This was a solid 5 star read for me.
Even though there was so much going on in the book, I love the way the author tied everything together. The Ghosts, the mysticism and the fast pace of thr book made it hard to put down. It was definitely different from any ghost story that I have read before.

This was quite an interesting read. It follows Gwendolyn who's a successful publicist and she must confront her secret mystical past.
"Gwendolyn would prefer not to have anything to do with ghostly drama. Yet in order to get to the bottom of the spookiness derailing her life and threatening the world, she must face the demons she'd long left behind!."
I actually really enjoyed this book a lot! Gwendolyn is a very relatable character and I love that fact that even though she has such magnificent powers, she is very humble with it. Between Gwendolyn and her cousin Fonsi they both bring in comical vibes with a whole bunch of mystery and mystical drama. This book may not be for everyone as it contains Santeria references. It also is a LGBTQ+ read that is tastefully written. I loved the mystery, secret and lies within this as well as some of the mystical elements. I also loved the fact that this wasn't a long drawn out story and left room for a second installment if the author chooses to. I’m hoping he does because I’d like to see where Gwendolyn & Fonsi end up next and what adventures await!
So if you're into mystical/spiritual elements, humor, mystery and a modern day saving of the world adventure, I highly suggest putting this on your TBR list!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for making it possible for me to read this awesome ARC!

I was really excited to read this! I was immediately drawn to the stunning cover .The story is a wild and captivating ride that kept me turning the pages. Would love to read more from this author!

This book starts with a publicist at the top of her game, but must confront her secret mystical past.

Gwendolyn Montgomery is New York's most powerful publicist at Sublime Media. To the naked eye She's seemed to have created the ideal life with her handsome new boyfriend. But Gwendolyn has a secret, she's chosen to hide her powers, buried her old life, and started anew.

Gwendolyn would prefer not to have anything to do with the ghostly drama. Yet in order to get to the bottom of what's been derailing her life, she must face what she'd long left behind. Or threatening her very existence and all of New York. The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a interesting, funny, mystical read that will leave you wanting more as you keep the pages turning.

What happens when ghosts, goddesses, and grief collide? The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a unique paranormal journey steeped in Afro-Latina culture, ancestral magic, and spiritual truths, all through the lens of love, loss, and limbo. Gisele Rivera is dead—and Gwendolyn Montgomery has taken her place. In this tale where the veil between life and afterlife is thin, Haynes introduces us to a liminal world filled with ancestral spirits, orishas, and ghostly reckonings. As Gwendolyn navigates her way through grief, identity, and rebuilding her life while running away from her old one, her story bends the boundaries of myth and memory in unexpected ways.
This is paranormal fiction with strong spiritual and cultural themes, blending Afro-Caribbean mysticism, ancestral reverence, romance, and contemporary storytelling. Haynes' prose feels warm and familiar—like sitting at brunch with your homegirls telling family stories with supernatural flair. As a Black woman, the voice and cultural cadence felt deeply relatable and rooted, even when the plot took unexpected or uneven turns. The inclusion of the orishas—particularly Oshun—adds a layer of sacred realism that sets this apart from typical ghost stories. It’s not horror; it’s ancestral magic. Centering an Afro-Latina experience gave the story richness and representation that's still too rare in speculative fiction. The concepts of limbo, death, and spiritual reckoning were compelling, and the ghosts were handled in a way that felt both respectful and emotionally impactful.
Gwendolyn is a beautifully flawed protagonist with layers of grief, power, and heart. Her story arc was filled with growth—even if some of her choices felt a bit stretched by the end. Fonsi, Gwendolyn’s cousin, was the most interesting side dynamic for me. The man is having a relationship with a ghost, and I would’ve loved to dive deeper into that. Gwendolyn’s love interest, James, suffers a mishap at the end that I wish was handled differently, but I’ll avoid details for spoiler’s sake. Overall, though, the cast was relatable, culturally textured, and often humorous. The character interactions were a major strength of the story.
The plot was bolstered by the cultural interweaving, exploration of grief and identity, as well as the unique perspective of limbo and spirit work. However, some plot elements, like the Ghostbusters-style action climax, felt tonally inconsistent. The resurrection arc and rushed romantic resolution were a bit too neat for the otherwise nuanced emotional landscape. A little tightening and refining of the storyline would’ve made a big impact. There were many moments that hit emotionally, especially for readers who connect with the themes of ancestry, cultural identity, and the spiritual ties that bind us beyond death. The writing often felt like being wrapped in a familiar blanket—comforting, even when the story itself felt chaotic.
The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a soulful, culturally rich ghost story that blends Afro-Latina heritage, ancestral magic, and complex relationships with a touch of romance and rebellion against the afterlife’s rules. Despite its pacing and structural flaws, this book offers a refreshing take on death, love, family, and the spiritual legacy we leave behind. I’d recommend it for readers who enjoy spiritual realism and Afro-Caribbean or Afro-Latina representation in speculative fiction, fans of character-driven ghost stories with heart and humor, or anyone looking for a paranormal tale rooted in ancestral reverence and cultural identity. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for early access to this book for review.

This book definitely has a lot of elements to it. Secret pasts 🤫, intriguing spiritual lore 🙏🏾, cultural representation 🇵🇦 🇺🇸, and an epic battle 🔪👻. The author did such a great job of storytelling that I was able to picture each scene in my head as if a movie was playing.

There were a few times where I felt the story moved a bit slow but it didn’t detract from enjoying the book. I’ve seen mixed reviews for this story and I can see why certain aspects may not be everyone’s cup of tea however I enjoyed it.

The final battle had me locked in and holding my breath 😬.

Fonsi was such a sweet and lovable character 💙 and I loved seeing him recognize toxic patterns and gain his self worth. Bye f-boys 💋. I am curious on how/if he and Amede move forward.

Gwendolyn. I was happy to see her embrace her past and make reconciliations. I do wish she would have told James the truth about what happened to him. I really hate when parts of stories get left out, no matter how well-intended.

This is unique and unlike anything I've read before. The characters were all well developed. I especially liked the lore and learning about the deities. The ghosts wrecking havoc in the city would make a great movie. This isn't a run-of-the-mill ghost story. If you're looking for a modern story with mysticism, ghosts and action, give this a try.

This book is a captivating and immersive read from start to finish. The writing is engaging, the pacing well-balanced, and the characters are richly developed with relatable emotions and motivations. The story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader hooked, offering just the right mix of tension, heart, and thought-provoking themes. Whether you're looking for an emotional journey, a thrilling plot, or simply beautiful prose, this book delivers. It's a standout example of great storytelling and leaves a lasting impression long after the final page.

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes was an instant page-turner for me. This story is rich with the kinds of themes that speak deeply to my AfroLatine identity and the ancestral wisdom I hold close. Clarence A. Haynes delivers a fast-paced, genre-blending story that beautifully honors spiritual traditions while tackling the heavy truths of intergenerational trauma.

Our main protagonist, Gwendolyn, is a high-powered NYC publicist who has rebranded her entire life to escape the painful past she's buried. She even changed her name to distance herself from the legacy she’s tried to forget. But when the veil between the spiritual and physical worlds begins to lift and dark forces haunt the city, her cousin Fonsi — a queer psychic and botanica owner from the South Bronx — knows exactly who he needs to find. Fonsi has his own story to tell (and it's spicy!).

Gwendolyn’s journey back to herself is full of fire, heartbreak, and healing. As she reconnects with the family she left behind and the spiritual gifts she tried to repress, we witness how trauma, when unacknowledged, continues to echo across generations. It’s only by confronting the ghosts of her past — literal and metaphorical — that she begins to reclaim her power. I see what the author did there!

Adventurous, mystical, and spicy, The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is as entertaining as it is meaningful. If you love stories that explore identity, ancestry, healing, and queerness with humor and heart, this one will leave you spellbound — and hungry for more.

3,5 Stars

I had a bit of hard time getting into this book. I don't know if it was because of me or the book itself. As soon as the speed started to pick up a bit I was enthralled. This book felt very unique and thrilling. It was a ghost story where the focus wasn't really on the ghosts but on the MC's instead. I feel like this book was packed to the brim with so much content. You had the ghosts, the "mediums", the different cultures, the mysticism, the secrets and so much more. While Gwendolyn was a real power woman, Fonsi felt a little bit more grounded and charming. As earlier stated, it was quite a unique story and I enjoyed reading it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC.

3.25 stars - Publishes June 17. It follows a publicist named Gwendolyn who has a long buried secret that seems to be coming to light when a strange incident occurs at an event she’s hosting. Meanwhile a queer psychic named Fonsi is in a messy love triangle and his world is upended when he must deliver a message to Gwendolyn from the spirt realm.

This book was giving ghost busters but make it diverse and glamorous. It’s camp - just absurdity riddled throughout, moments of ridiculous humor within a story of warding off spirits in New York.

I think the tone of this book was a pretty good mix of lighthearted satire and serious undertones and the characters had spunk and heart which I really appreciated.

A unique, albeit cheesy at times fun read.

Gwendolyn Montgomery seems to have it all – a successful and career, a lavish life, and a handsome new boyfriend. But unbeknownst to those close to her, Gwendolyn is harboring some unbelievable secrets, that she would do anything to keep hidden. Unfortunately for her, her past refuses to stay buried.

Fonsi Harewood is mystic who manifests his powers by communing with the dead. While connecting a client with a loved one, Fonsi notices that the barrier between the real world and the spiritual one is weakening and leading to agitated spirits wreaking complete chaos in the real world. In order to stop the ensuing chaos, Gwendolyn will have to make peace with her past and reunite with Fonsi before the spirits completely take over their world.

Overall – I think this was a solid debut. I liked the supernatural and cultural elements – especially with the orishas, which I particularly wanted to explored more. However, there was a disconnect with this story and this could likely be a me thing. Although the characters were interesting, something was missing from them (Gwendolyn - in particular) that didn’t make them memorable for me. Also, despite the plot point, I never really felt a sense of urgency or, again this could be a me thing, a sense of tense or suspense.

Still, this was a solid read with interesting elements, and I think would still recommend it.

I wanted to like this but I had a hard trying to get into this story. I think I decided that it wasn’t for me and that’s alright.

Great read! Very inspirational and needed in this season and time. It makes me want to read more from this author

A beautiful cover, LGBTQIA rep, and an awesome synopsis?! Sign me up!!!

This book started off slow enough to the point where I questioned whether or not to DNF. This was definitely a “me” problem as I tend to shy away from super sexual scenes and it almost put me off. Overall, I’m glad I pushed through the slow burn and saw Gwendolyn’s journey through grief and spirituality. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Honestly a good read. It took me a while to get into it and I almost DNF’d a couple times but I’m glad I pushed through the slow parts. The ending and the battle made it more than worth it. I’m not into the Orisha stuff but being west African and growing up in the Bronx, you can’t help but see it. This felt like a really beautiful way to introduce it to people without it being to scary or overwhelming.

The premise sounded interesting when I first stumbled upon this on NG. I love a good ghost story but I just couldn’t get into this book at all. I don’t think this authors writing style was for me and I found myself not understanding anything. Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me.

I received a free eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher for this opportunity.

This review may contain spoilers.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. There were parts that I struggled to get through, not because of the writing or the content but because I personally tend to draw away from books with high sexual content. It starts out very sexually charged and it took me some time to get through those parts but once I did, I absolutely adore Gwendolyn and I am so happy that she and James worked everything out.

At the end, when she accepted her history and her power and James basically knew anyway but loved her enough to wait? My heart!!

And the afro-Latine cultures in this book?? So rich, so well written. Even if I didn't understand a specific word or a specific cultural practice, it was written with such care and attention that I understood from context. The past and the present blended in together so well that I had no trouble at all following any of the dips and changes in point of view or time. Once I really got into it, I genuinely kept reading until I had finished.

This book was such a ride! Ghosts, secrets, magic, and a touch of spice—what more could you want? Gwendolyn is a powerhouse of a main character, but her past is creeping in fast, and the way the supernatural weaves into her high-powered world had me hooked. And Fonsi? Absolutely stole every scene. The mix of mystery, humor, and eerie vibes made this one impossible to put down. If you love ghost stories with drama, heart, and a little chaos, this one’s for you!

awesome fantasy with some great LGBTQ+ rep and strong writing. would definitely recommend this one. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.