Author: Miranda Sun
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year of Publication: 2023

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an egalley of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Main Character: Cara—(5/5)—I connected with Cara on a different level than I do with most main characters. She wasn’t a typical impulsive, naïve YA heroine. She was realistic.
Secondary Characters: Brittany—I was suspicious of her at first, but she surprised me in a good way. I find that's so rare in books. Zach—I was impressed by his strength of character and determination. These were some powerful characters. The only one I was on the fence about was Laolao. She disappeared when Cara and Zach needed her, but never explained where she went.
Pacing: There were small lulls in the action, but they didn't last too long. And it helped balance the intensity of many of the other scenes to have some calmer moments.
Accuracy of Publisher’s Synopsis: Refreshingly accurate
Resolution: I was satisfied with the ending. All of the important things were resolved and it didn’t drag on. There were even some surprises! And...do I smell a sequel? There were some loose ends left undone, and that epilogue was deliciously ripe with secrets to be unleashed.

The Good:
An enemies-to-lovers romance is one of my favorite tropes, and this one was fulfilling. They also had a lifelong rivalry, which just made it better, and I loved seeing flashbacks from their childhood together. The relationship unfolded very naturally, but I also appreciated seeing Cara’s doubt. These characters had a strong sense of purpose, knew what they stood for, and showed initiative and a sense of responsibility most adults don't.

This novel had such picturesque descriptions, especially of nature. The visuals were gorgeous. It seems outrageous to be saying that about a novel, but I want to see these places! Every time I thought the surprises were over, a new one popped up, but not to the point of it being excessive or predictable. With each new world they stepped into, I was worried that the final one with the snake would be anticlimactic. While that particular scene wasn't action-packed, it was still intense and satisfying.

The Not-So-Good: Beyond Cara, Zach, and Brittany, I was disappointed by the rest of the characters. Cara’s friends don't add to the narrative at all. While they weren’t harmful to the plotline, it could have been more concise without them. I also wish there had been more background on each family. I still have so many questions about the rest of Cara’s family, like who her dad was, if she has other relatives who are ghost speakers, etc. To be honest, I didn't feel like either Cara or Zach had a good support system. Cara’s mother was cold and distant, and it didn’t seem like she cared about Cara’s wellbeing so much as having control over her. I am a bit suspicious of Laolao. I think her heart is in the right place and I know she loves Cara, but she's hiding something—or maybe multiple somethings.


Overall Impression: This novel was more fun than I expected, and it tugged at my heartstrings with every challenge the characters faced.


Would I recommend it?: Definitely! This book was one I was dying to read, and it lived up to my expectations. If you like ghosts, adventure, enemies-to-lovers romance, a bit of magic, and whole lot of close brushes with death, you’ll enjoy this book.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Ghost romance has always been a bit hit-or-miss for me, but If I Have to Be Haunted is one of the rare exceptions. One aspect that made this one work for me was the fact that, while contemporary fantasy is another genre I don’t always care for, it really delved into the fantasy aspects, fleshing out the world the story is set in, and the magical connections between ghosts and ghost-speakers, especially with it being tied to Cara and her family’s Chinese heritage.I really enjoyed seeing the relationships among the family fleshed out in that context, as a large part of Cara’s journey is about learning some of the big secrets her grandmother kept from her.
And even discounting the magic, the familial relationships really stand out. Cara is a second-generation Chinese-American, and her relationship with her mother is a complex one, commenting on the complex generational divide in these types of families.
The romantic arc is also a lot of fun, with the ghost-speaking aspect and him being dead adding a fun element to the typical enemies-to-lovers. They have a solid dynamic, and they were easy to root for.
While I’m not sure the marketing depicts this well, the book is just as much a fantasy-adventure as it is a romance. I personally did not mind, as I love both, and I was consistently engaged, flipping pages. I also did not expect there to be a cliffhanger…while the romantic arc ends on a good note, I am somewhat skeptical, if cautiously optimistic, to a possible book two.
I had a lot of fun with this, and would recommend it to readers of romantic YA fantasy, especially if you’re looking for something a little ghostly to read this spooky season.

Slow burn? Yes!

Enemies to lovers? Yes!

And add in cultural elements? Yes, please!!

I loved this story between the family relationships to Cara and her relationship to Zach as well. The characters were developed well and easy to love. Adorably charming story I will definitely be recommending.

But the end! I need answers!! 😅

This is such a perfect spooky season read! A ghost speaker must save a ghost who just happens to be her biggest enemy at school. However, this is a romance, so I felt all the best enemies-to-lovers vibes while these two struck out in the liminal world.

This was absolutely delightful! I loved all the feels and the added cultural aspect of Cara's Chinese family. This is a true journey for the protagonist. She learns about herself and her gifts throughout this tale.

I really loved this!

Out September 26, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Cara doesn't want to see ghosts. She wants to be a good daughter, please her mother and get through high school.
But her grandmother, having passed several years prior, is determined that Cara uphold the family legacy of being a ghosttalker as she is.
And of course, if Cara shuts of her power, as her mother did, she will no longer see her grandmother, so she has put of making a decision and ignores any ghost, other than her grandmother.
Bringing the whole situation to a head, is the almost death of her frenemy and classmate Zach, who is bitten by an Oborus snake, whose sole purpose seems to be to cause choas.

In order to save him, the pair must travel through the liminal worlds to reach the cure within a week.
Their journey was fun, the different worlds they saw were clever and creative... though sometimes it seemed they survived less due to their own wits or skills, but more due to a fortunate stroke of luck... but still fun.
I enjoyed seeing Cara and Zack's relationship grow, but would have also enjoyed seeing more of Cara's relationships with her mother and grandmother, the latter seemed especially interesting!

Overall, a solid debut novel, definitely geared more towards a younger teen audience, but fun.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful book! Cara is a highschooler who has a secret- she can see and talk to ghosts. Split between wanting to obey her mom (who wants Cara to deny this side of her and close off her powers) and continue the legacy of her ghost grandmother (who also had these powers and wants Cara to embrace them and help ghosts pass over), Cara is struggling with knowing what to do.

When her classmate that she hates shows up dead and Cara’s the only one that can help him, she’s forced to help the one person she can’t stand. Adventures and a quest type of storyline ensues.

What a book! I had so much fun reading If I Have to Be Haunted and I highly recommend it to people that love fantasy stories set in real life and forced teamwork. This is definitely going to be at least a duology as a lot of questions that come up during the book aren’t answered and I can’t wait to read the next book!

*thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC of this book*

This book was such a suspenseful fun adventure. Cara and Zach are fantastic.

I received this as an ARC and all opinions are my own. I would never promote a book I did not enjoy personally.

Our book centers on two people Cara and Zach. They are both captains of their sports teams and have competed against one another since they were small children. That has not changed since they entered high school but one thing Zach doesn’t know is that Cara can see and speak to ghosts. A skill that was passed down through her grandmother on her mother’s side ( Laolao). When Zach and Cara are forced into a group project they agree to meet to get it over with however Zach does not show up. Angry ,Cara leaves and stumbles upon his ghost. With Zach at her mercy they must traverse the liminal world in search of a way to revive him.

I loved the growth we have with our characters not just together but individually. Cara realizes she has wants and goals of her own that her mother does not agree with but our lives are ours to choose. I also liked that it goes over the idea that if you want respect , you should give it. No one is owed that.

I speak mandarin and have good background knowledge of history but I am not of Chinese descent and it was nice to get a perspective of what many have to deal with in society today. I also liked the folklore mixed into this story such as the red thread of fate, Yin and Yang , and others.

The story is a wild ride with many trials through the liminal world , it is suspenseful and has spooky moments but I loved the imagery of some of the spaces and all the action it includes. Plus our fun and confident ghost hunter.

I definitely recommend adding this to your spooky season TBR.

Cara Tang's life is anything but ordinary. Her struggle to balance her overbearing mother's expectations of being the "perfect" Chinese American daughter while suppressing her ghost-speaking abilities is a central theme that adds depth to her character. Cara's fiery personality and relatable struggles instantly draw readers into her world. Her penchant for getting into fights with the charismatic golden boy, Zacharias Coleson, sets the stage for an electrifying enemies-to-lovers dynamic that drives much of the story.

This novel was a fun-one with a true slowburn, enemies-to-lovers romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen, and Miranda Sun for the opportunity to read If I have to be Haunted in exchange for an honest review.

Cara can see ghosts. She occasionally helps them cross over, but her mom wants her to be the perfect Chinese-American student. No talking to ghosts! Not only does she hide this from the world, but in her school life, Zacharias Coleson is the bane of her existence, her nemesis in all things that makes her want to turn him into a ghost...

Well...one day Cara stumbles upon Zach's dead body in the woods. Zach's dead body means Zach's ghost is there and ready to follow Cara around, considering she is the only one that can see him. Agreeing to help him infuriates her mother, but what else can she do? They have a matter of days to track down the serpent who bit him and find a way to bring him back.

This adventure leads Cara and Zach into a liminal plane of madness and monsters (this part of the story was a bit weird for me). Between ghost-eaters, ghost hunters, and strange creatures, Cara and Zach must work together to make it through the liminal plane and save Zach's life. And the most frightening thing Cara must face, is her feelings. Can her nemesis become...something tolerable?!

A fun novel with spritely characters and a fantastic adventure. A good stand-alone for a teen audience and lovers of paranormal tales.

“The one inch of space between you and Casper the Very Friendly Ghost when he was doing your bandages didn’t look like business. No way there was enough room for Jesus in there.”

4.25 stars

“For a heartbeat, she let herself wonder what it would be like if Zacharias Coleson stayed dead.”

This was a really fun read! I love books where the main characters have to go on an adventure, and having one of them dead?? Even better.

“You’re not alive anymore and I’m still forced to look at your face!”
“How are you literally dead and still this insufferable?”

I’m kidding, obviously, but it was such a unique plot point, Zach being a ghost, and I enjoyed it a lot! Normally, I’m a die hard enemies to lovers, but this rivalry was top notch!

“Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not the first person who’s ever kicked the bucket and turned into a ghost. And unfortunately for you, I don’t care enough about you to stick around and enjoy the show.”

I about DIED when she started insulting him after he died, like, get it girl!

“Technically, Zach had won, but only because he slipped halfway down, slicing his arm open on a stray wire in the mesh, and fell the rest of the way to the ground. Cara wasn’t the one who’d spent the night getting stitched up in the ER, so really, who had been the real winner there?”

I love how they were always at each others’ throats and Cara’s viciousness didn’t disappear when Zach died, she just continued on insulting him like a badass!

“Don’t talk,” she whispered. “Let me handle this.”
“Why can’t I talk?” Zach complained. “She can’t even hear me.”
“Yes, but I can, so shut up.”

Banter is my one true love. Give me banter or give me death.

“And how are you sure you’re not imagining me right now?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “Maybe I am.”
“So touch me,” he said. “Make me real.”

There were lots of funny moments, which by now, you should all know I love! Even in the face of death, Cara had something witty or sarcastic to say.

“Wasn’t that what they were all doing? Whenever you put on a seat belt or wore a helmet, you were delaying the inevitable, hitting snooze on a clock that continued to count down. Pulling the blanket over your head and telling Death, “Just five more minutes, please.”

She was also incredibly brave despite the literal horrors they faced on this quest and I love brave characters. There is one point where a ghost is trying to kill Zach and the ghost ignored her, you know, thinking she wasn’t a threat: “You,” she said, despite her bruised windpipe, “should have been paying attention to me.”

YES GIRL!

“It was only you. It has always been only you.”
“Go ahead, break my heart. I don’t mind. You’re a flame I would happily let burn me alive.”

This is definitely a book of “he falls first” and I really do love that trope, it’s adorable! Zach was the perfect golden retriever marshmallow ghost boy thing and I love him.

“And suddenly Zach was in front of her, brandishing a stalactite like a sword. “Like hell you’re touching her,” he said, voice low and dangerous. And tremoring. Just the tiniest bit. Zach? “Coleson—” “Stay behind me,” he ordered. “If it wants you, it’s gonna have to go through me first.”

We also had some “touch her and die” moments and I was living for those!

“I’m glad you’re not dead, so I will ground you only for the next six weeks.” Cara’s mouth fell open. “The next six weeks?” “Did you think I would be so grateful you were alive I would let you off with no consequences?”

I hope we get to see more of her family (Zach’s family can rot in hell) because I’m interested to see how everything will play out.

I will update the review with the link to on our blog closer to publication date. I'd like to thank the publisher HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this so much. I was iffy going in because ghosts are definitely hit or miss for me, but this was such a good contemporary spooky vibe book. I loved the slow burn hate-to-love arc between Zach and Cara and I feel like for once we got to actually see their relationship develop from enemies to more. The world itself was incredibly unique and I feel like the world building was done pretty well. I liked how it wasn’t an information dump but moreso learning the world alongside Zach. I feel like i’ve been burnt out with fantasy books recently since I was reading majority of high fantasy books where the main character is trying to save her magical people. This was so refreshing and like a breath of fresh air.

Reading this made me feel the way I did when reading PJO and I did not want to put it down. Like actually spent the first hour of work finishing this because I needed to know what happened next. It was lighthearted and reminded me of the fantasy books I read in middle school in the height of the 2010s YA books. The monsters were so unique and while yeah at points what was going to happen was a bit predictable, it was still such an enjoyable read.

The ONLY reason I rated this as 4.5 (rounded up) is because I thought this was a standalone and only realized in the last 5% of the book there will be at least one other book. I feel like this could’ve been a really good standalone since the main plot was wrapped up so well. With that said, I will 100% without a doubt be reading the next one in the series because I need to know more about Laolao and her history with the Signet snakes. I also don’t think i’ll ever get enough of Zach and Cara so I definitely cannot wait to read more of them. With that being said, I cannot recommend this enough. It’s perfect for a lighthearted fantasy for the upcoming spooky season.

⭐️ ⭐️ .5

Easy-read, very fast paced! The plot was a tad to simplistic for my liking.
It was not what I would describe a slow burn romance either, the romance fell flat for me.
I did like to see the Asian-American representation and family dynamics at hand.
The ending felt slightly rushed. Overall, this was an okay YA book, with slight middle grade elements added to it.

An energetic, fast-placed and easy read. Did enjoy the dialogue and characterisations, although the plot did feel too simplistic for my taste. Overall, a solid debut novel.

[arc review]
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
If I Have to Be Haunted releases September 26, 2023

<i>“It’s easy to chase after ghosts. It’s harder to live with them.”</I>

Cara, the 16 year old main character to this story, lives in Autumn Falls, is an only child to a single mother and immigrant, and has the ability to see ghosts.

Her high school enemy is Zach, and they have the typical type of annoying dynamics that you’d expect to find from hormonal teenagers.
They end up being paired together on a school assignment, and that serves as the catalyst for the rest of the events to follow.

On the same day that Cara and Zach agree to meet at her treehouse in the Wildwoods to work on their assignment, Zach gets bit by a signet snake and becomes a ghost. He now has 7 days to be retethered to his body before he’s gone for good, and he needs the antidote and the help of Cara who is a ghost speaker to be a living anchor.

Zach basically threatens to haunt Cara unless she helps him with this whole ordeal.
The thing that rubbed me the wrong way was that she exploited him for $12K and a recommendation letter for college. For someone who made it known how much she hated how privileged he was and how he would use it to his advantage in an asshole way, she sure didn’t have any issue holding it over his head in a literal life or death matter which was kinda gross.

The premise from afar was interesting at first, I’ll admit, but quickly becomes so contrived.
Cara’s mother is so overbearing (look, I get it, Asian family dynamics, I grew up the same way) but to ground your kid for a week because she had a petty argument with someone during lunch hours over promotional flyers? That’s so weird.
Then, Cara lies to her best friends, coach, workplace, and anyone else that matters, saying that she’s hopping on a flight to China because a family member is sick?? It makes no sense. Wouldn’t people in the town get suspicious when they still see her mother there going to and from work?

The story completely lost me once they travelled through the liminal space and encountered a cannibal and monsters. It started to feel very middle grade fairytale/fantasy instead of an urban paranormal which I wasn’t expecting.

I was never fully convinced of their romance and wish it was left platonic. Zach went from “ew I can’t stand you and I don’t want anything to do with you” to “I’m your protector, I’ll take care of you and tend to your wounds, I’ve always loved you” which was so uncharacteristic and too quick of a 180 turnaround.

The epilogue makes it seem like there could be a prequel/sequel, which makes sense for all of the loose ends surrounding Cara’s grandmother, but is kind of annoying as a reader because I came into this with the mindset of a standalone.

cw: racial microaggressions

(I feel like I need to clarify because my rating on this one doesn’t make sense/might seem harsh — it’s not a badly written book and I would recommend it to the right audience — the subgenre/middle grade feel just didn’t do it for me and there was a real lack of depth)

If I Have to Be Haunted was a great book. It kept me on my toes and stayed unpredictable throughout. It was truly a slow burn romance as the author promised and it was so worth it in the end. I couldn’t get enough of Cara and Zach and their complex relationship that dates all the way back to when they were kids. As an Asian American, I also appreciated the representation and the complicated family dynamics. The writing is beautiful and the banter is just chef’s kiss. I am recommending the book to everyone I know, have preordered, and will likely read it a second time.

This book was very good, and I loved the romance. I do wish, however that Zach had been a bit more developed as a character. Towards the end with the things he said to Cara, it sounded a bit stilted, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. The vivid descriptions of the setting and magical elements were amazing, and I truly felt that I could imagine the ghosts in the story. Overall this was an enjoyable read, and you should definitely read it!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5/5 stars

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

I enjoyed this one! It was entertaining from start to finish. I loved the discussion of racism and the musings about death. Cara is a relatable teenage protagonist and I love that she didn't agree to resurrect Zach only out of the goodness of her heart. Cara's relationships with her mother and grandmother were so well written and the pressure she feels is all too relatable as a Chinese American. I enjoyed all the characters and Cara and Zach's adventures.

However, the plot was a tad bit too straightforward for me. There is a conflict, they embark on a quest to solve the conflict, they solve it, the end. There were no twists or surprises, and it felt too easy. I also thought Cara and Zach's relationship at the beginning was very contrived, because why did they hate each other? Then, they fall in love in the span of a week, which wasn't realistic. I couldn't pinpoint when their feelings began and they saw each other differently.

Pretty sure there's going to be more in this world, which I'm excited for.

Miranda Sun’s debut novel is a YA entry into the world of ghosts and the supernatural. Cara can see and speak to ghosts. Zach is the jock that won’t stop loving to annoy her.

The plot really begins when Cara and Zac are forced to go on a journey to the liminal world to save Zac’s life. There they encounter a ghastly cannibal, ravishing monsters and a deadly, duplicitous snake.

Overall, I thought this one was a fine YA book. The ending left it open for a sequel. I’d read it.

I was confused a bit by the mixture of Greek mythology when I had expected the book to include Chinese mythos.

The storyline was a tad Middle Grade to start but had YA elements throughout.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I devoured this book. I loved Cara and Zach and the evolution of their relationship —from ugly fights to silly banter to risking their lives for one another. The ending had me in tears, but it was so good. I really thought this would be a standalone. The main story was tied up nicely, but author did pave the way for a sequel that I cannot wait for.