*The Ghost Cat* is a delightful and enchanting novel that invites readers to journey through time in Edinburgh, as seen through the eyes of Grimalkin, an endearing cat navigating his nine lives. Beginning in 1902, the story captures the intimate moments between Grimalkin and his beloved human, Eilidh, before he transitions into a ghostly observer of the ever-changing city and its inhabitants over the next 120 years. With each life, Grimalkin uncovers profound truths about existence, time, and the unique bond between humans and their feline companions. Fans of *Before the Coffee Gets Cold* and *How to Stop Time* will appreciate this charming narrative, filled with warmth and philosophical insights that remind us of the fleeting nature of life and the enduring love we share with our pets. This novel is perfect for anyone looking for a heartwarming exploration of connection and the passage of time, wrapped in a charming, whimsical tale.

This is a cozy historical fiction filled with charming and poignant observations by a cat named Grimalkin and the ghost he becomes. It takes place over a hundred and twenty years in Edinburgh, marking various current events that occur during the feline's nine ghost lives.

I loved the beginning of this book: Grimalkin's affection for the sweet housekeeper Eilidh, his calm reflections on daily life in the comfortable Victorian-age Edinburgh flat. After Grimalkin passes away, each subsequent chapter shows an additional life experience he has been given, in the same location but years into the future. His musings become more disgruntled and judgmental as time passes, disapproving of the societal changes taking place and grieving for the aging of his favorite human. I did like the reflection on bits of historical events included, but the increasingly negative (and sometimes bigoted) views presented of almost all other characters grew a bit tedious. This book would possibly be more enjoyable for a reader from the UK.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Hanover Square Press for this book!

Purrfectly charming and a delightful read! I really enjoyed the animal POV and the many stories that came with this tale. Each section had its own structure and lore. I think this makes for a great weekend read, perfect for the autumn season! Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press For access to this title! s

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Early morning, 1902. At 7/7 Marchmont Crescent, Eilidh the charlady tips coal into a fire grate and sets it alight. Overhearing, Grimalkin the cat ambles over to curl up against the welcome heat and lick his favorite human’s hand. But this is to be his last day on earth…before he becomes the Ghost Cat. Why is a ghost cat? How did he become one? When Grimalkin awakens, he doesn’t know where he is. He decides to get up to see the a waterfall. There he meets a very large black cat to discover that somehow that black cat ends him a choice to go forward or to live out all his lives. Even though he will be invisible for those eight lives, he will see the how humans will live and progress. Will he like what he sees? Following Grimalkin as he witnesses the changes of the next 120 years, prowling unseen among the inhabitants of an Edinburgh tenement while unearthing some startling revelations about the mystery of existence. He learns about the unstoppable march of time besides the true meaning of feline companionship.

It is charming book. It also made me contemplate my own life. I wonder if all the lives I will live be as a human or ? My enjoyment of this story stayed with me a long time after I finished reading it. It is a delightful book to read. It also made me think of my sweet kitties that have passed on. I’d like to think that they are all cat ghosts.

I read a lot of books with heavy subjects, so every once in a while, it is nice to have a total change of pace, a palette cleanser, if you will. The Ghost Cat was such a read for me. It was totally different than my normal fare, but delightfully enjoyable!

Grimalkin lives on Marchmont Cresent in Edinburgh. He is cared for by one of the maids of the house, Elidah, and she is the one human he has real affection for. Grimalkin gives a sardonic look at life in Victorian Scotland, with pointed descriptions that make the reader feel as if they are there. Then Grimalkin dies. But he is offered the chance to come back as a ghost cat. so Grimalkin keeps reappearing every twenty or thirty years, always in the same house. It is interesting to see snippets of history through the eyes of a cat, and even to see the changes he observes in the house's decor, as well as its occupants.

Grimalkin's voice is biting, funny, and just as critical as you would expect from a cat! I was surprised how enjoyable it was to see a century pass in bite-size bits through the view of this one residence in Scotland. If you like audio books, definitely get the audio of this. It is excellent and really elevated the story for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Howard, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Ghost Cat is such a good concept for a book. This surprised me at times and it was slower than I was expecting. Not sure why because after reading it I realized it's a slow moving book and one that is all story. I would recommend it for readers who like slower books and ones that are big on the story.

I'm not usually the kind to be a fan of historical fiction, but I picked this book merely because it's centered around a cat lol. This is a very quick read taken place in Edinburgh over 120 years and told through the perspective of Grimalkin the cat who finds himself sentenced to live as a ghost cat attached to the residents of one city tenement.

Thoroughly enjoyed this as it was a cozy read overall. I recommended this book to cat lovers and if you enjoyed books such as Before the Coffee Gets Cold or The Full Moon Coffee Shop.

I really loved the idea of this book - we get to see Grimalkin as a ghost cat. I really enjoyed his view point of life - I found this story to be funny and heartwarming and admittedly I got a little emotional!

As a cat owner, this story really hit home for me!

Very enjoyable story of a cat living out its 9 lives as a ghost. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the cats perspective of how its home had changed through out the years.

This book is a charming and heartfelt tale, narrated by Grimalkin, an old and witty house cat who has witnessed Edinburgh’s changes over the 20th and 21st centuries. His sharp, humorous commentary on the city and its inhabitants adds a unique perspective to the story. Through Grimalkin’s eyes, we experience the deep bond between him and Eilidh, the woman who rescued him, in scenes that are as touching as they are bittersweet.

Grimalkin’s love for Eilidh, coupled with his candid feline musings, creates a cozy and emotional read. Howard masterfully captures the essence of the special bond between pets and their owners, bringing warmth and nostalgia to every page. The Ghost Cat is a quick, uplifting read that will resonate with anyone who has loved a pet or felt a connection to a place they’ve never called home. It’s the perfect story for cat lovers and those seeking a heartwarming escape.

I loved the concept of this book but didn't feel the emotional depth from it that I would have liked to see, especially towards the end. Instead, it mostly read as summary of important moments in history in the last 120 years. However, there were a few special moments that made it a solid read.

did I expect a book that followed a cat to make me cry? no. but it was such a cute story and an easy read!

I did not know what to expect from this book, because it's concept felt novel to me, and I'm happy to say it did not disappoint!

Grimalkin is such a wonderful and witty narrator of the changing times in Edinburgh through the 20th and 21st centuries. His socially commentary was as cantankerous as you would expect an old house cat's to be. I enjoyed getting to know the home and the city through his eyes.

All of the scenes with Eilidh were so sweet and heartbreaking. Grimalkin's love for the person who rescued him and his returned adoration of her was so touching. I'm sure many of us cat owners recognized that special bond. I was also particularly happy to hear about Grimalkin's ginger (or marmalade) flank as I also have a dear feline with such a fine colored flank!

Overall, just a really lovely, heartwarming read that made me homesick for a place I've never lived and missing a cat that I've never met. The perfect quick, cozy read.

This book is such a fun read. I loved seeing through a cat's eyes. Alex Howard tells the story of Grimalkin and his witnessing life in a 120 year span. There are beautiful touching moments and funny moments. I love the footnotes sharing the history of the times. I would recommend this book to cat lovers, dog lovers (me), anyone who likes historical fiction with a touch of magic and whimsy
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC. All opinions are my own and I was under no obligation to leave a review.

I’m not sure if I was in the right mood to read this one at the time, because it didn’t quite vibe with me despite it having several features I’d normally love. There are definitely some heartwarming moments and moments that will make you want to cry as this ghost cat watches over his former owner and then just his former home and more over many different time periods.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Did not finish. It just didn't hold my attention, despite the fact that I love cats and foster for cat rescues. I'm really surprised that I didn't like it.

This felt like a series of short stories that had some fun little threads woven throughout, including, of course, Gremalkin. I wasn’t really expecting it to be done the way it was which was a fun surprise. I like that he had three lives to stay, three lives to stray, and three lives to play with. And I liked that he just came back for a day at a time at random points (rather major points) throughout history. I also love that it followed him just in this one home. it was a really cool mix of fiction and nonfiction history. A lot of the footnotes made me laugh too. I love that. It ended with the author and his family moving into the home and restoring it to its former glory!
The only reasons it’s a 3.5 for me instead of a four are because some of the dialogue was a little hard to follow given my nonexistent knowledge of Scottish slang. I do also struggle sometimes with short stories, and since this felt a kin to that, I did occasionally find myself losing a little bit of interest. But that is definitely personal preference.
In my head after the end of the book, Gremalkin and Eilidh are living together in eternal bliss 😌

What a charming read! Following our main character, Grimalkin the cat, through his lives as a ghost cat in different decades of Edinburgh's history was simply fascinating. This is such a unique tale that I found myself getting lost in. I also loved Grimalkin's personality, the author does such a good job of portraying how a cat might interact with and view the world. I love that it's all from the perspective of the same location in Edinburgh, too. This was an absolutely delightful read and I found myself giggling at some of Grimalkin's antics and getting the warm fuzzies, too. If you love cats and history, this is a must read!

The Ghost Cat is a charming and whimsical story that beautifully captures the bond between humans and animals. I was immediately drawn to the enchanting illustrations and the way they complemented the heartwarming narrative. The main character's journey is both relatable and touching, exploring themes of loss and friendship.
But at times the pacing felt a little uneven, especially in the buildup to the climax, which made me wish for a quicker resolution. Still, the emotional depth and enchanting premise make it a delightful read that will resonate with animal lovers and younger audiences alike.