This is a delightful read that gives off Hallmark movie vibes with a few ghosts thrown in! Collins, a photographer, heads home to help out her family and gets in touch with her small-town roots. She winds up assisting and renting out a room from Brady, a sexy upholsterer, as she struggles to come to terms with the reason why she had to return home. Collins and her twin sister Clarke can see and (up until recently) talk to ghosts. But Collins is struggling with her paranormal abilities and what she wants to do with her future, after she lost her creative spark and her photography career crashed. A developer has been sniffing around her parent’s beloved antique shop, but her sister Clarke has her heart set on the shop, and Collins wants to do everything she can to keep the shop out of the developer’s hands. Collins decides that she’ll show newcomer Brady around Sweetwater Peak and along the way she just might find her old self again and overcome the block that’s preventing her from taking pictures and hearing the ghosts that surround her. Collins has a rule that she never hooks up with anyone in Sweetwater Peak, but Brady is determined to break that rule as they fall hard for one another. Collins quickly realizes that she might’ve found herself again in the small-town she’d tried to escape.

The ghosts are a major part of Collins life and her character, but they’re not the typical ghosts that you find in paranormal and horror books. These ghost are for the most part pretty content and they’re part of the background, save for a couple of scenes, even though Collin’s spends most of the book trying to hear them again. So if paranormal isn’t exactly your jam, I’d still recommend trying this one. The spice isn’t closed door but it’s not super explicit either. The whole thing with the developer felt very Hallmark-coded but surprisingly that plot doesn’t really come in until toward the end. The book sets up for a sequel (obviously featuring the twin sister and someone you’ll definitely guess). The side characters were enjoyable (especially Boone and his menagerie). Overall this was an easy read and a solid four stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I’m looking forward to reading more of Lyla Sage!

This story had a lot of potential, but ultimately, I felt like the author was trying to do too much and the ideas ended up feeling disconnected.
There was the plot line about Collins losing her ability to hear ghosts and moving back home with her head in the sand. Then Brady’s starting over plot and his broken engagement. And then Collins’ family wanting to sell their properties and her twin being opposed to it. And Collins and Clarke not communicating about Collins’ loss of her abilities and Clarke’s worry about her parents selling off her future. And then the ghost stories and the town history. And then Boone and his connection to the author’s “Done and Dusted” series. And then a flood. And then an evil realtor and a connection to Brady’s past. And ‘I love you’ declarations. And a trip to other small towns to gather evidence. And and and…
The story didn’t flow and reading it felt boring at times. I didn’t hate it, but I would have liked if the author dug in on 1-2 of her big ideas and expanded more instead of throwing everything at me. The happy ending for the ‘woman in white’ felt so thrown together that it took away from what was happening at that part of the book.

Soul Searching is proof that Lyla Sage can write anything. It's spooky, atmospheric, thrilling, enticing, and tenderly romantic in a way that Sage has perfected, making Sweetwater Peak yet another small town that readers will remember for a long, long time. Collins and Brady were lovely, fun, and uniquely well-rounded characters to follow, and their love story was an absolute delight to witness. The banter. The quiet beats. The spice. This one's going to be especially perfect for spooky romance readers, and I can't wait for Clarke's story next.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

A spooky little love story about a girl who sees ghosts and a boy who sees her.

Sweetwater Peak is the main character of this book, to be honest. Lyla Sage makes this tiny, creepy little town jump off the page. All of the different spots Collins and Brady visit feel so atmospheric and like they have a life of their own, and it was easy to see why Collins and her family had such a connection to the town.

I will say that this felt a little... disjointed? Some of the conflicts were mentioned at the beginning (the developers trying to buy out Collins's family, Collins's last photography job, etc.) and then never really came into play again until the very end, which made things feel rushed.

This is my first book from Lyla Sage, and it did not disappoint! I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for fall vibes, and to anyone who loves an emotional, small-town romance. Some romances with paranormal elements can be quite silly, and while this book was fun it was much more of an emotional read than I was expecting, and I loved that about it! The main characters had lots of depth to them and the side characters were all lovable and I enjoyed reading about them all. Looking forward to reading more from Lyla Sage in the future!

I really enjoyed Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series, so I was curious to see how she’d approach a new genre. I’m not typically drawn to fantasy or paranormal romance — I tend to prefer stories grounded in reality — but I was intrigued by the unique premise of this one. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t fully work for me.

The paranormal element, particularly the “seeing ghosts” aspect, felt underdeveloped. Rather than coming across as a meaningful or fleshed-out gift, it occasionally made the protagonist seem more unstable than insightful — a perspective seemingly validated by the male lead’s skepticism. There was also some unresolved confusion regarding a key plot point:

It’s never clearly explained why Collin suddenly stops hearing her ghost companions. We’re told she gave up photography due to a toxic work environment and went into a downward spiral, after which the ghosts went silent. Later, she has one brief interaction with Earnest, a ghost who’s supposedly been part of her life for years — and then it seems like everything just… resets? It was unclear whether this was intentional or just left hanging.

The romance also fell a little flat for me. The slow burn lacked the emotional tension or angst that typically makes that trope satisfying. When the love confession finally happens, it feels abrupt, coming so soon after their first intimate moment that it almost reads as post-hookup euphoria. The pacing felt off again when a major conflict was introduced at the 91% mark — after only a quick mention earlier — and resolved just a few pages later. It felt rushed and anticlimactic.

On a stylistic note, I found the repeated use of “stuttering” in dialogue distracting. Nearly every time a character was nervous, it came out as “I-I…” or similar. It would’ve been refreshing to see a variety of ways those emotions could be portrayed through body language or internal thought.

That said, Lyla Sage’s voice and creativity are evident, and I appreciate her willingness to explore a new direction. While this story didn’t quite land for me, I’m sure it could still resonate with readers who enjoy light paranormal elements blended with romance. I’m curious to see how her writing continues to evolve.

I'd heard a lot of good things about Lyla Sage's books so when I saw the ARC for her newest book was available, I thought I'd give her a try! Sadly, I didn't like it. Soul Searching's premise drew me in with the supernatural elements but I didn't think it was fleshed out very well and found it more boring than anything. The small town romance tropes took precedence and I didn't find them interesting. The characters, especially the main couple, were really immature and I couldn't connect with them. All in all, this book just wasn't for me but I know lots of people love Sage's books and this will still be popular at our library.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm so excited to be exploring a new part of the Lyla Sage world! Sweetwater Peak is so atmospheric and provides the perfect setting for Soul Searching's fall release. I loved getting to know Collins as a character and found her POV chapters to be more enthralling than Brady's. I was missing a bit more oomph as I was reading and a little less telling in the writing.

This one really did not work for me! I am so bummed because I typically enjoy Lyla Sage's books, even if it wasn't my all time favorite. This felt extremely underbaked to me. I felt frustrated that so much of the character development for Collins was off page, and her dynamic with her sister confused me. There's a sense that I am missing the first story in Sweetwater Peak- which I was hoping would feel like Meadowlark, just spooky, but it's not quite there yet. I don't think there's enough fleshing out of the atmosphere and I didn't feel situated at all. But since Collins starts the story with her abilities lost, fighting with her sister (who comes across as totally insufferable and unlikeable, from Collins' point of view) and avoiding her family's store until 75% of the novel, I couldn't feel grounded in the setting and the family we are reading about. I really do look forward to reading the other book in this duology, because I kept thinking to myself that I wish that I had been introduced to this entire town and its characters through Clarke's POV. There's a lot of potential here, but in my opinion, needed a few more passes to make it click.

This romantic novel by Lyla Sage was such a fun read! I’ve always loved her books, and this one didn’t disappoint. I especially enjoyed the ghostly twist she added to the story—it gave the plot a unique and intriguing edge. I just wish she had expanded on that part a bit more.

The story follows Collins, who returns to her hometown after years of trying to escape it. Her reason for coming back is to reclaim a secret and deeply personal gift: her ability to see and speak with ghosts. Once home, she embarks on a heartwarming and sometimes hilarious journey of reconnecting with the pieces of herself she lost over the years.

It’s a light, engaging read with the perfect mix of romance, humor, and a few chills along the way. However, I found myself wanting more by the end—maybe because this is just the start of a series? Either way, I’m looking forward to what comes next!

I would say that Lyla Sage is a guilty pleasure author, but I don’t even feel guilty about it.

Her writing is improving with every book and this is such a nice pivot that I think a lot of people are going to enjoy. This one also ends in a way that I NEED the second book immediately!

The setting is so cozy and the characters are enjoyable! Can’t wait to spend more time in Sweetwater Peak!

I loved Lyla Sage's Meadowlark Series, but this one lacked the chemistry of those books. I liked the magical realism element, but felt like it was a bit of an afterthought until the end. Maybe I just missed the cowboys?

Having met this lovely author I am so very thankful that I was able to read this arc! The chemistry between the characters was so intense and authentic! Thank you again!

This might be my favorite Lyla Sage book yet. A haunted fictional Wyoming town AND a spicy love story? I’ll always be in.

The characters in Soul Searching are well-written, the town is described in a way that brings it to life for the reader and the plot, while uplifting, maintains the eerie vibes of the location (and it’s paranormal residents) throughout. It’s a very fun, hot read!

This is so different from done and dusted. It has her same romantic flair but a complete 180 from that works she created. It’s fun! But took a bit to get into. Once I was about halfway I started liking it!

If Lyla writes it, I will absolutely read it!! Her storytelling always scratches an itch in my brain and I try so hard to savor her books, but end up devouring them.

The spooky vibes are amazing and this is the perfect book to read in the Fall when you're curled up on the couch. The black cat x golden retriever energy between Collins and Brady was perfect and there were many moments while reading and asking myself, "Do I want to be WITH Collins or BE Collins" because I was having major bi panic. I enjoyed the family and twin sibling dynamics, but wish we did see a bit more of the small town community, especially with Brady trying to fit in and make connections with the townspeople.

This is a delicious slow burn and the things they both said and did had me blushing at my desk!! Soul Searching was such a fun new twist after the Rebel Blue Ranch series and I'm so excited for what Lyla has coming next! Thank you Dial Press and NetGalley for the arc!

Objectively I can find nothing wrong with this book, it's very well written, the characters are fun and the romance/bantering was cute.
But, nothing happened for about 60% of the book and then out of know where the plot just appears, and isn't resolved? (I understand this is the start of the series, but it really just left so much open)
I did enjoy the book and I think I'm going to go read her other series as I did really enjoy her writing, but this just felt too all over the place for me.

Thanks for Dial Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.

Unfortunately, I just don’t think this one is for me. I loved Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue series, but Soul Searching felt rushed, poorly edited, and slowly paced. I didn’t know how much time was passing, and Brady’s personality was boring (Collins called it). I DNFed this one at 56%, but I think someone who wants a slow, sleepy book will enjoy this one

I loved Lyla Sage's first series but it's like she regressed in her writing. EVERYTHING IS TELL to the the point I'm unsure if she was just googlikng how to open a door.

Soul Searching was a reflective, spooky, and supernatural love story about two people coming together to find themselves. It is the perfect cozy Fall romance novel for anyone wanting to feel the spooky vibes of the upcoming Halloween season. The characters were likable and their love story, although a bit sad at times, was sweet. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys loves stories with a little something extra sprinkled in (ghosts and spooky settings).