I wanted to like this one, the premise sounds great and I like the cover art. Unfortunately abuse from one main character to the other is not going to work for me. I tried, but was unable to finish.

I’ve been following Colby for years on Instagram and when she announced she was writing a book I was excited to see what she would write. The synopsis and her character art just drew me in and I was hooked. I loved the part where they get to the castle and the descriptions. I felt like I was in for a dark creepy book with romance while ghost wondered around. I just couldn’t continue reading after a while, the fmc was really mean and she had problems with herself and her identity (which I don’t mind it happens) she just didn’t deal with it okay and had lots of hate. Then the news came out with Colby’s whole not being a Native American and I just had to stop reading. Didn’t feel right at that point. I wasn’t that into it and that just told me why.

I was really excited to dive into this book, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t connect with the characters, and I found the FMC borderline abusive, which made it hard to enjoy the story. Despite my initial excitement, this one didn’t hit the mark.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I loved the concept of the book and I loved the representation. I was truly afraid when the ghosts were introduced but something about the romance fell flat for me.

Could not connect to the characters. There were so many gaps in the plot that I couldn’t make sense of what was actually going on. I was really excited for this one because there was real potential, unfortunately it fell flat for me.

Enemies to loves in a haunted house setting, fiery chemistry and fun side characters. Fun vibes with realistic struggle portrayals.

This book ended up being a DNF and now that Wilkens’ behavior and racist cosplaying has been made public, I’m glad I didn’t finish.

I will be separating the artist from the art for the purpose of this review.

This was such a knockout of a debut. I was not expecting the horror to be so present - that's on me for not preparing myself - but I weirdly loved it even more because of that. It was so spooky and SO horny, and I just ate it up. The story is so layered and complex as Penelope and Neil learned more about themselves in relation to one another and their heritage. I loved the pacing of it and couldn't put it down. This story was incredibly unique and special and wonderful.

The Plot was very intriguing but I had a hard time with the main character. I thought I would love this book. The art and the title lured me right in. I was not sold on the romance because it started out with a pretty weird form of abuse and I didn't connect with it.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

I had high hopes for If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens, but sadly, it didn’t live up to my expectations. The premise promised an exciting mix of horror and romance, but in reality, it struggled to deliver on both counts.

The characters, Neil and Penelope, were meant to be the heart of this enemies-to-lovers story, but their development felt rushed and unnatural. Instead of building a compelling, slow-burn romance, their relationship seemed to jump from hatred to attraction without any real emotional build-up. The tension that should have been there was completely missing, and even the intimate scenes felt flat and lacked any real heat. Penelope, in particular, was a tough character to stomach. Her behavior was often abrasive and problematic—throwing a book at Neil’s head was just one of many bizarre, unlikable actions she took, and I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in her.

As for the horror aspect, it was pretty underwhelming. The haunted castle setting felt more like a tired trope than a chilling atmosphere, and the ghostly encounters failed to create any real suspense. I was hoping for something fresh and eerie, but instead, the story felt like it was going through the motions. Add in some noticeable plot holes and inconsistent pacing, and it all resulted in a narrative that felt more disjointed than gripping. Overall, this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

I don’t know how I feel about giving feedback on this since the news came out. When the situation is solved I will review.

Really loved this title. I will recommend it to all my spooky loving romance readers. Really fun especially during the season.

"If I Stopped Haunting You" was a major disappointment for me. The premise sounded intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The plot was disjointed and difficult to follow, with too many subplots that never seemed to tie together. The pacing was painfully slow, making it a struggle to stay engaged.

The characters were another letdown. They felt one-dimensional and lacked any real development. I found it hard to connect with them or care about their journeys. The dialogue was often stilted and unrealistic, which only added to the frustration.

Additionally, the writing style was not to my taste. It felt overly descriptive in some parts and lacking in others, making the overall reading experience uneven and unsatisfying.

Overall, "If I Stopped Haunting You" failed to deliver on its potential. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling read.

DNF- I really wanted to love this one, the cover is everything! I love spooky vibes so much but I just could not get into this story, sadly.

Enemies to Lovers

I picked up If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens on a lazy afternoon and was immediately captivated. The intriguing title and cover art drew me in, and I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it.

This enemies-to-lovers romance has a spooky twist, throwing feuding horror writers Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm together on a writer’s retreat at a haunted castle in Scotland. From the first page, Pen and Neil’s banter crackled with sharp wit and tension, making their mutual annoyance—and undeniable chemistry—completely addictive.

Pen, grappling with writer’s block after her public fallout with Neil, is equal parts fierce and vulnerable, and I loved rooting for her to find her spark again. Neil, meanwhile, is battling his own insecurities after Pen’s scathing critique of his work left him questioning everything. Their interactions are laced with humor and biting commentary, but it’s the way they slowly come to understand each other that truly pulled at my heart.

And then there are the ghosts! The haunted castle is practically a character in its own right, with its atmospheric chills and spine-tingling encounters. The paranormal elements aren’t just window dressing—they drive the story forward, forcing Pen and Neil to confront their fears (and their feelings) while navigating a real-life ghost story. The supporting cast of spirits was particularly memorable, bringing humor, poignancy, and a touch of menace to the tale.

While some of the plot points were a bit predictable, the combination of sharp dialogue, sizzling romance, and eerie thrills more than made up for it. Wilkens balances humor, romance, and spookiness in a way that feels effortless, and I couldn’t get enough of Pen and Neil’s fiery, funny, and ultimately sweet relationship.

If I Stopped Haunting You is the perfect read for fans of romances with bite—equal parts sexy, spooky, and satisfying. If you love enemies-to-lovers stories with a supernatural twist, this book is a must-read. For me, it was the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon, and I’ll be thinking about Pen, Neil, and those unforgettable ghosts for a long time.

Upon finding out that this author has lied about their indigenous heritage, I will not be able to read this or give a further review.

I wanted to like this book, but Penelope made it so difficult. When a book starts with the main characters assaulting the love interest, it;s hard to come back from. I didn't find the romance all that compelling and there was more repetition than necessary.

Cannot truly rate as author lied about being indigenous. I appreciate the arc, but cannot promote a book that took a potential place of an actual indigenous author. For a romance by an actual indigenous author that debuted this year try The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava!

Not sure if I would consider this to be an enemies to lovers but I did really like it. I don’t think there’s enough good paranormal romance and this was a cute read about ghosts and a haunted castle. So you can’t really go wrong!

Also forced to give a one star to this review-I had this on my shelf before things came to light about the author. I'm sure you'll see in additional reviews more details on this. Unfortunately, I have no wish to read anything by this author.