Thank you to Mira and Netgalley for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this one. All thoughts are my own.

This was SUCH a good book. I had my doubts at the start but once I settled into the style and tone, I was absolutely hooked.

This one is marketed as a cosy fantasy and while it definitely has elements of that, I’d argue that it’s more cosy horror if such a thing could exist. Very horror lite, but also definitely has horror elements throughout.

I LOVED Peter so, so much. He’s such a sad, tired, wonderful person. He’s suffered so much and he builds these protective walls to keep his heart safe, but he still goes out of his way to help people without letting them in too far.

But all that changes when the people of Harrington get under his skin and its history entwines with his own.

The relationships he forms in this book, every single one of them, hooked my heart. His love for these people and the spirits around them was palpable. I laughed, I teared up, I was on the edge of my seat during some moments. I felt so many things reading this book.

The soft, slow romance between Peter and David made my heart sing. They were so lovely together, so careful with each other.

Ahh! I can’t recommend this book enough.

This book was my introduction to this author and I think I'll be back for more. This was a cute and heartfelt read that made me need a cup of tea.

pretty cool book with some awesome vibes, both of cute romance and of horror ghosty stuff. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I received an eARC through NetGalley. When I read the description I was worried it might be too heavy to actually go through, that it would leave me feeling somewhat.. hollow? I lost a loved one last year and feared it would just open up some wounds. Instead, this really felt like a warm hug or a cup of tea while talking through my feelings or what had happened.

Now, it might obviously affect everyone different. It’s not your usual HEA per se, but I enjoy that it’s a nice blend of reality with comfort and coziness. I wasn’t expecting to call this cozy but here we are!! I’d say grab a blanket, wrap yourself, and thoroughly enjoy this read!

This book felt like a warm hug. For a story that dealt with death, grief, and lonely and/or cursed spirits it was so cozy. The way the author handled grief was beautiful, exploring the many complex emotions of loss while always highlighting the beauty of love and memory. Peter was a great main character — it is not often I’ve read MCs that are over seventy, so I really appreciated that. This book is a both comforting and heartwarming while also beautifully heartbreaking.

Peter Shaughnessy is cursed. He has spent 200 years hunting ghosts unable to die. Peter gets to a new city, gets the job done and leaves before anyone can even learn his name so he doesn't ever have to go through the heartbreak of watching the people he loves age and die without him. Things go as planed until he gets to Harrington, Ohio. There's a vengeful spirit here having ill effects on the townspeople. He should be in and out and NOT becoming attached to anyone or falling for the local historian.

The first thing that drew me to this book was the beautiful cover. It was so refreshing to read a cozy queer story with an older protagonist. This book is full of interesting, well-fleshed out characters who it's impossible to not become attached to.

The story beautifully deals with grief, all different kinds of love and figuring out what's really important to you. Peter and David's slow burn romance is so sweet and this story is full of found family.

I wish I could forget this book just so I could read it for the first time again.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*Received as a free ARC*
Oof. The author's note warned this was a sad one and boy howdy was it. I'm not totally sold on the ending, though I get what the author was intending with it. Still. This was quite a lovely book and different from a lot of things I normally read. Don't know if I'll recommend it because I don't generally recommend sad books.

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!