Haunted Ever After is a ghostly small town romance that honestly feels like a warm (or cool, in this case) hug. If you love a slow burn with a satisfying payoff (with some hints of paranormal activity) this book is for you.

The setting is perfection and the concept is delightful. I can see myself returning to this book every year as summer bleeds into fall… when it’s still hot during the daytime but cooler at night. Better yet on the beach for those coastal, ocean vibes.

Honestly, this book gave me exactly what I needed, which was a soft, slow-building story with two relatable protagonists and the perfect amount of ghostly presence.

Quick synopsis:
Haunted Ever after tells the story of Cassie who unwittingly moves into a haunted house/small town near Orlando, Florida.

Overall thoughts:
This one is worth a read come October if you’re looking for something fallish and cozy. It starts as a cute ghost story set in a seemingly peaceful suburb of Orlando. The book begins with a lighthearted vibe hinting at spookiness but purposefully never achieving it. I loved the first third of the novel. From the outset, it’s clear Nick and Cassie will form a relationship. I didn’t feel much investment in their romance—the true plot centers around Cassie’s search to understand the ghost living her home. Midway through the book, it began to feel like all the elements of the story weren’t meshing, and the momentum slowed down for me. This wasn’t my first from Jen DeLuca, and it surely won’t be my last, as I loved Well Met.

Recommended to readers who love:
📚 cozy, ghost stories set in small towns
📚 meddling ghosty characters
📚 Sarah Adams, Ashley Poston, Elle Kennedy

Rating: 3.0

Disclosure:
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley
for the Digital Review Copy of Haunted Ever After. All opinions are my own.

I’m a huge fan of DeLuca’s Well Met series, so I was THRILLED to see that she was working on a new book. And set in a haunted town? Sign me up! If you’re a fan of DeLuca’s writing, you will love Haunted Ever After. This was a great book to lead into the -ber months and as someone who reads a lot of “spooky” (and spoopy) books I really appreciated this unique spin on a haunting.

Even if you’re not into paranormal books, give this one a shot. Boneyard Key is the perfect small town setting, full of all of the usual suspects. They just happen to share the town with a few ghosts. Cassie knew she was getting the deal of a lifetime when she purchases a house in Boneyard Key. What she doesn’t expect is the ghost of Mean Mrs. Hawkins as a roommate. As Cassie begins to dig into the local lore, with the help a certain attractive cafe owner, she discovers a bit of a town mystery.

Was the mystery a bit predictable? Sure. Did I have fun either way? Absolutely! The romance between Cassie and Nick was sweet and I loved watching them work together to uncover the truth behind the Hawkin’s house. All of the secondary characters were wonderful, both the living and undead, and I look forward to seeing them all again. I know this is the start of a new series, but can we please have Sophie and Theo’s book next? I’m dying to see our ghost tour gal and local historian fall in love!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a review copy.

I don't know what I expected for this book, but it blew me away and I loved every second of reading it. This book defies the typical genre expectations in the most beautiful ways (not really a paranormal mystery, not really a contemporary romance, not really a cozy horror) and I desperately want more like it.

There is a sweetness that I wasn't expecting that added a layer of coziness to what could have been a fairly horror driven plot, but instead the sarcasm, humor, and small-town charm shine even more brightly. Although filled with narrative twists and turns, there is also plenty of personal digging and growth done in a way that I think from any other author might have fell flat. Instead there are mature, growing characters who I became so invested and cheerleaders for.

I need there to be more books in this series, I am in no way ready to leave Boneyard Key.

Perfect spooky romance to add to your Spooktober TBR -- especially if you live in the South. This book is based in Florida on the beach so read it in the summer or read it for Halloween, it fits both vibes. We get haunted houses, actually a haunted town along with a little mystery that needs to be solved involving some ghosts. As far as the romance, it was a cute small town romance. We also meet some friends which I hope will get their own stories. If you happen to vacation in October, grab this one and read it on the beach. It would be the perfect setting.

3.5 but rounding down due to a couple of issues, but I will say that I had a lot of fun with this one and hope the author considers this series. This would be a fun read close to Halloween. This has a charming town filled with ghosts and quirky townspeople. The romance is slow burn but I didn’t quite feel them falling in love. My main issue with the book was a couple of times when Nick’s voice didn’t feel like how the author set him up (aside from the obvious plot points). I was by Cassie and liked that her HEA. I surprisingly cried near the end of the book which was sweet. Who thought I would be so touched by the town’s spirits?

3.5★

I am usually not one to feel a pull towards romance involving paranormal elements however I really enjoy Jen DeLuca's writing so I wanted to give this a try and I am glad I did. It was a super charming romance with a fun twist of living in the paranormal town. I found the paranormal aspect to add to the charm instead of being distracting as I have found in other books. I loved Nick and Cassie, I think they were so sweet during their good times and I loved the vulnerabilities they showed with each other. Worth the read!

A spooky romance perfect for the upcoming season!

The town is Boneyard Key Florida. The coffee shop is Hallowed Grounds. The ghosts text to communicate and everywhere you go has history and someone there who wants to tell it. Nick, the owner of Hallowed Grounds, thinks Cassie is a tourist at first but soon realizes she’s purchased the cottage down the street. The one that everyone has been afraid to walk past for decades. But it’s been renovated a bit and she’s settling down. Only Cassie doesn’t know about the town’s extra residents at first! Nick is a giant grump at first but soon they’re embarking on a journey to solve a huge mystery together.

This was so cute! It was such a fun story, I loved reading about the history of the ghosts and trying to figure out the mystery while watching Nick and Cassie get closer. This is the perfect fall read.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Jen DeLuca, and Berkeley for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on August 13th!

I have posted my review on Goodreads, my Facebook book club, and will make a TikTok to post before the pub date.

I loved Well Met, so I was excited to see what the author could do with another favorite of mine - haunted houses.

The premise is fun. A small town that's really haunted plays up the ghost aspect for tourist appeal. A woman moves into a haunted house but doesn't know when she buys it that it's haunted. Falls in love with a born and raised local, but the ghosts get in the way of their relationship.

I really enjoy the way the characters are written. I feel that they're realistic and the dialog is believeable. There's a lot of humor from both the living and the dead. The description of the town could be any small tourist town. Well, except for the mention of hurricanes. But if you ignore that, it's anywhere on the water.

I was disappointed in the romance between the two main characters. I was hoping for more spice. It takes so long for them to finally get together and I didn't feel like the build up had enough tension.

My favorite parts of the book were the ghosts. The ways that the living communicated with them were quite fun and I was rooting for everything to work out for them probably more than for Cassie and Nick.

All in all, it was a fun read. Perfect for when you need to escape reality for a while.

I loved this book like I love iced lemon pound cake 😉! This is my ultimate spooky season read. You get ghosts and haunted houses without having to hide under the covers, plus a fun, sexy romance, great supporting characters and lots of laugh out loud moments. I would be down for more books set in this ghostly little town!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for access to this arc!

Happy (almost) publication day! This book comes out August 14, 2024. Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this e-book.

Haunted Ever After is a romance that takes place in a small town in Florida that happens to be haunted. Boneyard Key thrives on Florida (ghost) tourism. Cassie, desperate to leave Orlando, relocated to Boneyard Key, hoping for a fresh start. She begins to frequent the local coffee shop down the street where she meets the owner, Nick, and they slowly but surely hit it off. But will Cassie stick around in this haunted town, or will she get scared off?

This was a ghost story just as much as it was a romance story. I enjoyed the friendships in this book, and really loved the setting. The whole town is haunted and there are a few different ghosts that lurk around. But as a Floridian, what’s not to love about Publix lore and talks of our amazing sunsets? Great spice in this book!

FFO: paranormal books, pub subs, the state of Florida, slowburn romance

Haunted Ever After is a must read this spooky season! Boneyard Key has secured a unique niche in the tourism industry that so much of coastal Florida depends on. Ghostly tourism, featuring ghost tours and small businesses leaning into the town's connection to the paranormal, keeping the town's economy afloat. But what the locals know, and want to keep private, is that some members of the town's founding families can communicate with the spirits of previous residents that linger. Ghostly residents remain and some are even more involved in the current goings on than you'd expect.

Jen DeLuca always delivers engaging characters that you wish you could hang with in real life, and the residents of Boneyard Key are no exception! Cassie Rutherford is new to town, having just purchased the refurbished Hawkins House, but things immediately begin to go off the rails with some ghostly encounters and wonky outlets that won't charge her laptop. Working remotely requires her laptop! Readers will find Cassie authentic and her desire for friendship and a sense of community, relatable.

Nick Royer is the grumpy current owner of Hallowed Grounds. He mistakenly assumes Cassie is a rude tourist come in to use his internet access, while she makes some erroneous assumptions of her own. This scene is absolute perfection and the spark of attraction is instant! From the deceased former owner of Hallowed Grounds keeping tabs on the Nick's tinkering with the original banana bread recipe, to a ghost obsessed with reality television, even the afterlife has its share of interesting personalities.

When Cassie decides to learn more about Sarah Hawkins, she turns to Nick for help. As a member of one of the founding families, Nick has connections in the community and brings them together to help Cassie with her haunted house problem. Cassie quickly finds new friends and a place in the community. But will she stay or head back to Orlando?

“Haunted Ever After” is such a fun story! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I read the blurb, because it had for ability to be super campy or more fiction than romance, but the blend of both the cute couple and the ghost plot had me beyond intrigued.

I really liked the balance of POV, and that it didn’t feel too formulaic or forced. Each perspective felt right and appropriate and necessary.

I LOVED Elmer and Sarah Hawkins. The ghosts were brought to life (pun intended). The mystery and unknown kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved that Elmer texted and Sarah used the magnetic words. I could absolutely see that happening in my own home. I kind of hoped that Elmer and Sarah would get together if the spirits moved them, but alas.

Would love to try the cinnamon banana bread. Sorry, Elmer.

I can’t wait to get to the bottom of the Beach Bum!

Haunted Ever After is the paranormal romcom of the summer! Jen DeLuca combined a variety of tropes together to create a singular spin on the genre. The setting of Boneyard Key was without a doubt my favorite part. The small, ghost-filled town was the perfect, quirky backdrop for Cassie and Nick’s meet cute and subsequent dates. Readers are aware of Boneyard Key’s spectral happenings but it reads more cozy than spooky which was right up my alley.

I loved learning about the ghosts themselves but Cassie’s relationship with her coastal cottage's resident apparition Sarah Hawkins was a true delight. As we slowly unraveled Sarah’s backstory, the mystery surrounding her death became a major plot focus. I thought it was clever how Sarah communicated with Cassie through the refrigerator magnets and I enjoyed working out my own theories to explain Sarah’s undead conflict. Cassie, Nick and the rest of the (living) side characters were another highlight of this book. Small town romances work best when the supporting characters are given a chance to shine, reinforcing the sense of community. Libby, Sophie, Nan, Theo, Ramon, and even Buster were bright spots in this adorable book.

I hope that DeLuca writes more novels set in Boneyard Key (maybe a Sophie and Theo story?) because I think there is still a lot of lore left to be discovered when it comes to this ghostly Floridian town!

Many thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely loved the Renaissance series, so when I was sent Haunted Ever After, I was so excited to read it! At first I wasn't sure how a haunted town would fit into a romance, but it was an amazing backdrop to the story--and even in the forefront. Cassie and Nick were adorable in the way they moved around each other, him knowing the ghosts in the town are real, her not ready or able to believe it to be so. Until the ghost who lives in her house makes herself known. This was funny, cute, a fresh idea for a romance, and I just loved it! I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the review copy!

This is the perfect fall, spooky season book for those of us who prefer lighter romcoms but still want some ghostie vibes!

Well Met is one of my all time favorite romcoms, so I always highly anticipate a new Jen DeLuca book!

Imagine moving to the most casually haunted small town and immediately falling for the grumpy cafe owner down the street? Cassie is living all of our dreams, for real.

The ghosts are the real stars of this book, and almost overshadow the romantic plot at times. What starts as a cutesy ghost story becomes a deeper feminine rage-getting-justice plot line, which I was absolutely here for!

We see enough of the townfolk that I have some guesses about who the next book might be about, and I’m looking forward to it!

Haunted Ever After is the most perfect mix of cozy, small town romance with the quirk of a colourful cast of ghosts who are in everyone’s business.

This book is a delight. Jen DeLuca has been on my to-read list for a while and when I read the synopsis for Haunted Ever After, I couldn’t say no. I love a small-town romance and Haunted Ever After gives me all the small town vibes. The twist? The small town happens to be very haunted and set in Florida. I love Florida, and you don’t find too many small town books set there. I enjoy the ones I do find because Florida has such an interesting history and such friction between the tourists and the people who call the state home.

The main characters of rHaunted Ever After, Nick and Cassie are such a delight. Nick is a local boy who loves his hometown. He can talk with ghosts and it’s just an everyday occurrence to him, especially Elmer, the ghost he lives with who, as a past owner of the coffee shop, also micromanages Nick on how he runs his business. Elmer is a total delight. Cassie is new in town. She’s moved there after feeling stuck in her life in Orlando. She has to get used to small town living, and then also has the shock of learning that all the stories about Boneyard Key are actually the truth. I find so many paranormal romances have the lead heroine as the one involved in paranormal and it’s normal the guy who has to catch up. The reversal was really fun to watch. Nick and Cassie have a slow burn romance. There’s, obviously, a lot going on in their lives, and I liked the slow pace they took, even though they were clearly really feeling each other. There’s miscommunication in this story, but ghosts are kind of to blame for it, which makes it work so well. The ghosts are also main characters in the story. I don’t want to give anything away, but I may have developed a little crush on Elmer.

Haunted Ever After is a quirky, funny and charming contemporary romance with the perfect addition of paranormal activity.

I absolutely loved this book, which was part romance and part cozy paranormal mystery. I loved all the ghost stuff, and the living/ghost friendships were so sweet! This was a slow burn relationship where the characters get off on the wrong foot but quickly straighten out their own issues. There is also no third act breakup for those readers who hate that. I typically like more conflict, but the pacing of this was so perfect that I didn't even notice. I'm so happy that this is a series and can't read to read book 2 (although I think another Ren Faire book will come first and am excited for that one too).

Spooky things are afoot. Cassie moves to a small town when her apartment is sold out from under her. Little does she know that the small town not having her big city ammineties will be the least of her worries.

Nick is the local coffee house owner and a bit of a grump. He takes her on a ghost tour and shares some town gossip.

Will they overcome the spooky conflicts that arise and find happiness in each other, or will Cassie run away in fear.

This book has some cute moments throughout the slow burn romance. It feels a bit rushed toward the end, but for the fall girlie's out there, it is a fun read.

Thanks to NetGalley for my eARC copy of this book.

Jen DeLuca leaves the Ren Faire and takes on the Florida coast with a paranormal twist… and I loved it. It leans more on the cozy rom-com side, cute with a bit of spice, and an easy to guess haunted mystery… but it was so enjoyable to read that I didn’t care about it being obvious. I just want to spend all the days exploring Boneyard Key and its residents, both alive and ghostie. I feel like this book is perfect for fall/cozy vibes.

Cassie and Nick have a contentious meet-cute that quickly becomes absolutely adorable. They’re flirting and fussing is so sweet. My only gripe is that they would occasionally move backward, thinking the other isn’t interested even after dates and kissing. It didn’t entirely make sense.

I hope we get more time in Boneyard Key and it gets an even bigger expansion, with more locales, lore, and paranormal entities to explore. Can’t wait to see what obstacles the next lovebirds will face in such a great space.