Overall, I enjoyed this book, though it wasn’t a new favorite. The premise was charming: Melody Bittersweet sets out to create her own ghost-hunting business, and the concept drew me in right away.

There were several elements I appreciated. The humor throughout the story kept me entertained, and the relationship between Melody, her grandmother, and her mother was delightful to follow. I always enjoy stories that highlight spooky and witchy generational bonds, and this one captured that dynamic well. Melody’s long-standing friendship with Marina added warmth to the story, and Artie’s presence gave the cast an extra layer of quirkiness.

On the other hand, a few aspects didn’t work as well for me. The pacing occasionally dragged, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. The writing style leaned heavily on pop culture references, and those moments pulled me out of the story instead of keeping me immersed. I also struggled with the love triangle. Since I’m not a fan of that trope, I found myself feeling more stressed than invested in who Melody might choose, especially because I didn’t think either love interest was truly worthy of her time or affection.

In the end, I thought the book had a creative concept and moments of real fun, but the execution wasn’t as strong as it could have been for my personal tastes.

Thanks so much to the publisher Ballentine and the author for the eARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited when I was approved on @netgalley for an arc of this book. I devoured it. I’m kicking myself for putting it off for so long. This perfectly sets up a well developed and spooky world filled with rich well developed characters. I’m so glad that I was approved for the arc for Kooky Spooky Love because I would be losing my mind waiting. Pick this one up if you want a cozy mystery with a handful of weird thrown in.

A rag tag team of ghost hunters takes on a challenge bigger than anyone can imagine. Melody Bittersweet sees dead people. Lucky for us, she uses her powers for good. After starting a business to help ghosts pass on she barges into her first case getting more than she bargained for. It’s up to her to help the Scarborough brothers solve the murder of the youngest brother, Douglas. Will it be enough for them to finally leave the house they’ve been trapped in for a century?

I was a Meg Cabot Mediator series mega-fan back in the day so I absolutely jumped at the chance to read Josie Silver's re-released Crazy Spooky Love. Silver's contemporary romances are some of my favorites so I was excited to check out this paranormal offering.

Melody Bittersweet's family has been offering connections to the other side in her small town for several generations but Melody is hell-bent on forging her own path. She's going to do some ghost-busting, rather than seancing. The ghosts have a little something to say about that though, and it looks like Melody might have bitten off more than she can chew, and there's a local reporter all mixed up in her every move.

The perfect start to spooky season, this one doesn't take itself too seriously and had a touch of whimsy. A bit slow, and not super heavy on the romance, this was a fun, palate-cleansing read.

Crazy Spooky Love by Josie Silver ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My Scooby-Doo lovin’ heart adored this fun read filled with the best cast of characters: dead and alive. 👻

I found this read to be so whimsical and the perfect start to spooky season. It was filled to the brim with quirky characters, all of which I wanted as my own friends. The magic was just the right amount, the ghosts were just spooky enough, and the heartwarming elements overflowed. It gave Scooby Doo/ Apprentice to the Villain vibes with its ghostbusting and sarcastic wit.

I’m hoping the next one gives a bit more in terms of the romantic interests because that was something I wanted more of in this one. Also, the pace felt a little slow at times, and I wanted the plot to move along, but I shrugged it off because I enjoyed the characters so much.

Fans of reads with quirky characters, lighthearted, spooky reads, and books with cozy paranormal elements will find much to love here.

Quirky, fun, and a great way to usher in the autumnal season! Crazy Spooky Love was an enjoyable read that kept me entertained. The hijinks of the characters, calamity of the setting, and just a little bit of Scooby Doo mystery added in. I can't wait for the continuation of this series, not just for Silver's creative writing style, but to also see where she takes these characters next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I can’t even begin to describe how excited I was to have received this eARC!

Crazy Spooky Love is book one in the Melody Bittersweet Series by Josie Silver.
Silver is one of my favorite writers and she did not disappoint.
The romance and mystery in this book were balanced perfectly edict make this a top tier fall read.
What a fun and magical read!
I loved Melody’s character and her supporting team of both ghost chasers and love interests.
Overall, a quirky and fun, cozy mixed with romance and a few ghosts of course!
The perfect cosy paranormal mystery romcom!!

The perfect Halloween/spooky time romcom.
Highly recommend!

I can’t wait to jump into book two Kooky Spooky Love.

Thank You NetGalley and Dell for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book felt like a nostalgic warm fall hug with a ghostly vibe to it.

Melody is our main character and she can see and speak to ghosts. So when she comes across a haunted family estate, The Scarborough Estate, and finds 3 ghosts she gets to work. The only problem? Her ex, Leo, is the ghost hunter and the reporter, Fletch, is hesitant and has doubts about the whole thing. Will they uncover what happened? And when tensions start to build and romance starts to blossom who will fall under the spell? The ex? Or the unsure reporter? This book was so fun!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing the ARC!

I adore Josie’s storytelling abilities, and seeing her name on the book made me step out of my comfort zone and into the more spooky. This is a great read to pick up when looking for the transition from beach read to fall - and the nostalgia for a Scooby Doo like feeling can’t be missed.

The world building was great and the mystery kept me hooked, but I do wish the characters had been a little more developed for me. Overall, would recommend!

4 stars. Ghost hunting? Sign me up. This was such a fun, quirky charactered tale. Josie Silver blends humor, cozy murder mystery, ghostly phenomena, and a love triangle with just the right amount of oomph to keep you turning pages. An enjoyable filler between this spooky seasons darker reads.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing the ARC.

I was initially intrigued by this story due to it's combination of murder mystery and romance as well as the fact that the main character can see and talk to dead people. It seemed fun enough that I really wanted to give it a shot.

I will say that the murder mystery aspect of this story was interesting and it was fun seeing the character piece everything together. The romance, however, was significantly lacking. The romantic interest didn't really turn up until about halfway through the book, and they went from 0 to 100 with little to no lead up. I felt that Melody had more chemistry with one of the ghosts than she did with Fletch.

Overall, it wasn't a bad book. The writing is fine and the story is mostly alright. The characters are a little lackluster, except for Artie, so there's not a lot to write home about for this one. It's serviceable, and it will work if that's all you're looking for.

Since I’m holding onto the last pieces of summer with all my might, what better way to kick off spooky season than with a whimsical, lighthearted paranormal mystery? This is Scooby Do meets Ghostbusters and it is highly entertaining.

Melody Bittersweet sees dead people. It’s an inherited family trait. Her mom and grandmother have long run a small business putting the living in touch with the dead to answer burning questions like where the car keys are hidden. They are quirky and harmless and embraced by the community. At 27, Melody decides to branch out on her own by opening The Girls Ghostbusting Agency alongside her best friend, Marina, with an emphasis on moving the dead along.

Their first case involves three long dead brothers who are haunting their old family estate. The Scarborough brothers are stuck because of the unsolved murder of one of them. Melody’s effort to solve the mystery is muddled by a competing ghost hunter who happens to be her ex and a doubting reporter who wants to prove that the whole ghostbusting thing is a scam. The biggest problem? Melody might just be attracted to one or both of them.

This book is rich with supporting characters who bring charm and eccentricity to the story. Not the least of whom is Artie whose innocence and enthusiasm are endearing. The ghostbusting trio of Melody, Marina, and Artie along with Babs, their own version of the Mystery Machine, are enchanting.

The book never takes itself too seriously and I appreciate that. It is a fun, farcical story told with dry British humor that hit the right note for an early fall read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a cute magical realism about an underdog who is trying to figure out her job, her love life, her friends and family, and just life. The middle dragged a little bit the ending was sweet. 3.75 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely adored this cozy mystery! I felt it did such a good job of setting up this crazy kooky world and made it very inviting for future books taking place in it. I loved all of the characters but particularly the FMC. She was hilarious, sweet, sexy and just a great time. The other characters were nuanced and so much fun as well. The romance subplot was delightful and left me wanting more which is a great thing. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for spooky season and I cannot WAIT to read the next one!

📖 Title: Crazy Spooky Love, Melody Bittersweet #1

✍🏾 Author: Josie Silver- I read A Winter in New York and gave 4⭐

📅Publication date: 9/2/25 | Read: 9/1/25

📃 Format: e-Book 320 pgs.

Genre:
*Paranormal Romance
*Mystery/Thriller

Tropes:
*cozy
*family of mediums
*ghosts
*ghost-hunting
*haunted house
*rivals

👆🏾POV: 1st person

⚠️TW: bullying, murder, suicide mentioned

🌎 Setting: Chapelwick

Summary: Melody wants to branch out on her own. Living and working as a psychic with her mother and grandmother at Blythe Spirits to help the dead move on. Melody starts a ghost-busting agency to get rid of ghosts while in competition with her ex-boyfriend Leo and Fletcher, a reporter, out to ruin the Bittersweets.

👩🏾 Heroine: Melody Bittersweet-27, can see and talk to dead people. Starts the Girls Ghost-Busting Agency (GGBA)

👨🏾 Hero: Fletcher Gunn- local, skeptic reporter out to discredit the Bittersweets

🎭 Other Characters:
*Silvana Bittersweet-Melody's mother
*Paradise "Dicey" Bittersweet- Melody's grandmother
*Marina Malone-Melody's BFF, works at GGBA
*Glenda Jackson-efficient, hired to help Mel's business
*Artie Elliott-hired as Mel's apprentice after his ghost father pleads w/ Melody to help him.
*Leo Dark-Mel's ex-boyfriend, now business rival w/ a ghost-haunting TV show. Fame-chasing, narcissistic, and wears a cape.
*Nikki & Vicki- fan club twins who work for Leo
*The Scarborough Brothers-Donovan having a hard time selling his house because three deceased brother ghosts from 1910- Isaac (accused of killing Douglas/banished from his family), Lloyd, and Douglas (youngest/fraternal twin w/ Isaac).
*Baps-the GGBA van
*Lestat-Mel's new dog

🤔 My Thoughts: I liked the spooky aspect with Halloween coming soon. Melody was a driven heroine who just wanted to find her own separate from her family. Artie and Marina were great additions that supported Melody. There wasn't a love triangle because Leo didn't act like he wanted Melody back. She and Fletcher have a steamy time in her car after they fought their attraction to each other.

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level: 4/5 🌶️

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine | Dell, and Josie Silver for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Absolutely adored this! Crazy Spooky Love is a charming, heartfelt blend of romance and the supernatural, with Josie Silver’s signature emotional depth. It’s quirky, funny, and surprisingly moving. This is perfect for fans of love stories with a twist. I laughed, teared up, and couldn’t put it down.

I’ve always loved a ghost story with a bit of romance and humor, and Crazy Spooky Love, the first in Josie Silver’s Melody Bittersweet series, didn’t disappoint.

Melody, a 27-year-old medium, runs her own ghostbusting business in the charming town of Chapelwick. Unlike her fame-seeking relatives, she genuinely wants to help spirits move on. Her first case, a haunted manor with three bickering ghost brothers, sets the stage for both spooky and funny moments.

What I enjoyed most was how Silver blends the supernatural with everyday life. Melody is relatable, the love triangle keeps things interesting, and the writing is witty and lighthearted. A few supporting characters are over the top, but it didn’t bother me much.

If you like cozy mysteries with romance and a paranormal twist, this book is a treat. I can’t wait for the next one.

I liked this book a lot, it was the perfect fall book to start September and I love that I was reading it as the temps dropped below 70 degrees here in Charlotte, and the cozy mystery books start to pile up on my TBR! Melody was just let go of her job from being bothered too much by the ghosts surrounding her, and she ends up working for the family business of the paranormal assistance kind, aka she becomes a ghost hunter. Her first case is a wonderful mystery, as she helps three brothers solve the mystery of the who killed one of the brothers, and the suspects are the two other brothers. I loved the brother’s interactions, I loved how much this book felt like Ghosts the US tv show, and I loved the mystery of this book. I was hooked and wanted to know all the details, and I loved it. Each twist kept me reading further as there were people on the living and the dead side trying to prevent Melody from solving thr mystery and only added to the intrigue.

In addition to the wonderful mystery storyline, there is also a budding romance storyline that I’m sure will be more flushed out in future books as we are only seeing the beginning of Melody’s relationship with Fletch, the local reporter. Melody can’t avoid him, but also cannot pull her eyes away from Fletch so it’s only a matter of time before they start making out in random places throughout the book, until it lead to more 😉

I cannot wait to continue this series, Melody’s next case looks so fun!

A cute, quirky romcom with ghosts and a mystery!

Melody can see and speak to ghosts which is something that most people find odd but her mom and grandmother have a business where they help people have closure after losing a loved one. Melody decides she wants to start her own business of helping ghosts pass over with her first job being a challenging one. There are 3 ghosts haunted their childhood home and she and her friends have to solve the mystery of what’s keeping them trapped in the house.

Besides starting her own business, she runs into her ex (Leo) who is also in the ghost business and working the same job. So there’s some tension. There’s also Fletcher who doesn’t believe in ghosts but has a thing for Melody. 🤭

This was a fun read. Definitely perfect for spooky season. I think Fletcher was my favorite. 😍 I’m excited to read the next book!

Thank you Josie Silver, Ballantine/Dell, and NetGalley for the ARC!

4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Crazy Spooky Love is the first book in the Melody Bittersweet series. Melody Bittersweet can see and communicate with ghosts. Melody's mother and grandmother run Blythe Spirits, where they commune with ghosts and allow them to give messages to the living so the ghosts may pass on in peace. Melody, wanting to blaze a trail of her own, decides to open The Girls' Ghostbusting Agency with her spicy best friend Marina. She lands her first job at the Scarborough Estate, only she is pitted against the only other person in town that can see ghosts, who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend. Now, its a race to see who can clear the ghosts of the estate first so Donovan Scaborough can sell it to a developer. However, this task is not going to be as cut and dry as it seems. Mystery, intrigue, and hijinx ensue- this book is a ghastly good time!
This book was such a treat, I had so much fun reading it, and I could not put it down. There were lots of laughs and shenanigans, a little bit of spice and a lot of heart. I can't wait for the next book in the series.