Acorn makes a living by scamming people into believing she can talk to the dead. When one of her clients has a very tempting deal for her, Acorn knows she can’t pass it up (especially for the money). Acorn arrives at a goat farm anticipating to “cleanse” an evil aura after multiple failed attempts of it selling. Insert Charlie, who inherited his family’s farm. He is completely against what Acorn does and doesn’t believe for a second she can communicate with the dead. Until, Everett the real life ghost shows up and Acorn actually does see him. She has one month to convince Charlie that he can’t sell his property or else he risks making himself a ghost. Acorn starts to realize that being herself is the biggest con of all.

I loved Mrs. Nash’s Ashes so when I saw the next book of Sarah’s I immediately requested to review. But, something lacked here and I’m not entirely sure what. Don’t get me wrong, it was super cute and charming. Especially Everett who I came to love. I think it lacked chemistry for me between Charlie and Acorn. I also felt like there were parts that dragged out for me and caused me to lose interest. Overall, I think if you can look beyond that and a slow burn is for you, then this book would be something.

✨ Review ✨ Happy Medium by Sarah Adler; Narrated by Mara Wilson

Thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

I LOVED Sarah's first book and couldn't wait to get a copy of this one into my hands.

Gretchen Acorn, child of a con man and (fake) spirit medium to the wealthy women of NYC, believes she has a conscience. She only helps and takes money from the wealthy while she's helping them feel better and improve after their losses. When her best client gives her $10,000 and sends her to do some sort of exorcism of a ghost on her friend's farm, Gretchen agrees somewhat hesitantly.

When she gets there, she finds that there's a real ghost she can talk to (wild after years of pretending to be a medium) and that the resident of said farm is anything but an old man. The ghost convinces Gretchen to stay and convince the goat farmer not to leave the farm, or he too will fall victim to the same curse he did.

I'm obsessed with this set up -- it had me pulled in from the beginning! And I really loved how the story evolved with Gretchen, a ghost, and a farmer all in the farmhouse together, surrounded by goats and goat soap and goat cheese and sweaters.

I love the weird quirky delights of books that Sarah Adler writes, and the way it blends that quirkiness with romance and a character's personal journey. Can't wait to see what she writes next!

🎧 I listened to most of this on audio and really enjoyed the narration. It brought a sense of lightness and fun that mirrored the quirkiness of the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: f/m contemporary romance with a side of the paranormal
Setting: a goat farm
Length: 11 hours 38 minutes
Pub Date: April 30, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ goats and sweaters and farms
⭕️ earnest ghosts
⭕️ romance surrounded by lots of other plot action

Gretchen Acorn’s fake spirit medium business is going well so when her most lucrative customer asks for her help for a friend, she agree’s to go off to the country to “help” vacate a ghost from a farm. What she doesn’t expect is to actually see that ghost, hear why he is haunting the farm, and stick around in the country for a month to try to convince the cute, young, farmer why he can not sell his farm and move to the city.

It’s kind of unconventional to have your heroine be a con-woman. I’ll admit that have a fake medium business is probably on the low end of the con spectrum, but I did have a little trouble buying what she was selling. Of course, so did the young farmer, Charlie. He however because charmed by her good looks and spirit whereas I remained skeptical that a romance between the two of them would ever be believable.

I’ve enjoyed Sarah Adler’s books in the past so I was somewhat surprised I was having so much trouble with Happy Medium. The redeeming character was Everett, the ghost. He was a quirky character but added some much needed humor and was a foil to Gretchen making her seem reliable and “normal”. He was a ghost with questionable morals after all.

Happy Medium, for me, was just an ok story. As I mentioned, I had trouble with the main character and if I can’t love the heroine I’m not going to love the story. I’m sure there will be plenty of other readers who will adore this story, but I have to go with my gut on this one and give it a three rating.

This book is so cute! But with much more depth than I expected. And funny! But also had me tearing up at the end. Gretchen and Charlie both have all sorts of very different baggage, but it was so nice watching them sort it all out. And Everett! Friggin’ hilarious. Reminded me of Hall in Sarah Hogle’s Just Like Magic, and that is a good thing.

I received a copy of this book from Berkley.

This is definitely a topic I never read before! A goat farm being haunted by a ghost/romance is a new one for me!
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Gretchen is not what she seems. She is pretending to be a medium and gets hired to figure out why a goat farm isn’t selling. She’s off to “cleanse” the farm but encounters a legit ghost. Everett has been haunted the farm since the 1920’s. An entertaining ghost story mixed in with a romance made this a fun one.
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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This book was so cute & different. The author’s idea to incorporate a friendly ghost into this contemporary love story was so fresh and exciting to read.

Gretchen, a fake spirit medium, gets roped into helping out a small town farmer get rid of the ghost haunting his land. There’s just one problem - Gretchen cant actually converse with spirits. Well, not until now. Because she can not only see this handsome - straight out of the 1920s - ghost, but she can talk to him too. And boy, is he chatty.

A delight from start to finish.

Gretchen is a fake medium who has just been given the job of her life - one of her wealthiest clients is paying her to help her bridge partner. Charlie, the bridge partner, is trying to sell his farm, but something keeps stopping it. When Gretchen arrives she’s shocked to find 2 things: 1 - that Charlie wants nothing to do with her and 2 - that there is a literal ghost actually stopping the sale from happening. Everett, the ghost, just wants to save Charlie from the family curse that has led him to haunt the farm since the 1920s. Now Gretchen has to convince Charlie that Everett is real and stop him from selling the farm.

The ghosts and baby goats made this book! Their antics were hilarious and so much fun! This was definitely a unique story and I appreciated that Gretchen told Charlie about Everett’s presence right away instead of it turning into a miscommunication. While this story was cute, it didn’t grab me quite the way I wanted it too. While Everett was a phenomenal character, I wasn’t rooting for the romance as much as I should have been. Surprisingly, for a girl who usually isn’t into fantasy or paranormal stuff, the paranormal aspects were my favorite part of this story! I adored Everett and his antics and honestly wanted more of him!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you Berkley! First of all, this cover is everything and more. Next, the concept is great. Very unique and the perfect set up for lots of banter. The opening scene confirms this. I love that the FMC has a questionable moral compass but isn't outright unlikeable. Overall, I've never read something like this which is saying a lot in an industry that's currently being compared to fast fashion. I look forward to reading more of this author.

I wanted to like this one more than I did. Part of the problem was my scant sympathy for Gretchen basically being a con artist. Ick. Even if she's ripping off the wealthy, she's still ripping people off by gaslighting them. Second, the ghost I think was supposed to be funny, except his behavior was more cringe than comic. Though he did have good moments.

But add those to miscommunication being heavily relied on as glue to hold the story together--my least favorite trope ever--and the lack of real romance until the book was nearly half over--it seemed that I was just not the reader for this one, though I adored her last. Mileage varies!

First of all, let me just say : GOATS. Baby goat. Goats and sweaters. Goats and yoga. And, most importantly, goats and ghosts. This is a charming romcom about a con artist working as a medium and faking speaking to the dead who is contracted to go out to a haunted farm and shocked to find an actual ghost that only she can see, along with an extremely handsome goat farmer struggling to keep his family business afloat. He distrusts her from the moment he meets her, but he’s too nice of a guy to leave her stranded, and they find themselves working together in force proximity. She wants to save him from a curse that could kill him; he wants to save his farm. Neither of them want to be attracted to the other, but that part, like the ghost haunting the place, is out of their control.


Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Romance, and Sarah Adler for this eARC. This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First, this book is just plain fun! A fake psychic medium is tasked with ridding an old goat farm of its resident ghost. Imagine her surprise when she can actually see this ghost! All she has to do is convince the hot farm owner that she's not a con artist. (She is a con artist, but not in this particular case.) The ghost himself is playful, irreverent, and fun and I loved him just as much as the living characters. (There are even adorable baby goats in this book!)
It's a quirky, steamy, heartwarming read and this is the first book I've read by Sarah Adler. Call me an insta-fan. I have to go back and read her first book now and I'm dying to see what she comes up with next.

A fun rom com with....ghosts and goats! Gretchen has been cobbling things together serving as a medium to wealthy clients in the DC area but she's reluctant to take on an exorcism because, well, she's not a real medium. The money-$10K-is enough to have her pack her bag, hop a Lyft and take a look at the goat farm said to be haunted. And it is- by Everett, who, much to Gretchen's surprise, she can actually see and talk with. Charlie, the handsome goat farmer who came home from his work on yachts, is skeptical of Gretchen, doesn't believe in Everett, but needs help so Gretchen finds herself watering goats among other things. This is a slow burn of a romance with good dialogue, not only between Gretchen and Charlie but also Everett, who, btw, loves television. Charlie's got hidden depths, Gretchen has never allowed herself to have a friend, and they band together to save the farm. It's light, it's funny, and it's charming. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. An excellent read.

I almost DNFed this book.
Not because I didn't like it. Not because it was uninteresting or took a while to gain my attention. On the contrary, it had me from the very creative first line of chapter one.
No, I almost DNFed this book because almost halfway through Gretchen did a thing that peeved me off so royally—which was entirely the point, by the way, one of those moments when you just want to yell "What are you doing?!" at the main character—that I had to take a break from her and wasn't sure when I'd be able to tolerate her again. Then I felt the call to at least return for Charlie and Ev and proceeded to finish the rest of the book in a day.
It was so, so good. Gretchen was an incredibly dynamic character and watching her emotional growth was just such a blast, despite my earlier comment. Everett was the best character, hands down. A perfect addition to the cast. And Charlie was so surprising. I felt like I was constantly being kept on my toes with him. And when she finally confessed? When they finally came together? WHOO boy, that was so good. I loved everything about this book and I'm so excited to recommend it to everyone in my life.

Thank you to @berkley for the gifted copy! Thank you to @prhaudio for the ALC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!

Mrs.Nash’s Ashes was one of my favorite reads from last year, and when I read the premise for Happy Medium I was so excited: a pro BS-er aka fake Medium, who takes a job from one of her long-time clients to exorcise a “haunted” farm for a man whose ready to sell it, only to discover an actual ghost she can talk to. Romance, a TV-obsessed ghost, and baby goats ensue.

This was such an endearing and fun romance! I loved every minute. Mara Wilson’s narration didn’t miss, she brought these characters to life so well. I loved Gretchen and Charlie, they were such great characters and worked so well together. Gretchen went through a great emotional arc and her relationship with her father (iykyk) and the resident ghost: Everett, were so well done.

I loved this book so much, and now I meagerly awaiting Sarah Adler’s next novel! Happy Medium releases April 30th.

This book cemented Sarah Adler as one of my favorite authors!! Mrs. Nash’s Ashes was so great I was excited to see what Sarah was going to do next and it didn’t disappoint! It was so creative and unique I had such a fun time reading. Gretchen was so relatable and it was a pleasure to read her journey. This book had me cracking up, crying and swooning! I can’t wait to have this book on my shelves!

Happy Medium by Sarah Adler was the perfect mix of heartwarming, and comedy, sentimentality, and supernatural elements. Gretchen Acorn, a fake spirit medium, faces an unusual challenge when her wealthiest client asks her help to explore the mysterious happenings at a troubled goat farm. While Gretchen knows she is a fraud, she does encounter an authentic spirit named Everett, who has been present at Gilded Creek since the 1920s. Everett tells her that Charlie Waybill, the owner of the farm, cannot sell his property or he will be cursed. Of course, Charlie does not believe Gretchen, let alone her psychic abilities. Somehow she needs to convince Charlie she is telling the truth.

There are comedic elements and emotional depth, depicting Gretchen's adjustment to her new duties and requirements as a medium, the implications of a family curse, and her evolving romantic feelings towards Charlie. Everett was a charming presence in the story and his wit added humor and depth to the story. Charlie was truly a kind and loving man who sees right through Gretchen, pushing her to see some uncomfortable truths about herself. The banter and off the charts chemistry between Gretchen and Charlie was perfect; though Everett absolutely stole the show.

Ms. Adler wrote an enjoyable story that blends comedy, sentimentality, and supernatural elements. All of the farm life adventures from goat yoga, to selling soaps at the farmer’s market, and the manual labor, allowed me to visualize the story as I it.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Berkley

Since this book is almost out I want to say I’ll not be able to give a full review yet but as of now I’ve tried to read it twice and the writing is just not working for me. I might try to read it again in the future, but sadly for now it is a dnf.

Gretchen Acorn is con artist. She pretends to communicate with the dead but really can’t She does have rules though, she never hurts people and always leaves them better off. One of her best clients offers her a bunch of money to cleanse a friends haunted farm. The offer is too good to turn down so Gretchen finds herself knocking on the door of a very skeptical, grouchy handsome Charlie Waybill. He has no need for Gretchen’s services and demands that she leave his property. When she does she literally runs into, or should I say through an actual ghost, Everett. He is a dead relative of Charlie’s and convinces Gretchen to stay and save Charlies life due to a curse.

This was quirky, fun, sweet and romantic. There was some great banter between the characters and I absolutely loved the friendship between Everett and Gretchen. A very unique story and premise that worked really well.

4 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:
Gretchen Acorn is a con artist. She pretends to be a medium to rid rich people of their money. But when she actually interacts with a ghost, nobody is more surprised than Gretchen.

My Thoughts:
There was a silly ghost. Some goat shenanigans. And some love. I was expecting more LOL moments. And overall liked it!!

4.25⭐️
this was such a sweet, funny, heartwarming book and I had such a good time reading it. The characters had great depth and it was such a lovely read. Would definitely recommend!!