3 Stars – A Promising Concept, But It Didn’t Quite Fully Hook Me (ARC Review)

I had the opportunity to read an ARC of Bad Beginnings by Jen Bair, and while I found it an interesting urban fantasy with a lot of potential, it didn’t fully capture me. The premise, with its gritty setting and supernatural elements, was solid, and I appreciated the strong, determined lead in Enid. She’s a character I could get behind, and her loyalty and grit were admirable.

However, the pacing was a bit of a struggle for me, especially in the first three-quarters of the book. The plot seemed to drag a little, and I found myself waiting for things to pick up. While the world-building and setting were promising, I felt like it took a bit too long to get to the good parts.

That said, the action in the final quarter of the book definitely picked up, and I was satisfied with how it ended. The dynamic between Enid and Ollie, her dog, was one of the standout aspects for me. I liked the bond they shared, and it added a unique layer to the story.

While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I can see a lot of readers who enjoy gritty urban fantasy with slow-burn tension and a strong heroine really enjoying this one. I’ll be interested to see how the series develops, and I’m hopeful that future installments will bring the pacing and intensity I was hoping for.

This was a fun urban fantasy that kept me engaged and I loved how the FMC being able to see ghosts played into the plot overall. Can't wait to see how this series progresses!

Reading is subjective, and sometimes the right story hits you at the right time.
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump—liking books but not really into them, not wanting to pick them up and turn the page right away. You know that feeling. You see the book, then you’re distracted by something else.
Bad Beginnings hit me just right. I wasn’t expecting much—I've seen so many urban fantasy books with a woman and an animal on the cover, so let’s just say I wasn’t impressed at first.
But it caught me from the very first page.
Enid is a 22-year-old who sees ghosts, so everyone she’s known thinks she’s crazy. She inherited this “curse” from her grandmother, but sadly, everyone else has labeled her a wacko. The problem is, once a ghost realizes she can see them, they won’t leave her alone—they demand her help, which makes her lose jobs and prevents her from keeping friends.
Enter Ollie. He’s in distress, and when he realizes Enid can see him, he won’t leave her alone until she helps him out. The more she tries to avoid him (and then helps him), the deeper she falls into danger. She soon finds herself in knee-deep trouble after stumbling across some shady, dangerous men. She has no choice but to get involved—with both the living and the dead.
This gave me Ghosts (the Netflix series) vibes—but honestly, it’s even better (and I love Ghosts), so that was a huge plus for me.

Things I Loved:
-The heroine. Jen Bair knows how to write a relatable heroine! Enid struggles, she’s trying, she’s scared—but also brave. I loved her.
-The weird conspiracy theorist. I want more of him! I hope book 2 gives him a bigger role. While this isn't a romance, I do have a secret wish for Enid and Randall. Fingers crossed.
-The ghosts. They were fantastic! Actually, I loved that all the characters in this book are distinct. So many books I’ve read lately make it feel like only the MCs have personality. (Maybe I’ve been reading too much of the wrong genre? Sigh.)
-The narrative. I’m a pretty picky reader—head-hopping and PoV violations really bug me. That wasn’t the case here. Jen Bair knows how to write and keep it engaging.

Things I Didn’t Love So Much:
-Eh… nothing, really? Maybe the inclusion of illegal substances made it feel a little too real for me, but that’s nitpicking.
Fantastic start. This book gripped me from page one, and I couldn’t put it down until I was done. Can’t wait for book two!

Enid Walsh is just trying to live a normal life—but that’s easier said than done when you can see and talk to ghosts. When a ghost named Ollie appears in the diner where she works and asks for help, Enid does what she usually does: she tries to ignore him. But ghosts don’t give up so easily… and neither does this story.

This book was thoroughly entertaining and kept me hooked from the first page. I found myself genuinely invested in the story and eager to learn more about the characters with each chapter. My only wish? That the dog had a bigger role—it was such a fun addition, and I would’ve loved to see more of it throughout the book.

Thank you Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

‧₊˚✧3.5 ✧˚₊‧

Enid Walsh wants to lead a normal life, unfortunately for her, she has the ability to see and converse with ghosts. When Ollie shows up in the diner she works at, and asks for her help, she does what she usually does: ignore him. But how long can her ignorance last?

I started this story with no expectations, but I really ended up enjoying it. The characters were well thought out, the story flowed nicely plotwise and it all flew by in a flash.

What kept me reading?
The workings of the ghosts are nicely woven into the story, there's no boring loredump anywhere!
The character Randall is a weirdo, but he also has an impala, which makes him a lot cooler.
I felt like Ollie balances out Enid and keeps her going in this book.
LOVED the bookish references
The writing was humorous and relatable to me personally
The MC, Enid, is very aware of her flaws and sometimes comments on them too

What bothered me at times?
The dog is just kinda around for 60% of the book until she finally does something, I had hoped to see her somewhat earlier in the book.

My favourite quote?
"Sanity was seriously underrated."

I did spot a mistake in the following sentence "... but you can't fix reality, and the ghost were part of her." I believe ghost needs to be ghosts plural instead, because it says 'were'. Hopefully it can be fixed before release :)

At last I want to thank Netgalley, Mythic Scrivener Press, LLC, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. I hope to be able to read the following books in this series too!