Pretty sure if a "hero" assaulted his girl in the prologue and then gaslighted her into believing it wasn't a big deal, we wouldn't be calling it a romance novel. The gender swap doesn't make it any better. She literally gets into a throwing stance and chucks a book right at his head, making him bleed. Excuse me? This was a miss for me from the first few pages, and things didn't improve much beyond that. I wasn't a fan of the writing style and I definitely wasn't a fan of the female lead, so it was an easy DNF for me.

If I Stopped Haunting You🏚️📝
Pub Date: 10/15
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martins for a digital ARC of this book. I don’t normally love paranormal stuff but this seemed like a fun romance so I thought I’d give it a try. For the first 70%, I loved it!! The enemies to lovers was incredible. I loved the tension and banter. I was mostly focused on the romance and didn’t care so much about the ghosts. Being stuck in a haunted castle was a fun setting but the ghosts haunting them got old. I didn’t care about their story and just wanted to focus on the romance. TBH I wish there was a little more romance, things didn’t pick up until about 50% but it was still a fun Rom-Com! This would be a perfect read for Halloween time so make sure to pick it up. or Summerween as i’ve been seeing a lot😂🎃

Read if you like:
🏚️Enemies to lovers
🏚️Forced proximity
🏚️Rivals
🏚️Spooky castles

Where do I start? Well, it’s a romcom set in a haunted castle in Scotland, so that had my attention. We’ve got Penelope Skinner, a horror author with a penchant for throwing books (and shade), and Neil Storm, the walking, talking embodiment of “I’m too sexy for my own good” with a side of bestselling author angst. They hate each other, they’re stuck together, and the only thing scarier than the ghosts is the tension. 

Penelope, our delightfully irate protagonist, decides to flee her self-imposed writing exile by attending a too-good-to-be-true writers' retreat. Little does she know, the “too-good-to-be-true” part includes being in the same vicinity as Neil Storm. Yes, Neil, the man who probably cries into his pillow because Pen called his book soulless. Honestly, the drama between these two is so thick it’s palpable (ifykyk). 

And let's talk about Neil, shall we? The poor man is still nursing a wound – both emotional and physical – from Pen’s last book assault. He's hoping to find inspiration to break through his writer’s block, but the universe has other plans. Cue spooky shenanigans and an almost-kiss that leaves both of them even more confused. It’s all very Casper meets Pride and Prejudice.

Now, the ghosts. Yes, there are actual ghosts. And they’re not just lurking around for ambiance. No, they’re actively meddling in Pen and Neil’s love-hate relationship, which is equal parts hilarious and ridiculous. The supernatural element adds a nice twist, keeping the bickering duo on their toes – and sometimes in each other’s arms, because what's a ghost story without a little forced proximity?

The dialogue is snappy, the sexual tension is palpable, and the setting is so atmospheric you can almost hear the castle's eerie whispers. But let’s be honest, folks: this book is the literary equivalent of a rom-com where you know exactly how it’s going to end, but you’re here for the ride anyway. And what a ride it is. 

Would I recommend it? Sure, if you’re in the mood for some light-hearted spooky romance with characters who are as stubborn as they are endearing. It’s not going to haunt you long after you’ve put it down, but it’s a fun romp while it lasts. Just keep an eye out for flying books – they seem to be Penelope’s weapon of choice. 

Three stars, because while it’s a bit predictable, it’s got enough ghostly giggles and heated glances to keep you entertained. And hey, who doesn’t love a good enemies-to-lovers story with a supernatural twist?

The description really had me thinking I'd love this one - horror writers on a retreat at a haunted castle, enemies to loves, spooky sexy times? Sign me up!

But something just didn't sit right with me. The way the characters speak to each other alternately feels unrealistic and like we're in the middle of a conversation we don't understand because it wasn't set up in the best way. Sometimes the author forgets characters are present and it gets confusing for the reader (literally had me wondering what the background characters were doing because they just pop in and out like fairy godmothers or something).

Then we're given a fun location and it's a big part of the story, yet it's not given much foundation. A lot of this is missing foundation imo like some of the middle could've been given to more background on the castle. I don't know, it felt very shoe-horned at the end and I was left annoyed by that because I wanted to know more and learn more. There's also the fact the two leads refuse to tell their two BFFs about the ghosts, the ghost apparently cuts out the internet whenever the leads are awake, conveniently, but like the other two couldn't be asked to just, I don't know, google some info about the castle? The haunted castle mystery was about the level of a Boxcar Children's book and obvious from the start, but the author has to play the MCs as dumb to make the solve believable. It's a lot of frustration. The two leads don't feel believable together either, which I can't explain why. Maybe Neil would be into Pen but I have a hard time believing the reverse, even after reading the book.

I'm just on the fence with this one. I want to like it more than I did, I guess.

Took quite a long time to read this book (3 months at least). Initially when i read the description i was quite intrigued by it. However, as i started reading, i couldn’t bring myself to continue reading the book each time. Additionally, the headers for each chapters i thought it was going to be dual pov but it wasn’t, i was kind of confused at it. However, despite all i did managed to complete reading the book and i did get hooked abit at the later part where all the action kind of happen.

3.5⭐. This book was an exciting paranormal romance set in Scotland. I'm no writer, but I want to visit a haunted castle in Scotland now and help bring peace to a couple of ghosts. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about Pen. I wasn't a fan of her problematic behaviors at first, yet at the same time she is just human. I love a good growth story and of course, an enemies to lovers trope. Neil and Pen's growth in the literary world was endearing and I loved seeing how they each navigated as BIPOC authors and the struggles they endured. Although it's hot as hell in July, this cute and spooky book is making me wish for fall and Halloween!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy!

Title: If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens
Genre: Romance/Cozy Horror
Pub Date: October 15, 2024

Enemies to Lovers
Haunted House Horror
Native Representation
Dual POV

I'm sorry to say this one wasn't for me. The book literally began with the FMC assaulting the MMC (threw a book at his head and made him bleed) because she didn't like something he said 🚩 The FMC continues to blame her inability to write on him well after the event.

The house they're staying at being haunted was mildly amusing, but it didn't make the toxic relationship between MCs palatable. I tried because the idea seemed like it would make for a cute and cozy fantasy, but ultimately I couldn't get into it.

Penelope’s public meltdown at BookCon marked a thrilling start to her journey which took her to a haunted castle in Scotland. The clash with best-selling author Neil Storm, accused of selling out Native people with stereotypical portrayals, led to her self-imposed writing exile plagued by guilt.

I found Penelope’s character development challenging. Despite her evident passion for the Native cause, her volatile and judgmental attitudes towards Neil often left me frustrated. Her tendency to hurl accusations before fleeing the scene struck me as counterproductive, hindering her progress as a character.

On the other hand, Neil’s patient and reserved demeanor, though initially uninteresting, offered a stark contrast to Penelope’s fiery temper. His admiration for her work and dedication to the Native cause hint at depths waiting to be explored. I found myself eagerly awaiting his development, yearning for him to assert himself in the face of Penelope’s confrontations.

The realistic portrayal of Native horror writers and their struggles within the industry was a commendable aspect of the story. However, the rapid transition from enemies to lovers between Penelope and Neil felt rushed. Years of animosity diffusing within a day seemed improbable, although the entertaining banter and sexual tension between them were captivating.

The supernatural elements, including spooky encounters and the presence of ghosts, provided an added layer of intrigue. Certain scenes sent shivers down my spine, but the resolution of the ghost story left me wanting more. The lack of explanation of the ghost’s connection to Penelope felt like a missed opportunity and could have added depth to the plot.

If you are looking for a quick read with supernatural elements and spicy romance, give this book a try.

Thank you to Ms. Wilkens for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

I really wanted to like this book especially since I am a lover of both romance and thriller/horror but, sadly, this fell so flat on both genres. There are some authors who can do the genre hybrid really well but, in this case, the romance was "meh" and the thriller wasn't all that thrilling. I find that some authors just need to stick to one genre and really get that honed to them jump into other ones. I kept wanting more sizzle between the two of them (not necessarily explicit scenes... just more connection) and I just never got it. And the horror side of things was so lackluster.

Penelope, in general, was so annoying. I know I don't always have to love a FMC but she was not likable in the slightest and her playing the victim was thrown in our face so much that it was hard to not cringe after awhile.

I will say that the writing wasn't poor but the plot was predictable (too predictable) and not well thought out enough for me to give this a higher rating.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

dnf @ 71%

I wanted to keep going off principle, but the more I thought about returning to this book, the more I dreaded it.

There's so much to like from the concept of this enemies to lovers, horror-romance mashup about two Native authors, but here's my gripe about this recent uptick in genre blends: there's not enough of either, and the inception of them feels like a desperate attempt to grasp the waning attention spans of the TikTok generation. In If I Stopped Haunting You, there wasn't enough emotional character development to sell the romance--where it was already lacking, because Penelope and Neil went from all-out hate to lust within, like, 100 pages--and the horror was thrown in like the flavor of a La Croix, a whisper of something you won't catch unless you're really searching for it. Don't get me started one scene in particular, where Penelope and Neil supposedly see this grotesque, skin-rotted ghost and aren't rattled enough by it to prevent them from having sex by the end of the chapter.

Genre gripes aside...Penelope was also not a very likable character--the victim complex is STRONG with this one--and the side characters (whose names I don't even remember) were thrown in as set pieces, not as actual characters.

I wanted to like this SO BAD. Truly. But the annoyance I felt reading it only built, and built...

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a unique concept and I really liked it! Who knew I needed horror romance in my life? 😂

This book was a mess. It tried to be too many things at once. It tried to SAY too many things at once without saying anything. I felt like it was maybe originally a YA novel or perhaps a "new adult novel?"? Except the publishers told the author that sex cells so let's make them almost in their 30s and have sex a lot.

I was almost finished with the book, and it felt like I had ordered "Beach Read" from Shein. Even though I didn't like this book, I am willing to give her second book a try? It's basically lesbian Indiana Jones.

I was given an advanced reader copy by Netgalley. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher. I am not being paid for this honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this Arc!

This book is both horror and romance. I don’t really like to be scared so like why would I read this book?? I don’t usually read horror so to me it was a bit creepy at certain parts, but it wasn’t super scary overall. I’d say this book is mild horror, so win for a scaredy cat like me! The romance was good, but I did feel like their switch from enemies to lovers was a little fast and their hating each other wasn’t built up enough for me. But Neil?? I loved him 😭🤍
Overall this book was good, I’d recommend it when it comes out ☺️

I really tried with this book, I picked it up and put it down a few times before I was able to finish it.

Paranormal romance, enemies to lovers, fiery chemistry, horror, cozy vibes.

I wanted to love it, I wanted to love the characters but I didn't. The book follows the two main characters at a writers retreat in a haunted Scottish castle, navigating through it. Loved the side characters, I had a hard time getting into the relationship between Penelope and Neil, their relationship fell flat for me.. I wish it was a bit faster paced, a little less repetitive. I will try and reread in the future to see if my opinion changes!

This book had very good detail and a good style of writing. I love the characters and unique names and nicknames. The book is also the perfect size for new readers. Even though the book was super good I personally don't like the genre mix but I know there are people that for sure will. Its just a personal opinion because i love horror and romance but it is just not a good enough mix for me. You did write the horror side of the story very well though. I don't think I've been scared reading a book before but that was changed after reading this. Great book!

Thank you!

DNF at 83 pages, I just couldn’t connect with the main character and I found out that paranormal romances are not my cup of tea! I might pick it up again in the future and I think it’d be a great book for a different reader, much love!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy. The book's premise—mixing horror, romance, and humor—sounded like a fun departure from the usual, especially given its high early ratings on Goodreads.

I truly wanted to give this a better review to support the author, especially as she weaves her Native American and queer identity into the story. The queer representation was handled with a light touch through side characters and humor, while the Native American perspective, highlighting challenges faced by BIPOC authors, was integrated into the main romantic plot.

However, I found the book lacking in several areas. While the writing itself wasn't poor, which saved it from a 2-star rating, the romantic and "horror" plots were too predictable and unengaging. The "enemies to lovers" romance lacked real tension, and the sex scenes, despite detailed descriptions, felt empty and uninspired. The ghostly plot was overly exaggerated, lacking subtlety and believability, even within a fantastical context.

Overall: 3/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Plotline: 3/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Tropes: F/M Romance; Rivals to Lovers; Forced Proximity; Paranormal Romance

Themes: 4/5
Romance: 3.5/5
Spice Factor: 1.5
Enjoyment Factor: 3/5

Review: This was fine as a romance, I enjoyed the topics of inclusivity especially when it comes to the Indigenous population and think that this could spark important topics within the publishing world, but with that placed in a paranormal romance it was almost too many things for a short book. The ghost mystery didn't super make sense by the end. The characters were good, and I liked their dimensionality throughout the story. I wish the romance had more time to develop since there were so many plotlines going on it was hard to focus on their romance.

Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm are writing rivals. It hadn't been the same for either of them after Penelope threw a book at Neil at Book Con. So when they both realize they are going to the same writing retreat in haunted castle Scotland, well, neither of them are happy about it. But as the retreat begins, they both find themselves in a real life horror story.

I love, love my romcoms and contemporary romance. I haven't really read anything that is this genre-romance with a dash of horror-so I found it unique. That was what initially got me interested. When I started reading, it definitely gave spooky vibes that I didn't want to read it at night (but maybe that's just because I get easily spooked). On to our main characters, Penelope and Neil weren't shy showing their hatred for each other, but underneath all that hatred, was also a lot of sexual tension and misunderstandings. Once they called a truce, communicated, and had worked together, their indifferences turned to understanding and something more.

> Enemies to lovers
> Forced Proximity
> Spooky vibes
> Steamy sexual tensions

This book seems unfinished.

There was clunky and awkward dialogue throughout.
Character A would ask Character B “what?” multiple times only for Character B to respond with “nothing” way too much.
The mystery/gothic element a the heart of this supposedly spooky story didn’t feel like it hit the mark for me.
I feel like some readers will love this, but I found it didn’t work for me.