This review contains minor spoilers - proceed with caution.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶️🌶️

The premise of this novel was truly unique, and I was immediately intrigued. However, throughout this read I found myself wanting more focus on Vada’s peculiar career rather than spending the majority of the story centered around a grieving man who often directed his anger at the wrong person.

The first few chapters and the ending were definitely the highlights for me. They were charming, sweet, and heartfelt. I especially enjoyed the glimpses into the funerals; those scenes were thoughtful, surprisingly tender, and often laugh out loud funny.

The cycle of Dominic lashing out at Vada, followed by a friend or neighbor reminding him to stop, often citing his mom’s wishes, started to feel repetitive. While I understood the grief and internal conflict he was dealing with, the pattern played out several times with only slight variation, and it left me wishing for more growth or nuance in how those moments were handled. A bit more emotional accountability or refinement in the pacing could have made his arc more impactful.

That said, it was a quick, easy read with some sweet moments. Shellport itself had real charm, and I can absolutely see how readers will be drawn to its small-town warmth and quirky community.

Mourner For Hire is a dark romantic comedy that manages to be both sharp edged and tender hearted. The story blends grief, ghosts, and grudges with wit and slow burn romantic tension, all wrapped in the premise of a professional mourner with a murky past.

Vada is a paid mourner who makes a living fulfilling the dead’s wishes. With both a difficult past and her current profession, she’s learned to slip in and out of people’s lives with minimal emotional entanglement. That is until one twist of fate and one very persistent ghost turn her life upside down.

Dominic, the grumpy bartender with his own wounds, balances Vada perfectly. Their dynamic crackles with tension, resentment, and the kind of smoldering chemistry that makes enemies to lovers such a satisfying trope.

The ghostly presence of Annabelle Dunne, Dominic’s meddling mother who refuses to rest quietly, adds intrigue, humor, and heartache to the story.

Shellport, the PNW seaside town where much of the story unfolds, is richly drawn and full of charm and small town gossip, adding a cozy backdrop to the unfolding emotional chaos.

There’s humor and romance but also moments of vulnerability and insight about love, loss, and the strange ways people hold on to each other even after death. It’s both predictable and unexpected in just the right ways. Overall a very cozy and heartfelt read!

ARC provided by NetGalley

I was intrigued from the book based on the title and cover alone and then was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Something about the idea of crashing funerals and helping people get revenge from beyond the grave is iconic.

And that’s part of Vada’s job. She meets the deceased months or sometimes years before they go, and helps carry out their final wishes. Some of them are funny, such as causing drama at a their funeral, while others are oddly sweet and heartwarming. Despite not wanting to have a connection to those she helps, she seems to feel hard and get attached to the deceased.

Then there’s her client, Annabelle. She’s hilarious and manipulative in the best way. After Annabelle passes, she takes to haunting Vada and her take on being a ghost is pretty creative. Annabelle’s son, Dominic, is obviously grieving the loss of his mother and embodies what that can look like really well. And then he also has a sense of humor and exhibits some behaviors that definitely reflect being raised by someone like Annabelle.

The story is the right combination of being funny but making you feel. It’s light-hearted when needed and deep when necessary.

#arc

This review is so hard to write through my tears.

I had a feeling that this story would get me and it really truly did. Vada being a Mourner For Hire, is so crazy and outlandish, but it suits her perfectly. I swear she is my spirit animal in literary form. Although this story was pretty funny- Dom and Vada’s banter was literal perfection, it was also pretty tender and sad. Which I suppose can be expected from a book about death overall.

I really enjoyed everything about this book, but one of the most interesting aspects for me was Vada’s job. I feel like we really got to see so many different facets of death and how people handle it and what last wishes they hope to see fulfilled. I feel like Mourner For Hire is such a silly term, that when you see everything she does to ensure people’s last wishes are fulfilled- it feels like she does so much more than that.

Dominic, poor sweet Dominic. He doesn’t handle the loss of his mother well (most wouldn’t I’d imagine). But his arc is interesting and I enjoyed watching him and Vada fight each other off.

Be warned if you read this book, laughter and crying should be expected. Annabelle (our resident ghost) is a paranormal mastermind and the story is just so great. If you are looking for a romance with a bit of a bite, and a journey of self-discovery and remembrance- PLEASE pick up this book. You won’t regret it.

This review is so hard to write through my tears.

I had a feeling that this story would get me and it really truly did. Vada being a Mourner For Hire, is so crazy and outlandish, but it suits her perfectly. I swear she is my spirit animal in literary form. Although this story was pretty funny- Dom and Vada’s banter was literal perfection, it was also pretty tender and sad. Which I suppose can be expected from a book about death overall.

I really enjoyed everything about this book, but one of the most interesting aspects for me was Vada’s job. I feel like we really got to see so many different facets of death and how people handle it and what last wishes they hope to see fulfilled. I feel like Mourner For Hire is such a silly term, that when you see everything she does to ensure people’s last wishes are fulfilled- it feels like she does so much more than that.

Dominic, poor sweet Dominic. He doesn’t handle the loss of his mother well (most wouldn’t I’d imagine). But his arc is interesting and I enjoyed watching him and Vada fight each other off.

Be warned if you read this book, laughter and crying should be expected. Annabelle (our resident ghost) is a paranormal mastermind and the story is just so great. If you are looking for a romance with a bit of a bite, and a journey of self-discovery and remembrance- PLEASE pick up this book. You won’t regret it.

I can safely say I’ve never read a book like this, in the absolute best way possible. I was kicking my feet and giggling one page, and crying the next. Dominic is the best type of MMC, aka a grouchy bartender who’s a secret cinnamon roll softie, and he and Vada were so cute, even when they were verbally sparring (or getting the town involved in their feud). I had a blast with this book and will definitely be picking up more from this author!!

This book had me giggling, tearing up, and questioning my career choices. 😆 Vada gets paid to mourn at funerals (yes, that’s her real job) — until she ends up fake-mourning the actual mom of a guy she ghosted after a tipsy night at a bar. Awkward.. Now there’s drama, a bossy ghost, a seaside cottage that’s falling apart, and some slow-burn romantic tension. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and somehow made faking tears at funerals feel… kinda sweet? Loved it! 🫶🏻

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own!

“We had a good run, didn’t we? A good life.”
I nod. “It wasn’t long enough.”
“It never is.”

This book was absolutely mesmerizing from start to finish. I laughed. I cried. I giggled. I kicked my feet. I swooned. I mourned. Truly one of my favorite contemporary romance reads of all time. At the true heart of it it’s about living (really living) your life after loss.

The plotline is SO unique. Our main character, Vada’s job is a professional mourner at funerals. She meets with people who know they are going to die and attends their funeral according to their wishes. She cries, she starts drama, she stands mysteriously in a corner, etc. everything. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Our girl Vada is so witty, dry, sarcastic and just genuinely fun. She is full of so much love and so much empathy. She looks at the world in such a bright but also dark and morbid way. She doesn’t take herself seriously but she also is so strong and sure of herself. I adored her so much.

Our boy Dominic is a dreamboat. I loved loved loved him. Hes so multidimensional. He can be funny and fun but also vindictive and spiteful. Watching him grieve his mother killed me. But I loved watching him grow and heal.

And our third main character / comic relief…..I’ll let you find that one out on your own!

The way this is written is also stunning. The prose is gorgeous. The way everything comes back full circle took my breath away. I couldn’t have adored it more. It’s so charming and wholesome and thought provoking. It is SO funny, so ridiculous at times. It makes you feel everything and more that you want to feel. It’s perfect.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Caitlin Moss for this eARC of now one of my most treasured reads. You wrote the HELL out of that one. Gonna go run and read everything you’ve ever written now!

This was such a fun and cute read! It was also one heck of a ride but I loved it. I would definitely recommend it to everyone!

All. The. Things!

This book is everything and more. Not only will it hit you in the feels but it will turn right around and make you giggle. I love how everything came together. It’s cozy with small town charm, a chemistry fueled slow burn done perfectly, and everything in between.

Absolutely stellar! Laugh out loud. Delicious rom com! The vibes were stellar. I laughed, I cried, I clapped. I loveeee finding a new premise in a book!! This delivered

Okay so I decided to request this for the vibes and I am so glad I did! This is gonna hit PERFECTLY for spooky season! The banter the setting everything was perfect and a big thank you to Netgally and the publisher for blessing me early!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 A Spellbinding, Sharp, and Soulful Gem

This book completely stole my heart in the quirkiest, most unexpected way. Imagine if grief had a sense of humor, if ghosts held grudges and matchmaking tendencies, and if love stories were built on secrets, salt air, and second chances—that’s what you get with this beautifully layered dark romantic comedy.

Vada Daughtry is a revelation. A professional mourner with a hidden past and a habit of disappearing, she’s one of the most original, compelling protagonists I’ve read in a long time. Her job is both heartbreaking and bizarrely poetic, and watching her confront the very emotions she’s spent years faking was both painful and cathartic.

Enter Dominic Dunne—a grieving bartender with a sharp tongue and a cracked-open heart. Their chemistry is electric, full of slow-burn tension, biting banter, and moments of tenderness that sneak up on you. And just when you think this is going to be a typical enemies-to-lovers arc, the ghost of Dominic’s mother, Annabelle, shows up (literally) with a to-do list and a whole lot of unfinished business.

The coastal setting of Shellport is atmospheric and slightly eerie, the perfect backdrop for a story that blends romance, loss, and the supernatural with effortless grace. The writing is whip-smart and lyrical, with just the right amount of wit to balance out the darker themes.

If you’re into haunted love stories with heart, sass, and substance—or if you just want a book that will make you laugh, ache, and believe in second chances—this is your next must-read. I’d give it ten stars if I could. 💀💕🌊

Fresh, funny, and full of heart, Mourner For Hire is a romantic comedy like no other. Caitlin Moss blends grief, love, and a touch of the supernatural into a story that’s equal parts hilarious and deeply moving.

With a main character who’s flawed but lovable, enemies to lovers chemistry that sizzles, and just the right hint of magical realism, this book pulls you in from page one and doesn’t let go. The writing is sharp, the emotions are real, and the plot takes unexpected turns that keep you hooked.

Perfect for fans of unique love stories with emotional depth and a little ghostly charm. A five star read that’s impossible to forget.

This was more of a 3.5⭐ but I rounded up because for the most part I enjoyed it.

I think the initial plot of this is so silly and honestly is a great way to have a romance happen. Vada getting paid to crash funerals but in a respectful way is sort of iconic lmao. People getting revenge from beyond the grave? Yes 😂

Where some of this story lost me was the romance. To start, I think the romance was good and Dominic was giving hot in the best ways. But the way it came about felt like tonally...off. They obviously are enemies to lovers with a dash of second chance thrown in but the second chance sort of felt like it didn't belong. Dominic being an asshole for most of the story would've been fine, but because he wasn't it felt like enemies to lovers also didn't really give.

Truthfully, neither of them hated each other at any point so it was like, why make it that? Dominic was misplacing his anger for reasons that made sense, but it just lasted too long for me and it all felt pointless because you knew how it was gonna end up. Veda didn't actually hate him, and every time he was disgustingly rude, she didn't stand up to him which started to annoy me. Letting him be rude and then segueing it into flirting? Not really for me...

The second chance aspect I guess was there because of the amnesia but I just feel like something about it didn't work for me and it's hard to put to words. It just felt a little too Hallmark. I get that the point was to be like, home will always bring you back etc etc, but just make her memory completely gone! The glimpses and slightly remembering was just strange for me lmao. Like, her leaving town as a little kid after a traumatic accident should've been enough reason to justify her lack of memories but it was this weird in between thing that made it seem like she didn't actually lose her memories and they were just suppressed. Which, again is fine but idk. Hard to explain, but I wasn't completely sold.

I will say, the slow burn nature of it all did sort of give, but once it got going the tension sort of fell off which was a shame. Yall can still have sexual tension once you admit you have feelings!

I thought the small town worked but the side characters could take them or leave them. Annabelle being a ghost was cute, but if we were gonna have one ghost, why not just give Vada the ability to see the beyond and that's why she has this job.

Really, I did like this and I'd tell my friends to read it but it had a few things that felt a little too corny for me to give it a complete 4⭐but I did enjoy it and honestly, the romance was hot even though I nitpicked. The story had funny moments that balanced out and overall I think if you like emotional stories you'll probably like this. I'd definitely tune in to whatever this author writes next!

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher/author Caitlin Moss for providing me with the eARC of “Mourner for Hire”, in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: September 9th, 2025
Reviewed on Goodreads: June 24th, 2025

4 stars!
This was a pretty emotional read and may or may not have had me crying by the end.

- Enemies to lovers
- Small town romance
- Magic/ghosts
- Trauma healing

Vada is a “mourner for hire”, meaning people hire her in advance to attend their funerals and do/say whatever they want.
Dominic is the owner of a bar in the small town that Vada used to live in.
They meet when she travels back into town to discuss business with a new client, who just so happens to be someone close to Domonic.
Like turns to hate, until hate turns to love. Vada rediscovers forgotten memories about her mother and about her childhood, all while being haunted by the ghost of a dead client.

This was really good, especially once you really get into the story.
I liked the romance between Vada and Dominic. Their relationship progressed A LOT over the course of the story. Although, I do wish Dominic was a bit nicer. I know his character was written to be angry and mean on purpose because of his situation, but sometimes the way he treated Vada felt a bit too intense for my liking.
I liked the writing style. It was easy to follow, and I always love a Dual point-of-view story.
Both characters finally getting closure at the end was super emotional, and I was so happy for both of them.

Overall, a good book and I would recommend it!

I went into this expecting a darker, grittier story, but was pleasantly surprised by the unique direction it took. The author crafts a one-of-a-kind world that mixes sorrow with humor in a way that feels both heartfelt and whimsical. A small-town enemies-to-lovers romance with a fun paranormal twist, it balances the bizarre and the tender in a truly original way.

Vada’s job as a professional mourner was such a standout element—I loved how unusual yet oddly fitting it was for her character. Even better, her profession didn’t get “fixed” or tossed aside after finding her happily ever after, which felt authentic and refreshing. The touch of ghostly meddling from Dominic’s mother added flavor without overpowering the romantic arc, and the writing had a charming, emotionally layered tone throughout.

That said, the pacing was hit or miss. While it mostly worked, the ending felt rushed, and the sudden wave of mushiness between Vada and Dominic didn’t quite fit the characters—especially Vada, who had been so guarded and sharp-edged for most of the story. Their chemistry was there physically, but emotionally? It needed more depth. I found myself wishing the author had explored their relationship further beyond just the sexual tension.

Still, the blend of grief, sarcasm, and reluctant romance made for an entertaining ride. And is it just me, or did it feel like Conner and Morgan might be set up for a future book? I’d definitely keep reading if this becomes a series. All in all, a fun and different take on the small-town romance trope, and I’ll be keeping an eye on this author.

Wow, wow, wow. Mourner For Hire is most definitively a standout rom-com. I unabashedly wolfed it down in a day and so here I sit with too little sleep, enough coffee to compensate, and lots of feelings about this book that I will try and translate into a semi-coherent review.

First of all, I don't know what kind of weird algorithm is happening in my life that this is the second book I've read in a week featuring a non-traditional death-related career, ghosts, and lots of dark humor. But... I'm kind of here for it.

This book employs perhaps the most impressive banter between two characters that I have ever come across. And I'm not overstating when I say that. I regularly laughed out loud at the repartee between Vada and Dominic, not to mention the many and varied escapades of the former.

Vada - well, she was the stand out character from the get-go. Her quirks, her unconventional profession, her witty internal commentary. The way her loss and trauma influenced her path, but made her a more empathetic person rather than a bitter shell of a human. The unfolding of her history and journey, and her search for answers and for a home was an absolute feat. Dominic was just as layered, though in different ways. And don't get me started on Annabelle. She was absolutely precious and nearly stole the show.

I am blown away by Moss's intricate weaving of both the poignant and the playful in Mourner for Hire. The beauty and brokenness of humanity was on full display throughout the story, in all it's wonderful, messy glory. Loss, grief, healing, home... some truly lovely themes discussed and handled in a really original way. It's definitely a book worth devouring (and highlighting to an obnoxious degree).

A couple of critiques include:
- Dominic's sharp anger went on a touch too long for me, and then took an abrupt 180 degree turn in a matter of like 3 pages- it left me with a bit of emotional vertigo
- I'm personally not a fan of open-door scenes. I do appreciate that the first one (ch. 41) at least could be skipped without missing anything vital. But the next scene (ch. 46) came with other information that shouldn't be missed... so it couldn't be avoided as easily, and that was a bummer. In general I just don't think those scenes added to the overall beauty of this book.

Thank you, thank you, to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for letting me read this incredible ARC!

The idea of a professional mourner for hire totally pulled me in, and I loved getting little glimpses into the odd and touching tasks the main character was hired to do at funerals. It was such a strange job on the surface, but it ended up feeling so human.

The main character was funny, a bit offbeat, and going through a lot beneath the surface. And the love interest? Just as layered. The way the story wove together themes of loss, memory, and unexpected healing really stuck with me. I did not want to put this book down!

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

This novel was brilliant! It was such a fun and entertaining read! It is quirky, original, captivating and thought provoking! It is a dark romantic comedy where the female main character is a professional mourner. It is a fast paced read that is extremely emotional, funny and reflective. This book is the perfect balance of humor and tragedy. I had laughed a lot throughout the book, but it also made me feel sad and cry. The fact that this book also comes with romance, was an added bonus! The characters in this story are strongly developed and lovable. It is beautifully written, had a well rounded plot and a clear storyline!

“Mourner For Hire” centers around a woman named Vada Daughtry. She is a professional mourner. She gets paid to cry at funerals, even whispers invented memories. She does this to keep her past buried. However, one day she ends up at a funeral with someone that she knows, a guy named Dominic. Dominic is attending his mom’s funeral. Vada knows Dominic, because he is a bartender in their hometown. He knows what she does and does not like it at all. There’s a lot of banter between them, but then things start to get serious and they become romantic. As the story unfolds, will they end up happily ever after and will she continue doing her mourner for hire job? It is a book that you have to keep reading till the end! Overall, I give this a rating of 5 out of 5 stars!

I think fans of an emotional depth storyline, along with dark romance and humor, would really enjoy reading this! Content warnings include death and grief.

Thank you to NetGalley and author Caitlin Moss for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 9, 2025!