A debut centered around two family members who are part of a mystical family that hail from the underrated beautiful country known as Panama. Something is happening in Manhattan and in order for the dead not to reappear, someone has to take charge 😏 Ghosts are a part of this story but so is regaining what once was yours as well as forging an identity that fits you best. I loved Gwen and Fonsi both as cousins interacting together and on their own. They learn to examine and take accountability as far as their roles when being mystics as well as confronting what it means to communicate with spirits. The respect and history behind orishas was so well done and I would read more from this author. There is a lot of rep in this book that makes it worth reading on its own. Afro Latinx (Panama / PR) New York setting. A gay male main character as well as a presumed non-binary side character. The audio narrators - Brittany Bradford and André Santana bring life to the audiobook (which you can listen to within a work time frame - it’s less than 8 hours long)

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes is a charming and spooky mix of Southern warmth and supernatural chaos—think Steel Magnolias meets The Sixth Sense over a sweet tea binge. Gwendolyn’s small-town family reunion gets more than it bargained for when the dearly departed decide to drop in—literally—and stir up secrets hotter than a summer barbecue.

Haynes delivers wit sharper than Aunt Mabel’s sarcasm and a haunting atmosphere you can practically taste. Sure, a few ghostly cameos felt a little predictable (and one specter could’ve used better stage directions). Still, overall, the novel walks the line between heartfelt and hilarious like a polished porch-swing storyteller.

A thoroughly enjoyable, lightly spooky tale—just the right amount of ghost with a healthy dose of Georgia gumption.

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery
Author: Clarence A. Haynes

Thank you Netgalley, Hatchette Audio and Legacy Lit for my copy! This was such a fun and refreshing read. Gwendolyn Montgomery is a top publicist thriving in New York City. She’s enjoying her success, her new relationship, and the glamorous life, until a chilling encounter at the Brooklyn Museum brings her dark past into focus. When strange visions and ghostly disturbances begin to surface, her estranged cousin, a powerful medium, steps in to help. Together, they uncover secrets tied to their family’s legacy and a weakening veil between the human and spirit worlds. I loved the pacing and how it balanced quirk, mystery, and supernatural thrills. The audiobook was fantastic, and both narrators did an amazing job. This was such a clever and original concept, I really enjoyed it.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Review of The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a lush, genre-bending adult debut that blends urban fantasy, paranormal mystery, and rich Afro-Latinx spirituality into a fast-paced and emotionally resonant tale.

As the climax approached, several reviewers felt the action sped up unexpectedly—desiring more buildup—which made the resolution feel abrupt.

Clarence A. Haynes has delivered a visually rich, emotionally compelling debut that bridges gritty New York glamour with mystical rites and spiritual depth. With sensual writing, layered cultural themes, and dual protagonists, it offers a fresh take on urban fantasy and ghostly mysteries. While the pacing wavers at times, the immersive world-building and heartfelt character arcs will captivate fans of magical realism and culturally rooted storytelling.

Dnf at 48%

Really cool premise and I enjoyed the narrator but I couldn’t fully get into it. Falling a little flat in places. I’m all for a good sex scene but during the character introductions didn’t feel super natural in this case and definitely put me off a little.

An Atmospheric, Haunting Listen That Lingers Long After ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is one of those stories that feels like it’s whispering secrets to you in the dark—and the audiobook brings that eerie magic to life in the best possible way. Clarence A. Haynes has crafted a ghost story that’s equal parts chilling and deeply moving, with a sense of history and heartbreak woven through every twist and turn.

The narration is pitch-perfect. The narrator’s voice is rich and immersive, capturing the gothic undertones and the delicate humanity of the characters. Listening to this felt like being transported to a crumbling old house where every floorboard creaks with memories you’re not sure you want to uncover.

Gwendolyn herself is a beautifully drawn character—tragic, mysterious, and unforgettable. Haynes balances the supernatural with the deeply human so well. There are moments of genuine dread but also quiet reflections on grief, guilt, and the ghosts we carry inside us.

What I loved most was how the audiobook pulls you in completely. I found myself leaning closer, wanting to catch every whispered revelation, every hidden clue. It’s one of those rare listens that feels like an experience, not just a story.

If you love gothic tales with emotional depth, family secrets, and ghosts that feel all too real, do yourself a favor and listen to *The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery.* It’s haunting in all the right ways—and I know I’ll be thinking about it every time I hear a creak in my own house.

I was completely awestruck by the beautiful book cover for The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery and knew immediately that I wanted to read it. So I was super excited to be approved for an ARC on NetGalley. I went into the book completely blind, I had no idea what the novel was about I was just completely drawn in by the cover; but I was pleasantly surprised! I love that The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery spotlights the Afro-Latine community which is often overlooked in literature and brings to the fore many spiritual elements that are central to these and other communities of color. I'm a big fan of supernatural/magical realism so I loved the incorporation of Yoruba mythology and deities, and the novel being deeply grounded in spiritual elements. What I didn't expect was how funny it was ... I legit LOL'd several times while listening which created some welcomed lightheartedness when things got a tad heavy or dark. The audio was absolutely perfect -- having lived in Harlem for many years the narrators sounded like my neighbors, the folks at my local bodega, the people sitting on the steps of the brownstones on my block, etc. I loved how authentic and diverse the narrators were which really enhanced the storytelling for me. I really enjoyed this read and can't wait to read more from this author in the future!

Received this as an arc in exchange for my honest opinion from #NetGalley and #ClarenceHaynes. It was a good read with quirky happenings in the NYC that centered around a specific family and their tenuous relationships with ghosts, specifically Gwendolyn... her refusal to acknowledge them led to some metaphysical mishaps that were worse than her cousin Fonsi "sleeping" with them. Her job and love life took a dive as a result only to find out that Fonsi's dead mom was behind it from the "other side." I feel as though some ends could have been tied up neater but I'm good with the way that the book ended because it could lead to a sequel😊😊

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. At times, it did seem a little rushed or as though I had missed something, especially in the middle, but it got back on track. I can't wait for the second book.

Publication Date: June 17, 2025
Narration: 4.5/5🌟
Story: 4/5🌟

This was such a fun read, with so many secrets, and hidden agendas. I went into this completely blind, and I LOVED every minute of it! Fonsi was the character I truly loved in the story. I felt more connected to how he felt dealing with the men in the real world, and how he just wanted his mother to understand that he was special too. The scene with Amade was spicyyyyyyyy, and I was throughly entertained!!! I also enjoyed the cousin/friendship dynamic that was slowly rekindled between Fonsi and Gwendolyn. My girl Gwendolyn just couldn’t catch a break! Gwendolyn is the character who really went through the most intense moments of loss, manipulation, confusion, and just overall lack of genuine love. But through everything she perseveres and shines brighter than she ever had before, and truly remembers who she REALLY is….and that’s, THAT GIRL!!!!

The narrators did an amazing job and really brought the characters to life, especially during the Spanish dialogue. I loved Fonsi’s voice in the story. The voices were so good, that some parts of the story really gave me the chills… and I had to finish reading when I saw a little sun shining through the curtains.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Clarence A. Haynes, and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This audio book was really great, the production and sound quality was great, and the narrators were fantastic at bringing the characters to life! The story as a whole was really captivating, and I loved the supernatural elements, the cultural significance of certain figures and ceremonies. The characters felt fully fleshed out and complex, and I loved the incorporation of social justice and bits of LGBTQ history in the narrative. I do wish the book had been a bit longer, so that a few things could have been expanded on, like the cousins relationship and reconciliation, but it seems like there was some room for a sequel, which is exciting. I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely be recommending it!

When The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery popped up, I was immediately captivated by the cover with its rich colors and gorgeous model for Gwendolyn (although I just NOW noticed that she's naked and there's a naked guy behind her which... don't suit the story?), and the first couple chapters I was into it, learning the world and its inhabitants, enjoying the infusion of Afro-Latino culture and spiritual practices. And then... it all sort of burst forth and kinda fell apart.

Here's what I enjoyed:
I enjoyed Fonsi's POV chapters a lot more than Gwendolyn's. I felt a lot more invested in what he was doing, his place in the community as he ran the area's spiritual shop (while also helping people, for an extremely reasonable price, with the ghosts of their dead). I enjoyed the depth of the connection of spiritual culture mixed in with NYC culture, and the small commentary on colorism and the expectations on what gay man should look like, and the extra work a Black woman must put in. The narration for both POV chapters was very good, with two skilled performers able to really bring multiple characters to life.

What fell flat for me:
While the worldbuilding in the first part of the book really drew me in, when things started happening, boy did they start happening. I suppose that's not too dissimilar to real life, but we went immediately from, "I've been avoiding my gift my entire adult life, I don't know about this" to the next chapter Fonsi heading over to Gwendolyn's place after she told him to come help with the ritual. (A ritual you just remembered or are in tune to do suddenly?) There was a death that both seemed too much and then not enough at all, and a last few chapters that was a big setup for a sequel that I'm not honestly sure I'm interested in. Gwendolyn's POV chapters felt a lot more tell > show where Fonsi's chapters felt the opposite where I forgot there wasn't two different writers sometimes. The villain reveal (both times) felt pretty out of left field and even though they explained why, at least, for one of the reasons, I was still left feeling like I was looking around wondering where that came from and, well, disliking it. So much about, "and now we're at the equinox, and also, all the ghosts are here" were just SO sudden.

I see this is the first novel Clarence A Haynes wrote without a cowriter, and he definitely has potential - this book is less than 300 pages, and with maybe 50-100 more pages, the wild rush of the big event at the end could have had a lot more time to build up (especially since the early part of the book was nicely slower!). I would try another of his books because there's so much good here even if the execution didn't completely make it for me.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing | Legacy Lit for the eARC in exchange for review!

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an audio arc in exchange for my honest thoughts. This was SO good. I enjoyed the dual POVs and the narrators brought the story to life so well. I love stories showcasing other cultures beliefs systems and after suffering the loss of my grandmother late last year hearing stories about souls still being round hits close to home. Gwendolyn was the definition of Girl Boss and the parts about her job description was so cool to hear as that industry i've always been interested in. And Fonsi, oh Fonsi will hold a special place in my heart for a long while. The love and dedication he had for his community was so heartwarming. Seeing him find his way in the world/learn how to stand up for himself over the course of the book was one of my favorite parts. Robin was hands down my favorite character though! We all need a Robin in our lives. Ghosts, romance, bad ass characters, complex belief systems, diverse cast, addictive writing. This book was everything I hoped it would be.

[1.5/5]

As much as I wanted to enjoy this book, it felt flat in basically every regard. I really wanted to feel more connected with what I was reading, and it just became a more frustrating read as I went further into it. Fonsi was kind of interesting but then not really. Gwendolyn was boring and dull; and the plot felt fast paced, which I enjoy, but at the same time terribly hollow.

Thank you to NetGalley & Hatchette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

I enjoyed this audiobook, the narration was amazing. I'm a firm believer that there should always be a narrator per character of different characters get entire chapters dedicated to their pov.

I loved a suspense surrounding the targeted attacks on Gwendolyn. The author did a great job of not giving away the plotlines too early so it definitely kept me on my toes. She felt very professional & selfless, trying her hardest to rectify the unjust attacks on her clients that were directly a result of her. Also, I loved how unapologetically himself Fonsi was. Navigating through feeling unloved & also trying to save the world, he never stopped being him for anyone. Fonsi was definitely my favorite character.

Again the narrators did an excellent job acting out the characters. It felt like i was just listening to a friend tell me a crazy story about something they went through, & that bit of relatability really was the perfect cherry on top for this book.

3.5 stars.

While Gwendolyn's POV was really dull in the beginning, (I took a weeklong break around the 10% mark because I was having a hard time paying attention), it was smooth sailing when the book switched to Fonsi's POV. I ended up having a good time immersing myself in the storyline.

The blurb says that this is funny and other reviewers have mentioned that this is campy. It was actually pretty dark imo, with themes of death and betrayal. I thought I was going into a fun ghost read, but it turned out to be a dark urban supernatural fantasy (which is right up my alley).

The audiobook was well produced, and the narrators did a great job with the dual POV. I especially loved André Santana's portrayal of Fonsi. It brought so much depth to his character to the point where Fonsi felt like I was with a close friend listening to him talk about his problems and his hidden abilities.

While this wasn't my favorite read, I did have a good time. I'd recommend this for readers who are looking for supernatural fantasy infused with Afro-Caribbean beliefs and magic.

Thank you to Legacy Lit and NetGalley for this arc.

This book was so good. I really loved the story overall. The narrators were excellent in my opinion! I loved Fonzi the best. He was so funny, supportive, and authentically himself (well, the best he could be following in the footsteps of the witches before him). Gwendolyn grows on you, and you eventually grow to love her too. This was a must read and I am so glad I got the opportunity to listen. It was engaging, with tons of twists and turns, and thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommend getting it!

The narrators in this were amazing. I really liked both of their voices.

It took me a little while to get into this, but I really enjoyed the ending.

I think there is a very important conversation about being true to your roots, but also forming the future you want. I haven’t had the same struggles that Gwendolyn and Fonsi, but I have not met my families’ expectations, so I found that to be very relatable,

This was such a thrilling book!! I love how Afro Latinx culture is high lighted. The mystical elements were perfectly placed and kept me engaged in wanting to know more. I love a double perspective book and trying to figure out the relation between the main charters before it was reveled in the book was so fun. I highly recommend!