Thank you to Dreamscape Media and to NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook.

I wasn't sure what really to expect going in to this book. I however did really enjoy it. The narrator was just ok for me. I can see how this book would be triggering for some people, but for me I thought it was really well written and I would like to read something else by this author.

I thought this book was great - it was definitely full of content that needs some warnings, but it was a really good insight into the mind of a 16 year old dealing with mental health issues, and considering the state of morality we are all living in.

Some of the side stories of drama with Peter and Eileen were a bit "fluffy", but also provided a nice break from being entirely concentrated on death.

Overall, I felt the plot to be a bit slow moving (in the sense that not a LOT happened), but it was a good read and the characters were really relatable. I think you also see a lot of growth in Georgia as a person in a short time period.

I was so excited to read this because I was still on a high from reading The Dead Romantics and for whatever reason, I thought this was going to be like that. And in a way, it was, but it’s also YA, so that means it’s also a lot more angsty. So there’s so much more going on in this one, but that did NOT take away from the fact that this one was also good af.

Although this DID make me spiral a bit, the mental health rep was definitely something I loved about this book. I’ve had some of the same thoughts she did before. I was never on the same level as her, but I spoke with my mom and she remembers me once telling her I was afraid to die and the conversations that followed. So basically, I was around the same age. But I’ve always remembered her answer, “If you wished you were never alive, you’d still be dead. So live your life to the fullest while you have it.” Not particularly profound, but it was enough for me not to feel worse after hearing it. So basically I really felt seen in this anxiety rep. However, like I said, if you’ve ever had some of these thoughts, be mindful this content is in there. It can make you spiral as it did me.

As a character, I also saw other ways she was like me. Like the journaling. I’ve been a large journaler for a long time. I have a book journal and a creative book journal. I have been doing both for a long time and I love it. It sounded very much like the journal she made for those that she woke up. Although hers is a lot more sad than mine, I think it was cathartic and helped calm her when she was in her anxiety’s clutches. This made the character feel a lot more real. Now for her personality, I didn’t like how she acted towards her friends, but by the end she knew what she had done wrong and wanted to change. She’s a teen and they are the main ones who are constantly changing. I loved that they author showed that change for her.

Being able to do what she does and having the power she does, I can see why she’s had those thoughts tho. I think this would mess me up lol And she doesn’t know how to use it? Yeah, no. That seems super reckless. But also I don’t know if I would have thought that way as a teen. I think I would have wanted to explore it like she did, consequences be damned. But also, how was she not frightened? Because um I think I would have freaked out. Especially with the first ghost. Like they don’t know what’s happening and I don’t either? I would have immediately panicked. I don’t know how she was able to be ok enough to have an actual conversation with that person. And then the person that it was? I don’t know how she did it. I DO wish she had known more or learned more about her powers tho. It just made it all feel incomplete.

There is also LGBTQIA rep in this one too. The main character is ace and her best friend is non-binary. As I’m not a part of either community, I won’t comment on the rep, but I will say that the BFF’s pronouns are they/them and their parents are very supportive of them. And nothing happens to them in the end of the book. I know that’s a stereotype, but it’s not a problem with this character and I loved that.

The ghost that this was about really captured my heart. Him and his parents made me hella emotional lol I remembered I was clutching my pearls at one point. His whole family made me teary, I’m not gonna lie. And the end?! The eulogy? The very last thing with his friend? I hated it lol Why? Because I was in real tears. From a paranormal book lol I don’t think I’ve ever been in that position before. So be warned. Because if you’re like me and cry at anything, you will definitely cry at this.

The narrator was okay. Not really memorable, but still good. I was able to decipher between the voices and things like that. I went to check out the narrator and I haven’t listened to anything else they had done, so I enjoyed getting an introduction to someone new. I will be sure to keep an eye on this narrator to see how they grow and if they did anything else in the near future.

But in all seriousness, this book was so good! I realize this won’t be for everyone (in fact I had to warn my coworker off because she also has anxiety and I know this would have caused more harm than been enjoyable with her) but this definitely hit the mark for me. It was a perfect way to welcome me to Spooky Season!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. Interesting story I enjoyed it. I felt like it was maybe written for YA? But I didn't see it listed under that? Anyways it was an interesting story. Perfect for Halloween 🎃 season.

This was just delightful, and what a good job from the narrator too! I was immediately drawn by the title and I'm happy to say that it delivered. Rather than just fiction, this story felt like life itself – flawed, complicated, angry. I can recommend this to everyone, not just young adult readers.

This book was a little bit hard with triggers for a lot of talk about death and the processes around it. That being said, I truly enjoyed this story of Georgia and Milo. Georgia can talk to the dead who come through her family's funeral home, helping them with their last wishes and with processing the fact that they have died as she herself processes how to deal with death. When a classmate, Milo, comes through their business after being hit by a car one night, she tries to make sense of the death of someone her age by awakening his ghost earlier than usual. As Georgia tries to learn about Milo and what he needs, he ends up helping her as much as she helps him. The only quibble that I had was that it felt like it took way too long to get to the event that led to the estrangement of Georgia and her twin brother which was alluded to for quite a while.

The narrator, Jess Nahikian, is amazing and fully embodies teenage angst and all of the other emotions surrounding the teenage protagonists. Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Emma Ohland, and NetGalley for the early listen to this book for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars

This was a good book in the end, but left me wanting - it droned on and on about the sadness of the main charecter and had no ending plot - what is next. Overall an ok read, but not great. All the charecters seemed self-centered and not at all intersted in solving the issues, which would be ok to started - but it went on and on until the last pages... Not good development. Doesn't even explain her powers or even if she has them at the end..

First thank you to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook and give and honest review.

Unfortunately I didn’t not finish this audiobook. From the very beginning of the story I did not enjoy how the main character was written. She was very whiny and overly sad. There wasn’t any light hearted feelings towards her powers and her situation. There was no hope. Now I did not continue after 18% and yes she could have changed her tune later in the story but it was almost as if she hated everything about herself and her home and was just in a constant state of “oh no no no” like courage the cowardly dog. Without the dark humor.

This book was not for me.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I reviewed the audiobook version.

Funeral Girl was heartfelt, bittersweet, and an interesting persepctive of grief through the eyes of the teenage protagonist, Georgia Richter.

For unknown reasons, Georgia has the power to touch the dead, conveniently in her funeral home, home, bringing forth the touched ghost. When she touches them again, their ghost vanishes.

But when Milo, a classmate comes through the doors of the Richter funeral home, Georgia is not so quick to say goodbye to Milo.

I loved Georgia’s interactions with Milo’s family, coming to terms with his death, and the understanding of how much can we really know anyone.

Also the seemless introduction of a non-binary character that was not a plot point, but rarher embedded in the narrative was a nice touch.

The narration was nicely done. Jess Nahikian accurately portrayed all the pain and angst the characters endured.

Georgia's grief and journey were deeply touching and I loved this book. It's a fantastic debut with eloquent writing. Georgia is someone who's the perfect messy teen trying to figure out how to overcome a fear. I cannot wait for the author's next book!

This book was very nostalgic for me. It reminded me of the ghost stories I would read growing up, stories about ghosts and the afterlife, It brings up questions about life and death, what happens after you die, what are the limitations of ghosts, and what happens to spirits after death. but still keeping it light, and I would still categorize it as a YA. The MC was relatable, dark and quirky and I really liked her back story and progression arc. I loved the setting, and the writing was well done. I really enjoyed the story, and thought it was the perfect ghost story for spooky season!

This book follows Georgia, a girl who has grown up in a funeral home, surrounded by death all her life. When her classmate Milo unexpectedly dies, it sends Georgie into a spiral, leaving her overly anxious about death. Thankfully, Georgia can talk to ghosts. But when she wakes Milo's ghost in order to fulfill his last request, she is forced to confront her anxieties and fear, and just how damaging they are to her and those around her.

This was a hard book to read. It does not shy away from hard topics. Anxiety, panic attacks, broken friendships, grief, and loss are just a few of the things we see portrayed in this book. Georgia is not a perfect human, by any means, but I enjoyed that about her. Anxiety is such a hard thing to manage, and we see Georgia pushing people away, not wanting to be a burden. She holds all of these emotions inside, and it causes her to act irrationally, or out of fear. It is hard to ask for help, but when she does, it is amazing to see the change in her character.

Please be aware that this book is not light-hearted in any way. Take care of yourself, and if this book is too much for you, that is okay.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

Advanced Reader's Copy audiobook provided by NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

Funeral Girl by Emma K. Ohland is the perfect YA novel for the spooky season! Georgia Richter has the power to summon ghosts, and just so happens to live in a funeral home. Georgia keeps her powers to herself which makes growing up, and dealing with grief even harder. Following a classmates death, Georgia has to learn how to express her feelings and come to terms with her powers.

This book seems relevant to many readers, since we all have different, personal and complicated relationships with death. As Georgia begins to handle her grief and with her own mortality, we as readers do too!

The narrator, Jess Nahikian, gave so much life to Georgia and this story!

A different kind of story about life and death that was well written and kept the reader interested in the lives of the characters. It makes reader's feel the emotions of the characters as you feel you know them and what they are going through.
I listened to the audio and found that the narration by Jess Nahikian was very well done.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the advanced audiobook copy of Funeral Girl in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Emma K. Ohland the author, Jess Nahikian the narrator and Dreamscape Media the publisher for the opportunity to review the advanced listen copy.

I truly, truly enjoyed this book so much more than I thought it would- which is saying a lot because I knew I would love it just from the cover! It’s a slow, emotional walk through anxiety, depression, friendship, and loss. I appreciated the care that the author put into communicating the inescapable, almost unnoticeable way we can pull away and into ourselves when we face tragedy or depression. It was beautiful and full of languid yearning that I think most of us can relate to.

I also just love funeral home books. 😂

Thanks to NetGalley for proving this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This story was so good. So many emotions, such a compelling story line, the opening was excellent. I felt a little lost in the flashbacks at times, but it all wrapped up nicely.
I quite enjoyed the audio version of the story. The narrator had an interesting voice and added to the story.

This book follows 16-year old Georgia who lives with her family above their funeral home. Georgia has the ability to summon the dead and speak to them and send them on their way, but Georgia is super anxious about death. Her classmates give her the unfortunate nickname of "Funeral Girl" after a rumour that was spread. One of her classmates then dies and his family uses her family's funeral home. Georgia is going through a lot - dealing with death, her self-esteem, her family, and so much more. The author, Emma, does a great job of touching on these hard subjects and making it accessible for the audience. Book also deals with sexuality including asexual representation. I listened to the audiobook courtesy of NetGalley and Jess Nahikian nailed the vibe of the book.

The audiobook version was reviewed (not yet available as an option on the GoodReads site).

The narration by Jess Nahikian was very well done.

Georgia has the ability to touch dead people and have a conversation with them; she then touches them again and their spirit disappears to the great beyond. Well usually ... Georgia has been documenting about 70 or so of these "sessions" ... and then one of her classmates is hit by a hit and run driver.

The concept of the book is very intriguing and this book did prompt me to make an appointment with a funeral director so that I can formalize my request to "not be embalmed" (I've been telling my husband "dry ice" for years but really I need to work with a funeral home to formalize my exit plan).

There is a bit of teen age drama between Georgia and her twin and circle of friends. (Personally a little less here would have been preferred.) One of Georgia's friends preferred being addresses using plural pronouns; this concept was new to me and well done by the author.

The author (Emma K. Ohland) did a really good job with the ending and wrap-up of the story. Additionally the author is in her 20's. KUDOS! for publishing yet another book!

Many thanks to NetGalley (for yet again ... introducing me to a new-to-me author) and the opportunity to review the advance read copy of Funeral Girl in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Emma K. Ohland the author, Jess Nahikian the narrator and Dreamscape Media the publisher for the opportunity to review the advance read/listen copy.

A lovely exploration of loss, grief, and belief through the eye of a teenage girl who can talk to ghosts. Beautifully written with asexual and nonbinary rep.
Carry a tissue box around with you for this one.

CW: child death, bullying, car accident, panic attacks, grief

Clever lot sure to appeal to YA readers. Often books of this type cannnot sustain readers since the plot does not maintain reader interest…not so with this novel.