I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This sweet, mysterious paranormal young adult romance is set at Radcliffe Prep and follows Este who has just received a scholarship to study in the school.

On her first day a new friend shares the stories of paranormal activity in the school, but as Este doesn’t believe in ghosts, she brushes it aside.

An encounter with a stranger, Mateo, in the library starts to change her paranormal belief, and soon she is wrapped in a dangerous mystery involving her late father and a rare book in the library.

Will Este solve the mystery? Who is Mateo?

This paranormal romance was a sweet read with plenty of mystery along with the romance. There are a few mysteries plots intwined not only involving Este’s father but the reason why this rare book appears to possibly be deadly.

Este is a strong female lead character, and I felt for her throughout with the grief she is still working through with her father’s death and trying to finally settle down in one place and have a good education.

Mateo is a mysterious character, you never know whether to trust him or not, although as romance blossoms you want to hope that Este can trust him.

Overall, a sweet paranormal young adult romance, where Este’s new start leads to a dangerous, mysterious mission.

Este Logano is joining the ranks of Radcliffe Prep, following in the footsteps of her deceased father. It is rumored to be the third most haunted school in the country, with students disappearing every ten years, but Este doesn’t believe in ghosts - until a ghost frames her for the disappearance of the rarest book at Radcliffe. With the threat of expulsion on the horizon, Este agrees to help the ghost who framed her find what he is looking for so she can get the book back and secure her place at Radcliffe, but what she learns in the process is more than she bargained for.

What a wonderful story to read to get me in the spooky season spirit! The premise is intriguing and the way that the characters and story are written kind of gave me Supernatural vibes (which is always a plus in my book). There were moments of comedy, tension, romance…I went through it all while reading this story.

While red herrings are abundant, I did find that I clocked part of the twist at about 40% into the story, though I had an inkling very early on. However, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book! It almost made it more fun to read, watching and waiting to see how the characters would figure it out. Once the full reveal happened, the missing piece that I hadn’t figured out was so obvious that I may have facepalmed (while also letting out a gasp of surprise).

The romance develops slowly and is impeded by elements out of the characters’ control, which made it that much more delicious. As the story progresses, I fell deeper in love with the characters as they started falling in love with each other and my anxiety was through the roof wondering if they would get their happily ever after. The way in which the love story unfolds feels almost unexpected, taking the characters (and even myself a little bit) by surprise! It felt like such a natural development of their relationship, but also like it snuck up on them and it was beautiful.

With each turn of the page, I felt like I was constantly trying to guess what was going to happen next and, once the end came, it all felt so obvious, like I should’ve been able to see it from the start. Stories like this make me fall in love with reading all over again and, if this is the kind of story to expect from debut author Rachel Moore, then I am anxiously awaiting whatever comes next.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for free and have voluntarily written this review.

This should make Rachel Moore a household name in YA fantasy.

Este is starting at a new boarding school, just like her late father had before her. I adored Posy, her roommate from the start, and Posy’s fascination with ghosts was a fun foreshadowing for the ghostly romance Este finds with Mateo.

That’s right — if you liked Casper, you’re going to be all in for this! 👻

Prepare for a dark academia tale filled with one grumpy teenager— I adore Este— library work, and oh, magical nefarious schemes that may or may not kill students. No big deal!

Este was phenomenal and clever. I almost loved watching her make friends as much as I enjoyed her romance with Mateo, who’s a cinnamon roll ghostie who I was dying to see alive again (pun intended maybe?).

This is Cassandra Clare meets Ashley Poston meets Harry Potter, and I’m here for it! Ready for the next adventure at Radcliffe Prep!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3/5 stars.

In theory, this isn't a terrible book. I didn't DNF it nor did I stop reading it and dread to pick it back up...but it also wasn't good? The vibes were very academia and ghosties and all that stuff along with a mystery to solve...but the rest was meh? It felt like SO much was trying to happen but there was so little development with the characters and the plot and the pacing and then all of a sudden it's like "oh by the way here's all these things" and then you also throw in Este's roommate problems and the ghost hunting club and just...there was so much but there wasn't?

I also don't think it's a romcom. Like...the romance was there but it wasn't developed and also the fact that um he's a ghost? And like the ending? And the plot holes?

Like I said, it wasn't bad but also I spent a lot of the time reading trying to figure out what I had gotten myself into.

The Library of Shadows is a paranormal romcom by Rachel Moore. Both the title and synopsis suggest a book which will take place inside a haunted library. I just got Ninth house vibes by reading the synopsis, making me curious about what this book will bring. What will Rachel Moore have in store for her readers?

Some love never fades

After Este enrolls in Radcliffe Prep, the third most haunted school in the country, she has her hopes up of finding her dead father. He used to be a student and she hopes to learn more about who he was. She however doesn't believe in ghosts, until she meets Mateo who is a real ghost. Mateo has framed Este for the theft of the rarest book from the library, where no one dares to stay after dark. Este will have to track Mateo down to prove she is innocent and prevent from being expelled. Meanwhile she is following her fathers footsteps, which might be more dangerous than it seems. The student disappereances aren't a myth and she could be the next one to disappear. Can she find out what her father discovered and got him expelled? Can she trust Mateo and find the missing book? Who is behind all of the disappearances?

This book has two kinds of charachters, the living ones and the dead ones. Even though they are different from each other, both seems real. Mateo is the dead one who is most alive of all, he is present throughout the whole book, while others like the Fades just have a smaller part to play. Etse is the one who finds Mateo and soon hates him for setting her up. However she has always wanted to be a librarian and Mateo just seemed to give her that opportunity by doing this.

There is life, there is death, and there is love - the greatest of these is love

The writing style of Rachel Moore is really nice. The pace is fast, however this fits the storyline well. The worldbuilding of the library is amazing. It has those creepy haunted vibes. However this book also takes place in an academy which is described little to none. I felt like I wanted to know more about the rest of the schoolgrounds as well, since keeping the job is about having good grades. There is almost zero school vibes in this book, but this is compensated by the many library scenes.

This book is a really nice read. It has the haunted vibes, but not to much making it just right for a paranormal book. I didn't really feel like this book can be described as a romcom since romance is present just a little and I didn't find any real comedy parts in this book. Therefore I think that paranormal YA would be better. I enjoyed reading A Library of Shadows and give it a 4 star rating.

A book about a girl who runs from her emotions and the ghost who won't leave her alone? Set at a haunted private school? Sign me up, yes please!

The Library of Shadows certainly delivered on its premise. Following our girl Este Logano as she follows in her father's footsteps while running from the fallout she's left with after his death, we are thrust into the world of Radcliffe Prep. Filled with strict professors, a creepy library basement, and a cute but troublesome ghost. Mateo convinces Este to help him break into the tower of the library, only to leave her out to dry when he steals a book and vanishes. Left to beg for her spot in the school, Este is hired as a library assistant on the night shift, promising to find the book - and Mateo - before midterms. Through the twists, turns, and secret passageways in the library, Este soon finds out that being a library assistant is much more than she signed up for. Will teaming up with Mateo be the best way to get the book back, or will her sudden feelings get in the way?

I absolutely loved the atmosphere of this book. I was digging the mysterious library with creepy singing and shadows around every corner. The whole dark academia vibe really set the scene for our story, and I never wanted to leave. That said, I have to mention the fact that we rarely ever saw our main character actually go to class. She seemed to always be in the library, and when class was mentioned she seemed to be sleeping through all her lectures. I'm surprised she didn't get kicked out based on that alone.

I loved the story and the characters, I only wish that the relationships were paced a bit differently. Mateo and Este seemed a little close to insta-love rather than the bantering friends I was looking forward to. On the other hand, Este and her roommate Posy could have definitely developed more. I didn't completely buy the fact that Posy and the rest of the paranormal investigators dropped their trip to France (!!!) to bail out Este when she was really nothing but mean to them. She constantly blew them off and acted standoffish, never telling them about the ghosts until she had to. Honestly, I thought Posy deserved better. I would have liked Este to realize that while she didn't form friends with the Paranormal Investigators, she did find her own group with the Ghosts.

One small thing that bothered me, but is ultimately inconsequential, is that the characters felt older than they were. The cover makes it seem like they should be in college, hovering around 20 years old. Instead, Este is supposed to be 16! It felt a little like watching a CW show about high schoolers played by grown adults.


Overall, I did like this book. The story was great, the setting was fun, and I liked the individual characters enough to overlook the minor problems I had with their relationships.
The Library of Shadows is the perfect book to kick off your spooky season reading!

I received this arc from NetGalley and HarperTeen in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a quickly paced, well-plotted delight. This book is the perfect complement to spooky season. It is the perfect combination of sweet, spooky, and mysterious. I'm a huge fan of genre-mixing, and this hit all of the genres I really love.

With the gothic allure of Wednesday and the suspenseful intrigue of The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Library of Shadows is part a dark academia mystery, part ghost story—as one girl uncovers secrets that were meant to stay buried.

Overall, I adored the vibes of this book! The academia setting with bits of spooky drew me in instantly. I also enjoyed seeing Este investigate and discover bits and pieces of the overall mystery as the story went on. This was written a little on the younger side for me, but it was still a lot of fun and definitely had me on my toes.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This book had me on a chokehold.
I felt so many emotions in this one. But in the end, this book just holds everything I love in a book.
For a reader, books have a special place in our heart. This story tells us that words beats time.
And the love of a father for her daughter can transcend everything, even death.

" There is life, there is death, and there is love---- the greatest of these is love ".

This is the story of a girl who loves books and wants to be a librarian, it's a story of a friendship and love between a human girl and a ghost, but it's above all a love letter of a father for her only daughter.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

The Library of Shadows is a story about Este, who goes to Radcliffe Prep on a scholarship and follows her late father’s footsteps, who attended three decades earlier.

“There is life, there is death, and there is love. The greatest of these is love.”

I didn’t know about this book, before it came in a newsletter in my inbox. After reading the synopsis, I was really intrigued and thought it would be a perfect read for autumn and the spooky season! A haunted school setting, a library and ghosts really set up that vibe!

The story starts off with Este arriving at Radcliffe Prep, meeting her roommate and meeting Mateo. From there on it actually evolves very quickly. The story was very quickly paced and I do believe it would’ve been better if some parts were slowed down a bit. I would’ve thought that at the beginning, Este would settle in a bit more at school; but she is already framed at the end of chapter four. While it did set up the rest of the story, I was surprised at how soon it happened.

I really liked the writing style itself in spite of the fast pacing. The writing really set the tone and gave this haunted, creepy vibe throughout the whole book with how the library was described. That was really well done! I also liked the way it was possible for the ghosts to “live” within The Lilith. It wasn’t the standard way ghosts usually manifest, so that was really well thought out.

I liked the characters. Mateo was the most interesting in my eyes, having such a vast past. I would’ve liked to learn more about all he’d seen in his years. Same with Este, I really liked her and her resolve to help, but I did feel like she could’ve grown more as a character. Don’t get me wrong, I liked them, but it kinda fell like the characters ended as they started.

The romance was really sweet! It was one of the parts I liked most! It developed really naturally and gradually and while knowing where it was heading, I still kept rooting for them! The fact that Mateo is a ghost made it actually more interesting and made me feel the longing so much more as they couldn’t touch!

The ending didn’t come as a surprise to me. I have to be honest; I had guessed who the culprit was around 35% in. In the end, I was right about who was behind it all, but I didn’t know the reason. I understood the reason, once explained, but I did think it could’ve been explained a bit more. It felt like it was told in two sentences. I did still like how the ending played out and the last chapter was a really nice way to wrap up the story.

Overall, The Library of Shadows is a nice story that really gives the haunted vibes in an old library full of ghosts and a main character who helps them.

I had very high hopes for this novel and they were just not met at all. I want to say that it wasn't a terrible novel (I've certainly read much worse), and I wouldn't be surprised if teen readers enjoyed it, but for me it fell flat for a variety of reasons. First off the big reveal at the end was not really a reveal. I called it from basically the first page we met the character on. It's quite possible this is more just due to the number of books I read, and not the skill of the author. My big complaint was just there were SO MANY things that just didn't make sense; including but not limited to why did the fades (who have been around since 1917 or so) look like 90's mean girls? And if Mateo knew who the bad guy was and that they needed Este why not do everything you could to get her to not step foot into the library? There were so many other things that bothered me too, but in an effort to not spoil anything I won't add them here. But as I said, the book wasn't all bad, and there were certainly things I enjoyed about it. The cast of side characters were great, and I would have loved to see more of them, and the ghost "rules" were fascinating. I also enjoyed watching Este learn to open herself up and let people in. So all in all not a book that no one should ever read, but it reads much lower than I was expecting. I don't see myself recommending this book to many customers unless they're asking for something very specific and they're of a younger age (like, 12 to 14), but I'll still be curious to see what Moore comes up with for her next story, and I wouldn't completely rule out giving her a second chance.

The Library of Shadows is a nice young adult fantasy novel by Rachel Moore. The story follows Este Logano who receives a scholarship to attend her late father’s old boarding school, Radcliffe Prep, the third most haunted school in the county. When she arrives, she meets Mateo, a ghost, who may get her expelled after an incident with a rare book from the library. This eventually leads to her discovering a mystery involving the school, which creates an interesting fantasy story where Mateo and Este also become closer, adding a potential romance into the mix.

Since this novel has some great dark academia vibes, it would be a great read once the weather starts to be a little more fall-like. It still was a compelling read in sunny August, so weather did not make or break the reading experience. The setting is well-described, and it was easy to picture everything. The pacing was great in terms of the mystery unfolding after the book is stolen and Este must try to stay in school, however, I do wish the actual stealing of the book took place a little later. As-is, the novel introduces Este and the school before almost immediately having the book event and then moving on to the main plot. Some readers may love being thrown into the action while others would prefer a slower transition. For me, I sometimes enjoy stories that start with action, but this story could have been read slightly better with at least a little more introduction before the action begins.

The characters in this story are interesting and I enjoyed Este’s character growth. She develops a lot from the beginning to the end. As this is currently standalone, everything wraps up nicely. Since everything needs to fit in a single book, there were some leaps throughout that I would have preferred to be explored in greater detail. There are also some plot holes, which, again, are most likely due to having to fit everything in a single book. While not perfect, this story was a compelling one that I read in a single sitting. It was a great introduction to the author’s writing style, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, HarperTeen, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

I enjoyed the mystery plot like itself well enough and I liked the haunted boarding school setting. I also liked the character of Mateo and thought he was interesting. Unfortunately I didn't particularly care about Este as a main character. I can't pinpoint a specific thing that turned me off from her other than I just didn't jive with her personality. I also couldn't figure out what her friendship status with her roommate was because sometimes it felt.lilentbeh clearly weren't friends and then sometimes something would be said that made me think maybe they are friends and we just aren't seeing it? Either way I wish we had seen that friendship more

I was not a fan of the book.
My main complaint is the lack of world-building. While this was not a fantasy novel with a whole different world, it still had a place with its own rules and expectations. One thing I often remember is during a young adult literary class in college, we had an author (Cinda Williams Chima) visit our class to discuss her book. She spook on the importance of world-building a small town in Ohio where the beginning of her Heir Chronicles series began. It always amazed me to think that world-building could take place in what seemed such an easy setting. So though the setting is a common one-a private school-it still needed to be built upon.
Additionally, since the book involved ghosts that had specific rules to follow, more detail on that would have been appreciated. I often found myself contradicting actions or rereading sections trying to figure out how the "rules" were being followed. Connected to this, I didn't feel like the storyline was clear. I knew it was a romantic mystery, but the only mystery to me was how things were supposed to make sense. The romance was well done, though again the muddy storyline seemed to detract from it.
Lastly, the author had the main character be dynamic, where she is meant to grow and become more "real". While the end shows she finally lets people into her life, a major struggle for her throughout the entirety of the book, it also references scenes that we never see. It would have been nice to have more detail of the character's interactions with her roommate and "friends" since for the most part she seemed to not spend any time with them except to tell them she didn't have time for them.

A paranormal YA romance perfect for fans of the "Wednesday" series on Netflix and Naomi Novik's "A Deadly Education." As a pessimistic, logical only child myself, the character of Este really appealed to me. I really relate to female book characters that don't go looking for trouble, but unfortunately, trouble finds them. Este has such a smart head on her shoulders, and having her roommate being her exact foil made for an excellent dynamic between the pair (think Wednesday versus Enid!) Also, I adore the overused trope of a magical school, or any place really, being a lost character's new home. The descriptions of Radcliffe Prep immediately had me wanting to visit and explore the school. If you love the concept of a standalone fantasy novel with dark academia and mystery vibes, then this one is ideal!

This is well written and easily readable, but it doesn't feel like it has crossover potential for adults and we don't have a ton of young adult visitors. Not a good fit for our libraries. I stopped after chapter 1 (5%).

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

In the year 2027, Este goes to the same school her deceased father went to. There, she discovers a paranormal secret she never could have imagined. From the incredible first line, the language of this book takes a captivating hold of the reader. I, however, found the story to be a tad predictable. It was a slow read, but it was worth the pay off in the amazing heart racing ending. The last chapter was very syrupy sweet.

Imagine having smudged handwriting, and that's one of your key notable features. Her dad was known for going to a high school and having blue smudged handwriting. That's hilarious. Fully support. 10/10

if i had a nickel for every time i fell in love with an undead man from the early 1900s i’d only have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but weird that it’s happened twice right?

in short, if you’re looking for a slightly cheesy spooky library read this book is for you!

it has a cute supernatural love interest which is always a plus, many library puns which i appreciated, and a fast paced mystery that kept me engaged!

another great dark academia autumnal read to add to your tbr!

thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC

This is just super enjoyable. Perfect for folks who were fans of the Mediator series by Meg Cabot. While I did call who the big bad was pretty easily, and as a librarian kind of cringed at how the library was run, but the characters are so sweet and it's just such an enjoyable little paranormal romance. Este's growth and her learning more about her dad as she untangles the mystery really held a soft spot in my heart. I look forward to seeing what Moore does next and I will definitely be recommending this one frequently.

Este Logano wants nothing more than to reconnect with her dead father's pass, and that means attending the same prestigious but extremely haunted school he went to... what she doesn't expect to find is a very attractive ghost, a mystery to solve, and romance she never knew she wanted. Este Logano loved her father, and all she has left of him is photos of his time from Radcliffe Prep, the third most haunted school in the country where students disappear and no one enteres the library after dark. Este doesn't believe in ghost but when she finds a mysterious key inside her father's broken picture frame that leads to a hidden room and a very attractive boy who gets her framed for stealing a book from the library, Este is going to discover more ghosts than she could ever expect, and that the same boy who framed her for the theft is actually a ghost who is trapped in the school and needs her help to free him and the other souls trapped here. Now Este along with the mysterious Mateo must work together to solve the mystery of the book that could free him as well as the escape from the dangerous ghosts that would kill her if she is found. Este wants nothing more than to get good grades and find out about her dad's time at the school, the last thing she wants is to be forced to join a paranormal club made by her roommate and be forced to solve a mystery to help a boy who could have gotten her expelled. Yet the moment she meets Mateo, she's captivated by his charming smile and good looks and then she finds herself drawn into his own mystery, especially since the only way she can get back the book she was accused of stealing is by working with him. The more time she spends with him the more she begins to feel herself opening up her heart that she's closed off. Overall it was a cute read and I did enjoy the atmosphere and themes in the book. This was a very autumnal, dark academia with a splash of paranormal romance with a ghost love story in it!

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, Katherine Tegen Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*