As a Wisconsinite, I have a soft spot for WI authors. I've recommended Amy's books for years, read them in book clubs, and have enjoyed them all. This one was just as good- heartwarming and relatable.

Rounding this up from 2.5 to 3.

I had such high hopes for this book! It was definitely quirkier than I expected with the ghost aspect, but after 30%, I was really into it! But I think the story started to fizzle out at 60%. There was just a lot going on and it became frustrating for me to keep reading because it was just dragging on and on. I'm not trying to say Sabrina wasn't suffering from legitimate anxiety, but that plot line was just circling and circling without much resolve. She kept talking about therapy and I guess it just became frustrating for me to keep reading about someones anxiety, who recognizes their anxiety, and wants to fix it, but does nothing. Her relationship with Ray was QUICK and I'm always skeptical when that happens. I did really like Ray, but the insta-I love you was hard to get behind. The ghost aspect was really cute and fun, but again, by the end it was like OK wraaaaap it up. The reviews are definitely in favor for this book so it could just have been me.

This was quirky, eccentric, fun and adorable! It has been a long time since I devoured an Amy Reichert book (last was The Coincidence of Coconut Cake, which I also loved) and to get back to her writing style and characters felt like going back home.

Sabrina Monroe is a character that is so easy to relate to and understand. Her voice felt new to me but at the same time, full of personality. I loved her dynamic with her family, the paranormal stuff, and her growing fondness for Ray. They were super cute together!

If you need a good laugh and an emotional but sweet romantic read, this is definitely the book to pick. Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the earc!

I really enjoy Amy Reichert’s writing style. I read her books with ease and plenty of enjoyment. This story is no different. I was completely sucked in and did not want to put the book down. I loved the contemporary, romcom twist on a ghost story and related to Sabrina’s struggle with anxiety.

The characters were realistic and fun and it made me want to know what happens next. If you haven’t picked up a book by Amy E. Reichert yet, please do so!

Synopsis:
For Sabrina Monroe, moving back home to the Wisconsin Dells–the self-described Waterpark Capital of the World–means returning to the Monroe family curse: the women in her family can see spirits who come to them for help with unfinished business. But Sabrina’s always redirected the needy spirits to her mom, who’s much better suited for the job. The one exception has always been Molly, a bubbly rom-com loving ghost, who stuck by Sabrina’s side all through her lonely childhood.

Her personal life starts looking up when Ray, the new local restaurateur, invites Sabrina to his supper club, where he flirts with her over his famous Brandy Old-Fashioneds. He’s charming and handsome, but Sabrina tells herself she doesn’t have time for romance–she needs to focus on finding a job. Except the longer she’s in the Dells, the harder it is to resist her feelings for Ray. Who can turn down a cute guy with a fondness for rescue dogs and an obsession with perfecting his fried cheese curds recipe? 

When the Dells starts to feel like home for the first time and with Ray in her corner, Sabrina begins to realize that she can make a difference and help others wherever she is.

My thoughts:
This is not only a cute romantic story but also about owning yourself and accepting who you are born to be. If you are looking for major steam factor between Sabrina and Ray, you’ll be sadly disappointed. Their romance is more of a slowburn type, stemming from friendship despite the initial attraction. Still swoon-worthy though, especially with Ray being a true gentleman! He’s the perfect catalyst to enable Sabrina to come out of her shell and finally embrace her true potential as “ghost whisperer”! Even though I enjoyed Sabrina and Ray’s romance, I think the lovable Molly stole the show! If I can see ghosts, I’d want them to be as friendly and as quirky (and fashionable) as Molly! Her own back story was more engaging for me. The addition of the ghosts with unfinished business worked really well in this story. Overall, this was a fun and cozy read, a refreshing change from the usual romcoms. 👻👻👻

I received a gifted galley of THE KINDRED SPIRITS SUPPER CLUB by Amy E. Riechert from Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!

THE KINDRED SPIRITS SUPPER CLUB begins with a food fight amongst a bunch of adults behaving badly at a water park. In the midst of the chaos she meets Ray which seems like a fun meet cute, but Sabrina’s debilitating social anxiety makes the encounter a struggle. Good thing she has her ghost friend Molly around) to provide some encouragement on the interaction front.

Sabrina has lost her job as a journalist and has returned to her small town hometown in Wisconsin. Given her anxieties this is about the worst thing she can imagine given that living in a town where everyone knows everyone leads to much more social interaction than she would want, from the living and the dead. Ray meanwhile has come to town to take over his late uncle’s estate and run the family restaurant. As he continues to run into Sabrina, he is determined to overcome her anxieties to find out if a relationship is possible.

This was a really fun rom com with a unique supernatural twist. I really felt for Sabrina especially as she was dealing with difficult people and situations and trying to keep her anxieties in check. The author did a good job of conveying how draining and stressful even the most simple of interactions could be. I really enjoyed how Ray worked to understand and accept that which made Sabrina unique and sought to learn from his mistakes along the way.

I could absolutely understand Sabrina’s hesitation to have random ghosts popping up without notice in her daily life, but I really loved Molly. I appreciated learning her backstory and how that interacted with the present day story. She has a romantic’s heart and her true friendship with Sabrina and the support she provided was a great thing.

This was a really fun read and one that I would recommend to the romcom fans! THE KINDRED SPIRITS SUPPER CLUB is available now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

CW: death of a loved one, bullying, anxiety

This one unfortunately is a DNF for me.

I loved the concept and the writing was wonderful I just could not connect with this one. After starting and stopping multiple times I just have to say this one is not for me.

I struggled with Sabrina's reactions to Ray. We're told a lot that she likes him but ultimately what we're shown is here not being into him. I really expected this one to grab me in, but unfortunately, this one was not for me.

Rating: 2.5
Steam: 1 (I stopped at 70%)

Say hello to the best rom com I’ve read so far this year!! Is it the quirkiest, most adorable book I’ve read all year? Yes. Does it feature two of the most endearing characters EVER? Also yes. Are there meddling ghosts who are sometimes cranky and other times utterly charming? YES. Who knew that this eccentric combination would be rom com gold for me!

This one is super witty, sweet, charming and sometimes silly and it made me smile like a big old cheese ball. Speaking of cheese, this is set in Wisconsin, so hello cheese galore! There’s a foodie fiction feeling here as the author always manages to incorporate delicious meals into her books, so if I wasn’t swooning over the budding romance between Sabrina and Ray, I was drooling over the food Ray was testing out for the restaurant. Books don’t get any more feel good than this one y’all, a must read for romance fans but especially those who love a cozy sort of story.

Sabrina Monroe has the ignominious pleasure of moving back home after losing several jobs and being swamped with college loan debt. She never wanted to come back to the small Wisconsin Dells town where she was tormented in high school for being a weirdo by a mean girl who is now her boss. The women in Sabrina’s family can see spirits who have not moved on because they have uncompleted business. Sabrina sees this talent as a curse rather than a blessing preferring her mom to handle the pesky ghosts who make some pretty crazy demands of her. Her job driving an amphibious boat at one of the local water parks that proliferate this area of Wisconsin is quite a comedown from being a journalist as well as being back in her childhood bedroom.

Ray has returned to the place several of his relatives lived where they ran a popular supper club that he now wants to reinvent. He is determined to make a success; however, Ray is on a time line as his parents are threatening to sell after his uncle, the last owner, passes which is imminent. In a rom-com style meeting, Ray and Sabrina are immediately attracted to one another though Sabrina wants nothing to do with dating and men at the moment. Since they keep running into each other, it is hard for Sabrina to resist this charming and handsome man who is very interested in her.

Some of the cliches such as her very nasty boss, Erika: her chief tormentor in life for years who is still doing it, are obvious and painful for an adult young woman who has to relive those bad times. Sabrina’s best “friend” is a ghost named Molly who has been around for a very long time. Molly is a romantic at heart and wants Sabrina to give into her feelings for Ray and take a chance on love. Sabrina has had little experience with men and the ones she has had are not good including her old high school boyfriend who, surprise, is still around.

As Sabrina and Ray work together on a big town gala to be held at his restaurant, they become closer finding that they have much more in common besides mutual attraction. Part of Sabrina’s reluctance is not wanting Ray to find out about the “family business” since that has not worked out well for her in the past. Sabrina also struggles with multiple anxieties, some OCD, and not a little bit of stress from her student debt. Sabrina ultimately realizes you can go home again especially when love is to be found in the most unexpected of places especially with the “help” of some otherworldly spirits.

Actual rating: 4.5 ⭐️

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House International for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

CW: death of loved one, anxiety, panic attacks, bullying

This book is about anxiety-ridden Sabrina who just lost her job and is forced to go back home to Waterpark Capital of the World, Wisconsin Dells, where she has to face her past and continue on the family business. Except it’s actually a curse all of the women in their family has to carry where they see the souls of those who needs help with unfinished business. All the while, her romance with the new local restaurateur blooms!

I absolutely loved Sabrina!! I loved reading about her thoughts, flaws, insecurity and overall complexity. Seeing myself in her, I felt so represented in the way she experienced and handled her anxiety, her lack of communication skills and her organizing tendencies. Her love for color coded post-its and sharpies was so cute! I love her humor and her acts of kindness!

Her love interest, Ray, was such a delight to read about!!! He’s such a sweetheart, he’s earnest passionate, kind, thoughtful, intelligent, ✨financially stable✨ and quirky and he just ticks all the boxes for boyfriend qualifications for me!!! I was falling for him all throughout 😌 I loved his random Wisconsin trivias and the fact that he KNOWS that the way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach aka he can cook AND HE’S REALLY GOOD AT IT 🤪 I ended up craving for cheese and anything beer battered afterwards 🤤

I loved their deliciously slow buuuuurn, fake dating, forced proximity, friends to lovers romance!! I was swooning so hard!! I liked that Sabrina made Ray work for his affection and he came through every time 🥺 The way he loves is just who wholesome and pure and Sabrina is very very lucky! The smut is closed doors but I’m not complaining bc I was too hung up on their love 😌

I loved the side characters as well, both dead and alive! Sabrina’s parents, her nieces and nephews, Lucy, Rick, and Molly are all so fun!

And a side plot that I loved in this book was Molly’s story! I don’t wanna spoil who it’s with but I can assure you that it was heart wrenchingly good 😌 I cried more for her story than I did for the main leads’ and I was just invested in solving the mystery until the end!! The whole paranormal aspect was such a nice, unique addition to the story!

Overall, this was so entertaining, emotionally investing and fun! I laughed out loud at so many scenes and cried as hard for others! This is definitely one of my faves for this year and I HIGHLY recommend if you’re looking for a feel good, quick romcom!! 😍

Sabrina Monroe really doesn’t want to move back to Wisconsin, but she doesn’t have a choice. And this means that once again she will be subject to the family curse. The women in her family see spirits seeking help for the unfinished business that will not allow them to proceed to the other side.
Her mother has usually handled these ghosts for the most part, although Sabrina does have a relationship with Molly, who has been around since she was a child. This time, probably because Sabrina is older, the spirits seem drawn to her.
Sabrina has avoided relationships, because, after all, what man in his right mind wants to associate with someone who sees ghosts?
When she meets Ray, owner of the local supper club, Sabrina begins to believe it just might be possible.
I enjoyed this well-written, playful romance novel with its touch of mystery.

This was a great book, lots of fun with ghosts and the family who’s secret is is to help them resolve whatever is keeping them here. I loved the character growth, watching a new relationship blossom and seeing the inherent goodness in people that is often overlooked because they seem different!

This was the first book I've read by Amy E. Reichert, and I'll definitely be looking for more! I really enjoyed this sweet and slightly magical/paranormal story! {Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.}

Sabrina returns to her hometown after being fired by yet another journalism job in DC, and is caught between wanting to build a life there with family and a new love interest, and the nagging desire to escape her past and her family's secret.

I am glad that I went into this one with no expectations, because I was pleasantly surprised so frequently! Realizing that (non-threatening) ghost characters feature in this book was a fun discovery, as were their many quirks and demands. It created a fun twist on the history of the region (Wisconsin Dells - so beautiful!), mixed with a little mystery, and a sweet (mostly closed-door) romance. I figured out the twists early on, but I quite liked knowing what was to come, and was really happy with how it came to pass. Sometimes, you don't want to work so hard for the reveals - and this was that refreshing book that gave great hints about what to expect, and kept me turning pages.

The characters had charming and unique qualities that brought them to life (ha! so punny.) for me - Ray embracing his nerdiness and love for Wisconsin cuisine, Sabrina giving herself space for her anxiety and panic attacks, Molly for her frequent costume changes and meddling.

Overall, The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert is a sweet and cute read, slightly predictable, with a fun side of magical-realism and mystery. I highly recommend adding it to your list!

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert
This is my second book by the author and I love that her books take place in Wisconsin. It is a state I don't know too much about but love the sense of place and how atmospheric it is to the state. There are so many fun references to the gastronomy of the Wisconsin area and supper clubs in Wisconsin. I loved how much Ray loved the Wisconsin Dells area and need to showcase and perfect local dishes like cheese curds and beer and brat risotto!

Sabrina is home in Wisconsin Dells and is low on funds, lost her job, and is struggling with being back home where her family secrets are public with the town.
I went into this blind and didn't know anything about it, other than the author was highly recommended. I did not know this is a book that features ghost characters - so if paranormal/ghost books aren't for you, this may not be your jam. But, I really liked this one and the connections some of the characters had with communicating with the dead and trying to fulfill their last wishes. I did figure out one of these twists early on and it did not detract for me, I really liked seeing how this would play out. This is a cute read, fairly predictable, but the ghosts and their mysteries made this extra fun.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

For Sabrina Monroe, moving back home to the Wisconsin Dells–the self-described Waterpark Capital of the World–means returning to the Monroe family curse: visits from recently departed ghosts who come for help with unfinished business.

However, so far she has managed to keep her life in the Dells quiet, just the way she prefers it. She lets her mom deal with the ghosts. She stays busy working as a summer tour guide while she chips away at her student debt, while trying to avoid the owners’ daughter who tormented her in high school. She keeps her head down and tries her best to manage her crippling anxiety without the help of a therapist. She has no local friends, with the exception of her nieces and nephews and Molly, a bubbly rom-com-loving ghost, who for some reason has never moved on to the next world.

Things start getting interesting up when Ray, the new local restaurateur, invites Sabrina to his supper club, where he flirts with her over his famous brandy Old Fashioneds. He’s charming and handsome, but Sabrina tells herself she doesn’t have time for romance–she needs to focus on finding a job and getting out of the Dells. Then, the ghost of Ray’s uncle Harry pops in. He needs her to pass on a message to Ray. As Sabrina digs deeper into Harry’s past, she uncovers some potential answers to Molly’s unresolved issues as well.

Sabrina wants to tell Ray about Harry, but it’s complicated. Will he think she’s crazy, like her last boyfriend did? Suddenly, his opinion of her matters.

This was a cute read. Yes, like most contemporary romances it was somewhat predictable, but the ghosts and Harry’s mystery kept things lively. Highly recommend if you are looking for something light and fun!

Sabrina was such a relatable character and I loved going through her journey of joblessness with her. This was super cute and I would recommend.

Sabrina Monroe (like all of the women in her family) can see ghosts, who come to her for help before they are able to rest in eternal peace; but most of the time, due to her extreme social anxiety, Sabrina just points the needy ghosts to her mother. After Sabrina meets Ray, a charming local restaurant owner, a certain ghost, who happens to be Ray's uncle, is determined to be helped by Sabrina and Sabrina alone. Life gets complicated for Sabrina, as she tries to help the ghost, find a new job, and definitely not fall in love with Ray.

This book was.... a lot. I really wanted to like it, but everything was just over the top. Sabrina's anxiety was so over played, and despite saying she used to see a therapist multiple times, she does nothing to help herself in that way. Ray falls for Sabrina after a random run in, where Sabrina does not talk to him and spends the next few chapters actively avoiding him, so their relationship was on a weird foundation for me altogether. Ray seemed nice enough, but I just didn't find their relationship believable or one I would root for. Sabrina needs to work on herself, not let a man come in and "fix" everything.

The ghost part of the story was actually really cute. I probably would have really enjoyed a book about a woman who helps ghosts fulfill a certain pressing need before they are able to rest. But because of everything else going on in the book, I felt like this fun storyline was not focused on enough.

One of the worst and most unnecessary subplots was the high school mean girl and ex boyfriend tormenting a 30 year old Sabrina. There was so much conflict in the story without a literal villain adding to the stress.

All in all, I was sadly disappointed in this book. But I notice I am in the gross minority and many people enjoyed it immensely, so take this with a grain of salt, because obviously it's just me.

Thank you Netgalley, Berkley, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!! The only complaint I have is that the book is over, I wanted it to go on forever! It is so sweet and quirky and I’m about to reread it again because I loved it that much! Sabrina, Ray, and Molly have my heart. Reichert can write a dang book! Everyone needs to read this!

Looking for a sweet summer romance with a supernatural twist? The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert is a romantic magical story that blends fantastical abilities with a delightful hometown love story.

When Sabrina is forced to come home to Dell, Wisconsin, she will do anything she can to get out of there. On top of dealing with an unfulfilling summer job, old bullies, and ex-boyfriends, she has to deal with her family curse. All the women in her family can see ghosts in her town and help them fulfil their unfinished business so they can cross over to the other side. The upside is Molly, who is a ghost that has been around her family for generations and a steadfast friend and romcom enthusiast. The downside is the constant pestering of ghosts interrupting her life and asking her to do some pretty conspicuous final wishes.

The last thing that Sabrina wants is to jump into a new relationship while she searches for an out-of-town job. However, an adorably awkward meet-cute at a water park with the attractive local restauranteur Ray might cause her to rethink things. Ray is an incredibly sweet and passionate man that came to Dells to help his dying Uncle Henry with the town staple, “The Otter Club” even though his parents want to sell the place and make him come back to New York City. But how can he leave when he has a huge family secret to discover and a legacy to protect?

After the charming water park fiasco, Sabrina and Ray’s paths keep crossing and while she is charmed by him but hesitant, he is quickly smitten. He invites her to his supper club and they start to grow closer, despite her insistence that she will be leaving soon and shouldn’t date anyone. As she continues to figure out her life and he attempts to win her over before she leaves for good, the two begin to discover more about themselves, their families, and each other and combat the ghosts of their past.

I enjoyed every page and may have even audibly squealed a couple of times, which is rare for me. It was extremely fun, which made for a fast and enthralling read. Sabrina and Ray’s relationship is the heart of the novel and is developed organically and softly. Although he makes his interest in her clear from the start, he never pressures her into anything and is a complete gentleman. Their goals are very different but they clearly fit each other so well. You really get a sense of how their minds work and the way they view the world and each other. Sabrina is the kind of woman that has money problems yet still hides $5 bills in library books for people to find. Ray is the type of man to spend hours perfecting a cheese curds recipe to make someone he cares about happy. Their dynamic is sometimes awkward and messy but feels so real and endearing. They are both so easy to fall in love with.

Sabrina is a deeply relatable protagonist who struggles with anxiety, trauma from her past, and insecurities about the future. The way that Reichert addresses mental health felt very nuanced and real, not reduced to stereotypes or generalisations which I greatly appreciated. It is a driving factor in the story but doesn’t feel forced in any way. Sabrina is at a crossroads in her life while forced to live in a place where she is surrounded by nostalgia and trauma. Not only is that relatable in the general day to day, but especially in a time where so many people have been forced to uproot their lives, rearrange priorities and figure out what the future holds (Thanks COVID!).

Molly was one of my favourite characters and often a great foil to Sabrina. She had a tragic life and hasn’t been able to complete her unfinished business since, but she remains optimistic, bubbly, and a hopeless romantic. She helped Sabrina during her lonely childhood, almost like a sister, and continues to help her, especially when it comes to Ray. Her relationship with Molly is dynamic and complicated, but they balance each other so well. Despite being dead for so long, Molly appears so modern and young. We also learn a lot about the ghosts through her experience, expanding the world in a fun way. Perhaps there could have been more of her perspective, but even in Sabrina’s point of view, she is a powerful force.

Overall, the pacing was perfect, and Reichert leaves a lot of breadcrumbs throughout for the audience to put together things before the characters. There are lots of lightbulb moments that are woven seamlessly together with a satisfying payoff. I don’t usually live multiple POV switches in a novel but it works really well here without bogging down the narrative or making it confusing. I enjoyed each of their points of view greatly, especially as they interpret events very differently. This creates a lot of fun misunderstandings as we are given access to information that they are not. But it also is a great way to show how each of them falls in love, and what stands out to each of them.

This is definitely a novel that I could reread over and over and still have a fresh experience. With endearing characters, slow-burn romance, and supernatural fun, Reichert has created the perfect book for dreamers. She blends the grounded family and romantic drama with fantastical elements without overwhelming the story or making it trite. On top of the charming relationship, there is a hopeful reminder to us all that it is ok to not always stick with the plan and to look for someone who will accept you and all your quirks.

tw: death of a family member

I had high hopes for this, as it takes place in the Wisconsin Dells and if you are Midwestern you know the nostalgic pull of that location. Having never read a book set there, plus this being mixed with a paranormal element of our main character seeing ghosts, I thought this would be kitschy fun. Unfortunately, this didn't land for me. Firstly, the characters meet right away in the first chapter and Ray is already very enamored with Sabrina. But he really has no reason to be. He doesn't know her, barely talks to her because she is so socially anxious that she basically runs from him, and yet he still feels drawn to her for no obvious reason. So their relationship already started off on shaky ground for me. Then, there were a lot of plot points, particularly around the ghosts, that were so obvious that I was left waiting for most of the book for them to be revealed because I knew where it was going. This isn't always a bad thing but in this case those reveals had no payoff. Also, Sabrina has pretty severe anxiety and while some of the things she did and how she described anxiety were spot on, it didn't feel real to me. I'm not sure if the author has anxiety herself but this felt like someone writing about something they've heard about and so it didn't feel genuine. Lastly, we have a theme that I hate and that;s the mean girl. Sabrina has a bully that has bullied her since they were children and they are now adults. While I'm sure that some people are that awful, the bullying still felt like middle school bullying when adult bullies have totally different tactics so this felt so flat. All of these elements kept me from being very invested. I still liked the backdrop of The Dells because so many places mentioned were places I've been but I do wish this had more of a pull for me than it did.