I enjoyed this book immensely. The ghost hunting storyline was interesting. I'm glad that there was a very real issue to overcome instead of the usual "meet, fall in love, and live happily ever after" that is common for these books. It made the book more relatable and enjoyable to read.

This was a cute book! There was a lot of banter., some steamy scenes and good conflict.
The relationship seemed to blossom naturally, with shared interests and mutual attraction.
There are some places in the book that does exist in VT, Emily’s bridge being one of them!

Lex is a homebody who works at bookstore and will never leave her small town in Vermont, even if she’s the only one in her family left. It’s there that she meets James, who is working on a documentary about the hauntings in the area. Lex helps him with local lore, after all it’s her Youtube videos she posted as a teen that is their source of inspiration but what she doesn’t say is she made the stories up & as the two become closer, the truth becomes harder to tell.

Honestly … I was expecting James to be a ghost. I think it would’ve been more enticing had he been.

Overall premise was interesting but felt something missing. The keeping secret bothers me, I understand why Lex kept the ghosts secret to herself but ugh. Then she essentially gaslights James when it comes to light.

The Bi/Pan representation was great, I love reading about characters who are LGBTQ+, the typical straight characters become so repetitive at times.

There was a lot to love about this book! Lex is relatable, James is charming. The cozy bookstore and spooky little town setting will be perfect for an October release. I also LOVED that this was a pan x bi romance, AND it was stated on-page. Aahh, a breath of fresh air!

However, I really struggled with the pacing, and the stakes didn’t feel high enough to keep me invested. Lex and James felt like a happy couple by the 20% mark, and I think a little more tension would have helped things along.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Haunt Your Heart Out is such a sweet story! I really loved Lex and how cozy Roberts' made Stowe, Vermont! I've only been there once, but that's exactly how my Gilmore-Girls-brain pictures it. The romance was so sweet and I loved everything about James from his baseball cap to his dog, Lulu! Such a sweetheart! I loved all the ghostlore and friendly apparitions and the cozy bookstore Lex runs. This warm and gentle romance is perfect for the holiday season!

This was a cute book, especially for a release date right around Halloween. Although I enjoyed reading the book, I was often annoyed by Alex, but at the end of it all, I was happy with the ending as well as her overall character development.

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5 ⭐

*ARC Review*

I thought this book had a good idea for a story, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.. this book was labeled as a paranormal romance but *spoiler* there wasn't really anything paranormal about it... Everything was fake? The characters didn't really speak to me at all... They weren't extremely loveable in my opinion. It was definitely still a decent book, but I think the whole paranormal aspect kind of threw me off.

this was a spookily cute read!!! i don't typically read books like this, but i loved every minute of this one! the cover is so dreamy and the romance between these characters is phenomenal. such a fun and cozy read!!

thank you so much to netgalley for the arc

I found this to be a really interesting read! I liked that Lex grew as a character, even tho I found myself yelling internally at her sometimes. I loved the spookiness of the small town of Stowe. James and Lulu stole the show for me, all of the cuteness they had was unparalleled. The family dynamics of both leads were so very intense. Lex and her family growing was one of my favorite parts. Overall a very solid, fun read if you have a love of ghost stories.

Title: Haunt Your Heart Out By Amber Roberts

Release date: October, 8th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

"Haunt Your Heart Out" by Amber Roberts is a delightful contemporary romance that blends flirtatious banter with a hint of the supernatural.

Lex McCall, a homebody in Vermont, has a strict rule against dating anyone who might leave her behind. When offered the chance to buy her beloved bookstore at a great price, she jumps at it. However, her resolve is tested when James, a charming stranger who turns out to be part of a ghost-hunting crew, arrives in town. To protect her secret past as a ghost-hunting vlogger, Lex tampers with their investigation, but as she grows closer to James, she realises her feelings are deeper than she anticipated. With career dreams on the line and unexpected stakes in play, Lex must navigate her growing attraction while keeping her past hidden.

The romance between Lex and James is both sweet and steamy, adding depth to the storyline. This story has a unique twist that sets it apart from the usual romantic tales. The storyline and characters had me hooked from start to finish!


This engaging piece by Amber Roberts will surely leave readers eagerly wanting to read more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A ghost hunting love story!? Count me in! The story between Lex and James was a lot of fun. I loved the flashbacks of the Haunted Happenings vlog - It reminded me of the Ghost Club my friend Jen and I had growing up. I could also relate to how close Lex was with her grandparents, especially her grandfather, and appreciated her stubbornness to stay in the home he built. This was your typical, small town romance and I couldn’t be happier about that. A little spooky, a little spicy, and an adorable little fluffball I wish I could pet for real.

Many thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback

This was the perfect amount of cute. I think will be great for cozy romance “spooky szn”
read.

Although not spooky it is super cute. I think the cover and title kind of gives you all you need to know on if you think you’ll enjoy it or not.

Haunt Your Heart Out was a lovely cosy romance story with that spooky element which will make it a perfect autumn/Halloween read! I really related Lex and her need to not be a burden and her determination to stand on her own 2 feet rather than seeking any help. James was the perfect care-free personality to her overly anxious one and exactly what she needed!

Any book where the main location is a bookshop is always a win for me, but I loved imagining what DogEared Books would look like and the cosy feeling I imagine it would hold! Lex and James’ romance was sweet and a little bit spicy, but had the good banter that’s enjoyable to read in too!

Overall I enjoyed this book, it had a little bit of everything!

I was so excited about this book’s premise: ghosts, small towns, and romance! However, the relationship progressed really fast in a way that made it hard for me to stay invested. Around 75% of the way through the story picked up and I was happy I finished it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I had a very hard time reading this book. The idea was cute and so was the cover. Unfortunately there was quite a few typos, weird spacing, and the pacing was bizarre. There were some moments that felt like the author was trying to be inclusive in an unnecessary way in a regular old MF romance. Unnecessary moments like the expired condoms. Stuff that pulls you right out of the fantasy - abruptly changing the conversation to allude to having sex then instead having 4 more serious conversations. Took me out of it.

Let me start by saying I loved this, it is a cosy, cute romcom with fantastic characters and some subtle Gilmore Girls vibes. Which honestly is all I thought I needed in a novel. Haunt Your Heart Out gets is even better though - Alex, the main character, is strong and independent but struggling to keep on top of her home repairs and fulfilling her dream of one day owning the bookshop she manages when in walks James (my new favourite love interest ever), a ghost hunter who is ever so slightly afraid of ghosts. Ghosts, found families, and small town hijinks ensue in a romcom that is probably going to become one of those books you reach for when you need a cosy little pick me up.

Not going to lie, I’m a little bit in love with James - his communications skills could use some work but otherwise 10/10 would recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book because of the plot. I haven't read a rom com about ghosthunters. The spooky plot and the winter setting will make this book perfect for the fall and winter. I felt like I really could imagine the small town this book was supposed to take place in, which was a huge plus! Lex's and Jame's banter was another plus. This book really had all the makings of a good romcom. The only thing that bothered me was the pacing was a little off, as once Lex and James got together so early on, I felt like there was not much to continue with after they got to together, nor was there much of a story getting there. I still enjoyed the book, but the pacing could have been better. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book!

When most people have ghosts in mind, they're thinking of autumn and Halloween. Pumpkins, leaves changing color, sweaters, apple cider, and a mild chill in the air. But Haunt Your Heart Out takes place in Vermont, just weeks before Christmas. This isn't a common setting for a story about hauntings, but it's a great one; Roberts really gets the magic of ghost stories across. It gave me strong "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" vibes—not the movie, but the story.

A bright spot in this book, aside from the sparkling descriptions, was the main character, Lex. Her anxiety is introduced to us early on, and I made the (bad) assumption she would be a bit meek in her interactions. Not because I believe anxiety leads to insipidity, but because I'm used to authors conflating the two. Roberts doesn't do this. Lex is opinionated, funny, sarcastic, and witty. She has—oh god, am I really going to say it? Am I going to go with that word? Okay, here it goes: she has spunk. Ew. But there is it. It's true. I don't know why it feels like I have to describe her like I'm a 1950s board room executive, but it feels right. She's got moxie and was a joy to read.

I particularly like the time she spends in California with her parents. I'm trying really hard to avoid spoilers here, but all of the interactions in this part are wonderfully written. Her relationship with her sister is wonderful, and the letter her parents write her made me cry. It's just beautiful.

Now, the negatives: the sex scene was a weird choice. I'm not trying to kink-shame by any means—I don't think the kink is outlandish at all—but introducing it for the very first time these two have sex just hit me wrong. (I'm not going to say what the kink is due to spoilers.) It felt more like a second or third time sexual encounter in a book. I have no real logic behind that, but it's how I felt reading it.

Second, I felt like there were some inconsistencies with the Charles/bookstore plot. Why wouldn't Charles outright ask Lex to buy the store? He says he thought she'd never accept it, but early in the book, she already knows this is her dream. When Charles fakes his fear of ghosts, Lex jumps to offer to buy it, and then he acts reluctant to sell. I'm not sure him having a scheme to sell makes sense, but I will say that the resolution to this is quite heartwarming.

But overall, it's a nice, cozy read. It's not overly dramatic, it's sweet, and the backdrop of hauntings is fun.

3.25/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
As much as I loved this book, it truly lacked plot points and was sometimes a bit all over the place. At times it went from 0-100 very quickly and the conflict resolution felt rushed and not well thought out.
In saying that though, I did absolutely love the plot and this book was a quick, easy read!

A cute, small town romance with the perfect, sweet, spooky season vibes. Lex runs the town bookstore which thrives on tourists. She lives in her big sisters shadow and has made a family with her best friend since childhood. James comes into town with New York license plates and a Yankees hat so lex immediately writes him off as temporary. They connect and bond and of course the sparks fly! James is swoony, Lex is independent and together they’re adorable. This is perfect for hallmark vibes with a bit spooky vibes! It’s light and sweet but has its moments where it touches on heavier issues and I appreciated the way the author portrayed things. All in all a good read!