I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Paranormal in the winter with characters in their 30s? Sign me up!

I've never been a fan of insta-love. I like the characters having to work for their happy ending and waiting for them to finally get together. But, I have to say, I enjoyed Lex and James' chemistry and didn't mind that they got together quickly. It may have dwindled a little in the last third and their breakup and getting back together was a little rushed, but I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would.

The book, unfortunately, was a little long. I don't think it needed to be as big as it was. With so many pages, things kind of got repetitive. Overall, though, I liked it! If you want a cute, spooky story for the winter, I strongly suggest this one!

Lex loves living in her small town running a bookstore even though most of her friends and family have moved away. She has a few rules, one being no dating tourists. This rule is tested when ghost hunter James comes to town. He is part of a crew that has been drawn to the area in part due to a fake YouTube series created by Lex and a friend when they were younger. Lex agrees to help James and his team research the ghost stories in town. Problems arise as Lex begins to develop real feelings for James while tracking down the fake ghost stories.

I had a lot of fun with this book! The characters were great and I loved the fake ghost hunting aspect. Lex and James had great chemistry and banter.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 38%

I really wanted to love this one - a romance with spooky vibes and small town charm it sounded perfect for my Halloween loving heart. But unfortunately it was a miss for me and after really trying to push through I decided to DNF. 💔 (which to be clear I don’t do.) I saw the author wrote about not liking scary things so I knew not to expect horror content so I expected this to read more like Ghost Whisper or Being Human. (Funny or emotional ghost stories but not scary.) Unfortunately, that was not the case and the ghost stories in this weren’t interesting. Honestly, this story felt like it was dragging from the start and really struggled with its pacing. The relationship between Lex and James was just eh and it didn’t really make me feel anything…I wasn’t rooting for the characters and I wasn’t attached to anyone. Personally, I also think this story coming out so early in the year was a mistake because the fall vibes aren’t here yet to give it that extra oomph.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc and I apologize for not being able to finish and enjoy it. 😢

I love that I’m finding more books with people in their 30s. I will say I think I would’ve enjoyed this book more if I had read it during the fall. But I thought this was a quick, cute, fun read!

Lex loves her small town life. She grew up creating ghost stories & now lives in her grandfathers old run down house, despite her parents wanting her to sell it & move away. Loves her job in the local bookstore, even though her boss will not let her take artistic control to bring in more business & calls her everyday to check in. Other than her best friend, everyone in her life has moved away, leaving Lex with a sense of abandonment.
James works on a documentary crew & comes to town to get proof on the elusive ghosts that haunt the town. Lex knowing the truth & unable to be attractive to James's cockiness tags along to help the crew get footage. But Lex tries not to fall for James, as she couldn't handle another person leaving.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book. A 30something who runs a cute bookstore & created a vlog about the hauntings of her town who falls for a fellow ghost hunter, who also has a cute dog. And the cover is super cute. I enjoyed the beginning, but about 30%-40% into the story started to feel bogged down & I started to lose interest.
I wish the romance had been a slower burn. Lex & James were hooking up about 25%-30% into the book & wish we had a more of a build up of them exploring their attraction before giving in.
We never forget that Lex has abandonment issues as this is brought up all the time. It became so repetitive, it felt like nothing else was moving forward in the story as was so stuck on this point,
This had all the makings to love this story, but after struggling to get this finished for over a month ended up DNF'ing at 64%. Feel so disappointed as really wanted to love this is.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit I read this in the wrong season - it is definitely more of an autumn/winter book due to the setting of the story but this didn't put off my enjoyment.

Anyway on to the review. This was a really nice romance novel with a slightly quirky mystery and suspense plot running alongside it. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a cosy romance with a supernatural edge to it.

We meet Lex "Just Alex/Lex" McCall and her best friend Nat in a cozy, winter scene in Vermont. She protects her heart and mind by following a strict set of rules. No leaving town, and no falling for tourists. Enter a tall drink of soy, no foam latte. A hero from the beginning, James soon becomes a swoon-worthy crush for Lex and the readers. A part of a ghost docu crew, we quickly learn there is more to James then what's on the cover.
I enjoyed the pacing, as it sit well with the setting. I enjoyed how when we unravel Haunted Happenings and see the depth of Lex and Nat's friendship, the book picks up speed, and more drama ensues.
I found the family arc, which started as the family doesn't understand my life trope, very satisfying as we got closure along with Lex. I did wish the couple conflict was drawn out a bit more, but I almost found it gratifying that the conflict was easy to clear up. It's almost as if conflict can be resolved by communicating. I honestly liked that the heartbreak wasn't long lived.
I also enjoyed the inclusion of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and her back story. I loved that every character had some depth.

This book is great for people who remember early internet videos, those cheesy ghost tv shows, and wholesome Halloween movies year round. Think Hallmark channel makes a haunted rom com.

A big thank you to the author and NetGalley for sending me an advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily..

Haunt Your Heart Out featured some of my favorite things in life (and in book tropes): a cozy Vermont small town setting filled with holiday charm and an old bookstore filled with used books and coffee. I related to Lex in SO many ways so I’m a tad biased towards her story. I couldn’t help but root for her to take over the old bookstore even if her ways of going about it were a little questionable. (Slight spoiler alert!) I cheered so hard for her happy endings: both in business and in love.
The beginning of James & Lex’s love story was definitely my favorite, and I hated that they fell into the miscommunication trope but such is a romance book classic. I loved the way this wasn’t just a love story between James and Lex, but between Lex and her best friend and Lex and her family. Watching Lex navigate the, at times difficult, dynamics of these relationships truly brought the book home for me. I didn’t expect to love the California scenes as much as I did, but watching Lex and her sister open up to each other was one of my favorite storylines. This book is so much more than just a feel good romance it addresses the challenging ways we interact with people who love us but don’t always show it. I hope we get more from this universe, I would love to read another book by Amber Roberts.
Thank you so much to Alcove Press and NetGalley for letting me review this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very cute and cozy read. I was anticipating it to be a bit more spooky, but I was pleasantly surprised by the ‘snow globe town’ love story. The main character did read much younger than she was, but the story made sense enough for that to not bother me. Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for this eARC!

This was a really cute love story with the spooky paranormal vibe perfect for reading in the fall. I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between the main characters, Lex and James. I also really enjoyed the small town setting and bookstore. It kind of gave me a Sleepy Hollow feel. The ghost stories were fun and I liked the Halloween and Christmas timeline. Some parts of the book were a little slower and hard to get into, but overall it was a cute romance with a side of ghosts.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book made me smile in so many ways, It was so adorable and the spooky element just oozes pumpkin spice for me!
I definitely enjoyed this book and would certainly recommend it to all if you're after a light hearted fluffy romance
Would highly recommend reading it during the autumn season to match those vibes.

⭐️: 3.5

This was a cozy, cute, hallmark romance with a little fun spooky vibe to it! I really like the FMC because I was able to relate to her in many ways and overall, I thought her personality was funny. The MMC was fun too, he was sweet and cute when it came to their conversations with one another. I did feel like, at times the plot would get a little hazy and it felt like a different plot line which would make it feel like it was dragging.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Big thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this arc! (:

This book was cute yet underwhelming. Lex is a relatable FMC, living a relatively simple life as a bookseller and barista. Her small hometown in Vermont seems adorable and especially perfect for cozy winter vacations. Then she meets James, a semi-long-term visitor and fellow admirer of ghost stories and haunted happenings. He's cute and swoon-worthy, and they have great chemistry. It's an adorable set-up, but I still feel like the story was lacking. The background spookiness and Halloween vibes over Christmastime make things a little more interesting, but nothing to write home about, unfortunately.

Happily Haunted Afters is a second change romantic comedy with a supernatural twist.

The main character Emma knows what she wants and is not afraid to go for it despite obstacles such as financing being in the way! She found her dream home (and business) but needs an investor. Cue getting in touch with an old friend Jack to help. Forced to spend the weekend together we see their friendship, history and inevitable romance come out to play.

I really wanted to love this as a theme its perfect for me but I struggled to connect with the writing, the characters and story. It got a little messy in places but overall was enjoyable just not memorable or for me the style. The banter between the characters is definitely my favorite thing about it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Whimsical, hallmark fall vibes in the book. Book me a trip to a small town in Vermont, so I can meet adorable characters like Lex, James and Natalie.
Wonderfully refreshing having a character like Lex who suffers from anxiety and overbearing parents. I always find it captivating when books and characters deal with money problems, stress and finding one’s place in life.
Lex and James have a lot of chemistry and so pleased they were able to work things. But let’s not forget the hero little Lulu the most adorable dog ever.

3 1/2 stars

Lex is perfectly content in her snowy hometown of Stowe, Vermont, even if no one else seems to be. Everyone is always leaving. Even tourists only pass through long enough to ski, and snag a commemorative bumper sticker on the way out of town.

When James rolls into the area with a documentary crew, looking to catch some of Stowe's spooky lore on film, she tries not to get attached. However, haunted happenings are her area of expertise, and by helping him, she might help herself...after all he's only bound to leave eventually.

Featuring ghost-hunting, books, a horse-drawn carriage, and the cutest furry companion, Haunt Your Heart Out was definitely an enjoyable read.

I loved the descriptions and atmosphere of Stowe's used book store; this was one thing that added to the coziness of small town, and a setting I think many of us can imagine with fondness.

The somewhat brief, but accurate (in my experience) description of the obstacles one can face with anxiety was a welcome representation of mental illness, which I enjoy seeing more of as of late.

I felt Lex to be somewhat insufferable and immature at times, especially for a 33 year old woman, but maybe this is by design. I do wish that James's character had been a bit more fleshed out. I feel as though we didn't get to know him very well, and he mostly served to aid Lex's character development. This made the romance aspect feel a little lackluster for me.

I'm a sucker for all things spooky and Christmas, and this is one of the first times I've seen them done together. That being said, I think I would've preferred the story to lean more one way or the other. (Full blown Christmas, or raging Halloween.) The paranormal aspect and sleepy tourist town vibes fell a little flat.

Parts of the book had me rushing to read more, and others felt a little slow. Haunt Your Heart Out is certainly a cute rom-com, but maybe just missed the mark a little for me

This was so cute! I love a little paranormal with my romance. I wish I could have read this closer to Halloween but I still really enjoyed myself! Thank you to the publisher for sending me this ARC

🏠 Small Town
👻 Fake Ghosts
🎥 Film K!nk
❤️ Gilmore Girls x Ghost Hunters
🫶🏼 He’s Bi
🖤 Anxiety Representation
🎬 Documentary Filmmaker
🥹 Cozy/Spooky Vibes

This book was just perfect. Perfect like a cool autumn day during spooky season minute the scaries. The backdrop of this book was the only place I could ever imagine this happening in and the author nailed it with this choice. I loved Lexs’ character so much, she was flawlessly written and I also loved James, he was a dreamboat. Liz and James had a beautiful simmering chemistry that made you sigh with how sweet it was. Their banter and their comments to each other back and forth as THE BEST.

Lex is a bookstore owner with some secrets and James is part of a ghost hunting crew and has struggles of his own to work through. This was just simply the sweetest cozy mystery with a little side of spook and our author gave us a sprinkle of twists and turns and the best ending ever. This will be a book that I will be recommending to my book friends!

Thank you @netgalley and @alcovepress for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book was absolutely adorable. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Lex. I feel like I resonated with her from the first chapter. This would be a great read during the winter/holiday months since the scene is in a small, cozy Vermont town. I absolutely loved this small town romance and would recommend it.
A big Thank you to NetGalley, Amber Roberts(author) and Alcove Press(publisher) for allowing me to receive an e-ARC copy of this book!

a very wholesome and warm and comforting read! made me want to curl up on a rainy day in the fall, sipping a mug of apple cider...

ghost vibes were a very fun layer but just overall it took me a long time to get through this book it just wasn't for me.

special thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review!