I loved this story so much. It is the perfect cozy read filled with the right combination of heart-felt emotion, comedy, falling-in-love with the enemy turmoil and just enough supernatural to make it something truly special. I anticipate picking this read back up in October - but only when the air gets a little crisp and I need a good swoon.

Mourner for Hire took me by surprise in the best way. Requested this one purely based on cover and title and was not disappointed! Caitlin Moss weaves together romance, grief, and a touch of the supernatural with such charm that I ended up both laughing and tearing up.

Annabelle was my favourite character, she’s witty, strong, and hilarious (even from the grave!). The enemies-to-lovers tension was perfectly done, and the slow burn made every page worth it.

It’s a story about loss, love, and second chances, but told with warmth and sharp humour that keeps it from ever feeling heavy. A unique, refreshing debut that I couldn’t put down.

Thank you so much to Caitlin Moss of the E-ARC of this book!

I knew this book would be quirky from the title, but I was surprised how heartfelt the story was. Caitlin Moss delivers a perfect recipe of enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and final goodbyes. Add on a haunting of one sassy ghost "haunting our MFC" and you have yourself a banger.
What starts out as a chance meeting and one night cuddle fest, Vada and Dominic never planned to see each other again. Until his dying mother enlists Vada's help to grant her dying wishes. Dominic's mother is a menace in life and death, in the best way. Shes the ultimate pot stirrer and meddler.

Dominic and Vada have a slow burn that is 100% worth the wait. Both characters are grieving what they've lost, but find themselves healing by the small coastal town, the beach house that connects them to their past, and each other.

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 made-up memories, and weave heartbreak into a eulogy.
Then one bursting bladder pitstop, one blueberry mojito-soaked night, and one bartender (Dunner - aka Dominic our MMC) shifts everything.
Nearly a year later, Vada turns up at a funeral job… and the deceased is Dominic’s mum. Dominic is grieving, furious, and stunned to learn Vada’s been left a generous slice of his mum’s estate. He knows her job AND thinks it’s all a con.

But the dearly departed Annabelle Dunne has other plans. She starts haunting Vada with a list of beyond-the-grave requests, kicking off with a makeover for her rundown seaside cottage. Set in the cosy coastal town of Shellport, Vada and Dominic are forced to face truths about the past, each other, and a ghost who isn’t done pulling strings.

My thoughts:
I requested this ARC because the title piqued my interest (I’m friends with the founder of Hire a Bridesmaid!), and the idea of a professional mourner as an FMC felt fresh.

Highlights
“Hydration generation” as a Gen Xer, this line made me grin.
“He smells like a man who’s been chopping wood in a dewy forest and then peeled an orange and lit a vanilla candle” evocative much?
“It’s always that first sip of water after drinking too much to make you realise how drunk you are” truth bomb right there!
“It’s a good hug, if I’m honest—the kind that smells like cinnamon sugar and feels like a fresh, warm load of laundry” so where do I get one of these hugs?
And this gut-punch: “Dad will know, or Mom will know. I can just ask them. Until one day, you just fucking can’t.” Ooof.

I loved Vada’s confidence (rocking her e-reader in a bar) and Dominic’s tough tattooed exterior, soft-hearted interior, glasses-at-home bartender vibe...(if this is a trope, I’m here for it). The paranormal twist and the dreamy idea of a limitless credit card to create the seaside cottage renovation? I could picture every corner and wanted to move right in.

A small-town, enemies-to-lovers romcom with ghosts, grief, and charm to spare. I loved it.

I was kindly provided with the arc of this book by NetGalley and author Caitlin Moss in exchange for an honest review, thank you ✨

5✨

This book was quite a surprise to me; it is not only a beautiful romance with a perfect enemies to lovers and small town romance with a touch of comedy and magical realism with a ghost that steals your heart, but it is also a story about grief, and how each person lives it in a different and personal way, about how grief is not linear but there are good and bad days and sometimes we use humor or work as a defense mechanism; I loved Vada, she is strong, resilient and has suffered a lot, but that Has not prevented her from being a woman full of empathy and optimism and desire to help others even when they have already left this plan, and I loved Dominic! Although sometimes I felt that he was very hard on Vada, I understand where his feelings and actions came from, his pain was more than having lost his mother and it was beautiful to read how Vada was there for him without knowing it, I loved Annabelle very much and I cried a lot when she left, in addition this story spoke to my soul in a very special way, I had to go through a very difficult duel when I lost my boyfriend almost four years ago, so I understand Vada and Dominic ❤️‍🩹 the side story about Vada, her mom and her memories had my heart aching and then full of happiness and joy, and obviously the last 4 chapters and the epilogue had me crying my eyes out 😭 it was so beautiful and the perfect ending to a story that was pure perfection✨

This book was more that I ever expected and came to my life when I really needed it, so it’s going to have a very special place in my heart and I’ll always be thinking about Vada, Dominic and Annabelle ❤️‍🩹

While I usually do not enjoy the ghost/spirit-guide trope in books, it did not keep me from enjoying this book by Caitlin Moss. I found the storyline and dark humor to be a creative way for the reader to be confronted with the reality of death and to be thoughtful about it in a different way. I appreciate a book that takes a different angle and allows the reader to engage a new perspective. While Vada’s job is unorthodox and hard to wrap your mind around, the bizarre pulls you in and makes you eager to see how it all unfolds. At times, it was hard to relate to the characters because their angry banter seemed unrealistic and I didn’t love Vada’s moral choices when it came to her client’s wishes. Overall I was still able to enjoy the story and themes of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one completely won me over. Vada was such a standout character, quirky but also deeply human, and her unusual job as a professional mourner made the whole story feel fresh and original. Dominic was harder to like at first, with his sharp edges and anger, but little by little he revealed a softer side that matched perfectly with Vada’s fire. Their dynamic was full of banter, tension, and eventually tenderness. The family elements and the way grief was explored gave the story emotional depth that stayed with me, and I appreciate how these themes were cared for. The story felt both fun and moving, never losing its charm even in the heaviest moments. The writing had this rare mix of humor and heartbreak that kept me turning the pages fast, sometimes laughing out loud and then suddenly close to tears. I already knew I would pick up anything else she wrote. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
I really like this one. I will admit i liked the aspect of the ghost, it really was something I hadn't read much of. Love both the main characters and their personal character developments, Vada is such a really unique character. I loved the blend of romance and dark comedy. The writing was easy for me to understand and this is the first book I've read by this author.
Overall a 4.5 ⭐️

Such a fun read! I got immediately attached to both FMC and MMC. Storyline is very interesting and different than other romances I’ve read. Read the whole book in 2 days and could not put it down!
Highly recommend this swoonworthy paranormal romance!

This is such a great autumnal, spooky read! I was immediately hooked from the unique premise of this book and its first couple of chapters, from meeting Vada and her profession of a mourner for hire to her first meeting with Dominic and further connections to the town.

This book has done a really great job of delving into grief and the way our bodies and minds take over to prevent ourselves from hurting too much while mourning the loss of loved ones, especially those closest to us. I really enjoyed the exploration of the different kinds of grief one can have, as seen from Vada and Dominic’s different ways of coping and other characters we meet throughout the town and at the funerals Vada works at. The grief to me seemed like the touchstone of this novel, and it worked very well to be used as such. The grief was always woven into the story, even into the romance, which I really adored, as it didn’t make the story any less hopeful; it reminded the reader and the characters how precious time is.

Vada and Dominic’s dynamic worked well despite the times when they weren’t treating each other the best due to their grief and mourning. I love the invisible string theory that can be applied to both of them. I also really enjoyed the characters in the entire town. I’d love to read more about them, like Eli and Joelle’s romance, a Connor story, even a prequel about Annabelle and Claire’s friendship.

I was initially thrown by the supernatural aspect of the story, but then started to enjoy it and liked the way it brought Annabelle further into the story, causing her to haunt the narrative quite literally.

This was such a fun and interesting autumnal read, and was my first time reading a Caitlin Moss book! I'm now really intrigued about her other books and will be giving them a look into.

Thank you to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for this ARC!

I'm convinced that Caitlin Moss can do no wrong. I would read her grocery list.

This incredible book follows Vada and Domenic - long lost former best friends, turned almost lovers, turned enemies turned lovers. The story very much dives into the various ways grief affects us, love, friendship and perseverance.

Everything about this book was wonderful. A few gaps here and there, but nothing that would affect my rating or the grip this book had on me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Caitlin Moss for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an absolutely must read for spooky season. An absolutely adorable paranormal romcom that throws in some hard hitting emotional bits at times. I was giggling out loud but there were moments, that I didn’t expect, that hit me square in the chest and made me tear up. Vada and Dominic really did their part with the banter and chemistry and then throw in a little dislike to lovers to ramp up the tension and it kept me obsessed. This is one of those books that will be a part of my fall reading every year.

I don’t do books with ghosts, so when Mourner For Hire was announced I got a little nervous. But I should’ve known to always trust Caitlin Moss. Lovers of enemies to lovers, slow burns, tension & banter … come & get it! This is such a unique story that will have you begging for them to give into their attraction!

📖Vada is a professional mourner & Dominic is a bartender in a small beach town. They meet when she is passing through town & have great chemistry🔥. Little do they know that his mom, Annabelle, hired Vada to take care of things after she dies. This does not go over well with her son. Dominic makes it his personal mission to get Vada the f*ck out of town (his words, not mine).

Let me tell you, the attraction & hate happening in their dialogue and inner monologue is so much fun. Also, Annabelle’s spunky personality while haunting Vada made me laugh out loud. I pictured Paula Dean popping into the cottage spooking her 🤣

3.5⭐️ *Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the early copy of this ebook!*

I liked this book! I thought it was a fun romance (with a spin on instalove to enemies to lovers) that incorporated really well the theme of parental loss and grief (from both main characters). Some of the story got a bit soap opera-y for me, yet many parts of the story really hit me deeply. I loved Vada and actually was so fascinated by her job as a Mourner for Hire, where she is hired to fulfill the wishes of someone after they pass away. I loved all the twists and turns after Vada is hired by a woman in her hometown with a list of wishes to fulfill, and after she passes away 2 years later, all the people and memories Vada encounters there and how it changes her life.

I loved the dual POV, I loved the PNW setting, and fall vibes. The side characters and small town characters were so fun too. Easy to skip steam, and there is some language throughout—but I totally recommend this for anyone looking for a fall romance.

Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Mourner for Hire by Caitlin Moss is a quirky romantic comedy that evaluates feelings of trauma, grief, loss, and longing. It manages to be both heartwarming and heart-wrenching simultaneously while having a fun, whimsical charm.

We follow the tale of Vada and Dunner. As it unfolds we learn why Vada has chosen to be a mourner for hire - a rather unconventional occupation - as well as how deep the ties between her and Dunner really are. With a mixture of mystery, intrigue and a bit of a paranormal wild goose chase we get to witness Vada and Dunner blossom and fall together (even if it is a bit of a tumultuous ride to get there).

Vada and Dunner are incredibly relatable and truly felt like I was reading about people I could actually know; however, Dunner felt a little immature and unlikable in the beginning but it is not all unbelievable given the circumstances. In fact it was really nice to see him change and grow even if I wanted to flick him on the nose more than once and say, “Oh, come on.”

I think the pacing was good, the story made sense and it really did well at tying up loose ends. It was well-written, witty, and overall a (welcomed) rollercoaster of emotions. There is a tiny bit of spice but the slow-burn enemies to lovers tension is to die for. I will definitely be looking into other books by this author.

What an absolute gem of a novel!
This is the first book I have read by Caitlin Moss and it certainly won’t be the last. She had me hooked from the first chapter and I fell in love with Vada and Dominic.
For a sweet romance novel this one also manages to deal with the sensitive topic of grief so tenderly.
Annabelle was such an amazing character she may even be my favourite

Fans of Emily Henry will love this one!
I had a great time reading this book and really appreciated that it’s different than every other rom com I have read.
I love the way it deals with grief and that the FMC doesn’t completely change herself throughout the story and remains true to her values.
Very entertaining and I was locked in from the beginning!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC!

I really enjoyed the premise of this book as well as the first scenes and the last half. In the middle I found the MMC to be just a bit too mean to the FMC for my preference. He just said some despicable things that I don't know how they came back from. I also loved the haunting detail and found those scenes so funny and wish there were more

Mourner for Hire was a wildly pleasant surprise! This was my first book by Caitlin Moss and I was intrigued by the premise of the story and thought it would be a nice refreshing take that I hadn't read before. I immediately was drawn in to this story and Vada's character and her job. I loved the way it was presented and explained and I loved Vada's defense of her life and her choices. Even though there are heavier themes in this book, it feels hopeful and endearing throughout. I also thought Dominic's character was well done and I loved the chemistry between the two of them. I was, honestly, completely caught off guard by the paranormal element but ended up loving it so much. That insight helped move the whole story along. There was just enough of everything - romance, mystery, humor, emotion- to make this such a well rounded book. I'm so glad I was able to get into this and am looking forward to reading so much more by Caitlin!

What made me want to read Mourner for Hire was its unique pre-mise. I mean, how intriguing is Vada's job? Unfortunately, the story starts off very strong, but - to me - also goes downhill pretty fast.

I get that emotions are running high and Dominic is grieving. But the way he bullies Vada is just unacceptable. Huge red flag!
Vada, on the other hand, is a saint...or dumb, depending on how you look at it. Their dynamic just isn't the kind I enjoy at all.

Apart from Dominic's toxicity, there's one other thing that didn't quite sit right with me. At first, I thought it whimsical and funny that Vada is able to see a ghost, and that they like to meddle a bit. But this whole situation wasn't executed to my satisfaction. For one, Vada, who has never before been able to see or communicate with the deceased, accepts her new "talent" way too easily. I mean, I'd definitely freak out and question my sanity if I was in her shoes. At the very least, initially.

Also, can we please stop using epilogues just to see the couple getting married and having kids? There are plenty other ways to live HEA.

Like I said, I love the book's premise, and it does have its fair share of deep as well as funny moments. In the end, it still doesn't live up to its potential, though.