There were components of this book I really liked: I enjoyed the dual perspectives, I thought the setting of Scotland and the castle were great, and the beginning of the horror aspect was creepy. I also thought that “the incident” was well written and that the author was great at making the scenes of the book come to life. There was a lot of spice which was great. The things I didn’t like: this is supposed to be enemies/rivals to lovers but we moved to lovers way too fast. The reader never really understood why they were enemies in the first place and once we got to the castle they were both pining for each other. I also wish that we could have gone a little deeper in their hate for each other. The resolution with the ghosts felt rushed and unfinished. Lastly, I felt like the addition of Daniela to the retreat group was odd. It felt like she was only a device to show that Pen is bisexual? Both minor characters were pretty one dimensional. All in all, I enjoyed myself reading this but there was definitely room for improvement. I will say it was great to get Native representation where the BIPOC gets to exist in the world and do something like horror in a foreign place like Scotland. It just really goes to show that you can have diverse characters doing anything, not just tied to the typical tropes or settings

This book was super cute and fun. I loved the romance that Colby wrote. I can’t wait to read something else by this author!

a cool concept and I think a horror-romance works well in theory but the execution here was uh. not great. any moments of horror-based tension were undercut almost immediately by our main characters hooking up instead of continuing their investigation. the balance and pacing could have been better throughout the story - they go from enemies to hot and heavy with very little development and the resolution to the ghost mystery was rushed and a total letdown tbh. definitely cool to see more Native rep in the romance sphere and I did enjoy the commentary on the publishing industry in the book but otherwise this was not it for me.

This was good! I enjoyed the spooky aspect more than I thought I woulr. I thought the characters and the plot were really well done and interesting, and I definitely wanted to keep reading once I started.

Normally when someone says "there is not another book like this out there" they are joking or are speaking in hyperbole, however, I believe this book is able to claim that with such a humorous, sweet and mysterious concoction of story that I absolutely could not put down. The inane respect our two lovers had for each other, even though they claimed to hate each other added such an element of maturity to the book and made the enemies to lovers portion TO DIE FOR. To mix all of the tension and yes spice in with a mysterious haunted castle and a pull for answers in Scotland of all places? Absolutely incredible, hilarious, charming and un-put-downable. You will not be disappointed!

I couldn’t finish this one. Why is Pen throwing a book at him? I just- no. I couldn’t get into it. 0 stars- did not finish.

Fans of creepy, gothic castles and forced proximity should definitely check this book out. From the moment, the characters arrive at the haunted castle for a writing retreat, the author did a phenomenal job with the atmosphere, creating a spooky setting that made me want to read more. Throw in some tension between the main characters, Penelope and Neil, both Indigenous horror authors with a complicated past, and I was hooked.
My only drawback from this book was the ongoing bickering between the main characters. I wanted to see more from their past that led to the events in the prologue, and I think it would’ve helped to strengthen the character development. There is still great tension and chemistry between the characters as they have to work together to solve the mystery of the haunted castle.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and think it would be a perfect fall read! Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for the advanced copy.

Potential not yet reached, If I Stopped Haunting You is plagued by shortcoming typical in a debut: hodgepodge of disconnected ideas, weak characterization, and absence of an involving pacing. There are nuggets of quality throughout, and the various representations are wholeheartedly welcome, but as a whole this supernatural, hate-to-love rom-com is a miss.

The story opens immediately in the wrong foot with introducing the root of its 'hate' element; the heroine's unprovoked public shaming of the hero in this scene is so pointlessly hurtful and irresponsible (She's basically being Kayne West to Taylor Swift during 2009 VMA), there's really nothing the author can do to make me side with heroine (or rooting for this relationship) afterward—the way the hero rationalizes this as a thoughtful wake-up call (when it's basically public defamation) just further adds salt to injury.

Things does get more interesting when the supernatural element is introduced, unfortunately it turns out to be a 'non-story' as the buildup to its mystery leads to a very limp, anticlimactic conclusion—more of a scattering of creepy moments rather than a cohesive secondary plot line.

If I Stopped Haunting You is half-baked across the board: characters in their 30s read like horned-up juvenile teens (and none of them being portrayed as a believable authors), surface-level commentary regarding racism in the publishing industry, and a romance that's not compelling and subtly problematic. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I hope Colby Wilkens' next novel will only improve from here.

I love reading books by different writers that approach story’s with their own ethnic background mixed in. It gives me a way to learn about traditions and cultures that I otherwise wouldn’t know about.
I shall be doing a white sage cleanse now when something just isn’t right in my home.
This book was cute, and although a bit predictable…. The ghost piece kept me guessing as to how much of the book was in her head vs the entity in the home. It was almost like this ghost was waiting for her to arrive and set them free.

I really really wanted to love this one I feel like it had such a great start but I felt like it was a little slow and fell flat. The haunting could have been more scary. And the steamy scenes just were not it. I feel like there was no real relationship development, it was kind of just rushed and forced.

2/5 read for this one,

I have to say, I'm so disappointed! I had really high hopes for this based on the description. A spooky paranormal romance? A castle in Scotland? Yes. Enemies to lovers? I'm in. The premise seemed fun and unique, which is where the 2 stars come in to play. Outside of that, there wasn't much else I enjoyed. The writing felt a bit flimsy, the plot was a bit all over the place, and the female main character just seemed genuinely awful and unlikeable? Ugh, maybe this one just isn't for me, but it had all the makings of something I would love and just didn't deliver. I'm sad to give this a poor rating.

I have never been a fan of anything horror related, even just haunted places/people. That being said, this was a cute book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of hauntings and romance. I also loved the Indigenous/Native representation. And the just above subtle fact that all the living characters were LGBTQ+.

If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is a delightful blend of romance, spooky thrills, and rich cultural nuances. This enemies-to-lovers romance with a haunted twist takes readers on a captivating journey through a haunted castle in Scotland, where rival horror authors Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm find themselves not only battling their past grievances but also confronting real ghosts.

The premise itself is intriguing—two feuding writers trapped in a castle with unresolved feelings and supernatural entities. Penelope, reeling from her professional fallout and writer's block, sees the retreat as a chance to reignite her creativity. Neil, on the other hand, seeks inspiration while nursing a bruised ego from Penelope's harsh critique. The dynamics between them are electric, filled with witty banter, palpable tension, and an almost-kiss that leaves both characters questioning their animosity.

Wilkens excels at weaving in elements of suspense and romance, creating a fast-paced narrative that keeps readers engaged. The haunted castle setting adds an atmospheric charm, blending spooky chills with sexy thrills. The plot is well-structured, with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing about the true nature of the haunting. The incorporation of Indigenous heritage and the struggles of being a person of color in the publishing world adds depth to the characters and the story, providing a refreshing perspective that enriches the overall narrative.

However, the writing occasionally falls into repetitiveness, which can slightly detract from the reading experience. Some readers might find the ghost's story resolution a bit underwhelming, lacking the punch that a more intricate mystery could have delivered. Despite these minor issues, the book's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.

The character development is one of the book's standout aspects. Penelope and Neil's journey from adversaries to allies is convincingly portrayed, with their interactions evolving naturally as they confront their fears and insecurities. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the progression of their relationship feels authentic and satisfying.

Overall, "If I Stopped Haunting You" is a charming and spooky romance that balances humor, tension, and cultural richness. While the mystery aspect could have been more complex, the book remains a highly enjoyable read that fans of both romance and horror will appreciate. If you're looking for a novel that offers both laughs and chills, this one deserves a spot on your TBR list.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Colby Wilkens for granting me this advanced review copy.

You can see my full review and thoughts on my blog! I'll be publishing the post on October 14th, 2024, a day before the publishing release date! leylaslibrary.wordpress.com/2024/10/14/if-i-stopped-haunting-you/

*** I received an e-ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review***

I had high hopes for "If I Stopped Haunting You," but unfortunately I was disappointed. From the beginning, it became evident that the book missed the mark on various fronts. The dialogue felt clunky, the characters seemed to lack clear motivations and chemistry, making it difficult to engage with the narrative. The opening scene at the convention was particularly awkward and confusing, with Pen's sudden outburst and subsequent dialogue feeling forced and unnatural. The overall tone and character development left much to be desired, making it challenging to connect with the story. Overall, the book failed to deliver on its potential.

✨ Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

I never read horror, so this was slightly out of my comfort zone, but because other reviews insisted it wasn’t *that* scary, I decided to try it. I did have to stop reading it before bed, and finished the next day, just because I am really squeamish about anything even remotely scary. I think trying to do a romance and a horror/mystery is a really ambitious and heavy lift. I think aspects of both for me could have used more development. As someone who’s lived in Oklahoma for the last ten years, I really wish the Indigenous aspects of this book had been more primary in the marketing—I would have read it sooner. More Indigenous authors and stories, please! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC!

Native writers Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm wind up on a writers retreat together after Penelope literally threw a book at him months before because of his stereotypical Native books. Now, they’re stuck in a haunted Scottish castle.

This kind of fell flat for me.

In a Scotland castle, two rival Indigenous authors with deep seated resentment and a violent past incident are tricked into attending the same writers retreat where they come together to solve a ghost story.

She has big feelings, he has big feelings - and I feel that the author does good job expressing where those frustrations come from which is ultimately that Indigenous authors are often watered down to be more marketable to the masses in the publishing industry. If not ultimately making them seem full of emotions that they don't quite know how to direct.

Overall, this was an alright read - definitely on the fence between a 3.5 - 4 ⭐ . There was some slow-burn and the spice was about a 3.

There were parts that were slightly cringe, a lot of repetition going on as the dual POV bounced back and forth. The last 25% of the book was a big of a whirlwind, but there were some solid character growth and dialogue which was nice to read. And it's marketed as a romance infused horror story, but I didn't get that vibe. I would have classified this solely in the paranormal romance category.

Goodreads review has been posted and linked below.
Amazon review will be posted once available.
IG/TT reviews will be posted closer to publication date.

I read If I Stop Haunting you by Colby Wilkens. When Pen and Neil realize they are stuck for a week at a writing retreat at a castle and they have to learn to make the best of it. In between all the sparks flying, the banter back and forth and trying to figure out why these ghosts still roam the halls, they don't get much work done. They had to figure out why Georgina was searching the halls for Archie, and haunted everyone that entered the halls. It was a fun read finding out how they could overcome their differences and get closer for the ghosts.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martins’s Press and Colby Wilkens for the ARC.

If I Stopped Haunting You is uniquely entertaining and such a fun read. Perfect for the season, grab a blanket and a pumpkin latte, you’re in for an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley & St Martin's Press for access to this E-ARC! This was so cute! Loved the characters & the spooky vibes. Will definitely read more from this author.