Thank you to Peachtree Teen, and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book to read and review. I went into this not fully knowing what to expect and I was completely blown away. It was written through poetry and it was written beautifully. The combined representation of Latin and Jewish culture was so important and done exceptionally. I loved seeing Hebrew words and whole prayers throughout these pages. The characters also had so much depth and I thought the present setting with the history and memories of the past was effortless. I can feel the pain and sorrow, but also feel the beauty and immense love through Ilana and Ben. I couldn't stop reading. I was so engaged and waiting to understand how the evil was going to be diminished. The fantastical and folklore elements are alluring and enticing. I loved reading this book so much.

I specifically chose this book because I loved the cover, Magic’s realism, and novels in verse. I don’t think it translates to ebook as well as it should’ve but the story itself was really good. I liked the characters and how the story developed. There were also some really strong lines that stuck out to me. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this to students.

The Ghosts of Rose Hill is a beautifully written modern day fairy tale and love story written in verse (which I was not expecting at all, but I was pleasantly surprised by it).

This story is symbolic and it brings Jewish culture into the light, their beliefs and superstitions along with it. It also highlights (just a touch) immigrants coming to America to escape the government of their home countries, and the trauma they have from those experiences.

My favorite quote from the book is " The most impressive monsters are always the least impressive men."
W.O.W!!

I read this book in one single night. Started at 6 PM and finished around 10:30. Super quick and fun read!

A truly enjoyable novel in verse. I found everything about this book to be lovely! The writing and characters are gorgeous. A fine addition to anyone’s collection.

The Ghosts of Rose Hill follows Ilana, a biracial Jewish teenager whose parents don't support her dreams to be a violinist. Her parents, who have faced and fled hardship throughout their lives, decide to send Ilana away to Prague to live with her aunt so she can focus on her studies. When Ilana discovers a Jewish cemetery behind her aunt's cottage, she sets out to restore the cemetery with the respect it deserves. Along the way, she meets a ghost — a boy who died over a century ago. With a kindling friendship between the two, Ilana has to face the sinister powers right under her nose that are preventing her friend, and more ghosts, from moving on from this world.

The writing of this novel is in-verse, which really made the story so much more enjoyable and beautiful. The pacing felt just right; the moments of reflection aren't too drawn-out, the more action-packed parts are fast-paced, but easy to follow.

One thing to keep in mind is that suspension of disbelief is really important to this novel. Everyone around Ilana, including Ilana herself, accepts the magic she discovers without much hesitation. Ilana does express how it is unfamiliar to her, but it kinda just... becomes a part of her life in Prague. Also, I did think the relationship between Ilana and Benjamin, the ghost she meets, was a little odd. It didn't bother me too much, but the relationship started at 25% and then just kept growing stronger until it reached over 100%.

The references to Judaism (Hebrew and Yiddish words, Jewish morals and traditions, references to the Torah) made this book feel special and meaningful. I expect that readers who don't have Jewish backgrounds will not feel that as strongly, but it will still make it so much more valuable. To me, I absolutely love how integrated Judaism is in the book, and I really do believe that more people need to be exposed to literature — and media in general — from a diverse range of perspectives so that they can be familiar with experiences that are unlike their own.

Overall, I really had an overwhelmingly positive experience with The Ghosts of Rose Hill. I finished it with such a warm heart, cried a bit (of course), and really just felt such gratitude for being able to experience a book that aligns with the heart of the culture I grew up with and continue to love.

Trigger Warnings: death, antisemitism, discussion of the Holocaust, mentions of Nazis, fascist governments, drowning and illness, emotional manipulation and abuse

BUY THE BOOK BUY THE BOOK BUY THE BOOK!!!!!!!!

This book is so hauntingly beautiful that it'll stick with you forever. It's poignant yet at the same time magical. A tragedy written inside a fairy tale.

The message of this poetry is so profound it felt like my soul and bones rattled against its impact. This is a story of the living and the dead; the reality and the fantasy. The history was also written well, and I have no words to describe how much I love this book. After finishing this, the words tumble inside my head like, they too, are confused what's the perfect word to describe how I feel.

Magical, beautiful, touching are words that I find shallow. I need more because this book deserves more. The choice of diction is also deeply moving I have to save them for myself. R.M. Romero really deviated from the hyperfixation of using big words for your story to feel melodious on the tongue. She really made simple words to become more alive, more alluring than they ever have been. She captured every feeling, emotion, moment with the precise amount of lyricism into this book.

And the romance? I'll never move on from that. It was tragic yet R.M. Romero managed to turn it into something splendid. She also gave me the most relatable quote that will forever be etched into every corner of my brain: "My simplest daydreams become the biggest lies of all."

I'm most grateful to Netgalley for giving me an arc to this rollercoaster of a ride of a poetry book.

I really enjoyed this book with unique characters. It’s sweet and beautiful written. It highlights the struggle of immigrant families. I wasn’t sure I was going to like the novel in verse but it turns out, I loved it. Oh and this cover!! ❤️❤️

This book had such a rich sense of setting. I've only read one other book set in Prague, and just like that book, this one instantly transported me. There were no vagueries that would lead me to believe the author hadn't either been there in person or at least done copious amounts of research. I could picture everything so clearly, from the cemetery, the cafes, the streets, and every other location mentioned.

The plot was, for me, the strongest aspect of the book. I love mythology and ghost stories, and the fairy tale being Romero chose to incorporate into this book was completely new to me. The main conflict of the story was harrowing and heartbreaking, and the subplot is relatable to so many, perhaps especially to children of immigrants.

Overall, I felt that the characterization was pretty good. I have the clearest sense of who the protagonist is, and I found her to be lovable, sympathetic, and relatable. I have less of an idea of who the other characters are as people, but given one of the major plot points, that is to be expected and I don't fault the author for it. Quite the contrary, actually. I find this aspect to be heartbreaking and makes me care for them more despite knowing less about them.

I don't have a lot to say about the pacing of this book, as I found it to be very well-paced. At no point did I feel that it was dragging, but it picked up speed at the appropriate moments.

The one section where I have not a criticism but simply a comment is the writing. This is the first novel in verse that I've read. It did take me a few pages to get used to, but after that point I was used to it. However, for me there were very few moments where I felt that being written in this style added anything significant to the book. Again, this is simply a comment, not a criticism, as I have no problem with it being written this way. The writing itself was absolutely gorgeous. It took me probably twice as long to read this book as it should have because I kept stopping to make note of all the beautiful quotes I read.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. It was gorgeous, heartbreaking, and uplifting. I look forward to picking up a physical copy when it releases, and following Romero's career from now on.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Original Review Posted to Goodreads.

I LOVED everything about this book, written in the form of beautiful poetry, It will stay with me forever! The darkness behind the words tugged on my heartstrings and kept me tied into the story on every page. Magical Realism is one of my favorite genres and this was just perfect! This was a beautiful, poetic, dark love story. It touched on immigration, dark pasts and a fight for passion. I really can't praise this book enough, not to mention the beautiful cover! The colorful flowers and artwork drew me in!! A MUST-READ for lovers of magical realism, fantasy and YA Fantasy Romance! Better yet a MUST-READ for everyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I don't read novels in verse very often, but I'm always so happy when I do. The Ghosts of Rose Hill was beautifully written, and I think verse was the right format for this story. Ilana spends most of her time alone (or really, with the dead) when she's in Prague, so reading this in verse felt very much like reading a diary of her time there. I really liked that she's biracial and, despite being sent to Prague unwillingly, she really learns about herself and her place in the history of her people on both parents' sides, and uses that family history to find the inner strength to help Benjamin when he has no one else to turn to.

This book covers some heavy times in history, particularly for Jewish people, but it does it in a very honest and respectful way. It was a very quick read (despite my four day marking, it only took me a few hours) and it had some beautiful prose. I definitely recommend.

It seemed like I was walking across Prague with Ilana. I also found this book very interesting in regard with history like about Nazi, Communist.
It was a very fast pace read & I completed it in one night but still the plot was interesting.

I absolutely loved The Dollmaker of Krakow by this author, so I was very curious about this one as well! And it's a verse novel!

This was beautifully written and a beautiful story, and I absolutely loved the setting - Prague has such a magical feel to it. I also loved how, while this is a contemporary novel, it felt almost historical because it's so deeply rooted in history. And while there's a magical element, it feels entirely realistic.

I thought that it was a beautiful and meaningful story but I was not the biggest fan of the execution.

Ilana is a teenage girl, daughter of two immigrants living in Miami. After having a discussion with her parents about her future they decide to send her to Prague with her aunt where she discovers a jewish cemetery and while taking care of it she befriends Benjamin, a ghost whose been stuck there since the Nazi invasions during World War II.

My problem with this book is that it was confusing at times and it also felt like it dragged on forever.

It was written in a beautifully, but I found it difficult to concentrate on the story due to the formatting of the story. There are too many "magical" elements that needed explain action that due to the prose weren't explained correctly or clear enough. The story was also way too long, giving too many details when not needed and vague descriptions when details were greatly needed.

Overall, I think that this was a lovely story, Latina and Jewish representation are not seen often and jewish stories from World War II are also important, the historical context was just lovely. But like I've said before, the writing style/format and the way it dragged on made it a challenge for me to read and enjoy the story less.

I've never read a book written in prose before, and I half-expected to be stumbling over the colorful, poetic language, wishing instead for my comfort reads, but I think this book just <i>became</o> a comfort read for me.

Ilana's story spoke to me even if our backstories couldn't be more different. It's a story of expectations that seem impossible to meet, dreams that feel like they'll never be anything but, love that transcends generations, and fighting for what's right. It's a story woven with ghosts, magic, Jewish folklore, but more than anything, love—love for one's heritage, love for one's passions, and the simple love for someone who sees you when it feels like no one else does.

It's definitely a story I'll re-read in the future, and definitely one I'll buy a hard copy of when it's released!

<I>I was given an eARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Thank you for the ARC NetGalley!

Sometimes, when you read a story, you can actually feel it change you. It hits on memories and emotions that have needed to be looked at, dealt with, revived. The Ghosts of Rose Hill was so beautiful that I will be buying a copy for myself. And if I get the chance to get it signed, I'll do that too. Because this story spoke to the little girl in me.

I haven't read anything YA in a long time. I am not Jewish, and I am not Latina. However, I loved reading about this young woman's faith and her family's fears. Seeing what Ilana's faith means to her changed my view on religion. I've never been one for organized faith myself, but her love for the cemetery on Rose Hill and the history of her people, the stories they told and the tragedies they overcame, were so emotional and beautiful. I was happy to look up references I was unfamiliar with because I wanted to learn. I wanted to understand the thing that was so important to her.

And though we are not the same, we are connected. I remember being a little girl in a library. I spent my study halls there whenever I could. I read Greek myths and fantasy novels about young women going on adventures. I remember knowing in my bones that I would write and live great stories of my own. That no one would hold me back. And I remember the slow but steady doubt that pushed my dreams down. Too hard to make a living. Not good enough. Find a real job. Make money. I didn't reconnect with my love for writing and reading again until 29. I'm lucky to be so young as I finally let myself believe in myself again. Reading Ilana's story of pursuing her music was something I could relate to on a spiritual level.

I give this story a 5/5. I highly recommend it. Everyone should read it, but especially the girls who feel the world's doubt in them. The one's who feel like they have to give up a part of themselves just to belong in the world. Yeah, they should definitely read this story!

This book was a 5 star read for me. I loved the message of the story, love conquers all, good vs evil. I fell in love with the characters and even got emotional at the end. I highly recommend this read.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really didn't know what to expect going into this book because I didn't look at reviews before reading. My expectations weren't high just because I didn't have experience reviewing ARCs on netgalley, and I picked this book from the section that is available immediately to everyone. I ended up being so pleasantly surprised by this reading experience! I learned that I like ghost/paranormal stories, and even paranormal romances.

My favorite part of this story was how the author used fantastical elements to address and talk about real-life trauma and experiences. The main character Ilana Lopez, a biracial Jewish girl, relates the magical realism elements of the story to her community's specific experiences. The story heavily addresses the trauma and experiences of the Jewish community in Prague. I thought this was so beautifully done. There are many beautiful quotes in this book. I felt so drawn to the story, and by like 60% I didn't want to put it down.

For a lot of the story, the written in verse style of the story is used beautifully and there are some incredibly beautiful quotes. However, there are many times in the story for me where the written in verse style wasn't working for me, or maybe the style wasn't being totally used to its advantage.

For a lot of the story, I kept thinking that it felt like I was reading a middle grade novel. But I kept questioning that because the main character is preparing for college admissions exams. I realized near that end that I think I was feeling this way because the character development felt a little flat at times. I really loved the main character and enjoyed reading from her perspective so much. However, there were times in the beginning of the story where the character development wasn't strong, or maybe was just building too slowly for my tastes. By the end, I think this did improve so much, and the character felt strong and I felt connected to her and her story.

I would highly recommend this book for folks interested in magical realism, latinx/latine stories, Jewish stories, and stories set outside of the U.S.

I am not an own voices reviewer for latinx/latine and Jewish stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for allowing me the chance to read this digital ARC!!!

To say I loved this book with every beat of my heart would somehow still be an understatement.

The book is written in the style of prose and that added so much to an already beautiful story. The Ghosts of Rose Hill combines so many of my favorite things- magic, folklore, monster, first love, ghosts, coming of age, poetry, art - into a rich, ethereal story that I will never forget. I love how the author wrote about and explored her multicultural (Jewish and Latina) identity through the story as well, it was a really special thing to get to experience through her eyes and made the story even more powerful.

The only thing that I could say that may be a critique was that it had a slow start, but the prose does so much to counter that. Before I even realized, I was 80% done with the book, it really was a page turner that I didn't put down.

I will now be telling anyone who will listen all about The Ghosts of Rose Hill.

Thank you Netgalley and R.M Romero for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Written in verse-like which was a first for me but it was not disappointing. It was a quick read and quiet entertaining. It felt almost like a modern day fairytale.

It started with this girl called Ilana Lopez and how she has slipped through her grades having her parents "exile" her to Prague to stay with her aunt where she meets Benjamin, a ghost,, and the two quickly form a deep bond out of loneliness. Ilana also encounters the Rudolf Wassermann, who is also a supernatural, who gives her a violin and asks her to play. Eventually, she discovers Benjamin’s death is connected to Wassermann along with the missing children too.

The Story isnt shallow with several characters that I pretty much liked including a man with no shadow, a girl who sheds flowers, and a house separated from time.

This is the first time I’ve read a book in verse so it was a little hard for me to adjust but that’s my fault, not the book. Once I read it more with the knowledge each page was a set of poetry, it was easier for me to stick with the story. I liked reading about Ilana’s struggles and how she goes through them. I found Benjamin to be charming. Throughout the story you get a lot of different things, beautifully written verses, some softer moments, some sad, hard. I think it being in verse just pulled me out of it a couple times so if you’re unfamiliar with verse written books you should go in knowing that. Still, I won’t dock any stars for that because again that’s what I’m used to as a reader but the writing itself was lovely enough I will try to read more books like this and from this author.