Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, with a diverse cast of characters who will grab you fast and not let go! This is such a beautiful book, with messages of love, grieving, and hope as well as some truly tense moments leading to a dramatic climax. This was a lovely read and I'm definitely looking forward to E's next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Stunning. Beautiful. Haunting. It's like the perfect cozy-hopeful-sad book to sink into. I adored the characters and their relationships. The growth everyone goes through. I could feel the warmth and care throughout the story, in delving into different kinds of grief and finding support in those who care. I am so happy to have read this, and feel like it will be a part of me for some time.

This is a cozier fantasy that excelled in heartwarming emotional connection and found family. This was heavier on the magical realism side than straight out fantasy, but it was really wonderful and grounded.

This was a strong fantasy novel, it had that element that I was looking for and was invested in what was going on in this story. The characters had that element that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening. E.M. Anderson has a strong writing style and was glad it was written perfectly.

The Keeper of Lonely Spirits draws you in with its writing style and keeps you enticed with its deep characters and story.

How the Main Character is often referred to as "Grave keeper" cause he wants to be overlooked and unknown. How you find out bits and pieces of him as the other characters learn more about him. The sense of synesthesia as ghost convey their thoughts and feeling through scent or taste, but also hues of color.

How every person you meet in the main cast deals with their own grief and loss. How each of them find their way to deal with their emotions.

The pacing adds depth to the writing, letting you soak in and get to know the town, the people, all the things Peter tries not to learn to get attached.

There are times where it's cozy, sentimental, or more towards horror. But a great heartwarming read.

The hopeful undertones of this book make it delightful. Insightful and reflective without being too tragic, with soft characters who are well developed and likeable. The variety of backgrounds and stories flow together well for a quick read that leaves you feeling warm inside.

I love magical realism. I love books that can break your heart but give you hope. I love books about characters who have been broken, hurt, or feel alone. Found family stories are also stories which makes me feel warm inside. This book hits all of these tropes. I don't have a problem with longer, slow books, which this one definitely was, so if you love slow burn stories as well, this one is for you.

The Keeper of Lonely Spirits by EM Anderson was such a heartwarming surprise. Peter, our MC, has been cursed to wander the world freeing ghosts along the way. In a world where he outlives everyone, what else can he do but build a wall around his heart. A diverse cast of characters are interwoven into this story and as they meet Peter, bonds form and he (and we) can’t help but begin to care for them. A malevolent ghost threatens his new friends, and Peter must decide if he will continue what he’s done for years or have those walls crumbled down. This story involves grief, love, acceptance and found family. This was such a cute and fun and unique read, part fantasy, a touch of horror, lots of plants and some older MM characters.

This was my first read from the author and I’ll check out more for sure. The Keeper of Lonely Spirits is available to pre order now and will be released on 3/25/25!

Thank you to NetGalley, Mira Books and of course to EM Anderson for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the ARC, this story didn’t just tug at my heartstrings; it built a nest there. The Keeper of Lonely Spirits is one of those rare gems of a book for me (and how lucky I was to stumble across the beautiful cover art on NetGalley. Somethings are meant to be, I suppose). E.M. Anderson masterfully entwines the darker themes of loss, grief, and loneliness with the warmth of found family, the beauty of human connection, and the art of love (both romantic and platonic) at all stages of life. From the grumpy yet deeply tender groundskeeper Peter (old as shite and utterly endearing) to the fierce and fabulous Samira, every character has a purpose, a moment, a heartbeat. Their journeys through sorrow and healing felt genuine and relatable. The only thing this book was missing for me? A never-ending cup of tea and a rainy day to match its poignant, heartfelt prose.

Very cute and cozy, but lost steam as it went on !
Loved the magical realism aspects and feel like this will be a win for some specific types of readers. Great variety of emotions conveyed.
Characters that will definitely stick with you, but wish it was a bit quick!

I do not understand why, but I could NOT get into this book - and believe me I tried. Repeatedly. I liked the way it started, but about 25% in I seem to have hit a wall, and despite multiple attempts to get past that point, I simply could not. This one was inexplicably not for me, despite the topic, cover, and characters - all of which drew me in.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have a hard time reviewing this one. It moved a little slow for me, but made me feel! Personally, I have to be in the mood for slower books, but I don’t like to put books down for more than a day or two, so I’ve pushed through. The first half of this was a bit slower paced for sure, but it picks up towards the end. This one is definitely as much about the journey as the destination. The writing feels almost like meandering through a forest, taking in the details while giving us important plot points. The past and the present are sprinkled throughout, and I enjoyed getting to know Peter through the book.

The characters are adorable and precious and I really loved meeting them. If you enjoy TJ Klune or really any LGBTQIA+ fiction, you’ll love this. The relationships, platonic and romantic, are just the sweetest things and how I wish life was lived. I cried at least three times, but the ending gutted me in a bittersweet way.

All in all, this was a wonderful read. Be prepared for a slower paced book, but it’s well worth it. 4.5⭐️

This is a whimsical, magical read that reminds me of TJ Klune's books in a way. I had strong connections with the characters and loved the plot. This was a bit of a deep and emotional read that had me reading this in one sitting!

Anderson masterfully blends the fantastical with the familiar, creating a world where the supernatural seamlessly intertwines with everyday life. The novel explores the multifaceted nature of grief, showcasing how it manifests in different ways and how finding solace and healing can be a unique and often challenging journey. Peter, despite his immortality, grapples with his own profound loneliness and the weight of his past, making him a surprisingly relatable and sympathetic protagonist.

"The Keeper of Lonely Spirits" is a delightful read that will resonate with readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, heartwarming stories of found family, and fantasy with a touch of romance. Anderson's evocative prose and charming characters create a truly enchanting world that lingers long after the final page is turned.

Somewhere around a 3.5. Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. I have exceptionally mixed feelings about this book. I had moments of loving it and absolutely adored the characters, so it breaks my heart that the story just… dragged. The last ~20% was so great and felt big (emotionally, plot-wise, etc.), which makes me wish it were shorter/tighter.

If you love magical realism like I do, I definitely think this is worth the read. I have a lot of big, positive feelings about this book’s overall vibe but it just fell a bit short for me.

Ugh. This book is going to be such a big deal.

An older man who can see ghhosts and can't die moves to a small town to rid it of a vengeful spirit. He doesn't intend to stay long, and certainly doesn't plan on making friends. Of course, he's drawn into a diverse and charming cast of characters, who are all dealing with their own grief. This is one of those novels that is cozy and comforting, but also breaks your heart. I don't typically do a lot of big name comparisons, but this hits all of the same notes as TJ Klune's Under the Whispering Door, only with a wider cast of characters and some dark family secrets.

I've already preordered a copy for myself, and will be suggesting this book to just about everyone. Anderson has really hit their stride with this book and I can't wait to see what they write next.

A Hauntingly Beautiful Tale of Life, Loss, and Second Chances

I just finished The Keeper of Lonely Spirits, and I can’t stop thinking about it. This is the kind of story that lingers like the faint whisper of a ghost, tugging at your heart in the quietest moments.

Peter Shaughnessy, the weary and immortal protagonist, is a character who feels achingly real despite his otherworldly plight. Cursed to wander far from his Irish homeland, seeing ghosts and speaking to plants, Peter carries the heavy burden of outliving everyone he’s ever cared for. And yet, this isn’t just a story about despair—it’s about what happens when someone who’s given up on life finds a spark of hope.

The town of Harrington, Ohio, with its small-town troubles and rising supernatural tensions, becomes a microcosm of everything Peter’s been running from and everything he secretly longs for. The way the author weaves together ghostly chills, slow-burn romance, and deeply human struggles is nothing short of masterful. The townspeople Peter meets are so well-drawn that you find yourself rooting for their survival, their happiness, and for Peter’s fragile chance at connection.

The stakes are deeply emotional but never overwrought. Peter’s impossible choice—stay and risk his heart breaking all over again, or leave and risk the safety of those he’s come to love—kept me turning pages late into the night. The book balances its darker themes of grief and mortality with moments of humor, wonder, and tenderness. And the romance? Subtle, vulnerable, and so, so satisfying.

If you’re looking for a book that combines the eerie atmosphere of a ghost story with the depth of a character-driven narrative, this one’s for you. It’s haunting, hopeful, and ultimately unforgettable.
The only regret I have, is, that I didn't read it with my book club.

Five stars—easily.

This book broke my heart in all the best ways. It's a vivid exploration of family and grief and love, full of characters with believable perspectives and emotions. Anderson's gorgeous descriptions make the small town setting, its flowers and trees, its birds and weather, as much a part of the story as the people. A true gem of a novel.

*The Keeper of Lonely Spirits* by E.M. Anderson is a hauntingly beautiful tale that blends mystery, emotion, and the supernatural. Set in a small, atmospheric town, the story follows the protagonist as they unravel the secrets of the past while confronting their own inner demons. Anderson’s writing is poetic and evocative, creating a world where grief, love, and redemption intertwine. The characters are well-developed, with their struggles and growth adding depth to the plot. The blend of emotional depth and paranormal intrigue makes *The Keeper of Lonely Spirits* an engaging read for fans of gothic and mystery fiction.

I felt deeply connected to every character. Talk about the perfect found family trope. Also, as someone in the death care industry’, I really appreciated the depiction of the cemetery and the amount of care and maintenance needed to maintain its beauty and functional abilities