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This book was ok. It’s a romance with sorts spooky Fall vibes. The atmosphere was vibing but the romance was just ok for me. The cover is super cute though!! Give it a try!

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Rosemary has been able to see ghosts since she was 10 years old. She is now 29 and a famous horror writer, taking to ghosts has definitely helped her career. Filming has started for a movie adaptation of her recent book and Rosemary gets to be there for the whole thing and she is so excited. But there is one down side- Hollywood heartthrob Ellis Finch is playing the main character. Though attractive, he is nothing like she imagined that character to look like, and to top it off he rudely brushed her off their first meeting.
While filming the cast and crew are all living on a small intimate countryside estate, which means avoiding Ellis is going to be a challenge. The estate is also home to ghosts with unresolved issues that Rosemary wants to help move on. During her time there she realizes there is a lot more than meets the eye, especially with Ellis.
How could an amateur ornithologist not fall for someone with the last name Finch?


Paranormal
Slight BDSM
Spicy
Famous Actor MMC
Famous Writer FMC
Bisexual Characters

"She didn't want to let the deadlines and goals she had for the future overshadow her success today."

Quick paced paranormal romance with lots of spice and ghosts! Great slightly spooky book anyone would love.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!

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5/5

When you’re a horror author who’s movie is being adapted and the primary actor for the part is just wrong but also the set is being haunted by a pair of ghosts from the regency wreaking havoc with their unhinged lesbian-yearning-for-what-can-never-be vibes. Guys Nadia El-Fassi simply never misses and her sophomore novel is written for the chaos demons and bisexuals in mind. As a representation and a purveyor of both, Love At First Fright was inherently a Robin classic and a romance sensation from its very first moments. Love At First Fright is the epitome of what a modern romance should be with a healthy dose of the paranormal and hate to love on a gothic horror movie set where the ghosts are real and so are the feelings. Horror writer Rosemary Shaw hates her adaptation's film lead, suave action star Ellis Finch, who is just a little burnt out and hoping playing a sickly Victorian man in a gothic horror film is the cure. Spoiler alert it’s that and romancing a talented horror writer. Love At First Fright finds romance in the unlikeliest of places, like telling someone you watched Crimson Peak when they mentioned it one time, debating Jane Austen’s best work, and helping the two regency lesbian ghosts move past their internalized homophobia and find peace. Nadia El-Fassi’s sophomore novel reasserts her immense talent for grounded, meaningful modern love stories. Call me a ghost lover because I want to be haunted by this novel for all eternity.

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The absolutely adorable cover is the first thing about Love at First Fright that caught my attention, and the cute book blurb sealed it, and I just knew that I had to read it!

While I really enjoyed this paranormal romance, I didn't really love it. I had a hard time connecting with the FMC, Rosemary, I definitely thought she had childish behavior at some points, calling herself "bratty," and I just didn't like it. And, I hate to say it but I also didn't love the MMC, Ellis, I felt that he appeared almost weak at points throughout the book.

I did really enjoy the paranormal aspects of this romance, though. I thought the fact that Rosemary could see and speak to ghosts added to the story and liked all the parts of the book that revolved around that.

The romance kind of happened all at once and was a bit rushed, in my opinion, which made it a bit hard to believe in. But I did think that you could clearly see how much Rosemary and Ellis cared for each other and that they were ultimately able to grow from that romance.

I think this is the perfect romance for fall with the paranormal vibes!

Expected Publication Date: September 16th 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dell, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Love At First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi is they story of Rosemary, an author of horror novels who can also see the dead. Her first book-to-movie experience is not going smoothly thanks to Ellis, a method actor that dismisses Rosemary the first time they meet during to not knowing she’s the author. Hijinks ensue as Rosemary tries to hide her ability to see ghosts in an old manor home doubling as the movie set.

I was interested in this book from the moment I read the description and it did not disappoint. I connected with Rosemary’s quirky traits and unique way of looking at the dead, pun intended. Her evolving relationship with Ellis kept me interested and felt genuine. The setting was spooky and macabre and I loved every moment of it. I recommend this to anyone who loves an enemies-to-lovers with a spooky backdrop and a few ghosts sprinkled here and there. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for providing this book for review. All opinions are my own.

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3.75 stars

This was a cute and spicy romance that had all the fall vibes.
Rosemary’s ability to see ghosts was a fun addition to the story and I loved the interactions she had with the ghosts, especially the animal ones.
Her and Ellis were a really great couple. I felt like they played off each others energy really well and they really understood each other.
Their initial hate-to-love dynamic didn’t feel forced and neither did the resolution, which was nice. Sometimes it feels like authors try too hard to make a trope work but in this case it really fit with the characters.
My one main complaint was that for most of the book it felt like nothing was happening. We got little bits of the movie but not as much as I was expecting and outside of that the book was pretty boring. Although the third act conflict fit with the story and has been hinted at, it had felt like such a background storyline that when it finally became an issue I was just kind of annoyed.
Despite this there were some parts I really enjoyed, especially Ellis and his ghost dog, and I didn’t think this was a bad book.
Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the ARC!

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Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. As a big fan of horror and paranormal romance, the premise had me hooked, but the execution fell short for me. The writing leaned too heavily on telling rather than showing, and I struggled to connect with the characters early on. The romance felt more like erotica, with little emotional depth between the leads beyond sexual compatibility.

That said, the story picked up a bit around the 30% mark and then later on again at the 60% mark. I appreciated the atmospheric setting of the haunted manor and enjoyed the shifting POVs, especially Ellis' chapters. The dogs, Hank and Fig, were a highlight. While not quite the spooky rom-com I hoped for, there were still elements to enjoy.

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Overall, I really enjoyed Love At First Fright! The concept, screen writer and actor, was new to me as was the FMCs ability to see ghosts. This gave it a really, fun different twist! I loved the growth of both Ellis and Rosemary throughout the first 75% of the book. Both characters truly becoming comfortable with their true selves and learning just how perfect for each other they are. I enjoyed the spice and felt that it added to the plot rather than overshadowed it!

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If you love ghosts, pets, and internal yearning with a lot of spice and LGBTQIA+ rep, this book is here for you! Rosemary is a historical horror "scream queen" author and Ellis is the main actor in the film adaptation of one of her books. Rosemary instantly dislikes Ellis as the casted actor, while Ellis works to gain her approval. Rosemary can see ghosts and this lends to the side character arcs that follow the main plot. Ellis and Rosemary each carry their secrets close to their chest but embark on a unintended journey of falling in love.

I love that this book provides representation to the LGBTQIA+ community while also addressing the challenges and stereotypes faced to this day. It's high spice and I enjoyed seeing Rosemary and Ellis grow in their trust in one another. And also, the unsung heroes of this book are really the pets! All the cuddles and nuzzles! This is going to be a great book to come back to in spooky season!

** Thank you Netgalley and Dell Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. **

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I had a great time with this book — it truly gave me everything. Likable characters? Check. Inclusivity galore? Double check. I loved seeing trans folks, nonbinary rep, gay relationships, and even some playful kink woven into the story. That said, there were moments where it felt like the book was juggling a bit too much at once, almost like it didn’t know where to land. But honestly? It was still a blast to read. Fun, fresh, and worth passing along to my friends for sure.

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I will start by saying I really loved Best Hex Ever. This wasn't a sequel, but tied into the characters from that book. The MFC is horror book writer Rosemary who can freakin see ghosts and MMC is a mega hot movie star. The chemistry is sizzling. There were a few times that the dom/sub trope was a little cringe, but other than that I loved this spicy romance with a little paranormal in it. I really hope we'll get two more books following Immy and Eric and potentially Ellis's sister (alice?) Or maybe Lyn and Jenna can have a cameo too!

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Thank you Dell and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for honest feedback.

This book was entertaining but I feel that it could have gone through one more round of edits for story flow. I feel there was a lot going on and it felt very jumbled. The idea and premise of this story grabbed my attention immediately and was super excited to read it. I enjoyed it.
I wish there was more with the ghost element as this was Rosemary's thing, I feel like there was so much going on that you forgot that she could see and communicate with ghosts. I liked the progression and interaction with Rosemary and Ellis, it was fun watching them get closer. This was definitely a first for me that its a cozy rom-com with Dom/sub play involved...I liked it.
One thing criticism I have is not the age gap, but the constant talk of Ellis (who is just over 40) constantly being called and calling himself "grandpa". As someone who is 43 herself...this didn't feel great.

But other than that, this was enjoyable and I think for the right audience, a hit.

3.75 Stars

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I would give this book a solid 4 stars! I liked the concept of the book and its not something I have read before. The banter between the FMC and MMC was good and kept me laughing at several parts. I would say that the slow burn at times was too slow and some parts of the Book I wanted more details in a scene. And there 3rd act breakup you may say was too short and a little predictable in a way. Overall, I would say to read this book of you like ghosts and romance. It would be perfect for a fall read

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4.5⭐️

This was a fun, paranormal read! I love a good paranormal romance and this one had all the ghostly elements that I want in a paranormal romance. I thought the setting was perfect for this type of book! I loved Ellis and Rosemary and their chemistry. Check this out if you’re looking for a ghostly read this fall!

Thank you Dell and NetGalley for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

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👻 Bookish Thoughts
This was such an adorable cozy paranormal read! I was sold the second I realized there was a ghost dog involved 😭 Hank totally stole my heart, and I stayed obsessed with him the whole time.

I immediately loved Rosemary and Ellis! They had great chemistry, and I loved the author x grumpy actor relationship. The spice was 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Them living in a haunted manor together was fun. I LOVED the sapphic regency ghost lovers and the surprising amount of queer rep throughout the story. This whole section of the book was cozy, funny and would make for a perfect book to read during spooky season!

That said, I really didn’t care for the Agent Brody storyline. It made the last portion of the book feel like a different book. The tone changed, the pacing felt off, and the wrap up felt super rushed. It honestly pulled me out of the cozy, paranormal vibes I was loving so much.
I wanted to give this 5 stars. It was that close. But the last 80 pages just didn’t work for me.

🐕 What You Can Expect
• Ghost dog bestie
• Cozy haunted manor
• Author x actor dynamic
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
• Grumpy MMC
• Age-gap romance
• Queer rep

⭐Final Score: 4 stars
📅 Pub Date: September 16, 2025
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

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I adored this book, it was so fun and im so thankful to Netgalley for the ARC, this was the perfect summerween read.

* Warning contains spoilers *

Rosemary is an author who writes horror novels and Ellis is the actor she did not want to portray one of her characters in a movie rendition of her book.They slowly get to know each other over the course of filming the movie and while on set they begin realizing their love for each other.( I would say that ths book doesnt really give enemies to lovers. it tries to but it falls flat. That did not stop me from enjoying the book but if you’re looking for angsty slow burn ETL, this isn’t it) except, there’s one thing ellis doesn’t know. Rosemary can see ghost and there’s two ghost on set causing chaos due to their (delayed ) love for each other. Rosemary works with the ghosts to unpack their love and help them reconnect so that they stop messing things up on set while simultaneously unpacking her love for ellis while they birdwatch and grow closer. There love blossoms while on set but a dramatic plot from ellis manger throws a wrench in their plans. This does cause a short second act breakup but ends in a HEA and is so so worth the read.

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I had such a blast reading Love at First Fright! It gave me exactly what I wanted—a light, silly, super fun romance—but still kept me hooked with a solid, well-paced story. I really appreciated that the plot stayed strong even after the romance started heating up (which doesn’t always happen in books like this!). Both the love story and the actual storyline had me totally invested from start to finish.

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What a delight, I think I liked this even more than I liked Nadia El-Fassi’s first book! Was it perfect? Probably not (there are some plot holes, and I don’t condone sex while actively operating a vehicle), but it’s been a while since I didn’t want to put a book down. I’d stay up too late reading this before bed, wake up early to read before work, and read it during my lunch hour just because I wanted to get back to Rosemary, Ellis, and all the charming ghosts in chilly England. (Escapism from our current summer heatwave? Maybe.)

I hope there’ll be more to come in this world.

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I liked Love at First Fright, but I didn’t quite love it.

The ghost mystery was interesting and was one of my favorite parts. This book does have a dom/sub theme towards half way in, and while it wasn’t bad, it felt like kinda fast once it happened. There wasn’t a buildup to it.

That said, the book is well-written, and I enjoyed the unique mix of paranormal and romance. It just didn’t quite deliver what I thought it would—but that might be more on me than the book. Still a good read overall!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own!

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<b>Love At First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi</b>
Age Gap Romance
Dom/Sub
Bi Rep
Curvy Rep
Forced Proximity

Spice-O-Meter: 🌶🌶🌶.5/5

Trigger warnings:
parent death from cancer (off page), grandparent death (off page), pet death (off page), potential forced outing of a bi character

Love At First Fright follows Rosemary and Ellis, who are working together on the film adaptation of one of Rosemary's horror novels. At first Rosemary doesn't think Ellis is the right fit for the character, but after spending more time together she changes her mind and they develop feelings for one another. Ellis is 13 years her senior, and is also being blackmailed by his slimy agent. Rosemary can see ghosts and is experiencing burnout from working on a new novel and writing the screenplay for the film.

If you're looking for a fluffy romance with a little paranormal sprinkled in, you will probably like this book. I was sad that the paranormal element wasn't more prevalent, but I suspect that was intentional to keep the tone light. There was a little too much insta-love and the banter wasn't the best I've read, but Rosemary and Ellis had decent chemistry. I was glad to see a bi and curvy rep, as well as a couple of side characters having LGBTQ+ rep. There were a few open door spicy scenes, and they were okay. I'm kind of new to the BDSM stuff, so they weren't my favorite. Overall I liked this book, just wish it had a little more oomph. It's probably not one I would read again.

Netgalley and Penguin Random House provided a free ARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

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