Cara, an 18-year-old ghost hunter, encounters the spirit of Aiden, who died the previous year. Aiden wants to ensure his little sister, Meredith, is okay before he can move on. He strikes a deal with Cara: help him woo Meredith, and he’ll provide proof of the supernatural. As Cara gets closer to Meredith, she faces a dilemma: continue dating her under false pretenses or risk losing her shot at proving ghosts are real. 🌟
This captivating YA novel blends romance, paranormal elements, and LGBTQ+ themes. If you enjoy swoony romance with a supernatural twist, give it a read!

James Sutter is an automatic read for me. His writing is consistently engaging and emotive and his characters are always so real and relatable! I greatly enjoyed the little easter eggs sprinkled in these pages from his other novel, Darkhearts, and I adored the characters in this book. I’ll be thinking about this one a long time!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

The Ghost of Us feels reminiscent of a chick flick that I read in one sitting. The plot, while familiar, is engaging and filled with emotional highs and lows, with moments of humor that keep the story lively.

The main cast includes an overprotective dead brother, a bullied queer outcast whose life isn’t going as she hoped, a beloved best friend, and the younger sister who serves as the love interest but struggles with social interactions.

The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own quirks and complexities to the narrative as they navigate love, loss, and friendship. The tone was crafted to resonate with the target age group, addressing themes such as bullying, coming out as queer, teen awkwardness, social hierarchy, and various types of relationships, while also incorporating some spicy elements that will engage the audience.

The Ghost of Us is an entertaining read that I would recommend to anyone seeking a contemporary sapphic novel for teens, reminiscent of a chick flick.

I was given a copy of the book through Wednesday Books, and I give my honest review voluntarily. My review is my own thoughts and opinion; my experience in reading this story.

Content Guide: sibling loss, grief, bullying, sex, smoking

I really loved this book!
The book has 3 main characters. Cara likes to investigate places that are supposedly haunted and posts the videos to her podcast. Aiden is the ghost that only Cara and can see and communicate with. Cara had just investigated the place when Aiden died and later that evening Aiden started communicating with her. Meredith is Aiden's sister who has becoming very depressed and totally isolated after blaming herself for Aiden's death. Aiden has a plan to help Meredith. Cara will get his sister to agree to go to Prom with her and Aiden will give Cara all the evidence she needs for her podcast.
Sounds easy, but when feelings start to get involved, things do not go as planned.
I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review,

As much as I'm not a fan of the "dating bets" trope, this book actually does it well! I was screaming at the main character the entire time LOL! I was invested right away.

"Other people weren't the problem.⠀
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Other people were the point."⠀
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James L. Sutter, The Ghost of Us⠀
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The Ghost of Us by James L. Sutter is a poignant YA story with a supernatural twist. Cara is an outcast who wants to be a famous ghost hunter. When she goes searching for proof of supernatural activities she meets Aiden, the ghost of a popular kid from her highschool. They decide to work together so that Cara can prove ghosts exist and Aiden can help his sister, Meredith, and move on. ⠀
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I liked Cara and Aiden well enough, but my favorite characters were Holly and Meredith. Holly is the best kind of person. She has a gentle heart and loves her people fiercely, even when they're acting a fool. Meredith is deep and artistic. She feels her brother's loss intensely but she also seems to have a hope and drive for the future. I like how open she is to new experience and living life despite her depression. ⠀
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The witty dialogue is something I've come to love from James P. Sutter and I thought the mention of the band Darkhearts was clever. His accuracy when writing about teenage angst and the modern queer experience is on point and his characters are so easy to root for!⠀
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I would recommend this book to anyone who likes YA fiction or Romcoms with a spooky twist.⠀

This was a unique and captivating read that skillfully blends elements of supernatural mystery with relatable character development and queer joy. The premise was intriguing and I adored the supporting characters. Overall, the story was well paced, though at times the character interactions felt slightly contrived.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, & Wednesday Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Ghosts of Us is fast and fun. Full of unique plot points like a bisexual highschooler’s ghost-hunting YouTube page, an affirming Uber-religious best friend, a tragic teen death, rock-climbing, prepper-parents, homeschooling… it doesn’t seem like any of this story should fit from chapter to chapter but it flowed so perfectly which made it almost un-put-down-able.
I hate when a quick bit of communication could solve almost every problem, then I remind myself these are teenagers in a paranormal YA romcom and I let their immaturity slide.
The ghost was probably my favorite character- he was hilarious. The overall theses in this book is genuinely kind heartbreaking including grief and bullying, but it’s all balanced with banter-filled dialogue and the buildup to prom. The romance developed naturally and was very sweet as well. Our main girl is kind of a selfish jerk for a lot of the book, but she’s got her demons to battle, so it all makes sense overall.
Definitely recommend this one!

I'm sad to say this one wasn't fav for me! I really loved Aiden + Meredith but Cara was too unlikeable for me. I think it took her far too long to grow as a character, so I found myself constantly feeling annoyed with her. I enjoyed the paranormal aspects + thought the pacing was good!

Interesting premise but I couldn’t connect to this book at all. I usually love sapphic books but something did not translate well for me.

Raise your hand if you’re surprised I read something paranormal?

Me too and I REALLY enjoyed it. I have friends with teen readers and I want to push this book at them. It’s not just an entertaining read, but one with heart and a beautiful message of acceptance, grief, and friendship. I’m so far out of high school, but The Ghost of Us took me right back to the days of self discovery, embarrassment, and the moments that stick with you forever. I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone for this book, it was a queer delight and the kind of coming-of-age story that makes you not feel alone.

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

This was a 3 star read for me. It was an interesting read but i never felt fully pulled in or connected to the characters. I was really looking forward to this story however it fell flat for me overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Yikes. What got me about this book the most was the tone used. The MC, who is a teenage girl, thinks like a man. It oozes off the page and is uncomfortable. The way she leers at Meredith, the way she speaks, the way she acts....it was gross. Plus, she's just awful. She takes advantage of everyone in her life and uses them to her own benefit. Her goals are the only ones that matter. It was hard to read and finish this book, but I did. I just don't recommend it.

i don’t think i’ve ever read a book with a plot like this and i really enjoyed it!

thank you netgalley for the e-arc!

The beginning of this book was captivating and so sweet! The plot was unique enough to keep my interest most of the way.

4.5 stars.

This book is unlike any other book I have read. I typically do not do paranormal type books and movies because they have never held any interest for me, but since this is also a sapphic romance, I could not help myself. I absolutely loved the characters and how they bonded over the lose of loved ones.

While there are paranormal aspects to the book, I feel like this is a great coming of age book that anyone can read and enjoy. I loved the representation of all the characters.

I highly reccomend this book. I inhaled it.

This started great!!! I loved the concept of a ghost setting up his sister and a friend. I was shocked it was written by a man, that made it a bit weird for me. I think this book would be better if it was just shorter. idk, 3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the digital galley of this book.

Ghost hunter and outcast Cara is desperate to get away from her small town. When she stumbles upon ghost Aiden, she thinks she’s found her ticket out. All she needs is his help to provide evidence that’s real, and she can jump start her career as a pro ghost hunter.

Aiden has a big condition on helping her, though, he wants the sister he left behind to go to prom. If Cara can manage to take his sister, Meredith, to prom, he’ll help her with her ghost experiments and documentation. It’s not that simple, though, Cara can’t just ask her to prom out of nowhere, and as they get to know each other, they start falling for one another. The happier Meredith gets, the harder it is for Aiden to keep a hold on this world, and he still hasn’t fulfilled his end of the bargain. But Cara really does have feelings for Meredith, and revealing the secret about her original intentions could blow their relationship up.

Sometimes, I love YA, and sometimes the characters are just too young and immature for me to vibe with. It’s got some solid story-telling, tension building, secrets revealed, and character development, though, complete with a ghost (which is why I chose it in the first place).

James L. Sutter's *The Ghost of Us* is a poignant and captivating YA romance that blends supernatural intrigue with heartfelt themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of high school life, this novel takes readers on a journey through the complexities of relationships—both earthly and spectral.

The story follows eighteen-year-old Cara, a determined ghost hunter with a mission to prove the existence of the supernatural. Her quest takes an unexpected turn when she encounters the spirit of Aiden, a popular upperclassman who passed away a year earlier. Aiden's lingering presence is tied to a heartfelt mission: to ensure his younger sister, Meredith, overcomes her grief and emerges from her shell. Aiden proposes a deal to Cara: help Meredith rediscover joy and accompany her to prom, and in return, he will provide Cara with irrefutable evidence of ghosts.

Sutter weaves a compelling narrative as Cara navigates the complexities of her arrangement with Aiden, gradually building a bond with Meredith under the guise of romantic pursuit. Aiden's ghostly guidance adds layers of humor and poignancy, highlighting his yearning for closure and his growing attachment to Cara's efforts to help his sister.

Central to *The Ghost of Us* is the evolving relationship between Cara and Meredith. As Cara follows Aiden's advice and wins Meredith's trust, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Meredith's vulnerabilities and strengths. Sutter skillfully portrays the emotional dynamics between the characters, exploring themes of authenticity, deception, and the transformative power of genuine connection.

The novel's exploration of grief and healing is particularly resonant, depicted through Meredith's journey towards acceptance and Cara's own emotional awakening. As Cara wrestles with her growing feelings for Meredith and the moral implications of her pact with Aiden, the stakes escalate, forcing her to confront difficult choices that could alter the course of their relationships and her quest for truth.

Sutter's prose is engaging and heartfelt, capturing the nuances of teenage emotions and the nuances of navigating identity and belonging. The plot unfolds with a blend of suspense and tenderness, keeping readers invested in the characters' fates and the outcome of Cara's mission to uncover proof of the supernatural.

In conclusion, *The Ghost of Us* is a compelling blend of paranormal mystery and young adult romance, enriched by its heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the bonds that transcend life and death. James L. Sutter's novel is sure to captivate readers with its endearing characters, emotional depth, and thought-provoking themes, making it a standout in the realm of YA literature.

*The Ghost of Us* by James L. Sutter is a must-read for fans of YA fiction seeking a blend of supernatural intrigue and heartfelt romance. With its relatable characters and poignant storytelling, this novel offers a memorable exploration of love and redemption in the face of life's most challenging mysteries. Prepare to be enchanted and moved by Cara and Aiden's quest to uncover the truth about ghosts and the power of human connection.

Didn't love the dialogue... It was trying too hard to simulate the speech patterns of present day teenagers.