A cute and heartwarming small town romance with a little ghost flair is just what people will need as the fall months start to roll in! I've always been a fan of Jen DeLuca's books and her writing — Haunted Ever After is no different. The characters pull you in and I really loved the magical realism that was included in this book with the ghosts! It's so different from her Well Met series but it was a fun read that I can't wait to recommend to my friends.

I was so excited for a new series from this author. Sadly, this first book didn't work so well for me. I feel as if the setup of the ghost town took over more of the story, and the development of the couple suffered for it. There are future couples hinted at, and I am definitely excited for their stories. This one just didn't land for me. I trust the author, and I'm not saying this book is bad by any means. It just didn't land for me personally.

How do you feel about a ghostly roommate that won't stop trying to communicate with you? Should it have been disclosed before you bought your dream home on the beach that it was haunted? These are some of the questions our female main character, Cassie, is trying to work through. If you are looking for a sweet romance with loads of humor and whimsey, then you need to grab this book now. Great characters that are heartwarming and relatable with real issues draw you in and make you root for them while you also root for most of the ghosts! The plot is original and fun while also being compelling and entertaining. I absolutely fell in love with the town of Boneyard Key and all the residents, human and ghostly! For those who like a light spice story, this should do it for you. I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in the series to see who our main characters will be and what new ghosts we will meet!!

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the Berkley Besties program, all opinions are my own.

This was adorable and if I could visit Boneyard Key as a tourist I would! I love Halloween and all things spooky, so this sounds like my kind of town.

This follows Cassie, an Orlando native, who recently moved to the small town of Boneyard Key, where tourists flock to visit for the towns local haunts pun intended. Nick runs the local coffee shop, and he happens to have a very special roommate, Elmer is the original owner of Hallowed Grounds and loves to tell Nick what to do. Cassie and Nick don't get off to the best start, but her frequent trips to the coffee shop quickly turn things around as they get to know each other. Her laptop won't charge and it is a critical part of her work from home job, especially now that she has a mortgage. Everything checks out with her electricity, and her laptop charges fine at the coffee shop or when someone else plugs it in at home, so she turns to the paranormal experts in the Key to see if there is something else wrong in her house. Turns out Cassie has an unexpected roommate too. Her house is famous around Boneyard Key, but it turns out the stories aren't exactly true, Cassie is determined to find out the truth about the Hawkins House and learn more about her spectral roomie.

This was such a fun book as we learn about the history of the town and Cassie and Nick get to know each other. I really like the way the author had both of them communicate with their ghosts, it was really creative and something I don't think I've seen before. Nick and Cassie take their time getting to know one another, and it seems like every time they take a step forward in their relationship something gets in the way and sends them two steps backward. I actually appreciated this, because while you knew there was going to be a romantic element between them it didn't take center stage and they actually got to know each other a bit first and got to have some serious conversations before making big declarations. I love a slow burn romance when done well and I really enjoyed this one! This is low on the spice scale.

I don't believe I've read anything else by the author in the past, but I am certainly in if there are more books in the series and I'll be checking out more books. Overall I loved this small town romance with a paranormal twist. It was really unique and I really enjoyed the creativity the author brought to the table with the plot and the characters.

Well that was the perfect level of spooky for a gal who doesn't do spooky. I loved the setting of Boneyard Key, as a life long Floridian who has always lived in big cities, those small beach towns along the gulf coast (the better coast) are so fascinating. I appreciated the creative forms of communication and how not all the ghosts were "bad" ghosts.

A great use of our side characters, hoping some of their stories are next! Thank you Berkley for the opportunity!

This was cute!!!!! I loved the small town vibes! This will definitely get you in the mood for fall and all things spooky!

This is my first book by this author and I LOVED it and I can not wait for the next in the series! This is also my first paranormal Rom-com and I am definitely on the hunt for more!
I liked the small town Florida setting, since I am from Florida and have family that still lives there, and was one of the reasons why I chose this book along with the haunted houses and ghost vibe that makes it the perfect book to start off the fall/spooky season with! The names of the stores/businesses was really cute and well thought of.
I enjoyed the characters and roommates/ghosts and how they all work together and help Cassie come to terms with the ghosts, the history of her house, and how they accepted her and made her one of them by showing and telling her their local secrets. The whole communication aspect from the ghosts was so fun, because you never knew what Nick's roommate was going to say and with the communication barrier of Cassie's roommate, it created a mystery feeling. I also enjoyed the banter between Cassie and Nick and how the chemistry develops with them.
The ending was a SHOCKER and it wrapped the book up very well.
Over all, I just loved this book! Like I said, I really can not wait for the next in the series! Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Jen DeLuca for the advanced copy.

Nick Royer owns the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop in Boneyard Key, Florida. He has lived there his whole life. In fact, he is a descendant of the founding families so learning to embrace ghost tourism is a must. Cassie just moved into a house and she definitely is not prepared for the fact that not all the ghost stories in the town are made up. The electricity in her new house is temperamental and the magnets on her fridge rearrange themselves when she is not looking.

As Nick and Cassie get to know each other, Nick wonders if Cassie will stay in Boneyard Key, even if her house has a ghost.

I love the unique storyline and the loveable characters in this book. The story flowed nicely without needless plot twists. Other than a few spicy romance scenes, this is a sweet ghost romance book.

✩ 3.25 stars ✩

“Give me all the strings. All the pressure. I want it all with you, Cassie.”

What to Expect:
➼ Grumpy x Sunshine
➼ Small Town Romance
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ A Haunted House
➼ A Town Full of Ghosts
➼ Coffee Shop Owner MMC with Luke Danes Vibes
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Infertility Rep
➼ She’s New to Town
➼ Third Person POV

This started out a little slow, but the cozy vibes won out in the end. Nick reminded me so much of Luke Danes (always a great comparison!) and the town was basically a spooky Stars Hollow.

Cassie struggled with infertility and knew from a young age that she likely would not be able to have children of her own. In her 20s, this knowledge didn’t weigh on her as heavily, but as each of friend’s became mothers, she struggled to find her place among them. She was in desperate need of a change when she found the listing for the house and was shocked when her offer was accepted. After moving in she learns not only that ghosts are real, but that her own house is haunted.

As mysteries go, this one was blindingly obvious. I figured it out immediately and waited impatiently for the characters to catch up. I liked the ghosts but I think they could have had a little more personality. I was a little surprised that Cassie and the other townspeople weren’t more motivated to communicate with the ghosts in general. If I were them… well honestly if I were them I would move, 😅 but if I were them and I wasn’t creeped out by the ghosts, I would have made my rounds with those magnet words and made attempts to communicate with all of the ghosts. Beyond just basic curiosity, I feel bad that they aren’t able to talk to anyone. I also don’t really understand why most of them are hanging around, but it seems like they must have a reason, right? I’m surprised that the living don’t feel that they have a responsibility to help the dead find closure. Hopefully Sophie & Theo will do some more sleuthing in the next book. I feel pretty confident that it will be about them.

I honestly think I might have overhyped this one for myself but once the book got going and I got to know the characters a bit, I did enjoy it in the end. This is a great romance to pick up if you’re looking for a cozy read this fall!

This is completely irrelevant, but I have to say that I got pretty hung up on the author writing out the words “Publix subs” instead of writing “pub subs.” “Publix subs” just sounds so wrong. 😂😂

P.s. If this isn’t Luke Danes coded, I don’t know what is…😆

“Oh. It’s you.” “Thanks a lot. It’s that stellar customer service that keeps me coming back.” But she frowned as she looked around the café. Nick followed her gaze, then he frowned too. Coming out from behind the counter, he stalked to the back table. The one near the outlet. The one that was currently occupied. Theo had been there for almost an hour, nursing that same cup of coffee and reading. “Don’t you have a book store to run?” Theo turned a page, unconcerned, as he shook his head. “I open at noon on Fridays.” “It’s close enough to noon. And that’s her table.” Nick snatched the mostly empty coffee mug. “Let me warm this up for you. In a to-go cup.” Behind him, he heard the thud of Theo snapping his book closed before he followed Nick to the counter. “What the hell?” “Don’t want you to be late.” Nick filled a to-go cup with fresh coffee and pushed it across the counter. Theo took the coffee with a quizzical expression. “Thanks?” “Just looking out for you man.”

Thank you to Jen DeLuca, Net Galley, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🤍

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: The Council of Spooky Bitches has spoken and deemed me worthy of the ARC! 🙌🏻 I manifested this one friends! Let’s go ghouls!!

Ooh yes, please! This is my vibe. 👻🧡

REVIEW: Haunted Ever After

Imagine you are moving to a new small town known for its ghosts. There’s no way ghosts are real, and they are hamming it up for tourists, right? But what if these ghosts were, in fact, real?

Haunted Ever After is such a fun read! It is part mystery, part romance, and part paranormal. The plot is never scary but does have some fun, spooky elements. The overall story was exciting, but the climax was everything. The story takes place in a small town called Boneyard Key in Florida. The town has so much history, and tourists flock there to hear about all the ghost stories. I loved hearing all the different backstories of the town. They were fascinating and almost made the setting feel like another character.

Nick works at the local coffee shop, and Cassie, who just moved into one of the “haunted” houses, is a publisher. They develop a charming and spicy romance, and the two of them balance each other out. It gives me some grumpy and sunshine vibes. They both have a journey of self-discovery throughout the story that helps develop the characters. I not only the two main characters but also the supporting ones.

I only wish there was a little more romance built up in the story instead of insta-love right away.

Overall, I really enjoyed Haunted Ever After. It has a unique storyline, and the setting is so much fun. It is perfect for a fun, spooky read.

Thank you, Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

=

✨ REVIEW: Haunted Ever After

🎃 In honor of PSLs making their return to Starbucks today, I’m sharing a review for Haunted Ever After, a spooky cozy romcom that just released last week! 🍁

SUMMARY: Feeling left behind by her recently married and new mom friends, Cassie Rutherford buys a charming house in the coastal town of Boneyard Key on a whim. The town is famous for its ghostly residents, but Cassie soon discovers it’s not just a marketing gimmick. When an unfriendly spirit pushes her out of her own home, Cassie starts working from the local coffee shop, where she meets the handsome (but grumpy) owner. 👻☕️

This was the perfect cozy romcom to kick off fall! 🍂 Ideal for this ‘back to school’ shoulder season, especially since fall in Florida still feels like a hot bath of heat and humidity. ☀️💦

If you loved Jen DeLuca’s Well Met series, you’ll definitely want to check this out! It’s packed with her signature small-town charm, just set in a new, spookier location. 🏡 Even if you’re new to her books, no worries—they’re always relationship-focused and refreshingly low drama.

Even with the ghostly antics, this story felt pretty low stakes—a perfect read after a stressful day. 📚 It also teases a second book with some enemies-to-lovers vibes that I’m absolutely here for! 😍💕

⭐⭐⭐.5

Haunted Ever After might seem like your typical grumpy x sunshine small-town romance, but it comes with a delightful paranormal twist! Cassie and Nick, both in their late 20s/early 30s, are millennials searching for the elusive meaning of life. Cassie escapes her life in Orlando, fleeing to a quiet little ghost town where the hauntings are more than just a tourist attraction. Nick, who’s spent his entire life in Boneyard Key, is nursing the wounds of a past relationship gone sour.

While I found this romance enjoyable, it didn't quite captivate me as much as DeLuca's previous series, Well Met. However, I absolutely adored the setting. As a native Floridian, I appreciated how DeLuca captured the charm of local favorites (like chicken tenders pub subs) and the frustrations of clueless tourists. My biggest issue with the book was Nick himself—I just didn’t find him particularly compelling. He felt a bit bland and lacked depth beyond his connection to Elmer. He did grow on me as the story progressed, especially when the plot took a spookier turn, but overall, I wasn’t entirely sold.

That said, Haunted Ever After left me feeling content. It served its purpose as a light, enjoyable romance—a nice palette cleanser between other reads—but it’s not a story that will stick with me for long. And that's okay!

🏝️ 𝔽𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕! 🌊

Are y’all tired of me talking about this book yet? 🤪

Many thanks to Berkley Romance for sending this one my way!

Read if you 🩷:
• 👻 Paranormal Romances
• ☕️ Grumpy Café Owners
• 🌴 Small Tourism Towns
• 👙 Ghosts with a Love for Trashy Television

When Cassie escapes to the quirky town of Boneyard Key and buys a haunted cottage, she’s charmed by the local ghostly history—and the grumpy but sweet coffee shop owner, Nick. As they unravel the spooky secrets of her new home, sparks fly between them. But can their budding romance survive the supernatural surprises that keep cropping up? 👻

🧡 I loved everything about this paranormal romance! As someone who is more than ready for fall, Cassie and Nick’s adventures in the Floridian town of Boneyard Key are the perfect transition into the cozier season. While their chemistry is off the charts, the numerous obstacles in their way add some extra tension. This makes the story a very slow burn, so be prepared if you’re looking for spice. 🌶️

This means those who enjoy a hearty plot in their romance novels will be plenty satisfied! 🙌 The underlying themes of feminism and the importance of preserving history are strong. I found myself piecing together the clues quickly when it came to the ghost in Cassie’s home, but it was so fun to see how it played out. And I can’t forget to mention how funny the banter and comedic bits are in this book! I have a soft spot for ghosts who love pop culture (*cough cough* “Happy Medium”), so Mrs. Hawkins and her growing addiction to reality shows had me in stitches. 📺

If you love ghost towns, snarky love interests, and Summerween vibes, be sure to pick up “Haunted Ever After” from your favorite local bookstore! 🌴

P.S. While this is a rom-com, please take care, as this novel references DV and Infertility due to Endometriosis

Haunted Ever After- Jen DeLuca I loved this book!!! This put me in the mood for Halloween and made me want to live in the town! I was surprised by how sweet this could be while simultaneously being creepy! If you’re a fall girlie, this one is for you.

Haunted Ever After
⭐️⭐️⭐️

“She smiled, and it was like the sun coming out. He wanted to bend toward that smile like a sunflower. It was that smile that made him bold.”

Thanks so much to @berkleyromance for the free book! #BerkleyPartner #Berkley

It’s time for Halloween!!! This book was so much fun, and if you love ghost books then you need to pick this up! Don’t worry, it’s not scary.
This book was a little absurd, but not in a bad way. This story takes place in a haunted town with a truly haunted house.
This story has great small-town vibes, it’s set on the Florida coast. It’s not necessarily a “fall book” but since there are ghosts involved I am going to count it.
I think my favorite part of this book was the way that the ghosts communicate! The texts with the one ghost Elmer were some of my favorite parts. The ghosts in the book are *mostly* friendly and make the book so funny!
The haunted house part brings the book some intrigue. They have to solve a mini-mystery! Lots of friendships bloom during this part as Cassie is brand new to town.
As for the romance, it was sweet but perhaps a bit too fast for me. I’m a bigger fan of a slow burn, and these two were head over heels for each other quite quickly.
Still a fun book and a great choice as we transition from summer to fall!
Do you like books with ghosts?

Read If You Like:
👻small towns
👻ghosts
👻insta-lust
👻haunted houses
👻strangers to lovers

Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

I have been a fan of Jen DeLuca’s work since her debut, Well Met, came out in 2019. That was the Summer I really got into contemporary romance and I credit that book for being a part of it! When I saw this cover and title, and then read the synopsis, I knew it was going to be a must read for me! And I really enjoyed it. Thanks to Libro.fm I also got to sample the audio and I think it was such a fun way to read this book!

Synopsis:

“Small Florida coastal towns often find themselves scrambling for the tourism dollars that the Orlando theme parks leave behind. And within the town limits of Boneyard Key, the residents decided long ago to lean into its ghostliness. Nick Royer, owner of the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, embraces the ghost tourism that keeps the local economy afloat, as well as his spectral roommate. At least he doesn’t have to run air-conditioning. Cassie Rutherford possibly overreacted to all her friends getting married and having kids by leaving Orlando and buying a flipped historic cottage in Boneyard Key. Though there’s something unusual with her new home (her laptop won’t charge in any outlets, and the poetry magnets on her fridge definitely didn’t read “WRONG” and “MY HOUSE” when she put them up), she’s charmed by the colorful history surrounding her. And she's catching a certain vibe from the grumpy coffee shop owner whenever he slips her a free slice of banana bread along with her coffee order.As Nick takes her on a ghost tour, sharing town gossip that tourists don't get to hear, and they spend nights side-by-side looking into the former owners of her haunted cottage, their connection solidifies into something very real and enticing. But Cassie's worried she’s in too deep with this whole (haunted) home ownership thing…and Nick's afraid to get too close in case Cassie gets scared away for good.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Setting—I am not ready to let go of Summer this year at all, so this was the perfect book to read in August while everyone starts getting excited for Fall. It has Fall vibes with a ghost mystery and small town setting, but keeps things summery with the romance and location.

The Mystery—I LOVED Meg Cabot’s Mediator series so much and I’m always chasing the high of binging that series. I thought this book was a balanced with being contemporary and having those paranormal elements.

The Pacing—I listened to the audiobook and kept wanting to continue, which is always a great feeling!

What Didn’t Work for Me:

Wanted a Little More Development of the Romance—The romance fell to the B plot and I just wanted things to have a bit more groundedness so I was invested in the couple!

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings:

mentions of domestic abuse, mentions of infertility, death, misogyny, toxic relationship

Cute! A slightly mysterious romance with ghosts — set on the Florida gulf coast.

The "instant chemistry" romances are never my favorite, but this was fun. The best part was the ghost-roommates 😂

I am obsessed with the cover and the title. It's sooo gorgeous and I love that the title is HEA but "haunted" instead of "happily" even though there is of course a happily ever after because romance.

This is the first book I've read by Jen DeLuca and I'm so glad I picked it up! It's a cozy, small-town, ghost story with some romance. I really liked the town history and spooky ghost shenanigans and would have been happy reading it even without the romance plot line. It was very quirky and fun but with a lot of depth and emotion. The dual POV always gives more information to make the setting and characters more well defined in my opinion so I really like that we get that with this book, especially since both Cassie and Nick have ghost roomies and communicate with them in different ways. Readers will fall in love with the ghosts just as much as the living characters! They're given plenty of personality and their own histories. Both Cassie and Nick have a lot to go through emotionally and helping the ghost whose house Cassie just moved into not only helps them through their own issues but rights what the town history got wrong, giving closure to some ghostly residents. It's a real feel good story with lots of humor that also covers a lot of the hard parts of being an adult like outgrowing friendships, being at a different stage in your life than others your age, feeling lost and like you don't quite fit anywhere, and learning to trust again after being hurt by someone you loved. This is all done in a way that validates those experiences and I really like the relationship between Cassie and Nick -- they communicate really well and he just makes so many sweet gestures, it's hard not to love him. Haunted Ever After is a great start to a series set in the spooky yet charming town of Boneyard Key and I can't wait to read the next one! I have a good idea which couple it'll be about(:

Fall is right around the corner and this is the perfect cozy read for the season so if you're looking for a fun, spooky but not at all scary, romantic read check this one out!


Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Like many, Jen Deluca's Well Met series made me a big fan. I was eager to see what would be next for her. Haunted Ever After keeps the feel good humorous vibes of her Renaissance Fair settings while taking us to a very different space — a haunted florida beach town.

This was a delightful mix of small town romance meets cozy mystery, as our two main characters find themselves able to communicate with ghosts from the early 1900's and begin to learn the truth of the history around them. The couple will have no peace until the record is set straight.

The romance is cute but be prepared for the ghosts to often be center stage. I enjoyed it a lot!

Thanks to @berkleyromance for an advanced E- book through NetGalley for an honest review.

3.5⭐ rounded up

I love Jen Deluca's writing and her books, so I really wanted to read this one! And it's a new series! This was a really cute, paranormal romance. I loved the small town with a ghostly feel. I listened to the audiobook while following along in the e-galley. I really wish they had two narrators; one for Cassie and one for Nick. It would have made it so much better!! Overall, this was a cute read just in time for the spooky season!!

*Thank you partner @berkleypub @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the #gifted audiobook and e-galley in exchange for an honest review.*