or with her ex...her family and true friends are always there for her. But most importantly, it was the way Florence and Ben learned from each other and grew as people. Both of them had a lot of baggage that needed to be unpacked and dealt with and it was the easiness of their interactions with one another that helped both of them figure out just what they wanted out of life.

The perfect weekend/beach read. If you're looking for something that has a little bit of everything...this is the read for you.

Huge thanks to @berkleyromance for this gifted ARC copy of The Dead Romantics!

I so look forward to when Berkley romances arrive in my inbox each month and I immediately chose this one to read based on the beautifully vibrant cover, the intriguing title and the ghostly, yet romantic premise! This was such a fun, refreshing, and unique romance and I devoured every single page.

We follow our MC, Florence, as she struggles to finish a highly anticipated romance novel that she ghostwrites for- all under her new editor, Benji’s, looming deadline. Scarred by a streak of terrible luck at love, Florence is at a standstill in her career. Then suddenly she’s called home from New York, to be with her family as they mourn her father’s death. It’s when she’s freshly arrived back at her family’s funeral parlor business that Benji shows up on her doorstep-as a ghost. What follows is a journey in love while bridging the past with the present to make way for a hopeful new future.

This book had it all. Emotional and deeply moving moments, lyrical and poetic prose, humor and wonderful characters both main and supporting. I can’t recommend this story enough!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I feel bad saying this but it was a torture finishing this book. I was so bored out of my mind from all the repetitiveness. It started off interesting but once she went back to her home town, I just lost interest.
I had high hopes for this book, I mean look at the cover and the title, so gorgeous, but I didn’t like the story. It just wasn’t my jam. I couldn’t connect to the story nor to the characters.

A cute supernatural romance novel about a struggling ghostwriter returning home for her father's funeral and finding that her new (all too handsome) editor has come to her as a ghost. It dragged on a bit at times, particularly the beginning and ending, but once I got into the story I really enjoyed it.

First off, a huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for letting me read an advanced copy of one my most anticipated reads!

To put it quite bluntly, this is a book about endings. The end of a love story. The end of a loved-one's life. The end of keeping secrets. And as Ashley Poston once said in a TikTok, "endings are hard." But the good thing about endings is that they allow room for new beginnings. Even if it takes multiple rewrites and edits to get it right. (Even though it's totally unfair how life doesn't have a backspace key)

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston is an adult romance novel that follows the sudden upheaval that is Florence Day's life after her father's sudden passing. One might expect Poston's book to be nothing short of a Hallmark classic story of love and tragedy. But there is one thing that sets Florence apart from the rest of love-struck city slicker girls getting trapped in small towns. She doesn't believe in love. At least, not anymore.
Which is quite the problem when she is the ghostwriter to one of the most famous romance authors and her deadline is too soon and she has yet to nail down the ending. (See what I mean about this book being all about endings).

Prepare for this book to make you scream, cry, and laugh (sometimes all at the same time). Because Poston doesn't hold any punches. (And Florence certainly doesn't either).

I thought The Dead Romantics was a fun, unique read and I know it'll find itself with a list of patrons on the waitlist. I've gone ahead and preordered a few copies for my library. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and characters, so this will definitely not be the last Poston novel for me.

The Dead Romantics gives a new definition to love is dead!

I had an absolute blast reading this book! It’s a heartwarming story about love and grief but with a sprinkle of paranormal to it. It’s beautifully weird and I loved it so much!

This story heavily deals with death but oh my gosh it was hilarious! The humor had me laughing out loud quite a bit. I couldn’t get enough of the death puns!

The main characters were quirky and so much fun to follow. I could really relate to Florence and Ben was a total sweetheart. I do wish we could have learned a little more about him though. Their romance was adorable and it felt real.

I cannot wait for this book to be out in the world and for everyone to fall in love with it as much as I did! I’m crossing my fingers that Ashley Poston writes more adult romcoms in the future!

Also, I have to say that I loved the little reference to the Once Upon a Con series!

Florence Day is a ghost writer for a well known romance writer. But, following a break up she no longer believes in romance, in fact she says romance is dead. Now faced with a deadline ,that her new boss will not extend, Florence is ready to stop writing completely. Then life pulls her back home. A place she has not returned to since she fled town along with her haunted past.

When I saw this book I was intrigued. Books with ghosts are usually hit or miss for me. I am happy that I took a chance on The Dead Romantics because it is cute, funny, quirky, and maybe a little strange. Overall I thought this book was a delightful read. There were quite a few moments to pull on your heart then have you laughing minutes later. If you are interested in a rom com with a twist, this book is for you

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for my eARC!

I am DYING. I read this book at a wine bar in Buenos Aires in one sitting. I started with very few expectations - I had never read anything from the author before - but the combination of romance, supernatural elements and family discovery was truly incredible.

Everything was handled so well and I think a lot of people will find this book extremely relatable - I also think it's the PERFECT Halloween read.

This book was perfect.

Dead Romantics opens on Florence Day, a ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, meeting her new editor the dashingly handsome Ben. After proclaiming LOVE IS DEAD, Florence’s extension is denied. The same day she gets a call that turns her life upside down and forces her to return home after ten years away. To make things worse… a brooding tall handsome ghost shows up on her doorsteps to complicated things. Will she be able to lay her ghost to rest and believe in love again?

I didn’t know what to expect reading a romance where the protagonist maybe falls for a ghost, but it was perfect! At times it could be predictable, but Poston’s humor makes up for it. Contemporary romance readers will love the fun references and be hooked early on. The book deals with themes of grief, family, love, facing your past, and self-discovery. It’s the perfect read for someone who wants to ugly cry and full-face smile due to an overload of cuteness.

So good. I Couldn’t put it down. Such a heartwarming story. The characters were great and the story was so much fun. Just when you think you’re not going to get a happy ending, it goes in the opposite direction.

The Dead Romantics ends exactly how I expected (and wanted), but the path it takes to get to that ending is twisty, sad, and absolutely wonderful.

This is a book about love. It’s also a book about death. And a book about authors, betrayal, ghosts, family, forgiveness, coming home, self-confidence, small towns, and celebrations. For many authors, covering so many topics would mean sacrificing quality, but Poston brilliantly manages to infuse her story with all these things and more. She also manages to create realistic, funny, and relatable main characters and an I-wish-I-could-meet-them supporting cast. Every person in this story plays a role, and it’s a joy to meet them and see how they change as the story progresses.

I have to admit that I didn’t begin reading at the beginning of this book; the first thing I read was the author’s list of comfort reads, which is included after the story itself. Not only did I find some new titles to check out, but I noted some of my favorites and was then pleased to find references to those books sprinkled throughout this story. I love when authors include references to their favorite books, and in a book about books, it totally works.

The Dead Romantics is a romance for people who don’t like romances. It’s also a romance for those of us who do, but there’s so much more than just a sappy love story. I mean, that’s sort of the entire point, and the result is something touching, sweet, sad, and absolutely unforgettable. Here’s to happy endings, no matter how we get there.

A very charming and heartfelt novel, I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was a very quick read, and exceptionally well written. I was drawn in right away, and found this story to be almost unputdownable.

I would have liked to have gotten to know Ben even better, though, and I personally would have enjoyed a little more angst surrounding the romance with a ghost and how it would resolve in a HEA.

The Dead Romantics was such a cool, unique premise. I wasn’t sure how it would play out but it was such a fun read. The characters and Florence’s family were so eccentric and cool.. i really loved the vibes.