swoony, fun, romcom with a very interesting plot and sizzling chemistry. i will definitely recommend it. 5 stars tysm for the arc.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

THIS WAS SO GOOD!!! Don't let the title get you down - this was funny and heartfelt and hopeful and everything you want in a book. Such an original idea! Both Vada and Dominic show such emotional growth throughout the story. Great side characters - I mean, how can you beat Annabelle - and great small town setting. The story grabbed me right from the beginning. The zingers between Vada and Dominic were everything. I didn't want it to end! One of my top reads of the year.

Mourner for Hire was a cute book with Vada being a little bit of an odd character and Dominic being a grumpy, broody bartender who just lost his mother.

Vada is a Mourner for Hire and when she shows up at Dominic’s mother’s funeral, he’s more than a little peeved. She tried to tell him what his mother asked of her but he is determined to hate her, despite the night they shared when they met a year ago.

Dominic was absolutely a broody and a bit melodramatic while Vada is trying to come off as unaffected but feels more than she wants to admit. This slow-burn, small town romance with elements of death, haunting (from an absolutely hilarious almost mother-in-law?) and finding one’s self was a great read that had me going until I inevitably fell asleep and picked it up as soon as I woke up again!

5 ⭐️ for this and thank you NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for this arc read and allowing me to share my opinions on it! I will absolutely read more from Caitlin!

I loved this. This was so well written that i flew through it, and i was fully invested in Vadas' story and her regaining her memories. The little twists through this really added to the emotional parts of the story. Annabelle was such a vibrant character, and I loved her meddling in Vada and Dominics' lives and causing so much chaos. This has a slow burn enemies to lovers romance. This was equal parts hilarious and emotional, and really showed how differently people deal with death and grieving. I highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this one! Clever dialogue and characterizations, an interesting premise, and a nice thread of humor throughout which tempered the heavier themes. (Which shouldn't be a surprise if you've read the book description). There are multiple sub-plots and an over-arching feeling of emotional connectedness, along with magical realism that I wasn't fully expecting but it was welcome all the same. This is a sweet story with an edge, about Vada the professional mourner. She struggles with dissociative amnesia from her childhood related to a car accident in which her mother died, after which her estranged father took her away from town to raise her. Vada returns to her hometown for a mourner job and meets Dunner (Dominic), a handsome cinnamon roll bartender with a sweet smile. The majority of the book is Dominic coming to grips with his mother's passing, and Vada connecting with her childhood memories from before her own mother died. It's handled gently for the most part, although I didn't always like Dominic's anger and aggression towards Vada after the initial insta-lust meet-cute (but I understood it). I did like Vada and Dominic together, at least when he wasn't being a jerk. You can see some of the plot points coming which adds an enjoyable layer of tension. There are dual 1st-person POVs that flesh out the story nicely. This book pulled me in from the start and was overall an enjoyable read with a satisfying HEA. This is a new-to-me author and I liked her voice, I will definitely read her again! Publishes September 9, 2025. This review is based on a complimentary eARC, all opinions are my own.

‘Mourner For Hire’ is a unique and unconventional romance. The female main character, Vada, works as a professional mourner. She's hired to attend funerals and put on a show. Whether it's shedding tears, causing a dramatic scene, or dropping a shocking revelation, she does whatever the client requests to make an impact.
Vada's latest job introduces her to the male lead, Dominic. His mother, anticipating her own passing, hires Vada to attend her funeral. As part of the deal, Vada also moves into the late woman’s cottage for a few months to renovate it, setting the stage for an unexpected and emotional connection between her and Dominic.
Going into this novel blind was an utter treat. Looking at the cover, you have literally no idea what to expect. Lets just say the story line is so unique I did not see anything coming. The banter between Vada and Dominic was brilliant.
If you have not read anything by Caitlin, I recommend starting with this one. Not only is it an easy enjoyable read, it is the perfect in between books if you've just finished something heavy.
Out September 9th.

**4.5 Stars**
✨ARC Book Review✨
📖 Mourner for Hire
✍️ Caitlin Moss
📅 Publication: September 9, 2025

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Vada Daughtry is a professional mourner, paid to cry at funerals and invent memories for the dead. It’s a job that keeps her drifting and hiding from her past.
One night she crosses paths with bartender Dominic Dunne, but disappears before anything can take root. Nearly a year later, she turns up at his mother’s funeral, only to learn she’s been left part of the estate. Dominic is furious, convinced she’s running another con.
Haunted by Annabelle Dunne’s ghost and bound to her list of posthumous demands, Vada is drawn back to the coastal town of Shellport. There, she and Dominic must face the truth about the past, each other, and a woman who refuses to stop pulling strings.
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
This book surprised me in the best way. It’s witty, heartfelt, and had me laughing more than I expected. The pacing felt solid, the plot tied up nicely, and the side characters added so much charm.
Anabelle completely stole the show for me and I absolutely loved her character. The MMC, on the other hand, didn’t win me over as much, but it didn’t take away too much from the story.
What really stood out was how it explored parental loss. Seeing grief handled in both childhood and adulthood gave the book an emotional depth I wasn’t expecting. Add in just a touch of spice, and overall this was a really rewarding read.
Thank you, @Netgalley and @caitlinmoss, for allowing me to review this book.

I loved this book so much!! It was the sweetest story of resilience, family, love, grief, and so much more!
The humor was perfection!
This story was well written and easy to read.
Thank you for letting enjoy this story!

MOURNER FOR HIRE is literally me after finishing this book. im obsessed and literally desperate for a other caitlin moss book. i thought i was getting justa cutesy fun book but the stages of grief hit me so hard. gimme more!!!!

I ADORED this book with my entire heart and soul. The story was so unique and I loved the paranormal element with the amnesia—literally chefs kiss.
From start to finish the banter was so so good and I giggled out loud too many times to count.
This was my second Caitlin Moss book and another stunning five star read. Her work is severely underrated and I cannot wait to dive into her other novels.

Oh gosh, where to start?
I thought it would be a nice quick romance read and it is, but it also hit me with a great rendition of all stages of mourning, of loss and of belonging.

Mourner for hire tells the story of Vada who suffers from amnesia after the car crash she survived, but her mother didn't. From that pit of despair she later on in life makes her career as a mourner for hire: fullfilling the last wishes - one more bizare than the other - of the people who contact her. After one of the funerals she meets Dunner, who is who he seems and much more.

I am easily triggered by anything to do with losing family or loved ones, but I didn't expect to be crying 16 pages in. Don't worry, the book isn't a slobbering mess from start to finish! It is witty and fun and cosy and romantic and bordering on weird at some points. But the best things are in life, aren't they?
There is just a warmth and safety to the writing style of Cailtlin Moss that hit home. Once I started this story, it was hard to put down because the dual pov makes you see this story through the eyes of the one who's hurting, but also through the eyes of the people you can lean on.

As far as romance books go, this one has more depth than the average story, so I could only give it 5 stars.

Get your tissues ready.
Set.
Enjoy this read!

(Thank you Netgalley and Caitlin Moss for the free ARC. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.)

Vada is a professional mourner which doesn’t sound like the best start to a romantic comedy but this book is incredible. There are some genuine laugh out loud moments as well as times when you will definitely shed a tear. Then just when you think you have the plot worked out, there is a brilliant plot twist!

DNF @ 30%. Unfortunately wasn't for me. I wasn't feeling the speculative element. Saying that I saw the potential so may pick up more in future.

This was such an interesting premise that I couldn’t resist hitting the request button on NetGalley. I’ve never read this author before, but the concept intrigued me: Vada Daughtry is a mourner for hire. People engage her before they pass away to attend their funeral—or to leave a final message on their behalf. Morbid? Maybe. Fascinating? Absolutely.

On a job in the town she grew up in (but can’t remember), Vada bumps into Dominic, the local bar owner. Sparks fly instantly, but she leaves the next day, and they don’t see each other for a year. When they reconnect, it’s because Dominic’s late mother, Annabelle, has hired Vada to renovate her cottage. Dominic, naturally, assumes Vada is a con artist. What he doesn’t know is that Annabelle’s ghost is haunting Vada, urging her to stay and uncover the town’s secrets.

As Vada works on the cottage, she finds herself bonding with the community, regaining pieces of her past, and questioning whether she really wants to leave. The banter between her and Dominic is fun, their chemistry grows at a believable pace, and the paranormal twist adds just the right amount of quirk. there's just the right amount of slow burn tension to make the spicy pay-off worthwhile.

It’s cute and funny at times, touching and heartfelt at others. Yes, some moments stretched believability, but the warm, Hallmark-esque ending pulled it all together.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was a funny book, but there were parts that i felt werent super necessary for the book, and some weird elements that i didnt expect. First off, her job is very strange. I knew that though from the title, but it got weirder from there. The ghost haunting? That was unexpected for me, and maybe i missed that in the blurb or details before.

I was expecting a little more from this, but i did enjoy the writing style.

I haven't read many books by Caitlin Moss (yet) but this one went straight to one of my all time favs!! I'm a sucker for a good paranormal romance and this one had it all and would make a perfect #SpookySeason or Fall read! It has a ghost, great chemistry and banter between the main characters, emotional depth, tons of laughs (and tears), small town charm and some of the hottest and sweetest lines I've ever read!!

Vada Daughtry (queue the subtle nod to My girl) is a Mourner for hire and because of a childhood accident has disasociative amnesia and doesn't remember her mother or anything before her mom died tragically. For a living she helps people execute their last wishes, often involving attending their funerals but sometimes her clients ask for extraordinarily bizarre things. Such is the case with Annabelle Dunne, the mother of Vada's one night (almost) stand with a hot bartender.

Three years after meeting Dominic, Vada is back in Shellport, Oregon where she is tasked with renovating his mother's beach cottage much to Dominic's outrage. Despite his best efforts to drive Vada away, Vada digs in her heels, determined to meet all of Annabelle's requests and move on.

Annabelle has other motives in mind and I loved her meddling ghostly ways in this book!! While Dominic ran a bit hot and cold throughout a lot of the book and it did drive me a little mad at times, I could forgive him since he was dealing with his grief the best way he knew how.

Eventually Dominic and Vada give in to their feelings (in the most SATISFYING way) and Vade discovers the real reason Annabelle wanted her to come back to Shellport. This book will make you laugh and cry but the emotional ride is ABSOLUTELY worth it! Recommended for fans of Ashley Posten and books like Marjorie and me by Melissa Grace. Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

CW: death of a parent from cancer, death of a parent following a car accident, memory loss

This book is the perfect summer-to-fall transition read. It's got small-town, fall, beachy, grumpy-sunshine, ghostly, HEA vibes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Our MFC, Vada, is a Mourner For Hire, paid to attend funerals and honor the dying's final wishes - for a fee. Everything about her job was just fine, until Annabelle hired her. It turns out that Vada was unknowingly hired as a mourner-and given part of the estate-of the mother of a man with whom she had a wonderful and singular night a year ago.

When that man, Dominic (our MMC), sees Vada at his mother's funeral, he's irate. Convinced she's a con woman, he decides to do all he can to run her out of town.

But when Annabelle begins to haunt Vada to ensure her final wishes are fulfilled, an unexpected discovery starts to weave everything together and reveal a love that may have been there all along.

This book obviously deals heavily with grief. We also hear our MMC lash out several times at our MFC in his anger and grief. If themes of verbal/emotional abuse are triggering for you, this may be something to know going in.

4.5⭐
This was a great read to start my autumn tbr (yes I know it's early). I will start by saying this books deals a lot with grief and you will probably cry at some point. I know I did, a lot but this was also a great story filled with funny banter, wonder characters and I adored the relationship between the FMC and MMC once the MMC pulled his head out of his you know what. The author did a wonderful job of blending the serious with the not so serious which I felt made for a unique contemporary romance.

Vada has the world’s weirdest job: professional mourner for hire. Need someone to ugly-cry at your funeral? Or pose as a mysterious long-lost relative to piss off your gold-digging stepfamily? Vada’s your girl. (Dream job, honestly.)

But one gig drags her back to her small hometown and into serious drama. Her newest client, Annabelle—who is both hilarious and recently deceased—offers Vada a fat paycheck to renovate her beach cottage and throw her a celebration-of-life party. The problem? Annabelle’s hot bartender son, Dominic. The same Dominic Vada had a one-night stand with. The same Dominic who immediately decides Vada is a con artist and wants her gone, like, yesterday.

Oh, and Annabelle’s ghost is haunting her.

Good stuff.

My Thoughts: Three Stars, Some Notes

First of all, this premise slaps. It’s weird, funny, and cryptic in the best way. The banter is sharp, the ghostly antics are genuinely fun, and I loved the surprisingly poignant reflection on grief—especially the idea of giving someone the last word on their own death. Plus, the town has strong Stars Hollow energy, which gave the story an easy cozy vibe.

But the romance didn’t land for me. Insta-lust → one-night stand. Insta-hate → “you’re a fraud.” Rinse, repeat.

Dominic’s “leave town or else” routine got old fast, and the slow crawl back to love felt forced. I never fully bought the chemistry—by the time we hit the spice (which is hot, btw), I was skimming. Which feels illegal in a romance, but here we are.

The characters overall felt a little flat, and the ARC desperately needs another editing pass—there were enough typos to keep pulling me out of the story.

Still, if you’re here for hilarious banter, small-town shenanigans, and a rom-com that mixes cozy vibes with ghosts and grief, this one might hit for you.

Bottom line: Cute concept, great banter, but it’s a meh for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Mourner for Hire hits shelves September 9.

Mourner for Hire by Caitlin Moss - 3.5 Stars

This was such a unique storyline. The idea of someone being paid to grieve is dark but super fascinating, and the author really made me think about loss and what it means to connect with others.

There were a few slower parts in the middle, but overall I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The author balances dark themes of grief, identity, and loneliness with sharp observations and unexpected humor.

Definitely recommend if you like books that are a little offbeat and emotional.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.