Mourner for Hire tells the story of a young woman with an unusual job—attending funerals in place of others—which unexpectedly opens the door to new connections, self-discovery, and even the possibility of love. With its quirky premise, the book balances humor, charm, and heartfelt moments, making it both touching and delightfully lighthearted.
This was my first read from Caitlin Moss, and it definitely won’t be my last. The story was sweet, engaging, and hard to put down. Yes, it leans a little predictable and cheesy at times, but honestly—that’s part of the charm of a good love story. I’d give it 4.5 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for a feel-good romance that leaves you smiling.

Looking for a fun book to read this fall that does not contain witches? Look no further than “Mourner for Hire” by Caitlin Moss! Don’t let the title fool you - the book is not one big sobfest, but a fun and flirty novel centered around Vada and Dominic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Caitlin Miss for the ARC to this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Mourner for Hire is a perfect book for the transition from summer to autumn. It was a balanced amount of cute and quirky mixed with emotional contemplation about life and mourning.
This book would be great for fans of Ashley Poston considering the magical realism of having the ghost of the mmc’s mother haunting our fmc. That added a twist to the story and drove the plot forward in an interesting way.
The small town of Shellport is the perfect fictional setting for the story and I would love to visit it. Alas, it does not exist!
Vada was a headstrong woman who knew what she wanted and never took any crap from anyone. Dominic was… grieving, but immature at times.
Sometimes having an enemies to lovers romance in a contemporary setting is iffy, but he was trying real hard to drive her out of town.
Overall, this book was a 4/5 stars for me. Perfect for the last breath of summer to move us into the fall season.

I really enjoyed the book’s premise—it had great humor and captured the charm of small-town life beautifully. The romance developed at a satisfying pace, and the side characters were especially engaging. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of them in future books. very unique read! needed this

I binged this book in a day, and I already miss the world and characters. The concept was so brilliant and made for some top-tier humor. If you, like me, love a good dark joke, this book is absolutely *perfect* for you! Vada and Dominic had such great instant chemistry and banter, and it all felt so good and so smooth. The writing itself is also natural and funny in all the right ways, and it kept me hooked from the first page to the last.

The characters of this book really stole my heart. Dominic was so sweet and tender but also undeniably hot. In a world of brooding men, he was a secret softie, and I ate it up! He also had a lot of depth, though, and his anger and frustration manifested in a grumpy and angry side that didn't step across any lines or seem cruel toward Vada. It was a nice balance, especially given the subject matter and everything these characters were experiencing emotionally. And then there was Vada, herself... I love this woman. She is insanely and delightfully unhinged, and I want to be besties with this little chaos goblin. There also was the element of the *ghost mother* who added both the sweetness you would hope for and the humor you won't see coming. She is also such a breath of fresh air and adds so much to the story.

This book really delivered the whole *enemies who flirt* vibe, and it had the right amount of pining without it getting too cheesy. It was for sure a favorite so far, and I know it will be a standout of the year for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for this advanced copy!

This could have been something great to read. The idea behind it was fascinating. The FMC being a professional mourner, is kind and full of empathy nd tries to bring closure through her job.

Unfortunately the current bereaved family is Dominic, who Vada met an year ago had a sexy night and disappeared. Dominic's mom has included Vada in her will and wants her to renovate her cottage. Dominic thinks Vada scammed his mother and is rude and obnoxious. Like really rude and obnoxious for over 75% of the book. Like seriously dude wtf??? The MMC put a damper on a the book that really could have been enjoyable since it contained emotional depth and an awesome FMC and a ghost.

Okay read if you can skim the MMC parts

#netgalley #MournerForHire

I honestly loved this book way more than I was expecting. Such a perfect book to read on cozy fall days!

Really loved the premise of the book. The humour was great, and the small-town charm really shone through. The romance was built up nicely, and the side characters were very interesting. Definitely interested in reading more on the side-characters in later books.

Mourner for Hire
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫/ 3.5

Death is a bitch, but it pays the bills 💵

Mourner for Hire started as a silly little prose but evolved to a complex story with grief at its center. If you could make sure your funeral is exactly how you would’ve wanted it, would you pay a stranger to attend? Vada is willing to do exactly that. After the tragic death of her mother, she found her passion in providing comfort and ensuring that your day of rest is exactly how you would’ve wanted it. Sometimes guaranteeing that someone will be there is all the comfort people need to accept their fate.

That is until Vada accepts a job that will uproot her life and turn it upside down. This client has strange requests and vague reasons. But life gets stranger when she realizes it’s the mother of her one night stand- the man she can’t stop thinking about who knows exactly what she does for a living. And he’s furious.

The tension between Dominic and Vada had me grabbing popcorn. It was entertaining and full of raw emotion, I couldn’t get enough. They were written extremely realistic and relatable making it easy to understand where both of them are coming from. And yet you couldn’t help but root for them. With both of them struggling with their own grief and proving the grieving process isn’t linear- it’s complex and you never know what will stir up memories of your loved ones.

This book is a perfect palette cleanser with a lot of heart.

While this is written as a romance and has romance in it, what stood out most to me was Vada’s need for a connection to her mother. Moss does a fantastic job of weaving this into the story, giving her a reason to be in a town where she can get to know more about her mother and find herself in the process. I did enjoy the romance aspect and found their chemistry to be palpable, and their banter was hilarious, but for me, Vada’s past was the most interesting story.

Mourner for Hire introduces readers to a young woman who works in an unusual profession, attending funerals on behalf of others. This job unexpectedly leads her into new relationships, self-discovery, and the possibility of love. With its unique premise, the story blends humor, charm, and heartfelt moments in a way that feels both lighthearted and touching.

This was my first book by Caitlin Moss, and it definitely won’t be my last. The story was super cute, kept my attention throughout, and made me want to keep reading. Although it was a little predictable and occasionally cheesy, what good love story isn’t? I would rate this one 4.5 stars and highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fun, feel-good romance novel.

Such a beautiful book! I was laughing and then crying through the whole thing. The moment Vada and Dominic collided, I knew this was going to be a hit! Highly recommend!!! I could read about these characters forever!

This book was such a fun and surprisingly emotional read. Vada works as a professional mourner (yes, that’s a real thing!), showing up at funerals for people who don’t have anyone else to grieve for them. It’s such a unique setup, and the story really takes off when she gets left an estate by a woman whose ghost won’t let her rest until some unfinished business is done.
It’s weird in the best way: a little spooky, a little romantic, and unexpectedly moving. I loved how it tackled grief and healing in a way that felt real but never too heavy. There’s a great balance of heart and humor.
If you’re into books with a touch of magic, lovable weirdness, and genuine emotion, I’d definitely recommend this one!

This was such a unique story. I loved the premise. Never read anything like this. I have to say the meddling ghost was just that added sprinkle that brought this story 🆙 in rating. Nada is a feirce female and I appreciated how she stuck to her morals in this book. She was well written and had some morbidly comedic moments. I didn’t like how rude Dominic was . I think his character could have been a little more understanding towards Vada. He was cruel at points which made me disconnect from his character. Overall I think the author did a spectacular job with the story. It’s a quirky fun yet emotional read that will have you questioning life’s true complexities.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I read an entire book in one day, but Mourner for Hire had me hooked from the first page and I inhaled it in less than twelve hours!

Vada is a professional mourner. She’s paid to attend funerals, cry, mend broken hearts, and even spread secrets. On her way to a job in Shellport, she makes a quick stop at a bar and meets Dunner; a tall, dark, tattooed bartender she immediately feels comfortable being her quirky self around. She assumes it’s a once in a lifetime encounter until she’s hired by Annabelle, a woman in Shellport with a very detailed posthumous to-do list, and suddenly finds herself face-to-face with Dunner again at Annabelle’s funeral and he’s not happy to see her…

I went in expecting a story about a mourner for hire and not much else, but this book was such a treat. It’s part romance, part satire, part small-town drama, and even has a delightfully funny ghost. While I did guess the ending before Vada pieced it all together, that didn’t stop me from tearing up at the final pages.

This was heartfelt, witty, and surprisingly moving. I absolutely loved it!

What a fun fall read!
If you love paranormal romances - Mourner for Hire was so great !

-dark humor
-hate to love
-slow burn
-Tension and banter!!!
-small town

Will definitely be stocking in the store for fall !

4.5–This is somehow a perfect August/September read—it sort of embodies that summer to fall transition and is basically that feeling of chilly beach evenings in a sweatshirt by a bonfire with sand between your toes….but in book form. I really loved these characters and the magical realism around it. This story got much deeper and more emotional than I expected and while the enemies part of enemies to lovers took a long time to get past, I really liked the story especially when it did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

trigger warning for trauma induced amnesia (I have someone who very specifically does need this warning so adding it here)

Thank you to NetGalley and author Caitlin Moss for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book really took me by surprise. Vada makes a living as a professional mourner, showing up at funerals to cry, tell made up stories, and then disappear before anyone can get too close. It is weird, sad, and fascinating, and it fits her perfectly since she is someone who has been running from her own past for a long time.

Then Dominic comes into the picture. The bartender she shares one unforgettable night with, only to walk away the next morning. Almost a year later she shows up at his mother’s funeral, and things get messy fast. He is grieving, furious, and convinced Vada is a con artist, which makes for some great enemies to lovers tension. Add in the ghost of his mother, Annabelle, who refuses to rest quietly until her posthumous to do list is complete, and you get a fun and heartfelt rom.

I really enjoyed how the story balanced humor, grief, and romance without feeling too heavy. Vada is a complicated FMC but watching her slowly open up and find her place in Shellport was so satisfying. The banter with Dominic, the slow burn romance, and the coastal small town setting all worked together very well.

If you like your romances with a little supernatural twist and characters who feel flawed but real, Mourner for Hire is the book for you.

4.45 Stars!

#NetGalley,#MournerforHire, #CaitlinMoss, #RomCom

This book was really good, It was very easy to read, I loved the paranormal aspect of the story, the fmc and MMC are so cute, I love that is it lost and found family

Mourner for Hire is Caitlin Moss’ newest closed-door romantic comedy with a paranormal twist. It’s an opposites-attract enemies-to-lovers second chance romance. The supernatural element is handled with humor, and the story is not scary or dark.
Vada Daughtry has a niche career as a professional mourner. She is hired by dying people to appear at their funerals and perform specific tasks, such as crying, whispering stories, and spinning tales of heartbreak. She travels all over the Pacific Northwest, which keeps her from dealing with her own tragic past and its memories.
Then one afternoon there’s a traffic jam on the interstate and Vada exits to use the restroom, and winds up at a bar in her hometown of Shellport, Washington. She spends hours with the handsome bartender, Dominic Dunne, and he even names a drink after her. The next day she vanishes and doesn’t see Dominic again until nearly a year later, until she reappears at his mother’s funeral.
The grief-stricken Dominic is shocked and angry that his mother left Vada a generous piece of his mother’s estate. Dominic is convinced that Vada conned his mother, and Vada is eager to escape his wrath. However, Annabelle, Dominic’s mother, has other plans and haunts Vada until she completes a list of demands, including renovating her seaside cottage. Slowly Vada’s childhood memories return while she works in the cottage, and she rebuilds a relationship with Dominic.
Mourner for Hire is a romance with an interesting premise. Dominic is dealing with fresh grief while Vada has childhood trauma that has carried into adulthood and affected her choice of careers. They formed an instant connection and spent a memorable evening together, but Vada disappeared from his life the next day. When she reappears at his mother’s funeral, Dominic is justifiably upset. However, his continued emotional storms and hostility towards Vada seem immature. This is definitely a character-development romance, and Annabelle’s ghost adds much needed humor. I enjoyed the story and was surprised by how neatly the author wrapped up the mysteries at the end.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the author for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.