Thank you to NetGalley for the audio Arc!!

This was such a fun little cozy read about a Victorian ghost who meets a lawyer down on his luck at work. Gabriel, who is a lawyer hiding out from some scandal, rents an old house only to realize that it’s haunted and he can see the ghost!

I loved Ida (the ghost). She was funny and Gabriel was great too. The storyline moves pretty quickly with Gabriel agreeing to help Ida cross over.

The writing was phenomenal and I enjoyed the duet narration on the audio.

The story overall was cute, and if you’re looking for a little ghostly cozy romance, this one is it!

A ghost X lawyer romcom!? Sign me up!

First off, thank you to the publisher who provided me with this ALC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so darn cute. I loved the general premise, and I adored Ida as an FMC. Seeing her fall in love for the first time with Gabriel was just adorable, and also watching her form a relationship with her great great great great (?) nephew was super sweet. I also really enjoyed how the author connected the legal theme throughout the book, especially the aspect of there being a contract for Ida to sign and follow so she could free herself of her ghostly state. I definitely found myself laughing out loud throughout.

I thought it was nice that the author tried to incorporate a deeper aspect to the characters by exploring Ida's OCD, but wished there was a little more explanation and resolution with that storyline. Ida's backstory with her brother and family made me really sad, though, and I wasn't expecting it!

The audiobook was overall pretty good. I loved the female narrator, but the male narrator was trying a little TOO hard at times, which made Gabriel sound more arrogant than he already was.

I didn't really connect to Gabriel as much as I was hoping I would.... I totally get him starting off as pretentious and entitled, but I feel like he didn't really grow or learn... I'm not fully convinced he even really fully accepted and acknowledged his prior poor decisions. On a related note, some of the scenes of him being a lawyer were a touch too unrealistic.

I unfortunately didn't find my foot in this story and didn't finish it. I was not really a fan of the narrators and the beginning of the story did not catch my attention enough for me to want to spend hours with it.

3.5 star read:
Thank you Netgally and Rbmedia for an ALC of Ghostly by Kate Serzenta. This was a fun listen. The story follows Ida who has been a ghost for many years and Gabriel is a hotshot lawyer who has been caught up in a scandal that could jeopardize his career. The narrators did a fabulous job and made both characters come to life. This a is a must read if you are into the tv show Ghost, enjoy a paranormal romance, and looking for something light and fun.

This is what I would refer to as a 'charming' book all the way through.
Very likeable characters with a great storyline which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Would recommend.

It’s an interesting idea for a book but man that was hard to listen to. I can’t tell if it’s the narrators or just the storyline. I love paranormal and romantic stuff especially if you can make me laugh which this did but I’m just not a fan it was weird.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review for Ghostly by Kate Serzenta (Audiobook)
Narrated by Chris Chambers & Stefanie Kay

Ghostly is the kind of story that wraps around you like a soft blanket on a rainy day, just the right mix of cozy, emotional, and a little bit spooky. I didn’t expect to relate to a ghost, but here we are. The writing was beautiful and kept me hooked from the very first chapter. I genuinely couldn’t wait to see where the story was headed next.

One of the highlights for me was the OCD rep; it was done with care and authenticity. It's not often that you find such a thoughtful portrayal of mental health in a paranormal story.

And I have to give a shout-out to the narrators, Chris Chambers and Stefanie Kay. Their performance brought the characters to life in a vivid and engaging way. I loved listening to them and felt completely pulled into the world.

I’m definitely intrigued and can’t wait to read more from this author!

I'm a huge fan of the TV show Ghosts so the synopsis of this really caught my attention! This was incredibly cute with lots of fun elements.

The two main characters were contrasting enough to keep things interesting but still had enough elements to make you root for then getting together! The narrators did a fantastic job as bringing the characters to life and I found their voices really great to listen to.

The plot at times did feel a bit basic (this 4 stars instead of 5) but did still have enough intrigue to keep the plot moving steadily.

I really enjoyed the writers style and an planning to read more by the time in the future. Overall a really enjoyable listen.

I really loved the 2 narrators and I loved the fact that it was the man whose life fell apart instead of the woman’s. The small town aspect was really cute and fun as well. I did not guess the plot twist in the ending which was surprising and really loved the epilogue. I could have used more gardening or a little more something to really bring this to 4 stars but it was really cute and really well written.

This was surprisingly deep, and I really enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for anything like the TV show "Ghosts" and this hit all the right notes. I would read more from this author. Both narrators were fabulous and truly brought each character to life.

I thought this book was super cute except for the ending. Gabriel left Wynona. That meant, her without him, her without being able to converse with anyone because now the nephew was gone too. It made me mad. 2 stars

Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This reminds me of books by tj klune. Afterlife, learning and a good mix of sad and happy emotions. I really enjoyed listening to it. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review.

<b>Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.</b>

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I laughed. When I finished the book itself; I found myself smiling and laughing again.

The book follows Gabriel, a lawyer trying to stay on-the-low after a sex scandal. As any normal person who goes into hiding does, he becomes the tenant of a strange, gothic, creepy house in the middle-of-nowhere. One that’s haunted, naturally. Haunted by Ida.
I actually adored the character of Ida and found her to be, whilst a tad on the childish side, very funny and very relatable. It was a perfect match against Gabriel and his slick and all too professional attitude. This honestly read like an early 00’s romcom movie and I absolutely loved that. I will say that I feel like this book could have been shorter as some moments felt a little bit like filler, but not enough for me to want to put this down.

The plot itself is rather simple but plays out as nothing of the sort. There were some choices that felt a little random and sometimes rushed (I’m looking at you Gabriel’s decision skills post-ritual) but all in all, this book had a ton of heart, and you could definitely feel that. I’m excited to continue following along with this series.

This is an interesting, cute, funny and (at brief moments) oddly emotional story of a ghost who has been so bored beyond the grave, that she begins to pester the new tenant of her house - to heartwarming degrees. If I had to describe this novel in one word it would be: whimsical.

(Also, I did consume this via audiobook and wanted to point out that the narrators did wonderful jobs themselves)

2 stars

~

Fleeing his life in the city after a scandal, lawyer Gabriel Vane finds himself in a Victorian home in the small town of Buttons. There he meets Ida Huxley, a ghost haunting the house he’ll call home during his six month suspension. After interacting for a few days, Ida and Gabriel strike a deal to help Ida move on with the help of a supernatural contract.

First of all, there is OCD representation in the book, which I truly enjoyed. It was interesting to read about Ida’s struggle and how her thoughts influenced her actions before she died and as a ghost. I also enjoyed how their romance progressed, which seemed natural and not instalove from the start. I especially loved when Gabriel starts to warm up to her and even goes to the extent of borrowing books from the library for her to read. As for the audiobook, I thought it was extremely good. The voice actors were perfect and they were able to portray the characters’ emotions without becoming overly false.

Something I did not understand, despite his explanation, is why Gabriel would put his job on the line when he “loves” it and thinks of it as something very important in his life. Additionally, what was his deal with Wynona? Were they dating? Or simply seeking pleasure? That part wasn’t really clear to me, which made the more intimate scenes with Ida a bit uncomfortable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc.

4 stars ⭐️ This was such a fun listen! I loved the duet narration by Chris Chambers and Stephanie Kay. They honestly made the book so enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

This story was cute, but I felt a little disjointed to me. It was hard to care about the side character, because it was obvious they only existed for the main characters to perform the spells.

👻 Bookish Thoughts
Very cute and cozy paranormal story!
I loved Ida right from the start. She’s just a ghost girlie trying to keep herself entertained, bingeing her shows and haunting whoever happens to rent her old house. The OCD and anxiety rep really stood out. As an anxious girlie, I felt so seen. Learning how she died absolutely broke my heart. She just wanted to live quietly, and tend her garden.

Gabriel didn’t win me over right away, but he really grew on me. He’s the only living person who can see Ida, and honestly? He wasn’t ready for her! But when he restored her garden, I warmed up to him!

The pacing dipped a bit near the end, but that last 10 percent pulled me back in. And I LOVED the epilogue. 🎧 I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. I definitely preferred the FMC narrator, but the MMC did a solid job too.

🪴 What You Can Expect
Friends to lovers
Small town charm
Grumpy x sunshine
Found family
OCD and anxiety rep
Low angst
Ghost girlie with a garden

🎧 Audio Score: 4.5 stars
📅 Audiobook Pub Date: June 24, 2025
Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed the cutesy and whimsical style of this book. It blends mystery, humor, heartbreak, and adventure in such a charming way. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the dual points of view to life.

The town of Buttons gave off major Stars Hollow vibes—quirky, cozy, and full of heart. This lighthearted paranormal fantasy felt like the book equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of tea. It’s a quick, delightful read.

If you’re looking for an adorable story with a touch of mystery and a cozy small-town feel, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

This is the audiobook I needed to come into my life! Ghostly's dual narrators nailed these smart and quirky characters. The witty banter just leapt off the pages and made me laugh out loud back and forth to work. I wouldn't say I am an overall fan of "paranormal romance", but this rom-com was something special... the sort of vibe check I remember from reading The Dead Romantics and Unlikely Animals. Loveable characters who grow as the tale unravels, a bit of a local mystery, and a romantic spark that transcends death all made for an utterly enjoyable read.

This audiobook was so well cast for voice actors! Opposites bumble around and then attract in so many different ways in this quirky new release!