I can't say that I was a fan this book. I understand that this novel could be considered erotic, which might shock some readers going in blind. But my real issue was with the question of realism. What do you mean by realism in a fantasy novel, you might ask? Simple, I have a hard time believing that the characters would be right in the middle of something absolutely terrifying only to turn around and say, "Wow, we were nearly killed by a supernatural entity. Let's get it on." I'm pretty sure most people would react differently than immediately going at each other as soon as the killer ghost disappeared. I would think that at the very least, they would want to take a second and deal with what had just happened. And it would have been just as entertaining to see how they dealt with it as any racy sex scenes.

This was a bit of a let down for me. I was excited to read this based on the description, but I just couldn't get into it.

2.5 stars, it honestly was "just okay"

So, I will start by saying that I know nothing about the author, so any of the controversy surrounding her "authenticity" as a representative of Native American authors is only what I've managed to pick up from Reddit. I did not know any of this when I requested the book, so when I learned about the controversy, I decided to go into it with an open mind.

She addresses some of the challenges of being an author when you're in a marginalized group, and I appreciated that about it. While I don't know if she legitimately comes from Indigenous people, it seems that for her family, it's been a source of pride, so who am I to discount that. I feel that she tried to address this issue in a realistic way.

As for the story itself--sadly, it was not that great. I didn't really like the main character, even if some of her questionable behavior was because of the struggles she experienced as an indigenous writer--she wasn't very likable. Neil was also a bit oblivious and while he wasn't offensive in any way, he didn't exactly worm his way into my heart. As for their two friends, I wasn't a fan of either, even if Lazlo supposedly saw that they were destined to be together. Daniela was particularly annoying as well. I think I was just expecting more from this book--at the very least, I was hoping for likable characters. In the end, they sort of grew on me, at least Penelope and Neil, but I'm not sure I would continue with the story even if the author decided to write more.

There were some good moments, though. I loved the scenery and the atmosphere of the spooky castle, and I liked the housekeeper as well. But overall, the story was just not my cup of tea.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this book, because the premise was incredible, but it just fell short of the mark. I also read about this author pretending to be a person of colour

No…terrible. I couldn’t get past 20% of the book & I had to force myself to get that far. Absolutely dreadful writing. I hated the characters. The plot seemed like it was going nowhere.

"If I Stopped Haunting You" offers a unique blend of romance and supernatural intrigue, set against a vividly depicted haunted castle. While the atmospheric elements are compelling, the character interactions and thematic explorations may not resonate with all readers. Those seeking a light, spooky romance might find it an enjoyable read, but others may find it lacking in depth and character development.

Going forward I will not be reviewing this author due to recent information that has been released.

This title has high hopes from me but it felt very generic and that it did not hold up to what was listed as tropes/indicators in the summary. The characters felt very one note and I didn't seem to connect with either Neil or Pen. Their relationship did not read as "enemies to lovers" but more so just "enemies." I did not like this and Pen was rather cruel and I was not rooting for her.

I had high hopes for this book, as I loved the premise and the writing, however it unfortunately fell short for me. And as the author pretended to be an indigenous POC person in order to market the book, I do not feel comfortable promoting. I hope that the author can learn for the mistake and come back from it, as their second novel looks good and I would love to give them another chance!

I’m sorry, I just didn’t enjoy this book. Despite giving it a chance, I couldn’t connect with the story or the characters in any meaningful way. The pacing felt off, and I found it hard to stay engaged. The writing style also didn’t resonate with me—it felt either too forced or too complicated at times.

If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkins wasn’t quite what I expected. I went into it thinking it would be a light, cutesy paranormal romance, but it leaned more towards a mix of romance and horror, with a solid enemies-to-lovers twist. While that in itself wasn’t a bad surprise, some parts of the story left me a bit frustrated. Penelope, the main character, was especially hard to connect with at times. Early on, she throws a book at Neil, the love interest, because she’s upset his book is more popular than hers, blaming it on his use of stereotypes to portray indigenous characters in his writing. This conflict was interesting, but felt a bit heavy-handed at times. They also seemed to go from enemy to lovers pretty quickly once reunited.

Additionally, the characters' bisexuality seemed like it was just added for the sake of representation, rather than being an organic part of their development. It didn’t feel fully integrated into the story, and it took away from what could have been a more authentic connection between the characters.

Overall, while the book had potential with its unique mix of paranormal elements and romance, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The tone felt uneven, and the characters’ motivations sometimes seemed forced. It might appeal to readers who enjoy a bit of darkness mixed with romance, but I wasn’t fully sold on it.

I was so excited to read this just from the cover alone and then I was a little bit let down but I still had a lot of fun reading it! Although, it kind of felt a little bit instalovey to me after the initial hatred wore off. Also, I felt like the story was sort of repetitive. The main characters would go over to the supposedly haunted section of the castle and then decide not to go down the hall over and over again and it just got to a point where I didn't care anymore. I was also a little bit confused as to why it was haunted in the first place. The reasoning didn't seem that serious to me lol. The side characters were also pretty pointless in my opinion. Despite all that though, it was definitely an interesting read. I was definitely expecting a little more romance than mystery/thriller but it kind of made it more fun to read. I'd be interested in reading another book by this author but we'll have to see what the summary is like.

I could not get into this book at all. I found both main characters to be very obnoxious and the plot wasn't moving fast enough for me. DNF.

*If I Stopped Haunting You* by Colby Wilkens has an intriguing premise, blending elements of supernatural suspense and romance, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite live up to its potential. The concept of a ghost haunting someone who may or may not be aware of it is unique, but the execution left me feeling disconnected.

While the writing style is engaging at first, the pacing drags, and the plot often feels muddled with too many unaddressed plot threads. The characters, particularly the protagonist, lacked depth, and their motivations weren’t always clear, making it difficult to become invested in their journey. The emotional connections felt forced, and the story never fully explored the eerie, suspenseful elements that the premise hinted at.

Overall, *If I Stopped Haunting You* had a lot of promise, but it didn’t quite hit the mark. It’s an okay read for fans of quirky ghost stories, but it falls short when it comes to delivering on the emotional and supernatural intrigue I was hoping for.

If I Stopped Haunting You delivers an intriguing blend of romance and the supernatural, set against the eerie backdrop of a haunted Scottish castle. The premise is undeniably compelling—two rival authors forced together at a writers’ retreat while navigating both ghostly encounters and unresolved tension.

The novel’s strongest element is its atmospheric setting. The castle feels alive with its history, and the spooky elements add a layer of intrigue that keeps the pages turning. However, the character dynamics, particularly the enemies-to-lovers tension between Penelope and Neil, felt underdeveloped at times. While their banter was engaging, Penelope’s animosity toward Neil sometimes came across as excessive, making it harder to connect with her as a protagonist.

The pacing also had its ups and downs. While the buildup was suspenseful, the resolution—both in terms of the supernatural storyline and the romance—felt somewhat rushed. Additionally, external controversy surrounding the author may impact readers’ perceptions of the book.

Overall, this is a solid read for those who enjoy atmospheric romance with a ghostly twist, but it may not fully deliver on its initial promise.

Noooooo. Why ugh I wanted to love this. The premise sounds so good. The execution here just didn’t work out for me in the end.

If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is a haunting and thought-provoking romance with a supernatural twist. The story follows a ghost named Thomas who, after his death, continues to haunt the woman he once loved. As he navigates the limbo between the living and the dead, he struggles with whether to move on or stay connected to the past. The novel blends elements of love, loss, and the afterlife, creating a poignant and emotional journey for readers. Wilkens weaves a narrative filled with mystery and heart, making it an evocative read for fans of paranormal romance and emotional storytelling.

This book is my current obsession. From the writing to the storyline I don’t know what I’m obsessed with more!!

Could not finish, felt childish and impossible to like the MCs. I don't get ho books like this get picked up. They both were immature to the point of madness. Penelope is horrendous and so unlikable it's unreal. There was also no horror to it, which didn't bother me, but if you selling that part of the book than make it worth it for readers than want that going in.

we love a haunted theme romance! I've never read anything from this author before, but I'm not sure if this is for me. It was a super cute time and the romance was fun, but nothing really stuck out to me. It felt like a fluffy time in the moment, but not many feelings afterwards. I will probably still recommend this to my audience because I'm sure this will be perfect for some readers!

I wanted to really like this one - it seemed like such a fun premise. But it wasn't nearly as much fun as I expected. It was hard to find much to like in the two protagonists - and I'm not a reader that "needs" to like the characters in the books I read. But these two - it was really difficult for me to pull for them as a couple, despite their obvious mutual attraction. I was pulling for them to get some therapy before they got together. The haunted house aspect - wasn't great, wasn't awful. It all just fell a bit short in a lot of areas. The narration by Curtis Michael Holland and Kyla Garcia rose above the content, and my rating gives a little extra credit for that. Maybe it was me, maybe it was my mood, maybe I'm just not the target audience - it's clear that there's an audience for this one judging by the overall ratings. It just wasn't the romcom/ghost story mashup I was expecting.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Dreamscape Media for providing copies for an unbiased review.