Goodreads says, "A disillusioned millennial ghostwriter who, quite literally, has some ghosts of her own, has to find her way back home in this sparkling adult debut from national bestselling author Ashley Poston. Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead. When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father. For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it. Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is. Romance is most certainly dead . . . but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories."
Florence Day used to be a romantic, after all, she is a ghostwriter for a well known romance author. The latest book she is writing is dragging though; she is feeling entirely uninspired after the breakup with her boyfriend. Perhaps true love doesn't exist and happily-ever-afters aren't for everyone? Now she is late for her deadline and her editor, Ben, isn't having it. Then Florence receives a phone call that rocks her world. Her father has unexpectedly died and she must return home. Of course Florence drops everything to be home with her family and they ironically own the town's funeral parlor. You see, Florence has always been able to see and communicate with ghosts, an ability passed on from her father. She is hoping to connect with him, but instead, up pops her editor, Ben. He has shockingly died the day after she met with him. Ghosts have unfinished business; what could Ben's possibly be? Now Florence has to deal with her father's last wishes and Ben following her around, sometimes to the most unfortunate of places, such as the shower. While home, Florence deals with her grief as well as with the hometown that she left long ago, all while getting to know Ben better. What blossoms between them is so much more than friends- they have a true connection, but what's the point? He is dead and it's heartbreaking. Ashley Poston's adult debut, The Dead Romantics, is such a fun take on the usual paranormal romance; I adored it!
Florence is someone I liked right from the beginning of The Dead Romantics. I truly felt for her when her father died, because you could really tell that she had a close relationship with him. When she returns home, readers get to know her family much better, including her eccentric sister, Alice, and I really enjoyed the other Day family members as well. I think Poston portrays dealing with the ups and downs of death accurately, but she does so in a manner that it doesn't make it too dark and depressing. The death of her father is counterbalanced by her relationship with Ben. Although he is a ghost, it felt like so much more.
Ben is a delight of a character in The Dead Romantics. I enjoyed his relationship with Florence and how it evolved. I appreciated their love of books and all the nods to publishing within the novel. There were some real laugh-out-loud moments between them and moments that truly tugged on my heartstrings. It really made long for Ben and Florence to have a real chance at love, but how could they if he is dead? As time progresses, readers will wonder what Ben's unfinished business is and what he wants from Florence. Slowly, Poston connects the dots and I absolutely adored the mystery and the subtle plot twists.
Also, Poston did a fabulous job of bringing a sleepy southern town to life. I loved all of her descriptions of the nighttime sounds, the graveyard, her memories of growing up down south, the big funeral home, the wildflowers, and even the nosy townspeople. It was definitely reminiscent of Stars Hollow.
If you like a good paranormal romance, look no further. The Dead Romantics was surprisingly good and I loved being lost in Florence's world. The Dead Romantics would make for a great vacation read!
So, are you a fan of paranormal romance? Have you read The Dead Romantics? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below.
Ok, definitely need to add this one to my TBR now! I need to know what happens between Ben and Florence!
ReplyDeleteIt was so good! I hope you get to read it soon! Thanks for visiting, Angela.
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