"Oh Good Now This" by Susan Merson is a unique and introspective novel that explores the challenges of starting over while navigating the presence of ghosts from the past. Following the journey of Vivi, a widow seeking a fresh start, this book delves into themes of loss, healing, and the unexpected connections we forge in life.

Vivi leaves California behind and moves to a college town in the East, where she reunites with Vikram, an old friend and former lover who now holds the role of a local spiritual leader. As Vivi and Vikram confront unresolved issues from their past, they find themselves confronting both the ghosts they conjured in their own lives and the lingering spirits that haunt them in the present.

Susan Merson weaves together elements of spirituality and the supernatural, blending them with the characters' personal journeys of self-discovery. Through different dimensions and encounters with the paranormal, Vivi gradually reclaims her life and plants the seeds for her future. The exploration of grief, relationships, and personal growth is at the heart of this novel, and the author skillfully navigates these emotional landscapes.

While the premise of the book is intriguing, there are some faults that may affect readers' enjoyment. One area of improvement could be the pacing, as the story occasionally feels slow and meandering, which may cause the reader's engagement to wane. Additionally, the character development could have been more robust, as some of the secondary characters feel underdeveloped and their motivations remain unclear.

Despite these flaws, "Oh Good Now This" offers thought-provoking moments and encourages readers to reflect on their own journeys of healing and self-discovery. Merson's writing style is introspective and contemplative, inviting readers to delve into the inner lives of the characters and explore the depths of their emotions.

The theme of ghosts, both literal and metaphorical, adds an intriguing layer to the story. It symbolizes the unresolved issues and memories that continue to haunt us if left unaddressed. The exploration of spirituality and the supernatural offers a fresh perspective on the process of healing and the possibilities that lie beyond the physical realm.

The novel's strongest aspect lies in its ability to capture the complexities of human relationships and the impact they have on our lives. Vivi's journey serves as a catalyst for personal growth, demonstrating the importance of embracing the past while also cultivating new beginnings.

In conclusion, "Oh Good Now This" is a contemplative and metaphysical novel that examines the challenges of starting anew while confronting the ghosts of the past. While the pacing and character development could have been stronger, the book offers thought-provoking moments and explores themes of healing and self-discovery. Susan Merson's exploration of spirituality and human connections adds depth to the story, making it a worthwhile read for those seeking a unique blend of the supernatural and personal growth.

Sorry to say I could not finish this book. Not what I expected at all - there are ghosts and talk of traveling from one dimension to the next. Just not for me. Everyone has their own taste so other people will probably enjoy it.

I’m not really sure what I should say to this one. I was not able to finish it, sadly. I found myself a bit confused several times and it was definitely not what I was expecting.

this was a confusing read, what I wanted was the description but this story was completely different,

I struggled with reading this book. I felt like the premise was only loosely related to the actual plot of the book. I found the whole ghost thing in this book to be both overdone and underdone. When the ghost appeared, it was basically just a weird exaggeration of a person, but this happened so infrequently that I forgot that the ghost was supposed to be an important aspect of the story. I think I would have enjoyed the book more without any of the supernatural aspects, or with significantly more because it just seemed wishy-washy. I thought there were some interesting characters, but I often found that they were all kind of bad people. The characters I found more interesting and likable, such as Tara, were missing for large portions of the book which I think hurt the characterization of Vivi since so many people around her were kind of mean to her, or vice versa. The plot was jumpy and some characterizations seemed inconsistent. I thought parts of the book were much better than others, but I felt like I had to trudge through quite a bit of the book.

Not what I expected.

from the title and the short description I expected a book about a spiritual journey with some supernatural and funny aspects. Instead this book reads like someone is trying to write their memoirs but they don't know where to start or where to end.

There were few aspects I liked about this book. The main aspect was that the main chracter was an older woman. I have not read a lot of books with an older main character and this was a nice change. I also really enjoyed Tara, one of the side characters. But overall I was a little disappointed in this book.

Books about how people deal with grief are very important. They let us know that we are not alone when we go through something like this. The reappearing subjects in this book are grief, loss, anger but also hope and moving on. It starts with Vivi moving to a new palce and fiding a new job. After that there a a few chapters that describe the life Vivi and her (now dead) husband had. After that the plot jumps around and there are a few chapters about other people in Vivis life. Every one of those characters also deals with grief and loss, but overall the plot was very inconsistent and I often had trouble following it. I also found myself hating a lot of the side chracters. The two men in her life do not seem like good people, yet Vivi stays with them.

I also think there should be a trigger warning about depression and almost rape (that's what went through my mind during the scene in Las Vegas)!

Sadly this book was not for me as it did not meet my expectations.

I struggled with reading this book. I felt like the premise was only loosely related to the actual plot of the book. I found the whole ghost thing in this book to be both overdone and underdone. When the ghost appeared, it was basically just a weird exaggeration of a person, but this happened so infrequently that I forgot that the ghost was supposed to be an important aspect of the story. I think I would have enjoyed the book more without any of the supernatural aspects, or with significantly more because it just seemed wishy-washy. I thought there were some interesting characters, but I often found that they were all kind of bad people. The characters I found more interesting and likable, such as Tara, were missing for large portions of the book which I think hurt the characterization of Vivi since so many people around her were kind of mean to her, or vice versa. The plot was jumpy and some characterizations seemed inconsistent. I thought parts of the book were much better than others, but I felt like I had to trudge through quite a bit of the book.

I'm sad to say that reading this book was a chore. If I haven't received a free copy in exchange for a review, I would have DNFed it long before I even reached 15%. Every new chapter was a pain.

I just couldn't with the writing style, with the timeline, with the characters and their relationships, with whom we follow when, with the pace of the story, and with the plot.

This is not what I expected at all.

The book starts with Vivi who is looking for a new job. Then, we find out that her husband is dead. Then, she is having lunch with his parents in the present. Then he is alive again. Then we are year forward from the lunch. Then we start following characters who have just appeared and we have whole chapters dedicated to them out of nowhere!

Every single character in this book is so self-centered that I don't even get how they can talk to each other.
The relationship between Vivi and her husband is beyond sickening (for example, he had a moment like YOU lost OUR child, and now I'm leaving you here on your own to think about why I blame you while I go out to find another bitch to have an affair with). It is all beyond disgusting.
The guy she thinks she had a real connection with is this self-proclaimed "shaman" or whatever who just wants to get laid and so on.
Vivi feels sorry for herself all the time, but I'm not even sure what to say beyond that because I feel like I was too irritated with this book to even try to get to know her beyond her pitying.

As for the plot, I found myself wondering what the hell is going and when will things start to happen with well over half the book behind me. It was all just tooooooooo draining and I don't want to read anything even remotely similar to this ever again.

I'm really sorry, but this was just too painful and not. for me. AT ALL.