Love this new series by Josie Silver! I enjoy paranormal / magical realism fiction, so I was excited for the opportunity to read this novel.

Melody Bittersweet can see ghosts, as can her mom and her gran. While those two ladies run messages for loved ones, Melody goes into business for herself as a ghostbuster. Along for the ride are her best friend Marina and their new assistant, Arthur. Their first case pits them against Melody's ex, Leo Dark, who can also see ghosts. Complicating the matter is Fletch, the local journalist who is hell bent to prove that both Melody and Leo are scammers. Meldoy has to solve a murder that occurred over a century ago to make this first case a success.

Melody, Marina, and Arthur are all incredibly likable! The novel is funny, sweet, and definitely worth the read.

I should be the correct audience for a romance about a ghostbuster, and I *should* have loved this book. The story seemed super fun and quirky, and this cover art is absolutely amazing, but something just did not work for me. I could not connect to the story or these characters (and believe me I tried), and I cannot tell if it's because the pacing was off, I didn't care for the romance, or both. I ended up only liking Marina and Artie and feeling bad for the ghosts.. I spent a significant amount of time wondering why I was still trying to force myself to enjoy it, and eventually came to terms with the fact that while it's not a bad book by any means and the writing itself was actually good, it just was not for me.

Super cute! I always enjoy Josie Silver’s writing. She has a way of getting the characters to wrap around your heart and make you fall in love with them.

Melody can see ghosts, and after starting her own business, she is called to help do some “ghost busting.” What she learns upon her first visit is that there is a mystery that needs to be solved, and there is a race to get it done.

This was such a lovely, cozy story for the end of summer/start of fall!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

Who does not love a good romance and mystery?! I meant to leave this as a fall read but I literally have no chill and I busted into it early and put it on my summerween list instead and I’m NOT disappointed in that at all. This made me giggle and feel all the warm fuzzy feelings that I typically feel with a Josie novel. I literally swooned over Melody and Fletchers chemistry in this book. This is one of those books that you just wish you could read again for the first time and I probably will read it again in the fall time just because I loved this so much AND this book YELLS fall 100%. You have a cutesy romance, cute adorable characters that are well written, some fall vibes and just an all around good time.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Fall Vibes, Paranormal-ISH, Romcom, Mystery, Cutesy, Amazing Side Characters, 1 Spicy Pepper Meter Spice

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Ballantine | Dell

I enjoyed the straightforward nature of the relationships and how the story avoided unnecessary complications. The love triangle felt natural, with no drawn-out confusion, which made the interactions feel genuine.

The paranormal aspects were unexpected but well-executed. Even though that’s not my usual genre, the supernatural elements blended seamlessly with the romance, adding depth without feeling forced.

The writing maintained a steady pace, balancing the romantic and paranormal elements effectively. While I might have missed some subtle details, it didn’t lessen my overall enjoyment. The combination of these themes created a unique and engaging experience.

I was on the fence about whether or not I liked this book until about 60%, but then I was all-in.😍 The mystery, the intrigue, the annoying reporter that was eminently bang-able...🤣 It all ended up working for me. It looks like this is the 2nd book in an ongoing series (and I didn't need to read the first book to know what was happening), but this is definitely an HFN (happy for now) type of romance, with a few dangling threads. If you liked The Ghost Whisperer TV series, then you will absolutely adore this book. The emotional catharsis towards the conclusion was worth it.💖

Fun, new venture from Josie Silver. Romcom meets paranormal meets mystery.
The main character, Melody Bittersweet, is very quirky and determined to make a name for herself in “ghost-busting” aside from her family’s ghost business. She and her best friend, the sassy Marina, are the perfect duo who have wonderful banter.
Melody’s first official job is solving the murder that happened in the Scarborough mansion many many years ago. I really enjoyed learning about the history of the Scarborough brothers, their rivalry, and the mystery of what happened in the house.

Perfect fall/spooky season read!

This was the cutest cozy romance read! The FMC can communicate with ghosts and decides to open a ghostbusting business and hijinks ensue. There’s a bit of romance, mystery and humor in this book. Also a love triangle of sorts. This is the perfect fall read! Thank you to Net Galley and Josie Silver for the chance to read this book early.

Melody Bittersweet inherited the family trait of being able to see ghosts, but has opted to start a ghosthunting business instead of joining the family business. Her first case is to help 3 brothers pass to the other side, but she is competing against her ex-boyfriend. What she wasn't expecting was needing to solve a murder or that she may start to fall for reporter Fletch (a complete non-believer) along the way.

I am SO excited for this series. Melody, Marina, and Artie are quirky in all the right ways. Plus, Melody's eccentric family and Lestat had me cracking up throughout the book.

I loved the murder mystery aspect of this. The Darkling twins were super creepy and I hated both Donovan and Lloyd from the beginning, but was so invested in Douglas and Isaac getting to pass to the other side. I started to tear up as everything was getting resolved in their case, as it was so touching.

On the romance side, I feel like things are not resolved between Leo and Melody OR Fletch and Melody, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

Overall, this gave all the cozy mystery vibes and will be the perfect fall read. 4.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for the ARC. All views and opinions are my own.

A charming premise. I am a fan of the author's other novels but this story in particular did not resonate with me because none of the characters felt like real people. I do think readers in the mood for a zany, intergenerational paranormal tale with a romantic subplot may enjoy this.

Thank you to Ballantine for the opportunity to read a copy.

Josie Silver writes fun books that can hit so many emotions. “Crazy Spooky Love” is no exception. I found myself laughing out loud at parts then almost immediately after crying at a beautiful heartfelt moment. 5⭐️ and 1.5 🌶️ for the first book in what will be the Melody Bittersweet series.

Melody has just turned 27 and feels stuck. At 27 her grandmother was married with the love of her life, at 27 her mother had her and he husband (Melody’s father) died. Melody has only been with the family business in her 27 years but wants more. That family business…passing messages along from the dead to the living…that’s right they can see ghosts. Along with Melody’s rival and former lover Leo Dark.

Melody chooses to step out on her own with ghost busting vs sending messages back and forth and her first assignment will be a doozy. She specially with Leo Dark competing to rid the ghosts and get paid first. All the while journalist (and resident hottie) Fletcher Gunn keeps poking around trying to prove that Melody and Leo are frauds. He may also have a things for Melody….

What you will find in this book:

👻 Cozy mystery vibes
👻 Great humor and banter
👻 Slow Burn Romance
👻 Rivals to Lovers
👻 Love triangle set up
👻 A menace dog

This book was a great cozy mystery. It has a great slow burn romance and a wonderful introduction to recurring characters we will meet through out this series. Marina and Artie just make my heart smile. Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine|Dell for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Melody Bittersweet can see dead people - it runs in her family. After her 27th birthday, Melody decides to break away from her mom and Gran’s family business of relaying messages from ghosts to their families, to start up her own agency for helping ghosts cross over to the afterlife.

Soon she finds herself in a tangled web with her local tv famous ex and a handsome skeptic reporter to solve some unfinished business in haunted Scarborough House to close a deal with new buyers.

It’s a little more than Melody bargains for when she ends up running point on a murder mystery case with both her business and her heart on the line.

This was such a fun read with spirited (😉) humor, quirky characters and light hearted mystery. I found myself attached to the ghosts and some of the end scenes were surprisingly emotional. The ghostly plot was perfect prep for the upcoming spooky season. This book set a great foundation for this fun series and I can’t wait for the next installment! Josie Silver never disappoints!

I read 50% of this one and unfortunately did not finish. I love a good fall read, I enjoyed the ghostbuster idea, but I didn't feel like enough was happening for me to enjoy it. Love the cover and loved Artie!

Melody Bittersweet sees dead people—yes, really—and she’s as endearing as she is quirky. Between her Haribo obsession, superhero love, and genuine drive to help others, she’s impossible not to root for. Her love life may be chaotic, her family a little eccentric, and her closest friends also her colleagues, but when a murder mystery lands in her lap, she’s all in.

This is Veronica Mars meets Charmed with just a sprinkle of One Day in December. The mystery is engaging, the humor spot-on, and the characters feel like old friends. Melody’s charm, Marina’s unwavering loyalty, and Artie’s sweetness make this an irresistible read. And that slow-burn romance Silver writes so well? I immediately dove into the second book because I couldn’t wait.

A perfect cozy mystery for Halloween, full of warmth, wit, and heart. Five stars—mark your calendar for September 2 and prepare to fall for this series.

Thank you for the ARC. Crazy Spooky Love had immense potential, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. Despite a fun and intriguing storyline, the book was marred by excessive use of clichéd expressions that detracted from the narrative. I struggled to connect with the characters. The author's tendency to focus on elaborate descriptions of characters' attire felt unnecessary and disrupted the flow of the story.

Furthermore, I found Leo & Fletch's characters to be underdeveloped, and Fletch’s driving role in the story is particularly unclear to me. The narrative's emphasis on sex felt gratuitous and detracted from the overall plot. One particular aspect that rubbed me the wrong way was the main character's careless decision to get a dog without considering the responsibilities involved. This not only felt unrealistic but also showed a lack of respect for the welfare of animals.

Overall, while the story had potential, its execution was disappointing. With some refinement in character development, pacing, and sensitivity towards certain themes, this book could have been more engaging. As it stands, I'd give it 2 stars.

ARC REVIEW

Crazy Spooky Love
By Josie Silver

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5

Publishing date: 9/2/25

This was cute!

Melody Bittersweet can see ghosts. So can her mom and Grandma. She decides to start a "ghost hunting" business with her best friend. Their first job turns into a mystery and she meets some ghoulish characters along the way 👻

This was a cute read for sure. Not super memorable and not one I'll go out of my way to shove down your throat. But if you want a palette cleanser for the spooky season, here ya go! (There is another book in this "series" as well )

It was actually light on the romance. It does have it, but I personally feel the ghosts take up more of the story!

Thank you to @ballantinebooks and @netgalley for the early read opportunity! Always appreciated!
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This one was cute, spooky season appropriate, but man it just missed the mark for me.
Maybe it was the "spooky" element and the agency just felt a bit far fetched? Well written, but not for me.

I liked the mixed worlds with the paranormal and small town fall vibes but I thought it was just okay. It could have been so much better.
I didn't love the FMC, I found her to be kind of annoying and hard to believe that she is an actual adult.

I really enjoyed this! It's part mystery and part rom-com, but in a Halloween-ish setting. I loved all of the characters, especially Artie, who made me laugh out loud several times throughout the book. Melody is the kind of quirky rom-com heroine that I absolutely adore. I finished this book in 2 sittings and have already started on the second one. I will definitely be recommending this series to others.

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

Crazy Spooky Love is a cozy, quirky delight that blends paranormal charm with small-town romance in the most heartwarming way. From witchy mishaps to a lovable cast of characters, this story had me fully leaning into the spooky season vibes. The slow-burn romance was sweet and full of tension, and I especially loved the soft emotional undercurrents woven into all the magical fun. It felt like watching a feel-good romcom set during Halloween, and I was fully here for it.

While it didn’t completely blow me away, it was still a super enjoyable read that left me smiling and in the mood to light a cinnamon candle and reread all my favorite witchy books. I’ll definitely be watching for more from Josie Silver in this genre. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Belltaine | Dell for the ARC!