I didn't expect to love this book so much! It was different from the others I've read before and it felt like a breath of fresh air. It still had that enemies to lovers vibe, but with a touch of goofy paranormal romance with charm and humor.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC. 🩷

I have been waiting for the next Sarah Adler book since Mrs. Nash’s Ashes changed my brain chemistry last year and this one did not disappoint.

Gretchen Acorn was raised but a con artist to be a con artist and it’s all she’s ever known. She’s been working as a psychic in DC but when one of her long term clients asks her to check out a friend’s haunted farm, she can’t possible say no. Partly because there’s a $10,000 check that comes with the ectoplasm.

When Gretchen arrives she gets a chilly welcome from both the very attractive owner of the farm and the unfortunately very real, ghost. The particularly talkative ghost informs Gretchen that not only is he haunting the farm and making it so that his distant relative (Charlie) can’t sell it, but if he does, Charlie will almost certainly die. Which is a problem since Charlie thinks Gretchen is a complete fraud.

Sarah Adler writes the best combinations of romance tropes again with forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and a sprinkling of arranged marriage. If you like any of these tropes with some supernatural comedy you’ll love this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Quercus Books, and Sarah Adler for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Well, this book started out as kind of a wild goose chase. I’m not really a fan of con artists. Thankfully, Gretchen was different than the rest. She had good in her and throughout the story she could really transform into an honestly good person with good purpose. I understood why Charlie was so untrusting. But they were really good together and he realized it eventually. The paranormal part of the story was so hilarious, Everett was such a little shit. I really loved the life on the goat farm and how things turned out by the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book.

Gretchen Acorn, a fake spirit medium, is hired by her wealthiest client to help her friend get rid of a ghost so he can sell his house and goat farm. When she arrives at the farm, she is shocked to find a young, hot goat farmer instead of someone as old as her client. Charlie Waybill already thinks Gretchen is a fraud who is conning his friend and definitely doesn't want her at his house to help with his problem. However, when she goes to leave she is shocked that she can actually see and talk to the resident ghost, Everett.

I absolutely loved this book! I loved Gretchen, Charlie, and Everett and their stories! Gretchen and Everett's friendship literally had me laughing out loud. Watching Everett try to use modern slang in all the wrong ways had me cracking up! I really enjoyed Gretchen and Charlie's relationship and how it changed throughout the book. I especially loved Gretchen and how she was able to overcome her past in order to move ahead in her life. I will definitely be buying this one when it comes out! Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

In Happy Medium we follow Gretchen. She's a fake medium and when an elderly client offers to pay her a lot of money to help rid her friends farm of the paranormal, she can't resist. Only the the clients friend isn't the old man she expected, and she wasn't expecting to meet Everett, a ghost from the 1920's, stuck at the farm because of a curse.

This was such a fun read, I adored Everett and the grumpy/sunshine romance was really well done.

Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for the chance to read Happy Medium.

Charming lil grumpy sunshine romcom with a paranormal spark.

- opposites attract
- contemporary romance
- romcom
- grumpy sunshine
- she looks like a cinnamon roll, is a cinnamon roll
- he looks like he could k*** you, is a cinnamon roll
- forced proximity

This is such a delightfully fun romance novel, with a paranormal twist, and I had such a good time reading it!

Gretchen Acorn is a medium. Well. She’s a fake medium, but she’s a hell of a good fake medium. She prides herself on trying to help her clients move on, while also making a living for herself. When one of her loyal clients asks if she’ll help exorcise her friends goat farm, so that he can sell it, she agrees, and heads off ready to flex her skills in fakery.

Her first shock is that the current owner of the farm is an attractive man in his thirties, called Charlie, who is categorically not the elderly man she had been expecting. Her second shock? Turns out the farm IS actually haunted, and now she has to get to grips with convincing the hard-core skeptic of a farmer that his farm is actually cursed, and that she’s not conning him - which, up until five minutes ago, had been the case. Panic.

I loved the dynamics between all the characters honestly - particularly between our resident haunt, Everett, a trapped 1920s man, who’s developed a taste for sitcoms over the decades, and Gretchen, as she’s thrown into the deep end of having to actually deal with a ghost for the first time in her life. Which, yes, is as hilarious as it sounds.

Charlie is such a great character. He’s kind to his core, but stands his ground. He never treats Gretchen poorly, but he’s also not about to blindly accept someone who he believes to be fleecing his friend, even if she is incredibly beautiful, and keeps having intense conversations with thin air.

Both Gretchen and Charlie have their reasons for being the way that they are, why they’re in the jobs that they find themselves in, and both backstories are explored in sensitive ways. I loved seeing them slowly grow closer together, despite the very odd circumstances they’re in, alongside the stress of Charlie trying to sell the farm, and Gretchen trying to stop the curse. The way the romance builds is great, and the spicy scenes - oh my. I don’t want to spoil anything, but one scene is a particular stand out, and is my favourite raunchy scene that I’ve read for a hot minute.

Overall, this book is earnest, sweet, funny, and sexy, and I really loved it. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a light-hearted romance novel with a twist!

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.

"Happy Medium" by Sarah Adler is a charming romcom that took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. At first, I was skeptical about Gretchen, a fake medium with a heart of gold, and Charlie, a surly farmer who's not buying her act. But as the story unfolded, I found myself falling in love with both characters and rooting for their unlikely romance.
Gretchen's journey of self-discovery, from a woman against the world to someone willing to risk her heart for love, is beautifully portrayed. Despite Charlie's initial coldness, their relationship blossoms in a wholesome and heartwarming way, with just the right amount of sexual tension building up before their passionate moments.
The addition of Everett, the lovable ghost, adds a delightful touch of lightheartedness to the story.
Overall, "Happy Medium" is a delightful read filled with humor, heart, and a touch of magic. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a feel-good romcom with a twist.

Very grateful to the publisher for this copy, opinions are my own

When Gretchen Acorn agrees to assist one of her best clients, little does she realise that she will trying to prevent the sale of a goat farm. Gretchen may be a fake spirit medium aka fraud, but she tries to give people more than they plan. Yet, when she meets the farmer, it is not the person she imagines. Charlie Waybill is young, extremely attractive, and completely convinced that she is a fraud. Yet, Gretchen can communicate with the dead and it turns out to be Everett, a distant relative of Charlie’s who wants Gretchen to convince Charlie not to sell, otherwise he will fall victim to the same family curse that's had Everett haunting Gilded Creek since the 1920s. With only one month to convince Charlie he can’t sell the property; Gretchen will have to gain his trust. Soon Gretchen realises that she must do all that she can to save the goat farm, its friendly phantom, and the man she's beginning to love.
Sarah Adler just keeps getting better. Whilst this is a bit of fantasy, she had me believing in the story, from the very first time that Everett appears. Both he and Charlies won me over with only a few phrases and whilst Gretchen was a fraud, she was so easy to love. Such great character development and a sweet romance. I loved every minute of it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley UK and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of Happy Medium in exchange for a review.

I immensely enjoyed this book. It had everything I wanted. Loveable characters? Check. Sexual tension? Check. Mischievous himbo ghost? Check. Delighted me.
Gretchen is a con artist and a fake medium, but a secret good egg with a runny yolk (soft-hearted, and one of my new favourite metaphors thanks to this book). When she's employed by a client to perform an exorcism on an unwilling friend's goat farm, she meets the young, hot farmer Charlie and the first actual ghost she's ever encountered. The cheeky, so charming and tv obsessed Everett convinces Gretchen to stop Charlie selling the farm because leaving it will kill him, like it did Everett nearly 100 years ago.
What else ensues but Gretchen falling for the kind-hearted Charlie and the farm along with it? It was just so cosy, sexy, exciting and FUN! I giggled so many times and hardly wanted it to end.
4.5 stars!

This was such a fun read - it was quick and witty, and there were a lot of funny one-liners; the love interests had great chemistry and tension. There were some subplots like with the dad that felt unnecessary that took away from the story to me and took it to 4 star instead of 5.

4,5 ⭐️
I was so happy when I saw that I got an arc for this book. This is the first book that made me laugh so much, how can you not with Gretchen and Everett? I loved everything about this book! The characters, the setting, the romance, the story itself EVERYTHING! I highly recommend this book and I'm excited to read more books by this author
Thank you Netgalley and Quercus Books for this arc.

4 stars
TW; trauma from toxic parents, talk of death, side character with dementia
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC to review. All thoughts are my own.

I'll admit, despite having a love for ghosts in rom-coms, I was dubious at the beginning of Happy Medium. Gretchen is trying her best to make ends meet whilst conning rich ladies out of their money as a medium. She has a rule where she won't take from anyone who isn't going to be better off after her little lies, and cannot turn down $10k to go pretend to rid a farm of a naughty specter. Of course, Gretchen finds an actual naughty ghost living at the farm, and a surly, down-on-his-luck owner who can no longer make ends meet. In theory, this sounded cute, but as it started to play out, I did find myself initially resistant to the charms of this story. Gretchen, whilst admitting to her morally grey ways, is very easily defensive, and Charlie in turn doesn't buy any of her crap and his treatment towards her is hot then cold. Add in a severely perverted and TV-obsessed ghost named Everett, and I was left wondering if I would become invested in any of them.

Needless to say, I came out the other end absolutely adoring this little story. Sure, some of the scenes where Charlie is downright rude to Gretchen, who was only trying her best in a new environment, still rubbed me the wrong way. But overall I enjoyed the character development, especially from Gretchen. She starts off as a woman against the world, and by the end of it, was willing to do more for others at the sacrifice of herself. She learned that not everyone was going to treat her like a usable pawn in nefarious deeds like her father once did and that friendships and love didn't always have to end in pain. Charlie and Gretchen fall in love in a rather wholesome way and I appreciated the build of their sexual tension before any passionate moments came to the forefront.

Everett, the ghost, provided plenty of lighthearted banter, and whilst I got teary-eyed at the ending, I think the overall use of him in the storyline worked well. I did find the final plot twist with the curse on the Waybill line to be a little convenient, but it still worked out well enough and I was happy with the ending.

Overall, I had a good time with this story, and I plan to check out the author's other book thanks to the fun I had with this one.

Happy Medium follows Gretchen as she attempts to persuade goat farmer, Charlie, of a ghost on the goat farm property. Despite advertising herself as a medium, this ghost, Everett, is the only ghost she has been able to communicate with, and Everett wants her help to break a curse.

This was such a delightful book! Despite being a fraud when it comes to being a medium, Gretchen only lies when she feels that it will help others, which I think makes her character more endearing when she could be the opposite. Gretchen's journey to feeling as though she also deserved friendship and love was a beautiful journey.

Charlie was also a lovely MMC, who saw straight through Gretchen's usual lies. He has a lot going on in the background and his story was really beautifully written.

I really enjoyed this story! Thank you Quercus Books for an e-arc of this one, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading this fictional paranormal love story. At first, I couldn't make it through the first chapters but when the story got rolling I loved it. Both Gretchen and Charlie are very likable and their love story is truly unique with a lot of laughter, goats, and a ghost.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgalley

REVIEW
cw: dementia, grief
When fake medium Gretchen Acorn has to persuade goat farmer Charlie Waybill of the ghost on his property, he's sceptical. Everett is the only ghost she's ever truly been able to communicate with, and when Everett reveals that there's also a curse, she needs to convince Charlie that both the ghost and the curse are real.
I loved this book! Gretchen was such an interesting character, and even while she was a fraud, I appreciated how she still had rules of ethics. I appreciated that the author took us on a real journey with the character, revealing how she'd become a confidence trickster, whilst allowing us to empathise with her loneliness. Gretchen's realisation that she deserved love and friendship was so moving. I also particularly empathised with her clumsiness, and there were some genuinely comical moments, especially between her and Everett. Gretchen's first introduction to the goats was also hilarious.
Charlie was such a sweetheart, but I loved that he wasn't a pushover and that he could immediately see through Gretchen's usual lies. Their relationship was really interesting to watch develop, and I loved their immediate chemistry. The chapter when Gretchen came clean to Charlie was so visceral and raw, but also incendiary (IYKYK). Meanwhile, chapter thirty-four absolutely broke my heart, as did the chapter with Charlie's grandfather. Anyone who's had a family member dealing with dementia will empathise with how heartbreaking that scene was for Charlie, and it was beautifully written.
But, for me, the majority of the humour came from Everett the ghost. I really grew to love him, despite his quirks, cheekiness, and deception. He was so hilarious, and his obsession with TV was such a fun characteristic, with so many nods to my own favourite TV shows. I cackled laughing at his Ally McBeal baby dance, and the TV time-outs were hilarious.
I loved the epilogue, even though it made me cry (no spoilers but it was kind of bittersweet).
This book made me laugh, cry, and swoon in equal measure.

Overall Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own*

Favourite Quotes:

"...I know this sounds ridiculous, but it’s like I can feel . . . her love . . . when I wear something she made. And I didn’t want all that love to go to waste sitting in the back of a closet.”

“Loving people . . . can hurt,” he says slowly. “I understand that. Maybe better than anyone.”

“Don’t you think I feel it too?”Charlie asks abruptly, less irate and more . . . pleading? “Of course I . . . I feel whatever it is between us. But I don’t trust it, I can’t. Because I don’t trust you. And I think you understand that. So please don’t . . . please don’t test me.”

He’s so f**king ridiculous , Gretchen thinks. And he’s the best friend I’ve ever had.

“How do you not see what I can’t help but show you? How do you not see the way my heart is absolutely breaking with how much it needs to keep you safe?”

"...he spotted the real her beneath all of her strategic outer layers the moment they met. And yet he’s still here with her, touching her, wanting her.

She tells herself that staying here will be enough. It will be enough to ease this ache in her chest. To quiet the whispering voice that tells her the yearning she has isn’t for a place, but a person.

“I need to know you’re going to crave this every single time you walk up these steps for the rest of your life.”

“We don’t have to pretend I’m a good person, Charlie,” she says, looking away, his eyes in their reflection seeing too much.
“How could you think—Jesus, you’re not a good person, Acorn, you’re the best person."

Gretchen always wondered what it would feel like to return somewhere and feel like she was home. Like she belonged to a place and it belonged to her. She thought that she was close to feeling that way about the farm. But when Charlie kisses her, she realizes that it’s this. This is the feeling she’s wondered about her whole life. This is what it feels like to be home at last.

“The truth is this: I want to stay here. And I want you to stay with me. I want to work together every day. Sleep together every night. Plant a field of sunflowers together, one that will actually grow. I just want to be together for as long as we can. I want you to be my family. And even if it doesn’t work out and I wind up stuck at Gilded Creek for the rest of my life, it’ll have been worth it.”

“I will always need you, Acorn. And not for what you can do, but for who you are to me.”

“I’ve never wanted you because you were useful, Gretchen. I want you because you’re you.”

This is an amusing story of Gretchen who is a con artist making a living by making people believe she can talk to the dead. One day one of her clients asks her to go and help her friend save his goat farm by performing an exorcism. After being offered an huge sum of money Gretchen decides she will do it, or at least pretend to and pocket the money).

When Gretchen arrives at the farm she suddenly finds she can converse with a ghost! He tells her of a curse on the farm and that if the current occupier sells the farm and leaves, he will die and be in purgatory. Gretchen then decides to help the ghost save the occupant, Charlie.

The story is good and full of humour but is essentially a story of love, friendship and trust.

first heard about Happy Medium when Laura Wood mentioned it on her instagram feed and I knew I had to read it - ghosts, romance and a recommendation from one of my favourite authors? It was a guaranteed hit!

When spirit medium Gretchen Acorn heads to a supposedly haunted goat farm to perform an exorcism, the last thing she expects to find is an actual ghost - because Gretchen has been faking her physic abilities for years and this job was meant to be a quick weekend trip filled with fake words and reassurances. But not only does Everett exist, he's also adamant about the existence of a curse that threatens the life of farmer - and sceptic - Charlie Waybill if he sells the property. Cue a hilarious romance filled with goat yoga and adorable paranormal friendships.

I really loved the premise behind this story and it was so much fun to read! Charlie and Gretchen were really cute. I'm looking forward to reading more Sarah Adler novels soon!

I don't usually read romcoms, and I honestly couldn't tell you why because I quite loved this one and I need to read more books like it.

It was funny, cute, wholesome, and most of all the entire plot made sense. Every choice, every dialogue, the personalities, it all worked perfectly. Such a cozy read, I loved it.

“I ain’t afraid of no goats!”

I went into this completely blind as was recommended to me by the publishers through NetGalley and absolutely loved it! A Ghost inspired set up where a (fake) Medium goes to help exorcise a spooky farm but discovers more than just a weekends work! Of course there’s hilarious, poignant and spicy scenes that just make ‘Acorn’ and ‘Chick’ fall in love with each other and bring us along with them. Everett is my favourite character though and a kindred spirit as would absolutely be obsessed with several tv shows if I couldn’t do anything else!

4.5 🌟