Skip to main content

Member Reviews

This was a very fun read and I expected no less from Jen DeLuca! I love the characters we met-including the house- and I want to see more from Boneyard Key!

Was this review helpful?

Sweet and just quirky enough, Jen DeLuca’s HAUNTED EVER AFTER is a must-read for anyone who considers themselves a fan of friendly ghosts and small-town romance—or the perfect blend of both.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Haunted Ever After is the perfect novel for a Florida girl like me!! I loved the way Jen Deluca created the perfect kitschy touristy town of Boneyard Key. I was delighted to learn about the haunted town along side Cassie as she goes on a ghost tour with the grumpy coffee shop owner. But when he shares all about how the past owner of the coffee shop won’t stop texting him with overbearing feedback, oh and also died around the year 2000, Cassie isn’t sure she is up for all this town has in store. This is a really sweet love story with a touch of mystery and some fun paranormal flair!

🌶️🌶️
4.25/5

Feedback not included in review on social sites:
The formatting of the text messages wasn’t consistent throughout the book and that got a little confusing, I would have liked for that to be more consistent.

Was this review helpful?

I was very happy to get this ARC!

I was really not sure how I felt about this book before reading it. A haunted town, real ghosts, and a romance sound like a recipe for a cheesy novel. However, I enjoyed Jen DeLuca's Well Met series so much I was determined to give this book a chance.

I'm glad I did because I enjoyed this book very much.

The characters are very likable and the setting is really unique- a small coastal town in Florida full of friendly ghosts! The FMC moves here for a new start and ends up purchasing a haunted home without realizing all of the ghost stuff the town is obsessed with is actually for real. The MMC is a lifelong resident and coffee shop owner with an unusual room mate.

Don't crack this one open looking for some profound mystery or big drama- you won't find it. The stakes aren't particularly high in this book which I liked given the potential for heavy themes that so typically revolve around stories about ghosts. But I'd consider this one to be cozy. A pleasant, easy read with a cute romance!

Was this review helpful?

I was given the utmost honor of receiving an advanced readers copy of this courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group and NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I fell in love with Jen Deluca's writing back in 2019 when her debut Ren Faire series first released and ever since then, if her name us attached, I pre-order any new, upcoming releases as quickly as possible.
"Haunted Ever After" was absolutely no exception to the excellence I expected from this author. It was quirky, sexy, mesmerizing, and just downright delightful. When ghosts of residents decide to stick around Boneyard Key, it only makes sense that it becomes the "Most Haunted Small Town in Florida" and Cassie's new home is no exception. Given the name "Hawkins House," based on the old widow, Mean Mrs. Hawkins, you know you're in for a Spooky good time.
Any fans of CBS's "Ghosts" will absolutely love this rom-com.

Was this review helpful?

Set in a haunted Florida coastal town, this charming paranormal romance was an absolute delight and the perfect comfort read.

This is a slow burn as Cassie and Nick find their way. I really appreciated Cassie's experiences and her finding community in this quirky small town.

I've read all of Jen DeLuca's Wet Met series and cannot wait to read more!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Open Door / spicy towards the end

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

[4.5/5 ★] Cassie moves to a tourist town known for its "paranormal occurrences," thinking it's all nonsense until strange things start happening in her new home. Luckily, she'll have the help of the handsome town barista while investigating the true story of her house previous owner.

I loved everything about it; the story premise is captivating on its own, the main characters are charming, and the chemistry is definitely there. The secondary characters are equally enjoyable, not just filler—they contribute to the story nicely. The plot of ghosts being part of the town and Claire trying to adapt to it while learning more about the woman living in her house appealed to me a lot; everything unfolded in a captivating fast-paced way.

I adored Cassie; initially, she felt very lonely as she realized she no longer fit in with her group of friends, which is HORRIBLE. I felt so much for her while reading. Plus, Sarah's story and relationship with Cassie was beautiful executed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jen DeLuca and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this amazing book in advance in exchange for an honest review 💌

Was this review helpful?

4/5 ⭐️

Looking for a cozy comfort read with a spooky twist to crack open on a rainy day? Haunted Ever After is the book for you.

This was such a fun read! It takes place in Boneyard Key, Florida— a fictional town stepped in lore where spirits are just as likely to walk around town as the people. The amount of detail poured into making you picture this town is just perfect. I was completely immersed in the story and you can tell how much love the author poured into creating it.

Cassie and Nick reminded me of Lorelei Gilmore and Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls. If you like that grumpy sunshine trope with relatable protagonists, you’ll adore these two.

I also loved the ghostly companions and the mystery revolving around the Hawkins House. It was heartwarming to see these characters want to bring justice to the past residents and make sure their true story is told for future generations to appreciate.

Also, can we take a minute to talk about the cover? What a beautiful cover for a beautifully written book. (And I’m in complete agreement with Cassie, you can’t beat a Publix sub lol!)

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, the author, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my unbiased opinion and is given with free will.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and Jen DeLuca for an early copy of Haunted Ever After.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the story, but I am happy to report back that I enjoyed it so much. I love a good small town romance and sure enough, I like small town romances with ghosts. Who knew that this would bring out sad and happy tears in the span of a few minutes? I love all the characters and the relationships that they have with each other. Cassie really found the best when moving to Boneyard Key, Florida.

While I love Cassie and Nick, I was more intrigued by Sarah and Elmer. I would love (maybe) a novella about them to go even more in depth about their lives.

I can’t wait until this officially publishes so I can add the physical copy to my book shelf.

Was this review helpful?

Thank You NetGalley, Jen Deluca, and Berkley Publishing for granting me access to an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Haunted Ever After is a cozy story mixed with a little bit of spooky and heartwarming romance perfect for the fall season. Not to mention this cover is absolutely beautiful and grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I devoured this little gem and can’t wait to reread it around fall.

This story takes place in Boneyard Key, a small town in Florida known for its tourism and ghostly reputation. Cassie, our FMC, recently purchased a home in this small town with hopes of starting a new life, finding out later that her home is much more than the eye can see. After Cassie keeps having electrical issues she finds herself at a local cafe called Hallowed Grounds, where she meets Nick, our MMC. Nick, a man determined to maintain his family legacy, not only inherits some of Hallowed Grounds original recipes but also the very vocal and hilarious opinions of the cafes previous owner. As Nick helps Cassie learn about the history of the small town and all of the special residents a slow burn romance begins to form. However, will the history of Boneyard Key become too much for Cassie and will their relationship withstand it?

Was this review helpful?

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Did Cassie make the biggest mistake of her life leaving the city she knows for a coastal town coined as the Most Haunted Small Town in Florida? While she prefers her life to be in control and coordinated, chaos seems to envelop her since she moved into the infamous haunted Hawkins house. Ghosts in a cute little Florida town and romance, yes please! All of the shops and businesses having ghost names, where are the directions to visit this adorably haunted town?!! Haunted Ever After is such a fun read, even for skeptics because the ghosts in this town just might be really good at matchmaking! Just go ahead and clear your plans for August 13th because you will not want to put this one down!

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is on Goodreads and will be posted to Instagram well before publication!

Was this review helpful?

This ghost-tinged romance novel was delightful from start to finish.

First of all, I loved that this book was set in costal Florida. As a Florida native, I've spent a lot of vacations on the coast, and I could envision Boneyard Key vividly.

Experiencing the relationship of Cassie and Nick going from native v. tourist to romance was lovely, and I was rooting for them. I also really enjoyed how local history and research played into this novel.

I suppose you could call this cozy paranormal romance, and I'm here for it. I hope we'll see more of Boneyard Key sometime.

The only thing I was disappointed in was that we never got to visit Cemetery Island. I really wanted Cassie to see it in person, because I'm a cemetery enthusiast.

Was this review helpful?

This is such a fun read! If you’re a fan of contemporary romance with a twist, this is the book for you!
In this book, Cassie moves into a new house in a new town, only to find that her house, like a lot of the town, is haunted. She gets to know Nick, the at first standoffish owner of the local coffee shop. Sparks fly, and Nick has to try to convince her that not only are ghosts real, but that she can learn to live with them.
I loved the twist of the haunted town, where local residents are used to living with ghosts, while the tourists think it’s just a gimmick. It added an extra layer of complexity to Cassie’s dilemma of if she made a mistake moving to a town hours away from everything she knows. I like how the ghosts were an actual part of the plot and not just a hook for the reader. It gave this book a unique twist.
I also really liked the characters in this book. I felt that they were all solidly written and I felt an instant connection to Cassie and Nick. The ghosts were also very intriguing although I would have loved even more content with some of them.
Overall, this was a great book to read and I’m looking forward to Jen DeLuca’s next book! I would love one featuring one of the different townspeople.

Was this review helpful?

How absolutely precious was this romantic paranormal comedy, oh my goodness. Jen DeLuca has gained such a wonderful fanbase for her ren faire novels, and I don't think anyone will be disappointed by this departure. Boneyard Key immediately came alive (well...you know what I mean) and I fell for these characters hard. The ghosts and the way they interact with the locals was so fun and heartwarming (I got choked up at the end), and I loved how Cassie and Nick clicked immediately. Their relationship is sweet, progresses quickly but naturally. They barrel towards an easy but still satisfying HEA, as all the obstacles are less about their relationship and personalities and more about how the ghosts push them together and apart, which I found to be a little unexpected. I also loved the use of local history and local archives to dig deeper into the lore! I can't wait to come back to Florida with Jen DeLuca sometime- maybe for Sophie and Theo?! :)

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, Jen DeLuca and Berkley Publishing for a digital arc of Haunted Ever After in exchange for an honest review.

After reading & LOVING the Well Met series by Jen, I was so excited to see this new book coming out with a paranormal theme!

This story centers around Cassie who has just purchased & moved into a cottage in Boneyard Key, Florida. Boneyard Key is a “ghostly” now that plays up to its name to bring in tourism. However, not all of it is a marketing ploy. Cassie’s cottage seems to be haunted as things she cannot explain begin to happen. Soon, Cassie & Nick (owner of the local coffee shop) spark up a friendship and then begin to investigate what is being the haunting of Cassie’s cottage. But, before long, real feelings develop between the two leaving each of them scared of the relationship for their own, different reasons.

I loved that this book was different from what I know of DeLuca’s previous stories. This one was pure perfection for me! I absolutely loved all of the characters. Nick & Cassie’s chemistry was great! This was an adorable & charming story that I want to re-read ASAP! This is one of those books perfect for curling up on a rainy day and reading as it is so cozy. I hope to see more of this type of genre from Jen!

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5) – I will highly recommend this on my IG!

Was this review helpful?

Cassie moves from her hometown to Boneyard Key, Florida. She wanted to buy a house and was priced out of housing in Orlando. She doesn't have people in Boneyard Key, but her friends back home have all gotten married and started families, leaving her behind. She's thrilled to find a cute old house right on the ocean.

Imagine her surprise when she finds out many places in Boneyard Key are actually haunted. Gets spicy only at the very end.

Was this review helpful?

There is nothing like this out today. Incredibly unique, and real. I fell in love with this little town and all of these characters. One to watch, this is an instant hit.

Was this review helpful?

If there's one thing DeLuca knows how to do, it's give us a small-town cast of characters that feel like my best friends and I want to read a novel focusing on each and every one of them. I really hope Boneyard Key gets the Willow Creek treatment and we get to spend more time in this haunted Floridian town because I can't get enough. The ghostly aspect is so enchanting and they mystery behind it all kept me hooked from the get-go. Honestly this would still be a 5-star read for me sans the romance, which is amazing. The store name ghost puns alone would keep me going if nothing else clicked, but everything really did click for me here. I'm a simple girl with simple needs, and between Nick & Cassie dancing around each other, a town filled with loveable characters, and a handful of ghostly notions, I couldn't ask for anything more.

Was this review helpful?

While I enjoyed Haunted Ever After, I don't have any big feelings about it. It was fun and I think folks will enjoy it. The plot is strong. DeLuca did a good job of mixing the contemporary with the paranormal. As the asks for high heat/spice in romance increase, I will note for readers that this is on the tamer side of things. Due to some ghost shenanigans, the sexy shenanigans are limited. (Seriously, they don't even make out until about 75% and the first sex scenes is 90% through) I think as long as readers go in with that in mind, they won't be disappointed. Overall really fun and I definitely recommend it!

Was this review helpful?

This was not your typical love story. Iit takes a fun twist on a hhost gown. Characters were fun. There was a lot of depth to the story while keeping it light hearted. So fun.

Was this review helpful?