👻 Bookish Thoughts
I am a sucker for fun paranormal romances, so I was excited to dive into this one. Ghost of a Chance ended up being a solid 3.5 star read for me. I really enjoyed the setup, and the ghost being obsessed with Judge Judy cracked me up. I grew up binging those episodes.

I also loved our emo goth queen FMC. She was a total baddie, even if she was faking her ghost talking skills 🤣
Her backstory made me really sad 😭😭

On the flip side, I did not connect with the MMC as much. He came off a bit pushy at times, which gave me the ick. I also expected a more fun and cozy vibe, but some of the somber tones pulled me out of the story. That said, I really liked the reveal at the end.

💜 What to Expect
• Paranormal romcom
• Opposites attract
• Mystery writer FMC
• Haunted MMC
• One night stand
_____

📖 Final Score: 3.5 stars
📅 Pub Date: September 30, 2025
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Ghost of a Chance is a cozy, spicy paranormal romance- perfect for fall!

I liked getting to know the main characters and seeing how their relationship grew over such a short period of time. They had an instant connection and we are able to see it blossom into something more. I thought that the main conflict towards the end felt a bit forced but regardless, I enjoyed how they were able to resolve their problems.

I love that this wasn't only a romance, but also a mystery! While I figured out the mystery pretty early on, I enjoyed the journey as the characters figured it out!

Ghost of Chance was exactly what I was in the mood for when I picked this up! A contemporary romance less than 300 pages with fall vibes, love interests with crazy chemistry, and a decent plot that had me hooked! I enjoyed almost everything about this book, especially when it came to Jasper. He was such a sweet bean and I would absolutely die for him!! Kirsty's hard exterior to protect her marshmallow insides was something I really identified with and I loved watching her slowly open up over the course of her and Jasper's romance. This book is one of those you can judge by the beautiful cover and I'm absolutely keeping an eye out on more from this author. Ghost of a Chance is a perfect pick for a fall romance and I definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

Thank you to Katheerine & Harlequin for the gifted ARC!

Content Warning for discussions on death, specifically a parent (in the past) and grief.

✨️Ghost Of A Chance is a cozy paranormal & opposites-attract romance between a mystery writer who pretends to talk to ghosts and
the one-night stand who might actually be haunted.

I really enjoyed this one! It has just the right amount of spooky vibes to kick off the fall and halloween season coming up!
FMC giving goth, Wednesday Addams vibes 👻

Spooky & possibly haunted victorian AirBNB 👻

Seances, flickering lights and creepy voices 👻

It's also got a rainy, gloomy small town with bookstores, a very good dog, bookish & Star Wars references, physics discussions in relation to the afterlife. 👻

Kirsty is prickly & a bit of a loner. She's just trying to find a balance between her real life and her mystery writer persona. It turns out she just might have more in common with the main character of her books than she ever realized.
Jasper is sweet and drifting through life aimlessly while still grieving the death of his college roommate.
These two are complete opposites but find themselves drawn to each other after two chance meetings. And they are so good together. I really loved their playful banter.
This one is a bit of a slowburn but has some good spice later in the story.

I did figure out the mystery before the end of the book but still enjoyed the story very much! It's a fun and quick read and I think you'll enjoy it if you are wanting something a little spooky but not too scary! I'm excited to check out more books from Katherine Garbera!✨️

The concept here is fun—a mystery writer who fakes ghost encounters teams up with a man who’s actually haunted by his college roommate’s spirit (who happens to love Judge Judy). It’s pitched as a cozy, spooky-season romance with mystery and banter, but for me, the execution fell flat.

I struggled to feel much chemistry between Kirsty and Jasper. They go hot and heavy, ghostly things are happening… and then she just falls asleep? (Not helped by the fact that she’s drunk in that moment.) Kirsty comes across as cold and a bit insufferable, while Jasper is self-involved about his book. Together, they blow hot and cold, snark at each other, and I just didn’t connect to their dynamic.

Things do pick up some around the 50% mark, but I’d already guessed the mystery well before the characters did, so the ending felt anticlimactic.

Who might like this: readers looking for a light, easy read with grumpy/grumbly characters who have emotional walls, some light supernatural elements, and a sprinkle of mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

✨👻 Ghost of a Chance by Katherine Garbera ✨
A cozy, paranormal rom-com with just the right amount of spooky charm! Kirsty is a mystery writer who fakes ghostly powers… until Jasper shows up with a very real haunting (and some irresistible chemistry). Think cozy fall vibes, slow-burn romance, and a touch of quirky ghostly mischief. Perfect for curling up with when you want something fun, flirty, and just a little spooky. 🍂💫

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin - Afterglow Books for the Arc!

I love ghost stories, so I usually pick up anything with that theme, but this book didn’t grab me as much as I hoped.

The idea was interesting and the atmosphere felt light, cozy, with a touch of mystery. But everything seemed both rushed and dull at the same time, and the romance didn’t really work for me.

Still, as a book for a dark evening, it wasn’t bad.

It’s not just about a ghost stuck in a book (funny that it’s a physics one), there’s also the mystery of why he’s there, and then more secrets come to light later.

This is a cozy Paranormal romcom about an author who write mysteries with the help of ghosts and Jasper a man with a haunted book. This premise sounded so cute. The problem was there was no banter and the characters lacked chemistry. Which led to the story feeling very stilted. It was also written im 3rd person which I struggled with for romance. I want to be inside the characters head. The mystery aspect was fun if not all little bit predictable. Overall, the book was cute and will be good for fall but fell a bit flat.

"It's a cozy, spicy, spooky season treat in this opposites-attract romance between a mystery writer who pretends to talk to ghosts and the one-night stand who might actually be haunted...

Kirsty Henson is an expert at one thing: faking it. A mystery writer with a hit series, she knows her success relies on pretending she can talk to ghosts. It's all fun and games until a steamy casual encounter sends Jasper Cotton careening into her life.

Jasper is haunted...literally. His college roommate's spirit is trapped in an old physics book - and has a weird obsession with Judge Judy. Desperate for a solution, Jasper turns to Kirsty for help. But when they investigate, neither can deny the supernatural or romantic sparks!

Between a ghost who won't quit, Kirsty's big secret and a mystery tied to Jasper's past, they're in for more than otherworldly flirtation. With a little help from beyond, Kirsty and Jasper are about to discover the only thing stronger than life or death might just be love.

From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way."

I think worse than being haunted is being haunted by a ghost obsessed with Judge Judy. The horror!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin - Romance, and the author for a chance to read an advance readers copy of this book in exchange for my opinion.

This is a fun read for spooky season that revolves around our MC Kristy, a paranormal mystery writer, who has crafted a lie that she is also able to speak with the dead. She meets the romantic interest of the book who happens to be haunted by a real ghost, and by a strange series of events ends up tasked with helping rid him of his ghost.

I found this book fun to read, specifically the fun ways that Kirsty has to hide and be resourceful to due to her “lack” of paranormal talent. However, beyond the fun plot, I didn’t love the writing style and honestly I didn’t really vibe with the characters. I think it’s probably 85 percent there for me, but I didn’t love the word choices or dialogue at many times which disconnected me from the experience. I’d still recommend it for a fun spooky season read, it just isn’t on my favorites list.

Out September 30th, 2025
Ghost of a Chance by Katherine Garbera is like sipping a spicy margarita while watching a ghost float by in a silk robe. It’s cozy, it’s paranormal, and it’s got just enough heat to keep things interesting. The story kicks off with a psychic heroine who’s got sass, a haunted bed-and-breakfast, and a ghost who’s more flirty than frightening. Toss in a broody love interest who doesn’t believe in spirits, and you’ve got the perfect setup for sparks and snark.

The romance is playful with a side of steamy, but it never takes itself too seriously. There’s banter, there’s chemistry, and there’s a ghost who’s basically the third wheel with opinions. The mystery is light, the vibes are fun, and the whole thing feels like a weekend getaway with a touch of supernatural spice. You’re not here for deep existential dread—you’re here for flirty hauntings and maybe a little kissing in candlelight.

Bottom line: this book is a good time. It’s got charm, chuckles, and just enough paranormal weirdness to keep you flipping pages. If you want a romcom with ghosts, giggles, and a dash of heat, Ghost of a Chance delivers exactly what the title promises. No notes, just vibes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for this ARC!

3.5 ⭐
2 🌶️

Ghost of a Chance is a quirky paranormal rom-com with just enough mystery to make it a fun, seasonal read. It definitely feels like the kind of book you’d want to curl up with in the fall.

Kirsty is an author of cozy paranormal mysteries who may have leaned a little too far into her branding—some of her readers actually think she has psychic abilities. That catches up to her when Jasper, a man convinced he’s being haunted, asks for her help to get rid of a spirit tied to his past. Kirsty knows she doesn’t have real powers, but saying no might mean risking her career and reputation. What starts out as a publicity stunt slowly turns into something much more personal as the two of them dig into the mystery of Jasper’s so-called ghost.

I thought the premise was clever, and the mix of romance and supernatural shenanigans worked well for the most part. The atmosphere was light and cozy, not scary, so it’s perfect for readers who want paranormal vibes without actual horror. That said, I struggled a bit with the characters. Kirsty and Jasper both had moments that made them hard to root for, and I wasn’t fully sold on their romance. The mystery aspect was also fairly predictable—I pieced it together long before the reveal, which made the payoff feel a little flat.

Still, I’d call this one an entertaining read. It’s not overly heavy, it balances humor and heart nicely, and it gave me exactly the cozy ghostly romance vibe I was hoping for. While it didn’t become a new favorite, it did make me curious to check out more of Katherine Garbera’s work in the future.

📚 Perfect if you like:

Paranormal rom-coms
Cozy fall vibes 🍂👻
Ghostly mysteries with a romantic twist
Light, fun reads that don’t get too dark

Thank you to NetGalley, Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and Katherine Garbera for the ARC.

Ghost of a chance gives off all the cozy spooky vibes like I expected, and while I did enjoy it overall, I did not vibe with the writing style.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This was a cute and cozy paranormal romance. The FMC is a mystery writer, the MMC is a guy she met at a concert who wound up being the producer for the TV show segment the FMC was invited on to promote her book. On the TV show, she is put on the spot and has to agree to help him exorcize a ghost out of a physics textbook.

Overall, this was cute! I wasn't necessarily "wow-ed", I wasn't in a rush to finish it exactly, but I was invested enough in the story to finish it. Worth a read if you're looking for a palate cleanser!

A cozy little paranormal romance that follows Kirsty as she meets Jasper at a concert and goes home with them to be interrupted by a ghost...and then Jasper asks for her help to deal with his friend who is a ghost and trapped in a book. Ya know...normal stuff...

Kirsty also has an ability to speak to ghosts, so that comes in handy when she decides to help him.

This book is kind of dual POV, but we mainly get Kirsty's POV with some Jasper POVs sprinkled in every now and then.

These characters did feel like they were constantly analyzing something, at some points it did feel like a bit much. I don't think anyone should spend that much time thinking about their feelings for someone else. That can't be healthy. I think that maybe the author was trying to make it more dramatic than it was, you're dealing with a ghost, I think that's plenty of drama.

Overall, this was a fun little read, perfect for the upcoming fall season. And I did read this super quickly (it is pretty short, only about 200 pages).

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

2.5 stars, rounded down.

As a lover of spooky season and Hoa-Hoa weather, I really enjoyed the premise of the book. A cozy haunting? Yes, please!

Unfortunately the writing itself fell flat. We meet the two main characters pretty quickly during a meet-cute moment. However, that moment felt rushed and unauthentic and this became a theme through much of the book. After about 50% in, I did find myself enjoying the book more, but still experienced difficulty with the pacing until the end of the novel. This story definitely could have benefited from being longer.

Overall, it wasn’t a terrible book. I do think the novel could have thrived with a deeper developmental edit and the addition of more description to make the story more engaging and immersive.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ghost of a Chance is a spicy, cozy paranormal romcom with a fun premise—fake psychic meets haunted hero. Kirsty, an author who sometimes pretends to have psychic abilities, crosses paths with Jasper, who believes his late cousin’s ghost is tied to an old physics book. They team up to investigate, sparking chemistry along the way.

Told in third person from both POVs, the story leans more on emotional drama and self-doubt than paranormal action. While it was an okay read for me and not especially memorable, fans of angsty romance with a touch of spooky may really enjoy it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this book is super cute! It was a fun paranormal romance that had me giggling and smiling along as I read. Definitely one of those books that was good, light, and easy read!

Just an enjoyable one sitting kind of read for me!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

Paranormal romances are my absolute favorite so I thought I’d give this book a shot. Unfortunately I did not connect with the characters or this book. I found the main characters a bit frustrating. I did really enjoy the spooky fall vibes as well as the coziness so overall I’d rate this a solid 3 stars.

🖤Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin books for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I fell in love with the premise of Ghost of a Chance. Kirsten, an author who writes a series of books about a woman who can solve mysteries with the help of ghosts and who *maaaybe* has exaggerated her own paranormal abilities meets Jasper, a man who has a haunted book he would love to get rid of.

I expected romance, hilarity, some spice, some banter, and a fun mystery to solve.
I got...some of that.

There is romance. I loved the MC's meet cute and follow up miscommunication. It was cute and we got to know these people and see their chemistry very quickly. There are even some pretty decent spicy scenes sprinkled in there.

I liked the mystery. The little twists and turns were fun, even if it was a bit predictable.

The problem is, I didn't like either MC. They annoyed me throughout the entire book. There was no growth. They were petty and childish the whole time. The withholding of information, while I know it was meant to build the mystery, was just frustrating. Plus, their conversations just felt mechanical. I wanted witty banter and teasing and build of their relationship and I feel I didn't get that.

I did like the minor characters in the book and wish we got a little more of them for the comedy and fun of the story.

The sweet moment when they figure out the mystery was wonderful and almost had me tearing up. The afterward was also very cute and I'm glad we got that.

So two stars: The plot was fun. The spice was spicy. The resolution was nice.
But overall, Ghost of a Chance had so much potential that it didn't live up to.