Having never read from Dolly Alderton before I was excited to find that I loved her writing style! Ghosts is her first novel and follows Nina, a thirty-something going out in the dating scene for the first time since her nearly decade-long relationship ended while dealing with a father with a declining mental state.

I loved all the commentary about dating apps and modern dating culture. Having a best friend currently navigating those waters I found it to be *very* accurate.

I laughed out loud numerous times throughout the book and was also so moved by the scenes with her ailing father.. I think Alderton did a great job of balancing the funny with the heartbreaking.

I absolutely loved this book! This is Chick Lit at it's best. Dolly Alderton's writing can be compared to the excellent Marian Keyes - her protagonist, Nina, handles an unreliable boyfriend, a beloved ex literature teacher father who is declining into dementia, a mother in denial and self centered friends with wit & compassion.
The snappy dialogue kept me wanting to read more.
The upbeat conclusion which did not make everything OK, made you feel that Nina and her friends will have the courage to press on and find happiness.
And that makes for a much better ending!

Surprisingly sensual for chick-lit, Ghosts is also incredibly derisive and charming. I loved Nina's cynicism and commiserated with her tentative relationships. Parental love, romantic love, and friendship love are the essential touchstones of Ghosts. I enjoyed Nina's journey throu9h them all. I have a love-hate relationship with too tidy endings and I was happy that Ghosts was not so saccharine to be believed. Relatable and enjoyable. Highly recommend.

OMG, I loved this book! 4.5 Stars. A smart, sexy, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about ex-boyfriends, imperfect parents, friends with kids, and a man who disappears the moment he says "I love you."
32-year-old Nina Dean is a successful food writer with a loyal online following, but a life that is falling apart. When she uses dating apps for the first time, she becomes a victim of ghosting, and by the most beguiling of men. Her beloved dad is vanishing in slow motion into dementia, and she's starting to think about ageing and the gendered double-standard of the biological clock. On top of this she has to deal with her mother's desire for a mid-life makeover and the fact that all her friends seem to be slipping away from her . . .

This book was nothing like I would normally expect from a romantic comedy. Yes, there were laugh out loud moments but this romance also covered deep and heartfelt topics.

Nina is a food writer. I LOVE stories about food writers, chefs, foodies, etc. so this part was definitely in my wheelhouse. I also LOVED what her books were about and it made me want to read them. She still has a great relationship with her ex and she's finally agreed to try a dating app.

Nina juggles everything from dating and then ghosting, her Dad's dementia, how her mom is or isn't handling the situation, life with married friends, work, and so much more.

I thoroughly enjoyed it despite some bumpy parts (hello Angelo) and the happy ending that left me wanting a little more.

Dolly Alderton is the kind of author whose witty writing makes you smile, but also has you nodding along as you read. Ghosts is an insightful read that seems to echo a feminist perspective on dating in your thirties. But here's the thing - I finished ready Ghosts three days ago, but I feel like the story hasn't ended. I feel like I'm missing the last few chapters of the book - I needed a bigger denouement. The plot follows Nina Dean, thirty one year-old food writer from London who bought her own flat, has a flourishing career, has friends, and family. She's even friends with her ex-boyfriend - she's good with relationships. Hoping to find love, she downloads a dating app, meets a guy and they start dating. Then he ghosts her. He just disappears when things were getting good - you know, like about to meet the parents and dropping the L-word. But this happens when all of the other relationships start to falter - Nina's Dad's dementia escalates, her best friend is having another baby, and her ex is about to propose to another woman. It's kind of a lot, not to mention her ground floor neighbor is kind of a nightmare. So, the foundation crumbles, but Nina stays firm. There's a part of the story that speaks volumes about what is to come - and it happens when Nina proposes her new book idea to her agent - the agent is sort of this guiding spirit: "But be very sensitive. Men always have to keep a low flame burning for every ex. It will be flickering there for him, even if he doesn't know it is. Whereas women always have to extinguish it."

And that, is what I think Ghosts is about - the fires we extinguish and the fires we keep burning. It is just with romantic love - it is with every interaction. Parents. Friends. Jobs. Either you tend the flame or drop a bucket of water over it and kick the ashes.

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton is a romantic comedy that was a big surprise to me. I expected a light, fluffy read but what I experienced is a much different kind of romantic comedy – one that is full of deep insight, witty conversations, and intelligent, focused narration. My favorite insight had to be comparing how single guys approach dating, how they play video games and the remarkable similarities between the two.

At first, I didn’t care for the main character, Nina George Dean, or her mother, Mandy/Nancy Dean. Still, as the story progressed and the narration pulled me deeper into their feelings and motivations, my awareness of their individual struggles became poignantly honest. I had to acknowledge that their responses are 100% human, as different people handle situations in different ways. Their reactions are insightful and just their particular manner of coping.

Ghosts is a welcome to surprise in a genre full of light, funny stories. It tackles big topics, such as online dating, a parent/spouse with Alzheimer’s, and the changing of adult friendships as we each enter different phases. I loved the deep insights brought out with witty banter and a deep level of character development. If you are looking for a romantic comedy that can make you laugh and reflect, this is one you will not want to miss!

Nina George Dean is 32, and a food writer whose career is really starting to take off. She downloads a dating app, Linx, and wades through the cesspool that is online dating. She quickly meets Max, who checks all the boxes, and they spend three month together. Nina is elated as everything feels perfect--he even tells her he loves her. And then...he ghosts her.

At the same time, Nina's father is diagnosed with dementia. Nina's friends are moving on in life, getting married, having kids...and Nina feels stuck and alone.

Ghosts is tagged as a romantic comedy and while it does have funny parts, the overall tone of the book is tinged with heartache. Mourning for one's past that can never be reclaimed or relived, losing out on friendships that had lasted years, longing for requited love, wishing things could stay the same forever. I really enjoyed reading Ghosts, and I feel the topics will resonate with many readers in their late twenties/early thirties wrestling with the ghosts of their past and future, who just wish time could stand till.

Thank you to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and Net Galley for sending me a copy of Ghosts in exchange for an honest review.

Nina has a lot of friends, a fairly successful career, and owns her own apartment. However, she is tempted to use a dating app, and thinks she's won the lottery when her first match seems to be brilliant; things with Max seem to be going brilliantly, until he ghosts her. At the same time, the proposal for her third book has fallen flat, her best friend is pregnant again, her father's dementia is worsening, and her downstairs neighbor seems psychopathic. Just as Nina accepts that there are more important things than her love life, a contrite Max reappears and she decides to forgive him.

Only to have him ghost her again.

This book has some laugh-out-loud moments, as well as some cringey ones and many, many heartwarming ones. Ostensibly a romance, it's more about relationships--friendships and family relationships. Although Nina may not get a romantic happily-ever-after, she solves the problems in her other relationships and realizes those are the more important ones.

This is a sleeper of a book that will stick with you long after you read "The End." #Ghosts #NetGalley

This one was a bit of a hit or miss for me. I liked the first half, the development of Nina’s relationship with Max and getting familiar with her family and friends. The middle when Max disappeared, the wedding of Joe and Lucy and that whole section seemed disjointed and floundering. Then Max returned. Then disappeared. Then the random encounter with the neighbor. I don’t know, it was just okay. Too many things seemed unfocused and rushed.

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton is a contemporary chicklit novel with a touch of romance and an even bigger touch of heartache. This one was originally published in October of 2020 but is being picked up and republished by Knopf books this year.

Nina Dean is single but not that bothered by the fact as she gets the rest of her life in order. Nina has one book published and is working on a second all the while taking on other smaller jobs in the industry. Nina has a great relationship with her ex after parting as friends and plenty of girlfriends to spend time with.

Now after a nudge from a friend Nina has decided to download a dating app and start working on finding a match to begin a love life. Of course as many women know most of the matches that contact Nina do not have the same plans in line and are only looking for a hook up but Nina does find one that catches her attention and sets up a first date.

Ghosts began and had parts later that felt like it was on a fast forward and had an info dumpy feel which isn’t my favorite style of writing. When the story settles in though I did like Nina and her friends and getting to know them all. The “romance” side of this one isn’t exactly romantic but more a warning on app dating which is why I labeled this more chicklit than romance. Overall, I’d say this one fell around three and a half stars for me as it did have it’s enjoyable moments even though it wasn’t my favorite style.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This book was not my favorite. While I did like how she described the Max character as Twilighty, everything else about Max was a huge red flag. I think maybe my main problem with it was the fact that it's so relatable to be honest. I feel like the nuerotic best friend is played out especially when the MC is in their 30s. Like every single woman in their thirties is not crazily obsessed with falling ing love and starting a family and getting married. I loved the whole Angelo situation even more when all his "murder" tools were for curating meats. Also why are men so terrible that authors have to cynically and ironically write them this way??? Overall even though this book was quite all over the place I did enjoy it. I was would also like to read more from this author because I did quite enjoy the writing style.

Ghosts defines the disappearance of a lover, aging and letting go of what haunts your expectations. This novel addressed heavy themes with grace and humor. This is a romance novel without a happy ending but with a happy ending. Ghosts realism will hit home for many readers.

The one thing we learn is that friendships can never be ghosted. Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing/Fig Tree for the complimentary copy.

Reading this book was like finding the mythical diamond in the rough on a dating app. Someone who has a JOB, isn't running up debt at his neighborhood bar, doesn't shit himself at the thought of commitment, AND sees you as a fully functioning independent human being instead of a cypher for his childhood trauma? We're skeptical, but we'd love to see it.
There are so, so many books about online dating culture, and the soul-deadening experience of trying to navigate those at all stages of life. Alderton plays it smart and zeros in a particular dating-experience ; ghosting. Specifically, being a normal, together woman in your thirties who agrees to spend her time developing a relationship only to suddenly, and without warning, to be left with broken dreams and a boyfriend who has ceased to exist.
Come for the evisceration of online-dating culture in your 30s, but stay for the heartwarming female friendships - you'll fall in love with these woman who are really just trying their best, even though the online dating pool is trash.

This book pulled out every emotion I can think of! Excitement, Anticipation, Frustration, Grief, Sadness, Love, Desperation, Loneliness, Anger, Confusion and Reminiscent. I loved this book.

This is a heartfelt story about a 40 something single female, Nina, in London and her friendships, dating woes and family struggles. I loved the honesty and grittiness this book encompassed. The frustrations of all her friends finding love and moving on to marriage and kids while she stayed where she was. The way they assumed that she was unhappy since she wasn’t at the same stage as them. The way they unwittingly made her feel, “less than”. Then the slow mental demise of her father- her best friend, encourager and supporter. The book was simultaneously funny and heartbreaking.

I admired the exploration into Alzheimer’s and it’s effect on everyone in the family. The way it changed Nina’s view of her Mother. The insights were achingly honest. There are so many people dealing with a loved one in this situation, and I felt like the portrayal was well researched. I absolutely loved her friend Lola and her unwavering belief in love. Actually all the relationships explored were right on target.

Unhesitatingly recommend for those who love a strong character driven story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. Pub date- 8.3.21

I

Razor-sharp wit and a talent for getting it straight under the armor at the most unexpected times. That's how I would describe this book. It's certainly the most entertaining commentary on 21st century--and dare-I-say millennial--mundanity that I've ever read. (Which isn't saying much, I suppose, since I generally steer clear of that branch of fiction.)

I loved it. It's like every thought I've ever had about anything is here and articulated in a way that I never knew I knew. "Yes, that's it exactly!" flapped through my mind innumerable times throughout. I was barking with laughter and then tearing up (not crying) ten pages later.

Nina is the perfect narrator; she is a prime example of how to use first person to full success. At times, she comes across a little too carefully curated in her self-awareness and reflection and at one point, I did sincerely wish for the end. But the flow of the narrative itself is quite addictive.

I do, however, have a feeling that it's the type of book that will lose resonance with time for the reader. Therefore, it's a perfect library book.

Ghosts follows our Nina Dean for one year, her 33rd. Nina is a food writer and cookbook author who has bought her first apartment, moved on from her long-term college boyfriend, and is getting serious about finding someone to spend her life with. Most of her friends are getting married or married with kids. She’s also dealing with the aftermath of her dad’s increasing health issues as her and her mom face the realities of his dementia. After deciding to put herself out there, Nina meets Max via a dating app, and they instantly click. And then, he ghosts her, not answering calls and texts for months.

Nina and her friends and family are all grappling with their ghosts—ghosts of people who have left, ghosts of people who are still there but unrecognizable, and the ghosts of their former selves. There’s a real thread here about how women absorb the choices of the men around them that hits hard.

This novel is delightfully British, which maybe isn’t all that exciting for a British reader, but is something I really love as an American. There’s a wonderful sense of place here, with London coming alive on the page.

Unless you think this is just a depressing and heavy read, I found this book laugh out loud funny in many parts. It was a quick and effortless read with a strong sense of voice. I really enjoyed Nina as a character. She’s in her 30s and it feels like she really is. I find that so many books want to portray women this age as walking disasters, but Nina isn’t. She has steady if unusual work, she has enough to get by but has to work to pay the bills. She has friends. She has a good relationship with her family. She’s simply at a turning point where she is trying to figure out what and who she wants to be next. I was hooked the whole way through.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. I found the wording and language a little hard to follow. The book was not very entertaining and failed to hold my interest in the first few chapters

Sometimes a book comes along at the exact right moment to speak directly to your soul. That was my experience with Ghosts // Dolly Alderton, a debut novel featuring an early 30s protagonist looking for love - and finding nothing but assholes - in London.

This book perfectly captures what it’s like to be unmarried, childless and unsure about where your life is headed at a time when it feels like everyone else your age has figured it out. Equal parts funny and moving, this book hit me at such a perfect time it’s hard for me to find faults with it. (Although, yes, it is a tad frustrating that the two single female characters are so convinced they need a man to be happy. But, as un-feminist as it may sound, needing romantic love to feel fulfilled is realistic for the vast majority of people.)

There is also a plot line dealing with an aging, ill parent and that is my kryptonite. It left me in a puddle of tears many, many times.

This is clearly a highly biased review (though what review isn’t), but if you find yourself in a similar early 30’s funk, I cannot recommend it enough.

Nina has spent the last several years working on her career, building her food writing business and spending time on herself. Growing leery of watching her friends pair off, and even her ex-boyfriend, whom she’s still close with announcing his upcoming wedding, Nina gives online dating a try. Max checks all of Nina’s boxes, their personalities align and their chemistry is fantastic. Readers come along with Nina as she starts to fall for Max, which is why, when Max suddenly stops responding to Nina, going 100% dark, it’s absolutely crushing. Ghosts is much more than your standard romantic comedy story. Watching Nina deal with heartache, navigate complicated relationships, help her own mother come to terms with her father’s ailing health and still grow as a person is simply a lot. Ghosts was much heavier than I expected, but one I’m glad I read. The ending wasn’t what I expected, but after having time to reflect, I’m thankful for Alderton’s creativity. Nina has stayed with me long after I finished the final page. Ghosts is proof that no matter how much you pour into yourself, there is so much still out of our control. Nina’s ability to love and take risks was inspiring and I definitely recommend Ghosts!

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.