I previously posted a review on this book, but I've done a recent re-read and think it deserves an additional star and some additions to my thoughts and feelings, as I enjoyed the second read way more than the first!

This small town, contemporary, romantic comedy centres around Vada, a professional mourner for hire, whose job brings her back to her hometown of Shellport, where we meet a plethora of fantastic characters, a love/hate romance with a client's son, and a well-thought-out scheme to uncover forgotten memories of her past.

Vada was such a uniquely interesting FMC, and the whole concept of her profession had me sold from the moment I saw this book on Netgalley. Now I’m sitting here wishing I could just book a plane ticket and send myself to Shellport ASAP, because that place is right up my alley.

I adored how this played out; it had just the right levels of comedic timing, tension, tenderness, and depth. Big shoutout to Annabelle for being one of the best characters. My biggest wish is that we saw more of her at various points in the story because she was honestly just so iconic.

Re-reading the novel helped me pick up on plot aspects and writing that I had missed; there were certain times the story felt a little rushed, certain characters overlooked, but on a second re-read, it felt a lot more fluid, so Im putting it down to perhaps reading the story too quickly.

This ended up being such a fun story with some really lovable characters! The ways in which topics of grief and loss were addressed felt well-executed throughout, and the layered theme of self-discovery only added to the emotional depth. This went way way way beyond what I was anticipating for a rom-com, and I’ll probably be thinking about this book nonstop for the foreseeable.


Thank you so much Netgalley and Caitlin Moss for this arc in exchange for an unbiased review

oh this was gorgeous. didn't realize it was romcommy so the com definitely surprised me at first, but i LOVED this book. so gorgeous. so emotional.

A feel good novel for all that it is about death. Plenty of fire and grumpy sunshine action mild spice level. Enjoyable fun.

From the literal first page you know you’re in for a “romcom” that is just different, not your average love story, unique and fresh. And man was this unique!

Vada has an unconventional job. Dunner is a small town bar owner. They meet. Things are spicy, things immediately fizzle and then they’re forced back together in a way neither could have predicted. Annabelle had a grand master plan and she is determined to see it through, even if it is from another realm. Let me stop here. I am NOT one for paranormal anything. Ghosts? I’m out. Spirits? No thanks. Caitlin Moss writes about both and I somehow LOVE it? Moss is a witch of that much I am certain, because she takes tropes I loathe and makes me her biggest fan.

This really truly is unlike anything you’ve read. We have romance, enemies to lovers, ghosts, HGTV worthy renovations, small town camaraderie and a tale as old as time for two kiddos that grew up. I absolutely adored this. Moss’s writing is always stellar, but her story telling, raw emotional connections and visceral details make for one very special story that I don’t think I will ever fully move on from.

The depictions of what a Mom means made me ugly cry at the Yard House while I finished this on a work trip. She has a way of making real life and the paranormal somehow all fit together like a lovely little puzzle piece - an edge piece at that!

Mourner For Hire started out as a super fun read. It gave a lighthearted look into types of mourning and grief without getting into psychoanalysis type explanations. It was a super easy read, and I loved Vada. The insta-attraction between Vada and Dominic/Dunner was fun (and not super common these days) at the start of the book before getting in to the end connection of them, and seeing where their characters actually started their life together. I did feel like Dominic was a little more grumpy than my usual grumpy sunshine favorites, but the grief aspect kind of changes the mindset around him being a total jerk for half the book. I did appreciate his "ah-ha moment" after seeing Vada and Morgan in action though.
I essentially split this book in thirds as far as areas of enjoyment. The first 1/3 was fabulous, the second 1/3 felt like it was work to get through, and the last 1/3 tied in everything really well. Overall it was a good time, and I really appreciated the chance to get to read and give feedback to Netgalley and Caitlin Moss.

Thanks to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for early access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. But I found myself unable to put it down. It made me laugh out loud, cry and smile like a maniac in certain parts. Such a good unique love story. Everyone should read.

This book is a delightful mix of grief, ghosts, and slow-burn romance. Vada Daughtry, a professional mourner with a habit of disappearing, shares one unexpected night with bartender Dominic ;then vanishes. A year later, she shows up at his mother’s funeral… and finds herself haunted (literally) by the deceased, who left Vada something in her will *and* a list of posthumous demands.

What follows is a witty, emotional story about unfinished business, both romantic and supernatural. The enemies-to-lovers tension is sharp, the ghostly twist adds charm, and the coastal small-town setting makes it all feel wonderfully cozy.

Perfect for fans of heartfelt rom-coms with a bite...

Vada attends funerals to enact the final wishes of the dead, which is a morbid but pretty innocuous career overall until Dominic's mother dies and he learns the will leaves Vada the family beach house to renovate with a limitless budget. Dominic is a grumpy man child who thinks being 30 means he's too old to do anything other than manage a rundown bar. He calls Vada crazy several times, which isn't entirely inaccurate considering she talks to ghosts, but I found his constant “she’s the worst” bit to be very off-putting. If Vada didn’t suffer from dissociative amnesia, she’d remember a connection to Dominic that dates back to childhood, among other memories that her traumatized brain has repressed into oblivion. They trade quips and pretend to hate each other until they abruptly don't, which was a vibe shift that should have been eased into a bit more. Everything generally works out in the end - Vada gets her memory back and Dominic shifts from being unlikable to somewhat tolerable. While the MC’s didn’t do much for me, Dominic’s mom and the small-town busybodies that loved her make this book worthwhile, as well as Vada calling Dominic a butthead, which is nicer than anything I’d call him.

Have you ever thought about how your funeral would play out? ⚰️
Vada's job is just that—a mourner for hire. She gets paid to fulfill the wishes of those dying at their funerals. One job requires her to return home to where her mother died via car crash, and Vada lost her memory. Her job, however, is strange, and she slowly starts remembering her mother and past life throughout this job. She also meets a bartender named Dominic, who turns out to be someone she already knew before.
The storyline is so different and I love it!! There's humor, drama, sadness, and love. Recommend giving it a read, and the ending's revelation is so satisfying.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

Vada has an unconventional job and childhood trauma. Dominic also has trauma and a troubled last few years. Brought back together by the death of his mother, the two rekindle a long-lost friendship and heal... but not without a lot of hate first. Vada returns to their shared hometown, which she hasn't visited in decades. Dominic returned home to be there for his family. Both characters discover their old and new lives together...eventually.

I liked this book. My rating for it is 4/5 stars. Lovers of Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry romance novels, don't sleep on this book! Mourner For Hire has a lot of elements and gives vibes similar to the romance novels by the aforementioned authors. This is a perfect read for bookish people who also love to hang out in cemeteries.

Moss's work is well written and original. It has romance, spice, cute characters, and a small-town setting. The main characters go through soul-searching arcs that conclude nicely. I devoured the story, similar to when I read Henry/Jimenez. The characters are lovable and funny, especially if you appreciate dark humor. Vada is relatable with diverse talents. Dominic is a good man (trying to pretend he isn't sometimes). I'd recommend this book to readers who aren't afraid of dark, morbid humor or discussions about death. The book contains other content warnings at the beginning, so review those if you're a sensitive reader.

My critiques are minuscule. Without giving spoilers, there's a repetitive adjective that I got tired of. Something mentioned in the story did not come full circle, as I thought it would. I have a hard time believing the enemies-to-lovers story, but if that is your thing, then you'll love this story. Some aspects of Dominic's perspective did not feel realistic, but that is probably just me. The conclusion felt very fast. I felt that it could have been drawn out for another chapter or two to fully wrap up the story, but overall, I enjoyed reading. I would recommend it to my friends who like dark romance books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy e-book!

Weird in all the right ways and I adored it! This debut is so sharp and original, with a voice that feels totally fresh. There’s a dry humour running through it, mixed with this deep emotional undercurrent that really caught me off guard (in the best way). Think deadpan meets heartbreak, with a side of existential crisis. Brilliant.

I LOVED it. Her job was so interesting and thoughtful. Don’t get me started on Vada she’s so cool and weird and I love it. There was just the right amount of spice and I enjoyed how it was wrote.

A romantic comedy about death, forgotten pasts, and unfinished business.

Vada Daughtry is a professional mourner. For a fee, she’ll cry at your funeral, whisper invented memories, and spin tales of heartbreak. It’s a job that keeps her moving—and keeps her past buried.

But when a wrong turn leads her to a roadside bar and a mojito-soaked night with bartender Dominic Dunne, something shifts. Then she vanishes, like she always does.

Nearly a year later, Vada shows up at a funeral… and realises the deceased is Dominic’s mother.

Now he’s grieving, furious, and stunned to learn Vada’s been left a generous piece of his mother’s estate. He knows what she does for a living. He thinks it’s all a con. Vada wants to slip away quietly—again—but the late Annabelle Dunne has other plans: haunting Vada until she completes a list of posthumous demands, starting with renovating her crumbling seaside cottage.

Drawn back to the coastal town of Shellport, Vada and Dominic are forced to confront the truth—about the past, about each other, and about a ghost of a woman who isn’t done pulling strings.

This was a gorgoeous romantic comedy about unfinished business, grief and making the most of the little things. It was such a fun read with loveable characters and the power to make me sob at the end about my own experiences. I do feel that the enemies part of enemies to lovers was dragged out a bit and that Dominic was overly cruel but I liked how everything was wrapped up at the end and didn't quite guess the twist!

Thank you to netgalley for the arc of this book because I absolutely loved it!

It took me a good while to like Dominic after he found out about Vada but oh how I enjoyed it. I also found the book really funny at times. Definitely would recommend this read.

Dominic Dominic Dominic.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Vada was a incredibly likable character and she had good quips. However. How could Dominic just not GET OVER IT. He held this against Vada the whole time knowing her (which slightly annoyed me but at the same time I kinda liked it?)

I loved Vadas back story while we learned of her relationships with her mother and Dominic at a young age. Reading this just felt like a feel good romance and was super enjoyable for me.

HANDS DOWN….Caitlin Moss’ best book written to date. I can’t stop thinking about the acknowledgements at the end of the book and how she tells her readers how her husband says, “I just don’t understand how your brain works” (my husband too thinks the same about my comments and actions and thoughts and moods after reading books).

Mourner for Hire is ALL THE FEELS. I haven’t laughed and cried and just felt the feelings in a book in a very long time. Both Vada and Dominic’s characters are so complex and left me hanging on every word. I adored the dual character perspectives because it put me right there just like I was a ghost like Annabelle.

This story was beautifully written and I can’t wait for everyone in the PNW to read it because I’m literally going to scream it from the mountaintops for everyone to read it.

wow wow wow wow wow! Firstly thank you to Netgalley and Caitlin Moss for letting me be an ARC reader to this book! I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve related more to a character than I did Vada. This may be the best book I’ve read so far this year!! An amazing book. So well written. So easy to fall in love with the characters and get lost in their story! Thank you Caitlin for writing such an amazing book!!

Thank you to netgalley for the oportunity to read this early copy in exchange for my honest review.

if the idea of a funeral where there is haunting precense in the back with a veil to make your loved ones wonder who is that and who were you really, a mourner for hire is what you need.

Vada will take care of your last request and make sure that it is followed down to every little detail. so when Anabelle hires her and asks that she stays and renovates her old cottage and live in it while it is being remodeled she agrees. she will make sure it is perfect.

Vada goes to a bar where she meets the charming dominic and after sharing a few drinks ,they talk and vada shares her career with him, a coulple of kisses they part ways expecting to not see each other , atleast dominic does.

Dominic was not expecting to see Vada at her mothers funeral, knowing what she does for a living he is outraged to think that vada took advantage of his mother to get her money.

i enjoyed both characters, vada had this charm about her and you could really feel she cared for her clients and it was not just a squeme to get money. she put her heart in to it and after every funeral she was a bit heartbroken.

Dominic i had some trouble loving all the way. while he was charming in the beguining i was very upset about how he was treating vada. then i realized that he was displacing his sadness. instead of allowing himself to be sad for the lost of his mother he went to anger towards Vada. it was a little too real which i realized was why i could not love him.

the vanter between them was everything. i liked how both knew they liked each other, they both remembered the chemiestry they had and how they enjoyed their brief time together but they kept antagonizing each other.

it went a little longer than what i would have liked, it mostly felt like dominic being mean to vada and her just taking it. once they got together it was cute and i was happy with the ending. it felt good and fitting to them.

the background characters were adorable and i would have loved to see a bit more of this small town.

3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2/5 🌶🌶

**Tropes:**
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
🌊 Small Town Romance
⏳ Slow Burn
👻 Light Paranormal Elements

Mourner For Hire is a short and heartfelt story that offers a unique, thoughtful take on grief and healing. The premise—centered around a professional mourner hired to fulfill unusual posthumous requests—was what originally drew me in, and it definitely delivered on that front. I appreciated how the book explored different ways people cope with loss, and found the depictions of grief—especially through Dominic’s experience—to be raw, believable, and emotionally grounded.

Vada, a former interior designer turned "mourner for hire," returns to her hometown for a final job: carry out the funeral wishes of Annabelle, a dying woman with a very specific request—help her son grieve and renovate her beach cottage. Complicating things? Vada and Annabelle’s son, Dominic “Dunner” Dunne, had an almost-hookup nine months earlier, and now he’s convinced she’s taking advantage of his late mother.

While the story had emotional depth and a fresh concept, the execution didn’t always land for me. The dialogue often felt a bit forced and unnatural, and I struggled at times to connect with the characters, whose motivations and personalities seemed to shift from scene to scene. The romance lacked some development, and the chemistry didn’t feel fully earned—which made the spicy scenes fall a little flat for me. That said, the ending tied things up in a satisfying way, even if the final twist was fairly easy to see coming.

Overall, *Mourner For Hire* had an original premise with meaningful themes and some strong emotional moments. While the writing style wasn’t quite a fit for me, I think readers who enjoy offbeat small-town romances with a touch of the paranormal and a focus on grief and healing may find something special here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Mourner for Hire is such a unique story! Readers are introduced to Vada, who is a professional mourner who may have a bit of a depressing job but loves it. When a one night stand turns out to be the son of her latest assignment, Vada finds herself with her hands full with a suspicious (though hot) romance and his mother as a ghost haunting her. First, five stars for Annabelle, the ghost, because though the story didn’t rely too heavily on her, she was absolute gold.

While grief and processing death is an understandably large part of the story, it is done well and there was plenty of humor and romance to keep things from getting too dark. Surprisingly, there is also plenty of (not directly related to the ghost) mystery as well as Vada can’t remember her childhood after a traumatic accident that killed her mother, though the small town where Annabelle lived and where Vada is currently on assignment was where she lived with her mother.

Caitlin Moss is a new to me author but she should be introduced to a wider audience based on this book. I can’t wait to read more and recommend this to others, it is the ultimate pleasant surprise of a book that goes so much deeper than its (charming) cover.