⭐️ ⭐️ .5

Easy-read, very fast paced! The plot was a tad to simplistic for my liking.
It was not what I would describe a slow burn romance either, the romance fell flat for me.
I did like to see the Asian-American representation and family dynamics at hand.
The ending felt slightly rushed. Overall, this was an okay YA book, with slight middle grade elements added to it.

An energetic, fast-placed and easy read. Did enjoy the dialogue and characterisations, although the plot did feel too simplistic for my taste. Overall, a solid debut novel.

[arc review]
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
If I Have to Be Haunted releases September 26, 2023

<i>“It’s easy to chase after ghosts. It’s harder to live with them.”</I>

Cara, the 16 year old main character to this story, lives in Autumn Falls, is an only child to a single mother and immigrant, and has the ability to see ghosts.

Her high school enemy is Zach, and they have the typical type of annoying dynamics that you’d expect to find from hormonal teenagers.
They end up being paired together on a school assignment, and that serves as the catalyst for the rest of the events to follow.

On the same day that Cara and Zach agree to meet at her treehouse in the Wildwoods to work on their assignment, Zach gets bit by a signet snake and becomes a ghost. He now has 7 days to be retethered to his body before he’s gone for good, and he needs the antidote and the help of Cara who is a ghost speaker to be a living anchor.

Zach basically threatens to haunt Cara unless she helps him with this whole ordeal.
The thing that rubbed me the wrong way was that she exploited him for $12K and a recommendation letter for college. For someone who made it known how much she hated how privileged he was and how he would use it to his advantage in an asshole way, she sure didn’t have any issue holding it over his head in a literal life or death matter which was kinda gross.

The premise from afar was interesting at first, I’ll admit, but quickly becomes so contrived.
Cara’s mother is so overbearing (look, I get it, Asian family dynamics, I grew up the same way) but to ground your kid for a week because she had a petty argument with someone during lunch hours over promotional flyers? That’s so weird.
Then, Cara lies to her best friends, coach, workplace, and anyone else that matters, saying that she’s hopping on a flight to China because a family member is sick?? It makes no sense. Wouldn’t people in the town get suspicious when they still see her mother there going to and from work?

The story completely lost me once they travelled through the liminal space and encountered a cannibal and monsters. It started to feel very middle grade fairytale/fantasy instead of an urban paranormal which I wasn’t expecting.

I was never fully convinced of their romance and wish it was left platonic. Zach went from “ew I can’t stand you and I don’t want anything to do with you” to “I’m your protector, I’ll take care of you and tend to your wounds, I’ve always loved you” which was so uncharacteristic and too quick of a 180 turnaround.

The epilogue makes it seem like there could be a prequel/sequel, which makes sense for all of the loose ends surrounding Cara’s grandmother, but is kind of annoying as a reader because I came into this with the mindset of a standalone.

cw: racial microaggressions

(I feel like I need to clarify because my rating on this one doesn’t make sense/might seem harsh — it’s not a badly written book and I would recommend it to the right audience — the subgenre/middle grade feel just didn’t do it for me and there was a real lack of depth)

If I Have to Be Haunted was a great book. It kept me on my toes and stayed unpredictable throughout. It was truly a slow burn romance as the author promised and it was so worth it in the end. I couldn’t get enough of Cara and Zach and their complex relationship that dates all the way back to when they were kids. As an Asian American, I also appreciated the representation and the complicated family dynamics. The writing is beautiful and the banter is just chef’s kiss. I am recommending the book to everyone I know, have preordered, and will likely read it a second time.

This book was very good, and I loved the romance. I do wish, however that Zach had been a bit more developed as a character. Towards the end with the things he said to Cara, it sounded a bit stilted, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. The vivid descriptions of the setting and magical elements were amazing, and I truly felt that I could imagine the ghosts in the story. Overall this was an enjoyable read, and you should definitely read it!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this one! It was entertaining from start to finish. I loved the discussion of racism and the musings about death. Cara is a relatable teenage protagonist and I love that she didn't agree to resurrect Zach only out of the goodness of her heart. Cara's relationships with her mother and grandmother were so well written and the pressure she feels is all too relatable as a Chinese American. I enjoyed all the characters and Cara and Zach's adventures.

However, the plot was a tad bit too straightforward for me. There is a conflict, they embark on a quest to solve the conflict, they solve it, the end. There were no twists or surprises, and it felt too easy. I also thought Cara and Zach's relationship at the beginning was very contrived, because why did they hate each other? Then, they fall in love in the span of a week, which wasn't realistic. I couldn't pinpoint when their feelings began and they saw each other differently.

Pretty sure there's going to be more in this world, which I'm excited for.

Miranda Sun’s debut novel is a YA entry into the world of ghosts and the supernatural. Cara can see and speak to ghosts. Zach is the jock that won’t stop loving to annoy her.

The plot really begins when Cara and Zac are forced to go on a journey to the liminal world to save Zac’s life. There they encounter a ghastly cannibal, ravishing monsters and a deadly, duplicitous snake.

Overall, I thought this one was a fine YA book. The ending left it open for a sequel. I’d read it.

I was confused a bit by the mixture of Greek mythology when I had expected the book to include Chinese mythos.

The storyline was a tad Middle Grade to start but had YA elements throughout.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I devoured this book. I loved Cara and Zach and the evolution of their relationship —from ugly fights to silly banter to risking their lives for one another. The ending had me in tears, but it was so good. I really thought this would be a standalone. The main story was tied up nicely, but author did pave the way for a sequel that I cannot wait for.

Cara can see ghosts, not that she wants anyone else to know. She has spent years ignoring the spirits that haunt her days, literally. Between arguing with Zach, her mother, and her grandmother, it's all Cara can do to get through the day. When Zach winds up dead, Cara is the only one that can return his spirit to his body. Despite her dislike of him, she embarks on a journey through the liminal world in search of the cure to join his body back to his ghost. Along the way, who knows, she might find out Zach isn’t so bad after all.

Enemies-to-lovers is a bit of a stretch when it comes to Zach and Cara. I’d say it’s more of an annoyed-to-lovers situation. Zach and Cara’s first interaction were screaming at each other, over school posters. We never get a full explanation as to why they despise each other so much. I mean, it’s implied that this rivalry has been going on since they were children. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why six-year-olds would have already declared each other arch-nemesis and stuck with it. If the rivalry had developed in junior high/high school because of academics, sports, or friend groups, I could understand that. Teenagers are vicious and petty. Of course, it only takes a week of close proximity for these two lovebirds to overcome at least a decade of hate.

The fantasy element was more prevalent than I thought it would be. Cara and Zach travel through the liminal world in order to save him, which was a lot of fun. It's an equal combination of good and bad, with fantastical creatures and cannibals. It wasn’t so much a separate world, but another dimension on top of the real world. I wish we had gotten to spend more time building those fantastical sights. Most of the world-building is minimal in favor of using those words for dialogue.

The coincidences in this book are a little much. Our protagonist and Zach get themselves in a lot of scrapes along the way, which, makes sense. Instead of getting out of these using wit and invention, we conveniently discover something to save the day! On three separate occasions, a power, person or excuse steps in at the last second. It was like mystery-mouseka-tools took over.

Cara’s relationships with her family were well-written. Her grandmother and mother have different ideas for Cara’s future, and she finds herself caught between the two women. Her Grandmother wants her to embrace her ability to see ghosts, while her mother's convinced she should hide it. The tension between the three women was believably written, and relatable. Generationally, a lot of women feel pressure from matriarchal figures. Cara’s anxiety and deep-seated desire to please both women are a big trigger for her self-growth throughout the book.

This is not a standalone, unfortunately. While the main plot wraps up and is given a solid conclusion, there are still so many unanswered questions. Quite frankly, I don’t see how this can be a series. There is not enough substance to drag the overall plot out. It’s hinted that Cara’s grandmother is keeping some huge secrets, the beginning scene isn’t explained, and the story behind how the curse came to be isn’t clear. There is also an epilogue that threw me for a loop! If the author had answered these big questions, I would have enjoyed the story more and probably rated it higher.

Overall, this was a solid debut. I think this will work great for younger teens trying to find some spooky books, and for those who want a more light-hearted Halloween read.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

NOTE: there is racism in here. Twice, Cara (Asian-American) and her friend (Black) are both called slurs. Cara recalls several encounters where she and her mom were treated differently for how they looked, and how her mom spoke English. Please check trigger warnings for the whole book!

I loved this teen fictional supernatural/fantasy coming-of-age with a sprinkle of romance! Cara was a super relatable character for me in her struggle between her mom and her grandma's approval, all while trying to figure out what *she* really wants too. The slow-burn, antagonists-to-lovers romance between her and Zach was fun and full of delightful banter!

Cemetery Boys meets Legendborn feels like an accurate way to describe it so I think fans who enjoyed those, will absolutely enjoy this! The Chinese American representation was so nice to see :) I'd absolutely read from Miranda Sun in the future.

4 ☆

if I have to be haunted is a thrilling story that takes readers on a captivating journey as cara, a ghost speaker, and zach, her newly-deceased high school nemesis, try to find a way to bring him back to life.

although it doesn’t have the strongest start, the book quickly picks up in pace and stakes and by the 40% mark it becomes quite unputdownable. cara and zach’s quest is beautifully written, the descriptions of the places they visit are vivid, and their interactions are filled with humor and exquisite tension, which I adored (meaning: they often had me crying.) also tear-jerking: cara’s strained relationship with her mother and the toll it has on her, and the reflections on her identity that follow.

something that I really appreciated is how the resolution wasn’t rushed or came out of nowhere: they had to fight for it; they earned it. for that to happen they had to tackle a lot of obstacles, resulting in a book that was more adventure- and action-packed than I had anticipated.

honestly, this was such a great debut. miranda sun did an amazing job in developing and executing what is such a cool concept and I have no doubt in my mind that she will go on to even greater things.

thank you to harperteen for the arc in exchange for an honest review! all opinions are my own.

Enjoyed the asian rep-- it's always good to see a FMC of Chinese descent and have their culture represented throughout a book. I think our YA readers will find this a fun, engaging read. Adding to our collection!

Three things I liked about the book:
Always love a Chinese MC and being able to see myself represented!
The book was well paced and the romance felt like it progressed at a good pace and didn't feel forced
I always love seeing pinyin in stories- it feels like it was made for me and all my other Chinese school girlies

Sun's debut book is fun and a good mix of character and plot driven. The main characters have great banter and are both charming characters and I always like seeing a mixup of texts and letters in a story. This book would be good for people who are looking for a low fantasy To All The Boys or something similar to The Mediator series by Meg Cabot!

Would I purchase it: I pre-ordered this book for my own library!

I weirdly hated the first half of this book but then loved the second half. It gets better as it goes along, ending on a banger cliffhanger that has me wanting to read book two already. I think my problem with the first half is I hated the male love interest, Zach. It felt like he was very lacking in personality, but something shocking occurs a few chapters in with him that made me keep going. Because I wasn't really connecting with the romance or half our important characters, I wasn't really finding the humor funny either, but by the end I was laughing. Also, there's a Percy Jackson reference and lots of greek mythology references which is cool. I love the contrasting creation/destruction and ice/fire in this book. It was a bit all over the place, but overall a fun adventure and a strong YA paranormal debut

I received a free e-arc of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I give it a 4.5/5
Absolutely fun, cute yet serious adventure. When the main characters are 16 it can be "to highschool" but Sun does an amazing job with them being young but like cliché. The relationship the main character has with her mother is realistic and easy to relate to. The tension throughout the whole book with the FMC and the MMC is so wonderful to read and I loved how cute yet set in their ways they were with each other. I was not expecting the adventure to be what it was and it was a lovely surprise. The small cast of characters makes it a joy to read and to really learn how they are and not to busy. Wonderful read can't wait to own a physical copy!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. While the premise was interesting I didn’t connect with the characters or the story in a meaningful manner. Some books just aren’t for us, and that’s alright.

This book has got a beautiful cover and a great backstory. Cara, a Chinese American who can see and speak to ghosts, has had to hide her powers since forever, as her mother hopes they will eventually go away. One day, she finds the boy she hates the most has died, but according to the story his ghost tells her, there is a chance they can bring him back if they can find the antidote to the magical snake that bit him within seven days. But for that, Cara would have not only to use her powers but also put her own life on the line.

The universe built here seems very cool if you discount the scary ghosts (and humans). Magical creatures, ghost hunters, helping people who died make the passage. Cara can actually see the deceased grandmother she never met in life, and this grandmother is a badass helping ghosts. The part of how conflicted Cara is with her mother wanting her to forget all this and with her grandmother who wants her to learn everything, it's also very relatable, even if none of us are in the art of ghost speaking. And during the development, we're taken on a journey through all the possibilities the book universe can offer: fantastic lands, terrible humans, beautiful creatures that should not exist. If you're not a fan of pure fantasy but like a book that doesn't stay too grounded, this is a great mix of contemporary and fantastic.

However, I'm not a fan of adventure. The cover and the description made me believe this book would be more centered on all the drama going on—and there's a lot. They do explore each of them coming to a good conclusion. But the focus is on the literal journey Cara and Zach must take to find the antidote. And to me that was very boring. Again, this is a me problem, who isn't into action unless I'm really in the mood for some. I wasn't.

One more thing I didn't realize until I was way past the middle is that this is written to be a series. There is so much they bring up in the story that never gets explained... To be honest, even for something that needs some loose ends to be continued, I got teased too much. For example, right in the beginning Cara's grandmother mentions Zach's grandfather. I may have not realized that they answered it, but I don't think they ever did. So did this have to have been so in the beginning, like it was a big twist to be expected? I didn't even know it was a series, if it will really become one (as of now, July 2023, Goodreads doesn't mention anything).

It's still a nice read with different elements that make it refreshing.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

The premise of this story sounded very interesting but there were a lot of factors in the book that I was confused about and just overall unsatisfied with. To start, I wish there was more personality from Cara and Zach. This book was advertised enemies to lovers but it was such an abrupt change, especially considering how genuinely annoyed they seemed of each other throughout the book. We don't really get to see how Zach has always cared for her, despite his claims, and I wanted there to be more development on this. Also, I feel like the romance came way too late and by the time they admitted their feelings, I didn't really care much for it and I just wanted the story to end. I didn't have any particular interest in any of the characters and they all felt flat to me. We barely get any background on how their rivalry started and we don't really get any details about how their feelings develop either. And speaking of characters, Brittany's role was SO confusing to me. I still don't really know what her purpose was other than to give Zach and Cara a little help but there was barely any background or lasting impression from her. Personally, I feel like they didn't really need the addition of Brittany's character.

Plot wise, I was rather bored with the story and felt like nothing really happened. There weren't many moments where I was engaged with the story and I was more reading it just to see what happens. The story was rather predictable and I would have loved to have more background on the Snakes. I did appreciate the author's dip into Cara's identity as a Chinese American but it would have been great to see more of it! And going back to the characters, Laolao's absence when they first start their journey really confused me. I feel like Laolao's character could have been used to further develop the magic system, which I was already quite unsure about (this was especially as we venture through all the different spaces/environments). I did think the epilogue was interesting and I'm satisfied with how the story ended though I did expect more from the book as a whole.

First off, thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC.

If I Have to be Haunted was one of my more anticipated upcoming books, so I was really stoked to get the ARC. Overall, this was a delightful read that was truly YA without trying too hard to be adult or edgy.

I loved the relationship between Cara and Zach. The slow burn, enemies to lovers was so great. There were good moments of tension and uncertainty and amazing banter.

Cara's relationship with her mom and grandmother was really well developed and helped to heighten the stakes with Cara's choices through the book.

At times the world and magic building were hard to follow, especially when they entered the liminal world, and I found myself rereading some parts to clarify what was going on.

Overall, this book was a fun YA read & I'll definitely pick up the sequel that the epilogue seems to set up.

If I Have to Be Haunted starts with Cara who suppresses her ghost speaking abilities to appease her mother who doesn’t approve of her daughter having anything to do with ghosts. Cara has kept that part of her life a secret but, her maternal grandmother—who also happens to be dead—encourages Cara to embrace that side of herself. That all changes when Cara’s nemesis, Zach, dies and she is the only one who could help resurrect him.
I loved the relationship between Cara and Zach, their years of tormenting each other are well fleshed out and the banter between them was excellently done. I loved that they were childhood nemeses and that they just never let that go.
Now, what I didn’t expect was the two of them having to go on a quest and well, that definitely was entertaining, especially when Brittany entered the mix.
It was a fun book to read although I did feel there were a lot of threads left hanging and parts I wish were a little more fleshed out. Hoping the sequel dives more into Cara’s family history because there was a lot left unsaid in that regard.
Thank you HarperCollins Canada for the arc!!