First of all, let me be clear: despite my love for all things supernatural, Ghosts is not actually about ghosts. Not one little bit.
Yes, I was disappointed at first.
But the novel I ended up reading was so fantastic, I really don’t care.
Ghosts is a bittersweet, funny, sarcastic, hopeful, and honest portrayal of trying to navigate single life in your 30s and all that it brings. Like, pressure to find a partner. Friends with kids. Friends who want kids but can’t have them. Friends with spouses you don’t particularly like.
Dating apps. Dating, in general.
The freedom that you mostly enjoy but still desperately would trade for being in a secure, happy relationship with a loving partner.
Y’know, little things like that.
So much of Ghosts made me laugh out loud. Author Dolly Alderton is a brilliant writer, and main character Nina (who I suspect is semi-autobiographical) is someone I’d love to know in real life.
A large portion of the novel is about Nina meeting a guy, dating said guy, then suddenly being ghosted. (Ghosting seems to a hot topic for books this year.) The guy that Nina’s been in a legit relationship with has stopped seeing her, speaking to her, texting her, calling her, etc. He’s basically fallen off the face of the earth with no explanation, leaving poor Nina to wonder what the eff went wrong. The second part of Ghosts is Nina dealing with the soul-crushing aftermath.
Amongst all the romantic drama, Nina’s also bombarded with career problems, unraveling friendships as people marry off and have kids, and aging parents who aren’t taking very good care of themselves.
Basically, Nina’s life just implodes in Ghosts, and she becomes left with all the “ghosts” of the life she thought she was going to have.
As you read this book review, you might be thinking, Come on, that’s a bit much; all of that happening at once? But the way it unfolds in Ghosts is totally believable. Sometimes in life — often in your mid-to-late thirties, I’m finding — shit just repeatedly hits the fan.
I had a very visceral reaction to Ghosts. You really do experience what Nina goes through. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug Nina so damn badly. I was angry, I was devastated, I was distraught. Alderton’s thoughtful, poignant writing made me feel all these emotions for Nina, but also for the “ghosts” of my past, present, and future self in similar experiences.
Think of Ghosts as Bridget Jones Diary meets No One Tells You This.
If you’re a single woman in your 30s+, you’ll feel this one.
If you’re a married woman without children who’s surrounded by a lot of women with children, you’ll feel this.
If you’re an only child, you’ll feel this.
If you’ve ever been ghosted and it’s wrecked your heart, you’ll feel this.
Ghosts was hard to read at some parts, I won’t lie; but it’s also one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. Amidst all the emotions are tons of laughs, hilarious situations, and nostalgic moments that make this book unforgettable and totally relatable.
Be sure to check back in for my book-inspired recipe: Super Simple Mac and Cheese.
