This book took me a ridiculous time to finish. It was not the book's fault. Just my brain going through something. I don't know what, but it took over a month for some reason.

This book is queer-friendly, with the title character being openly pan, also having two Achillean characters figuring stuff out. So, it’s almost a queer gang. This does have a found family thing going on with the ghosts as well. The main character is unlikable, however that is the point.

The plot explores time and the relationships the characters have with each other. I do like the themes. I think the relationships are done well.

This novel is quite the gore fest, especially for a book that I would not called a horror novel. Sure, it has ghosts but supernatural does not mean horror anymore. Speculative fiction maybe. I'm incredibly jaded so maybe it is a horror. Anyway, there is a lot of gore if that's an issue for you. I do have a content warning at the bottom of the page for the book.

A lot of Anachronism for characters that died in 1994, even if they somehow managed to spy on the current students from a distance; my burning question about the world from the 90s point of view would not be about Freddos. It is not a big deal, it's clearly meant to be a gag about the rising cost of chocolate in this modern time.

Overall, I give this 4/5 stars for Ghost Powers. The ending is very mellow. It is fitting with the story and the characters. Definitely a good book for October.

I absolutely love Lauren James' books, and this one was no different.. well it was different, but good different! I truly had no idea what to expect really, I don't really read a lot of ghost books, but it was just so good!

I loved the found family trope and the face that it's a family of ghosts, that well.. don't really have a choice sticking together, but there were so many aspects to that that I loved! I loved the twists in the book, and I think that because I didn't know much about the story, it was even more fun! I've already ordered the book itself so I can reread it again soon!

An intelligent & dark plot kept me on the edge of my seat. I've loved Lauren's previous work, but this stands out as her best...so far

There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

When Harriet winds up dead after falling from a balcony she finds herself joining a group of ghosts with special powers. However, Harriet is only interested in reunited with her grandmother and will do anything to rejoin the world of the living, even if it means getting involved with some very dodgy ghosts called Tricksters.

I ended up particularly liking James's interpretation on the afterlife and the mythos she builds up around ghosts, why they remain and the limits in what they can do. In this world, ghosts must remain in the place they died or they'll disintegrate, leading to a claustrophobic atmosphere for Harriet and co. Even if she wants to, Harriet can't escape these ghosts or rejoin any part of her living life. Also, they have a limited store of energy that is only 'recharged' following another death, which leads to some interesting consequences and explains why some places seem to be full of ghost activity.

I do think that Harriet is a difficult character to connect with. She's not likeable, often making selfish decisions. She looks after herself, thinks only of herself and doesn't care about the consequences. She doesn't really get on with anyone at the start of the story, refusing to bond with any of her fellow ghosts. I enjoyed watching Harriet grow over the course of the book, and begin to understand the consequences of her actions on other people. I also liked the shorter chapters told from the other ghosts perspectives. To me they were a really interesting group of people, thrown together through tragic circumstances and from a wide range of backgrounds that makes them clash personality wise. Felix was by far my favourite, and I found his chapters rather refreshing compare to the sharpness of Harriet.

Fun characters and interesting world building invoke a fast paced romp into the paranormal. Come for the plot, and stay for the morally grey protagonist and witty banter.

This is so disappointing because I’ve loved Lauren James books before, but this book for me was not good. I hated the main character - although I understand we weren’t meant to like her... but still.. I thought there were to many attempts at twists and turns but I knew where the book was going and I wasn’t that interested. I felt like the friendships are forced and the relationships didn’t make any sense. I enjoyed the lore of the story but there didn’t seem to be much thought into the details.
I will totally still read Lauren James - The Loneliest Girl In the Universe is amazing and I trust this was just a fluke... I do!

Another knock out book from Lauren James. I loved this. The characters are brilliant, the mystery kept me on the edge of my seat, and there were several gasp out loud moments. Just brilliant

A spooky delight. This story was a step away from my usual reads. I was intrigued by the title and I definitely wasn't disappointed.
.The story gripped from the start. It begins with the untimely death of Harriet who finds herself 'attached to the old Uni building', a Halls of Residence, where in 1994 the student residents at the time had all died. The backdrop for the story is perfect. There were many twists and tales than could be imagined and this overwhelming sense of 'What if death was just the beginning'
It was definitely a compelling read, with so many undercurrents within the main story. Completely blindsided by it.
Thank you to the publishers & NetGalley for an eARC to review.

Thank you Walker Books for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Recommends it for: Fans of The Raven Boys, only because it’s a group of friends. Eh, I don’t read ghost stories, that has to change. This isn’t a horror (as far as I can tell) so all scaredy-cats allowed.

This was brilliant! Misfit ghosts, LGBTQ representation and fantastic cast of characters.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this but WOW I was really impressed by the writing style and the characters. I loved each and every one of them even the unsavory ones were interesting.

The concept and the idea of it was something I haven’t even read in adult fiction so I was surprised, Harriet Stoker is an unforgettable (but selfish) character but of course we start to understand her more as the story develops, but I still feel an annoyance and slight sliver of irritation when it comes to Harriet but I guess that is what the author wants you to feel.

This book really grips you with the writing style and tone – it kept me interested even at times when I felt the story was losing steam but there are some minor twists that really held my attention but I just loved the way it all came together at the end and of course kind of had me feeling things, I still can’t decide if I was happy with it or not but I can see this as a great miniseries.

I also think death , well for me being a weirdo at least, is a really important topic and I am glad it was done in such a cool and different way.

This was a fun read and if you love character driven novels and the supernatural this is the perfect book for you!

Rating: 3.8
The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker by Lauren James
Standalone
Publish Date: 3 September 2020
Cover Rating: 7/10
Young Adult – Fantasy – Supernatural –Paranormal - Ghosts

The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker is a thrilling supernatural read. I loved the way James built the world of ghosts and the way the story unfolded through multiple perspectives. The mystery of why this was all happening kept me frantically racing through the book. A gripping novel from start to finish.

3.5 Stars. I quite enjoyed this book. It was interesting to see how power can affect a person, and I liked how this book portrayed that. I liked the characters and how this book went between 4/5 PoVs. There were a few twists that were unpredictable and very welcome. I was expecting this book to be a lot creepier and scarier than it was, particularly as it includes ghosts, but it wasn't that bad at all (which is good because I'm terrified of ghosts existing...). I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it for sure, particularly around Halloween as that's when I read it and I think it was a good pick for Spooky Season.

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Lauren James, and her way of twisting things til I don’t know which way is up! This is thoroughly prevalent here, and it’s wonderful.

Harriet is morally grey (if not dark!) and pretty unlikable, which is actually pretty awesome for a main character. As the book nears the end we find out a lot more about her motivations and why she’s like that, but honestly she does some pretty shady things and I love that it’s not excused.

I love the concept here, and especially the found family of ghosties, they’re adorable. There’s a ghost baby and a ghost pet fox! And queer flirting and pining! So much cuteness.

There’s lots of layers too, some of which you don’t realise are even layers until Lauren folds them back like some sort of storytelling genius.

I will say that because Harriet is so dark, I possibly didn’t quite connect as much as I wanted. And as much as I really enjoyed the end, the first main twist (while necessary for the story) didn’t quite work for me as it felt quite sudden?

Those are why I gave it 3.5 stars. It’s definitely still fab, and I will be recommended it – especially for those looking for a spooky book this month.

This was yet another fantastic book from Lauren James and my most favourite yet! I loved the ghostly world Lauren created, with its questionable morals and literal power grabs. I would LOVE to read more in this world.

The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker, by Lauren James, is a YA paranormal horror which is set in the United Kingdom, in an abandoned building called Mulcture Hall. The main character, Harriet Stoker, is a university student studying Photography and has come to the building to take pictures as part of a project for her studies.

However, the building is structurally unsound and when Harriet loses her footing, she falls to her death which is when the rest of the story unfolds. Mulcture Hall turns out to house a number of ghosts who have all lost their lives within the building and have gone on to form their own friendships and communities. One such group consists of Rima, Felix, Kasper and Leah, who attempt to befriend Harriet on her journey into the afterlife.

But as the story progresses, it becomes clear that Harriet has only one goal in mind. Her grandmother is her only living relative – both her parents died when she was young. She relies heavily on Harriet to do things for her, and this leaves Harriet in a state of panic when she realizes that there is no way of letting her grandmother know what has happened. When she finds out that the ghosts are able to possess different powers, this becomes a focal point for her and rather than making friends, she decides to use them to obtain powers that she believes will help her to escape.

The story takes a dark turn, with Harriet encountering ghosts who have been banished from the general community and falling foul of the methods they employ to regain access. This causes her to lose her friendship group and take actions that turn her into a very dangerous member of the ghost community. When she realizes the consequences of her actions, this leads her to make an even darker discovery about her family’s past.

Having enjoyed previous books from Lauren James, I was excited to read this one and it did not disappoint. Whilst it was a step outside the usual science fiction that she is known for, the change was refreshing and I quickly became immersed in the story as it progressed. I found myself relating to Harriet’s character in many ways and in the scenes which made her intensely unlikeable, I was able to sympathize with her and ask myself if I would have acted much differently had I been in her place.

The story does go through some shifts in POV and I do wonder if the story would have been different had it been told entirely from Harriet’s perspective. However, the shifts were natural and fluent without detracting from the story itself. It makes the story multi-layered and allows the reader to see the situation from the perspective of each character.

As I was writing the review for this, I found it hard not to give too much away. I really look forward to seeing what else the author has to offer, whether it be science fiction, horror or something completely different.

In the true spirit of spooky season, now seemed the perfect moment to read about ghosts. But listen, I don't really like scary things and ghosts are high on the list of things I typically avoid in novels so The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker was a risk; thankfully there was a lot more to love than to be scared of!

Harriet wanted to take pictures of an abandoned building in which several students had met their end; excited by the rumours, Harriet just has to have these photos to really make an impact. But then she also died, which is unfortunate to say the least - talk about dying for your art! What happens to Harriet next, or at least what's left of her, remains to be a true ghost story filled with spirits with special powers. And Harriet wants one!

I really love the way Lauren James writes. Her novels aren't typically the genre or theme I would be especially interested in, but I've accidentally read her novels and loved them regardless. Her writing is seamless and actually really fun - guess I'm just a sucker for a morally grey sub-plot. On top of this, quite often the way in which her books are written forces you to ask questions of yourself; big questions usually. This novel really challenges what it really means to be alive, and what we're really hoping to achieve with our own (as far as we know!) life.

This book will suck you in, make it impossible for you to choose a favourite character, and then spit you back out. Okay, so ghosts aren't for me and that lessens my enjoyment, but if they're for you this will easily be a 5 star read.

ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a couple of books by Lauren James now and I have felt the same way about both of them. I think I have trouble really connecting with the writing style, as a lot of the time it feels very simple – and her books are often too short! Although this one was a better size, at just over 400 pages.

The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker (let’s just call it Harriet Stoker from here on) starts off as a fun but gruesome story about a young woman called Harriet who is just starting out at university. Then she dies. I think if publishers would be willing to give New Adult another go (I know, I didn’t like it when it first came about either but I’ve since realised that it’s necessary), this book could have been a really fun NA story. You’ve got some really gory elements that would work well, plus a couple of steamy scenes.

Unfortunately, the book felt a bit watered down for me. The dialogue and the characters were all a bit flat. I felt like James was trying too hard to be quirky with a couple of them. I’m not a fan of the cutesy characters, and I’m also not a fan of the brooding “I’m such an awful person” characters either. I like my characters to have nuance!

All of that said, I did enjoy Harriet Stoker for the most part. It was a fun and enjoyable ride, with a really interesting take on ghosts (James’ scientist background trickled in a bit there). I also liked the inclusion of ancient ghosts, because I find that too often the ghosts in these stories are Victorian, and people tend to forget that there was a history before Victoria or the Tudors.

I’d recommend this one for fans of YA, and for people who want a gentle but gory horror story to fill their time in October on the run up to Halloween. While I do think it could have been better, it was certainly enjoyable for the most part and I had a lot of fun getting to know the characters and figuring out the ghostly superpowers they had. Also, Harriet’s nan was terrifying.

Lauren James is one of my favourite authors. She writes the most gut-wrenching, addictive novels and Harriet Stoker was no exception. From the start, I was hooked. I read it all in one day because I just couldn't stop thinking about it.
What I loved most of this book was the characters. Each of the characters had such distinct personalities, that were also very different to most YA protagonists. I was particularly invested in Harriet Stoker. For the first 100 pages, I was so confused because of how awful and selfish she was. But I quickly realised that it was the whole point. She was a terrible person who did really bad things. I've never read a protagonist who was anything like her. I may not have liked her, but I was completely invested in her. My favourite character was definitely Felix though, probably because I could see the most of me in him.
Lauren James is an expert in plot twists and this book was full of them. I had absolutely no idea where this book was going at any point and it was crazy. It's rare that I read a book where I have no clue what direction it is going in, so it was refreshing to read. I gasped out loud quite a few times.
Overall, The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker has all of the trademarks of a classic Lauren James novel, but in a spookier way. It is absolutely perfect for a Halloween read, for those who don't do horror (like myself).

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started but it was so good! I loved the characters and how the story lures you in and slowly gives you the information so you never want to stop just so you can learn a little more. The ending especially was amazing!

➽ <strong>I liked the original approach to ghosts and the afterlife</strong> This is the perfect October read, as the book is all about ghosts and life after death! The approach to ghosts was very interesting and definitely added something new. Basically, ghosts are bound to the place they have died in and cannot escape it without disintegrating. The latter would cause them to cease to exist and move on to whatever truly comes after death and the ghostly afterlife. I also<strong> liked that all of them have energy levels that determine if they can move around and use their powers, as every ghost develops a special power</strong>! That was so cool, as I love superpowers and here it<strong> added to the existing social dynamics</strong>! A lot of ghosts died in this particular building, so there are several groups with different standings and especially the sinister Tricksters who offer deals in exchange for favors, usually with people who have useful and interesting powers. Several powers that we see include possession, hypnotism, barriers, invisibility, shapeshifting, and much more. I loved exploring all the powers and that they come with a price, as using them drains energy. Once a ghost has lost too much energy it becomes a 'Shell', basically turning into a vegetative state, unable to do anything. If someone else dies closeby - as Harriet did - a burst of energy is unleashed and reawakens ghosts that lost most of their energy. That's how the story got started!

<strong>“You aren’t as funny as you think you are!” Kasper yelled at Rima. “Once I overheard you memorizing puns in the bathroom!” Leah interjected, “He’s right. You said that even your mum never used to laugh at your jokes, Rima.” “All of my jokes,” Rima corrected. “I said all of my jokes. And I told you that in confidence, Leah! If you keep this up, I’m gonna stop being best friends with you.” “When?” Leah asked, longingly.”</strong>

➽ <strong>The characters are the heart of the story & there are so many found family vibes.</strong> Apart from Harriet - who is new to this whole ghost thing - we have a crew of ghosts who have been together for decades and now find themselves reawakened again. I loved their strong bond and how they had carved out a piece of their afterlife for their little family, as all of them mostly stay together and apart from the other ghosts. My favorite had to be <strong>Felix</strong>, a gay boy who's spent his afterlife pining after a boy (<strong>Kasper</strong>) who might not ever love him back. However, he loves his little friend group so much and is suspicious of any newcomers like Harriet, especially when she starts to act out. I also love <strong>Rima </strong>who's a very warm-hearted, bubbly, and friendly person who is immediately open to including Harriet in their group, but who can also be frustratingly naive at times. She always believes in the best in people, even when this is a bad impulse. Her best friend is<strong> Leah</strong>, one of the oldest ghosts in the building, who is more sarcastic and pragmatic, more like the Mom Friend! I liked that we got the perspective of all the characters and not just Harriet, as it provided a balanced story and let us see things from different angles!

<strong>"She was very aware that she was pretending to be upbeat and calm about this whole thing. If she stopped smiling, she would break down, and that wasn't something she could do in front of strangers. She'd always been taught never to show anyone a sign of weakness because someone would try to use it again her."</strong>

➽ <strong>Harriet is a great anti-heroine with an interesting character Arc. </strong>The title alone tells us that Harriet's afterlife is not peaceful and among the established found family of Ghosts (Felix, Kasper, Rima, and Leah) as well as the other ghosts in the building, she is the newcomer. Harriet has no idea about how to cope with her new death and is desperate to leave the building and return to her grandmother. Right from the beginning, I found her interesting, as we quickly learn that Harriet is manipulative, ambitious, and cunning, trying to use the ghosts who take to her as information and trading what little she has to offer. <strong>Harriet is definitely adaptable, but also reckless and unable to connect with others</strong>. She never had any real friends and was taught by her grandmother to see others only for their social capital. So all Harriet knows is how to use people to her advantage, not how to be comfortable among friends. It's hard for her to see that Felix's friend group could help her. Instead, she often only relies on herself, making many grave mistakes because she lacks the important information about the dynamics between all the ghosts. Her a<strong>nti-heroine Arc was well-written</strong> as you could see where she comes from and how all her desires and decisions escalated into making her into a threat. This was especially interesting as we also saw the other characters' perspectives in addition to her own. Harriet ould be unlikable but her character was well explored and she does face consequences and gets called out. <spoiler>We later learn that Harriet was abused all her life by her grandmother who not only killed her parents but isolated her on purpose so she would always be there when she needed her. <strong>The book is also about Harriet slowly unpacking her trauma and realizing that she is actually afraid of her grandmother and that she was actually abused all her life</strong>. It's a difficult scenario to write but I thought that the author did a good job showing the signs of Harriet's abuse way before her grandmother joins her in the afterlife. I also appreciated that Harriet got turned around and joined the others in the fight in the end. She accepted the consequences of her actions and tried what she could to redeem herself. The others still didn't 100% forgive her, but the end gives hope for Harriet to one day get a second chance with them.</spoiler>

<strong>"Kasper Jedynak", the blond boy said, preening slightly. "4B". He shuffled his hand through his hair, which was surprisingly fluffy. "Casper? Like the friendly ghost?" A much-beleaguered look crossed his face. "Bad coincidence. Don't bother with the jokes, I've heard them all before." "Though he is very friendly", Rima piped up. Kasper sighed."</strong>

➽ <strong>The plot also stayed interesting and with high stakes.</strong> The dynamics and hierarchy among the ghosts were interesting to explore, especially with Harriet's arrival as a new ghost who quickly become a threat.<strong> There is a great sense of foreboding </strong>and though the story is set only in one place (the building Harriet died in), there is never a dull moment and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. There was quite a bit of mystery in the story and adding an almost omniscient character in between the chapters was interesting, as we try to uncover who is talking and what secrets they are hiding, as some things are slowly building up. <strong>The author also has a fantastic writing style</strong>, which I found great to read and got me really invested in the story! I read another book by her - The Loneliest Girl in the Universe - and her books are perfect to binge-read!

<strong>IN CONCLUSION.</strong> ➽ <em>The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker </em>was an<strong> interesting new approach to ghosts and the afterlife </strong>with found family vibes and an interesting anti-heroine. The plot is full of suspense, mystery, and a great sense of foreboding, that made this a thrilling and high stakes reading experience! If you're looking for a new take on ghosts to read in October this is your book! 👻

When I venture into fare unusual for me, I end up with some good surprises and sometimes not. This book was a miss for me. The only reason I finished the book was that the writing was nice, and the imagery created by it was very vivid. The characters, for the most part, were likeable.
Harriet, the titular protagonist, was not likeable. She was so fixated on getting out that it overtook all her senses and kept driving her to extremely dangerous behaviour. Her thoughts revolved solely around herself with only twinges of guilt. The twists were unexpected (except for the second-last one, which I saw coming). The end seems rushed, and the diversity seems very casually thrown in. The latter part worked in some places and felt gratuitous in others.
The story is of Harriet who dies after a fall, and the chapters are alternatively narrated by an unknown narrator who does not reveal their true self until the very end. That part was well done, in my opinion. It is aimed at a younger audience than me, which might be one of the reasons it did not work but mostly given the writing quality, I expected to like the entire story better.
I would pick up another book by this author given a chance.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. The review, however, is entirely based on my own reading experience.