Josie sees people. Meets, greets and chats them up. Isn't real clear on which side of the veil they belong to, though. That's what got me from the start.

Josie and her tribe have been through a lot - devastating events where friends and family die, and working through trauma brings its own kind of bravery and stubborn determination. Josie has that in abundance. A new job at a fancy restaurant where she starts as a coat girl, is where it all begins.

I enjoyed the read, the spookiness of it and how it wrapped up. Fair warning, though: You just might get itchy to go to New Orleans. . .

*A sincere thank you to Laura Buchwald, Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates, LLC and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

Thank you to GetRedPR for inviting me to review and support The Coat Check Girl; complementary review copy sent from the PR team on behalf of publisher.

I gravitate towards character driven books that handle complex themes such as grief and books that explore self-growth and self-acceptance. The Coat Check is an effectively and nuanced examination of grief but also lovely themes on found family, the value of finding not just the right people and places that help you be you but also the journey, often through grief, of self-acceptance and self-growth. I liked the unique add of the haunting theme; the story gave space to make this feel real and not "silly" or "trite" and this part of the story added a richness to the plot.
Buchwald's writing is gentle and caring, the themes nicely developed. and the story of Josie, themes on haunting and the supernatural, and the role of Mia are deftly shared.

The Coat Check Girl
By: Laura Buchwald
Pub date: October 15, 2024
Publisher: Radiance
I was memorized with the protagonist Josie Gray. She goes on a wild journey after losing her Grandmother. She has a unique gift, that she needs to come to terms with. She is working at a restaurant and the place seems to be haunted.
She befriends the new “coat check girl” Mia who helps her come to terms with her grandmother’s loss and her gift. All the characters in this book were well-developed and I was completely taken with this story.
Starting off in New York City, Josie ends up in New Orleans as her story takes a unique twist. I love how the story wrapped up and Josie was able to find her true self.
Grief, romance, turmoil, redemption and more are explored for this FABULOUS novel.
Thank you Get Red Pr for the gifted copy. An amazing debut!

The Coat Check Girl was a story of a single, female, New Yorker set in the late 90s NYC restaurant industry.. finding her way past grief & toward her future, with help from her friends, & some ghostly visitors. The characters were quirky & fun. This book is such a poignant exploration of grief, love & healing. It was fast paced, and such a good read. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher/Get Red PR for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“The Coat Check Girl” by Laura Buchwald is the story of a woman in the restaurant industry in the 90s who has lost her grandmother and is immersed in grief that spirals her life into chaos. She develops a relationship with the new coat check girl and learns to heal through acceptance of her own supernatural gifts. I loved the premise of this book but I found the writing a bit too kitschy which affected my engagement of the novel. I may be an outlier on this so because of the interesting premise I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates this genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates, LLC for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I like reading stories about our loved ones' past helping us in our lives. Josie had to deal with a great loss and it shows how the grieving process is not the same for everyone. I loved the cast of characters and think they were great friends to Josie while going through her journey.

I received an advance review copy for free (thank you NetGalley), and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

The Coat Check Girl is such a poignant exploration of grief, love, healing and acceptance, of ourselves & things we may not understand. Set in the late 90s NYC restaurant industry, I felt immersed in 90s nostalgia. I loved the Bistrot family. They exemplify that those of in the service industry will rise to meet any challenge thrown our way, the deep bonds that are forged, and the regulars that become living legends. My only complaint is the abundant use of pet names (“baby,” “sister,” “girl,” etc), particularly in the beginning. It made the dialogue feel forced, like an attempt to establish a relationship between the staff quickly, instead of letting the bond shine through naturally, which it absolutely does. For me, it also lessened the impact of the use of pet names by the man I was rooting for and the man I was not! I know I will think of Josie and her found family often & if I ever make it back to New Orleans I will be looking both ways for a glimpse of Mia.

#thecoatcheckgirl #NetGalley is one of the best books I've read so far.
Josie lost her grandmother and her life is spiraling out of control, until she meets Mia, the new coat check girl.
Mia helps Josie to heal and grieve, while opening her eyes to an unbelievable world.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.