Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! As someone who’s in the process of writing a Halloween romcom I knew this would be a good comp for me and I was so right!

I devoured this book in two days! It's a contemporary romance with a mid-size FMC, witty and hilarious banter, and a touch of paranormal. And in your face, bisexual representation was so refreshing. The ghost subplot was so romantic as well it was like getting two books in one.

Can’t wait til this comes out to the world.

I was really interested in this book based off the description but was slightly let down. I enjoyed the melding ghosts and Rosemary’s interactions. I was really hoping for more banter and build up to her and Ellis’ relationship but it ended up moving pretty quickly. Their dom/sub aspect lacked a little during the spicey scenes for me. I overall found it a quick read and still enjoyable.

This book has everything! Romance (and sex), ghosts, film production, evil agents. It has it all. I could not put this book down (well I did because I needed to sleep and work, both other than that, COULD NOT PUT DOWN). I love that the FMC was a curvy, LGBTQ+, horror author/screenwriter and I related to her in so many ways. Also the (somewhat) enemies to lovers trope is my favorite and this book had it play out in an interesting way. I would recommend it to anyone that likes a good paranormal romance.

This was a fun read. I enjoyed Rosemary's mind and getting to see how it worked creating other stories while also watching the main one come to life. I also liked the ghost aspect. I'm a sucker for a little ghost conflict and resolving it to help the move onto the next side. I immediately liked that Ellis was a misunderstood actor just trying to find something that actually aligned with what he liked. His internal conflict made me sad, the way he felt about things was explained so well I thought I was feeling them too.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.

When Rosemary flies to England to work on the film adaptation of her gothic horror novel, she’s disappointed to find out that the lead role of Alfred, a timid, slender Victorian gentleman has been given to Ellis Finch, a perpetually-tanned, muscle-bound Hollywood playboy.

Ellis Finch is determined to prove his acting chops outside of the blockbuster action franchises he’s known for, but he makes a horrible first impression on Rosemary, author and screenwriter for his new film, not to mention the fact that he’s looking more silver fox than heartthrob these days.

Despite being mutually determined to dislike one another, Ellis and Rosemary can’t deny the chemistry blossoming between them, but will a series of hauntings at their filming location and interfering agents keep them from their own happily ever after?

A sweet and sexy age-gap romance full of tension and steamy power dynamics, Love at First Fright releases on September 16, 2025!

#LoveatFirstFright #NetGalley #NadiaEl-Fassi #arc #arcreview #romance #lovestory #agegapromance

Ok this book was so so fun!! I don’t know I needed a sexy, paranormal age gap romance but it is working for me! It’s spooky, it’s cozy, it’s spicy, it’s everything! Rosemary and Ellis were so sexy and swoony, I am obsessed.

Lovely read! Very pleasant, the main characters were a lot of fun. The pets in the story were great as well, I love a man who cares for his pet!

love rosemary and Ellis. love that she can see the dead. I loved that the wanted to make the book to movie the best it could be. Loved that he advocated for the character in certain places and that they fell in love.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nadia El-Fassi, and Ballantine for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I adored this book. Rosemary, the FMC, felt like an ode to Ghost Whisper, one of my favorite shows. I loved how unabashedly she was. She felt like a sweeter stronger fmc. On the other hand, MMC Ellis isn’t as confident in himself. He struggles to stand up for himself with his toxic manager. A bonus to the story was the ghosts where they were filming. If you know, you know. This is not just a fluffy romance with spice. There were great discussions of sexuality with bisexual reps, intimacy preferences, and grief of a loved one and a pet. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine for the ARC.

This book was fine, in all senses of the word. I felt like it had a ton of potential, but it was not quite felt out right. Rosemary was hard to pinpoint personality-wise and very self-deprecating at times. Rosemary and Ellis' romance was rushed and didn't feel like romance since it focused so much on their sub/dom matrix. I wanted more about the ghosts and who she has seen and helped. Also, the quick drops about her friend being a witch? What type of world is this? Are witches common? Can a lot of people see ghosts? Why was she not concerned about the apparition of the bread baker in Ellis' house? I have lots of questions and thoughts. I wished this had just simply had more or had been more thought out and focused a little less on their bedroom activities and more on the ghosty activities happening.

Love At First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi
This book was sort of a blind request for me after following the author on here for some time now; I saw very little info on this book and flew to netgalley to request it off vibes alone. An author feuding with the lead actor cast for her book’s adaptation? Dislike-to-lovers? She can see ghosts and they’re in a haunted English manor? I’M IN.
This was such a fun romance with such sweet paranormal elements to it. The little details of the main cast of characters added so much to them as individuals and blended so easily into how their relationships develop. The chemistry between our main duo gripped me from their first meet and that intrigue only built as time went on(and this book is Well Seasoned, if you catch my drift).
The thing I didn’t anticipate was the beautiful representation of grief in multiple forms, how it evolves over time and how we cultivate memory of our loved ones. There were some unexpected portions of this book that I genuinely welled up because quite a bit hit close to home for my own grief journeys.
All in all I’m INVESTED in this release and I sincerely hope if you’re a romance lover you consider requesting it or checking it out upon its release on September 16th!

I really enjoyed this book. The beginning was very difficult to get through, but once rosemary and Ellis got over their differences it got really good. The dynamic between them is very nice and who doesn’t love a ghost dog brining everything together. This was a very fluffy read, but also very smutty. Highly recommend for those who love smut and love a nice romantic story.

*Thank you NetGalley and Randomhouse for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review*

Unfortunately, Love at First Fright just wasn’t for me, but it could totally be someone else’s cozy ghost-loving cup of tea.

I was really into the paranormal vibes at the start (ghost dog? yes please), but about halfway through it felt like too many storylines competing for attention, without enough focus to fully land any of them.

We’ve got:
• A haunted manor with long-lost diary entries
• Lesbian Victorian (regency era?) besties fighting
• A movie being filmed
• Witches, blackmail, and Hollywood secrets
• A ghost dog that needs peace
• And an MMC who, at 41, acted like he was 90 and never let us forget it.

As someone pushing 40 myself, the constant “I’m so old” jokes were more distracting than endearing. Your 40s aren’t a death sentence, sir.

I DNF’d at 55% after realizing I was skimming more than reading. Not every book is for every reader, and that’s okay.

If you like layered paranormal plots and campy romance with a little chaos, this still might be worth a shot for you!

"Love at First Fright" by Nadia El-Fassi is a steamy, spooky-season romance with plenty of charm—and a cover that absolutely delivers. As the second book in a series, it stands well on its own, throwing readers into the whirlwind romance between a struggling horror writer and the hunky, closeted bisexual actor starring in the film adaptation of her book.

The chemistry between the leads is electric, and their initial friction—sparked by her vision of the character (pale, thin) clashing with his reality (jacked, tan)—is a fun setup. The romance itself is hot, though the emotional depth sometimes feels rushed (declarations of being "made for each other" come surprisingly early). The spice is very spicy and liberally sprinkled through the second half. The FMC is likable—flawed but rootable—with a great support system of friends, and the rep for gender and sexual diversity is refreshing.

That said, there are inconsistencies. The FMC claims she’s "not a brat" but then acts bratty; her ghost-seeing ability, while a cool premise, doesn’t heavily impact the plot beyond a sweet subplot involving Regency-era lesbian ghosts (a highlight!). The MMC’s grief over his late dog adds emotional weight, though some dialogue quirks (non-American phrasing for a supposedly U.S. character) could’ve used tighter editing.

Despite these hiccups, this is a fun, atmospheric read—perfect with a pumpkin spice latte as the leaves start to fall. If you’re here for sizzling tension, quirky paranormal touches, and a happily-ever-after, you’ll enjoy the ride.

I thought this book was a little boring. The premise of a horror writer who can see ghosts was so interesting, but the execution fell flat. I felt like this book tried to address too much and should have instead focused on one or two plot points and really delved into them.

"When would men realize that women wanted someone who looked like he could throw them on the bed, play a sport, but also say hell yes to a slice of cake?"


DNF @ 30%.

This started off well: a small Rosemary is introduced to the world of ghosts through her Nana's passing in which she makes jam with her Nana one last time.

Seeing ghosts for an adult Rosemary is just another source of inspiration for her horror bestsellers...one of which now has a movie deal and she is relocating to London for. She has a witchy and a sassy set of best friends that support her through herbs and video calls.

That's...kinda where the enchantment ended for me. Her reasons for disliking the actor portraying her main character were valid but the execution of her dislike was less than stellar in real time. Their first interaction was a misunderstanding. Their third felt entirely scripted (I don't know about you but I can see if someone is swimming underwater...also, kind of a stretch that he can hold his breath long enough for her to not only get a floaty put in and sit in it but to begin reading in the perfect spot for him to capsize her when he comes up to breathe?) to solidify her dislike.

As for him, he didn't like her before he met her but once he did it's pretty much the insta-lust variety...which wouldn't be a total problem except that there is little else he thinks about aside from her.

There is also a hint of dom/sub culture that felt a little unnaturally introduced to me...as well as other scenarios that felt manufactured to throw peeps together.

I want things to flow naturally. Very disappointed because this sounded 100% up my alley! I was promised "clashes" and "chemistry-filled feuding" and I'm just not getting it.

Major thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC.

This was an instant pick for me and it did not let me down. I really enjoyed the story and the characters! The settings were so vibrant and easy to get lost in and I was really rooting for the characters. I can't really speak to the romance cause it does nothing for me, but I don't feel like it deterred from my enjoyment of the book as a whole!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for the eARC!

Rosemary wrote a horror book that is being turned into a movie, and she helped write the script. Ellis is the main actor, and naturally sparks fly as well as banter. Liked this one overall, but would have liked to see more with the ghosts and while I wasn't offended with the sexual/homosexual aspect I did feel it came across as a bit didatic with numerous strings here and there. Didn't see the point to the story. Might just be me. Still though, would recommend.

This novel had good ideas but wasn’t executed in a way that held my interest. I found the characters flat and a slow moving plot. I think it’ll do well with other audiences but for me wasn’t my favorite.

Thank you Nadia El-Fassi for the chance to arc read your book. I devoured it. Spicy age gap is finger licking good. Maybe one of my favorite reads for the fall holiday season. I loved it.