The Haunting Between us by Paul Michael Winters - 2.5/5 stars ⭐
Release date: January 7, 2025.

“The way kids called this place Crimson House and said it was haunted by the White Lady bangs around in my mind. It’s just a stupid house.”

Sixteen-year-old Hugo Cruz and his father flip houses. They move often, fleeing from their grief at the loss of Hugo’s mother. The pair move into what is, unknown to them, the most haunted house in Port Townsend, occupied by a ghost of a woman dressed in white who brings with her the smell of freshly baked cookies. But she is not as sweet as this sounds, and this ghost’s increasingly violent behaviour threatens to upturn Hugo’s life, right as he starts dating the boy living across the street.

The premise of this book intrigued me; from the title, to the description, to the comp titles of Heartstopper and The Haunting of Hill House listed right at the start of the blurb on NetGalley. But unfortunately, the more I read of this book, the more it didn’t work for me.

Since it wasn’t all bad, I’m going to start with the things I liked. As I said above, I really liked the premise; it sounded mysterious and intriguing, but also like it would contain a cute romance at the same time. As I read, I also found I really liked the relationships between the members of the friend group. They all had very healthy dynamics, and were very supportive of one another, which I loved.

Unfortunately with this book, there was more that I disliked than what I liked. The style of writing didn’t work for me; I enjoy a style that is more showing than telling, but this book was very heavy on the telling. I found there was no chance for me to come to my own theories or pick up on clues; the second something slightly subtle was hinted at, the next sentence immediately spelled out exactly what the reader was supposed to think. There were parts where I didn’t feel like I was engaged in a story, but merely being told the main facts before being ushered along to the next scene. It felt like everything was being spoon fed to me, rather than me being allowed to explore the world through my own lens, which just didn’t work for me.

While the romance was cute, and I’m glad it was included, there were also parts of it that annoyed me a bit. For one, if the words ‘super-cute guy’ were used one more time, I think I would’ve had to put the book down. It also felt like this repetition was more of a focus than some of the big issues for the character, such as body image issues and the fear from Hugo of being forced to move right as he had become comfortable in Port Townsend. I also found the mystery to annoy me a bit - it was predictable, which isn’t inherently bad for a book like this, but it didn’t feel like the stakes were very high, which I think again contributes to the way it was written. I just didn’t feel like the stakes and anticipation were being raised, when with a haunted house story, they definitely should be.

I’m sure that this book could work really well for other people, but unfortunately, I don’t think I ended up being the target audience. If this book sounds interesting to you, and my thoughts don’t seem like the kinds of things that bother you, I definitely recommend checking it out. But unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be reading this one again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Maelstrom Press for giving me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not exaggerating when I say I couldn't put this down. I'm a sucker for anything that combines my love of the paranormal with something gay, and <I>wow</i> "The Haunting Between Us" did not disappoint. If you're in the market for: ghosts, gays, theys, murder, and just a <I>hint</i> of spice, you need not look any further.

Paul Michael Winters did a wonderful job of alternating POVs between chapters in a way that propelled the story forward and did not feel awkward in the slightest, which has been a point of contention with me when reading books with that same style. This book was fast-paced but not in any negative way, as it kept me eager to read more, wanting desperately to find out what would happen next to Hugo and Cameron.

I've not read anything by Winters before, but you can bet after this that I'll be going back to read their debut novel, and I'll be keeping an eye on any future publications.

A gorgeous blend of romance and horror that will appeal to fans of The Haunting of Hill House. Winters wonderfully combines a story about being haunted by your family's past with the thrilling experience of first love. I want a sequel.

I received an e-ARC and am giving a review of my own free will! Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Let me start off by saying that I was so beyond excited to read this book. The moment I saw it on Netgalley, I posted on my private story saying how I needed to read this book. Firstly, queer main characters!! MLM main couple with many other queer characters and such! Secondly, horror and hauntings?? Horror is my favorite genre, besides MM if that counts. Already I knew I was going to love it, but to top it all off, it takes place in Port Townsend?! Not only was I just there over the summer, and live a few hours away, but it's also where my favorite TV show (Dead Boy Detectives) takes place as well. So, to put it lightly, I was ecstatic for this.

And it definitely lived up to my hype!! I completely adored it. I don't know exactly how to describe it, but it was just so nice to read. I rarely got stuck on sentences or paragraphs and had to go back, or got confused or anything. It was one of the best experiences I've had reading a book in a while. Hugo and Cameron were so much fun to learn about and learn from, and I adore how their families were written. The varying types of acceptance and fears around coming out. Hugo's fears around coming out to his dad, along with his fears of telling his dad about the house itself, all being for nothing, and his dad always being accepting and understanding. The guilt around Hugo's mom, as well as the underlying sadness Hugo and his dad carried was really well done. It felt very real, in a less 'in your face' way than most. Cameron's mom and brother being accepting of him, and his dad not being so outwardly homophobic that most straight people would even catch it, but how devastating it is to be queer and have your parent treat you like that. It really did a wonderful job of expressing how people don't understand just how harmful it is, and why it feels so hurtful as a queer kid.

I also loved the group, all of them being well written and fleshed out so I clearly remember who is who. Matty was definitely a favorite character, he reminds me of so many close friends I have/had over the years. I really loved how there wasn't really any tension between Cameron and Hugo and the group regarding relationship stuff. No issues with Abby and Cameron, or Abby and Hugo, or issues with their relationship as a whole. I was so happy once I realized they were just incredible friends, and that was that! Their willingness to always help Hugo out with the house was so endearing as well. I just loved the dynamics.

The plot itself, the horror aspects, were very well done!! I'm usually one to pick up on the twists and such, and while I managed to piece together part of it, there was a huge chunk I was completely surprised by!! The horror was well done and manageable, not too much but also not boring either. Learning more and more about what happened continued to fill me with horror and disgust and on the edge of my seat.

Cameron and Hugo's relationship was really just so adorable. The pining and the puppy love was such a refreshing read, I kept finding myself just smiling at the pages.

My only qualm was Cameron's negative talk about his body. I read that the author had a lot of stuff come from his own experiences, which I completely get, but there didn't seem to be much of a resolution to it, or anything that helped level it out so that people reading it understood that his body-issues aren't things people should think about themselves. It's very minor, more of an issues because of personal stuff I'm going through at the moment but wanted to say smth anyways :)

This was such a great read and I'll definitely be checking out the author's other book!

This book had so much potential and had a lot of solid concepts and scenes, however, a lot of things didn't feel fully fleshed out or finished. I want to first say that I appreciate the author for including concepts of body insecurity for men when it sometimes feels like I only see women and girls experience it in media. I also enjoyed Cameron and Hugo's relationship and how it felt very much like a high school relationship full of awkwardness and cringe. I also really enjoyed a lot of the haunted house antics and exploration. Unfortunately, where this book started to lose me was in the execution of a lot of the scenes, there is a lot of repetition throughout the book and some scenes feel either unnecessary or like they needed to be longer and more filled in. I wish that some of the side characters were more rounded out as well, Abby and Chloe are the most filled in, but Matty and Maya seemed to be mostly one or two traits demonstrated over again. Finally, I was disappointed that this book ended up with the disabled character is evil stereotype. While it does have some nuance (her disability does not make her evil), I still did not like to see the one individual who is stated to have disability is the evil ghost.

-thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the eARC

The Haunting Between Us is a great option for teen readers looking for a spooky read that stays lighthearted despite the haunting element. I thought the romance was a tad oversweet (but that is personal taste!) but it was a cute LGBTQ+ romance overall. The haunted house portion of the story was a little predictable, but had some spooky moments and tied everything together neatly in the end. I would definitely keep this one on the list for teen readers looking for a romance with low angst and/or a haunted house plot.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC!

The Haunting Between Us follows Cameron, who quickly falls for his new next-door neighbor, Hugo—a brave, handsome, and deeply insecure boy. The twist? Hugo’s house is haunted, something Cameron already knows from a past exploration.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the group of friends. They added a nice mix of fun and spooky moments while the story also touched on real issues, like teenage boys struggling with body image. The characters had relatable, typical teenage moments, which was nice to see.

However, the writing style wasn’t really my thing. Some of the dialogue felt a bit awkward and cheesy, which made it hard for me to stay fully into the story. Around 50% in, the story slowed down a lot, and not much happened, so I started losing interest.

I also felt like the characters solved problems too quickly, which made some parts feel rushed or like more details were needed.

Thankfully, the ending managed to bring things back together and provided a satisfying conclusion. Overall, I liked The Haunting Between Us, even if it wasn’t perfect.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Maelstrom Press, and the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Maelstrom Press for an early release copy of The Haunting Between Us by Paul Michael Winters.

The Haunting between us was a bit of a disappointing read for me, I liked the mystery elements and how the story went about exploring them. I thought it was intriguing and it made me want to read more to see where the story went with the mystery/hauntings. I liked Chloe’s element it was an interesting addition to the story however I think I would have enjoyed it more if one of the main characters had that element instead. I also enjoyed Hugo’s dad as a character even though we don’t get many scenes with him, the dad just felt so supportive and I liked him. I didn’t mind Cameron’s parents and sibling but Hugo’s dad was definitely one of the more likable characters.

I thought about dnfing this book multiple times for plenty of reasons but I did finish it. I don’t particularly think this writing style is for me, the characters often felt too shy/wimpy, the crush stage of their relationship just felt awkward to read about, and the romance feels weird in general. These characters also felt a little too immature for me and I wasn’t particularly interested or routing for them while reading. Rating 2.5

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in January. It was well written and very intense in a good way. But I just cannot get over the disabled villain trope. It's just a bad thing. And having that pop up at the end ruined my experience.

Cameron has lived across the street from the most haunted house in his city his whole life. Imagine his surprise when a cute boy, Hugo, moves into the house with his dad to begin renovating it. Hugo never stays in one city for more than 6 months, having friends or boyfriend is impossible with his constant moving.

Both boys seems to have a mysterious history with the house and it's ghost, The White Lady. After a rocky start Hugo and Cameron slowly become friends and along with a great group of friends begin to unravel the mystery of the The White Lady and the secrets the home holds.

The boys slowly become closer while trying to keep their secret ghost hunts from Hugo's dad and dealing with Cameron's dad who can't seem accept his son is gay.

This book had a great mystery and kept you guessing. I was rooting for all the characters it also had some great side characters. All of Cameron's friends were supportive and wonderful.

This was a fun, quick read. Watching the boys grow closer while the danger increases and the stakes continue to get higher. This is perfect read if you looking for something cute and spooky.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honestly review.

This is described as Heartstopper meets The Haunting of Hill House and I think that’s description is pretty fitting.

This book handles all the confusing issues of being a teenager, bullying, the all consuming first love and the complex feelings that come along with that, fumbling your way around intimacy while not being ready for going all the way, parent’s problems becoming your problems, friends and family and just overall navigating teenage chaos, and then throws in a little ghost hunting on the side.
Like in Heartstopper queerness is very much at the center of this story, but I feel like the added element of a spooky haunted house makes it appeal to a different group of readers than Heartstopper, and we need these stories told in every shape and form, so I think that’s great.

Now I recognize that this book is YA and it’s very clear that’s it’s written for a younger audience. I struggled a bit with the very descriptive writing style as it is simply not my favorite, that is a personal preference.
For that reason my subjective rating for this is leans towards 3,5 starts, but objectively I would give it a 4 as I very much enjoyed this story and the mystery of 16 Sycamore Lane.

Heartstopper sweet romance meet with the eerie vibes of Monster House. 💖

This book is exactly what i’m searching for if i’m in a mood of light spooky reading with a bit of cheesy romance!

It is a steady pacing and developed better toward the end. The paranormal plot was well done, maybe a bit cliche and basic, but enough to give me chills.
The romance between two mcs definitely had me attached. I love that they’re having an organic and healthy relationship. The chemistry between them is strong that you cant help but rooting for them the whole time. 🥹💖

The only issue i have with this book was the repetitive and choppy writing. And the dialogues sometimes feel cheesy and kinda sets me off of my reading experience.

Due to his backstory of personal loss and betrayal, Hugo’s usually reserved, having a constant fear of how he should come out to his father. The author did a very great job at depicting Hugo’s multilayered character and i’m so glad to have things worked out well for him.

Cameron struggles with his self-deprivation as the outcome of his past. He might project confidence, but there’s an underlying vulnerability that hints at unresolved trauma or a deep-seated fear he hides from others.

While, Hugo is brooding and methodical, Cameron is more impulsive and emotionally driven. Both are perfectly fit for each other as they comfort one’s insecurities.

Thank you again Netgalley and the Publishers for giving me the ARC 💖 it’s been a really enjoyable read for me.

Cameron has lived across the street from Port Townsend's notoriously abandoned Crimson House with it's bleeding (rusting) siding and local urban legend the White Lady his whole life. When a father-son team of house flippers moves into Crimson House, Cameron finds himself drawn to the handsome Hugo. Something about Cameron and Hugo's attraction kicks the haunting of Crimson House into high gear.

The good:
The Haunting Between Us is a fast paced, easy read with some genuine scares. The romance between Cameron and Hugo will appeal to fans of YA LGBTQ+ reads including some tame spicy bits. There is the usual coming out storyline as well. Cameron's friends are a veritable Scooby Gang of gender identity, neurodivergence, and queerness that even includes a psychic.

The not-as-good
While the characters are diverse, the explanation of the haunting feels ableist. The dialogue is a bit stilted. There are references in this story that will date it but that is common in YA.

CW for homophobia, bullying, death of a parent, fatphobia

The little not out horror loving queer kid I was would of loved this book growing up.
The representation is wonderful, the YA creep factor is there, the haunting is genuinely creepy.
Cameron reminded me quite a bit of myself, but so did Hugo. I think the author really hit on many of the issues that young gay kids have growing up while also showing how it COULD be.

Sixteen-year-old Cameron Walsh, longing for love and acceptance, is intrigued by the mysterious new neighbor, Hugo Cruz, who just moved into the haunted Victorian mansion across the street. As they delve into the house's dark history and the haunting presence of the White Lady, they form a deep connection. However, as their bond strengthens, the supernatural forces within the house become more menacing, threatening their lives and their budding romance.

A Queer romance mixed with a ghost story?!?! Yes please! I really loved this book a lot. I absolutely devoured it. My favorite thing about this book is that Cameron and Hugo are incredibly likeable characters. I love both of them so much. The author did an incredible job of making them have typical teenage moments, without them being annoying and unreasonable. Also, the friend group they were a part of was so amazing. The friendships were beautiful. There was also a really great alter to how Hugo and Cameron interacted with their families. This was soooo close to a five star read, but my only complaint is that sometimes the characters came to conclusions and answers very very quickly and it just felt like sometimes a bit of context was missing. It was never bad, but I felt like the YA aspect of this maybe trimmed off some areas could've used a bit more detail.

First of all, I'd like to thank NetGalley , Maelstrom Press and the author for trusting me and giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So, where do I start?

Cameron and Hugo's story begins when Hugo and his dad move into the "haunted" and abandoned house just across the street. They become Cameron's new neighbors, but their relationship has a rocky start, which gets resolved pretty quickly. After that, they team up with Cameron's friends to investigate and try to help Hugo get rid of whatever is haunting his new home.

The romance development felt authentic and organic. You can’t help but root for them, even though I have to admit they can be a bit frustrating at times. But… they’re teenagers, so what else do you expect? Cameron is openly out and proud, while Hugo isn’t. Hugo’s fears surrounding his identity feel realistic and logical, and I think the author did a great job portraying the emotional turmoil a teenager goes through when figuring themselves out, especially when they’re unsure how to tell their parents, or how their parents might react. The inner monologues never felt whiny.

Cameron also struggles with body image issues because he was bullied as a child. At times, his insecurities hit him so hard that all I wanted to do was wrap him in a blanket and hug him until he felt better. Hugo and his friends are supportive, and it’s really sweet to read about. It warmed my heart. I wish I had friends like that when I was younger, struggling with similar insecurities.

The spooky Heartstopper vibes had me hooked from start to finish. The author did a great job with the setting, descriptions, and overall ambiance of the house. As the blurb says and promises, this really feels like Heartstopper and The Haunting of Hill House had a baby! I never knew I needed this in my life, but I’m so happy I read it.

When a book has a larger cast of side characters, it can be hard to care about each one individually, but the author made it easy to get attached to them for different reasons. They don't feel interchangeable, nor is it difficult to distinguish the characters

Posted to amazon and goodreads:

The Haunting Between Us is a sweet, engaging blend of heartfelt romance and supernatural suspense - a fun take on the haunted house trope. Its mix of queer coming-of-age themes and ghostly thrills makes for a tender and chilling story—a cool combination that worked really well for me.

Paul Michael Winters handles themes like grief, bullying, racism, and self-discovery with care, weaving them into the story in a way that will no doubt resonate with young readers. The haunted Victorian mansion, with its shadowy secrets and the menacing White Lady, adds a layer of eerie tension that keeps you turning the pages.

While the book juggles familiar themes, it ultimately succeeds in creating a story that feels unique. The blend of romance and horror may lean more toward one side at times, but the emotional stakes remain high throughout.

This is a book that’s sure to find its audience among teens looking for a story that mirrors their experiences while offering a touch of the supernatural. If you’re a fan of queer romance with a spooky twist, The Haunting Between Us is well worth a read.

"The Haunting Between Us" is a Teen/YA romance/horror novel by Paul Michael Winters. Cameron is a 16 year old who lives across the street from a haunted house that tried to kill him when he was younger (he fell through a floorboard and badly cut his leg). When a handsome teen boy named Hugo moves into the haunted house with his dad, Cameron becomes friends with him (with some small misunderstandings in the beginning that slow the start of their friendship, like Cameron seeing a ghost next door and assuming that it is Hugo's grandmother, but Hugo thinks Cam is teasing him). The book does a great job of capturing the creepy atmosphere of the house and the ghost and gave me some genuine reading jump scares. A recommended purchase for YA fiction collections where horror and Heartstopper are popular.

Thanks for the ARC. This book was a great read.

Cameron is surprised one day to discover that a cute guy is moving into the haunted house across the street. There's a lot of urban myths surrounding the house across the street,,, but Cameron's first hand experience is what gives him pause every time he passes the old building.

Hugo is the "Prince Charming" who has moved into the old fixer-upper. His father has been a bit secretive about the move...not really going into detail about how they have landed where they are. Hugo gets on with his life and hopes that, for once, they may end up staying in one place long enough for him to have friends.

This story is about a lot of things... sure, there's a supernatural component but I think what I most enjoyed was the comradely and friendship. This is, in a sense a love story within a love story. There is history that has woven into the present and the lovely group of friends tasked themselves with solving the mystery.

This was a wonderful read. Full of great characters, action, a lovely first relationship and a marvellous group of friends.

*eARC provided by Maelstrom Press

Honestly I ate this book up. It was the perfect blend of sweet and spooky while also tackling real life conversations about teenage boys struggling with body image and insecurity. The growth of both characters was interesting to watch however at points the dialogue was incredibly cheesy.

The plot did manage to give me the creeps for a bit which I very much appreciated.

All in all this was a really cute story, it’s not going to change your life but it’ll make you smile