Honestly this was just a meh read for me. The set up was atmospheric, but the story and romance felt a little juvenile, personally. I will still most likely procure this for our collection because it's an easy read, perfect for fall, and for fans of dark academia.

The Library of Shadows is an intriguing ghost mystery that is reminiscent of books I’d read in the ‘90’s. Ghost stories that kept me glued to the pages long after the lights were out!

Este came to Radcliffe Prep in hopes of walking in the same path as her deceased father, Dean. She instantly gets caught up in shenanigans the second she meets Mateo and helps him steal a book from a section of the library that hadn’t been open for thirty years. Of course, Este is caught red-handed and left with the consequences—late night library work under the supervision of Ives, the head librarian. She’s also under a deadline: return the stolen book or be expelled. But, little does Este know she’s entered into a decades old ghost mystery and Mateo isn’t what he seems.

I really enjoyed the pace of Library of Shadows. And although I found the relationships to be quickly formed and the mysteries solved easily—I did really have a great time reading. It felt very nostalgic for me, from cover to content. For a good ghost book with a great YA setting, would definitely recommend.

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for the arc!

I LOVED this story! The setting, the characters, the plot…..all perfection! I cannot wait to pick up a physical copy of this book!

Thank you so much Harper360YA for sending me this awesome e-arc in exchange for an honest review 🥰! So here we go!

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️

Este wants to find a place to call home and she thinks the prestigious boarding school, Radcliffe Prep, where her dad was a previous alumni is the perfect place to start! Of course she wanted to reconnect with her dad but instead, she finds herself deep in trouble with a ghost. Yes, a ghost… after all, Radcliffe Prep is only the thirst most haunted school in the country!

This is a refreshing paranormal YA romance and I loved it! Este is socially awkward but a good girl and Mateo is this mysterious senior student that is both the trouble and the answers to what she’s looking for. This is a great debut and the romance was very cute! I enjoyed the paranormal and horrorish aspects on the plot and I definitely recommend this to any fan of Wednesday Adams!

Continuing on with my gothic/dark academia mood, THE LIBRARY OF SHADOWS I a cozy little story set mostly in the library of one of the country’s most haunted schools. It’s fun, creepy, and sometimes sweet. I enjoyed it so much! It took me a bit to figure out if this was set at a college or a high school…it’s high school.

Este - she’s a little prickly and difficult to connect with. I loved the growth she showed throughout the story.

Mateo - everyone will love Mateo.

Side characters - there are some good ones! I will let you discover them on your own.

Yes, there’s a romance. And, yes, somehow, there’s a happy ending!

There were some predictable bits, then there were some wildly, shocking bits that I never saw coming!

Loved it!

ARC provided by NetGalley

This book was pretty good, I really enjoyed the story. I gotta say, I hated Posy at first. She was so annoying and I got mad every time she appeared on page and I just didn’t want her there, but I warmed up to her by the end of the book, she is not that bad.
I liked watching Este and Mateo fall in love and go through so many things together, I loved the whole academia vibe and the fact that it’s the kind of book that will make you want to turn page after page.

This book was everything I wanted it to be and yet so much more.

To start off with you have the fact that there's a hot ghost boy. And he's an angry one at that which makes it better for me.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book. You really get students doing the things they would be at a boarding school as well as the magic and mystery elements you would expect in a fantasy book.

The story was really well flushed out and developed so you really get immersed into it.

The ending was so good!!!! For a minute I was getting really upset that it was going to end in a way. I would rather it not but it ended beautifully!!!

I need more books in this world!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

I really enjoyed this. The world building was great and the pacing made it hard to put down. I did figure out the twist early on but I enjoyed the read nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc. All opinions are my own.

Years after Este’s father dies, she enrolls at Radcliffe Prep, the same school her father once attended, in order to feel a connection to him. Here Este meets Mateo, a ghost who irritates her with his smugness and infuriatingly good looks. With her unknowing assistance, Mateo steals a book that Este is then on the hook for returning, or she risks expulsion. Cue ghostly hijinks!

What a cozy read this was! I loved Mateo’s character so much and the storyline was very captivating. I did see some of the twists coming, but I still enjoyed the adventure of it all. There were some fantastic descriptions in this book! At times I really felt the crunch of leaves under my feet and the smell of old books, hear the soft turning of pages in a library-- very immersive!

Things that didn’t quite work me: I wish there had been more of a fleshed out friendship between Este and Posy. It just seemed like all of a sudden they had this close friendship, but we didn’t see it happen on page, so it fell a little flat. I also wish we had more romantic/flirty interaction between Mateo and Este as I was rooting for them, but found it hard to believe their relationship towards the end. The conclusion also felt a bit rushed to me and the epilogue gave me more questions than a solid wrap up.

Other than those few gripes, I really enjoyed the story and the clue hunting!

“I don’t want to know another life without you in it.”

★★★★★

This book in three words: spooky, romantic, cosy
_____________________

Gosh, where to even start with this one. I rarely review a book this far in advance of its publishing date but I couldn’t stop myself. The Library of Shadows is a fantastic debut that I think will work it’s way into the hearts of so many people.

This book is hauntingly romantic, the prose is often poetic and is a true joy to read. I just know it’s the perfect book to snuggle up with this autumn, so make sure to have your blankets and hot chocolate at the ready on September 05th🥰

With a boarding school setting and small town vibes this book is perfect for fans of Wednesday and for the TVD girlies who’s favourite season is when they’re at Whitmore.

Mystery, intrigue, pining. Perfect!! I could say so much more but I don’t wanna spoil anything🤭

I loved this, I already want to re-read it and know for certain that when I can get my hands on a physical copy that it will be re-read, annotated to death and a staple on my bookshelf.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with the eARC through Netgalley
4/5 stars
If you're a fan of Wednesday, Ghosts, Haunted prep schools and dark academia setting then this book is for you.

Este Logano gets accepted to the prep school her late father attended when he was younger and happens to be the third most haunted one in the country. Este doesn't believe in ghost but that will change when she meets the love interest Mateo who just happens to not be alive.
We jump straight into the story when on her first day she meets the mysterious Mateo while on a tour of the collage. He tricks her into helping him steal a priceless book from the forbidden part of the library and vanishes at the last second leaving Este to get caught by the librarian. Doing everything she can to not get expelled she agrees to locate the book and give it back by the end of term while working in the dark archives. All she needs to do is find this Mateo and convince him to give the book back. Easy right? Nope. No one has seen or heard of a Mateo.

I loved this book from page 1, it was fast paced and whenever I thought I had the plot all figured out something would happen that had me second guesting everything. It was a cosy read that would be perfect to read in autumn under a blanket with some hot chocolate.

I loved the main characters, Este who would push everyone away for their safety and Mateo who could still have fun with his friends while being ghosts.
There are a few thing Este did that I didn't agree with but everyone's grief is different and she was under a lot of pressure to keep her grades up while having to figure out why students are disappearing every 10 years.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because I wish it was longer. There's a few things I wish got explained at the end but other than that I really enjoyed it.

This was a fun paranormal rom-com with gorgeous writing and an interesting set of character. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Rachel!

4.5 stars

thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsch for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

If you like the idea of a deadly mystery, a hot ghost, and a dark academia setting, I think you’ll love The Library of Shadows!

the atmosphere was so autumnal and gloomy. it’s the perfect book to curl up on the couch with on a cold rainy evening with a warm cup of cocoa. I think any reader will appreciate how book focused this story is. when reading about the eerie library full of secrets, I could almost smell the ancient books, wet ink, and old wooden shelves.

Mateo was SO dreamy and I love the way he spoke and carried himself. he was super mysterious and I was instantly smitten with him. also I would like a hot ghost boyfriend now so if Rachel Moore could write one for me as well, I’d appreciate it.😌🫶🏻

upon first meeting Este it was apparent that she was self reliant to a fault causing her to be withdrawn from her peers and far more focused on the interesting, strange school she now found herself in. she was a stoic, introverted character who was so interesting to learn about as the story unfolded. her journey of reconnecting with her father’s past was really beautiful and loved reading the snippets of memories she had of him.

My only complaint is that I wish it was longer!! I would have loved more depth on the characters and their past, especially the ghosts. Some of the conflicts could have been further explored so that resolutions reached were more meaningful and less instantaneous. It was such a interesting story and I feel like it could have definitely been a duology in order dive deeper into the characters and draw out the mystery a bit more.

Overall this was such a unique story and I love how the author balances more serious topics like grief and death with humor and camaraderie. highly recommend checking this one out in September!

Really enjoyable! I found this to be a really cosy, spooky read. Enjoyed the lead character as well as the supporting characters. I found this easy to read and read it in one sitting. 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Teen for the eARC.

Perfect for fans of the early seasons of Buffy, chock full of supernatural library misadventures and a tender romance. Moore skillfully balances familiar ghost lore while interweaving her own twists, and the main character's struggle with grief will resonate with many readers. A splendid quick read to start off spooky season!

Cute little mystery, though it wasn’t a surprise. Things magically worked out. Not bad, but not blowing off my socks either.

Rachel Moore's The Library of Shadows is somehow the intersection of all my interests rolled into one edge-of-your-seat read: atmospheric, creepy, and at times downright scary but also fun, swoony, and flirty. I loved Este and really connected with her hunt for pieces of her late father at Radcliffe Prep but I fell especially hard for Mateo and the vibrant, expansive cast of secondary characters. The mystery at the core of this book was excellently plotted, giving just enough hints at who was behind it all without giving it away, and I felt like clues were perfectly placed to keep me reading.

Wow.
I was drawn in by the gorgeous illustration cover but the writing was the riveting anchor that pushed me to finishing this novel.

Este Logano, has been living life on the road with her mother ever since her father died. When an opportunity to attend her father’s school, Radcliffe Prep under a scholarship, she takes the chance to live a part of her father’s experience.

However she finds that Radcliffe Prep is quite haunted and that her father had more secrets then she knew.

An incident involving a missing book lands Estes in an expulsion ultimatum - a required job as archival assistant and task to find the missing book.

The pace of the story was wonderful.
I’m not a scary horror fanatic so I didn’t enjoy the Fades, that basically looked like decomposed mean girls that stole your life.
But they fit the narrative and I was apprehensive every time there was a possible mention they would appear!

Romance is not the biggest factor but I like the hint of it. Matteo and Estes.

I think Este character growth of trusting people and depending on others really shine thru at the end. She has a roommate that is a ghost fanatic, Posy, who I thought of Enid to Este’s Wednesday. They could not have been more polar opposites. Ultimately their friendship solidifies at the end.

This was a well thought out story with good morals and a satisfying ending.

I would definitely recommend this! Perfect fall novel. Thank you netgalley for the eARC for an honest review.

A fast-paced and haunting read that leaves both chills and warmth as you weave your way through the story

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an advanced copy of The Library of Shadows in exchange for an honest review.

"There is life, there is death, and there is love- the greatest of these is love."

The Library of Shadows is about a teenage girl named Este Logano, who is following in her father's footsteps and attending a prestigious college preparatory school called Radcliffe Prep, which is notorious for being one of the most haunted campuses in the country. After an incident in the top spire of the school, Este is offered an opportunity to become an archival assistant and begins to investigate a series of strange disappearances of students that occur every 10 years.

This book was so good! There was such a great mystery with so many twists and turns as well as great characters with such fun and interesting personalities. One of my favorite parts of this book was Este's connection to her father. I am also super close with my father and could never imagine losing him, and if I did, I could imagine myself doing everything Este does in order to feel closer to her father. She looks to him when she is struggling and when she needs help. I do the same with my own father.

One of my favorite characters was definitely Mateo. He was so funny and protective of Este without holding her back. His relationship with his friends was so sweet and wholesome.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you enjoy ghost stories, stories set in libraries, or simply stories about good relationships between friends. I would give this book 4.5 stars!