The story of life. Nina has turned 32 years old and looking for love. She broke up with her boyfriend Joe, but they remain the best of friends. The story is about the ups and downs in life and relationships, not only Nina’s, but several of her friends. Some are married and another, Lola is like her and looking to find her soulmate. The story seemed to drag on and the ending was a disappointment, but that is life, To me the best part was the story of her father and the on set of Alzheimer’s.
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but I really enjoyed this story of Nina, Max and her friends and family. I had my own experiences with online dating once upon a time and I found myself laughing out loud at some places.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this digital arc, it was a fun story overall!

Ghosts is a novel about a 30 year old women named Nina, who as you can probably guess from the title, gets ghosted. The guy is Max and she meets him on an online dating app called Linx. Max seems to be everything Nina is looking for in a partner and their relationship quickly becomes very serious. Until Max ghosts her. Nina is left with so many questions as she struggles with her day to day life. Does she miss Max or does she miss the romanticized idea of Max?

The novel is about getting ghosted, yes, but it is so much more than that. It’s about nostalgia, it’s about the struggles of aging, it’s about changing friendships, it’s about finding yourself in the chaos of life. The author does a fantastic job at making Nina very relatable in all of these aspects and Ghosts is a novel you will not want to miss!

Nina Dean is a cookbook author in her early thirties. At the start of this book, her life is pretty much together - almost annoyingly so. She's successful (her second cookbook is about to be published, and she achieved one of her dreams of buying a flat in London), confident (not model-perfect, but stylish and happy in her skin), independent (broke up with her boyfriend of seven years not too long ago, but is still friends with him and his girlfriend, hasn't been dating for the past two years and is fine with that), and has plenty of friends (not all of them are perfect, some are in very different points in their lives, but it works).

Nina decides to start actively dating and signs up for a dating app called Linx. Soon enough, after many depressing swipes, she meets a man who actually seems promising: a tall, broad accountant named Max. On their first date, Max tells her he could see himself marrying her. Things start to go really well with them, and Nina is happy. Other things in her life start to not go so well though. Namely, Nina's beloved dad, a normally sharp-witted, well-read former English teacher, has just started to experience the early onset of dementia. Throughout the book, Nina mourns this development, what feels like a loss of her father, even though he's still there.

I've been thinking about this one for a while, and I'm still at a loss. I loved this book so much that I finished it basically in one sitting, but I'm finding it difficult to express exactly WHY I loved it. Ultimately, I've settled on the fact that it's just the characters - our protagonist and narrator, Nina George Dean, in particular. It's hard to even say what this book is about or what happens - it's a gentle, meandering, day-in-the-life type plot, but it worked perfectly.

Nina as a character is so lovable, and the ups and downs she goes through in the book endear her to me even more. She's certainly not perfect, despite seeming like she is in the beginning. She deals with problems in sometimes very adult, mature ways, and sometimes very childish, silly ways. Nina's journey with her parents particularly resonated with me. I really recommend this book as a great character study, not for the plot or the romance or the action, but for the character development. Thank you to Knopf Doubleday for the ARC via Netgalley!

A wonderfully relatable novel that’s both tender and hilarious, while hitting you hard with the accuracy of what it means to be a millennial woman trying to reach their ideal future. Nina Dean begins using the dating app Linx to help her find her next great love, but when the man she’s been seeing from the app suddenly ghosts her, it’s a heartbreaking wake up call that her life is not as content as she thought it was. Told through a narrative that feels like a close friend, you’ll want to stay up all night to finish this great page-turning summer read, and find out where life takes Nina next. Great for fans of Taylor Jenkins-Reid and Sally Rooney!

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton was a wonderfully witty, introspective, yet honest portrayal of women, friendship, and love admits 21st-century technology. I was glad that the characters were all given flaws that were not outlandish but genuine and common. It's not ofter we see depictions of friendships that go through hills and valleys. My favorite parts of this story were definite between Nina and Katherin/Lola. This was a highly relatable book with a flawed protagonist navigating scenarios that had no one right or wrong way to sail through.

This would have been a 4.5 or even 5 star read for me if not for one scene towards the end of the story that felt so disjointed and out of the blue for Nina. I think we all know what I'm referring to.

Either way, Dolly Alderton's voice and writing throughout this story was spectacular, witty, and highly quotable. I loved ALMOST every minute of it.

Nina George Dean, named in honor of George Michael, is a successful food writer. She’s thirty-something and single, and surrounded by people in relationships. Nina decides to use a dating app and meets Max who on their first date declares that he’s going to marry her. Her parents are aging with her father disappearing into dementia and her mother trying to reinvent herself.
With a title like “Ghosts”, you probably know where the relationship with Max is going, but it’s more than that. Nina’s dad is losing himself and disappearing. Her mom is changing her name to try something new. And as her friends are becoming parents, they’re moving on to other things being more important.
I thought this novel was brilliant. Nina is a fantastic character and I loved her memories, her thoughts and her wisdom. It’s been a minute since I’ve been in the dating world, but those feelings of wondering what’s happening in the mind of the person you’re interested in, hoping for the next step—I felt all of it with Nina. I loved how the relationships with those around her were so honest and relatable. And the ending... just perfect.
•
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Can you enjoy a book while you simultaneously feel kind of depressed by it? Ghosts is a tough book for me to rate because a lot of it hits so close to home—so close that it makes for some uncomfortable soul searching and rationalizing. If you are a woman in your 30s, whether married or single, I think you’ll find some piece of yourself and your experience in these pages. Nina’s ’adventures’ in dating and trying to figure out her life and career and her changing relationships with her girlfriends and her aging parents are realistic—a lot of times almost painfully so. The story isn’t wrapped up in a neat little bow because that doesn’t really happen in real life. If you are in your 30s and looking for a book to escape, this probably isn’t the story for you right now. If, however, you want to know that you’re not alone in your problems and that it’s ok for life to be messy, then this book is a must read.

I wanted to love this, and parts of it--the vulnerability inherent in being ghosted and in navigating a parent's illness--were relatable, heartfelt, and intriguing. Honestly, though, chunks of this book were boring for me. Alderton brings some charming Bridget Jones moments to her chapters, including some laugh-out-loud one-liners; e.g., when talking about men's dating profiles, main character Nina sighs, "They all say they love napping. I don't know why. I don't know who told all these grown men that what women really love are giant pizza-guzzling babies who need sleep all the time."

This is one of the most British books I've read lately--that's neither a flaw nor a positive factor--so if you don't like British humor then I'd skip this one. You should also stay away from it if you need or want more faith in men, as this book has no redeemable male characters.

A fun book following Nina and her crazy and desperate attempts to find her life partner. Her relationship with her ex was something from an episode of my best friends wedding. Her interactions with her friends, especially Lola, were comical and kept me entertained. In the end, this was a story about a midlife crisis, watching all your friends find their partners and getting married while your stuck spinning your wheels. In the end, you make peace with the fact that it will happen when it happens and you simply can’t rush it.

When I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure I would like it. It is told in a first person voice with long rambling chapters. Nina, the main character, drew me in and I was hooked. Nina is a strong woman dealing with tough situations. She is in her early thirties, single, dealing with being ghosted by her boyfriend and her father’s dementia. The story is told with humor and warmth. Nina is surrounded by great characters, especially Lola. The ending is satisfying as opposed to being neatly tied up with a pretty bow, just like real life.

I did not know what to expect when I started this book but to my surprise I really enjoyed it. The story line, the reality of dating in current times, the desire to feel loved and wanted, the other reality of health and aging was a great foundation for the book.

The author’s detail was on point that this fiction can pass as a non-fiction story. The author does a good job getting a readers emotions through out the book from frustration , anger and sadness.

Great book!

Ghosts is an interesting sort of chaotic romcom. There's multiple different stories happening:

First, there's the story of Nina's father, his slow slide into dementia, and her changing relationship with her mother as a result.
Second, there's the romance plotline, of NIna's relationship with (and subsequent ghosting by) Max, a man she meets on a dating app.
Third, there's the evolution of Nina's relationships with her friends, primarily Katharine, her long-time best friend turned Stepford wife/mother of two and Lola, her other perpetually single BFF.
Fourth, the weird saga of Angelo, Nina's troublesome downstairs neighbor who terrorizes her with his constant loud noises and his refusal to follow house rules, who may or may not be a serial killer.
Fifth, there's Nina's career as a cook book/memoir writer and her struggles to figure out exactly what her next book should be about.

Independently, all of these storylines are pretty interesting (minus the Angelo one which I could never quite get into, PARTICULARLY not how it get resolved). But all of them mashed together is a bit too much for one novel. It felt a bit disjointed and like there were so many things Alderton wanted to accomplish in one book but doesn't quite land most of them (although I loved her friendship with Lola, I found that to be extremely compelling). But it's a shame the book didn't gel more for me because Dolly Alderton can write -- the prose is sharp and witty and she nails a lot of social observations about gendered assumptions about single women and the struggles childless women face in the face of these patriarchal norms.

SPOILERS but...


I also found the ending deeply unsatisfying. I definitely didn't want her to end up with Max so I was glad it didn't go there (although I found his double ghosting to be a little too neat). But I wanted a more fulfilling resolution -- I understand the symbolic importance of Nina ending up on her own but there wasn't enough work done at the end to make that ending feel satisfying as opposed to sort of defeatist. I am here for the happy ending that isn't dependent on romantic success but I needed there to be more to Nina's life at the end of the book to buy in.

DNF @ 25 a%

Nina, a 32 year old food critic, decides to hop on a dating app as her life is at a crossroads. She immediately falls for the charming, hot, dating-app-staple guy: Max. When Max ghosts her, Nina has to re-evaluate everything.

I really wanted to like this one after seeing all the amazing reviews from the UK but I just had a hard time getting invested in the story. I might give it another chance later on but for now it'll stay at DNF. I wish it was more 'fun' than bitter.

I love this US cover though, it's gorgeous

Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this.

The lessons in how we treat people when dating in this modern world, first time reading from this author. Cute relatable story of life today.

This book keeps you interested from start to finish. It is a well-written easy read and once started I found it hard to put down. I would absolutely recommend this book.

Thank you, NetGalley for an ARC for an Honest Review.

I really loved this book. While I wish that Nina had found love by the end, I loved that she was strong. The characters in this book were awesome. Two thumbs up!

Ghosts started out strong. I immediately liked Nina and her carefree attitude, I could picture her best friends and everything that was around her. I liked Dolly's writing style; she has a way of really describing scenarios to make you feel like you are part of the story.

However, by the middle of the book, the story lost me. I started to get bored. Nina was ghosted, but it didn't really seem like it was as big of a thing as it sounded like it would be. It played a part in the story, but I fully expected it to happen early on in the book and then have the story centered around it, but it certainly wasn't the case.

From my perspective, it seemed that Ghosts not only referred to a relationship gone bad, but also friendships disappearing, ghosts from the past, and more. It's about moving past the ghosts and on to a life of happiness.

All in all, the book was okay for me. There were parts that were good, some parts that were funny, but overall I felt a bit meh about it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for providing me with the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved Nina as a character, I loved how RAW she was the author was not shy from showing how real life things can be when a single woman in her 30’s deals with changes and even her own close friends have moved on and even have their own families, it’s some real CRAP!!! I went through that until I became THAT married friend lol. Even with what Nina went through in the dating world and even dealing with Max! Lol…. Lola is suck an annoying friend, lol j would never take advice from a woman like her but then again, I’m that married friend lol. Nina is awesome, but her insensitivity to her own friends who have moved on with their lives, since that’s what’s happens with life in general, was so damn annoying!!! Very inconsiderate but wants her friends to understands her, like girl?? How can you be like that??!!!! Lol. It was an enjoyable read, not all of the time but it was relatable at times, and funny too…. Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton.
Thank you to @netgalley @dollyalderton @knopfdoubleday for the eGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Nina and her long term boyfriend broke up, and decided to join ‘the apps’ with her friend Lola. Her first connection/date is with Max and they hit it off. After dating a few months and Max dropping ‘I love you’ to her, he ghosts her, leaving Nina heartbroken and confused.

Along with dealing with Max disappearing, Nina’s life is undergoing lots of changing. Her dad as she’s known him, is slowly fading from Alzheimer’s, her oldest friend and her have little in common and are drifting, and her ex, who remained a close friend, is in a serious relationship.

Ghosts examines not only failed romantic relationships, but the changes in familial and friend relationships people go through as they grow up. As a single professional, I related a lot to Nina in juggling work, dating apps, changing friendships and watching my parents age.
I loved Nina’s friend, Lola, ever the optimist and lover of love, the bond between Nina and her dad and the honest view of how not all relationships end in a happily ever after.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The minute I began reading “Ghosts,” I knew I had been gifted with a story I would never forget. Nina made me laugh and I found her to be quirky, smart and hopeful. I adored her enthusiasm for life, her career and her friends and family. I felt as if I was friends with Nina and that she had invited me into her world so I could get a glimpse of her life. I love how she described her flat, came up with her book ideas, and how proud she was of all that she had accomplished.

It felt as if I was there with Nina as she celebrated her birthday with her friends, reminisced about her old neighborhood and as she met Max for the first time. I fell in love with the English countryside, Nina’s acerbic personality, and the love she had for her father. She was a devoted daughter and a caring friend who deserved to fall in love. The author’s description of Max the night they met was poetic, romantic and otherworldly. I could envision him sitting outside the pub engrossed in his book as he waited for Nina to arrive. I had so much hope that Nina would find happiness with Max and I enjoyed their lively conversations about books, music and the mystery of life. Her excitement about Max was a bit premature and she was instantly smitten with him even though he was guarded about his past. I agree with her that perhaps she put Max on a pedestal and he became the perfect man, but only in her mind.

Dolly Alderton was a new author to me and I will forever be grateful that I came across her book. “Ghosts” was a life-changing book for me and I will always treasure the joy that it gave me.