With a title like Crazy Spooky Love and a blurb that mentions love triangles, I thought I was signing up for a cute paranormal romcom. Don’t be like me. There is no triangle and I don’t want to call what happened here a romance. The one “love interest” we get saddled with (and yes it is just one, the blurb is a liar) spends the whole book calling her and her family frauds, then says things like “let’s lay our hostilities aside for the evening and have crazy sex.” ick. But apparently he’s hot, so it’s fine.

The frustrating part is that the premise had so much potential! A ghostbusting business, a 100-year-old murder mystery, a Scooby-Doo style van, and a cast of quirky side characters (her mom, gran, bestie, and teen hire were all genuinely fun). But the plot spent too much time doing nothing and then resolved almost nothing to leave space for a sequel that feels forced. Oh also, the whole dog subplot should have been cut. Adopting a dog on a whim and then constantly complaining about him made our main character very unlikable. (She definitely kicks that dog off-page)

Fun idea, just not the book I was promised. Thanks Ballantine and Netgalley for the arc!

A medium, her fame chasing ex, a hot skeptical reporter, and ghosts come together in this cute cozy romance! Melody Bittersweet can see dead people and after dealing with her ex boyfriend Leo, dumping her for fame, she's determined to make her ghostbusting agency work... but that means competing against her ex on the newest case. Then there's Fletcher, the very hot reporter who doesn't believe in Melody's abilities but both of them have so much chemistry they definitely can look past it. Can Melody help the ghosts move on, keep her business from crumbling, and sort out whether she wants to get back with her ex or possibly explore the new romance with a guy who doesn't believe in her powers? This was a very cute charming spooky time romance, perfect for autumn. It's the first in the series and I can't wait to see where the next book goes and where Melody's romance leads!

Release Date: September 2, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Ballantine | Dell for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley, Dell New York, and Josie Silver for providing this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It’s September, so it’s officially spooky season. And what better way to kick it off than with a crazy, spooky (not really a) love story (or maybe the crazy spooky love was the friends we made along the way).

The Girls’ Ghostbusting Agency seems like THE place to work - I hope they’re accepting applications. It certainly appears to be the place to form life-long friendships at the very least. And that’s what this book really seemed to be about; new friends, old friends, ghost friends, etc. The romance really was more of a sub-plot, though I’d expect it to be a more completed arc throughout the following books.

Overall a fun, quick read, perfect for this start to autumn.

Crazy Spooky Love is book #1 in the Melody Bittersweet series by Josie Silver.

This is an entertaining new series. The characters are interesting and I like the family relationships. The series premise drew me in and I really enjoyed it. Getting rid of ghosts isn’t quite as easy as Melody expected. I appreciated the humor. I look forward to reading the next book.

Thank you to the author, Dell, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This one took me a few chapters to get into but once I did, I had a fantastic time. It's funny, and kind of on the cozy side (the mystery isn't too creepy or intense). I was expecting a little more on the romance side, but it taking a back seat to the building of the world and characters works - especially knowing this is first in the series. Already excited for book two!

Josie Silver's talent for writing strong female characters, family dynamics, and romance mixes well with supernatural mystery elements. I loved the ghosts and the supporting characters- it reads like a strong, engaging introduction to a series that will be a delight to read as it develops and the characterization and romance deepens as we delve further into the life of Melody and her gang at .Girl's Ghostbusting Agency. Can't wait.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Ballantine for the ARC.

I didn’t think I would enjoy this because it was about ghosts but oh I was proved wrong. Melody, her Mom and Grandma all lived in the same big house. Melody’s mom and grandma was into summoning ghosts. Melody decides to be a ghost hunter. I thought the twins that worked for Leo were so well described. Melody had dated Leo before a bad breakup. And, of o course there is a news reporter named Fletcher Gunn that is out to ruin Melody’s business. Grandma also known as Dicey was hilarious.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

ARC Review!!!

This was such a good and fun read. I loved the plot and how Melody was a generation of ghost seers. I loved Artie. Overall the story was good and a good plot. It was a fun read, interesting first case they worked and pulled on the heart strings. Fletch was a character too.
4 Stars.

When medium Melody Bittersweet starts her own ghostbusting agency, she expects a few restless spirits… not three mischievous ghost brothers, a fame hungry ex, and a snarky reporter determined to call her a fraud. Crazy Spooky Love is full of silly humor, ghostly hijinks, and banter that had me laughing out loud.

And then the ending hit me right in the feels. I was not prepared to shed a tear… or five. A quirky, heartfelt paranormal rom-com that’s as sweet as it is funny!

I really enjoyed this book! This was a perfect read for entering Spooky Season. The characters are so loveable and quirky, and the storyline was a fun one! It was a bit slow paced at first, but picked up as the story went on.
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a fun, cozy romance this fall!

This was a fun, quirky, cozy mystery. I loved the characters, including the moody ghosts. I rooted for the girly ghostbusters, Lestat, and Babs, and wished horrible fates on their nemeses. It was a fun ride and a great palate cleanser after a particular heavy drama. Thank you to NetGalley and Dell Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballentine, Dell, and Josie Silver for the chance to read this book, the following opinions are all my own honest reactions.

Melody Bittersweet can see spirits, like every woman in her illustrious family line. She is however not content to just be a messanger between the veils and wants to use those skills to help spirits, and the people around them, to shuffle off to the afterlife. So she starts her own business, The Girls' Ghostbusting Agency, with her longtime friend Marina and the new recruit Artie.

Sadly, I did not finish this book. It felt like the author was mainlining Scooby-Doo episdoes while writing this book and I found myself just wishing that I was also watching Scooby-Doo episodes instead of reading this book. Melody is clearly meant to be quirky but the writing is hamfisted and just bludgeons you with "Ain't I cute? Aren't I weird?!" And ofter, things were just over-described or overwritten. Details are nice but this just felt like trying to reach a word count.

I enjoyed the side characters more than the FMC and just found myself not able to focus on a book that only felt like it was going to be "just okay".

Melody Bittersweet comes from a line of women who can see and communicate with ghosts. When she decides to start her own ghostbusting business with her best friend, their first client is a man trying to sell his house, which is currently haunted by some brothers with unfinished business who are driving away prospective buyers.

I have read all of Josie Silver's prior books and loved most of them. This one had her signature magical realism/whimsy but that is where the similarities end. I didn't inherently dislike it for being different from her other books, but had a very hard time getting into and staying interested in this story.

I found it difficult to keep track of all the different ghost/Scarborough family member characters until everything clicked into place at about the 75% mark. I also think billing this as a romance or love triangle story is a bit misleading. The romance very much took a backseat in my opinion, which is fine but was not what I was expecting going into it. I think if I had expected this to be more of a cozy mystery series from the jump, my opinion of the story would be different.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Melody, her best friend Marina, and their newly-acquired sidekick Artie and there were some laugh out loud moments between the three. Ditto for Melody's relationship with her kooky mom and grandmother. The best part of the book for me was finding out what new treat Marina's Nonna made for the team each day.

This was not your typical Josie Silver novel. It had a cozy mystery feeling, with hints of wackiness and a very small amount of romance. This author works her magic and despite this not being something I’d normally read, she captured my interest because I was kept wondering what craziness could possibly happen next!

I very easily cast reality aside and with Crazy Spooky Love, you really need to throw away the logic and let in the cookiness. This book is a bit silly, but Josie Silver still writes characters that a reader can love. I felt kind of sorry for Melody’s unlucky in love persona because I’m sure growing up seeing dead people couldn’t have been easy for a teenager. As an adult, though, she’s doing alright! She has two handsome guys vying for her attention and has the smarts to put the ghostly clues together to come out on top in the end. Again, silly, but fun and very easy to read- if you’re in the mood!

This book is the start of a delightful new series by Josie Silver. Melody Bittersweet is not your average 27-year old. She, and the other women in her family, can see ghosts. For years, her mother and grandmother have helped with paranormal happenings in the community but now Melody has decided to break out on her own. When she opens a ghostbusting agency with her best friend, it doesn’t take long before a case lands right in their lap. However, this case involves more than ghosts. Between her ex-boyfriend’s exploits as a TV ghost hunter and an incredibly handsome reporter out to debunk ghosts (and the Bittersweet family) as fakes once and for all, Melody may have bitten off more than she can chew. A hilarious, quirky, and utterly charming book that is perfect for the fall season. This delightful blend of spooky and swoon-worthy will have readers eager to read the next installment!

this was such a cute deviation from silvers regular romances! melody bittersweet can see dead people…literally. she comes from a family that can see and communicate with ghosts. she decides to use her powers for good (or revenge) when she creates her own small business for ghost busting. she is partially motivated by her ex-bf leo, who can also see ghosted using his powers to become famous.

for her first case, she is solving a decades old murder involving three brothers that are haunting an estate. this of course results in a hot local report getting involved, which OF COURSE means a love triangle ensues (we love to see it).

if you are looking for a quick n cute spooky romance to kick off your -ber months, def give this one a try!

thank you to ballantine for sending me an ARC in exchange for my review!

this was such a fun and easy read! the story was silly, charming and creative. i loved that it was spooky without being dark or heavy and it definitely had me laughing quite a few times! it also had the best banter, which i adore. the love triangle wasn’t my favorite, but i adored melody, fletcher and the ghost hunting trio!
the mystery and ghost hunting was my favorite part, and the main romance as well as the ending were satisfying. i honestly just really just love ghost stories like this in general, so i was excited to get an arc for this!
this was such cute and fast read, i’m looking forward to the continuation of this series.
if you love mysteries with chaotic romance, ghost hunting adventures, and deadpan humor, then this is a great read to get in the spirit for spooky season 👻🖤

Crazy Spooky Love is a delightfully fun mix of paranormal hijinks, small-town charm, and romantic tension. Melody Bittersweet makes for a wonderfully plucky heroine—equal parts determined, witty, and just a little chaotic—as she dives headfirst into ghostbusting with more enthusiasm than experience. The supporting cast of eccentric family members, mischievous spirits, and larger-than-life rivals add plenty of humor and heart to the story.

The love triangle between Melody, her fame-chasing ex Leo, and the infuriatingly handsome skeptic Fletcher Gunn keeps the romantic tension simmering throughout, even if it occasionally leans on familiar tropes. The banter, though, is sharp and entertaining, and Fletcher in particular provides a great foil for Melody’s supernatural optimism.

The mystery of the Scarborough brothers’ unfinished business was engaging and added real stakes to the ghostly side of the plot, though the pacing sometimes lagged as the story balanced romance, humor, and mystery all at once.

Overall, this is a charming, cozy paranormal romance that feels like a mashup of Gilmore Girls and Ghostbusters, with just the right amount of spooky whimsy. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.

On her 27th birthday, Melody Bittersweet opens the Girls’ Ghostbusting Agency, determined to help restless spirits move on. Her first case involves three mischievous ghost brothers haunting a mansion and hiding a murderous secret. As she digs deeper, Melody finds herself in a paranormal rivalry with her ex, Leo Dark, and under the skeptical gaze of charming reporter Fletcher Gunn. With her heart and reputation at risk, Melody must solve the mystery and keep her new business alive.

This was a light and quirky ghost mystery, perfect for a Halloween-time read.
Melody, the main character, was just okay for me. While I didn’t love her attitude toward her dog, I think she’s meant to be a bit eccentric?, which could add to the atmosphere of the story.
Her relationships, both romantic and familial, weren’t the highlight for me, but they added some interesting dynamics.
The mystery itself was decent, not too intense, but engaging enough to keep me reading.

Overall, if you’re in the mood for something light, spooky, and not too serious, this could be a fun seasonal pick!

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Dell for the ARC!

Crazy Spooky Love was such a fun introduction to this series. It's a great take on a procedural detective series with a quirky ensemble of characters. I flew through this book and the second I finished, I immediately requested the ARC for the sequel (which is already set to release at the end of next month!).

Melody Bittersweet is launching her own company, breaking off from the family business. Granted, her only real skillset is her ability to speak to the dead. She starts The Girls' Ghostbusting Agency, and, with her team, sets out to help people get rid of ghosts by helping them move on to the next dimension. Throw in her ex-boyfriend turned business rival and the journalist that has been trying to discredit her and her family for years, and you have a solid read for kicking off this spooky season.

The romance takes a backseat in this one and I feel like it will burn slowly over the course of multiple books, but the cast of characters, both living and dead, are what really make this book so much fun. I loved every second of this one and seriously cannot wait to start in on the next. Thank you to Josie Silver and Ballantine for this ARC (and the sequel which just hit my inbox!!)