Ghosts tells the story of Nina, a thirty-something single woman living in London and working as a food writer. The book will be right up your street if you love authors like Marian Keyes and Jojo Moyes, but I feel like Dolly has her own strong author's voice that sets her apart.

Nina has just bought her own flat, and is looking forward to a promising career and the launch of her next book. Watching the friends she grew up with marry off and settle down, Nina turns to a dating app in search of love. It's here that she meets Max, and they hit it off almost instantly. That is, before he cuts ties suddenly and with no explanation, leaving Nina hurt, confused, and angry. Trying to process what's happened at the same time as dealing with a father suffering from dementia, Nina is struggling to keep afloat.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it portrayed clearly and with real warmth and humour the reality faced by so many women in their twenties and thirties today. At 32, Nina is feeling the pressure to settle down and start a family, but finds it hard to find time for dating when she's just purchased her first home, is working in a highly pressurised industry, and is trying to be the model friend and daughter. It really showed how hard it can be trying to be everything to everyone, and the pressures we put ourselves under; maintaining friendships into your twenties/thirties once you're out of school and university and everyone is at different stages in their lives takes real effort, effort we didn't have to make when our timetables all looked the same.

I loved the relationship that Nina has with her Dad, and how she comes to accept over time that, rather than not caring, her Mum is struggling to process her husband's illness in her own way. The characters in the book have changed as they've progressed into adulthood, and even changed over the course of the novel, and the narrative shows that that's okay; we have to accept that the people we love will change and grow and we need to be adaptable to that.

Apart from Nina's dad, there aren't really any 'good' or likeable men in the novel. They all seem awful. Despite this, Nina has a really good relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Joe, as they split up in mostly amicable circumstances. It was great to see Nina have this positive relationship with someone she shared such a huge part of her life with, and for her to feel genuinely happy for him as he moved on with someone else.

Finally, I thought the novel was really funny, and there were so many references to modern culture and society. Dolly's voice from Everything I Know About Love really shone through and I think I'd have guessed it was her writing if I didn't know already!

Ghosts was a great novel that I would recommend. The only thing I thought felt slightly out of place was Nina's encounter with her rowdy downstairs neighbour, that I felt seemed slightly out of place. Other than that, a great read and one I absolutely whizzed through. It highlights the importance and value of true friendship, and of home.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin (Fig Tree) for the review copy.

I really enjoyed Dolly’s first novel. It is well written and includes many relatable subject matters relevant to anyone who has sought love online, seen friendships change from their twenties into their thirties and dealt with ageing parents.

Nina Dean, food writer, single, one previous long term relationship. Venturing cautiously back into the world of dating, she meets Max, who seems amazing. But there’s much more to the story than that, as we follow Nina through her thirty-second year.

There are various “ghosts” here, not just the men who mysteriously vanish into the ether whenever things look like getting serious. Nina’s oldest friend is disappearing into Surrey domesticity; her beloved father into dementia. Others are all too present, like the downstairs neighbour from hell who plays deafening music and seems immune to reason.

Ghosts was a really lovely read. There’s some great observation, insight and some major laugh out loud moments (Nina’s mum’s Emily Davison costume idea, complete with horse, cracked me up). I loved the characters, too, especially Lola. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with Lola?

On a side note I was singing Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” off and on in my head all the way through, so thanks for that. (Nina might not know it, but I guarantee her mum does.)

I confess I hadn't been a follower of Dolly Alderton's columns but I thought this was great.
Really enjoyable.

Nina is a single, successful food writer in her early thirties navigating the online dating world, changing friendships, and a dad with dementia. Nina meets 'almost-to-good-to-be-true' Max on a dating app and the story follows from there. But it's a story about friendship, family, memory and love.

As a woman also in her early thirties, I could identify with a lot of the nostalgia, different relationships and references to London living. It's funny - not laugh out loud but it made me smile - and cathartic, and just a warm, easy, summer read. I really enjoyed her first book, and this - her first novel - didn't disappoint.

This is sort of like the modern version of Bridget Jones: dating is still a nightmare principally because men just can't be trusted; parents are causing emotional problems; but at least you can always rely on your girl-pals. I think I'd have liked this so be snappier: there are lots of places where it feels more like a magazine column/blog post that a novel (a multipage analysis of the categories of men you meet on dating apps, for example). Still, Alderton is smart and likable and her book is too. Perfect down-time reading.

Ah, this book was SO good. Alderton really captures the loneliness you can feel in - and out - of being in a relationship, and how much you can feel left behind, even when on the surface, life is pretty great.

I also really liked (spoiler) that the Max storyline didn't really have a resolution - I thought that was really realistic, and the way Nina constantly analysed herself, as if it was her failing, really rang true.

Quite simply, I adored it.

A fun but thought provoking romp through London based relationships, friendships and feelings.
I'd read the authors first (non-fiction) novel and was looking forward to reading this too, to see how her writing style translated to fiction, and I really enjoyed it! I am not normally a huge fan of 'chick lit' novels though this is at times deeper than that, it is essentially a girl meets boy, has a few issues along the way whilst also dealing with friendship dramas and elderly parents.

However it's very 'of its time' as the protagonist is a blogger/influencer/author (that multi hyphenated freelance life!) and is exploring dating apps and so on. Some of the plot is a little unbelievable (hence being more in chick lit territory than general fiction for me.

Loved some of the characters, loathed a few too but felt they were all well rounded.

Having read and loved Dolly Alderton’s previous book, I was looking forward to reading Ghosts. There is lots to love about this book, it is quite an honest portrayal of what it’s like to be a 30 something dealing with a multitude of situations especially a vulnerable parent whilst juggling dating, friends and life in general.
The thoughts and feelings are captured perfectly, I could definitely hear myself in Nina, the main character.
Really enjoyed this book, but not a particular Wham song I’ve been playing in my head ever since.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. The characters were clever and engaging, and getting to spend time with them was a treat. I liked the writing too - it was descriptive without ever veering into flowery territory, and I would certainly be interested in reading more work by this author. The cover is great too!

I loved this book! I knew I wouldn't be disappointed having relished 'Everything I Know About Love' but this still surprised me. A solid debut with a fabulous narrative - it's the little details are what makes this author so good and how she brings her characters to life through the intricate yet mundane descriptions of their day to day lives.
Highly recommended, a great read.
Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin and Figtree for the ARE copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nina Dean is a food writer after being a school teacher and deciding writing about food was to be her career. She is in her early thirties and has decided that she really would like to be in a relationship which has not happened for a while and after talking to her friend Lola who is also single, decides to go on a dating site. She meets a man called Max and all becomes rosy for Nina. He is fit, romantic and wants to spend all his time with her and the relationship moves on very fast even to the point of telling her he is going to marry her. She feels happy and content and then suddenly Max disappears and does not answer is phone calls, texts etc. She is devastated She also has to deal with being an Usher for an ex partner and the insistence of his wife to be which she does reluctantly. She has Lola to go out with which helps until Lola meets a man and that turns out to be fraught with drama. She also has the added pressure of her dad vanishing into dementia and a mum who is having a mid life crises but is probably burying her head in the sand as a mechanism to help through her husband’s failing mind.
This book is lovely and although sad in places it is something we can all relate to and is written beautifully

Fascinating and moving.
A close look at the horrors of the modern world of internet dating, ghosting and of friends who are so self absorbed that they do not realise that all is not well.
I was totally on Nina's side- braving that world with little support from her loved ones and her emotional upheaval as she is ghosted by the too good to be true Max is painful to read.
I did get a bit angry with her as the story unfolds but all in all a book that is witty and enjoyable whilst still being sensitive to these modern world dilemmas.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre, I’m more into romance stories and literary fiction however I wanted to take the opportunity to read something from outside my norm. And I am glad I did!! Thank you for  opening up my mind to something totally different.

This is not a book about ghosts, it’s about ghosting, being ghosted.

Nina has hit her 30s and is single. Her best friend Lola (and online dating expert) helps her to sign up and meet the man of her dreams. Which she does when she meets Max. They are perfect together, they message each other all the time, stay over at each other’s places, cook together and do everything that a couple in a new relationship do. Then he says he wants to marry her. But the next morning he leaves and she doesn’t hear from him. Until...!!!

This lady knows how to write. I was kept interested from start to finish - full of laughs, emotion and empathy. Absolutely brilliant, I can’t wait for the author’s next book. Rated 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This resonated with me so much! There are so many issues, problems and difficult emotions that go hand in hand with being a single woman in your thirties and Alderton deals with them all beautifully through her main character Nina.
Nina is a typical 30-something, who happens to have a massive online following, so in lots of way her life appears perfect but of course, it isn’t.
She feels like she’s losing her friends, is “ghosted” when she tries out online dating and is losing her dad to dementia.
I really related to Nina and thought she was a great character, a little annoying at times but I think that was deliberate. Some of the things that she goes through are painful to read but also painfully true and apt for the present time.
I enjoyed the way it was written but this definitely isn’t a literary masterpiece. The writing style is plain and this more a book that’s making a statement about contemporary gender standards then a book that whisks you away into another world.
I really enjoyed it and think it would make for excellent reading and discussions.

I really enjoyed this book. Nina is in her thirties with a successful career as a food writer. Having come out of a long term relationship she decides to use internet dating. When she meets Max she thinks all her dreams have come true, and he seems to feel the same. Until he ghosts her! This is a very insightful book, showing the pressures on young women, particularly for those who would like children at some point. I would recommend it as a good, thought provoking read. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
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This is the 1st Book of Dolly That I have read and I really Enjoyed this Book

This Book tells the story of Nina who's a food written and also a internet dating and this book tells the story of the adventures she gets up whilst battling internet dating and also her dad that gets diagnosed with Dementia

I really enjoyed this book

With thanks to Netgalley & Penguin Uk for the ARC of this book in exchange for this review

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for approving my request to read on netgalley . Ive not read any of Dollys previous books which are all non fiction. I will definitely be checking those out.

I loved this culturally apt book. This is fresh,modern ,funny ,warm and relatable. Im sure you have or know someone whos been ghosted. Though this is the title its not the only subject matter .

Nina goes on a journey of self discovery and soul seeking. This is a tale of identity,finding who you are and making your mark on the world.

Highly recommend if your fan of Holly Bourne and Dawn Porter.

Published 15th October.

This is Alderton’s first fiction novel and I wasn’t really sure what to expect as I haven’t read any of her work before, which I will definitely change after reading this as I thoroughly enjoyed it!⁣
This is a very enjoyable and easy read. It is refreshingly honest and addresses so many topics and issues that we experience every day; lost love, loneliness, new love, friendship, family and more. ⁣
The vibes I got from the book are a mix of Queenie and The Flatshare. Some hilarious laugh out loud moments but also some very real and emotional moments that connect with the reader. Nina is going through a trying time in her life with a sick father, tense friendships and the always frightening London dating scene - many of these are things the we can relate with on a personal level.
⁣I really loved some of the friendships that are portrayed in the book and you could really picture these people in real life. Nina and Lola's friendship is fantastic and I love how Alderton makes the reader want to join these two girls for drinks. They're unapologetically honest with each other and I think nowadays many of us find it hard to find true friendships like that if living abroad or far from friends.
One thing I found really interesting in the book was how Nina labelled and described different friendships; those we are friends with because we always have been, those we are friends but only in group settings, those we may know the least amount of time but have so much in common with due to meeting later in life when are interests are more established and many more. We all have friends who fall under so many of these categories and it really makes you think about the different roles these people play in your life.
I found Nina's friendship with Katherine really interesting; staying friends because they've known each other their whole lives but not really investing time or effort into keeping it an authentic friendship. Sometimes we need to just accept that this is the case and decide on the best way to work on that and how to fully appreciate each other again.
Then of course there is Nina's relationship with her father. This really got me in a lot of ways because I am really close with my dad and my granddad had dementia. This journey Nina embarks on is really raw and beautifully portrayed.
You may have noticed how I haven't addressed Max...this is mainly because I still don't know how I felt about this part of the book and I also don't want to spoil it. I guess as well, I haven't been single for over 3 years so I probably didn't relate to it as much as some other readers would.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for an easy read, then I would highly recommend this. ⁣