I like to read a romance every now then as a break from my usual mystery / thriller diet. Plus I have read many titles that are listed as paranormal romances, but this book qualifies as neither paranormal, horror, or romance. It has a decent center theme that seems to have been built onto from all sides to become a book I'd almost call a cozy mystery with a few sex scenes thrown in. While it wasn't a bad story, I hesitate to rate it as anything but average. Colby Wilkins has a few publications, her writing shows promise. I'll watch for her next release.

I really wanted to like this but I couldn't get into it. So many great themes, but lack of character development and too many components that didn't consistently come together kept me wanting more.

One character acting extremely unprofessionally then hiding, going to a retreat only to find her friend included the victim of her demonstration was also there? The dynamics were awkward at best and the ramp up wasn't believable.

I felt like the scenery and paranormal activity were there to check the box and didn't really come together as well as it could have.

Could not stand the main character. She was borderline abusive and had no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

If I Stopped Haunting You
Colby Wilkens



Two Native American authors unbeknownst to each other agree to attend a mutual friends writers retreat in Scotland. This will be their first meeting following a disasterous writers panel in which Pen assaulted fellow panel member Neil with a book to the head!

I have re-read this book so often since I was granted the ARC…
It is technically listed as a Sci Fi fantasy romance… I disagree, it should be paranormal cozy romance, sub categorized under enemies to lovers. There is plenty to sustain my position. The book goes of into a lot of different directions seemingly at once. You actually have multiple main characters and they all seem to be speaking at once sometime. Yes, that can be mildly frustrating but when Pen and Neil are interacting toward the end you can better understand why some things had to happen the way they did. Although, I freely admit this ending left me wondering is the author has a second book with Pen and Neil planned…

3 stars Enjoyable, funny and memorable. An unusual story that’s worth the read.






Cons
It’s not the best ending for a non series book.
The quick flips between characters, time periods, and even events can be a bit frustrating.
Both Pen and Neil, flip flop between being egotistical and insecure a bit to much for me. I’m not one for angsty characters.
The Native American bit was poorly done and over mentioned without any real reason or purpose being served. It would not have affected the story one bit it the characters changed racial heritage at all. At that point it just seemed to be in poor taste.




Thank you to Netgalley, Colby Wilkens, and the publisher for the ARC.

Things that go bump in the night!

An intriguing concept but it just didn’t engage my interest. Two writers who dislike each other at a supposedly haunted castle as part of a writing week. They’ve both lost their writing mojo and hope for the opportunity to find it. Pen’s major problem with Neil Storm is that he’s sold out his writings for success. His novels don’t do their First Nation’s heritage justice. Fascinating!
So that premise alone holds so much promise. This was a great springboard. That, along with the enemies to lovers trope should have sparkled, but I just wasn’t on board. I finished the title, skimming mostly. Not what I wanted or intended to do.

A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Unfortunately I really didn’t like this and struggled to finish, despite the author's talent at painting a vivid scene. The plot was slow and the characters were super immature from the prologue. The side characters didn't add any depth for me either. The whole story is based on a lack of communication and a (borderline abusive) public feud. The ghost storyline took up so much real estate and really didn’t feel important to the story, I don’t know. The wrap-up felt lackluster. I also could not have cared less about the writing exercises?? I skimmed and skipped whole paragraphs in those scenes. While I get that they were meant to show that the main characters are awkward together, it felt harped on that they were both struggling to write. I also didn’t see a lot of growth from the characters. They hated each other at the beginning but then Neil was suddenly all “she kinda hot thoooo…maybe I don’t hate her and instead want to have sex with her??” But the sex scenes didn't do anything for me. There was so little lead-up into the romantic relationship that I didn't feel invested.

I liked the Native rep, and while I can’t speak from experience, from the outside, the struggles that were described seemed very realistic. However the execution of the theme being through pretty rivalry between authors (not society) and childish jealousy (along with many glib quips from the one-dimensional characters ("F**k the colonizers," while true, felt out of place and un-funny) left it feeling heavy-handed in a way that undermined the issue. I would have loved to see some resolution where the authors worked to champion Native/BIPOC authors throughout publishing as opposed to just co-authoring a book to signify the end of their feud, and Neil proving to Pen that people didn't actually hate her (this really just validated her awful behavior IMO). I I really tried to like it but never found myself dying to know what would happen or feeling invested in the romance. I dunno, this was repetitive and anticlimactic and just not it for me.

If you want a casually fun and a little bit spooky romance, check this one out! We follow Pen and Neil, both horror authors, both besties with Lazslo, and both trapped in a haunted castle for a writing retreat. Pen and Neil have been enemies of sorts for a while and a disastrous panel at a book festival has both their careers on shaky ground. I appreciated the Native and bisexual representation in this book. I also really liked the ghost's story and the use of the portrait as a creep factor. I really wish this book was maybe a tad bit longer so the romance had some more time to develop. It was pretty quick for my personal tastes. I tend to like a bit of a slower build. I also was hoping for some more interactions for our main characters and the two friends that were also there. There is also the fact I didn't love the initial bad interaction scene where pen throws the book. I feel like it would have been more palatable to other readers if it were more of an accident that got blown out of proportion rather than what we got. I didn't fully hate it, but I just felt like it didn't really have enough reasoning. I tend to like a lot of the characters (mostly female characters) that other readers might find irritating or bitchy; so I found I did like Pen's tenacity, her annoyance, and her struggles with feeling like she's not good enough. Neil did have to grow on me because the first we see him I really didn't care for his smug and kinda smarmy attitude. But we were also in Pen's POV, so that could have fueled that feeling. In the end, I think with a little more development and a little less 'omg she is so short' I would have absolutely loved this book. But I did find it a fun, autumnal read with a little hint of the gothic in the ghost story. So if that is something that interests you, definitely give this one a chance!

The title is intriguing so that was a yes and the cover also was a yes. Too bad the story didn’t live up to the expectations I had going into this story. The characters friction felt completely forced and the reason why they find themselves on a shared trip was flimsy. The friend who arranged the trip pops in and out making it feel strange. Why would someone invite you on a retreat then barely spend any time with you? The characters are supposed to be north of 30 but everyone acts far younger and they resort to playing games like you would at a sleepover. The pace was entirely too slow and I found myself super bored. Maybe this one just wasn’t for me. 2.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Two rival writers, Penelope and Neil, and even their novels butt heads at a writers panel. Time passes, and begrudgingly, these two are thrown into a writers retreat at a haunted estate. Tempers flare in every room, but the added addition of two friends helps balance the crazy. Ghostly figures lurk in the shadows. A hidden notebook full of letters brings light to the situation, blooming in the present and of a past long gone but not forgotten. I liked the main idea of this novel but wish the horror aspect had more depth to it. I see the potential and look forward to this author's next book.

If I Stopped Haunting You brings together an enemies-to-lovers romance with a spooky twist, set in a haunted Scottish castle. The story follows horror author Penelope Skinner, who still can’t shake the memory of throwing a book at fellow writer Neil Storm

Neil would rather avoid Pen entirely, especially after her book-throwing incident left him feeling insecure about his work.

If you’re looking for a light read with a mix of romance and a touch of the supernatural, If I Stopped Haunting You is worth checking out!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this Arc!!

Welp! I so wanted to love this one. First off, I loved the title! How cute is that!?! Plus, the synopsis piqued my interest - an enemy to lovers with a paranormal twist. How fun, I thought. A perfect book for the fall season. But sadly, this book did not work for me. We can't love them all and unfortunately this is the case here.

One of my struggles with the book was not liking either of the main characters. I had a hard time connecting with them. I get they didn't like each other in the beginning. Penelope Skinner loses her cool and blasts Neil Storm publicly and tops it off by throwing her book at him. So yeah, she might have a little temper, impulse control, acting before thinking issue going on. Having someone throw a book at your head does not help Neil with his self-esteem issues. On top of that having your book publicly trashed might cause a little writer’s block. Enter a writer's retreat at a Scottish Castle stage left. It's haunted as well, so let the fun begin.... or not.

As I mentioned, I thought I would love this book. Sadly, it just wasn't for me. I did enjoy the setting, the descriptions, and the banter of some of the characters. This one was just missing that little bit of something (mainly likeable main characters) that would have earned a higher rating. There are many who enjoyed it, so please read their reviews as well.

4.5 Stars ⭐️

I really loved this book. It combined horror, mystery, and romance in a perfect slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers storyline. I was captivated from the start, eager to see how things would unfold. Watching Neil and Pen struggle with their emotions and the tension from their initial dislike made it all the more compelling.

This cute paranormal contemporary romance is brain candy and perfect for the spooky season. Our main characters are rival BIPOC horror authors who both struggle with their Native identity and how to best integrate their heritage authentically within their stories.The prologue provides the catalyst for these authors’ feud and the book starts 5 years later when the two find themselves isolated and together in a haunted Scottish castle on a writer’s retreat. As they begin to better understand each other they also find themselves in the middle of a ghost hunt and must work together to find out why the castle is haunted. Spooky, sexy, spicy and an all around good time.

For fans of:
Lightly spooky
Spicy paranormal romance
BIPOC romance

Out today, October 15th!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my copy; all opinions are my own.

Well this book really started off with a bang...a bang of a book hitting Neil Storm's head. The thrower? His nemesis, Penelope Skinner. There has always been tension, strongly verging on hatred between the two. She is both angry and jealous of his success as a writer while she continues to flounder five years post publication on her first book. She is furious he seems to be feeding into the stereotypes of their people, those within Indigenous tribes, to sell his books. While at a book conference, she reaches her limit, calls him out, and proceeds to throw her own book.

Months later she is invited to Scotland on a book retreat by one of her closest friends. There are two things that will make this trip much more difficult. The castle they are staying in is supposedly haunted, and it was carefully left out that Neil would also be at this retreat. Can Penelope and and Neil survive each other on top of surviving a terrifying ghost? Will they realize their need of each before it is too late? And what is going on with this other couple that is lingering around....?

I don't think I have ever read a horror romance before, so my expertise here is limited; however, I do think it was well done. The imagery of the haunting was done in a way I could imagine it in person or in a movie. I didn't feel the details were lacking there at all, from creaking noises, to changing pictures, to deeply hidden tombs. Throw in some good enemies to lovers romance with SPICE, and you have a winner. The thing I think was missing most here was just a bit more background on Penelope and Neil. They've known each other for years, and while the reason for the "hatred" is explained, their initial connection they always seemed to have had is left a bit unexplored.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had a really tough time with this book. There was such whiplash in tone where the characters are fearing for their lives one moment and about to sleep together literal sentences later. The horror elements are jarring- the author wanted them to be truly dark and scary but the story would have been served much better with more of a cozy vibe. The ghost plot itself was unsatisfying and I was disappointed in how things wrapped up. And I didn’t find any of the characters really lovable. In fact I found the FMC petulant and verging on abusive in her interactions with others. The author chose to refer to characters flipping back and forth between first and last names with no real reason, which made it really confusing on occasion trying to figure out who they were actually talking about. Overall just not a fan of the writing.

Literally could not be happier for Colby and her debut!! It feels like just yesterday she announced that it had been officially picked up, and now it’s here! Colby is such a fantastic writer, and I can’t wait for you all to read this book.

“If I Stopped Haunting You” is a spooky, enemies-to-lovers rom-com surrounding two feuding Native horror authors who get caught at a writing retreat in a real life haunted castle.

Perfect for readers who love
👻Spooky, but not *too* spooky (aka me)
🗡️Enemies to lovers
🏰Haunted castles/ castle vibes in general
❓Mysteries
🌈Queer Casts of Characters

Do yourself a favor and read this book this spooky season! (or whenever, really, just read it!)

this book has all the perfect vibes for a fall turning into winter read!
we've got two Native, rival authors at a writing retreat in a spooky Scottish castle while being snowed in. plus it's fully equipped with creepy ghosts, a caretaker that won't come inside, and no service.
I knew I was going to love this book from the prologue when pen throws a book at neil's head while they're on a book panel together. I can't imagine the field day social media would have with that, but I would place myself firmly in team pen camp 😂
this is a dual pov though, so I loved getting neil's perspective too!
this was spooky and spicy, and i enjoyed every bit of my read!

Nope.

Conceptually this was great. A ghost story RomCom that takes place at a haunted writers retreat with Scooby-Doo vibes and an indigenous cast.

The ghost story was quite good, and also enjoyed the commentary about writers vs. the pressures of publishing especially as a person of color. I found the romance plot to be forced and lacked believable tension.

Content: Several open door scenes and profanity.

Overall did not enjoy.

I received this as a complimentary digital book by the publisher through netgalley. All the opinions states are mine.

I really enjoyed reading this! It had me at the edge of my seat the entire time.

This book was really well written and I believe it holds an important message about not assuming what others go through and not to judge people.

I could see why Pen was upset with Neil and why she said and did what she did. I'm glad that she did grew from her anger once her and Neil talked and got to finally understand each other. I really loved the ghosts story and the mystery that was woven throughout the book. It felt like I was playing a Nancy Drew game. The setting was perfect done, the atmosphere was tensed and spooky af. The way the author wrote the spooky scene was pretty top tier and ngl made me a bit spooked in the moment as well. I got so lost in reading that the rest of the world muted around me and I was getting chills.

I keep seeing this book get such bad ratings and I honestly don't see why, it's a really good book. Perfect for the spooky season and a good Enemies-to-lovers. The writing was hella easy to read and I really enjoyed this book. So to everyone who's interested, please just give the book a chance, you might end up liking it yourself. Don't feel bummed out by the bad reviews and trick yourself into thinking you'll hate it, you never know, it might just be one of your favorites!

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a spooky romance to read this spook season, to fans of Nancy Drew, and fans of Enemies-to-lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley, st Martins press, and the author for giving me a E-ARC for a honest review.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me ): I was really excited for this one, the concept and the blurb really had me hooked, but unfortunately once I got into the actual book, the hook was gone.

The FMC comes across as insecure, petty, and just straight up mean. The MMC is pretty bland, so sadly they don’t even balance out well to create any chemistry. There was almost nothing about them that convinced me they’d be interested in each other at all.

Without a main character to be interested in, the rest of the story was falling flat for me, and just wasn’t something I could bring myself to continue.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the ARC.