A page or two into Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi and I was already tearing up (yes, I’m that emotional). This book is such a perfect blend of cozy fall vibes, haunting atmosphere, and emotional depth. Rosemary is a horror writer who inherited the gift of seeing ghosts from her grandmother, and now she’s headed to England to oversee the movie adaptation of her book. The catch? The male lead is Ellis Finch, a Scottish heartthrob she absolutely cannot stand... or so she thinks.

Ellis turns out to be the total opposite of what Rosemary expected. Not some egotistical action star, but a soft, grounded man who loves to garden and is secretly struggling under the weight of fame and grief. Their chemistry is intense, and their sub/dom dynamic? Spicy, emotional, and so well written. I especially loved how the story explores grief, home, and identity, Rosemary’s feelings about losing her mom and no longer feeling like she belongs anywhere hit me hard.

Plus, there’s ghostly drama, remnants (spectral memories!), and the creepiest haunted mansion setting that gave all the spooky season chills. Rosemary’s writer brain and historical horror facts (yes, Victorian mummy-unwrapping parties 😳) added the perfect touch of dark academia energy.

Ellis and Rosemary are broken in similar ways, and watching them come together, through pain, passion, and healing, was so beautiful.

Tropes:
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Age gap (29 & early 40s)
🖤 Grumpy x misunderstood softie
🖤 Forced proximity (film set)
🖤 Found family / strong female friendship
🖤 Sub/dom kink
🖤 Haunted house + ghosts
🖤 Grief & identity crisis rep
🖤 Cozy fall & spooky vibes

Love at First Fright is emotionally rich, deliciously spooky, and seriously steamy. Definitely one to pick up for your fall TBR or spooky season reading list! 👻🍂🕯️
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, & Nadia El-Fassi for the eARC 👻

So this book was definitely a.. book. lol first of all I wanna say thank you to NetGalley for an eARC. Anything I say in this review is my own personal opinion, and no one paid me for my review.

but like I was saying. This book fell under the same problem so many modern romances fall under. They have an idea of what they want to do but the execution feels off. There were four or five different storylines including fake dating and lesbians and dead parents. I think this book would've been better it's the author shows one side story and stuck to it, and not six or seven.

I also couldn't connect with either the FMC or the MMC. I'm not sure how old the author is, but she felt almost lost writing Ellis who is my age, 42. He just felt like some weird personality-less hot guy. And rosemary I appreciated that she's a bigger girl, I appreciate that her worries or her beliefs about herself were valid. And I loved the way she carried herself as you know the time on her tradition of body armor. But she just felt so Wattpad. if that would make sense to anybody let me know lol

I have to say I do give this 2.75 stars, because it is well written. It's just not good in my mind.

I was able to get a digital ARC of Love At First Fright from Ballentine and NetGalley. When I saw the cover and read the blurb about the plot, I knew that I had to read it, and was so excited that my request was granted.
Rosemary is an author who is about to have a movie made. Ellis is an actor cast in the movie. Their meet cute is not so cute, but they are both committed to making the movie work, so they will just have to put aside their annoyances and get along. Or will they? Oh, and by the way, she can see and talk to ghosts. And the house they are shooting in is haunted.

I really enjoyed this book. I love romance, and right now I'm reading a lot of it, but this isn't your average read and forget. I consume books at a pretty rapid rate most of the time, and I can absolutely love them and then not remember much at all other than whether or not I enjoyed it. This one is different. I actually meant to do the review when I finished reading the book a couple of weeks go, but forgot until today, and I didn't need to refresh myself on any of the plot points.
Let's talk about Rosemary for a minute. I really need a Rosemary in my life. So often the heroines in romances are underserving their own needs so badly, and seeing a main character who is confident and going after what she wants even at the beginning of the book made me SO happy. I haven't read anything else by this author, but I really hope we haven't seen the last of Rosemary and Ellis. I love them.

This was a fun and engaging read with fully developed characters, a nuanced love story, and a fair amount of steaminess (featuring some light sub/dom activity). I enjoyed the progression of Rosemary and Ellis' romance, the way they demonstrated trust with one another, and how they complemented each other as partners. The paranormal element of Rosemary's abilities was believable and added a heartwarming element to the storyline. All told, an enjoyable contemporary romance I would recommend to others.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing me to read Nadia’s second book as an ARC as well! I have no notes. A story about 2 flawed people finding their way, finding love and the family and friends that supported them along the way. I laughed, I cried and felt instantly transported to fall all at the same time!

Supernatural romances have flooded the book space in last year or so. Loch-ness monster romance, so many witch romances, haunted houses, warewolf, you name it. However I missed Nadia El-Fassi’s first novel, “Best Hex Ever” when it featured in the Afterlight book box last year. So after seeing this and reading the description I decided to give it a try. I also am always down for an older guy/ younger girl age gap romance. Rosemary (which I assume is a Rosemary’s baby reference?” Is a horror writer who can see ghosts and uses this power to inspire her novels. One of her novels is being turned into a movie. Ellis is an aging movie star who just gotten the role in a new historical horror movie that’s he’s excited about as he wants to take his career in less of an action direction. Rosemary tires to get Ellis kicked off the film but he won’t give up without a fight. While filming the two feud while chemistry stokes between them. All while dealing with ghosts, rewrites and Rosemary trying to keep her secret from Ellis. I did feel like the romance was rushed for the supernatural elements. This is such a good set up, I would of loved for it to be used to its full potential.

Main character Rosemary is a successful horror writer with extreme anxiety and almost no friends (literally only two from the semester? year? she lived abroad in college) while love interest Ellis is over 40 (gasp!) and too buff and attractive to play the protagonist of the movie adaptation of Rosemary's novel. The haunted set ghost subplot is actually a matchmaking scheme (wrapped up with the line "And that was that. Rosemary said goodbye.") while the big, absolutely massive disgusting secret torturing Ellis is that [SPOILER] he's bisexual, has publicly been in the closet almost his entire career, and his publicist is blackmailing him [SPOILER], which is just all kinds of fucked up.

Rosemary and Ellis have almost zero chemistry because they don't ever talk to one another, but, lucky for us, they both find one another attractive and are into bdsm. (How convenient! When a virtual stranger asks me "what I like," I always answer with "I like power play, you know, being submissive.") Because no one has any personality, the sex scenes veered straight into unsexy, and the dirty talk came off as extremely cringy. ("She heard the erotic sound of him spitting on her pussy from behind, making her even wetter for him." 😬) Most of the plot revolves around Ellis having cold feet making his (whirlwind) relationship with Rosemary public because he's fake-dating another actress as a publicity stunt... but he and Rosemary are not subtle about the copious amounts of sex they've been having and also some of it was public and could have been photographed at any point. So literally more than 90% of the way through, El-Fassi equates Rosemary's father's grief at losing her mother to cancer with Ellis making a dumb decision on a talk show and them having their first argument (after about two weeks of dating). After, mind you, they've been living together, defined their relationship, met each other's friends, and separately intuited that they would move to another country to stay together (but... "I don't want to scare him, it's all been so whirlwind" 🙃!)

I should have dnf'd this, but I thought, "surely this book will get better," and then it actively got worse. (Not to mention that El-Fassi uses exclusively non-American syntax for a character born and raised in Georgia!!!) This was honestly one of the worst books I've read this year.

This book is like if Scooby-Doo and The Bachelor had a baby and raised it in a haunted mansion with zero chill and way too many cobwebs. It’s spooky, it’s swoony, and it’s absolutely unhinged—in the best way. Our heroine falls for a guy who may or may not be a ghost, and instead of running away screaming, she’s like, “Hmm...he’s emotionally unavailable and possibly undead? Sign me up.”

The haunted house setting is peak Halloween vibes: creaky floorboards, flickering lights, and a ghost who’s way too good-looking for someone who doesn’t technically breathe. The romance is delightfully chaotic, with jump scares and flirtation happening in equal measure. There’s even a séance that turns into a meet-cute. I mean, who needs Tinder when you’ve got a cursed mirror?

Sure, the plot occasionally veers into “what is even happening” territory, but that’s part of the charm. It’s campy, it’s cozy, and it’s got more heart than a vampire’s secret stash. If you like your love stories with a side of poltergeist and a sprinkle of absurdity, Love at First Fright will absolutely haunt your heart—in a good way.

This was a cozy romantic but also spicy paranormal read. 3.5 stars

The characters were nicely written. The plot was there and kept you interested throughout. The paranormal romance aspect of the book was nicely done. Some parts felt forced and rushed but overall the writing was decent and there is great potential!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

I will update once reviews are posted to Goodreads and Amazon.

Thank you so much to Nadia El-Fassi and Ballantine | Dell for the eARC of this book. Rosemary and Ellis are the absolute cutest. I loved reading about their story and I can't forget about the side characters that were so cute as well! The spice was written so nice and perfect for this. It was a fun and cozy, not to mention a quick read, paranormal romance read. This is a great read for fall/halloween time.

3.5***

this was such a fun & cozy paranormal(ish) romance!!

the writing was well done, the plot itself was intriguing, & the setting/vibes were executed perfectly. if you’re considering reading this one, i highly recommend doing so in october!

also i cried at one part and was not expecting to do that? hank, my beloved angel, i adore you (iykyk).

though i did enjoy this, a few things didn’t work for me.

first: the romance definitely felt rushed and i didn’t feel a true connection between the two main characters. i wish the tension and banter had built up more - especially considering they’re supposed to be rivals and clashing with each other. it felt as if that lasted for 2 pages before they were lusting after each other & forgetting the dislike they each had.

second: the FMC is supposed to be an american from georgia, but the writing/her mannerism/her vocabulary made it seem as if she were from the UK. while this isn’t the end of the world, it definitely took away from my reading experience at times.

third: i really enjoyed the parts involving ghosts, but i wish we had more of that! i also loved the setting - but, again, wish there were some more descriptions of the manor, hauntings, etc.

overall: this was super cozy, cute, & a decent paranormal romance read! while it wasn’t my favorite, i had a good time reading it and can absolutely understand why others have loved this one.

I enjoyed this book. I'm not usually into supernatural books but this one was interesting and cute. It had a strong LGBTQ focus which also was nice cause not a ton of romance books I have read have that drive to them. I loved the growing romance with the two main characters but also the side romances too. The ghosts were so cute! Also an interesting look into the world of a writer/movie professional. The Dom/Sub interactions were steamy to read!

Rosemary Shaw, an acclaimed horror novelist whose secret superpower—the ability to see the dead—has been her silent muse. At twenty-nine, she's about to hit the big time with her most successful book being adapted into a blockbuster. The setting, a beautiful, undeniably haunted manor house in the English countryside, seems tailor-made for her and her ghostly companions. What Rosemary can't handle, however, is Ellis Finch, the infuriatingly handsome Hollywood heartthrob cast as her leading man, who she's convinced is all wrong for the role.
Ellis, a seasoned star tired of the action hero grind, secretly longs for a life of gardening with his sweet dog, Fig. He sees this historical horror film as his chance to reinvent himself, only to discover the author tried to have him sacked. This sets the stage for a delicious, chemistry-filled feud between the two leads that promises sparks both on and off-screen.
Overall, Love At First Fright appears to be a witty and charming romance that deftly blends the supernatural with the mundane."Love At First Fright" appears to be a witty and charming romance that deftly blends the supernatural with the mundane. If you're a fan of romantic comedies with a unique twist, and enjoy stories where the supernatural is more endearing than terrifying, and appreciate a good slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, I would highly recommend this book!

This book has really stuck with me while I try and think of how to express my thoughts about it!

Solid 5 stars. This is one of the most enchanting books I’ve read all year! Baroque lesbian ghosts? A hot and self assured female author and screenwriter? A tortured and deeply pining male lead?!A GHOST DOG THAT BONDS THEM?! Stop it perfection.

Witchy and spicy and so wonderful, I recommend this to anyone looking for a quirky and cozy love story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi

Rosemary Shaw is a popular author of historical horror novels, one of which is being made into a movie. She also wrote the screenplay and is going to be an executive producer. Which is all new to her. However, she feels that they have cast the MMC all wrong.

Ellis Finch is a seasoned actor, mostly known for his roles in action movies. However, he really wants to branch out from those roles and is excited to be in this film adaptation. He has heard that the writer thinks he's wrong for the part, and he can't wait to prove her wrong.

They finally meet, and it's definitely not a meet cute. 🤣 Slowly, they begin to realize that there's more to each other than their public personas. They become friends and start spending time together. Secrets are revealed by both of them, and they begin a secret relationship. Together, they manage to find their HEA through a few ghost encounters, a horrible agent, some media drama, and even a 3rd act break-up.

These two are perfect for each other from the start. There's definitely some hate to love vibes happening, and there's excellent banter and spice. Use caution, I cried every single time Hank was in a scene. Like a full-on blubbering mess! And the first time I read Rosemary's dad's full name, my brain was like, "Ooh, Jensen Ackles." 🤣

I received an ARC of this book, but these opinions are my own. I would like to thank the author, Nadia El-Fassi, Dell Romance, and Net Galley for allowing me the privilege of reading her work. ❤️

This book is like if The Haunting of Bly Manor took a turn into spicy rom-com territory, threw in a grumpy/sunshine age-gap enemies-to-lovers duo, and added a ghost dog for emotional support. And yes, I ate it up.

Love at First Fright is the perfect blend of paranormal charm, romantic chaos, and cozy British manor vibes—with just the right amount of spice to make you blush and cackle in the same chapter. Rosemary Shaw is a horror novelist with a gift for ghost whispering and an absolute lack of patience for Hollywood heartthrob Ellis Finch, who shows up on her movie set with charm, cheekbones, and opinions she did not ask for.

Ellis, meanwhile, is trying to reinvent himself, live his cottagecore dreams, and deal with the fact that his leading lady literally tried to get him fired. Naturally, that’s the exact energy needed to spark off a romance so banter-filled and slow-burn delicious it practically haunts you.

But the real stars? A regency-era lesbian ghost couple who just want to meddle in peace, a mischievous spectral pup, and a manor house that feels like it could either give you a cup of tea or swallow you whole, depending on the mood.

This book is equal parts sexy and soft, spooky and swoony, full of heart, hauntings, and healing. If you like cozy horror with kissing, reluctant soulmates, and a dash of ghostly matchmaking, you’ll want to move into Hallowvale Manor and never leave

There is so much love in this book. Rough yet tender romantic love (shown through bi, gay, and straight relationships), everlasting love among friends, unconditional love between humans and their companion animals, undying love between a parent and child, passionate love for creating art and growing plants. This book is overflowing with love and reading it was a warm balm to my soul.

Nadia El-Fassi knows what she’s doing when against the backdrop of a sleepy and moss-covered British cottage, her couple is getting it on. I love the juxtaposition and duality she gives her FMCs. Yes they can be smart and witty and enjoy quaint hobbies like bird-watching, but they can also be confident in their sexuality and their desires. Like Persephone, they run a little garden and also the gates of hell. But then we always come back to the cozy warmth of a cup of tea in the crisp October air, a freshly baked goodie, or a delicate bundle of herbs, and we know we are safe in Nadia’s world.

I really appreciate the care and queer-normative way Nadia’s books are built. Everyone is at least a little gay, and we see so many different types of journeys of self-love and self-acceptance. She confronts homophobia and biphobia, but through the lens of regency era ghosts and a modern day Mr. Darcy? Say less. I am also here for every single Jane Austen reference. From the heated discussion between Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey (an Austen book way underhyped imo), and Persuasion — to the (many) scenes of a certain puffy white shirt getting soaked in the rain (“Ellis’s billowing white shirt had been sent to torment her”), and then of course the reference to Fordyce’s Sermons that made me crack up. This is the ultimate read if you ever wished to hear Jane Austen, ghosts, and queerness all in the same sentence.

The dom/sub power play between Ellis and Rosemary was really well done. You got the sense that the characters truly felt safe around one another and that trust was the backbone of their physical relationship. It made me so happy to see a curvy queen like Rosemary getting her flowers!! We love thick thighs and we cannot lie.

I will always turn to a cozy yet erotic Nadia El-Fassi romance on the cold autumn nights when life gets a little tough. This is a beautiful book, and I am really grateful to have read an early copy.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed the premise and the writing. The author is definitely one I'll be keeping on a list to watch.

The good:

It was queer which surprised me! like hell yeah!!

It has some very cute moments and also some very touching moments. I did cry at one point lol

The setting was so much fun and so were the side characters.

I'm ngl - the smut was nicely done 😏

The meh:

It was boring. It was also incredibly slow with chapters that seemed to drag. Yet, the romance part felt like went from being annoyed "enemies" to wanting to bone.

I wish we got more of the ghosts! It didn't even feel like a paranormal book at all.

Rosemary was actually kind of annoying at points. Drove me slightly insane. Her choices, especially towards the end, made absolutely no sense. I think both characters felt a little one dimensional.

The dom/sub dynamic read a little corny to me.

Overall, it wasn't bad in certain area, but it isn't also something I'd read again. Found myself sighing more often than not, getting excited for it to end. But!!! what didn't work for me might work for someone else!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc!

3.5 ⭐
This was a fun cozy paranormal romance. Rosemary Shaw is a horror book author and one of her books is being made into a movie. She also has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. She goes to the UK to be involved in the film adaptation of her book and meets Ellis Finch, who Rosemary absolutely did not want as the actor in the lead role. There is a bit of insta-attraction, so their relationship felt a little rushed to me, but I still enjoyed it. While Rosemary & Ellis are figuring things out between themselves, ghosts are haunting and disrupting the set and Rosemary decides to help them out. This little side plot was one of the highlights for me. Love at First Fright was a fun quick read – and is a perfect choice for a fall read.
Thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reading this book felt like reading a first draft of a fanfic on Wattpad in 2011... not really the nostalgia boost I wanted, but we're here. The concept for the book is really a fun idea, and I had such high hopes for it. But sadly, due to the severe amount of typos, I found it very hard to emerge myself in the story. Seems like it would benefit from several more rounds of editing before being shown to anybody else.

The author tried hard to be very inclusive in this book, which usually I am a huge fan of diverse cast. But this one felt more like she had a list of boxes to check, and was just trying to throw in every pronoun, race, and sexuality available to her just to cash in her tokens later. It felt cheap, and overdone.

The slow burn between the two main character was really good for the first half of the book.... and then it was like being thrown into the fire. How did we go from so much tension, to all of a sudden we are screwing like rabbits every other page? At least give me a chapter to recover in between. I think this story would benefit from being longer, with some more scenes to break up all that spice in the middle.

I found the sub plot with the two ghost to be far more interesting than the main story line.

Overall, I think there is a lot of promise to this book, with not a lot of delivery. Would have been better after a few more rounds of editing.

I will not be posting this review on any other website.