3.5 ⭐

*ARC Review*

I thought this book had a good idea for a story, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.. this book was labeled as a paranormal romance but *spoiler* there wasn't really anything paranormal about it... Everything was fake? The characters didn't really speak to me at all... They weren't extremely loveable in my opinion. It was definitely still a decent book, but I think the whole paranormal aspect kind of threw me off.

this was a spookily cute read!!! i don't typically read books like this, but i loved every minute of this one! the cover is so dreamy and the romance between these characters is phenomenal. such a fun and cozy read!!

thank you so much to netgalley for the arc

I found this to be a really interesting read! I liked that Lex grew as a character, even tho I found myself yelling internally at her sometimes. I loved the spookiness of the small town of Stowe. James and Lulu stole the show for me, all of the cuteness they had was unparalleled. The family dynamics of both leads were so very intense. Lex and her family growing was one of my favorite parts. Overall a very solid, fun read if you have a love of ghost stories.

Title: Haunt Your Heart Out By Amber Roberts

Release date: October, 8th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

"Haunt Your Heart Out" by Amber Roberts is a delightful contemporary romance that blends flirtatious banter with a hint of the supernatural.

Lex McCall, a homebody in Vermont, has a strict rule against dating anyone who might leave her behind. When offered the chance to buy her beloved bookstore at a great price, she jumps at it. However, her resolve is tested when James, a charming stranger who turns out to be part of a ghost-hunting crew, arrives in town. To protect her secret past as a ghost-hunting vlogger, Lex tampers with their investigation, but as she grows closer to James, she realises her feelings are deeper than she anticipated. With career dreams on the line and unexpected stakes in play, Lex must navigate her growing attraction while keeping her past hidden.

The romance between Lex and James is both sweet and steamy, adding depth to the storyline. This story has a unique twist that sets it apart from the usual romantic tales. The storyline and characters had me hooked from start to finish!


This engaging piece by Amber Roberts will surely leave readers eagerly wanting to read more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A ghost hunting love story!? Count me in! The story between Lex and James was a lot of fun. I loved the flashbacks of the Haunted Happenings vlog - It reminded me of the Ghost Club my friend Jen and I had growing up. I could also relate to how close Lex was with her grandparents, especially her grandfather, and appreciated her stubbornness to stay in the home he built. This was your typical, small town romance and I couldn’t be happier about that. A little spooky, a little spicy, and an adorable little fluffball I wish I could pet for real.

Many thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback

This was the perfect amount of cute. I think will be great for cozy romance “spooky szn”
read.

Although not spooky it is super cute. I think the cover and title kind of gives you all you need to know on if you think you’ll enjoy it or not.

Haunt Your Heart Out was a lovely cosy romance story with that spooky element which will make it a perfect autumn/Halloween read! I really related Lex and her need to not be a burden and her determination to stand on her own 2 feet rather than seeking any help. James was the perfect care-free personality to her overly anxious one and exactly what she needed!

Any book where the main location is a bookshop is always a win for me, but I loved imagining what DogEared Books would look like and the cosy feeling I imagine it would hold! Lex and James’ romance was sweet and a little bit spicy, but had the good banter that’s enjoyable to read in too!

Overall I enjoyed this book, it had a little bit of everything!

I was so excited about this book’s premise: ghosts, small towns, and romance! However, the relationship progressed really fast in a way that made it hard for me to stay invested. Around 75% of the way through the story picked up and I was happy I finished it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I had a very hard time reading this book. The idea was cute and so was the cover. Unfortunately there was quite a few typos, weird spacing, and the pacing was bizarre. There were some moments that felt like the author was trying to be inclusive in an unnecessary way in a regular old MF romance. Unnecessary moments like the expired condoms. Stuff that pulls you right out of the fantasy - abruptly changing the conversation to allude to having sex then instead having 4 more serious conversations. Took me out of it.

Let me start by saying I loved this, it is a cosy, cute romcom with fantastic characters and some subtle Gilmore Girls vibes. Which honestly is all I thought I needed in a novel. Haunt Your Heart Out gets is even better though - Alex, the main character, is strong and independent but struggling to keep on top of her home repairs and fulfilling her dream of one day owning the bookshop she manages when in walks James (my new favourite love interest ever), a ghost hunter who is ever so slightly afraid of ghosts. Ghosts, found families, and small town hijinks ensue in a romcom that is probably going to become one of those books you reach for when you need a cosy little pick me up.

Not going to lie, I’m a little bit in love with James - his communications skills could use some work but otherwise 10/10 would recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book because of the plot. I haven't read a rom com about ghosthunters. The spooky plot and the winter setting will make this book perfect for the fall and winter. I felt like I really could imagine the small town this book was supposed to take place in, which was a huge plus! Lex's and Jame's banter was another plus. This book really had all the makings of a good romcom. The only thing that bothered me was the pacing was a little off, as once Lex and James got together so early on, I felt like there was not much to continue with after they got to together, nor was there much of a story getting there. I still enjoyed the book, but the pacing could have been better. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book!

When most people have ghosts in mind, they're thinking of autumn and Halloween. Pumpkins, leaves changing color, sweaters, apple cider, and a mild chill in the air. But Haunt Your Heart Out takes place in Vermont, just weeks before Christmas. This isn't a common setting for a story about hauntings, but it's a great one; Roberts really gets the magic of ghost stories across. It gave me strong "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" vibes—not the movie, but the story.

A bright spot in this book, aside from the sparkling descriptions, was the main character, Lex. Her anxiety is introduced to us early on, and I made the (bad) assumption she would be a bit meek in her interactions. Not because I believe anxiety leads to insipidity, but because I'm used to authors conflating the two. Roberts doesn't do this. Lex is opinionated, funny, sarcastic, and witty. She has—oh god, am I really going to say it? Am I going to go with that word? Okay, here it goes: she has spunk. Ew. But there is it. It's true. I don't know why it feels like I have to describe her like I'm a 1950s board room executive, but it feels right. She's got moxie and was a joy to read.

I particularly like the time she spends in California with her parents. I'm trying really hard to avoid spoilers here, but all of the interactions in this part are wonderfully written. Her relationship with her sister is wonderful, and the letter her parents write her made me cry. It's just beautiful.

Now, the negatives: the sex scene was a weird choice. I'm not trying to kink-shame by any means—I don't think the kink is outlandish at all—but introducing it for the very first time these two have sex just hit me wrong. (I'm not going to say what the kink is due to spoilers.) It felt more like a second or third time sexual encounter in a book. I have no real logic behind that, but it's how I felt reading it.

Second, I felt like there were some inconsistencies with the Charles/bookstore plot. Why wouldn't Charles outright ask Lex to buy the store? He says he thought she'd never accept it, but early in the book, she already knows this is her dream. When Charles fakes his fear of ghosts, Lex jumps to offer to buy it, and then he acts reluctant to sell. I'm not sure him having a scheme to sell makes sense, but I will say that the resolution to this is quite heartwarming.

But overall, it's a nice, cozy read. It's not overly dramatic, it's sweet, and the backdrop of hauntings is fun.

3.25/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
As much as I loved this book, it truly lacked plot points and was sometimes a bit all over the place. At times it went from 0-100 very quickly and the conflict resolution felt rushed and not well thought out.
In saying that though, I did absolutely love the plot and this book was a quick, easy read!

A cute, small town romance with the perfect, sweet, spooky season vibes. Lex runs the town bookstore which thrives on tourists. She lives in her big sisters shadow and has made a family with her best friend since childhood. James comes into town with New York license plates and a Yankees hat so lex immediately writes him off as temporary. They connect and bond and of course the sparks fly! James is swoony, Lex is independent and together they’re adorable. This is perfect for hallmark vibes with a bit spooky vibes! It’s light and sweet but has its moments where it touches on heavier issues and I appreciated the way the author portrayed things. All in all a good read!

I was really enjoying the first half of this book but then I just got bored unfortunately! I love the small town and spooky vibes, and the fact that Alex works in a cozy bookstore was fun. And I wanted to see how it works out for her with the possibility of her owning it. But I just felt like the story was dragging around the 47% mark and just can’t get into it anymore. Dnf at 52%

I really had high hopes for this book based on the description. However it missed the mark for me.

I enjoyed parts of this book that related to the MCs, that the FMC suffered from anxiety, she was in her 30's and didn't have it all together. The MC who was traveling through on his next adventure. The (fake) paranormal was a bit off and not something I expected, in addition this sets place in winter months.

Some may enjoy this book but it didn't grip me the way I'd hoped!

Haunt Your Heart Out by Amber Roberts 👻
Overall Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Publishing Date: Oct 8 2024

This was such a fun read! I think this would be a perfect fall / halloween book for anyone to enjoy during spooky season in particular - although it was also cute outside of that season too.

I was a bit nervous when I started reading this one since I normally am not super into spooky stuff, but the description had really intrigued me. It is not actually a scary book though, it's totally a feel-good, cute romance.

I found the pacing at parts sometimes too fast or slow, but overall it kept me engaged and would be great to add to your TBR for when it releases in the fall!

2024 is going to be the year for paranormal romcoms because every one I've read (including this one) have been winners! Haunt Your Heart Out will be the perfect book to read during the withcy season this fall!

This book had so much potential, but unfortunately for me it just fell completely flat. Lex is so completely self absorbed it made me want to throw my kindle across the room. For someone who is 33, she cannot see anything beyond her own issues. And when she is reminded that everything isn't always what it seems she just deflects and continues to believe her own narrative.

When the all important "break through" finally does happen she really doesn't get to the root of the problem just kind of throws whatever she thinks will fix it toward the problem. Her relationship with her family is absolute garbage and screams rebel child that no one understands but is really just a privileged kid trying to rebel.

The end wrapped up in a sickly, maple syrup sweet, Gilmore Girls coded, whole town party. And somehow that was the best part.

*Spoiler*
Her entire relationship is basically built on a throne of lies and at the end when it all crumbles she's rewarded? James and Julian apparently already been fabricating things and he's so upset about her not being truthful? Be so for real. AND he's already decided to stay? With barely an apology he takes her back and all of a sudden its all sunshine and rainbows. I don't buy it.

The story was OK but the pacing just fell flat and I wasn't interested enough to keep going and it was too easy to put down.

The main couple were in a relationship so soon into the book, that I think I need more interactions.