Title: Haunted Ever After

Author: Jen DeLuca

Rating: ★★★★

Boneyard Key, a small coastal town in Florida, embraces its ghostly reputation to attract tourists. Nick Royer, the owner of the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, is well-acquainted with the town’s spectral charm—after all, he lives with a ghostly roommate. For Nick, this is just part of the local crazy, and he’s all in for the ghost tourism that keeps the town's economy alive.

Enter Cassie Rutherford, who, in a bid to escape the whirlwind of her friends getting married and having kids, leaves Orlando and buys a historic cottage in Boneyard Key. Cassie quickly realises her new home has some unusual quirks: her laptop won’t charge, and the poetry magnets on her fridge rearrange themselves to spell out eerie messages like "WRONG" and "MY HOUSE." Despite these oddities, Cassie is enchanted by the town's rich history and the charming, if somewhat grumpy, coffee shop owner who keeps slipping her free banana bread.

Nick and Cassie's relationship begins to blossom as he takes her on ghost tours and shares the hidden stories of Boneyard Key that tourists never hear. Together, they delve into the mysteries of Cassie’s haunted cottage, and their late-night investigations bring them closer. But Cassie’s concerns about her haunted house and Nick’s fear of scaring her away threaten to keep them apart.

Why I Loved It
1. Unique Setting: Boneyard Key is a coastal town with a spooky twist, and Jen DeLuca brings it to life with vivid descriptions and quirky local characters. The ghost tourism angle adds a fun and unique backdrop to the romance.
2. Charming Characters: Cassie and Nick are a delightful pair. Cassie’s adventurous spirit and Nick’s gruff but kind-hearted nature make for a compelling romantic duo. Their chemistry is palpable, and their interactions are full of wit and warmth.
3. Haunted Houses and History: The haunted cottage and its mysterious past add an intriguing layer to the story. The blend of history, mystery, and supernatural elements keeps you hooked from start to finish.
4. Humour and Heart: The book strikes a perfect balance between humour and heartfelt moments. Nick’s dry humour and Cassie’s lively personality create a dynamic that’s both entertaining and endearing.
5. Spooky Fun: The ghostly elements are spooky enough to be intriguing but not so scary that they overshadow the romance. It’s the perfect mix of lighthearted ghostly fun and heartfelt romance.

"Haunted Ever After" is a charming and delightful read that combines romance, humour, and a touch of the supernatural. Jen DeLuca has crafted a story that will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even get a little spooked. If you’re in the mood for a fun and heartwarming ghost story, this book is a must-read.


Thank you to The Publisher Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House | Penguin, the author Jen DeLuca & Netgalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Penguin Random House and Netgalley for my ARC copy.

I loved this book so much more then I thought I would, as a lover of all things spooky this was 100% a read for me. It has ghost, romance and the side characters are just as great as the main characters.
It was a cute quick and easy read. I would loved to have seen more of where the friendships in this book would have gone, given more time.

3.75 stars rounded up

This was a cute quick read. Perfect for summer. Set in a small town in Florida featuring Cassie who has just moved into a refurbished house that had been empty for decades prior and the local owner of a coffee shop. The pair navigate their building relationship with strange yet comforting guests whilst discovering the mystery behind a laptop refusing to charge.

I would like to have had the relationships between friends develop slightly more as they were all such intriguing characters. But I really did appreciate the different types of characters throughout and if I’m being honest a few tears might have slipped through.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming, cozy and haunting vibes year round this is a brilliant book to pick up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for a review.

Tourist gimmick, or rooted in truth? Cassie assumes all the ghost stories are the former when she buys a house in Boneyard Key - until said house develops very specific electrical problems, and the words on the fridge keep moving.
This was a fun, easy read with both a paranormal mystery and a slow-burn romance at the centre. I liked Cassie's character: she's independent, trying to find a place to settle, and approaches the ghostly goings-on with a mix of healthy disbelief and then pragmatism and determination. She has clear chemistry with Nick and their relationship develops with both heat and humour - not to mention ghostly imterruptions at inopportune moments. I'm definitely looking forward to more stories from this particular world.

3.75 STARS

I was so excited to start this book as I was a huge fan of the 'Well Met' series.

There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about it. For one, it was quite refreshing to have the main couple get together really early on, even if things went awry for them just as quickly. For characters whose methods of communication were so limited, Jen DeLuca was really able to give the ghosts personalities, and I just LOVED Elmer.

My only minor gripe with the story was that it just didn't grip me the same way 'Well Met' did. In her other series, I think the Ren-Faire setting of the books really helped give it an edge that this small town was just lacking. Maybe if we had spent a little more time with the characters exploring the haunted town I would have felt more connected. It very much felt like there were 2 other pairings being set up so I'm hopeful we will get to spend a bit more time in Boneyard Key!

If you're looking for a cute and easy read for spooky season, make sure to pick this one up!