You know how sometimes you will go outside your normal comfort zone for an author you love? That's what happened to me with B.K. Borison's Good Spirits. I adored her Lovelight series and I'm really enjoying her Heartstrings series so far! I've read all 6 of her currently released books, and all but two of them got 5 stars from me (and those two got 4 stars) so I think it's safe to say I'm a fangirl. I'll admit, though, paranormal romance isn't my thing. A Christmas Carol is not my thing. Ghosts? Nope. And especially not in my Christmas books.  A book about a woman falling in love with the Ghost of Christmas Past is the last thing I ever thought I'd read, but I dove right in last spring when I had room in my schedule because I love B.K. Borison! And, my friend, I am so glad I did. This was magical and delightful, and I felt all the Christmas magic even though it was April.

Harriet is super sweet. She's not the kind of person who needs to reevaluate her life with the Ghost of Christmas Past. She's kind and caring and has filled her life with colors and the things she loves. She's a little quirky and owns many pairs of Christmas pajamas. When Nolan materializes and emerges from behind her Christmas tree, he does so with a pretty jaded attitude. Harriet is just another crappy person who Nolan has to fix before moving on. And she's just as confused! She knows she's not perfect, but she can't figure out what she's done that's bad enough to warrant a Christmas Carol story of her own. But as they dive into her memories, Nolan realizes how wonderful she is. This is the ultimate forbidden romance. Nolan and Harriet have a deadline that must be met before he and her memories of him disappear forever. They quickly begin to fall for one other, even though this expirations date weighs heavily on their hearts. Their shared moments and discussions are deep, tender, heartwarming, and even sad at times but it never feels too heavy. Overall, this is a light and funny read. I loved watching these two characters change each other's lives. Nolan, once jaded and grumpy feels alive again and Harriet learns how worthy she is of the life she wishes for. They make each other light up like the brightest Christmas tree, and I loved their story. The more and more we learn about them, the more everything begins to fall into place. There's plenty of Christmas magic, lots of steam, and even a mischievous cat! There's also a happily ever after that will make you swoon.

B.K. Borison's writing is as lovely as ever. Her descriptions are so wonderful, and the characters she dreams up are always the absolute best. If you're looking for some Christmas magic, I highly recommend Good Spirits. I am so, so excited for the next book in this series. B.K. Borison gives a little hint about it in the author's note and let's just say... sign me up!

**The link included in my review will not be live until December 3, 2025.

Good Spirits is everything a romance reader could hope for—charming, heartfelt, and brimming with holiday magic. This was adorable and I highly recommend for all holiday reading lists, it’s the perfect combination of romance, fantasy and holiday spirit. Nolan and Harriet had amazing chemistry. I wouldn’t complain about being haunted by someone like Nolan.

So unbelievably cozy and adorable! I loved the touch of fantasy and it was so unbelievably romantic. This will be THE holiday romance of the year!

Thank you, Netgalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager, for blessing me with an ARC of *Good Spirits.* This was the enchanting Christmas romance I didn't know I needed in my life right now! Nolan, a handsome Irish ghost of Christmas past, is sent to haunt Harriet, a sweet and grieving antique shop owner. Love ❤️, Christmas 🎄, time travel ⏳️- just a few of the magical things you can expect. I can't wait to reread this during the holiday season and to check out the Lovelight series. I also can't wait to share some of Nolan's beautiful quotes. He's my new favorite book boyfriend 😭🇮🇪

Thrilled that I got to read an ARC of this book! I LOVED IT!

Harriet, an antique store owner who is lovely and quirky in her own ways, finds herself being haunted by Nolan, The Ghost of Christmas past, a touch-starved ghost who’s been serving in his position for 100 years. Will Nolan successfully complete his assignment with Harriet, or is something else at play that has brought them together? You’ll find out in October 2025 when this book is published!!

B. K. Borison writes FMC’s that just want to be loved well and MMC’s who will do anything for the woman they love. Another 5 star book!!!

I have been a BK fan for quite some time and this is definitely one of my top reads from her. Good Spirits is swoony and romantic and just a top tier romance. Harriet is a complex character that I just loved. I love that she comes across as this sort of aloof character, but really, girl is *strong*. When you learn what she's overcome and the challenges within her family for her to come out on the other side and be living her truth? Genius. And Nolan being a touch-starved ghost who hasn't been seen until he met Harriet? Double genius. It was just this perfect storm for these two characters and I loved every second of it. BK was able to build the perfect level of emotion and anticipation. As the reader, you're told from the start that this is temporary and their time is limited, but I *cried* when the time came. I will absolutely be reading this again when Christmas approaches. 10/10, no notes.

This story was absolutely lovely. The journey the two main characters went on was truly beautiful, and this is going to be a Christmas gift for my book loving friends. I loved the character arcs and growth, and the romance was captivating. Also, full credit needs to be given to that absolutely stunning cover. This story did that gorgeous cover justice. When my husband asked me what I was reading this weekend I told him I was reading about a hot Ghost of Christmas Past who gets assigned to a woman who doesn't appear to need his services. He looked at me and said "Is it a romance?" and I said, "Of course it's a romance." XD I'm very much looking forward to what comes next in this series. I only had a few things I didn't like. One is that Harriet didn't have any real friends or connections outside of Nolan. Her only friend is her employee, and that made her seem a bit pitiful. Also, she owned a business, but it didn't ever really seem to require her presence in any appreciable way in spite of the fact that only two people work there. It made me question how well the shop was doing. But otherwise, I loved this story.

“And now that you know, how many lifetimes would you wait? For your Harriett.”

Did I just read the loveliest book of all time? Quite possibly. This was sweet as pie, sexy as hell, and thoughtful in a way I wasn't expecting. It's witty, charming, and whimsical. It's about looking at your past and present through a different lens and being able to grow from that perspective. It's about learning to stand up for yourself and the things you need, even when that breaks your heart. It is going to make you want to believe in soul mates, and that there is at least one person out there waiting for you.

I absolutely love stories with magical realism, and if you are an Ashley Poston fan you're going to love Good Spirits. Our FMC Harriet is being haunted by the Ghost of Christmas Past to figure out how she can change her ways to become "good" so that she can save the rest of her life from bad fortune. Our Ghost of Christmas Past, Nolan, just happens to be a sexy, lumberjack (seaman) Irishman. Complete with the accent, of course. Our FMC Harriet starts to fall for Nolan, the only problem is that he died over 100 years ago.

10/10 this is going to be the perfect Christmas Rom Com.

This is B.K. Borison at her best - which is saying something, because every one of her books feels like the loveliest thing you've ever read. This book is sexy and funny and so sweet it'll give you a tooth ache. Harriet is for those of us who have spent our life trying to shrink ourselves to fit in boxes we were never meant to fit into in the first place, all for the sake of others. Nolan is the reminder that we don't have to live like that, that there are people who not only love us just as we are, but who will actively support and fight for our happiness alongside us, holding our hand the entire time.

I loved the ghostly aspect of this book, the idea of a slightly bureaucratic afterlife where you have to speak to a receptionist before you can go speak to your boss about how your haunting assignment is going. I loved seeing the connections between Harriet and Nolan slowly come together through their visits to the past and watching their relationship go from mutual yearning (god, the YEARNING!) to 'let's be together for as long as we have left'. The ending broke my heart but put it back together again, which is the best kind of ending in a love story.

This book is absolute perfection and a gift to the world of romance books.

B.K. Borison does it again—Good Spirits is pure holiday magic with a romantic, otherworldly twist that swept me off my feet. Warm, witty, and just the right amount of weird, this book feels like being wrapped in a cozy blanket of nostalgia, humor, and heartache—all while sipping hot cocoa in front of a glowing tree.

Nolan Callahan, the Ghost of Christmas Past, was never meant to fall in love. Harriet York, all heart and second-guessing, was never meant to be haunted. And yet, their story is one that lingers—haunting in the best way. Nolan’s delicious grumpiness was perfectly balanced by Harriet’s radiant optimism, and their chemistry absolutely crackled on the page. Their dialogue had me grinning, and their emotional connection had me completely hooked. I especially loved the deeper twist toward the end—it added so much meaning to their story and made their connection even more powerful.

While the premise is delightfully whimsical, there’s an emotional depth that caught me off guard. Through revisiting Harriet’s memories, Borison explores the weight of people-pleasing, self-forgiveness, and the beauty of second chances. It’s introspective without being heavy, poignant without losing its sparkle.

If Business Casual made you laugh and swoon, Good Spirits will make you believe in holiday miracles—and maybe even ghosts. Fans of A Christmas Carol, The Dead Romantics, or just good old-fashioned festive romance with a twist will find something to love here.

Thank you, Avon, for providing me with a free digital copy.

Every time I think B.K. Borison has written her best book yet, she proves me wrong!

"Good Spirits" pulls in the perfect blend of a winter love story and intertwines it with the mysterious past of both our main characters. While Harriet is wondering what she's done to deserve a Ghost of Christmas Past to magically appear in her living room, Nolan is experiencing senses that he hasn't had for over a century thanks to his death.

This holiday romance will have readers wishing it was Christmas every day! I am quite the mood reader and rarely read holiday romances before the end of November. However, I was so intrigued by "Good Spirits" that I ended up reading the whole thing in less than two days— in April.

Harriet and Nolan's chemistry is off the charts! I love a GrumpyxSunshine moment, and these two complement each other better than peppermint and hot chocolate. I could've easily enjoyed another one hundred pages of their banter, and I hope they make at least a small cameo in the next book in this series. (That's right, folks— there's more spooky romance afoot!)

If you're looking for a sweet, heartwarming romcom that will keep even the smartest book sleuth guessing, be sure to put "Good Spirits" on your holiday wish list! Or, you can be like me and devour this sucker when it comes out on October 21st. Don't worry— I won't tell the spirits that be.

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ~ 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐒 ~ by B.K. Borison ~ Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for an ARC copy of this adorable book. If you are a Romance reader and you like a sprinkle of a ghost or of a little Christmas spirit, then this is the book for you. This was enchanting! You know that magical realism and I are not often friends, but in this story we were besties from the start!. This is a bit of A Christmas Carol reimagining with B.K. vibes that are just right! I am a little swoony over this soulful connection, as I just finished this holiday book on an April afternoon. This should be the holiday book readers kick off the season this year! This book has soulful love and just enough spicy romance, small town feels, a lovely dose of the holiday spirit, a perfectly blended mix of reality and magic, sweet side characters, perfectly drawn nemesis’, and an MMC and MMF to root for. What more could a romance love want out of a holiday genre story. I love a love that spans the decades! I will be gifting this to many of my reader friends when it is released on October 7th 2025. (also, as per the author’s note, another book is in mind… can you say “pre-order”? lol)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (holiday romance genre specific stars)...
𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐥! 📚♥️🌲

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @avonbooks for an early copy of Good Spirits by B.K. Borison. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: October 21st, 2025

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222279220-good-spirits?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=n30HHHFGnj&rank=1

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Good Spirits is a romance with a twist of magic. It tells the story of Nolan, a ghost of Christmas past, who gets assigned to Harriet, who’s essentially a good person. Both have no idea what had them assigned together as they visit scenes from the past.

I’d say it outright that while the magical elements in this book was interesting, it kind of felt flat in execution. Even Nolan and Harriet’s budding romance felt a bit underwhelming. What made me finish the book was their whimsical dialogues which made me laugh some. The mystery behind Nolan’s ghost powers/abilities also held my attention towards the end.

I loved Harriet’s personal growth in this story though, and how Nolan was able to help her be more appreciative of herself, learn to take compliments, etc.

Overall, Good Spirits is a cozy holiday romance that you could pick up for the vibes.

Cute.. It felt a little long at times. I found myself skimming pages towards the end. Overall I enjoyed it and would like to see where else the series goes.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. From the moment I saw the cover, I was hooked because it’s absolutely stunning and fits the story so well. B.K. Borison’s writing style is just so good: warm, vivid, and completely captivating. I felt immediately drawn in, like I was living inside the story right alongside the characters. I was so enthralled from beginning to end, completely rooting for them the entire time.

This book was beautiful, even if it played a little fast and loose with realism (okay, a lot, but who’s complaining when it’s this good?). B.K. Borison crafts a story that’s heart tugging, whimsical, and full of steady, slow burn character development. I wasn’t sure how it would all wrap up, but the ending left me with a full heart and happy tears.

It’s got that bittersweet, enchanting atmosphere where you feel every emotion right alongside the characters. Harriet and Nolan's journey is so gentle and meaningful because it asks the question, “Can we really be together and have everything we want even though we are from two different worlds?”

Also, can we talk about Nolan??? Obsessed with him. Their relationship grows in the most patient, tender way, and watching them peel back each other’s layers was perfect.

I’m so thankful to NetGalley, Avon, and B.K. Borison for the ARC. Truly one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it didn’t disappoint. Good Spirits is like a warm hug on a cold winter night; a little magical, a little heart-wrenching, and entirely unforgettable.

If you love soft magic, a broody ghost who is Irish and has a hot moustache, holiday warmth, and slow, genuine character growth, you NEED to pick this one up.

The way the tension, emotion, and chemistry were woven together kept me flying through the pages, and the story struck such a perfect balance of heart, humor, and depth. It felt like every moment mattered, and I genuinely didn’t want it to end.

I’m already counting down the days for the next book, especially with the reaper now on the loose! It gave me major The Grim Reaper’s Lawyer by Mea Monique vibes (which I loved), and I cannot wait to see what B.K. Borison does with it. If this book is any indication, I know it’s going to be absolutely fantastic. I’m so excited to stay in this world a little longer!

Just finished this. It's beautiful a little bit unrealistic (I'm lying through my teeth) but beautiful still. The characters development is slow and steady. I wasn't sure how it will all wrap up but the ending is great! Kinda reminds me of hotel del Luna; similar idea reversed genders. And one thing to know about me I LOVE hotel del Luna 🩷

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

SKIP CHAPTER: 22, 23, 30

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

This one is an anticipated one and I got the ARC 😭 thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this opportunity 💕💕

B.K. Borison has done it again!! As expected, she has ripped my heart out, gently stitched it back together, and left me an emotional mess in the best way possible. All I can say is THANK YOU.

From the moment I picked up this book, I knew it was going to be special, but I wasn’t prepared for the emotional whirlwind it would deliver. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I’m so incredibly grateful to Avon for the chance to read it early. I devoured it in a single sitting, completely captivated by the story and the characters; and it was just as perfect as every other B.K. Borison book.

When Nolan, a Ghost of Christmas Past, is assigned to haunt Harriett, he soon realizes that he may be haunting the wrong person. Normally, his assignments are bitter people who he can tell within the first few minutes have done something truly awful. However, Harriett is the complete opposite. She’s bright. She’s warm. She’s full of life. As he spends more time with Harriet, he realizes there is no way she has done anything in her past that warrants being haunted. Together, they join forces to determine why they were paired together.

This book is a truly heartwarming, hilarious, and deeply emotional story of love, soulmates, and second chances. Harriett is the definition of a comfort character, genuinely kind and radiant in every way. She lights up every scene she’s in, and it’s no wonder Nolan can’t help but be drawn to her despite his broody (or rugged as Harriet described him as) personality. And can we just take a moment to appreciate Nolan? Becs was right, his “slutty little mustache” was everything!! There is no way to say it except I’m down bad crying at the gym over a fictional ghost.

Their chemistry was electric and the banter was top-tier. Every interaction between them had me either laughing out loud or giggling and kicking my feet. The love forming between the characters felt so organic and so beautifully done, that you start to feel it yourself. It’s hard to truly describe the emotions I was feeling without spoilers, but seeing them help each other become better versions of themselves was touching. The ending had me SOBBING and I had to keep pausing to clear the tears that were clouding my vision.

I will be thinking about this book for the rest of my life. I picked this up expecting a cute holiday romance, but instead I got a story about hope, self-discovery, and the unexpected ways that love is all around us. In B.K. Borison we trust. 🫡

If you need me, I’ll be manifesting being haunted by a hot ghost and his slutty little mustache.

BK Borison sure does know how to write banter! This book was so cozy and warm and romantic. I couldn't put it down. I loved it!

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the advance review copy; all opinions are my own.

GOOD SPIRITS is tender, cozy, sexy, and divinely clever. I was swept away by the magic, the festive holiday atmosphere, and the emotionally rich journey Harriet and Nolan embark on both together and individually. And good gracious, the spice was perfection! I cannot wait for the Reaper's story!!

This book was magical.

Harriet is taken aback when a man shows up in her living room one evening, claiming to be a Spirit of Christmas Past, there to help her become a "better" person so she doesn't end up in...well, the bad place. Nolan, the spirit in question, thinks this assignment is just like all the other ones he's taken over the centuries, and just wants to be done so he can finally move on.

But the more time the two spend together, the more they realize things aren't that cut and dry.

Harriet has a really complicated relationship with her family, and thus herself; Nolan is barely skimming along, doing the bare minimum and losing faith that anything he does will change his future.

The story between this two is heartbreaking AND heartwarming, lovely, and simply marvelous. I loved everything about this, and even managed to cry a few happy tears at the end. I highly, highly recommend this.