The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery was a quick paced tale about family, dark pasts, and returning to those you love. Gwendolyn is about to hit it big but a string of supernatural happenings are pushing her while she's on the rise. She has to return to something she never wanted to face again. It was a romp of a book and I had such a fun time with it! The characters were layered despite it's short page count, and the story had legs by the end that kept me guessing. I don't think this is necessarily the best book of 2025, but I think if you like non-spooky (and kind of scary) ghosts, messy magic, and some horror elements, add this to your TBR!

I figured this one might take me on a ride but I didn't think it'd be like that from the beginning! This was funny and intriguing and I couldn't wait to find out what actually happening. I would love to see this story adapted for a movie or limited series. As I was reading I could see it all playing out in my end so I think it would be perfect for that. I can't wait to read what Haynes writes next. This was a strong debut!


Rounded from 4.25 stars

It was a bit difficult to get into at first until we switched POVs then I couldn’t put it down. Some of the themes were dark but were handled well so they weren’t overwhelming.

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery
Release Date: June 17, 2025
Length: 7 hours 45 minutes
Genre: Paranormal | Urban Fantasy | Queer Fiction

Huge thank you to Hachette Audio and the author, Clarence A. Haynes for the opportunity to read this novel in advance of it's publishing.

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery first caught my attention with the gorgeous cover. Seeing dark skinned black woman on the cover immediately is an add to cart moment. TGoGM is a genre bending book that combines Magical Realism, paranormal elements and urban fiction all in one with many queer identifies. This book is billed as a fast paced soulful, culturally rich ghost story that blends Afro-Latina heritage, ancestral magic, and complex relationships. I found this novel caught me off guard at the start because there were some events that happened that were unexpected and I had to regain my footing. However, as I continued to read and got to know the characters and their motivations better I was able to connect with the characters more. Fonzi has got to be my favorite character because he is misunderstood and truthfully walked on by his ex because he is a kind soul. I have felt like Fonzi is my own life many times so I connected with him so much and I was so happy to see him grow into himself throughout the story. The element I loved the most was the occult, I have a fascination with occult things (which is hilarious since I am very much not into any religious practices) but I loved learning about mediums throughout this novel. This one really kept me on my toes and I appreciated the dabble into some tropes and genres I typically don't read.

Such a fun an interesting premise! I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. It felt clunky and didn't flow well, and I wanted more ghost occurrences and scary stuff. Then it wrapped up too quickly without answers to some things, including how the public/rest of the world's reactions to what happened. However, I did enjoy the inclusion of Black American culture tied to Afro-Panamanian culture in the story and the characters and those were the most interesting parts for me. The descriptions of the "magic" and gifts were so cool. I liked Fonsi the most and enjoyed his chapters, but wanted more from Gwen. Her background was kept secret for too long, and I would have enjoyed it more if at least some of her past was revealed earlier or sprinkled throughout to connect with her better.

Overall a decent book, a like but didn't love, and I would still read more from this author in the future.

In The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery, we follow Gwendolyn, a fierce NYC publicist with a secret: she’s one of the most powerful spirit manipulators alive. She’s spent years burying her mystical gifts after a childhood tragedy until the veil between the spirit realm and the living world starts to unravel, and she has no choice but to face the past she’s been running from.

And then there’s Fonsi 😭 a queer Afro-Latinx medium from the Bronx, navigating love, loss, and a ghostly ex. He’s the bridge between realms, someone who literally walks between the living and the dead. Through him, we see how Afro-Latinx spiritual traditions are not just aesthetics, they’re survival, identity, and connection.

What makes this book special isn’t just the plot. it’s the energy. There are moments so deeply rooted in ancestral wisdom that it feels like the story is inviting you to reconnect with your own. It reminds us that healing often means calling in the ones who came before us. That we’re never truly alone..even in the chaos.

Haynes brings his Panamanian roots to every page, blending urban fantasy with horror, humor, and magic in a way that feels fresh, grounded, and necessary.

If you love books that honor Afro-Latinx storytelling and explore mystical realms where ancestors guide the way, The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Legacy Lit for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.

I actually really liked this book.

This story is about Gwendolyn, PR extraordinaire, who starts to experience some targeted supernatural attacks at her events. And it's also about Fonsi, a medium and owner of La Playa, who helps people find closure with their deceased loved ones.

There was no part of this book that I found dull. I even loved the side characters Robyn, one of Fonsi's employees and my favorite side character; Arturo, a visual artist; James, an absolute sweetheart; Amede, a ghost that communicates with physical touch and notes written on the bathroom mirror; Ignacia, Fonsi's deceased mother (who I kinda feel bad for...); Duarte, who can go to hell and stay there; Raphael, who can also go to hell and stay there; Estelle, who took Fonsi in along with her husband; Tariq, Fonsi's best friend and Estelle's son...all great.

I'll even consider El Intermedio a character. A main character at that. It's basically limbo and if a spirit stays there too long, they can go a little coocoo.

I knew Gwendolyn and Fonsi would be connected somehow. That part was a little predictable, but I'm not mad at it.

Clarence, you did a good job.

A debut centered around two family members who are part of a mystical family that hail from the underrated beautiful country known as Panama. Something is happening in Manhattan and in order for the dead not to reappear, someone has to take charge 😏 Ghosts are a part of this story but so is regaining what once was yours as well as forging an identity that fits you best. I loved Gwen and Fonsi both as cousins interacting together and on their own. They learn to examine and take accountability as far as their roles when being mystics as well as confronting what it means to communicate with spirits. The respect and history behind orishas was so well done and I would read more from this author. There is a lot of rep in this book that makes it worth reading on its own. Afro Latinx (Panama / PR) New York setting. A gay male main character as well as a presumed non-binary side character.

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery
Author: Clarence A. Haynes

Thank you Netgalley, Hatchette Audio and Legacy Lit for my copy! This was such a fun and refreshing read. Gwendolyn Montgomery is a top publicist thriving in New York City. She’s enjoying her success, her new relationship, and the glamorous life, until a chilling encounter at the Brooklyn Museum brings her dark past into focus. When strange visions and ghostly disturbances begin to surface, her estranged cousin, a powerful medium, steps in to help. Together, they uncover secrets tied to their family’s legacy and a weakening veil between the human and spirit worlds. I loved the pacing and how it balanced quirk, mystery, and supernatural thrills. The audiobook was fantastic, and both narrators did an amazing job. This was such a clever and original concept, I really enjoyed it.

"The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery" was a miss for me. The aspects I enjoyed were overpowered by how easily I put the book down and struggled to pick it back up.

What worked:
1. The rich magic system rooted in Afro-Latine culture and spirituality. The colors and textures in the séance scenes were described with such vividness that it was almost as if I could reach out and touch the soft, vibrant yellow sunflower petals or inhale the viscous smoke drifting from the ember end of a stick of incense.

2. The complex nature of family relationships and the joy of found family, especially as they pertain to acceptance and choice. Honestly, the complex nature of humans, in general. We're complicated. We live in the gray. We're told to lean into the light, but we should also to embrace our shadow-selves. We can't have one without the other.

What didn't work:
1. Ghost sex (?).

2. Diction. When words feel unusual, jarring, or out of place, it takes me out of the world I'm building in my head, hindering me from getting lost in a story. If the word choice were adjusted in a handful of places, I feel this would read more smoothly and less like a YA novel:

• Body parts. If there's already cursing or slang throughout the story, I prefer that language stays consistent. It's distracting to come across words like "buttocks" and "behind" when scenes become intimate...

• Descriptors. I can't remember the last time I read the word "humongous", but it showed up 6 times in this book—twice within the same paragraph. It's just such a strange word that has so many synonyms.


2.5 stars for this one. I'm still excited to read Haynes' work in the future (I'm looking at "Nubia: The Awakening" on my bookshelf as I type this), but "The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery" didn't hit as hard as I was hoping.

This was such an intriguing paranormal story between cousins. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to more of the author's works.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the gifted ARC.

I really enjoyed this book—such a refreshing and meaningful read! Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Legacy Lit for the ARC. I loved how it blended fantasy with Latinx culture in a way that felt authentic and impactful. It’s exciting to see more diverse voices and traditions shaping the genre, especially ones that echo spiritual gifts I’ve grown up hearing about.

Gwendolyn’s journey from shame to acceptance of her gift was moving, and Fonzie’s quiet strength and passion added depth. Their dynamic was genuine and strong, especially as they learned to rely on each other. The world-building had a few slower moments, but overall it was well-balanced. A late-story development caught me by surprise, and I appreciated the hopeful resolution between the cousins.

4.75 ⭐️ - A heartfelt, culturally rich fantasy I definitely recommend!

A very lush, interesting story. From the description, it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but I liked it. I wish the perspective split was more even, but I liked hearing from both mains. Some side characters were really well developed and some weren’t. I appreciated that it was a unique perspective that drew from culture as a backdrop, not just trauma and family dynamics.

Stories with supernatural elements are not my typical, but I liked this a lot and loved Gwendolyn as a character. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery
Clarence A. Haynes

Gwendolyn Montgomery has created a life that she could barely imagine as a child. She has left so many parts of herself behind. She had to.

How else could she be who she is now?

If you’re in the market for a visionary, a woman deeply invested into her job, Gwendolyn is that person. She’s someone that’s willing to forge through foolishness. Her clients would describe her as formidable.

Now, the past has a funny way of creeping into your life at the most inconvenient times. Gwen is no exception. Someone or something is clearly out to get her. Unfortunately for her, she has a lot of secrets. There’s no where to hide from destiny.

I cannot go on without mentioning Fonsi. He has involved himself in an interesting relationship with a spirit after the crash and burn of his latest relationship. He just wants to feel like he’s enough, for whomever he shares his company with. I wasn’t prepared for the way Fonsi finds that comfort lol.

The two have to resolve long standing family secrets. They need each other. It’s the only way they’ll survive.

Thank you NetGalley and Legacy Lit.

#readandtellwithshantel #clarenceahayes #theghostsofgwendolynmontgomery #grandcentralpublishing

Pastime Paradise Stevie Wonder

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a melting pot of genres yet engaging paranormal tale with heart. I’m not usually drawn to ghost stories, but this one worked with sharp writing, rich characters, and just the right balance of mystery and humor. The MC Gwendolyn is compelling, flawed, and unforgettable. Thanks to NetGalley and Legacy Lit for the ARC!

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery was a great read. Clarence A. Haynes wrote it in such a manner that I drawn it, and held captive up until the very last page.
Having grown up in NYC, this book was very relatable; I was transported from the south-- NC, to the streets of New York. The manner in which the author told a story that allowed for me to envision clear the scenes the author was describing. It was filled with paranormal, mystical, and LGBTQ representation which I thoroughly enjoyed. As I continued to read, "my relationship" with Fonsi and Gwendolyn grew, as did my enjoyment of the story.
Thank you Clarence A. Haynes and NetGalley for blessing me with a copy of The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery.

I wanted to like this book by so much. It feels that I got to know Fonsi on a deeper level than I did Gwendolyn. When Gwendolyn became the main character, the storyline picked up a bit but for me she still fell short. At a young age, she was orphaned and rescued by her cousin ( goddaughter). Her godmother teaches her the way of her people, she has completely erased the life. I like the storyline and where it ws headed. I just needed more Gwendolyn than him. Thank you NetGalley for this arc and Hachette Group. Many more to come.

I really enjoy reading paranormal thrillers, and The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery was what I needed. This story follows Gwendolyn, a really big publicist in New York City whose company got hit with some really gruesome events. This story alternates between her and Fonsi, a botanica employee who has a rich history in communicating with the afterlife. As the story moves forward, it's revealed that a breach has taken place, and if isn't closed in time complete chaos will occur.

I love how this story was well paced, and it was a natural progression between the two characters' eventual connection. It also had the right amount of romance and thriller element. There are definitely some jump scares throughout the story, and Gwendolyn faces both her past and current situation in order to face these demons she's up against.

Thank you Libro FM/Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for the gifted book. Everyone needs to pick up this book right away!

When The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery popped up, I was immediately captivated by the cover with its rich colors and gorgeous model for Gwendolyn (although I just NOW noticed that she's naked and there's a naked guy behind her which... don't suit the story?), and the first couple chapters I was into it, learning the world and its inhabitants, enjoying the infusion of Afro-Latino culture and spiritual practices. And then... it all sort of burst forth and kinda fell apart.

Here's what I enjoyed:
I enjoyed Fonsi's POV chapters a lot more than Gwendolyn's. I felt a lot more invested in what he was doing, his place in the community as he ran the area's spiritual shop (while also helping people, for an extremely reasonable price, with the ghosts of their dead). I enjoyed the depth of the connection of spiritual culture mixed in with NYC culture, and the small commentary on colorism and the expectations on what gay man should look like, and the extra work a Black woman must put in.

What fell flat for me:
While the worldbuilding in the first part of the book really drew me in, when things started happening, boy did they start happening. I suppose that's not too dissimilar to real life, but we went immediately from, "I've been avoiding my gift my entire adult life, I don't know about this" to the next chapter Fonsi heading over to Gwendolyn's place after she told him to come help with the ritual. (A ritual you just remembered or are in tune to do suddenly?) There was a death that both seemed too much and then not enough at all, and a last few chapters that was a big setup for a sequel that I'm not honestly sure I'm interested in. Gwendolyn's POV chapters felt a lot more tell > show where Fonsi's chapters felt the opposite where I forgot there wasn't two different writers sometimes. The villain reveal (both times) felt pretty out of left field and even though they explained why, at least, for one of the reasons, I was still left feeling like I was looking around wondering where that came from and, well, disliking it. So much about, "and now we're at the equinox, and also, all the ghosts are here" were just SO sudden.

I see this is the first novel Clarence A Haynes wrote without a cowriter, and he definitely has potential - this book is less than 300 pages, and with maybe 50-100 more pages, the wild rush of the big event at the end could have had a lot more time to build up (especially since the early part of the book was nicely slower!). I would try another of his books because there's so much good here even if the execution didn't completely make it for me.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing | Legacy Lit for the eARC in exchange for review!