This has an interesting premise but I didn’t get sucked in. The characters were not people I related to and some of their decisions annoyed me. While it had some good moments, overall I didn’t really enjoy it or remember after I finished.

3.75 stars

I really liked the second half of this book. This first half (or more) was slow and felt off. It felt like their heritage was just thrown in there and played no other part of the story. And then we have Pen who chucks a book at Neil’s head - like what?! There are almost too many issues to unpack there.

The parts I really enjoyed were once they arrived at the haunted Scottish castle. I love a good story that takes place in a castle. I enjoyed the hunting around to learn more about Georgina and Archie the resident ghosts. And Georgina was definitely creepy.

Overall, the second half of the book is what redeemed the story for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

I really wanted to like this, but Neil and Penelope were such an awful pairing. Penelope gaslight the crap out of Neil, was frankly quite abusive (especially with throwing a book at his head and scarring him), and then Neil just finds her to be an absolute goddess?? How?? When??

Not only does the enemies to lovers happen all in about 24-36 hour span, but it is the most dry and poorly written lead up to their new found love.

Oh and the paranormal part which isn’t as big as I wanted in the story?? Yawn.

For how often they discuss being Native as well, it doesn’t do much but try to explain why Penelope should be justified in her hatred of Neil (spoiler she’s not justified).

The plot of this book is refreshingly unique, blending elements of mystery and supernatural intrigue in a way that feels both fresh and engaging. It was a captivating and innovative read that kept me thoroughly invested from start to finish.
However, while the journey through the book is exhilarating, the ending felt a little subpar compared to the rest of the story. It left me wanting a more satisfying conclusion.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

I was excited to read this book the moment I found out what it was about. Who wouldn't be interested in a romcom that takes place in a spooky castle. The mystery surrounding the haunting at the castle was something that captured my attention right away. The banter between the main characters was also amusing. Loved how the story started off with Pen throwing a book at Neils head, I just found that so amusing. There were a couple of slow parts in the story but overall enjoyable. I would read another book by this author.

Thanks Netgalley and goodreads for an advance copy of the book.

This was a great debut! It was such a fun read with beloved tropes done well! I'm looking forward to reading what this author comes out with next!

I adored everything about this book! It was unique and spooky, and I had the best time reading this! I loved the dynamics between all the characters, and had a lot of fun with the side mystery plot as well! I think their chemistry was extremely well done and I loved these characters a lot! I think the pacing was perfect, and I had a hard time putting this book down without constantly thinking about them! The setting was so different and fun, and I think it was such a fun idea! This is a fantastic, well written debut novel and I am extremely excited to read more from her! I will post a full review on my socials closer to release since it’s still a bit of time before release!

gracias netgalley por el arc. dnf al 30%

NO LO SOPORTO MÁS!! intenté ponerle la mejor onda porque es el primer libro de la autora y me dieron un arc pero no puedo forzarme a leer esto.
penelope es una pelotuda y no la soporto, neil tiene la personalidad de una planta, la escritura es malísima, el supuesto misterio es re boludo, el enemies/rivals to lovers es patético si en el prologo ella habla de lo lindo que es y en el capitulo CUATRO casi se dan un beso

IF I STOPPED HAUNTING YOU is a spicy and entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of paranormal touches that are often fun nods to horror classics such as Shirley Jackson's THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE. The enemies-to-lovers trope between the main characters Penelope and Neil also delves into how they have been pitted against one another by traditional publishers as "the competition" in large part because there are still abysmally few Native writers who have managed to successfully break into traditional publishing. Both Neil and Pen are horror writers and indigenous people who have each struggled to tell their authentic stories because the publishing world still seems to want to whitewash their experiences or promote negative stereotypes about their people. Despite the fact that Pen and Neil start out as rivals in the story, they've both secretly admired one another too. Neil has admired Pen for being brave and not letting any publisher coerce her into telling her stories differently from how she wants to write them. Pen admired Neil's earlier work and looked up to him as a role model she could aspire to be like as a writer until she felt he sold out to achieve traditional publishing success. But as they are holed up together for a writing retreat at a haunted castle they slowly begin to understand each other more fully and their attraction begins to transform their animosity into passion of a different kind. As for the ghost story, the hauntings in the castle are introduced in creepy and fun ways such as the feel of cold fingers grazing one's neck, names whispered in one's ear, and the compulsion of Pen to want to open that door in the forbidden and spooky west wing they've been told to stay away from. It lends a bit of mystery to the story as well that made me want to keep reading to figure out how they would resolve whatever was keeping these spirits trapped in the castle. All in all I recommend this book for fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope who also like a bit of spookiness mixed in with their romance. I want to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the chance to read this free eARC in exchange for this honest review.

This book was a super cute and horny. Even the ghost being like "in front of my salad" it was great. The enemies/rivals to lovers was on point and the background characters were so fun. Already recommended to a couple friends for when it's released

This book is an enemy’s to lovers trope which can be entertaining.
Two writers that don’t like each other and at a writers retreat in a haunted castle in Scotland.

Hard a hard time really getting into this book. Loved the idea of the book but writing style wasn’t for me.

Suddenly, I'm already looking forward to spooky season! If you're looking for a book that will scare you, this isn't that. But if you want the perfect drizzly day read to pair with a PSL, this enemies-to-lovers romance is the one for you.

This had a good set up, a group of horror writers on a writers retreat set in a haunted castle in Scotland. However, it did not deliver and I didn't find any spooky moments.

For the romance? Well it is sort of enemies to lovers in the way most enemies to lovers tends to be very one sided or born of a misunderstanding and a large dose of body betrayal. I had difficulty with Penelope's character. I didn't find much about her redeeming and found myself just feeling sorry for Neil. Like, I wanted to reach into the book and pull him out and set him free to find real love.

Anyway, this was a miss for me.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

This book does a great job at going into why these main characters of Pen and Neil are "enemies to lovers" and the reason they are enemies is a real one. Its a fascinating situation about a community of Native horror writers and particularly two that are at odds but also drawn to each other. I really enjoyed the main characters of Pen and Neil. I thought there was a lot of character development with Pen being a person that impulsively acts without thinking when she preceives her fellow indigenous horror writer (and previous object of her admiration) as having sold out in his writing. Neil also has this pull toward Pen despite her impulsive behavior and he comes to some realizations about his own writing and interacting in this writing community. It was a refreshing read because they are definitely imperfect people that are working on theselves in this out there ghost story situation. I could not put down for the relationship and character development throughout but there is also a great setting of a haunted Scotland castle. These "at odds" writers find themselves together on a writing retreat in this haunted castle which provides the supernatural backdrop in constrast to their real world issues they brought with them. This is a good read for the main relationship progression and I would call the haunted atmosphere a fun bonus. Definitely recommend.

New to me author, with a ghostly premise! I was super excited for this one, but unfortunately, there were a few things I couldn't get behind, so let's get into it.

BLURB: An enemies to lovers romance with a spooky twist where two feuding writers end up on a writers retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland

It's been months since horror author Penelope Skinner threw a book at Neil Storm. But he was so infuriating, with his sparkling green eyes and his bestselling horror novels that claimed to break Native stereotypes. And now she’s a publishing pariah and hasn’t been able to write a word since. So when her friend invites her on a too-good-to-be-true writers retreat in a supposedly haunted Scottish castle, she seizes the opportunity. Of course, some things really are too good to be true.

Neil wants nothing less than to be trapped in a castle with the frustratingly adorable woman who threw a book at him. She drew blood! Worse still, she unleashed a serious case of self-doubt! Neil is terrified to write another bestselling “book without a soul,” as Pen called it. All Neil wants is to find inspiration, while completely avoiding her.

But as the retreat begins, Pen and Neil are stunned to find themselves trapped in a real-life ghost story. Even more horrifying, they’re stuck together and a truly shocking (extremely hot) almost-kiss has left them rethinking their feelings, and… maybe they shouldn’t have been enemies at all? But if they can’t stop the ghosts pursuing them, they may never have the chance to find out.

Full of spooky chills and even more sexy thrills, If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is the funny, fast-paced romp romance readers have been waiting for!


So this book, had really great potential, with everything I love. A romance with a cozy paranormal vibe. However, maybe the issue was that I don't LOVE the enemies for lovers trope. Besides that, I didn't really love the heroine. Her motives, and rationale that causes the "enemies to lovers", felt like it could have been fixed with some adult conversation. Honestly, this ruined the overall vibe for me.

If I Stopped Haunting You is a beautiful mix of horror and romance - and while that doesn’t seem like a combination that would work, it just DOES. I was so gripped by this book that I finished it in less than a day because I quite literally refused to put it down. I was on edge with the haunted parts, simultaneously pulling away from my kindle (as if that distance would save me from the ghosts they were encountering) and bringing my face closer to the screen so I didn’t miss anything. The storyline and character development? 5/5. There was literally nothing about this book that didn’t please me. Colby? Take a fucking bow. This book was amazing. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I loved the premise of this story. Two enemies stuck in a haunted castle who realize they actually like each other. Enemies to lovers and forced proximity are two of my favorite tropes so I was excited for this ARC. I think I set my expectations a little too high so that could be why I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I didn't really connect with the characters and found myself not invested in their relationship. I would've liked to see more tension and buildup in the relationship.

Overall, I give this book 2.5 stars. I think I would've enjoyed it more if the romance was more of a slow burn and the characters were more developed. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

I *adore* the trope of enemies to lovers and was excited for this book. Unfortunately, the main female character literally, actually commits a horrible act of physical assault on the main male character (as in, he's bleeding from the assault and scared for his safety). And there is no accountability, nothing happens to her, the assault is glossed over and she portrays herself as the victim because she ends up depressed. I don't know *how* the author thinks we're supposed to root for the FMC or how the author thinks that the FMC is justified in committing assault? Maybe the author thinks it's fine because it's the FMC assaulting the MMC? Either way, this book crossed a bright red line and the "romance" between the two main characters does not work.

(3.5 stars)

Thank you to St Martin’s Press & Colby Wilkens for the opportunity to read the e-arc of If I Stopped Haunting You in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I did enjoy this book. I really loved the premise as it was one that was unique to me, however it felt slightly repetitive throughout. I am a true enemies to lovers - lover so that is all the redemption I need to make this a 3.5 star.

Thank you again for the opportunity to read, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author.