Josie Silver books pull me in every single time. Crazy Spooky Love was so much fun. I can't wait to reread this in the fall when the cooler weather and spooky vibe is back. I loved Melody's spunk and personality and seriously had so much fun with this story and cannot wait for the next!

4.5 stars

I had such a good time with this. I really had no idea what it was going into it, so I’ll tell you now: it’s a comedic paranormal mystery with romantic elements.

I was expecting more romance but enjoyed the little I got A LOT. I guess it was supposed to be a love triangle? But Leo held no sway for me but FLETCHER WAS AMAZING.

I know there’s another book in the series but I need to know how many are planned so I know how much this supposed love triangle will be played out. 😂 I’ll definitely be reading whatever comes next.

I felt about 10 years older than the intended audience for this book. I unfortunately could not connect to the characters or story. The writing was clunky & unrealistic.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Crazy Spooky Love is a delightful romance full of hijinks and paranormal fun. The world building was entertaining, but not dense making it an approachable read, even for those not typically interested in paranormal stories. There is a mystery element to the novel, but it never takes itself overly serious. Overall, a great pick when you’re in the mood for a fun romp.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

What a fun, quirky book! I really enjoy everything Josie Silver writes and this is no exception. A little paranormal plus romance plus mystery worked so well! I loved the characters and the banter between them. Looking forward to reading book #2!

Short synopsis: Melody Bittersweet can see dead people. She starts a business hoping to help ghosts transition to the “other side” and is hired to clear an old house that won’t sell, and is trying to solve the mystery of who killed Douglas, one of the ghosts.

My thoughts: This was more of a cozy mystery than I was expecting, with a romance (love triangle) sub plot. I have loved Josie’s emotional romances and am impressed at her ability to write outside her comfort zone.

Melody was a fun and quirky character. I loved the unlikely band of friends, and how well they worked together. Their banter and friendships were heartwarming, and Marina’s Nana’s baked goods had me craving sweets!

The mystery element had me guessing until the very end, but it was enjoyable watching Melody interact with the ghosts and see their different personalities.

I’m not a fan of love triangles in general, and one of the romantic interests shouldn’t have even been an interest. I’m intrigued to see where the romance subplot goes in book 2!

Read if you love:
* Scooby-Doo mystery machine
* Baked goods
* Mystery and paranormal elements
* Love triangle

Packed with humor, paranormal activity, and a little romance, this book is the cutest Fall read! The book discusses grief and loss but with a bit lighthearted spin on it, making it such a cozy read. For those who like to read a book according to the season, this is the Fall book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

If you love a fun, wacky story that doesn’t go too deep into witches or the paranormal, this is a great choice.

The author brings us eclectic characters that not only stand out but blend wonderfully together once you get to know them. On the outside, they seem like crazy choices; complete opposites in many ways, but complementary in others.

As the author develops the story, we get a perfect blend of humor and wit. A family of wacky wonder. A pieced-together workforce; an annoying ex-boyfriend getting in her way; and a hottie reporter who keeps popping up unexpectedly.

Silver delivered a cozy style mystery with the paranormal elements needed to keep this lighthearted and engaging. She adds in enough twists to keep it interesting and keep us guessing. The supposed love triangle angle wasn’t there for me, but she did not shy away from some steam and heat with the developing love interest.

Overall, Crazy Spooky Love is a fun choice that will leave you with a feel-good ending. More to come with this new series.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for giving me an ARC!

3.75

This was very cute and goofy, a perfect palate cleanser. Kind of reminds me of the Netflix series that got cancelled called “Lockwood & Co.”

I will say this has a reference to The Apprentice in it as the FMC is using it as an example of being a “strong businesswoman” and that automatically rubs me the wrong way. She didn’t mention *him*, just the show. But ya know, morally, as an American it’s jarring. The author is British so I’m sure no harm was intended but I still think that should’ve been changed to something else. Other than that I liked it. Fletcher is absolutely perfect. Some things definitely felt like… very millennial (WHICH ISNT A BAD THING IF THATS WHAT YOU LIKE!! Sometimes it can be a bit much though). Many mentions to superheroes, specifically Thor, captain America, and Ironman. Also Doctor who and Brooklyn 99. There was a RUPAUL MENTION? Loved that. But I’m so sorry like for the love of god, in the middle of a spicy scene he asks what she fantasizes about AND SHE SAYS SUPERHEROES? I cringed. That is not something to say during that moment 😭

Definitely different than some of the other works by this author. I did like the mystery element added to this romance book. A nice little read if you’re wanting a palette cleanser..

In the picturesque town of Chapelwick, Melody Bittersweet steps out on her own to open a ghostbusting agency, determined to help restless souls finally cross over. Her first big case takes her to a grand old house haunted by three mischievous ghost brothers. They haven't been able to move on due to unfinished business and a murder included.

This story is incredibly cozy and fun, filled with small-town charm, quirky characters, and laugh-out-loud moments. The pacing is a bit slower. The ghosts themselves are some of the absolute best aspects of the story, delivering humor while being surprisingly complex. While there is a hint of romance threaded throughout, I found myself far more intrigued by the mystery at the center of the plot and how Melody unravels the secrets of the Scarborough brothers. It's a lighthearted yet heartwarming paranormal mystery with just the right amount of suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine, Dell for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback.

"A plucky medium, her fame-chasing ex, and an infuriatingly handsome skeptic reporter make for a complicated love triangle - and that's before the ghosts get involved. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December comes the first novel in a ghost-hunting series full of romance and humor.

Ghosts and spirits are business as usual, but love just might be enough to scare Melody Bittersweet.

In the leafy, charming town of Chapelwick, the Bittersweet family has been a fixture on High Street for as long as anyone can remember. Their rambling black-and-white building houses all three generations of ghost-sensitive Bittersweet women and their business, Blithe Spirits.

On her twenty-seventh birthday, Melody Bittersweet converts the disused back storeroom into her office and opens her own business. Unlike the rest of her family, she's not taking down messages from ghosts - she's taking them out.

Right away, the freshly minted Girls' Ghostbusting Agency takes on its first case: a grand old house that won't sell because a trio of incumbent ghost brothers raise merry hell whenever prospective owners arrive to view it.

It soon becomes clear that there's a whole heap of unfinished business between the Scarborough brothers - including murder - and Melody isn't the only one trying to unravel the mystery. Leo Dark, her rakish ex and business rival, is also on the case, along with the TV crew that trails him.

To make matters worse, the sarcastic and skeptical (and annoyingly good-looking) local reporter Fletcher Gunn has his nose in the story as well. Sniffing out a way to publicly discredit the Bittersweets is his favorite assignment - and has absolutely nothing to do with his inability to resist Melody.

With her business on the line, it's up to Melody to work out the brothers' issues, but can she protect her own very susceptible heart from Fletcher's charm? Does she even want to?"

There's a SurrealEstate vibe to this first book that tickles me.

Such a fun and spooky time! Nothing earth-shattering but it doesn’t need to be! A great palette cleanser in a cozy setting.

1/5

This took me a full threee weeks to read it- not because I'm a slower reader, but because I hated reading it. I avoided picking it up. I mowed the lawn instead of picking it up.

The ghosts aren't ghosty

The romance isn't working (like, no chemistry)

The mystery is boring

and it was slowwwwwwwwwww

The only pro was that the friendship between Melody, Marina, and Artie was cute and kinda Scooby Doo ish.

I'm admittedly not a huge romance reader, but when I pick one up, I want the vibes to just carry me off my feet. This wasn't it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.

Crazy Spooky Love by Josie Silver
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This paranormal rom-com had me intrigued from the start with its ghost-hunting premise and cozy English-town vibes. Melody Bittersweet is the quirky, big-hearted medium trying to carve her own path in a family full of ghost-sensitive women—and let’s just say, it gets chaotic real quick.

From a haunted house plagued by three mischievous (and dramatic) ghost brothers, to a grumpy yet oddly charming skeptic reporter, and a fame-hungry ex ghost hunter stirring the pot—this book is packed with personality.

Was it over-the-top at times? Yes. Did the quirky humor border on too much occasionally? A little. But I actually grew to love the eccentricity, especially once the emotional layers peeked through. The mild spice? Surprisingly satisfying. The tension between Melody and Fletcher Gunn? Definitely entertaining. And the pug?? 10/10 perfection. 🥹🐾

If you’re in the mood for something whimsical and ghostly, with a slow-burn romance, quirky chaos, and a cozy, slightly gothic feel—it’s a good one to curl up with.

I'm a fan of Josie Silver and her contemporary romances, so this spooky ghost-filled mystery love story was a different tone than I've seen from her previously. That said, I really liked the family dynamics, the found family within the workplace, and the swoony nature of Fletcher Gunn. I never feel as though there is a love triangle like the premise promises - with Leo in the picture, he never feels like a real candidate for Melody. He's too involved in his own work to make time to rekindle their flame, so Fletch is the clear winner to me. All in all, any book that has me rooting for one person over the other is a book I love.

Crazy Spooky Love is a quirky, funny, emotional read. This is the first Josie Silver book I've read & I look forward to reading more. Melody Bittersweet is trying to make a life for herself outside of her family. Using her abilities to see & talk to ghosts, Melody sets out to start her own business. Now she's forced to cooperate with the man who broke her heart while fighting a growing attraction to a local reporter who loudly proclaims her a con artist. There's plenty of little twists & turns throughout the story to keep it engaging. I enjoyed Silver's characters & their interactions. Melody doesn't back down from any challenge. That includes Fletcher Gunn's constant attempts to discredit her professionally & seduce her personally. I found several moments that made me laugh out loud. There's plenty of witty banter which I found balanced the darker & more emotional elements of the story. At it's heart, Crazy Spooky Love is about family & who you can count on when the chips are down. This is a promising start to the series.

I went into this book expecting a little ghostly fun and instead found myself giggling, swooning, and falling head over heels the whole time. The chemistry was spellbinding (pun absolutely intended) and the banter was pure chef's kiss. I would happily read 300 more pages of these two just snarking and flirting their way through haunted happenings.
But what I didn't expect was how much heart this book would have. Ultimately, this story is about grief, love, letting go and maybe even letting something new in.
Crazy Spooky Love gave me all the fall feelings l've been longing for and is exactly the kind of book you want to curl up with on a chilly evening. If you like your romances with a little magic and a whole lot of heart-this one's for you!
Crazy Spooky Love releases September 2nd!
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Dell for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

4 ⭐️

This was a delightful magical realism mystery novel perfect for spooky season, or really any season. The story follows Melody Bittersweet who sees dead people in the most charming of ways. She is accompanied by her feisty friend, Marina, and the awkward but adorable new-hire, Artie.

Josie Silver seems to have really entered a new era focused on lighthearted, cheeky tales. This heavily reminded me of an early Stephanie Plum novel with format, side characters and seemingly multiple love interests. This novel itself comes to an adequate conclusion, but still left me interested in catching up with Melody Bittersweet and company in future novels.

I would describe this as less of a romantic comedy and more as sitcom vibes.


Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books | Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

This book was good! It had mystery and romance too. I liked the town and the atmosphere as well as all of the characters and their little quirks. This book packs a lot more into it than just a simple romance. It was a lot of fun! This would be a great spooky read for Fall!