This book wasn't....bad....but it had a lot of things that annoyed me. First, the good: I loved the idea of mixing a spooky book with a romance book. Loved the setting and the suspense.

However, this book is RUSHED. It takes place over like 3 days. The romance is too fast, there's barely any character development, the enemies are only enemies for five seconds before they become lovers, and the ghost story fizzled out at the end. I wanted to like this one more but it just fell flat. It was well written, but really needed some fleshing out and a different plot twist at the end.

"If I Stopped Haunting You" sounded like a cute romance with spooky vibes, but it didn't turn out to be quite what I expected.

Neil and Penelope's enemies-to-lovers trope didn't feel realistic. They went from hating each other to falling into bed together and being suddenly supportive of each other, including their past reasons for hatred of each other. I couldn't find qualities in Penelope to admin. She was very childish and whoa is me the whole time. I couldn't see the redemption arc at all.

As a horror reader, I hoped for scary hauntings but it felt very scooby-doo scary. The castle scene setting was very trope-y and the spooks were almost comical. I'm sure cozy romance readers will find it adorable, but it was too pat for me.

Oh my gosh, I loved everything about this story! Haunted Castle - Check. Creepy - Check. Enemies to lovers - Check…I’m a fan of both horror and romance stories and this book delivered on both. Colby Wilkes has set a precedence that I’m not sure anyone else can match. The setting and story line were superb. Pen and Neil’s chemistry was out of this world. There was just enough creep factor that had me wanting more, along with the spiciness. Absolutely fantastic read, I will 100% be purchasing a physical copy of this book.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback

do you guys remember those old classic covers of the babysitters club well this book is needs one of those because it’s the energy it gives off, cozy a little spooky i’m depressed i’m reading this in spring and not in the fall under a orange blanket. This book you just gotta go off the vibes and how the haunted romance is so so refreshing.

I wanted to enjoy this book because it has so many great elements but I found that as I continued to read I was only getting more and more frustrated. I loved the native and queer rep! It was integral to the storyline but also didn't rely on those things being their only character traits. Lots of good discussion about the discrimination BIPOC authors face in the publishing world. If you like enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slow burns, and anything a little spooky I'd say it's worth giving this book a read, but keep the expectations low. I thought the opening was dramatic and brought me into the story. Whether you agree with the FMC's actions or not it was a good opening hook. However, I feel like all of the issues between the main couple could have been solved if they were willing to have a real conversation but it took so long for that to happen. If I'm being honest though some moments had me blushing and gigging which is really all I ask from a romance novel. I felt like this was one of those books that was too long and too short at the same time. There were so many elements to the story and I didn't feel they each had enough time for me to care about them. This book had a spooky vibe but was not very scary. Definitely didn't have me on the edge of my seat. The "mystery" they were trying to solve was entirely predictable and honestly was frustrating how it dragged on. It was so obvious and yet the characters took forever to figure it out. Finally, I thought a lot of the writing was repetitive and not in a thematic, thought-provoking way.

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

I will admit that this book took me a bit to get into. I was interested in the relationship between Skinner and Storm, and their two somewhat sidekicks. Having Cameron as a surname means I’ve done extensive research on my ancestors and Scotland in general (and yes, I have read and watched Outlander). So the idea of the characters going to Scotland to have a writer’s retreat in a haunted castle really piqued my interest. There is Native American in my ancestry, but I don’t know enough about it to claim to be part Native American, but the fact that the author is and so are the main characters was another pro to warrant requesting this book.

If you’re expecting a book about Scotland or seeing the sights through the character’s eyes, this is not it. This is a forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers haunted romance. The main characters, while working through their negative history together, are also coming to terms with what it means to be Native in the publishing industry. I feel that this is something many people can relate to, especially people of marginalized groups. The pacing of the novel once they’re in the castle is great, really building up the suspense and horror. The romance is hot, funny, and feels so realistic (yes, it is a little spicy, but it does not dip into erotica territory). Wilkens writes the characters as if she was one of them, as though this is an experience she had. Since the main characters are all writers, their perspectives are written using beautiful diction that flows as if they are writing their story as it happens.

This can easily be made into a movie that I would love to go see in theaters. If this doesn’t become a bestseller, I will be woefully surprised. I look forward to more stories from Wilkens, especially if she continues with Native American characters. I can’t wait to add this beautiful book to my bookshelf!

This book was just not for me. I love a good paranormal romance, but this just missed the mark. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was incredibly disappointing. Not only was the female main character Penelope very unlikable but she also physically assaulted the male main character by throwing a book at his head. I couldn’t really get over how awful she was and it made the book almost impossible to read. The horror elements were boring and did not have me on edge at any point, I do regret the choice to finish this one as I found this main character to be one of the most insufferable ones I’ve ever read

I went in super excited for this one....and it turned out to be a massive NO for me. The only reason I finished it was because it was a Netgalley arc...if not I'd have never ever kept going. The FMC had zero redeeming qualities (although I didn't care about any of the characters really), the plot was definitely hole-y and the spooky parts weren't at all. Not that I was expecting this to be incredibly scare but that just didn't help a book that I was already not liking. It IS labeled under horror so I expected to be somewhat but nope. the whole book was a no for me.

I was so excited to pick this book up and was thoroughly let down. I did not really connect with the characters or root for their relationship, which is kind of the point of a romance novel. The bigger issue to me was how awful the FMC was. I don’t understand how some of her behaviors are meant to be romantic. Throwing a book at someone’s head is not romantic, it is toxic and concerning. This book just did not give me anything to root for.

I was so excited to get a romance with a bit of haunting in it. But the FMC was horrible. The other characters weren’t much better. I had higher expectations than what it offered. I saw so much potential.

This one had so much potential with its uniqueness. A romcom but make it spooky and add in indigenous representation?! Yes please.

However, I just can’t enjoy a book when I hate the main character. Right off the bat the female; Pen comes off as mean and extremely aggressive. Unfortunately none of the side characters are much better. There’s so much anger and angst that flows into awkward dialogues. Overall, I pushed through this because of how unique it was, but it wasn’t for me

Rivals to lover? Um yes please! I loved that the main character was a native woman since they aren't represented often in literature. I loved that there was a writers retreat in a haunted house. Let me tell you this is on my list for spooky season!

Oh I was so excited for this one! A ghosty haunted house love story?! Sign me up! But oh my goodness from jump Pen is mean as a snake. And dare I say abusive? It was honestly a horrible scene and if written about a man doing this to a woman it wouldn't have been well received. But I kept going, because sometime the good thing is right over the hill. But it never got better. Unlikable characters and awkward dialogue lasted throughout. Unfortunately, this novel isn't for me.

I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley, Colby Wilkens, and St Martin's Press.

“No one could have predicted this in a million years. They were enemies”. LMAO

Rival horror authors Penelope and Neil end up on a writing retreat at a haunted mansion in Scotland and despite not really believing in ghosts before arriving get more than they bargained for, with the ghosts and each other. This was such a cute and spooky read. I thought it was going to be completely cozy but there were some actually creepy parts! I loved the incorporation of their families and traditions and connections to their indigenous heritage. In addition to the struggles as a person of color, specifically as an ingenious person in the writing and publishing world.

I will say their friends are the least nosy, most minding their own business people ever. I also was wanting more from the ghost’s story, the solution was a little lackluster.

Had one of my favorite micro tropes of the guy covering her mouth when they’re trying to hide AND a Darcy hand flex! I loved the ending and epilogue, I would love to read “Fight You”. Thank you so much to Colby Wilkens, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the E-ARC.

Tropes: Dual POV, enemies to lovers, rival writers, forced proximity, Scottish retreat, solving a mystery together, indigenous couple

Favorite quotes (possible spoilers):

Pen scanned the open room. Before she knew it, she was spinning toward Storm, pulled to him like a magnet. She was startled to find his eyes already on her.

He’d always had a knack for finding books in people’s homes. Neil was the kind of person at parties who wandered bookshelves, judging people on their selections, thumbing through collections…He was always more at home among stories than people.

“Believe that you’re enough. You don’t need to be enrolled, you don’t need to look Native to be Native. You’re Native, and so long as you know, that’s enough. There will always be someone who says otherwise, but they’re buying into a system created by colonizers. You’re enough, Penelope Skinner.”

And where her mind was normally filled with noise, the only thoughts flitting about were of him.

“Are you looking?” she called. Neil nodded, intent on her curves. “Yup.” “Are you sure about that?” He met her blank stare. “I’m looking at you. You didn’t really specify.”

I was a little disappointed with this book. I thought it was a great concept with a lot of potential that didn't quite get itself together to be a great book. I didn't really believe the relationship between Neil and Penelope, I really didn't care for Penelope at all. The writing seemed disorganized and I didn't connect with any elements of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Boy, I wanted to love this one - spooky cozy romance but make it Indigenous? But almost immediately, I couldn't abide by the main character, Pen. She is abusive - full stop - exhibiting anger issues bubbling up out of nowhere, to the point where she throws a book at and literally scars her love interest. And it's depicted as a cute obstacle (part of a meet cute, even!) to be overcome rather than something that needs to be examined and worked on in therapy.

I read dark romance; I'm fine with characters doing awful things if it's understood that these things are awful, but in a book being marketed as a "cozy spooky romance"? Nah. This was not for me.

I was so excited to start this one and get wrapped into the world of a writer's retreat with two rival authors! However, it was hard for me to get past the way the FMC reacted in the beginning of the book. I had hoped that once these two characters got to Scotland to begin their journey it would pick up but it felt like a lot of rushed interactions, pointless side characters, and a storyline lacking in details. The idea for this book sounded wonderful! Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. Thank you, NetGalley for letting me read this early!

I was excited to read this one, but ultimately I didn't love it. I think the plot had a lot of potential but the characters just weren't developed enough for it to completely come together. The main characters definitely had some depth but there were two side characters who kind of just felt there. The side characters were there at the plot set up and for the end wrap up but throughout the story they were fairly absent even though all the characters were supposedly trapped in this castle together. Overall, I had an enjoyable time reading this but it wasn't one of my favorite books of all time. I can totally see this being a fun read during October to break up the rest of the horror/spooky reads though!

This book is… something. The main character is super abusive and narcissistic. She’s very self absorbed and blames the male character for everything. She got canceled because she assaulted him and then she somehow twists it into it being his fault…. Idk. I don’t like the vibes. I was really hopefully for this one but would recommend skipping it