I DNF’d this book twice before finally pushing through to the end, and while I had high hopes going in, it just didn’t deliver for me. As a novel-in-verse that promised magic, folklore, and a rich, atmospheric experience, I was excited, but it ended up feeling flat. The main character was frustratingly annoying, and I struggled to connect with her on any meaningful level.

#TheGhostsofRoseHill #NetGalley.

I read this on audiobook, which I recommend. I think the verse tends to lean more towards prose than poetry, but it made me enjoy the story more than I expected to.

The Ghosts of Rose Hill is a coming-of-age story interwoven with Jewish history, music, and ghosts. Ilana Lopez has been sent to live with her aunt in Prague for a summer as a punishment for her grades getting less attention than her dream of being a violinist. After discovering a forgotten Jewish cemetery, Ilana becomes even more embroiled in the city and the memories it has let time erode.

The story has strong themes of loss and grief, but also hope and endurance. It was a nice read but I also wasn't particularly attached to Ilana or her romance with Benjamin, but that might have been due to the length or pace. I enjoyed the message of the book and I also really enjoyed the historical elements and folklore weaving together. While I don't see this as becoming a memorable read for me personally, I would recommend if you're a fan of European myth, Jewish history, or music.

To this day one of the most fascinating and beautiful books I have ever read. It lives up to every bit of the blurb, and I found it impossible to put down. In particular, its twisty and at times very fantastical nature made it stand out so much among the other books I have read recently.

I have not and will not read this for personal reasons, but thank you for the opportunity to read this regardless

I wanted to love this so badly, but verse prose isn’t my favorite. It is very beautiful writing. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for a review.

"The Ghosts of Rose Hill" by R. M. Romero is a hauntingly beautiful collection of poetry that weaves together themes of love, loss, and the lingering echoes of the past. Romero's poetic prowess shines as they craft verses that evoke emotions and paint vivid imagery. The collection's evocative language and poignant themes create a captivating reading experience that resonates with teens and young adults. Romero skillfully explores the emotions of grief, nostalgia, and the connections between the living and the departed, adding depth to the poetic narrative. "The Ghosts of Rose Hill" is a lyrical exploration of the human experience and a reminder that the echoes of history and memory shape our present, leaving readers with a sense of reflection and a renewed appreciation for the power of poetry to capture the essence of life's most profound moments.

The Ghosts of Rose Hill is a strange, dark and magical tale with a captivating luminosity, about a teenaged American girl who spends the summer with a relative in Prague. At first, Ilana feels resentful at being uprooted from all the fun her friends are having back home, but then she makes the acquantaince of a troubled ghost - a boy her own age from the city's past. With Benjamin by her side, she discovers an enchanted story, and in the process comes to terms with her own biracial identity and learns the importance of following her own passions, despite parental pressure to the contrary.

R.M. Romero's verse prose is beautiful and engrossing, and this story had me hooked from the start. The historical and cultural content of the novel is fascinating, and the book will prove an inspiring read for both YA and adult readers with its themes of cultural identity, self-fulfilment and discovery.

Thanks to the author, R.M. Romero, publisher Peachtree / Peachtree Teen and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this magical title.

This plot in no way went the directions I was expecting. Now, once I realized that it was taking a different tactic it was easy enough to pivot and follow the plot. It moves sort of slowly, reflecting on the protagonist's relationships more than the mystery of what was happening with the ghosts. Not for the casual reader, but interesting nonetheless.

What a beautifully crafted and symbolic narrative, wow. The author's writing is already exquisite, but they fully embraced the book's poetic structure. The subject of this narrative is charming and intriguing, but the author's writing style is unquestionably the best part. I can't stress how much I like this.

Super cute book with good writing and good characters. I enjoyed every moment of this book. The characters were relatable and fun.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the digital advanced copy of this book.

I needed a physical copy after having read the first 20%. Romero's poetry is beautiful and her writing is haunting. Which fits in a ghost story. I loved the Jewishness in this book. Reading about folklore, history, and the story between Ilana and Benjamin. The girl and ghost boy.

It's a good thing I read this, because it made me realise that I just dont connect with Poetry, unfortunately.

A story that tells about the time during the German takeover over Prague. An interesting story, but didn't really like the ghostly romance aspect. I did enjoy learning about a country I really didn't know anything about and the ties that Prague had during ww2.

I had to DNF this because it wasn't what I signed up for. It was written in a beautiful style tho and the images created by the story were beautiful, but I wasn't interested in it nor I wasn't expecting to be written in verses and I would prefer to have been written in prose.

4.5 stars.

R.M. Romero's The Ghosts of Rose Hill is something I was interested in immediately upon reading the description. Being of Slovak descent and spending the last several years studying for conversion to Judaism, I was definitely just drawn to a story set in Prague about a Jewish protagonist. I do also enjoy novels in verse, and the story of a biracial Jewish girl falling for a ghost while restoring a Jewish cemetery while danger lurks sounded too interesting to miss. And it very much lived up to (possibly exceeded) expectations for me.

The poetry flows on each page to bring to life a girl who loves music and is firmly rooted in her identities even if she feels rooted by nothing else. Ilana is a sympathetic character whose feelings of disconnect and loneliness and inability to be understood by her loved ones during her summer in Prague really reminded me of my own teen years. The love story is intensely bittersweet, and Benjamin is easy to like--as are the other ghost children. Wassermann is creepy, and although his passages lessen the mystery during the story, they also added to the growing sense of dread. The ending may not feel final but it was very satisfying.

Overall, this was a wonderful novel in verse filled with magic, hope, sadness, and love. It was also very Jewish, which I loved! I really enjoyed this one, and I'll be keeping my eyes out for future works from the author. Highly recommended!

Like her DOLLMAKER OF KRAKOW (2017), J.M. Romero''s GHOSTS OF ROSE HILL delivers an emotional theme which is modulated by incorporating magical realism, culture and folklore into historical fiction. Unlike “Dollmaker”, this YA novel-in-verse is set in Prague and portrays a romance between Ilana, who is spending the summer with her aunt , and Benjamin who is stuck in this world even though he died over 100 years ago. Ilana meets him in an abandoned Jewish cemetery she is resurrecting, and he introduces her to three other ghosts who are also bound to this world along with Rudolph Wasserman, a German musician who does not have shadow. Suspicious. This is the second book I've read by author J.M. Romero and it does not disappoint. I am looking forward to her next book, A WARNING ABOUT SWANS, also being published by Peachtree Teen in 2023.

This poetry novel's overall composition is quite good. Along the way, I enjoyed the magical concept/fairytale touch. The only issue I had was that as the story progressed, the composition or some parts seemed out of place? Like it went a little sideways. But, in general, this was quite good.

Wow, what a beautiful, melancholic story. The author achieves a lot in a short book and I want to hear more about old Jewish cemeteries and religious practices.

Hands down one of my favorite books of the year! This book in verse stars a Jewish Latina violinist who spends the summer in Prague with her aunt, where she explores her history & identity, while falling in love with a ghost.

I loved the exploration of Jewish history, identity, resistance, and diaspora. This was a hauntingly beautiful love story with dark fairytale vibes and written in gorgeous, lyrical verse. I also adored the atmospheric Prague setting. This book also explores the final girl trope.

Overall, such a beautiful and special book that means a lot to me as a Jewish reader! I am looking forward to reading more from R.M. Romero!