Thank you to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for the e-ARC!

I really enjoyed this one! Vada is a mourner for hire so whether she’s quietly witnessing from afar or helping uncover long buried secrets, she shows up with grace and heart for each and every client.

She’s strong, kind, and real. I loved how she carried herself through so much heartache, and her quiet resilience really stood out, even as grief, secrets, troubles of her own and complicated relationships weighed her down.

Some moments with the love interest, Dominic (the son of her latest client), were tough to read. While his grief felt genuine, his emotionally charged and sometimes cruel behavior made me cringe at times. I understood the intent behind his feelings but a few scenes felt unnecessarily harsh and at times childish, so I’m docked a star there.

That said, this book hit so many of my favorite elements: grief, healing, enemies to lovers, clever banter, and a dash of magical realism. I flew through this one and definitely will be reading more from Caitlin Moss, I really got sucked into this story in the best way!

10 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mourner For Hire by Caitlin Moss is one of those rare books that completely takes you apart, wrings your heart dry, makes you laugh and cry — and somehow puts you back together better than before. I can't accurately explain how much I loved this book. It's a true treasure.

Vada Daughtry is a mourner for hire. People pay her to carry out their final wishes at their funerals — some requests are petty, some are poetic justice, and some are just so they won’t be alone. It's a quietly beautiful and profound job when you think about it: helping someone go out the way they want, with the last word, and the comfort of not being forgotten.

One night, stuck in traffic, Vada stops at a bar on her way into the town where she was born to meet a new client. There she meets Dunner, the owner. They talk all night and share a connection — but nothing more. The next morning, she’s on her way to meet a new client. Fast-forward nine months, and when she shows up at the funeral… Dunner is there. Because he’s the son of the deceased.

That’s all I’ll say about the plot — no spoilers — but know this: the story is full of emotional depth, quiet twists, raw discoveries, heartbreak, and real healing. It explores grief, connection, legacy, and what it means to truly be present for someone — even after they're gone.

Caitlin Moss’s writing is beautiful and deeply human. This book took me on an unforgettable journey, and I loved every single minute of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for the ARC opportunity!

I enjoyed the premise of this book. It reminded me of a darker transactional Wedding Crasher. The only negative I could point out is the pacing wasn't consistent throughout. I feel it kicked up towards the end and it felt rushed.

Thank you to Caitlin Moss and NetGalley for the early copy. The above opinions are my own.

🪦 Bookish Thoughts
Mourner For Hire was such a funny and quirky romcom. Our FMC Vada is a whole damn vibe. She literally gets hired by the deceased to cry at their funerals, whisper made up rumors, and stir up some drama. The requests from the dead were hilarious. Do people actually do this in real life? Because I might be signing up one day 🤣

Underneath the humor and funeral antics, this book had a surprising amount of emotional depth. Vada is returning to her hometown for the first time since her mom died when she was eight. Due to trauma induced amnesia, she remembers nothing about her childhood. There is a lot packed in early on, but eventually she ends up renovating a seaside cottage that belonged to the mother of her one night stand… who she only knew as Dunner.

Oof, Dominic was grieving and definitely took it out on Vada. He said some harsh things and crossed lines more than once. I get that he was in pain, but it was tough to read at times. That said, Vada mostly kept her cool even though they bickered constantly, and I admired her resilience. Plus, Dominic’s mom? Annabelle was an icon. Not even death could stop her from making sure her plans were followed. Ghost meddling and all.

The ending wrapped things up beautifully, and the epilogue was adorable. This would be such a perfect fall or spooky season read.

🖤 What to Expect
• Professional mourner FMC
• Grumpy bartender MMC
• Enemies to lovers
• Small coastal town
• Grief and healing
• Ghostly meddling
____

📖 Final Score: 4.5 stars
📅 Pub Date: September 9, 2025
Thank you to Caitlin Moss and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Out September 9th, 2025
Mourner For Hire is a romantic comedy about death—and somehow, it works. Caitlin Moss delivers a genre-defying gem that’s equal parts hilarious, haunting, and heartbreakingly tender. Vada Daughtry, a professional mourner who invents memories for strangers’ funerals, is the kind of protagonist who makes you laugh through your tears. Her job is bizarre, her past is buried, and her emotional armor is cracking. When she’s hired to fulfill the posthumous wishes of a ghost (yes, a literal ghost), she’s forced to confront grief, guilt, and a bartender named Dominic who’s grieving his mother—and furious that Vada inherited part of her estate.

What makes this book unforgettable isn’t just the enemies-to-lovers tension or the slow-burn romance—it’s the way Moss writes grief with grit and grace. Dominic’s pain is raw, and Vada’s avoidance is achingly familiar. Their dynamic is messy, magnetic, and deeply human. The ghostly Annabelle Dunne adds a layer of whimsy and wisdom, haunting Vada until she renovates a crumbling seaside cottage and completes a list of emotional errands. It’s P.S. I Love You meets The Good Place, with banter that bites and healing that hurts in all the right ways.

If you’ve ever lost someone and felt like the world forgot how to speak your language, this book will feel like a lifeline. It’s not just about romance—it’s about finding home in unexpected places, honoring the dead without losing yourself, and learning to live again. Moss’s writing is witty, warm, and full of soul. You’ll laugh, cry, and maybe even believe in ghosts. And when you reach the final page, you’ll feel a little less alone.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for this moving ARC!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Caitlin Moss for the ARC of Mourner For Hire in a form of an e-book.

Please make sure you check trigger warnings before you decide to read this book.

The story focuses on two main characters Vada Daughtry and Dominic Dunne that are forced in each other’s lives by a very unusual situation.

This is my first book written by Caitlin Moss so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. I expected an enemies to lovers romantic comedy mixed with humour, I got that and way more. I wasn’t sure how I’m going to like the paranormal element but it worked very well. This book is funny, emotional and moving. At the end, I wasn’t sure if I want to cry tears of happiness, sadness or a mixture of both. There were some moments between the main two characters where I rolled my eyes and the behaviour of our MMC annoyed me, but overall I enjoyed my time spent reading this book. Nothing is forced between the characters and everything flows quite nicely til the end.

If enemies to lovers in a small town is your vibe then this book is for you.

Mourner for Hire was much better than I imagined. This book is an easy, cozy read that you could finish in one setting. The plot was a change from my usual RomComs but it was intriguing and well done.

The enemies to lovers made you laugh with the funny banter but also made you understand why both leads felt they way they did about each other. The book isn't just a romcom but also a book about dealing with the grief of losing a parent which I think Caitlin Moss delivered well (as someone who has lost a parent).

This is my first book by Caitlin Moss but won't be my last. I'm excited to read more from her in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for a chance to read this eARC!

If you enjoy enemies to lovers, banter, and small coastal town romances. This one is for you. There’s some spice, but not over done and not super super graphic in my opinion. The side characters were even likable. (Annabelle was hilarious and I loved her) There’s also a small paranormal aspect to it which was fun!

Keep in mind, due to her job as a mourner for hire, some may find this on the “darker” side. There is death of parents mentioned and of course death in general since she’s a mourner for hire. Keep that in mind if you’re sensitive to triggers like that.

Honestly, I’m not even sure how to accurately review this book other than saying it was adorable and I loved it. It was more than just a romcom. There was emotional depth and both MC’s had to really heal and find themselves in certain ways.

Also, I want my own real life Dominic. I will take no criticism of this man.

This has perfect summer and fall vibes. It also makes me want to go live in a cottage on a small costal town really badly.

I’d definitely read this one again and recommend to others! I’ll be buying a physical copy when it releases.

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I’m not usually a rom com reader but this was fresh and interesting and the characters weren’t stupid and annoying like you usually see in rom coms. Vada is fun and engaging; she’s channeled a lifetime of pain into a unique career that unknowingly sets her on a path to the answers she’s been seeking. Dominic is stalled; giving up on his career coming home after his father’s death to run a (still) failing bar, he needs someone to light a fire in him. Vada is that person. Unfortunately, it’s wrapped in tragedy and Dominic and Vada have their work cut out for them to reach their happily ever after. This book was well written, fun and engaging. The plot was a welcome change and the characters were fresh and interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have no relationship with the author or publisher.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes: A little bit of one night to forever, mixed with a little enemies to lovers with some magical realism sprinkled in.

Ok, I am just going to jump right in. I kind of loved this book! It's such an interesting idea and i'm very much the girl who likes characters that are a little "weird." Vada is a professional mourner. She spends her career fulfilling the final requests of the deceased, no matter how strange they may be. Who knew the guy she met at a bar would turn out to be related to a client! And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how complicated the story becomes. I've never read any Caitlin Moss, but you can bet I will be now. This story had so many threads that needed to be brought together to fully tell this story, and the author nailed it. And Annabelle? She was honestly hilarious. Truly the perfect supporting character. It was so much fun to read.

Wow this book was not what I expected at all. I was thinking rom com typical but it was so much realer and beautiful. Tugged at my emotions especially at the end when she 'finds it'.

Annabelle's presence was a bit weird for me to accept at first but eneded up loving it and suited the flow of the book.

The overall flow was perfect and writing style made it easy to read. I read this in about 3 sessions (usually takes me 8+).

The spice scenes didnt feel forced into the book and was natural for the characters - not drawn out and annoying.

In the end I almost cried both sad and happy tears. I really enjoyed this book and the journey of it all.

4.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

As always, please look at triggers warnings before reading.

This book is a perfect palette cleanser. It’s so cute, has hilarious banter, and is a great story. I loved every minute of this book, it had me laughing and crying at different parts.

Would definitely recommend!

Caitlin Moss’s Mourner For Hire offers a fresh and witty take on romantic comedy, blending themes of grief, forgotten pasts, and unfinished business with sharp emotional depth. Vada Daughtry’s unusual profession as a professional mourner who cries on demand, invents memories, and spins tales sets a compelling stage for a story that explores both the weight of loss and the complexity of moving on.
When Vada crosses paths with Dominic Dunne, the resulting slow burn crackles with enemies to lovers tension. This is heightened by a ghostly presence that keeps the narrative intriguing and unpredictable. Moss deftly balances humor and heartache, crafting a seaside setting that feels both intimate and evocative. This novel will resonate with readers who appreciate nuanced romance layered with supernatural elements and richly developed characters.

Mourner for Hire was such a fun surprise! Vada makes a living mourning the dead (yes, really), but things get complicated when a new client brings her back to the hometown she left after a childhood tragedy—and introduces her to Dominic, her very grumpy, very hot new nemesis.
I love a good enemies-to-lovers, and this one delivered with sizzling tension, sharp banter, and two well-developed leads. Vada’s dark humor, emotional depth, and genuine care for her clients made her a standout. Dominic brought the brooding, the baggage, and just enough softness to balance the heat.

The town, the side characters (including a certain chatty ghost), and the touch of heartache made this a unique, satisfying read. Definitely worth picking up if you like your romance with bite, charm, and a little afterlife chaos.

Loved the plot of this book and Caitlin Moss executed in her usual fashion. Dominic was SO WHINY but I mean Understandably so and Annabelle was hilarious. I loved Vadas wittiness

When I saw the cover, and read the title for this book I was so intreagued. I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. It is a brilliant concept. I love the idea of a mourner for hire. Althought Vada Daughtry turns out to be so much more than this. It is a brillliantly funny dark humoured romance and was so much more than I expected.

Without giving too much of the story away, Vada Daughtry is a professional mourner. Hired by the recently deceased, before they die to tie up loose ends, She attends the funeral of Dominic Dunnes, mother Annabel, who hired her 9 months before she died to carry out some unusual requests. The pair already know each other as they shared a drunked night together a year before. The character development in this book is brilliant, the banter, the tension had me gripped from the first page. Will they, won't they senario kept me turning the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Just read it, you won't be disappointed! I

Expected publication date September 9, 2025

This lovely romance was so fun! My first Caitlin Moss book but definitely won’t be my last.

Read this if you love:
♥️ attraction to enemies to lovers
♥️ small town
♥️ a touch of magical realism

Vada Daughtry is a mourner for hire. People hire her when they are approaching death with funeral requests. She’s done everything from pretend to be a secret love child to attending simply so the funeral won’t be empty.

When Vada is hired for the biggest job of her life, not only attending the funeral but renovating a beach cottage after, she can’t pass up the $50,000paycheck. What she doesn’t realize is that the recently deceased is the mother to Dominic, a man that Vada shared one magical night with a year before.

Dominic is more than a little unhappy to find Vada in town taking advantage of his mother’s generosity. Unfortunately, he can’t get Vada out of his mind. Vada decides this isn’t the job for her, unfortunately, the ghost of Dominic’s mom isn’t going to let her go so easily.

This is an open door romance with 2-3 steamy scenes. I received this as an ARC via NetGalley. It releases on Sept 9, 2025.

I fricken loved this book. I read it in a day! A day that I had to work, and cook dinner, and deal with kids. I couldn’t put it down.

Vada is a mourner for hire. People contact her before they die to cry at their funeral, create rumors, pretend to be a mistress, etc. On the way to meeting a client in the town she is originally from (but has no recollection of), a detour at a bar introduces her to Dunner, bartender and owner. They spend a night together (literally sleeping) and then she leaves to meet her client. It isn’t until her client (Annabelle) dies a year later that Vada realizes Dunner is her son. Dunner (real name Dominic), who has been pining ever since (even naming a drink after her), now thinks she’s a scammer. Especially since one of the things Vada has been instructed to do is redo their summer cottage. And if that wasn’t enough, Annabelle has decided to haunt Vada so she doesn’t go back on her word.

Vada has disassociated amnesia, she she doesn’t remember the first 8 years she lives in this town. But Annabelle does, and so do many of the townsfolk. And they all are trying to make her remember.

This book has it all. It’s a romance turned enemies-to-lovers with a side of childhood trauma, amnesia, and a haunting.

I absolutely loved these quirky, funny, adorable, honest, and vulnerable characters! What a charming town- loved it so much.. The concept is original and the writing is superb. The story dabbles in lost dreams, unsaid things, final wishes, trauma, and grief. I plan to read this again when it is available to the public in September, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and author Caitlin Moss for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

MOURNER FOR HIRE is exactly what it sets out to be: A silly, swoon-worthy love story that goes easy on the realism but can be counted on for a lively, fast-paced plot.