Spooky, charming, and full of sass!

Crazy Spooky Love was such a fun ride! Josie Silver blends paranormal hijinks, small-town charm, and laugh-out-loud humor into a ghostly rom-com that felt perfect for spooky season. Melody Bittersweet is a plucky, quirky heroine you can’t help but root for—trying to prove herself in a family of ghost whisperers while wrangling a trio of mischievous spirits AND juggling two infuriating men (a fame-chasing ex and a grumpy, too-handsome-for-his-own-good reporter).

The love triangle definitely brought the drama, though I personally wanted a bit more on the romance side compared to the ghost mystery. Still, the banter was sharp, the atmosphere deliciously gothic without being too heavy, and the family + found-family dynamics were a highlight.

If you like your romances with equal parts snark, heart, and supernatural fun, this is a perfect fall pick. 👻💜

I really enjoyed this book. It was slow to start and took a little while to get into, but once I did I throughly enjoyed it. The whole idea of trying to solve a crime while talking to ghosts was fun. I felt that this was a little Scooby Dooish, which I loved. You have some fun characters that brought sarcasm and intrigue. Then a romance also going on. Overall this book was great.

Another cute/atmospheric read by Josie Silver!

I’m quickly learning that this author does an amazing job at writing a cute romcom that’s entertaining, but at the same time I find myself wanting more. Her writing is beautiful, but I feel like the characters and the story could have a little more depth. Overall, I enjoyed this book (and her other works as well) and will recommend!

4.5 stars! I really liked this book. I loved the mystery and all the side characters. I do feel like it got a little long at times and I wouldn’t really classify it as a love triangle but I will definitely read the next one!

Melody Bittersweet comes from a whole family of mediums, and she decides it’s finally time to open her own ghostbusting agency. Of course, her first case isn’t simple—there are some unsettled spirits, her spotlight-loving ex shows up to one-up her, and a nosy (and attractive) reporter keeps getting in the way.

This is the first book in a trilogy, and it’s such a fun start. Melody has a great voice—funny, sharp, and pretty unflappable since she’s been seeing ghosts her whole life. Her best friend Marina is hilarious and brings so much heart, and with Art joining in, the three of them make such a great team. I loved their banter and how they played off each other.

The main mystery takes place in a big old house that turns out to be haunted by three brothers, each with their own backstory. Only Melody and her ex (now a TV ghost hunter) can see them, which makes things complicated. Add in the reporter who thinks her whole family are frauds, and you’ve got a lot of chaos—plus a little romantic tension.

Overall, this was a really entertaining read. The characters are quirky and likable, the ghosts had me hooked, and the family side of things made it even better. Also, I was so hungry for Nonna Malone’s desserts by the end! Can’t wait to see where the next two books go.

I was super excited for this book but it missed the mark a little for me. I liked the idea of the mystery and enjoyed that aspect. I don’t love a love triangle and the fact that this one doesn’t resolve is pretty much a no go. The other side characters- Marina and Artie, especially, were a delight.

This author typically writes hella angsty and British closed-door romances, and I usually love them. Except her last one which was not good at all. And now I guess she’s branching out into a paranormal rom-com kind of thing? Except that’s not quite accurate. It’s not what I expected and I can’t put my finger on the genre (just comedy?) but I liked it. If you are in the mood for an easy, breezy, funny read, do it. If you’re excepting a rom com though? It’s not that. But for what it is? Yeah, I liked it. And I’ll read the next one, which I also got from NetGalley. Maybe this time I’ll read it before it’s published…

Melody, her mother, and her grandmother can see ghosts. They use that ability to brings messages to the living. Melody decides to go into business, helping haunted people by figuring out what the ghost wants and then getting it to move on. This is me, reading it and confused by what genre it is….

She’s visited by a ghost who asks her to give his lonely son a job. OK so that’s gonna be the love interest, right? No.

She is in competition with a dude who can see ghosts but does it in a flashy way, with a TV show, and they used to date. OK so that’s gonna be the love interest, right? No.

One of the ghosts she’s working with is a young, handsome man. OK so that’s gonna be the love interest, right? No.

A local reporter has always been skeptical about Melody’s family and wants to uncover what he thinks are lies. OK so that’s gonna be the love interest, right? Yeah kind of.

It’s written in that breezy but snappy British style, which is to say that I could envision it filmed and directed by Edgar Wright. That’s the best way I can describe it. Fast-paced quippiness? Her team at her ghost-busting business is funny and quippy and adorable. They work to solve the murder of a ghost… and then I guess that’s going to be the series - Melody and her agency, solving mysteries and sending ghosts home. The author has also dipped her toe into smuttiness and I commend her for it.

As someone who really likes the series GHOSTS (both UK and US), this was right up my alley. I love it when one person can see and talk to ghosts but no one else in the room can. OK fine I’ll round it up.

Crazy Spooky Love, a novel by Josie Silver, available now!

Melody Bittersweet comes from a long line of quirky mediums and decides on her 27th birthday to go out on her own and start a ghostbusting business with her friend Marina and one of her recent ghosts’ kids, Artie. Their first job? Figure out what happened between the Scarborough brothers so the heir to Scarborough House can sell it. However, when Melody starts to get to know the brothers haunting the house, she realizes there is a lot more to discover about how Douglas died, even though his brother, Isaac, was accused of his murder a hundred years ago. Also, how does Lloyd play into this? And why is his grandson Donovan so awful? Sprinkle in Melody’s ex, Leo Dark, another medium, and his Darkling twin fan club, Nikki and Vicki, and the super handsome reporter skeptic Fletch, and you have a cast of characters and hijinks that rival the best romantic comedies. Did I mention there is a sugar-addicted pug named Lestat, too?

This book was a good time, but don’t expect a heavy romance novel like Josie’s previous books. It leans more on the ghost hunting and crime solving than the romance, and at times, the romance seems like it’s thrown in for good measure. I did like the lusting with Fletch and Melody, but he doesn’t like the one quality about her that is her whole identity, and that was a bit icky for me, even though they had chemistry. I knew at 25% and 50% that this wasn’t a romance-forward book when I still didn’t know who the love interest was! (Of note, I don’t usually read the blurbs)

If you’re looking for a spooky good time, this is a fun read with a little bit of intrigue. Light on the romance, but it’s there if you want that layer to keep you going. I hear it’s a series, too!

Thank you so much to Ballantine/Dell and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced (e-)reader copy and a chance to rate and review this book!

3 ⭐️ 1 🌶

This book was very cute! I think it is a great start to a new series.

This story was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the mystery, although I wish there was a bit more to it. The ending of the book had my heart racing.

The cast of characters is delightfully chaotic. From her family, to her best friend and new trainee, there was plenty of nonsense to go around. I cannot wait to see all the mischief they get into as the books continue.

I also enjoyed Melody’s dynamic with Fetch. When I started the book, I did not reread the synopsis, so I really had no idea where any of it was going to go. I need more of this “I hate your guts, but I can’t stop thinking about you” enemies to enemies with benefits to maybe something more eventually situation in my life in books. The tension was so good!

I can’t wait to see what comes next for all these characters!


Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

If you're a fan of Scooby Doo and cozy mysteries this is the right story for you.

It was a slow start for me because it was a lot of setting the scene and it was a bit hard for me to grasp who was who. But once things got going I was so invested in the ghosties and the characters and what they brought to the table.

Melody and her family were hysterical and were the exact right amount of eccentric and compassionate. It worked well for Gran, Mom, and daughter. Their drive to take care of those in the afterlife is a warm welcome because often people just want them to pass on. I enjoyed that they had personalities and were people rather than ghosts.

I was absolutely invested in the story of the Ghosties and who done it. It's absolutely the kind of story that reminded me of my spooky season love. Curious to see what book 2 has.

Melody Bittersweet is part of a long line of women who can see and communicate with ghosts, the only other person she knows who can, is her ex Leo who dumped her as soon as he got his own TV show.  Melody is starting her own business to help ghosts resolve their earthly issues and move on, she has her two sidekicks helping her.  Fletcher Gunn is a reporter who is anxious to debunk her and her family's gift since he sees everything in black or white, unfortunately he's also very attractive and he and Melody cannot seem to keep their hands off each other.  

Melody and Leo are competing for a job to address three disruptive ghosts in a mansion. They are three brothers and one of the older ones killed the youngest. With lots of hijinks, Melody and Leo both try to solve the mystery and allow the ghosts to move forward.

These are super cute fun ghost mysteries that are a bit of scooby doo meets Happy Medium. I always love a bit of humor in my books, but sometimes these went a bit too zany for me. However they are enjoyable to read and perfect for the fall. If another one is released I will be right there at the front of the line to read it!

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC to review

If you’re in the mood for a paranormal rom-com that blends cozy mystery vibes with ghostly mayhem and lighthearted romance, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

Are you looking for a cozy "spooky" rom com this season? Then this book is definitely for you! Melody Bittersweet is such a loveable character along with her unique mother and grandmother, all of whom can see and speak with ghosts. We get our first glimpse into the Bittersweet life when Melody decides to branch out from the family business.

This story has it all from humor and love interests to murder mystery! I love the banter that occurs amongst all the characters and the romantic tension between Melody and Fletcher. My only critique is the intimate scene that occurs within this storyline and only because it felt forced and kind of abrupt. Overall I really enjoyed this first story and I am looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Crazy Spooky Love by Josie Silver is available now. Check it out!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this one! While it's not heavy on the romance, there are some definite romantic elements that go well in this book. The heroine is a part of a family who has the ability to see dead people. Her family has always been the quirky, slightly kooky group of misfits that nobody really takes seriously. In this book, the heroine decides that she wants to do her own thing and use her abilities to maybe have a successful career of sorts. She wants to use her ability to to do good.

Along her journey, we find that she has an ex-boyfriend with similar abilities, a professional heckler/journalist who's always out to get them and prove them false, and a new alliance/friendship with a relative of a ghost who visited her.

Her first job is to help clear an older house of some ghosts. Her ex is also called to clear the house, so they're pitted against one another right from the start. I really liked getting the know the ghosts and their backstory, and quite honestly at one point I thought that maybe she would end up with one of the ghosts. LOL! That's mainly because I was expecting to read a romance, an this book is a slow slow slow burn. I did end up liking the hero that the heroine ended up with, and I loved their whole dynamic.

3.5 stars rounded up

I ended up enjoying this a lot more than I expected! At its heart, this is about a ghost hunter who helps spirits cross over, and in this case she’s working to solve the mystery keeping three ghostly brothers stuck in their ancestral home. The mystery itself was fun, and I really liked the quirky side characters that joined along the way.

It gave me a bit of Riley Thorn vibes—light, funny, and entertaining. There is a touch of romance, but it’s not the main focus. This is really Melody’s story, and the humor and banter kept it engaging from start to finish. Overall, just a fun, entertaining read, and I’d definitely continue with this series.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the free digital arc in return for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for this ARC! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute with Melody Bittersweet and her rag tag group of family and friends. I laughed and swooned and that love triangle…this is exactly what I want in a lighthearted ghost tale with some love and fun thrown in. Perfect for fall and spooky season!

I really wanted to like this book. But I half to DNF half way through. It’s been a slog to get through. I usually love the author but this one just didn’t hit. The love triangle angle is boring and the main characters are annoying in their dialogue. I simply could not get into this book.

I only post positive reviews on my social and will not be posting this one.

Crazy Spooky Love is everything I adore in a paranormal rom-com—equal parts witty, whimsical, and heartfelt. Josie Silver takes ghost-hunting hijinks and infuses them with romance, humor, and a dash of small-town charm that makes this first book in the Melody Bittersweet series completely irresistible.

Melody is a plucky, relatable heroine who had me laughing, cheering, and occasionally tearing up as she launched her ghostbusting business and got tangled in both spectral drama and romantic chaos. The mix of her fame-hungry ex, the skeptical yet swoon-worthy reporter Fletcher, and a trio of delightfully troublesome ghost brothers creates a story full of banter, tension, and unexpected tenderness.

The humor sparkles on every page, the romance is slow-burn perfection, and the supernatural mystery kept me fully engaged. Chapelwick feels like the coziest (and quirkiest) setting, and I can’t wait to spend more time with the Bittersweet family and their spectral adventures.

If you love your romance with sass, supernatural mischief, and heartwarming charm, Crazy Spooky Love will steal your heart and keep you grinning long after the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC. Josie Silver is a wonderful author and A Winter in New York is such a special book to me. I have read all of her other books and really looked forward to reading this one. Kudos to her for branching out and trying something new. This felt like a departure from her normal writing style. This was unfortunately a "Did Not Finish" for me. The chracters all felt like charicatures of themselves and I could not connect. I made it about half way through the story. I actually do enjoy love triangles when done well, but I could not get into this one.

Melody Bittersweet has been in the ghost business for years alongside her mom and grandmother, but she's ready to carve out her own corner of this niche business. Thus, The Girls' Ghostbusting Agency is born, and their first client is a doozy! Her job gets more complicated when she's pitted head to head against her ex-boyfriend and his crew of ghostbusters.

Settle in for ghosts, a love triangle, lifelong friends, and some zany, madcap hijinks. This paranormal romcom is executed beautifully and is such a fun read. I'm a seasonal reader, so it was the perfect fall book to take a break between darker, creepier spooky reads. I love these characters and spent many pages laughing out loud.

Originally published nearly 10 years ago under a pseudonym in the UK, this story still feels fresh. I'm looking forward to picking up #2 in the series next month and will get my grabby hands on #3 as soon as it's published in 2026. I like this lighter, sillier side of Josie Silver!

For fans of The Graves Glen series by Erin Sterling and the Lizzie and Diesel series by Janet Evanovich.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Dell for the chance to read this romp prior to its publication in exchange for this honest review.