So cute and touching. I had a lot of fun reading this. Exceeded my expectations. The world felt vast and the characters were genuine. I feel like I won’t read anything like it for awhile.

I highly enjoyed this and would have read 100 pages more. So good.
I just reviewed If I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun. #IfIHavetoBeHaunted #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I received an E-arc by the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.

I loved this adventurous book! This took me into a new world I will say that I loved the Memory Keepers' temple moment. What happened was pretty cool but the consequence was kind of sad.

Basically Cara is a first generation of her family who ends up helping Zach. Zach is a young teen who is from a wealthy family and has is own things he deals with. They both clash. While Zach ends up being a ghost, he learns that Cara can see him. Cara isn't thrilled about this and yet she decides to help him.

These two have such a banter between each other that makes you wonder if they really do not like each other or they have something more going on. Other than dealing with those feelings both of them are teens who act like them. Put yourself in their shoes at that time. Those strange emotions and conflict.

Anyways, they go on this journey which is wild. The journey takes you into new places and meeting new people and creatures. The creatures were interesting and I wanted to know more about them too. it is wild! I fell in love with the adventure. I will say that the fog is scary.

Another character pops up along the way. A teen named Brittany. She is aware of the unique worlds and the fact that Cara can see ghosts. Brittany and Cara seem to have a connection through the story which was nice to see. It was nice to see a friendship happening during this adventure.

The connection between Cara and Zach is up and down. While they go on this adventure, they seem to be more mellow out in a way. It almost feels like a slow romance as time goes by right? Go get the book when it comes out to find out whether or not Cara and Zach are together or not?

So many twists and turns. It's a must read.

The ending leaves it open for a sequel. What's gonna happen next?

I really loved the lore in this one! While other novels may not have had an explanation about why someone becomes a ghost, If I Have to Be Haunted has great backstory/lore as to why Zach became a ghost. I'm a sucker for enemies/rivals to lovers so this one really hit the spot there too. Plus, it has a diverse narrator. It's an all-around win.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, HarperTeen, for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Paranormal, fantasy romance? Yes! This book is amazing! I fell l in love with Cara and Zach! Such a hot, slow burning romance!

The author does a fantastic job. You are so going to live this one!

Highly recommend.

This is a charming YA paranormal fantasy that will be a PERFECT read for Halloween.

Cara and Zach, the central characters, are 16/17, but the book reads young YA. There’s a sort of innocence there that’s missing in some YA these days. It’s almost nostalgic in a way. This is an old-school adventure, with references to Percy Jackson that goes to show you how well it would fit in with that series. “If I Have to Be Haunted,” however, is very much a contemporary story, and it doesn’t shy away from topics like racism and privilege. Cara refers to her heritage, and the cast of characters is diverse.

I thought the story would take place in the real world, but most of it takes place in liminal space, so it’s more of your classic adventure across an unknown world. The strongest parts of the book are the beginning and the end. It’s painful to see Cara’s and Zach’s interactions early in the middle, and I can’t help but give Cara the side-eye for being so cold to him right after his death. I get it, you’re “enemies” and he’s annoying, but he just DIED. There’s some morally gray attitude on her part, but she turns it around. And of course, there’s payoff at the end.

Speaking of the end, the story ties up nicely… but I think it will continue based on the epilogue. There are more secrets to be divulged and a big bad out there somewhere.

Overview:

😍 Rivals to lovers
😍 Slow burn romance
🙏 Weird people finding each other and becoming friends
👍 'Low' stakes fantasy
👍 Generational trauma themes
👍 Fast pacing

If I Have to Be Haunted was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and I got an arc! This is an urban fantasy standalone, but it looks like the door is open for more books in a possible series?

Cara is a ghost speaker, someone who can communicate with the dead. Her mother wishes she wasn't. Her biggest supporter is the ghost of her grandma...and shes being driven crazy constantly by the school golden boy, Zach. When she finds Zach dead and only she can save his ghost, the two embark on a quest to resurrect him before time runs out.

So one thing I LOVE about this book is its actually YA. These are characters with teen problems who act like teens. A lot of YA these days is reskinned adult fantasy; this is not one of those books. The audience is extremely clear and the book is still delightful for all ages.

The characters are easily the hi-light of the book; Cara is a first-generation Chinese girl struggling to meet the expectations of multiple family members who all want something different from her. Zach is a wealthy and popular boy who drives her crazy. Both of them are smarmy as hell and drive each other crazy. As a note, this book is RIVALS to lovers, but it is executed very well. Both characters are charming and their banter is to die for. I loved them together and on their own.

I would describe the romance as a 'dramione fanfiction you've always wanted'- complete with "only calling each other by last names' and of course the resident blonde bad boy asshole who can only be saved by the brainy and talented hero.

The book also introduces some side characters such as Cara's grandmother and a rogue ghost hunter. All of these side characters are so instantly likable. Miranda Sun can make even the smallest character explode with the size of their heart. You end up loving all of them.

A weak point is the plot. What is interesting is the contents of the plot are GREAT. The individual scenes are always a blast and I was never bored. I felt they were sometimes awkwardly strung together though, and I was sometimes a little confused how we got from point A to B, and it felt a little convenient at times.

THAT SAID, this book is wonderful and just..go along for the ride. Open yourself up to If I Had to be Haunted for an adorable ghost adventure with a charming romance that ACTUALLY IS SLOW BURN.

EXCERPT: "If there’s one mandatory read before Halloween, it’d be If I Have to Be Haunted, Miranda Sun’s literary debut. With ghosts, monsters, and discussions of resurrection, the novel artfully blends the supernatural with a Chinese American coming-of-age story."

Full review published online at Asia Pacific Arts Magazine.

I don't normally care for YA anymore but this was super good! I loved the enemies to lovers, the supernatural aspect of the ghost speaking powers and then going into a unknown/unique world.

A thrilling and romantic debut! I loved Cara and the development of her relationships with both Zach, and her abilities!

The novel "If I Have to Be Haunted" by Miranda Sun offers a fresh and captivating take on contemporary fantasy. Protagonist Cara Tang is a Chinese American with ghost-speaking powers, but she suppresses them due to her mother's pressure to be the perfect daughter. However, her life takes a dramatic turn when she finds the dead body of the local golden boy, Zacharias Coleson, and agrees to resurrect him. This sets off a dangerous chain of events that takes her into a magical and unpredictable world, where she and Zach must depend on each other to survive. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Cara and Zach is compelling, and the story's snarky voice adds to the overall delightful reading experience. Overall, "If I Have to Be Haunted" is an excellent addition to the contemporary fantasy genre and is sure to captivate readers.

4.5/5 stars. damn...this was actually really good! as someone who generally hates young adult fiction (I know, I know), I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying this. the romance, the ghosts, everything about this was just spectacular.

Thank you so much to HarperTeen for the eARC!

Full of laughter, wit, and vividly imaginative worldbuilding, IF I HAVE TO BE HAUNTED feels like journeying through the best kind of adventure. Reading this reminded me of why I adore YA, and from its effortless hilarity to characters that you just can't help but fall in love with, this book is not something you want to miss.

Starting off with the plot, which was as exciting as it was intriguing. It drew me in within the first few pages of chapter 1, and before I knew it, I was almost done the book by the end of the day. With increasingly high stakes to plot twists I couldn't have predicted, it was practically impossible for me to put the book down because of it. Seriously, I would be writing "OH MY GOD" literally every five pages. It was that good. And just when I thought all was going well...THE ENDING??? LIKE HELLO?? I WAS CHOKING ON MY OWN SALIVA HERE.

Cara Tang has to be one of my all-time favourite characters ever. She's hilarious, clever, and such a strong character, and in just an instant, I was able to connect with her. As someone who is Chinese myself, it felt really special being able to understand and see myself in a character of the same background, as I felt many of Cara's struggles myself. She is constantly pressured to be perfect by her family, and she does all she can to not disappoint them—until she finally begins to shatter. And as her journey goes on, you see her begin to grow out of everything she's been taught to do, and become much more confident and learns to embrace who she truly is.

And don't get me started on Zach Coleson. He is the complete antithesis of Cara, snarky, laid back, and full of arrogance—but in the best kind of way. He's so used to getting his way with his family's riches, and with the amount of achievements he's won, he's bound for great things...until he dies. His character arc was one of the best I've ever read, as he slowly begins to become a kinder, more gentler person who would do anything to save the ones he loves. On so many occasions, I was laughing, I had my jaw dropped, and I was getting butterflies because of this man. Like HE IS THE STANDARD.

The worldbuilding...oh my gosh, it was so lush and detailed, and was so perfectly written. Though it is set in the modern world, Miranda Sun doesn't hold back on the world she's crafted. It's so much more complex than I thought it would be, and it's the kind that feels like receiving a warm hug. Seriously I want to LIVE in the book. And the best part is that it was not confusing at all—I loved learning about the magic system and the different worlds in the this book. It was such a treat.

And I'm saving the best for last, which is the romance. God, I'm such a sucker for enemies to lovers, and this romance, to say the very least, was absolutely adorable. Cara and Zach worked so perfectly together, and Miranda masterfully weaves in a plethora of chemistry into the narrative. I'm telling you I had to take BREAKS from this book to slow my heart and fan myself. It was that good. Not to mention I love how deeply the two connected with each other and helped each other to grow so much—which is always what I look for in a good romance.

To conclude, I think this has to be one of my favourite reads of the year—if not ever. I adored every single moment, and I highly recommend that any reader looking for a world to escape to, to choose this one. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to read this early and I send so many thanks to HarperTeen for the eARC. I'm 100% giving this 5/5 stars and IF I HAVE TO BE HAUNTED is out September 26th!!