I had a hard time getting into this slow burn love story. You know it’s there you know where it’s going but they bugged me. BUT let me tell you I did really enjoy the perspectives and descriptions of the magic and worlds. I could not get enough of the fantasy in this book! I loved the explanations of things that made it easier to understand how it worked also!!

If I Have to Be Haunted was a mixed read for me. I liked the beginning and the end, but I struggled with everything inbetween.

I enjoyed Cara’s family dynamics with her mum and grandma, as well as the general premise of ghost speaking. Unfortunately, I thought the quest part of the story fell flat, and the many dangerous situations were conveniently fixed quickly and easily. I never thought there was any real peril, and that really detracted from my investment in the plot.

I also never felt the chemistry between Cara and Zach, which is a shame as I was looking forward to seeing how their relationship would unfold. Both characters seemed a bit one-dimensional to me, and, if I’m being honest, I didn’t care much about either of them.

There were some parts of this book I was interested to see explored, particularly the opening chapters (creepy ghosts looking for a ghost speaker), and the reason for certain characters to suddenly have powers (that were then mastered almost instantly). I was disappointed that these aspects were glossed over, and it seemed they were just shoehorned into the story to move it along. I needed an explanation, and there was none.

I’m disappointed that I didn’t like this book more. It ended up being the opposite of what I was expecting, and just didn’t hold my attention. I know lots of other readers have enjoyed it, but it definitely wasn’t one for me. I may be tempted to pick up a sequel if there is one, as the epilogue did intrigue me enough to wonder what was going on. We’ll see!

IF I HAVE TO BE HAUNTED is a feel good, autumnal romp through various layers of the world as a girl who can see ghosts and her enemy who has died seek a cure to his deadness.

The various "liminal worlds" were a lot of fun. They contain monsters and a variety of different locations for the story to play with. It felt like a big technicoloured playground, albeit with more ghosts and a greater chance of death. The changing worlds also helped keep the adventure moving onwards with new locations to explore as well as a way of measuring quest progress.

Though the title includes the word "haunted", this is not a spooky, atmospheric book. Rather, it's full autumn vibes in a ghostly romance. It's an enemies to lovers tale, forcing the pair into working together if they want to succeed (him to live and her to get into uni.) But they've been at each other's throats for years and Cara is really not happy about spending time with such an annoying boy. I like coming across non-spooky autumnal books!

Much of the book is just Cara and Zach, but they are joined by ghost-slayer Brittany part way through, who is a dagger-wielding, no-nonsense blast to have on page. I thoroughly enjoyed having a character who knew what to do and could protect the far more helpless duo.

I think the book is trying to set itself up for a sequel. The story ends, but then there's an epilogue hinting at a new threat. Not to mention there are all sorts of potential elements of a second book (Brittany in particularly). I would not object to a sequel.

In If I Have To Be Haunted we follow Cara, a teenage girl with the ability to communicate with the dead. If this isn't bad enough her high school rival Zach turns up dead and she is tasked with trying to find a way to bring him back.

This was a fast paced and really enjoyable enemies to lovers story. I flew through it and adored all the cozy autumn vibes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Magpie/HarperCollins for the chance to read If I Have To Be Haunted.

I completely loved this, it was full of some of my favourite things, enemies to lovers.slow burn romance , I knew I would love this but wasn’t expecting just how much I would, it definitely took me on an unexpected journey and I was addicted to every page. Fantastic so glad I have a special edition now from Fairyloot to treasure

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

its a bit American teenage-ish in the beginning especially for someone not American and no longer a teenager but i like the way it develops the stakes get more serious like the journey they take and how their relationship develops and they grow and trust each other i like that ends happily also

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers

I loved reading If I Have To Be Haunted. It was written with creativity and the whole build up of the storyline and world was a marvel to read.
I absolutely enjoyed the ghost side of it too, it was spooky but not in a scary haunted way.
I was over the moon for this book to be picked as a FL book of the month.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to everyone.

How do I articulate how obsessed with this book I am? It has everything I'm looking for in a September read: a fall-themed town, a ghost speaker, the cutest, funniest romance, intricate mythology and a well-structured plot! Cara was an amazing protagonist, and her relationship with Zach kept me turning the page. I'm also a sucker for complicated family dynamics and teenage girls growing out of their shadows. Basically, I can't recommend this book enough!

Loved Loved this book and i am so over the moon that we get a special edition from fairyloot.

You don't forget your first love.
slow burn
enemies to lovers.
perfect combo

Synopsis: Growing up in Autumn Falls, Cara Tang is just your average high school student. She spends her time trying to keep on top of her classes and extracurricular activities, and doesn’t want to disappoint her family…something that is particularly hard to do when you also happen to be a ghost speaker.

Cara keeps her abilities a secret, never acknowledging the ghosts she sees on a daily basis, but with Halloween approaching the town’s ghosts are growing bolder. Even worse, when she then finds the body of her irritating rival and all round golden boy Zach in the woods, killed by a deadly (and supernatural) snake bite, it turns out she’s now the only one who can see and speak to him, and the only one who can ultimately save him…

My thoughts:

If you’re gearing up for spooky season and want a quick YA paranormal read, look no further. There’s a quest, ghost hunters, liminal worlds, evil monsters and - of course - a slow burn enemies to lovers subplot…what more could you ask for?

This book has some great world building, particularly with the use of liminal spaces, the ouroboros and the idea of the unity of opposites, and although the romance is sweet the novel does touch on some heavier topics, including social class, generational trauma and racism. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but there were plenty of unanswered questions left at the end that I would love to be (and am sure will be!) explained in a sequel I will definitely pick up.

This book was so interesting to read. Cara was such an interesting character to follow and I really enjoyed getting to see how she grew with this book. Cara is thrust into helping Zac find out what happened to him and hopefully be able to reverse it. This book took me on such an unexpected journey and I was thrilled to go along for the ride. Cara learns more about herself and her gift and obviously more about Zac.

I enjoyed this book and whilst it took me a while to get into it, once I did I couldn’t put it down.
The enemies to lovers trope is always a winner for me.

A fast paced, highly entertaining and well plotted story that kept me hooked, made me smile, and root for Cara.
Cara tries to live her life as she wants but there's always some trying to make her act according to some rules.
Loved it, highly recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

"If I Have to be Haunted" is a twist on the classic YA Romance genre with its well-executed spooky (yet cozy) angle. The story revolves around Cara and Zach, long-standing adversaries who find themselves compelled to cooperate, uncovering hidden affections beneath their mutual dislike.

What sets this novel apart is its seamless integration of ghostlore and mythology, crafting a great Halloween-themed adventure. Cara, who possesses the unique ability to interact with ghosts, is aided by her deceased grandmother. Meanwhile, her mother, who is not a fan of Cara's unconventional gift, struggles to fit in. When Zach, Cara's arch nemesis , gets bitten by a supernatural snake , Cara has to use her gift and races against time to save his spirit from dissipating in a mere week.

The book blends a paranormal narrative with a very sweet romance. While the book achieves in so many areas I do feel it leans a little bit too heavily in to enemies/lovers/love/hate and it feels a little repetitive at times (I never thought I’d write those words.)

One of the standout areas of this book is its exploration of cultural dynamics, particularly the familial relationships sometimes strained between Cara, her mother, and grandmother. These interactions provide a rich backdrop, emphasizing the impact of culture and generational ties on our lives. These interactions feel so authentic.

I love the coziness of this book and that it’s very much autumn themed and makes me want spooky season to begin immediately.

"If I Have to be Haunted" was a great blend of paranormal, magic, mystery and romance with great cultural insights. While most of the questions are tied up in the plot, the author slams us with a twist at the end which left me wanting more.

I enjoyed this one.

I was so excited for this book and it did not disappoint!

We follow Cara who is a ghost speaker, but doesn't really acknowledge it. But when her rival at school, the popular and sports star Zac dies, she is the only one that can help him, because she is the only one that can both see and communicate with him. As the two are thrust together, they battle strange monsters and demons to get Zac to become human again.

I enjoyed the writing and the banter between Zac and Cara was AMAZING. I was laughing at their first introductions and their constant bickering back and forth. Cara's friends were also great, but we didn't get enough of them. As the story progressed though, the genre shifts from one of light fantasy to one that involves curses and monsters. This was welcoming but unexpected, and that take on the story where they aren't actually in the human world really took me out of the story.

There were so many parts I loved- including the journey of Cara trying to find herself while learning how to deal with daily arguments with her mother, as well as accepting herself as a ghost speaker. Although the coincidences of this story were a bit too unbelievable, I still had fun with it. I just wished I loved it more!

This does end on a cliffhanger, so I think this may be a series. I may pick up the next one!

Cara is just trying to get through this year & prepare for college like everyone else. As she queues for her lunch she watches the school caretaker sweeping the floor - nothing unusual in that, except this particular caretaker died & only Cara can see him. She is a ghost-talker, a talent inherited from her grandmother & mother, but out of obligation to her mother she tries to ignore it all (except for speaking to her grandmother Laolao who is also dead). There's also the complication of her never-ending feud with popular boy, Zack & when they are paired up for a group project, Cara can't wait for it to all be over.

The project never begins though as on the day of their first meet-up Zach is late. Cara begins to walk home through the wood & stumbles on his body in a clearing she has never seen before. When his ghost suddenly appears, Cara has to break it to him that he is in fact dead, but when Zach follows her home & they explain what happened to Laolao, they find out that Zach may have a chance to come back to life - problem is, Cara is the only one who can help him.

This was a real mix of good & bad. I absolutely loved Cara & Zach's travels through the other worlds, the use of the Ouroboros mythology, & the premise of there being ghost-talkers. I thought that these sections were really well thought out & kept me riveted, although I would have loved to have spent a more time with the characters exploring these areas a little more. Unfortunately most of the time was devoted to Cara & Zach's bickering/banter. My teenage self would probably have loved the whole love/hate thing between Cara & Zach, but adult me found it a little irritating after a while. I'm assuming that there will be a follow-up due to the epilogue & because the reason why the ghosts were looking for Cara in the beginning was never explored? 3.5 stars (rounded up).

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, HarperCollins UK/Magpie, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

A classic YA Romance, If I Have to be Haunted, saves itself from cliche by being a well written spooky adventure.
It's a classic story of boy and girl, long time enemies, forced to help each other and while stuck with each other find that their hatred is in fact masked love. A fun read in and of itself.
Fortunately this is so much more than that. Steeped in ghostlore and mythology, this is a wonderfully spooky Halloween tale of adventure and quest. Cara is in high school and can see and speak to ghosts. Her grandmother, a ghost acts as her guide while her mother, who has repressed her talents holds her constantly accountable for not being weird and not letting herself down. Zach is her nemesis - rich, gorgeous, popular: all the things that Cara is not. Zach is bitten by a supernatural snake and the adventure begins as Cara must find out how to stop his ghost from dissipating within one week. To make things worse, Cara's grandmother suddenly has something much more important to do and so Cara is on her own in a world that hse doesn't fully understand nor has she been open to learning about it as she balances the animosity between her mother and grandmother.
A thoroughly enjoyable ghost story; a thoroughly satisfying Romance story - put the two together and you have magic.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I know a lot of my students will also. It's great tension-filled fun.

When I got an invitation to grab an e-arc for this book in my e-mail I didn't hesitate. Ghosts, haters to lovers and romance combined with fantasy: sign me up. However, I might have signed up to a few too many review copies and therefore I couldn't read this book as early as I had wanted. However, last Sunday it was finally time to dive into this story and to see if this was really the perfect book I had hoped it would be.

Let me start this review with saying that this book is much less of a romance than I had expected it to be. I don't think that's a bad thing. I don't think this book is meant to be a romance. I was just expecting more of a romance and I can imagine others might too. If you're afraid it's too romantic for you, you might wanna give this book a chance. If you're looking for a true romance you might want to find another book fitting that mood a little better.

Because this book is in every possible way a fantasy quest with a little romance. I was actually really surprised how many fantasy elements we encountered in this book. I don't wanna give too much away, part of the fun is that neither we nor the characters know exactly what will happen while trying to find the cure, but this book is exploring quite a few interesting settings and we're encountering quite a few interesting "monsters".

I also quite liked the mythology and all the explanations we got. How the ghost seeing works, how those powers work, what it means to either fight or embrace them. I also really liked how the romance was done. Firstly because it never took over the story and never tried to steal the spotlight. Also because it developed naturally and never felt really forced. I believed that these characters could go from annoying the hell out of each other to falling in love while being on their quest.

And even though the book could be read as a standalone, the epilogue clearly opens the door to a sequel. I'm already looking forward to it.

Cara Tang can see Ghosts, she can talk to them too, but her mother has strictly forbidden her from using her inherited magic and drawing attention to herself. But when golden boy and Cara's nemesis, Zacharias Coleson, turns up dead, Cara finds it hard to refuse his plea for help. He needs a ghost talker if he's going to come back to life and, no matter how infuriating Cara finds him, she's not harsh enough to sentence him to death. Their journey takes them into a liminal world filled with monsters and magic, and the pair are forced to rely on each other, and the more time they spend together the harder Cara finds it to hate him. But when they near the end of their journey, Cara will need to decide just how much she's willing to sacrifice for her once nemesis, now something more.

If I Have to be Haunted was a super fun and quick YA fantasy, with a brilliant teen enemies to lovers romance and plenty of action. Cara is someone stuck between two worlds. Her ability to see ghosts comes from her Grandmother, who would love nothing more for Cara to inherit her mantle and accept her powers. Cara's mother however, simply refuses to allow Cara to embrace her powers, wanting Cara to grow up 'normal.' And Cara herself, well she has no idea what she wants. What she does know is that she hates Zacharias Coleson with a passion, and wants nothing more to beat him in everything she can. It's a real coming of age story, Cara grows so much in this story, not only learning about herself and her wants and needs, but getting a better understanding of her powers and how important they are.

The magical elements to this book played a much bigger role than I expected at first. When we first meet Cara we learn of her ability to see ghosts, and as the story progresses we get a deeper insight into her power and the importance of it. But we also get treated to a whole host of other magical beings, abilities and places thanks to their time in the liminal worlds. I would have liked these to be developed a little more and to get a better understanding of them, but this didn't really work with the pacing of the book. In fact, my main issue with this book was the development. We get lots of information, kind of hints and plot reveals that don't really amount to anything, and while I know this is a series so there will be time for development, I equally don't feel like there's quite enough to make it a series (I'm a woman of contradictions today ok).

I loved the cultural aspects of this book, the relationships between Cara, her mother and grandmother were especially well written. It really shows the weight of culture and the generations before us and how that can be something that drags us down, or lifts it up. It doesn't play the largest part in the book, but it felt the most real out of the story and I enjoyed seeing the interactions between the three generations. The other relationship that has the main focus of this story was that of Cara and Zach. Peak teen enemies to lovers, and I say this because it was more 'mild annoyance to lovers' than true enemies. But if you enjoy a good slow burn, almost idiots in love who absolutely won't admit it, even in the face of death, then I think you'll enjoy this one.

The plot of this book does get well and truly wrapped up in a bow, but the author drops a twist at the end that shows there is more to come. I'm not really sure where the story will go in the next book, I don't think there were enough unanswered questions, plot points, in book one to fill a second book, but I'm certainly intrigued enough to give it a go. If you want a fast paced and fun read, full of familial relationships, action and magic, you should definitely check this one out.

I’d like to compare this book to one of my favourite movies – The Duff. Not that If I Have to Be Haunted and The Duff have anything in common plot-wise, but both of these things gave me that giggling-kicking-my-feet kind of feeling.

At the end of the movie when he gets the girl, and at the end of the book when I they get together, just gave me the biggest smile. It made me so happy, and recently I’ve not read many books that just made me happy.

If I Have To Be Haunted is such a fun book that will unexpectedly hit you in the feels. It’s peak rivals to lovers, but it also deals with families and mother-daughter relationships. I enjoyed it so much.

I also enjoyed the worldbuilding a lot. I’m hoping we get another book in this series, as it left on a bit of a twist and there are side characters who definitely deserve their own books.

This was one of those books that I could easily see in my head. It felt more like watching a CW show (the good ones) than reading, and I would honestly pay good money to have this be made into a show. The writing was so vivid and colourful. It’s the perfect spooky, autumn read.