Never has a book had me giggling at the romance and banter while simultaneously scaring the socks off me, but does “If I Stopped Haunting You” do it all! 😱

This book was so enjoyable! It was perfect for that spooky fall feeling but also had some heartwarming characters and some fun spicy scenes 👀.

I didn’t know what to expect of this book to be honest, I’m not much of a horror, thriller, etc kind of girl but the fact that it takes place in my favorite country in the world, Scotland, and that there was a rivals to lovers romance… sign me up!

If you’re a fan of spooky books but also love a good romance, then this book is right up your alley! It had me giggling but also putting the book down at night because I was a bit spooked out.

I loved both our main characters, Neil and Penelope. I found them both a complex but also still easy to understand. As two horror authors who, as their friend Laszlo put it, are fighting for the same shelf space, they really misunderstand each other in the beginning but boy do a few bumps in the night and a snow-in in a haunted Scottish castle change that! I think they both had a lot to learn about each other, but I love the he falls first story!

The friends, Daniela and Laszlo, are such little pot stirrers! I loved it! While Laszlo is clearly serious (to a point) about this writing retreat and his writing exercises I think it’s still clear how important his two friends are to him even though they hate each other. Daniela on the other hand, definitely along for the ride, she’s just existing for the drama between these two and I’m here for it. Loved how much they kept betting on their friends to get together. It felt very real in how these friends would act.

The backstory of the haunting was giving such gothic vibes and felt like I was trying to figure out a regency mystery! It felt like Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen in the sense that the spooky-ness was being poked fun at by the characters but also feeling very real to them. I did actually have to put the book away at night sometimes because the creepy scary stuff really spooked me out! And I gotta say, I loved it!

Overall a super cute, super fun read! Would recommend if you don’t mind the spooky bits!

this book was an absolute flop, you couldn't pay me to care and go out of my way to compliment this book. there was so much potential with a justified raging fmc and i just couldn't like her at all. not to mention the mc's had zero chemistry i swear i've seen dust bunnies with more chemistry.
this was: boring one-dimensional toxic in the worst way a waste of time and space
NO THANK YOU
thank you to netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for this honest review

If I Stopped Haunting You was a really decent debut with a blend of romance and supernatural elements.

It’s dual POVs of the main characters, Penelope and Neil, who are both horror authors that are snowed-in together at an authors retreat.

There are some great tropes like rivals to lovers, snowed-in, he falls first and hard, forced proximity and a slow burn romance.

While I personally cannot speak for the representation throughout this book, I did feel that it was beautiful handled by the author. I really just loved seeing Indigenous representation.

The overall premise was entertaining. There was a bit of mystery, spookiness, and romance. The Scottish Highlands and haunted castle setting was amazing. There were also some amusing, sweet and intriguing moments.

However, the pacing of the story was very slow and the big reveal of the haunting quite underwhelming. The main characters rivalry also felt a bit immature. I wished there had been a bit more character growth/development. There were definitely just aspects that could have been more developed upon.

The romance was cute though. While, their romantic development was a bit rushed they still had some sweet and heartwarming moments. There was also a bit of spice, which was great.

Overall, just a quick and easy read with some spicy romance and spookiness.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I can't give an actual review for this book. When I opened it to begin reading there was a content warning in the beginning for explicit sex scenes and foul language. Not my thing. I will not be reading this book.

Unfortunately I couldn’t stand the FMC, but I cannot begin to understand the rage she felt as an indigenous person. I don’t see how Neil and her had any connection, there was too much anger and immaturity on her part. I loved the premise, the friend banter and the paranormal/ haunted mansion setting.

The cover and description pulled me into this book, but unfortunately this one just didn’t work for me.

I love a raging female, but the beginning scene left me not caring for her at all.

I get that she’s got issues with this author and his writing, but to be so negative because he’s a more popular writer than her felt icky to me.

I actually found myself agreeing with Neil and I don’t understand how he ever fell for her even caught up in a spooky gothic mansion.

I do feel like the author might have been projecting her frustrations with publishing through her main character and I see potential in future novels. There were fun parts in it for sure.

I’ll definitely be watching for another one of her books.

This was a fast read but I admit I have nothing much to say aside from that. I didn’t enjoy the romance because I didn’t see any real connection between the main characters. They hated each other and then started liking each other without any meaningful interactions, and I never felt like they actually knew each other at a deeper level.

The writing was good and the setting was very interesting, though it annoyed me how the Scottish characters spoke. Seriously, there’s no need to write their dialogues with an accent! Mentioning that they’re Scottish is enough!

I do have the ARC of the author’s second novel because it’s F/F and the synopsis really makes me want to read it. I hope I have better luck with that one.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the eARC!

On a roll for all the spooky season/fall reads. This is a good choice if you’re looking for something a bit more contemporary romance with some paranormal elements. I didn’t really feel like the “horror” elements could be described as such, but that’s a personal preference. If you’re someone who is just starting out with paranormal romance, this is a good starting point.

I liked paranormal stories and the character was enjoyable. Enemies to lovers stories are a plus to me and I took my time reading this story . I will be reading more from this Author.

In this enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance, two feuding writers end up on a writers’ retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland. The mix of lustful romance contrasted with solving a ghost mystery shouldn’t work but it does and was so much fun to read! I had a hard time putting this one down because the pacing was brilliant. Another unique angle If I Stopped Haunting You brings to the romance genre is the representation of native writers and their struggles in the publishing industry. Both Neil and Penelope grapple with their native identity and how to be true to themselves while also writing a bestselling book that people want to read. Wilkens does a great job of creating a haunting gothic atmosphere with the castle setting and I honestly found myself feeling a little spooked as I read this book before bed! If I Stopped Haunting You was the perfect Halloween jaunt and I’m eager to read more from this author.

I wanted to like this so, so badly. But unfortunately I had to DNF after Penelope threw a book and hit Neil and left a scar. A scar! That is not what I expected in an enemies to lovers, spooky rom-com and I couldn’t get passed it, unfortunately.

The premise of this sounded so cute and interesting, but it unfortunately fell short for me. The relationship felt incredibly forced and superficial. What was supposed to be enemies to lovers felt more like insta-love. The haunted castle felt cheesy and not at all scary or suspenseful. Overall, it just fell flat.

Adorable premise, but unfortunately the FMC just doesn't resonate with me. She isn't someone I root for, but instead she comes off really toxic. Had a lot of hope for this book, but there wasn't enough redemption in the ending for me.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, this one wasn’t for me. The main character came across quite abusive. The relationship was toxic. I hate to give a bad review but this one wasn’t for me. :(

This book is a spooky romcom perfect for this fall. I love reading these kinds of books during the chilly season. Thanks netgalley and st martins press

Loved the premise but unfortunately I had to DNF at 25%. Pen just wasn't working for me I didn't like her attitude or how she spoke to people, the scene was not set up at all which left me lost on the whole reason they are at this writing retreat, and the reasoning behind being enemies??? Girl that is you're fault not his like it just didn't feel that serious (maybe I am wrong and it is, that is totally fine I just don't feel the need to stick around and find out).

The premise of this book sounded so cute and fun. I was excited for a romcom set in a haunted castle with two enemies/rivals romance.

So, what made this not work for me? The assault right up at the front. When someone intentionally throws a book hard enough to leave a scar? That’s honestly unsettling. If the roles were reversed and he hit her? Would that be okay? No. This could’ve been done with Pen missing Neil — but no.

I really wish things were done different but she gaslights and blames him. And I just feel it was toxic and not cute. Also way too many usages of “fingers”

This book, and this author aren’t for me.

This was not at all what I expected or wanted this book to be. I was hoping for a fun, paranormal romance but got an obnoxious, annoying main character that I did not want to read about.

If I stopped Haunting You follows two Native authors who are rivals turned enemies on a writer's retreat in a haunted castle. This book has so much potential. It was a mix of romcom and spooky haunted vibes that could have been a very cool combination. Unfortunately for me I think this fell short in the writing. A lot of showing, not telling. The issues were resolved so quickly and we were left with a still snarky FMC who was also mushy gushy somehow. The romance didn't work for.

I did enjoy that the two MCs were both Native and navigating what that means within the publishing world, and how they even had preconceived notions about the other.

This one was ok. I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers plot. I also enjoyed the haunted location. The ghosts added a fun twist. I just thought the story was a little slow. I was glad to get a resolution on the ghosts backstory by the end though.