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

When Pen chucks an actual book at Storm’s head during a writing conference, it seems like there is no turning back in this heated writer rivalry. That is until they find themselves thrown together at a writing retreat. Oh, and that retreat just happens to be in a haunted castle with actual ghosts.

I really liked the premise of this novel– the rivalry, the gothic setting, the focus on indigenous stories, and the criticism of the publishing industry. I found the creepy parts creepy (to be fair, I am a certified baby when it comes to horror), and the steamy parts steamy. However, I found the pacing and the speed with which the main characters went from hate to love to be a bit jarring. Overall it was a fun read best enjoyed around the end of October.

The premise of this book is so cute and the storyline was definitely something to keep you intrigued but the way the FMC bothered me every page was just too much to really enjoy the full story of what it could've been!

Would definitely recommend for people to check out for a feel good romance, but be wary of the FMC and their tendencies.

ARC from Netgalley

I adored this book! The beginning is slow but I didn't mind it. I loved how she would push him away and he wouldn't go. He would reel her back in. He didn't give up hope. He was an absolute sweetheart! I loved this romance🥰

I really wanted to like this book. It has a great premise but I honestly DNF at the 25% mark. I tried starting back up but just could not connect with the characters or the story, which is disappointing. I'm sure this story will find plenty of people who will enjoy it but it just was not me.

This was such an interesting premise that snagged my attention! I did enjoy this book but overall I found it to be good but not great. I finished it, enjoyed it, but I found myself getting distracted reading this. I would probably recommend for someone who enjoys spooky/romance but I wouldn’t pick this back up.

Likes:
Setting of the book and overall premise was awesome. I also love a spooky/thriller romance type of book. The actual spooky parts of the book are really good and the ghost stories were fun for me. Also solid representation with LGBTQ+ and Native American MCs. Really rare to see.

Dislikes:
I don’t always read other reviews before going into ARCs but I was prepared for lack of chemistry and character development. I would say this is accurate for me personally. I just didn’t feel like Neil and Pen were enough? I think there could have just been MORE MORE MORE of them. Honestly I think a true enemies to lovers vs old friends to lovers would have been more compelling for me in this type of book.

I loved this book and really enjoyed getting to know the characters! This book made me want to go and find every single thing the author has wrote and read that too!

Romance and ghosts? Not usually my thing, at all, but I was hopeful. I'm really glad I gave this one a go. This romance takes on the enemies to lovers, maybe even a bit of the slow burn type of story and adds some interesting elements when our main setting is an actual haunted castle (in Scotland).

Penelope and Neil are both authors, both writing in the horror/thriller genre. Both are also Native American, and face stereotypes that attempt to hinder or quiet their voices and their work. After an incident at an author's conference, which ended with Pen literally throwing a book at Neil, the two don't speak, and neither of them have been able to write or publish new work. Queue a college roommate/best friend that believes the ultimate writer's retreat is just what everyone needs, even if he doesn't mention to Neil or Pen that the other is coming along.

The retreat goes spooky right away, with not only the castle being haunted, but of course, the retreating authors are snowed in. Secret passages, apparitions, forbidden rooms... what could go wrong?

The romance portion of the story is what you'd expect from a friends to lovers romance. The methods for forcing the characters together takes an unexpected twist when the ghost story and haunted castle come into play. I am not usually a thriller or horror or spooky type of reader, but I actually wanted the horror aspects of the story to develop a little more. There are a few very tense moments, and a few very cheesy moments. The story of the ghost(s), who they are, why they are trapped... all add to the experience.

This book was a nice blend of spooky and steamy! I am a huge enemies to lovers fan, and I appreciated the little quips throughout the book. I did feel like it lagged at times, and that it could have been more action packed in many scenes. The premise was great and the writing was creative, so I enjoyed it enough! I would go so far as to say that I’d read a sequel, if there were another book written.
Thank you for the ARC!

I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't get in to it. The pacing was inconsistent, so I had trouble settling in to the reading. I also feel like the dialogue got really repetitive, which made it seem like the plot wasn't being pushed forward. The FMC and MMC were both difficult for me to relate to, as I felt like I didn't get to know them very well throughout the book. They felt very two-dimensional. I did really enjoy the concept of meshing together romance and horror, though, and I do feel like the concept of the book is really promising. I think with some heavy editing on the dialogue and pacing, this book could end up being great.

The premise of this book had such good potential!! The setting and the vibes were a good blend of spooky and romance. However, the whole book felt very rushed with minimal character development. I’m always going to be a sucker for enemies to lovers but overall this one just missed the mark for me.
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

I loved this book. The blending of haunted house and rivals-to-lovers romance is done so well that it felt natural. The reveal about Neil's tattoo is tied with Anthony Bridgerton's speech about honor as one of the most unexpectedly romantic moments ever. I'm praying Wilkens turns this into a series of interconnected standalones.

When it was all said and done, I was hoping to feel a little more and connect with the main characters a bit more than I did. This isn't a spoiler because it happens in the first few pages of the book, but I was really put off by the FMC attacking the MMC with a book. It feels like it was written to make her seem frustrated and relatable, but it's giving assault. Made me scratch my head for sure. That's really the only critique I have. The spice was there and the spooky aspect was genuinely creepy, pretty well-written. Feels like it will be a hit come spooky season for those looking for a paranormal romance.

I loved the premise of the book and the horror romance blend had me intrigued. Sadly I didn’t think it delivered and I couldn’t invest in the characters’ story.
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!!

If stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens arc review. I was lucky to get an advance reader copy of this novel through net galley. First can we talk about how cute the cover is that what first drew me in to this story it like the perfect spooky romance story and it the fits the story so well. The book is an enjoyable Enemies to lovers story. Mixed with haunted houses vibes. In this story we meet writers ✍️ Penelope skinner and Neil Storm who are two feuding writers who end together at a writers retreat in a haunted castle in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. I literally love that this book take place in Scotland one of my favorite places to visit it so beautiful it creates the perfect back drop for this story. So the more time these two spend together they begin to be trapped in a real life ghost story can they work together to solve the ghost mystery or will the past and feelings get in the way. I had so much fun reading this story it was entertaining and mystical and amazing spooky and romantic vibes all in one. It was so good time from beginning to end. Definitely give it a chance you won’t be disappointed. This book comes out October 15, 2024 right in time for spooky season 👻 .

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.

I was really excited to read this novel. The premise of two writers who hate each other and end up stuck together in a haunted castle in Scotland REALLY appealed to me. I love a good enemy to lovers story. Unfortunately I DNF (made it 150 pgs). I tried to power through, but I just didn't feel the chemistry between Neil and Pen (Penelope). I didn't feel any really connection to them at all, honestly. They felt a little flat. The other characters might as well have not existed (which is a missed opportunity b/c this really felt like a scooby doo kind of story and I'm all in for that kind of ghost story/mystery).

The story seemed to drag and there really wasn't enough action. I was intrigued by the haunting but not enough to continue on. It took so many chapter to set up the story and there was a lot of history between the characters that I didn't fully understand -- I'm still not fully clear how they were all friends etc. . The characters are supposed to be in their 30's (I think) but they came across so much younger. Overall, it just didn't work for me.

Penelope (who goes by Pen) is an author who had a feud with another author named Neil Storm. She disagreed with him stereotyping of Native Americans and ended up throwing a book at him. Present day, she is excited to go on an excursion to spend a week at a "haunted" Scottish Mansion. That is until she finds out he is there, and the mansion might actually be haunted.

I usually don't like rom-coms, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It wasn't over the top most of the time and I liked the enemy to lovers feel. In addition, the enemy to lovers wasn't immediate. They definitely hated each other for quite a long time, although you started to realize there were feelings hidden behind it.

Another saving grace behind this book was the horror part. Staying at a haunted mansion split up the rom-com quite a bit. The horror part wasn't super scary and there was a mystery wrapped around it. Every chapter you were wondering why the ghost was still at the mansion and the mystery was revealed at a perfect pace.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys rom-coms, mysteries, or horror.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC

Book Release: 10/15/24

The good: the premise interesting and I love how it doesn't shy away from criticizing whiteness or addressing the complexity of being Native in the US. This dynamic is why I was so excited to read this book.

The bad: I really wanted to like this one. It's a cute story but the writing is ... rough. There's a lot of awkward repetition of details (everyone slams their whisky glass down after taking a drink, which happens frequently because they are in a pub). And areas without enough detail (who is Daniela and why are we so distraught that she is here?).

The writing itself is juvenile - both in time and how the characters are portrayed. I think they're supposed to be adults but they have the attitudes of teenagers.

DNF at 15%
2.5 stars rounded up to 3

Absolutely! Here's a revised version:

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Diving headfirst into a writing retreat at a haunted Scottish castle where spectral beings roam the halls might send shivers down the spines of some writers, but for me, it was an exhilarating prospect!

The narrative of two literary adversaries, Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm, thrust together after a heated altercation at a book convention, immediately captivated me from the opening chapter. The fusion of gothic horror elements, witty repartee, and simmering romantic tension between these rivals, both grappling with writer’s block for distinct reasons, alongside the enemies-to-lovers dynamic, wove a spellbinding tale. I found myself irresistibly drawn deeper into the story with each turn of the page.

The portrayal of indigenous authors and their struggles within the publishing industry, echoing the challenges faced by BIPOC writers, resonated with authenticity. While the sparring and disagreements between Pen and Neil felt somewhat juvenile at times, their shared professional obstacles and genuine efforts to amplify their voices and accurately represent their community struck a chord.

The ensemble cast, including the enigmatic Laszlo and the mischievous Daniela, further enriched the narrative, infusing it with charm and intrigue.

In summary, this paranormal romance, with its haunting atmosphere and electrifying chemistry between the protagonists, promises a delightful reading experience that I wholeheartedly recommend.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for graciously providing me with a digital review copy of this enchanting romcom in exchange for my honest appraisal.

LOVE! The setting of this book was what first enticed me and I was not disappointed. The spooky moments were truly scary (I literally couldnt read it in my dark bedroom alone), and the romance didn't feel forced or sprinkled in. I love a dual perspective too! Highly highly reccomend!

Glad to see more genre-mashing in romance, and from a Native author in particular. The conversations on page about marginalization and publishing were very good (and satisfied my need for more Yellowface). However, I found the marketing off with this one. It was neither enemies-to-lovers nor slow burn in my opinion, and I wish more time had been spent on fleshing out the characters as that feels crucial for romance, no matter the genre. Would recommend nonetheless!