I really enjoyed this original story — especially the way it explores the theme of death as a taboo. The way the female main character approaches it with such kindness and respect truly impressed me. This book made me feel a whirlwind of emotions — from laughter to tears — all in a single moment.

To be honest, when I first saw the ARC on NetGalley, I skipped it and didn’t pay much attention (I seem to have the curse of someone who always falls for pretty covers... and sometimes suffers for it). To be fair — the cover isn’t bad, it just didn’t catch my eye.

Huge thanks to @kerosene.lit for bringing this book to my attention! ❤️

This story reminded me of my favorite k-drama, May I Help You?

Tropes:
— loathe to love
— dark humor
— grumpy cinnamon roll
— quirky FMC
— slow burn
— tensionnnn
— small beach town

Thank you to Caitlin Moss and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

<b>Mourner For Hire by Caitlin Moss</b>

Tropes:
Grumpy/Sunshine
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn

Spice-O-Meter: 🌶🌶.5/5
There are some open-door scenes, but they are short and only slightly descriptive.

Trigger warnings:
Parent death (off page, from cancer and a car accident)
Mention of cancer
Repressed trauma from a car accident

Mourner For Hire follows Vada, who is hired by people to attend their funeral. She carries out their last wishes, be it creating drama for a cheating spouse or keeping a newly buried person company on their first night in the graveyard. Dominic is a former military medic, who gave up his dream of becoming a doctor to move home and take care of his mother (who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer). They meet by chance, end up spending the night together, and go their separate ways (Vada going on to meet with a client and Dominic back to his bar). A year later, Vada discovers that the client she met with was Dominic's mother, Annabelle. Her contract states she is to fix up Annabelle's beach house, and to complete a list of other things, and she will be paid $50,000 to do so. Dominic is immediately suspicious, and is convinced that Vada swindled his mother out of money. Vada just wants to finish the job and be on her way. After a lot of back and forth (and I mean A LOT) about Vada's intentions and Dominic trying to run her out of town, they give in to their growing attraction.

This book had me hooked right from the beginning. I love that we got to see a glimpse into their chemistry in the first portion, before there is all the emotions from grief and anger taking over. The tension was so good, and it was the slowest of burns. Dominic and Vada did not get together until like 70% of the way through the book. I love the idea of a mourner for hire. Some people wanted her to shake things up, another just wanted to make sure someone was there to say goodbye to him. Death culture is so taboo in our society, and I really treasured the fact that Caitlin Moss came up with someone who provides this for people that are scared or need comfort when they're facing their last days. We need more of this energy in the world. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Despite being more of a romantic comedy, it dealt with a lot of heavy topics, but in a way that was comforting and didn't poke fun at the grief we feel over losing someone. I loved having Annabelle's ghost haunting Vada while she completed her tasks. The only thing I was a little confused about was Connor's agressive pursuit of Vada. Then after their horseback riding date, he just vanished. It didn't seem like she talked to him about not being interested, and Dominic and Annabelle made him sound like a creep. I'm not saying Vada should have chosen him, just that it could have been wrapped up a little neater.

If you like spooky romantic books that kind of feel like the hug you needed in your worst hour, Mourner For Hire might just be your cup of tea.

Netgalley provided me with an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

3⭐️

This book was an emotional rollercoaster, but it wasn’t exactly dark, or maybe not my definition of “dark.”

I thoroughly enjoyed the first part, but Dominic’s behavior started to grate on my nerves, especially when he got so upset that he literally punched the wall. I understand that he was grieving, but his actions crossed a line into borderline abuse, not in the way of a dark romance. It was mind-blowing when he suddenly did a 180 and Vada accepted him with open arms, without any groveling, begging, or pleading.
Example:
“I’m elevated off the floor, my legs wrapped around his waist. He has one hand wrapped around my neck and jaw, while the other presses against my hip bone, pinning me against the wall right next to where he had just punched a hole in it with his fist.”

Girl, bye.

Despite the rushed and predictable ending, I finished the book because I loved the beginning. If not for that, I probably would have stopped reading.

The second half of this book was so heartwarming and the perfect book for those of us mourning someone that we loved and lost. I think this could have been an easy five star read, if it didn’t seem that the hats Dominic had for Vada dissipated so quickly. It jumped from loathing into such an intense love that as a reader, I felt as if I had missed a few chapters.

Rating:4.5/5⭐️
The premise of this story is unique, I have never heard of this hired mourner element before in any books. I really liked how this book explored and presented not only grief but also parent/child relationships. Some of Dunner’s reactions in the book are not surprising when you take into account that he is still very much grieving his mother and the way he kind of shuts down or is in quiet grief for most of the book shows a very realistic approach to how real people may react to losing a loved one. I was scared in the beginning that I wasn’t going to like Vada’s character. Her complexity was not shown as much in the start, but once I got further into the book, I started to appreciate her character. The character development and how her personal challenges in the book were written wonderfully and I really connected with Vada by the end.

The only issues I had with this book were that a few very minor details were repeated when I don’t think it was necessary. Other than that, this is a great book that I would suggest to adults looking for a surprisingly emotional, cozy read with a bit of supernatural/death-centered elements.

I would also like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me access to an ARC for this book, I really appreciate it.

Professional funeral mourner Vada will come to your funeral and cry, cause drama, or do whatever the decedent has hired her to do. When she ends up back in her hometown for a client, she meets hunky bartender Dunner and has a killer make out session.

Fast forward a year, her client has passed away and she returns to fulfill her wishes only to find out that hunky bartender Dunner is in fact her client’s hunky son Dominic who is pissed off at her being there thinking that she’s swindled his mother. When her client Annabelle asks Vada to go above and beyond and move into her cabin to renovate it on her death, Vada and Dominic will battle it out with wit and banter and some long lost memories that maybe they knew one another as kids. And maybe he doesn’t find her so awful after all.

This enemies to lovers HEA will have you laughing and swooning as Vada and Dominic are forced together along with an extra ghostly presence. Vada has no memory of her childhood and this story follows her through the process of regaining her memories and finding out some family secrets. With excellent spice and lots of grumpiness, you’ll adore this new romcom coming from @caitlinmossauthor on September 9th.

Thank you so much to @netgalley for this advanced copy! Y’all won’t want to miss this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me this arc!
This book gave a lot! There was a unique premise with a story set in a cozy little town. It was full of banter, (dark) humor, great slow burn romance and it showed in wonderful different ways how people deal with problems and emotions. Lots of drama and sorrow but also lots of funny moments. I thought it was the perfect balance and enjoyed reading this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!!

I absolutely loved Mourner for Hire. I was hooked from the stat, I couldn’t stop reading! The premise was intriguing and gave me another way to think about preparing for our passing. Vada & Dominic each had their own issues to work through to before they can find common ground. While death and grief are central to the plot, I thought they were approached in a respectful manner.

This was my first Caitlin Moss book but it won’t be my last.

Mourner for Hire by Caitlin Moss swept me up like a gust of crisp autumn air—aching, tender, and full of heart. With the perfect balance of ghostly charm and emotional depth, it’s a story that lingers long after the final page.

Vada, our fierce, empathetic, book-loving protagonist, had me from the moment she chose her e-reader over small talk. Her voice is sincere, feisty, and deeply relatable—especially in the way she stands up for herself even when grief and secrets weigh her down. I loved her complexity and the quiet strength she carries, especially when facing a love interest who, while emotionally scarred, could be incredibly harsh. Some of his words were unnecessarily cruel, and while I appreciated his eventual accountability, I felt every sting right along with Vada.

The mother-daughter/son relationships are the emotional backbone. So many scenes were heartbreakingly beautiful, especially the ghostly visits that wrapped me in warmth and sorrow at once. The MMC mother’s presence throughout was gutting yet comforting. And Lucy—what a gem!

Some standout moments:
🍂 The small-town fall festival, radiating Pacific Northwest coziness
🌘 The total solar eclipse scene—breathtaking and symbolic
💬 The quick, clever banter that kept the emotional weight from becoming too heavy
📚 The introvert-in-a-new-town vibes (relatable!)
💔 And yes, those few emotionally abusive moments made it tough—hence the 4.8—but they also served to highlight Vada’s growth and boundaries

Favorite quotes:

"Vada is a gem. Vada is a dream. Vada is sunshine in the dead of winter..."
“I am sunset walks and bonfires on the beach [...] I am empathy and resilience. I am my mother's daughter and the town that welcomed me back home.”

And I can’t leave out the acknowledgments, which warmed my heart just as much as the story itself. Caitlin Moss’s words are tender, loving, and such a beautiful reflection of her soul and the care she poured into this book. It felt like a hug after the emotional journey, and it reminded me why I love stories like this—ones that honor grief, growth, and the messy beauty of being human.

This book made me laugh, tear up, and reflect—and I can’t wait to read more from Caitlin Moss. Her storytelling is fresh, vivid, and full of soul.

Just wanna start off with what an interesting concept this was. And was written really well too. It was very fun and i wanted to keep reading it in the start, i also loved the jealousy factor!
Whereas i feel like it got a little slow in the end and it felt repetitive but nevertheless a good read.

🇬🇧
First of all, I want to thank NetGalley and the author for providing me with the ARC of this novel. I have to admit I’d never read anything by Caitlin Moss before, but I can say with complete certainty that this author has won me over completely. Now I can’t wait to devour everything she’s written and will write in the future!

Tropes
Enemies to lovers
Dark humor
Grumpy cinnamon roll
Quirky FMC
A meddling ghost
Slow burn
Tension
Small beach town

Vada Daughtry has a pretty bizarre profession: she’s a professional mourner, meaning she gets hired to cry at funerals, make up touching memories, and create drama when needed. And she’d defend this job to the death, especially since it lets her keep moving and avoid dealing with the ghosts of her past. But fate has other plans for her. After a night of mojitos with the magnetic bartender Dominic Dunne, Vada disappears as usual. However, when she shows up at a funeral almost a year later, she discovers the deceased is none other than Dominic’s mother, Annabelle. And this is where the real mess begins: Annabelle has left Vada a substantial inheritance, sparking Dominic’s fury as he’s convinced it’s all a scam. On top of that, her spirit haunts Vada, forcing her to stay in the picturesque coastal town of Shellport to complete a list of posthumous tasks, starting with renovating her run-down cottage. Vada and Dominic will have to face hidden truths, buried pain, and the ghost of a woman who knows exactly how to pull the strings of fate.

Vada is simply extraordinary. Her job as a professional mourner might seem outlandish, but she defends it with a passion that makes her instantly likable. She’s a character full of layers, she’s witty, sarcastic but also deeply empathetic. Behind her eccentricity lies a generous heart and incredible strength. Vada carries childhood trauma from losing her mother, and watching her struggle to recover lost memories while finally searching for a place to call home is truly moving. What struck me most is that her “weirdness” never gets “fixed” for the happy ending but she stays true to herself.

Dominic is a complex character you might initially find hard to tolerate. His grief over losing his mother makes him gruff, cranky, and often unfair to Vada. I have to be honest and say that there are moments when his behavior really ticked me off, but that’s exactly what makes his growth journey so meaningful. Underneath that tough exterior beats the heart of a wounded man who gradually learns to open himself up to love again.

The chemistry between Vada and Dominic is electrifying from their very first meeting. Their banter is sharp, funny, and charged with tension. Their transition from enemies to lovers is gradual and once they let their guard down their connection becomes sweet and deep. Watching these two wounded characters heal together is one of the most beautiful parts of the book.

Caitlin Moss has truly engaging writing that can take you from laughter to tears in just a few lines. I really appreciated her choice to use dual pov.

What won me over most is the originality of the plot. Vada’s job as a professional mourner is brilliant and the paranormal element with Annabelle adds the perfect touch of humor and mystery.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


🇮🇹
Prima di tutto, voglio ringraziare NetGalley e l’autrice per avermi fornito l’ARC di questo romanzo. Devo ammettere che non avevo mai letto nulla di Caitlin Moss prima d’ora, ma posso dire con certezza che questa autrice mi ha conquistata completamente. Ora non vedo l’ora di divorare tutto quello che ha scritto e che scriverà in futuro!

Tropes
Loathe to love
Dark humor
Grumpy cinnamon roll
Quirky FMC
A meddling ghost
Slow burn
Tension
Small beach town

Vada Daughtry ha una professione abbastanza bizzarra: è una lamentatrice a pagamento, cioè viene ingaggiata per piangere ai funerali, inventare ricordi commoventi e creare drammi quando necessario. E difenderebbe questo lavoro fino alla morte, soprattutto perché le permette di rimanere sempre in movimento e evitare di affrontare i fantasmi del suo passato.
Ma il destino ha altri piani per lei. Dopo una notte di mojito con il magnetico barista Dominic Dunne, Vada sparisce come suo solito. Tuttavia, quando quasi un anno dopo si presenta a un funerale, scopre che la defunta è proprio la madre di Dominic, Annabelle. E qui inizia il vero casino: Annabelle ha lasciato a Vada una consistente eredità, scatenando la furia di Dominic che è convinto che si tratti di una truffa. Inoltre, il suo spirito tormenta Vada, costringendola a rimanere nella pittoresca cittadina costiera di Shellport per completare una lista di compiti postumi, a partire dalla ristrutturazione del suo cottage fatiscente. Vada e Dominic dovranno affrontare verità nascoste, dolori sepolti e il fantasma di una donna che sa esattamente come tirare le fila del destino.

Vada è semplicemente straordinaria. Il suo lavoro di lamentatrice professionista potrebbe sembrare stravagante ma lei lo difende con una passione che la rende immediatamente simpatica. È un personaggio pieno di sfaccettature, è spiritosa, sarcastica, ma anche profondamente empatica. Dietro la sua eccentricità si nasconde un cuore generoso e una forza incredibile. Vada porta con sé un trauma infantile legato alla perdita della madre, e vederla lottare per recuperare i ricordi perduti mentre cerca finalmente un posto da chiamare casa è davvero emozionante. Quello che mi ha colpito di più è che la sua “stranezza” non viene mai “corretta” per il lieto fine ma rimane fedele a se stessa.

Dominic è un personaggio complesso che inizialmente potreste trovare difficile da sopportare. Il suo dolore per la perdita della madre lo rende burbero, scontroso e spesso ingiusto nei confronti di Vada. Devo essere onesta: ci sono momenti in cui il suo comportamento mi ha fatto arrabbiare parecchio, ma è proprio questo che rende il suo percorso di crescita così significativo.
Sotto quella scorza dura batte il cuore di un uomo ferito che impara gradualmente ad aprirsi di nuovo all’amore.

La chimica tra Vada e Dominic è elettrizzante sin dal primo incontro. I loro battibecchi sono taglienti, divertenti e carichi di una tensione.
La loro transizione da nemici ad amanti è graduale e, una volta che si lasciano andare, la loro connessione diventa dolce e profonda. Guardare questi due personaggi feriti guarire insieme è una delle parti più belle del libro.

Caitlin Moss ha una scrittura davvero coinvolgente, capace di farvi passare dalle risate alle lacrime in poche righe. Ho apprezzato molto la scelta di usare un doppio pov.

Quello che mi ha conquistato di più è l’originalità della trama, il lavoro di Vada come lamentatrice professionista è geniale e l’elemento paranormale con Annabelle aggiunge il tocco perfetto di umorismo e mistero.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book!

Overall I did enjoy this book. Some of the pacing was a bit off especially with the push and pull of the couple. I gave the MMC a lot of the benefit of the doubt based on the situation of the story but I wanted him to make up his mind earlier. They did have good chemistry!

I instanly loved Mourner for hire. I loved premise of the book. The FMC. The meet cute between the FMC and the MMC. I mean the banter between these two was top tier for me. I laughed. I cried. I was sad and angry. There was nothing Caitlin Moss didn't make me feel. As I got deeper into the book, I really started to not like our MMC. I mean he was really just a jerk. Without spoiling it, he came off as being controlling and just petty. I know he's grieving, but even he was aware he was being a bit much. It started to ruin the romance aspect of it for me. He was giving me so much whiplash. One second he was completely taken with her and the next he couldn't stand anything she was doing. The small town vibes, the house renovations, the FMC job, the side characters and the touch of spice. Caitlin wrote everything beautifully. I just wished The MMC was more likable.


This is the same review I'm posting on goodreads.

Thank you for the ARC .

I absolutely LOVED this. I tore through it, couldn’t stop reading! Loved the whole premise but also that the MMC & FMC had their own journeys to go on too. It deals with grief in a really gentle, relatable way. The spice is tastefully written and it was just a great book overall.

Fantastic book, brilliant writing and would happily read more of this author!

I was immediately hooked on this story and its unique story. Vada seemed like the coolest girl-and with a job like hers who wouldn't be? Dominic started off like a fun, flirty bartended at a random bar but his character ended up falling short for me. Their dynamic seemed like love/hate for a while in the book (which I totally support) but as the book progressed, Dominic just seemed like a total jerk to me. He was convinced she was scamming him out of something (money, the cottage, his dignity?). Once their relationship flourished I loved it and I loved the ending. Vada was kind and generous the entire book, and I couldn't get over his attitude and behavior as a grown man. I loved the "haunting" aspect and the surprise tie that Vada had with Dominic's mom-this made the story so much more meaningful to me (and to them). Overall, this was a cute and unique story full of love, grief, and discovery, and I enjoyed it!

Random thoughts.

Ok this was FUN. Not in a super morbid way. (Only a tiny bit morbid way. 🤣) But it was also so sweet. 🥹 It was also so frustrating at times. 🙃 I guess I just have a lot of feelings with it being so fresh in my mind.

The plot concept is sooo creative and unique. I love the meet cute. 🥰

I sooooorta kinda understand the reasoning behind his thoughts, but I hated how mean he was to her. Just hard to read. I wanted her to slap him like in a black and white move. I don’t love enemy to lovers but I can appreciate when there’s an actual reasoning behind it. Dominic got on my NERVES for a bulk of it, but all men do, so. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Absolutely love an alternating pov (when it’s just a couple people).

The ending made me wanna call my mom. 🥹

"Death isn't the absence of someone. But really, death is an unwelcomed houseguest."

Spoiler Free Summary
This book really envelops the cause and effect of untreated childhood trauma. The FMC drops by a bar for a casual drink and has a one night venting sess with a bartender who looks like Jason Momoa and Roman Reigns. She ends up connected to the town more than she thinks.

Vibes
I absolutely loved how the author tied everything together. At times you can get very frustrated with the main couple and wonder where it's going. The ending made me ugly cry but it was all written so well. I really like some of the comedy relief in this book including the grocery store incident.


Super Easy and Quick Read
Spice 2/5

4.5 stars. Vada, unusual name with an even more unusual 'career', has returned home for work. She meets Dunner (real name Dominic) and they really hit it off. The chemistry is palpable and just plain fun. Unfortunately, her job is fulfilling requests for the soon to be deceased and Dominic's mom is her client. Shit gets sad and heavy but these two continue to banter and it's wonderful. Vada also has some memory issues from her youth over time things become clear. I'm trying not to give too much away. The setting is great as is the supporting cast. This made me laugh and tear up and I had the best time reading this. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

I don't think I've read another book like this one, Vada was such an interesting fmc and she really tried to not be bothered by other people's perceptions of her even though she was kind of embarrassed easily and soft inside.I loved watching Dom try to hate Vada and struggle the entire time.

I liked the haunting aspect and how falling inlove didn't change the fact that she wanted to continue helping people. The mystery was also really good and I was actually surprised by the outcome.

Spice wise this was about a one out of five 🌶 while there was some light spice if you go to this one wanting it you will be disappointed. This book is about more than the romance so that kind of stuff took a bit of a back seat.

This was alot of fun and while it had some laughs it talks about the grief of losing a parent and what it does to a person. It's also about discovering yourself after that loss and how it feels to remember someone you love. It's a really beautiful story and definitely worth checking out!

3.4/5

This delightful romance is a blend of drama, absurdity, comedy, and surprising lightheartedness, despite touching on heavy topics like the loss of loved ones.

Although the title may seem a bit dark, this novel is a perfect beach read. The story centers on Vada, the FMC, as she renovates a beach house for her deceased client, who also haunts her. While funerals set a somber tone, the narrative is brightened by summer festivals, farmers’ markets, and seagulls in a cozy small town where everyone knows each other.

I recommend this book to readers seeking a relaxing, popcorn-flick-style rom-com novel. Some parts are cheesy (like the memory-loss trope), but they’re entertaining. Certain dialogues made me cringe, yet I enjoyed the book overall.

Yes, there’s a ghost in the story, but it’s “Casper” level friendly, acting more like a fairy godmother/cupid/spirit guide than a scary spirit. The short chapters make it a breeze to read, and one chapter even has just two lines!

The story alternates between Vada and Dominic’s POV, offering a clear picture of their thoughts. However, I wasn’t too fond of Dominic; I don't hate him, but I guess he is just not my type...in romance novels. His flirtatious, bully-like behavior felt immature and, at times, a walking red flag. Their banter ranged from “okay” to “annoying,” missing the mark for me.

Overall, this is an easy summer read. It may not be particularly memorable, but it’s enjoyable. I think Vada’s unique job as a mourner, fulfilling her clients’ death wishes, was far more compelling than her love story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Caitlin Moss, for providing this ARC. All opinions are my own, and I’ve shared this review on Goodreads.