The perfect Halloween rom-com exists in the form of Haunted Ever After. Get ready, Tartlets, for the sweetest ghostly beach read out there.
What’s Haunted Ever After about?
We meet main character Cassie in Haunted Ever After just after she’s moved to her dream beach cottage in Boneyard Key, Florida. She got the house for a steal and plans to renovate it – but, of course, there’s a reason why.
Um, it’s haunted. Just like the rest of the Boneyard Key.
When I say haunted, I mean haunted. Boneyard Key claims to be overrun with ghosts, and they’re not lying. The ghosts are everywhere, from Cassie’s house to the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, to ice cream shops, to the beach itself. Thankfully, all of the spirits seem to be friendly, if a little over-involved with the world of the living.
Cassie’s not sure she can adjust to being “haunted ever after” in her new home. But, when she meets Nick, who runs Hallowed Grounds, she’s not sure she’s ready to leave town, either. As Cassie and Nick develop their relationship, Cassie learns more about the woman haunting her house – and tries to solve the mystery of what really happened in her home so many years ago.
Why I loved Haunted Ever After
I absolutely adored the supernatural aspect to Haunted Ever After. Even though it’s not a scary story (more below on that), ghosts are front and center in this novel. Author Jen DeLuca does an amazing job of creating her own ghost world rules that seem, obviously, incredible. But, they quickly become believable and acceptable.
Boneyard Key has ghosts. Legit ghosts that regularly interact with the living. *shrug* After the initial shock wears off, you’re like, okay, big whoop. Ghosts are cool!
DeLuca is a great writer. I was immediately sucked into the story by her prose, her dialogue, her descriptions, and her characters. I’ve read a lot of rom-coms, and most of them feel trite and repetitive.
Not Haunted Ever After. This rom-com’s original, from its humid and hot coastal Florida setting – unusual for cozy rom-coms – to the premise of a bonafide haunted town, where the ghosts are as much a part of the story as characters like Cassie and Nick. There’s lots of fun “history” about Boneyard Key to dig into, plus a mystery to solve involving Cassie’s house and its ghost.
And, of course, there’s the sweetly slow-burning romance between Nick and Cass, which evolves a little differently than most do in rom-coms. I really liked that DeLuca shook up the formula a bit with Haunted Ever After.
How scary is Haunted Ever After?
I think it’s safe to say that on a scale of 1 to 10, Haunted Ever After is a 1 on the “scary scale”. Meaning, it’s barely scary. And I’m not just saying that as a desensitized horror lover.
Yes, there are ghosts in this novel. For the most part, they’re friendly, sassy, and slightly irritating ghosts. Think of a sweet ol’ grandma or a loveably curmudgeonly uncle. These are the spirits you’re dealing with in Boneyard Key. There is a séance scene toward the end of the book where things get slightly more intense, but it’s nothing that will keep you up at night.
Should you read Haunted Ever After?
Read Haunted Ever After if you’re looking for a sweetly and only very slightly spooky ghost story. This novel is much more romance than anything else. You’ll fall in love with the cozy, beachy vibes of Cassie’s renovated beach cottage and quaint Boneyard Key, and with the sexy, flirty banter between Nick and Cassie.
And, if you’re a writer working on a ghost story (like me!), look to Haunted Ever After as a great example of how to create and stick to your own rules for the supernatural world you’re creating. If you make it believable, the readers will accept it.
What’s the book-inspired recipe for Haunted Ever After?
Stay tuned for the book-inspired recipe: Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread.
