DNF @ 28% (Aug19)

I’m not vibing with this one at all. The narrator is annoying and is trying too hard to fit in with the wrong crowd. While her “friend” is using her status to get her dad off her back, our MC is also using her “friends” to fit in at school. And I get that that is a popular microtrope in teen media but I think it’s been exhausted. I don’t like how young the MMC sounds when talking. He sounds like a ten year old on a field trip, not a junior in high school.
This one just isn’t working for me unfortunately.

Arc provided by publisher.

**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Witty, Heartfelt, and Cleverly Haunted**

Amanda Quain’s *Ghosted* is a charming, clever, and emotionally resonant YA retelling of *Northanger Abbey* that mixes classic Austen flair with ghost-hunting hijinks and heartfelt contemporary themes. It’s the perfect read for fans of *Never Have I Ever*, *The X-Files*, or anyone who loves a slow-burn romance wrapped in mystery and teenage angst.

Hattie Tilney is the kind of heroine you root for from page one—smart, guarded, and trying her best to hold everything together for her fractured family. Her reluctance to engage with the paranormal is deeply rooted in grief, giving the book emotional weight that balances its more playful ghost-hunting antics. Enter Kit Morland: upbeat, quirky, and fiercely committed to proving that ghosts are real. Their enemies-to-friends-to-something-more arc is sweet, authentic, and full of slow-burn tension.

The backdrop of Northanger Abbey—a high school with an eerie reputation and a network of secrets—adds a fun layer of gothic mystery, while Quain’s dialogue is witty and sharp without ever feeling overdone. The book also explores the theme of “ghosts” in a metaphorical sense—grief, regret, and the way people linger in our lives long after they’re gone—in a way that’s subtly moving and insightful.

The only reason this isn’t a full five-star read is that the pacing lags just a bit in the middle, and some of the side characters could’ve used more depth. Still, the emotional payoff and creative twist on Austen’s classic make *Ghosted* a standout in the YA contemporary space.

Warm, funny, and just a little bit spooky, *Ghosted* is a smart and satisfying modern retelling that proves sometimes believing in ghosts isn’t nearly as scary as believing in other people—or yourself.

I didn't know that this was going to be slow burn but as a Jane Austen retelling I should have guessed it however even though that's not my favorite trope I thought Quain's treatment of themes from ghosts to obsession, friendship & romance was really well done.

Such a cute romance. I loved the characters loved their story. The chemistry was cute hot and on pointe. Cannot recommend this book enough.

A gender swap of the main characters in an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abby. There is intrigue, there is mystery, there may or may not be ghosts. This could be a great way to extend a students’ understanding of themes in the original version of this book; but otherwise I wouldn’t adopt this for classroom curricula. I will include it on a reading list for students to access/“hand sell” for students who can handle the themes presented in this book.

This YA romance was so much fun. There was so much packed into it. There was grief and joy and finding yourself. I really liked the relationships between all of the characters. I appreciated that they were all real and not just one-dimensional. The characters all realized they had a part in what went wrong. I loved watching Hattie learn about herself and how to appreciate herself.

This was a super cute YA romance. I loved the chemistry between the main characters. The ghost hunting was a fun backdrop!

This book is absolutely delightful! The Jane Austen retelling was beautifully executed, and the haunted high school setting added the perfect touch of atmosphere to this slow-burn romance. Hattie and Kit’s relationship had me smiling the whole way through!

Big thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read Ghosted by Amanda Quain in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. The setting—Northanger Abbey High School, supposedly the most haunted school in America—was fantastic. I also loved the modern retelling of Northanger Abbey, especially with the gender-swapped roles. Hattie’s journey from skepticism to self-discovery was engaging, and her dynamic with Kit made for a great slow-burn romance.

Quain does a great job blending humor and emotion, making this both a fun and heartfelt read. My only critique is that I wasn’t sure why it was called Ghosted—no one actually gets ghosted—but that’s a small thing. Fans of Lynn Painter and Jenny Han will love this one!

Actually 3.75⭐️

While I don't normally enjoy modern day spins on Jane Austen's works, I liked Ghosted. The characters were well developed and their emotions were portrayed in a way that felt real.

I would recommend this to others.

This book was okay, but not what I was expecting. I was hoping there would be paranormal elements in this story. The story focuses on the grief of the main character and her relationship with the new boy in her school. I thought the relationship between the two main characters was cute, but I was definitely not the right audience for this book.

I had received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley, but I ended up listening to the finished copy on audiobook.

Ghosted by Amanda Quain is a witty and heartfelt retelling of Persuasion with a modern twist. Hattie navigates high school, regrets, and a second chance at love with charm and humor. Packed with relatable characters and emotional depth, it’s a must-read for fans of clever, contemporary romances with a touch of nostalgia.

Ghosted by Amanda Quain didn't disappoint. I loved everything about it. Thank to you NetGalley for the ARC!

Hattie Tilney is a senior at Northanger Abbey. She used to love her dad’s ghost stories and ghost hunting, but since he died, she no longer believes in ghosts. When her mom, headmaster of Northanger Abbey, asks Hattie to guide the new student, Kit Morland, around the school, Hattie agrees to get her mom’s approval. However, Kit is attending the school on a scholarship from a ghost hunting association. Hattie and Kit must work together on an assignment about the ghosts that haunt Northanger Abbey, but while Kit is eager to share their stories, Hattie wants to prove that they don’t exist.

This was a great gender-swapped retelling of Northanger Abbey. Northanger Abbey is told by the perspective of Catherine Morland, who believes in ghosts. I liked that this story is told from the perspective of Hattie, who’s skeptical about ghosts. It gave the story more tension, as she was surrounded by ghost stories and she used to believe in them as a kid.

Ghosted is a great YA ghost story!

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing a digital copy of this book.

After loving Quain’s first book, Accomplished, I knew I had to get my hands on this gender-bent version of Northanger Abbey! Ghosted was fun and entertaining, while covering some heavier topics like grief, loss, and navigating difficult relationships. Quain’s writing improves with each book, and I am looking forward to book two!

Ghosted was pretty cute! it definitely dragged in some parts and some of the scenes felt unnecessary, but I liked the book itself and the chemistry between the two mains was fun if not too fast pace, which is pretty standard for a 17-year-old’s relationship lol I will say, though do not read this book if you’re expecting an actual ghost story. There is a lot of talk about ghosts, but they are not real. A heaping 3 stars for a totally readable. fun book.

This is so much more than I expected. I usually do not read young adult. But this one stole my heart with the great characters.
This story is not only about the creepy Northanger abbey. It is about family dynamics and grief!
I enjoyed this one!

Thank you to Amanda Quain, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of Ghosted!

Ghosted is a cute high school love story. The book follows Hattie, a senior at Northanger Abbey as she navigates applying to college, falling for the new guys who is super into ghosts, friendship, the loss of her father, and a mom who is the headmaster of the school but can't give her kids the time of day.

While Ghosted covers some serious topics, it does so in a funny and sweet way. Hattie is clearly a very high strung kid who feels like she has the weight of her entire family on her shoulders. I found myself very much relating to her fear of failure and need to fit in. The author did a great job reflecting sibling rivalry/love, too.

I felt like the book was well paced and each scene kept the story moving at a nice pace to hold my interest. There was an even mix of personal drama, love interest drama, and friend drama.

The book was very obviously young adult, so it would appeal best to a younger crowd. It would be great for a middle or high schooler.

With a a cute story line, likeable characters, and fall vibes, I'll rate Ghosted a 3.5/5 stars - rounded up to 4.

I really wanted to love this book because it was a modern-day retelling of Northanger Abbey. I love Jane Austen, and I found it disappointing. I could connect with the characters and it had none of the charm of a Jane Austen novel. Had it been an original and not a Jane Austen retelling, I might have enjoyed this better. However, there are better modern retellings of Northanger Abbey, for example the one done by Sarah Price.

I don‘t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. I expected more spooky time for some reason but it‘s also a ya so I get it. And that‘s actually my biggest issue. I‘n not really into ya anymore so I struggled a little bit to get into it.
It‘s absolutely no fault of this book and I would definitely recommend it but can also honestly say, it wasn’t for me