Thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A very fun, lighthearted ghost adventure! It included a ton of history about plantations utilizing slaves which was really great to read instead of skipping over those details.

Slight nitpick, wasn't a fan of the illustrator having it so everyone just goes bald when they're reacting in the background. Chelsea was getting on my nerves as a protagonist as well, with how often she was trying to fit in with a group of mean girls who said nothing but nasty stuff to her and ended up getting her in JAIL. I didn't really resonate with her reasoning for trying to fit in with how bad her "friend" group was.

I hope there's more in this series and maybe she finally ditches those idiots for better friends!

I was really surprised by this story! I went into it just sort of expecting some spooky fun but I ended up reading a really compelling tale of family and friendships. That combined with the beautiful illustrative style and the mystery had me absolutely hooked! I enjoyed this so much that I'm going to pick up my own physical copy when this releases because I need this in my collection! I think this is going to be a super big hit with the teens who patron my library!

4.5 stars

Chelsea Grant has been trying to distance herself from her father’s ghost hunting business. It always put a target on her back and made her an outcast. But when a night of trouble lands her in jail, she finds herself required to work with her dad for the summer as punishment.

While out on a job at an historical manor in New Orleans, Chelsea discovers that she can see ghosts. It’s there that she meets a friendly spirit, Oliver, who her dad is trying to get rid of. As Chelsea gets to know Oliver, she realizes that there’s more to the story than they realize. And in order to get to the bottom of it, she has to save his afterlife.

Thanks to Versify and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Ghost Roast by Shawneé and Shawnelle Gibbs to review! You know I’m always on the lookout for new graphic novels to read, and this one caught my eye! If you like ghost hunting mixed with hidden history, this is definitely the book for you.

Let’s start with the art because the art in this is gorgeous. I loved the way that the ghosts were incorporated, and the way that emotions were portrayed with simpler drawings throughout. It all worked so well together to portray the story and to bring these characters to life. Emily Cannon (the illustrator) does an excellent job throughout, and I’d definitely read other stuff she works on.

And the story! At the surface, you have a ghost hunting story, but with a little bit of history and mystery added in. The characters are all well-developed, even the ghostly ones. Oliver’s backstory reflects the history of the south, and it was nice to see him get some recognition. Chelsea gives him a moment to shine.

There’s a bit of light romance in the story, as well as a focus on Chelsea’s bonds with both her dad and mom. We get to see growth in both throughout the story, and their interests are intertwined with Chelsea’s own story. They all connected by the end, and it all worked so well together overall.

If you’re looking for a YA ghost hunting book to start your 2024 off with, definitely check out this graphic novel!

Oh, the pain of being a teen and having embarrassing parents! Chelsea’s dad is an avid ghost hunter, much to her dismay.

When Chelsea’s picked up by a popular girl clique at school and subsequently ends up getting arrested for trespassing while trying to fit in with her new group, her parents ground her for the summer. Her punishment? Helping her dad with his chaotic ghost hunting business.

She soon gets caught up in the mystery of some ghosts haunting a large house and former plantation they’ve been hired to cleanse— ghosts that only Chelsea can see. We follow Chelsea as she uncovers the mysteries and histories behind these ghosts.

This was a fun YA book with some history woven in! I really enjoyed the illustrations— Chelsea is gorgeous and the illustrator did a great job capturing her feelings and emotions.

This fantasy historical graphic novel was a really interesting story of a girl whose father owns a ghost exterminator business. She is embarrassed of this and begrudgingly has to work with him over the summer. A big job at an old manor proves more complicated than anticipated when she begins to uncover the properties past of slavery and hidden lineage.

I enjoyed the art style and how the main character began to accept her “weirdness” by the end of the story. It is a common things for teens to struggle with, not fitting in. With the larger backdrop of a fantastical story, that character growth grounded the story.

I went into this book just looking for a fun ghost story and ended up with so much more. Ghost Roast is an unexpectedly heartfelt and beautiful tale of family, friendship, culture, identity, and more, accompanied by a riveting mystery and stunning illustrations. I knew I’d have fun reading this story, but wow I had no idea how much I’d love it!

A kind of fluffy YA book about a teenager who can see ghosts while working for her ghostbuster father who thinks all spirits are evil but has never seen one. His daughter is hiding the fact that she can see and talk to ghosts. I like that the story is set in New Orleans. If you've ever been there, they actually list the real estate as haunted or not haunted so this seemed to fit with the city. The book was too long at 224 pages. There was a bunch of unnecessary fluff about her being a poor kid at a rich kids' school that ultimately went nowhere and could have all been removed. I did like that because some of the ghosts were pre Civil War, slaves were mentioned and not white washed like a lot of YA comics tend to do.

The art was solid for the most part, very manga influenced. One thing about the art that I did hate was that they'd show the main girl in the background of certain panels where there were few details and she didn't have hair. I know it's a weird manga thing, but I hate it. Spend an extra 5 minutes and draw the girl some hair. Everyone else in those panels had hair so it almost felt like it was purposely done.

Chelsea’s summer starts off with a party that lands her in a heap of trouble. As punishment she has to work with her dad at his Ghost Roast business-removing ghosts and other pests from clients houses and uncovering some of the past that happened at these homes.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I went in expecting a cute ghost hunting story but this was that and so much more.
Some of it felt a little wordy but I really enjoyed the art style.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ear.

Wow! The artttt! It so clean and beautiful. But also the story. It’s so whimsical and cute. The characters are lovely and the premise is fun.

5 plus plus.
This graphic novel has a dream team of authors and artists. Together they created an amazing story since the first panel. The first page tells us immediately the quality of this story. Some pages are a bit heavy on text, but they never confuse or take up too much space. The artwork is amazing and well-designed, and I have to congratulate the artist for not shying away from drawing so many people in one shot. Instead of giving us a character in a colored empty background, each panel is a painting in itself with depth, dynamic poses and action, a detailed background, and lots of characters even when they are just in the background. The amount of work makes the novel and story even more powerful.

A sweet YA story of a girl who doesn't want to keep helping her father clean houses... of ghosts, now that she is a high schooler, but because of her bad choices ends up spending her summer working with her dad as a ghost hunter. She has a lot to juggle. Not only her relationship with her divorced parents but also to fit in with her high school friends.

I love that the artist changed her hairstyle a lot. Chelsea is an amazing character. She also inherited her family's powers and she can see and talk to ghosts. She is kind to let her dad have his moments when she is the one who can see them. A big job takes them to a large property that in the past used to be a sugarcane plantation with slaves back in 1862. There are ghosts there that belong to that time and mysteries to be solved. Chelsea will fall for one of the ghosts and their story is great.

I loved reading this story and I hope it becomes a series of Chelsea and her father dealing with more ghosts and their different stories.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.

Chelsea hasn't worked with her dad's paranormal company since she was 8. More focused in high school about fitting in, she tries to downplay her dad's job and finds his advertisements embarrassing. When some poor decisions with friends leaves Chelsea grounded, she is forced to work with her dad over the summer. But Chelsea couldn't predict the experiences she would have at the spooky Harrington Mansion, or the relationships that would develop.

A fun, spooky graphic novel. This felt like a strange disconnect between Chelsea and her high school friends (some mentions of drinking), and a much younger vibe at the Harrington mansion. It didn't read like a YA graphic novel in tone, but the content makes it YA.

This was so much fun! I really enjoyed reading this and the art style was wonderful! I liked the characters and the mystery was fun. Definitely recommend to preteens and teens.

The artwork drew me in and the story had me hooked. I can’t wait to add this beautifully illustrated graphic novel to my school library collection. I know a number of art students who will be inspired by the artwork alone. Chelsea Grant is a curious and brave protagonist. She just wants to fit in but won’t shy away from helping others, even if that someone is a ghost. I did not want the story to end and could have spent much more time with the characters. I would recommend this book to fans of The Witch boy series and Mooncakes.

This was a GORGEOUSLY illustrated debut YA graphic novel about a Black teen embarrassed by her father's ghost hunting business and forced to work with him for the summer. Set in modern day New Orleans, the story follows Chelsea Grant who discovers she has the ability to see ghosts and helps uncover a murder mystery and a long held family secret about a ahead-of-his time biracial philanthropist. Full of romance, spunky ghost familiars, relatable teen problems trying to fit in with the popular kids and important the lasting legacy of slavery. I LOVED this so much and can't wait to read more from this sister duo! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Ghost Roast is a more diverse YA ghostbusters, except what if it had talking to the ghosts and romance. The artwork is beautiful and the characters are all nuanced with their own relatable motivations. I highly recommend this title to anyone who likes light-hearted paranormal stories, mysteries, or YA drama.

I'm glad I got to read this early, because this is a great autumn read. This graphic novel follows Chelsea, whose father is a ghosthunter. Over the summer, she has to accompany him on his job, and there she meets a friendly ghost. The book really delves into his background and history, making it really interesting. And there's the mystery added of a malevolent ghost on the same premisses, and some suspense with Chelsea's father who's trying to eradicate all paranormal activity while Chelsea's becoming friends with a ghost. This was such a fun, interesting read. It was fastpaced and full of heart, and I absolutely loved the art work.

A wonderful story about a high school girl just trying to fit in while her dad has the embarrassing job of a ghost hunter. After getting in trouble on her last day of school before summer, Chelsea is grounded and her punishment is to work for her dad all summer. On one of their biggest jobs yet Chelsea discovers she is able to see and hear ghosts. The rest of the story creates a summer that she'll never forget. Overall, the story was cute and heartwarming. I also really enjoyed the illustrations.

New Orleans teenager Chelsea is forced to work for her dad's ghost hunting business after getting arrested for trespassing in a cemetary and drinking after dark with her friends. Summer plans ruined, Chelsea resigns herself to her fate. She doesn't believe that ghosts are real until her dad gets a job at an old mansion and she starts seeing ghosts. In particular, a ghost named Oliver starts talking to Chelsea, but she can't find any record of him existing. Who is Oliver, and what entity keeps scaring people away from the mansion?

Perfect for fans of Ghostbusters and Ghost Whisperer, this spooky young adult graphic novel is one you don't want to miss!

Ghost Roast follows Chelsea as she tries to navigate being a part of the popular crowd in high school while her dad, a ghost exterminator, is the laughing stock of the town. When Chelsea gets in trouble, her punishment is to now work with her dad for the summer to rid the neighborhood of ghosts. Little does she know, she might just run into a cute boy along the way!

This story was such a pleasant surprise, full of history, light romance, and family bonds. The Gibbs' really blew this one out of the water!

4.5 stars. This graphic novel is a very compelling read that is a ghost story set in contemporary times with a blend of old South historical fiction. The graphics and coloring are a true highlight (my only critique is I didn’t love the spiral eyes on dazed characters and minimal detail/ovals on background characters). Protagonist Chelsea spends her summer employed in her father’s ghost-busting business, which others see as a laughing stock but Chelsea actually possesses a special gift of seeing paranormal spirits without all the gadgets. While spending time on an old plantation- the Harrington Manor- Chelsea encounters a strapping young man who is playful, flirtatious, and mysterious. There’s a bit of a love story arc as well as portrayals of Chelsea’s broken family dynamic (divorced parents) and her father-daughter relationship. It took me a bit of time to really get whisked away in the story, but the racially complicated backstory and haunted New Orleans setting were excellently executed. I would definitely recommend this book and hope to read more from the authors and illustrators. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy!