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If I Stopped Haunting You
An enemies to lovers romance with a spooky twist where two feuding writers end up on a writers retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland
It's been months since horror author Penelope Skinner threw a book at Neil Storm. But he was so infuriating, with his sparkling green eyes and his bestselling horror novels that claimed to break Native stereotypes. And now she’s a publishing pariah and hasn’t been able to write a word since. So when her friend invites her on a too-good-to-be-true writers retreat in a supposedly haunted Scottish castle, she seizes the opportunity. Of course, some things really are too good to be true.
Neil wants nothing less than to be trapped in a castle with the frustratingly adorable woman who threw a book at him. She drew blood! Worse still, she unleashed a serious case of self-doubt! Neil is terrified to write another bestselling “book without a soul,” as Pen called it. All Neil wants is to find inspiration, while completely avoiding her.
But as the retreat begins, Pen and Neil are stunned to find themselves trapped in a real-life ghost story. Even more horrifying, they’re stuck together and a truly shocking (extremely hot) almost-kiss has left them rethinking their feelings, and… maybe they shouldn’t have been enemies at all? But if they can’t stop the ghosts pursuing them, they may never have the chance to find out.
Full of spooky chills and even more sexy thrills, If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is the funny, fast-paced romp romance readers have been waiting for!
It's been months since horror author Penelope Skinner threw a book at Neil Storm. But he was so infuriating, with his sparkling green eyes and his bestselling horror novels that claimed to break Native stereotypes. And now she’s a publishing pariah and hasn’t been able to write a word since. So when her friend invites her on a too-good-to-be-true writers retreat in a supposedly haunted Scottish castle, she seizes the opportunity. Of course, some things really are too good to be true.
Neil wants nothing less than to be trapped in a castle with the frustratingly adorable woman who threw a book at him. She drew blood! Worse still, she unleashed a serious case of self-doubt! Neil is terrified to write another bestselling “book without a soul,” as Pen called it. All Neil wants is to find inspiration, while completely avoiding her.
But as the retreat begins, Pen and Neil are stunned to find themselves trapped in a real-life ghost story. Even more horrifying, they’re stuck together and a truly shocking (extremely hot) almost-kiss has left them rethinking their feelings, and… maybe they shouldn’t have been enemies at all? But if they can’t stop the ghosts pursuing them, they may never have the chance to find out.
Full of spooky chills and even more sexy thrills, If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is the funny, fast-paced romp romance readers have been waiting for!
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2024
About the author
Colby Wilkens
3 books295 followersA queer PNW author of YA and Adult romance and horror, Colby Wilkens lives for cozying up on the couch with her cats, tea, and a good book. She is an active bookstagrammer with a fondness for candles and dark stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,134 reviews
October 24, 2024
10/24 hi please don't support this author, it came out that she's pretending to be poc 😭 why do people think they can get away with this, I need the audacity to end
Y'all I'm sorry but this book ain't it
I wanted to like this book because the premise sounds so great and enemies to lovers is my favorite but this relationship made me so uncomfortable because the main character, Pen, was a borderline abusive, self-centered gaslighter. She assaults the love interest a million times, one time even scarring him, convinces him she's the reason she got canceled as an author (the real reason is because she assaulted him because she was jealous people liked his book more???) and spent the whole book breaking him mentally until he had no confidence and self worth. She has no remorse, no growth, no accountability, and this book ends with her getting everything she wants. It was giving wildly toxic relationship and I'm not here for that
Y'all I'm sorry but this book ain't it
I wanted to like this book because the premise sounds so great and enemies to lovers is my favorite but this relationship made me so uncomfortable because the main character, Pen, was a borderline abusive, self-centered gaslighter. She assaults the love interest a million times, one time even scarring him, convinces him she's the reason she got canceled as an author (the real reason is because she assaulted him because she was jealous people liked his book more???) and spent the whole book breaking him mentally until he had no confidence and self worth. She has no remorse, no growth, no accountability, and this book ends with her getting everything she wants. It was giving wildly toxic relationship and I'm not here for that
April 9, 2024
Even though many writers might hesitate at the chance to overcome their writer’s block by attending a writing retreat at a haunted Scottish castle where ghosts lurk in the attic, I would wholeheartedly embrace the idea!
The plot of two rival writers, Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm, who recently had a heated argument at a book convention that ended with Penelope throwing a book at the master of horrors, Neil, finding themselves locked in a castle where spirits roam, immediately intrigued me from the first chapter. The blend of gothic horror, entertaining banter, and intense sexual tension between the two rivals, both struggling with writer’s block for different reasons, and the enemies-to-lovers trope drew me into the story. I couldn't put the book down because I was thoroughly engrossed in the narrative.
The representation of native writers and their struggles in the industry, akin to those faced by any other BIPOC author, is realistically depicted. While I found the rivalry and arguments between Pen and Neil a bit immature, I easily connected with their professional challenges and their genuine fight to make their voices heard and represent their community accurately.
The supporting characters, like Laszlo and the mischievous Daniela, are also relatable and add to the fun of the story.
Overall, this paranormal romance with its gothic atmosphere and fiery chemistry between the main characters promises an enjoyable reading experience that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with a digital review copy of this delightful romcom in exchange for my honest opinions.
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The plot of two rival writers, Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm, who recently had a heated argument at a book convention that ended with Penelope throwing a book at the master of horrors, Neil, finding themselves locked in a castle where spirits roam, immediately intrigued me from the first chapter. The blend of gothic horror, entertaining banter, and intense sexual tension between the two rivals, both struggling with writer’s block for different reasons, and the enemies-to-lovers trope drew me into the story. I couldn't put the book down because I was thoroughly engrossed in the narrative.
The representation of native writers and their struggles in the industry, akin to those faced by any other BIPOC author, is realistically depicted. While I found the rivalry and arguments between Pen and Neil a bit immature, I easily connected with their professional challenges and their genuine fight to make their voices heard and represent their community accurately.
The supporting characters, like Laszlo and the mischievous Daniela, are also relatable and add to the fun of the story.
Overall, this paranormal romance with its gothic atmosphere and fiery chemistry between the main characters promises an enjoyable reading experience that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with a digital review copy of this delightful romcom in exchange for my honest opinions.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
April 5, 2024
I had high hopes for "If I Stopped Haunting You" by Colby Wilkens, but unfortunately, it fell way short of my expectations. This book promised an intriguing blend of horror and romance, but it failed to deliver on both fronts.
First off, let's talk about the characters. Neil and Penelope are supposed to be the driving force behind this supposed "enemies-to-lovers" story, but their development felt rushed and forced. Instead of building up tension and chemistry between them, they jump straight from enemies to hooking up without any real emotional depth. And all those sex scenes – they were about as steamy as a cold shower.
And don't even get me started on Penelope. She's downright awful. Not only does she physically assault Neil by throwing a book at his head (seriously, who does that?), but she's also manipulative and delusional. Her behavior is inexcusable, and I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in her character.
As for the horror elements, they were more yawn-inducing than spine-tingling. The supposed haunted castle setting felt like a cliché, and the ghosts themselves lacked any real scare factor. I was hoping for something unique and terrifying, but all I got was a snooze-fest.
And let's not even talk about the plot holes and inconsistencies. It felt like the author couldn't decide which direction to take the story, resulting in a messy and disjointed narrative.
I really hate to give negative reviews, but this book was definitely not for me and I was struggling with finishing it.
First off, let's talk about the characters. Neil and Penelope are supposed to be the driving force behind this supposed "enemies-to-lovers" story, but their development felt rushed and forced. Instead of building up tension and chemistry between them, they jump straight from enemies to hooking up without any real emotional depth. And all those sex scenes – they were about as steamy as a cold shower.
And don't even get me started on Penelope. She's downright awful. Not only does she physically assault Neil by throwing a book at his head (seriously, who does that?), but she's also manipulative and delusional. Her behavior is inexcusable, and I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in her character.
As for the horror elements, they were more yawn-inducing than spine-tingling. The supposed haunted castle setting felt like a cliché, and the ghosts themselves lacked any real scare factor. I was hoping for something unique and terrifying, but all I got was a snooze-fest.
And let's not even talk about the plot holes and inconsistencies. It felt like the author couldn't decide which direction to take the story, resulting in a messy and disjointed narrative.
I really hate to give negative reviews, but this book was definitely not for me and I was struggling with finishing it.
October 15, 2024
Welp! I so wanted to love this one. First off, I loved the title! How cute is that!?! Plus, the synopsis piqued my interest - an enemy to lovers with a paranormal twist. How fun, I thought. A perfect book for the fall season. But sadly, this book did not work for me. We can't love them all and unfortunately this is the case here.
One of my struggles with the book was not liking either of the main characters. I had a hard time connecting with them. I get they didn't like each other in the beginning. Penelope Skinner loses her cool and blasts Neil Storm publicly and tops it off by throwing her book at him. So yeah, she might have a little temper, impulse control, acting before thinking issue going on. Having someone throw a book at your head does not help Neil with his self-esteem issues. On top of that having your book publicly trashed might cause a little writer’s block. Enter a writer's retreat at a Scottish Castle stage left. It's haunted as well, so let the fun begin.... or not.
As I mentioned, I thought I would love this book. Sadly, it just wasn't for me. I did enjoy the setting, the descriptions, and the banter of some of the characters. This one was just missing that little bit of something (mainly likeable main characters) that would have earned a higher rating. There are many who enjoyed it, so please read their reviews as well.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
One of my struggles with the book was not liking either of the main characters. I had a hard time connecting with them. I get they didn't like each other in the beginning. Penelope Skinner loses her cool and blasts Neil Storm publicly and tops it off by throwing her book at him. So yeah, she might have a little temper, impulse control, acting before thinking issue going on. Having someone throw a book at your head does not help Neil with his self-esteem issues. On top of that having your book publicly trashed might cause a little writer’s block. Enter a writer's retreat at a Scottish Castle stage left. It's haunted as well, so let the fun begin.... or not.
As I mentioned, I thought I would love this book. Sadly, it just wasn't for me. I did enjoy the setting, the descriptions, and the banter of some of the characters. This one was just missing that little bit of something (mainly likeable main characters) that would have earned a higher rating. There are many who enjoyed it, so please read their reviews as well.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 16, 2024DNFing 12% in - not for me.
A romance that starts with one of the love interests throwing a hard object at the other’s head at a work event unprovoked is not a romance I’m on board for.
A romance that starts with one of the love interests throwing a hard object at the other’s head at a work event unprovoked is not a romance I’m on board for.
Shelved as 'dnf'
April 6, 2024i’ll save u from her neil dont u worry
October 2, 2024
**perfect spooky read as we enter into fall and you are looking to be deliciously haunted with a side dose of romance, enemies to lovers style**
I really loved the setting and plot to this book. Four authors meet on a writing retreat and haul up in a haunted castle located in a small town full of rich history.
Two of the authors have previous beef. One dreams of publishing his true story to tell with inspiration from his own family experiences that highlights realistic tales of indigenous people. Over time his work has been rejected and edited to be “palatable” to readers. The other author is angry at him for being a sell out and struggling to get her voice heard in her own writing.
When they find themselves on the retreat together and are forced into close proximity, searching for inspiration to write whilst fighting off ghosts and their growing feelings for each other.
A cute fun fall read! All the vibes 🫶🏼
I enjoyed the alternation between narrators and POV so we could see first hand what the two characters were thinking and feeling as the story progresses. The book is narrated by: Curtis Michael Holland; Kyla Garcia and they both did a great job.
Thank you to Dreamscape media and Colby Wilkens for the ALC!
Publish date: October 15th 2024
I really loved the setting and plot to this book. Four authors meet on a writing retreat and haul up in a haunted castle located in a small town full of rich history.
Two of the authors have previous beef. One dreams of publishing his true story to tell with inspiration from his own family experiences that highlights realistic tales of indigenous people. Over time his work has been rejected and edited to be “palatable” to readers. The other author is angry at him for being a sell out and struggling to get her voice heard in her own writing.
When they find themselves on the retreat together and are forced into close proximity, searching for inspiration to write whilst fighting off ghosts and their growing feelings for each other.
A cute fun fall read! All the vibes 🫶🏼
I enjoyed the alternation between narrators and POV so we could see first hand what the two characters were thinking and feeling as the story progresses. The book is narrated by: Curtis Michael Holland; Kyla Garcia and they both did a great job.
Thank you to Dreamscape media and Colby Wilkens for the ALC!
Publish date: October 15th 2024
June 7, 2024
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
if this book has no haters, i am dead.
so, they’re enemies because he wrote characters in a way she didn’t like, which prompted her to literally assault him while they were both attending an event. after her showing off her book throwing skills that ended up burying her career, she somehow has the audacity to blame the guy for it. as if her anger issues are his problem, you know? granted, there’s a bit more depth to the issue with the native characters that were, in her eyes, bad representation, but i still don’t think it justifies playing baseball with someone’s forehead and a book. and besides the physical assault, she also dragged his career through the mud at every given opportunity, while the dude was just existing. and then all is forgiven, and we’re supposed to root for their relationship?? if someone hits me to the point i need a hospital trip and i fall in love with them, please whack me again. it’s the concussion talking.
“and there you were, sitting with your glowing stack of books before you, and all I had was a measly copy of my one and only, and I just…” – part of her answer as to why she threw the book.
the dialogue was so awkward sometimes it hurt to read. for example “we don’t mean your castle any harm, brother protector ghost! she called. it’s just a silly game, a very foolish mistake, we won’t be making again! please, don’t kill us.”. sometimes it felt like some lines were said just for the sake of it, without having the character saying said line in mine, because i would not believe you if you told me it’s penelope that’s talking like that – the penelope that’s allegedly some sort of writing goddess from what neil’s been saying.
i wish neil was allowed to be his own character, but every single bit of information about him is given in the context of “was penelope justified in her hatred?”, which is annoying to say the least. he’s got the personality of a cardboard cutout and he’s constantly being gaslit – to the point he himself thinks penelope had some sort of motive for acting like a child for a bunch of years. we also get crumbs of backstory for each character, so we only see them as they are now with no motive behind their choices and beliefs.
their so-called friends simply push them towards each other and that’s it, that their only role here. literally they add nothing else to the story and i could not point out a single trait they had besides “horror writers”. laszlo has one scene in which he tells penelope that she’s being absurd to hate someone for playing the hand they were dealt, but daniela was a completely useless character. you could’ve taken her out of the story, and nothing would have changed. she’s the text-book definition of a filler character.
the fact that the romance develops in a maximum of 36 hours is also incredibly hard to believe because would you not have at least a little bit of self-preservation and question the other person’s motives considering they’ve been vocal about literally wanting you dead?? truly a romance that gives you whiplash, cause you blink and they’re in love! the spice was also interesting to read but i will keep my thoughts to myself because i think it’s a matter of personal taste, therefore other people could enjoy the way it was written. it’s also quite funny how this is marketed as “slow burn”, yet the action takes place in like 3-4 days. and they also make-out at the worst possible time, like a ghost nearly went chomp on you, can you at least wait a bit??
another poor choice the characters made was not telling the other two what was going on because they weren’t seeing the ghosts, which is stupid considering they’re very worried about the spirits in the castle possibly hurting them. so, you think they have the ability to harm you, but you’re not warning your friends about it? ok.
who decided mention ghost cum was a good idea? just, this book went through multiple hands, and nobody looked at that passage and asked themselves if that’s a good addition to the story? i cringed so hard, i nearly went to another dimension.
the horror that was promised did not deliver at all. this had crumbs of horror, if anything and i think the story wasn’t given enough time to develop and the characters ran in circles for like half of the book. we barely got any answers, and the ending was so anticlimactic, it was borderline funny how everything was resolved, no questions asked. there are things randomly added just so the story can be wrapped in a pretty bow – like at some point a magical torch appears and nobody bats an eye, nor did we get any explanation as to how that’s possible. just magic ✨
and towards the end they pull a little prank on their friends (that had no clue what was going on, let me reiterate) and blame them for “leaving them with the ghosts”. the ghosts you didn’t mention that they were somehow suppose to magically know about? mhm, right right.
the pacing was all over the place with things barely happening in the first 30-40% to suddenly being thrown into a paranormal scene to them doing the deed in the next page. so, we didn’t have the time to sit with anything and everything felt either too slow or too rushed, no balance in-between.
i do have to mention, this has native representation, so maybe someone will be able to see themselves in these characters, i cannot comment on that. the book also tried to touch on the issues within the publishing world, but i think it would’ve done better if it didn’t pit these authors against each other. the publishing world is the true villain here, not the guy that had his worked chopped until it didn’t resemble the original story at all because he felt he simply could not speak-up against it.
so, i have been, once again, fooled by the pretty cover. i think this could’ve been a nice book had the author spent more time polishing its timeline. we definitely needed more time seeing the characters be friends before jumping into a relationship. i also think penelope’s character didn’t really have any sort of a redemption arc, since she constantly pushed the blame on other characters. granted, she did wake up towards the end, but it’s a bit too late to make it credible.
if this book has no haters, i am dead.
so, they’re enemies because he wrote characters in a way she didn’t like, which prompted her to literally assault him while they were both attending an event. after her showing off her book throwing skills that ended up burying her career, she somehow has the audacity to blame the guy for it. as if her anger issues are his problem, you know? granted, there’s a bit more depth to the issue with the native characters that were, in her eyes, bad representation, but i still don’t think it justifies playing baseball with someone’s forehead and a book. and besides the physical assault, she also dragged his career through the mud at every given opportunity, while the dude was just existing. and then all is forgiven, and we’re supposed to root for their relationship?? if someone hits me to the point i need a hospital trip and i fall in love with them, please whack me again. it’s the concussion talking.
“and there you were, sitting with your glowing stack of books before you, and all I had was a measly copy of my one and only, and I just…” – part of her answer as to why she threw the book.
the dialogue was so awkward sometimes it hurt to read. for example “we don’t mean your castle any harm, brother protector ghost! she called. it’s just a silly game, a very foolish mistake, we won’t be making again! please, don’t kill us.”. sometimes it felt like some lines were said just for the sake of it, without having the character saying said line in mine, because i would not believe you if you told me it’s penelope that’s talking like that – the penelope that’s allegedly some sort of writing goddess from what neil’s been saying.
i wish neil was allowed to be his own character, but every single bit of information about him is given in the context of “was penelope justified in her hatred?”, which is annoying to say the least. he’s got the personality of a cardboard cutout and he’s constantly being gaslit – to the point he himself thinks penelope had some sort of motive for acting like a child for a bunch of years. we also get crumbs of backstory for each character, so we only see them as they are now with no motive behind their choices and beliefs.
their so-called friends simply push them towards each other and that’s it, that their only role here. literally they add nothing else to the story and i could not point out a single trait they had besides “horror writers”. laszlo has one scene in which he tells penelope that she’s being absurd to hate someone for playing the hand they were dealt, but daniela was a completely useless character. you could’ve taken her out of the story, and nothing would have changed. she’s the text-book definition of a filler character.
the fact that the romance develops in a maximum of 36 hours is also incredibly hard to believe because would you not have at least a little bit of self-preservation and question the other person’s motives considering they’ve been vocal about literally wanting you dead?? truly a romance that gives you whiplash, cause you blink and they’re in love! the spice was also interesting to read but i will keep my thoughts to myself because i think it’s a matter of personal taste, therefore other people could enjoy the way it was written. it’s also quite funny how this is marketed as “slow burn”, yet the action takes place in like 3-4 days. and they also make-out at the worst possible time, like a ghost nearly went chomp on you, can you at least wait a bit??
another poor choice the characters made was not telling the other two what was going on because they weren’t seeing the ghosts, which is stupid considering they’re very worried about the spirits in the castle possibly hurting them. so, you think they have the ability to harm you, but you’re not warning your friends about it? ok.
who decided mention ghost cum was a good idea? just, this book went through multiple hands, and nobody looked at that passage and asked themselves if that’s a good addition to the story? i cringed so hard, i nearly went to another dimension.
the horror that was promised did not deliver at all. this had crumbs of horror, if anything and i think the story wasn’t given enough time to develop and the characters ran in circles for like half of the book. we barely got any answers, and the ending was so anticlimactic, it was borderline funny how everything was resolved, no questions asked. there are things randomly added just so the story can be wrapped in a pretty bow – like at some point a magical torch appears and nobody bats an eye, nor did we get any explanation as to how that’s possible. just magic ✨
and towards the end they pull a little prank on their friends (that had no clue what was going on, let me reiterate) and blame them for “leaving them with the ghosts”. the ghosts you didn’t mention that they were somehow suppose to magically know about? mhm, right right.
the pacing was all over the place with things barely happening in the first 30-40% to suddenly being thrown into a paranormal scene to them doing the deed in the next page. so, we didn’t have the time to sit with anything and everything felt either too slow or too rushed, no balance in-between.
i do have to mention, this has native representation, so maybe someone will be able to see themselves in these characters, i cannot comment on that. the book also tried to touch on the issues within the publishing world, but i think it would’ve done better if it didn’t pit these authors against each other. the publishing world is the true villain here, not the guy that had his worked chopped until it didn’t resemble the original story at all because he felt he simply could not speak-up against it.
so, i have been, once again, fooled by the pretty cover. i think this could’ve been a nice book had the author spent more time polishing its timeline. we definitely needed more time seeing the characters be friends before jumping into a relationship. i also think penelope’s character didn’t really have any sort of a redemption arc, since she constantly pushed the blame on other characters. granted, she did wake up towards the end, but it’s a bit too late to make it credible.
April 25, 2024
Good stuff overall. Lots of repetition in spots.
~~~~~~~~~~
I was looking for something a little different to read and this one landed for perusal. I really like the concept of a bit of romance and some ghost story vibes.
The opening scene is quite memorable between the two leading characters. But what I found interesting as the story continued to develop is that the female lead character was really kind of a jerk.
While her initial anger at Neil could’ve been justified, the fact is she did not articulate it to him at all. It was a burst from nowhere as there was not any in-depth backstory.
There were other parts of the story that just didn’t jive well. The building romance started rather abruptly after the female lead had so much anger towards him. That was odd. Plus, she was a little wishy-washy when deciding between her anger and lust.
Speaking of lust, some of the romance pieces, (of which there were quite a few, Hooray!), appeared at weird times in the story. Like here, we’re going to be haunted, but let’s get hot and heavy. It was kind of odd.
Another portion that struck me was the haunted house itself. The concept is great, the plot was well thought out and worked. But I would not categorize this as horror in the least.
Overall, I did like the story as it is entertaining and different. With some tweaks, I think this could’ve been a 4-5 star read. Maybe the other two supporting characters could have more valuable input into the story. They really did not impact the book other than some comic relief. Not memorable characters.
If I Stopped Haunting You reminded me of a cozy mystery with hauntings and sexy times. There are plenty of entertaining parts for a well-rounded good story.
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/if-i-stopped...
~~~~~~~~~~
I was looking for something a little different to read and this one landed for perusal. I really like the concept of a bit of romance and some ghost story vibes.
The opening scene is quite memorable between the two leading characters. But what I found interesting as the story continued to develop is that the female lead character was really kind of a jerk.
While her initial anger at Neil could’ve been justified, the fact is she did not articulate it to him at all. It was a burst from nowhere as there was not any in-depth backstory.
There were other parts of the story that just didn’t jive well. The building romance started rather abruptly after the female lead had so much anger towards him. That was odd. Plus, she was a little wishy-washy when deciding between her anger and lust.
Speaking of lust, some of the romance pieces, (of which there were quite a few, Hooray!), appeared at weird times in the story. Like here, we’re going to be haunted, but let’s get hot and heavy. It was kind of odd.
Another portion that struck me was the haunted house itself. The concept is great, the plot was well thought out and worked. But I would not categorize this as horror in the least.
Overall, I did like the story as it is entertaining and different. With some tweaks, I think this could’ve been a 4-5 star read. Maybe the other two supporting characters could have more valuable input into the story. They really did not impact the book other than some comic relief. Not memorable characters.
If I Stopped Haunting You reminded me of a cozy mystery with hauntings and sexy times. There are plenty of entertaining parts for a well-rounded good story.
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/if-i-stopped...
October 15, 2024
If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens
Contemporary paranormal romance. Enemies to lovers troupe.
Horror writers Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm end up on a writers retreat together in a haunted Scottish castle. She thinks he sold out to get his book published and then threw a book at him at a conference. Neither have been able to write since the conference so the retreat is exactly what they need. As soon as they can civically talk to each other and get rid of a ghost or two.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook which was narrated by Curtis Michael Holland and Kyla Garcia. The two offset each other very well taking their POV and using different distinct voices for Neil and Pen for their chapters. The chapters are labeled for whose POV it is but the audiobook is easier to hear the change. They both do a great job with emotions, in particular when encountering the ghosts and arguing with each other in frustration. The audiobook was great for the minor secondary characters with accents that I wouldn’t have heard correctly reading the print version. But with the print copy I was better able to visualize the castle.
I listened at 1.5 to more closely match my reading and conversation speed. Both formats or either recommended.
Reading about authors writing books is always an amusing topic although I’m sure most authors won’t find the topic of writers block all that encouraging. The haunted castle and ghosts added a creative twist for the romance. I’ve toured a bunch of castles and don’t know that I’ve actually encountered any ghosts but watching the caretaker run away isn’t a good sign for an overnight stay!
I was glad when Pen thought more about, and acknowledged why Neil may have made changes to his novel. That went a long way in changing her from self righteous to likable.
The secondary characters added a lot of humor and personality to the story.
A bit gothic and campy with several steamy scenes thrown into the mix.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Dreamscape Media.
Contemporary paranormal romance. Enemies to lovers troupe.
Horror writers Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm end up on a writers retreat together in a haunted Scottish castle. She thinks he sold out to get his book published and then threw a book at him at a conference. Neither have been able to write since the conference so the retreat is exactly what they need. As soon as they can civically talk to each other and get rid of a ghost or two.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook which was narrated by Curtis Michael Holland and Kyla Garcia. The two offset each other very well taking their POV and using different distinct voices for Neil and Pen for their chapters. The chapters are labeled for whose POV it is but the audiobook is easier to hear the change. They both do a great job with emotions, in particular when encountering the ghosts and arguing with each other in frustration. The audiobook was great for the minor secondary characters with accents that I wouldn’t have heard correctly reading the print version. But with the print copy I was better able to visualize the castle.
I listened at 1.5 to more closely match my reading and conversation speed. Both formats or either recommended.
Reading about authors writing books is always an amusing topic although I’m sure most authors won’t find the topic of writers block all that encouraging. The haunted castle and ghosts added a creative twist for the romance. I’ve toured a bunch of castles and don’t know that I’ve actually encountered any ghosts but watching the caretaker run away isn’t a good sign for an overnight stay!
I was glad when Pen thought more about, and acknowledged why Neil may have made changes to his novel. That went a long way in changing her from self righteous to likable.
The secondary characters added a lot of humor and personality to the story.
A bit gothic and campy with several steamy scenes thrown into the mix.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Dreamscape Media.
October 25, 2024
⚠️Please go read this article before reading this book! ⚠️
https://nypost.com/2024/10/21/us-news...
Well, I was just about to start this book for the weekend. I got one chapter in and immediately disliked the main character for physically assaulting the assumed love interest. I mean, his damn head was bleeding! We are not romanticizing abuse I don't care if she eventually gets the help she needs or says sorry to him that's a big no no and the wrong message to send out.
Also, I saw a review that said this author is pretending to be indigenous so ofc I went to threads and searched their name and literally the first hit was a linked nyt article about how she's not actually a part of the Cherokee nation as she has been claiming. The tribal alliance literally researched her ancestry and found nothing but white settlers.
I'm disgusted and will no longer be reviewing this book or any of this authors work.
https://nypost.com/2024/10/21/us-news...
Well, I was just about to start this book for the weekend. I got one chapter in and immediately disliked the main character for physically assaulting the assumed love interest. I mean, his damn head was bleeding! We are not romanticizing abuse I don't care if she eventually gets the help she needs or says sorry to him that's a big no no and the wrong message to send out.
Also, I saw a review that said this author is pretending to be indigenous so ofc I went to threads and searched their name and literally the first hit was a linked nyt article about how she's not actually a part of the Cherokee nation as she has been claiming. The tribal alliance literally researched her ancestry and found nothing but white settlers.
I'm disgusted and will no longer be reviewing this book or any of this authors work.
July 25, 2024
If I Stopped Haunting You
By Colby Wilkens
This is an arc book I received in exchange for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher.
I saw this was advertised as a paranormal and horror, and boy, was I eager to get this. I don't read a lot of romance, but almost every story has some romance. This was to have steamy scenes, which is OK in some books. So, I went into the book with that knowledge.
Now, what I read was totally different. Anyone that follows me knows I give many 4s and 5 stars because I enjoy a wide array of subjects and styles. But this is one of the few negative reviews I have made.
Two writers that hate each other act like children until about halfway into the book when they realize that they now find each other very attractive and they let nature take it's course. Then that's all they want to do.
Not one character was likable. The plot was so overused. I saw no real horror. There is more horror in children's stories. Steamy scenes? Pathetic! Laughable.
I gave it 2 stars for the ghost that had to endure the stupidity of the characters!
I hate writing negative reviews. I am glad I don't have to write them often.
By Colby Wilkens
This is an arc book I received in exchange for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher.
I saw this was advertised as a paranormal and horror, and boy, was I eager to get this. I don't read a lot of romance, but almost every story has some romance. This was to have steamy scenes, which is OK in some books. So, I went into the book with that knowledge.
Now, what I read was totally different. Anyone that follows me knows I give many 4s and 5 stars because I enjoy a wide array of subjects and styles. But this is one of the few negative reviews I have made.
Two writers that hate each other act like children until about halfway into the book when they realize that they now find each other very attractive and they let nature take it's course. Then that's all they want to do.
Not one character was likable. The plot was so overused. I saw no real horror. There is more horror in children's stories. Steamy scenes? Pathetic! Laughable.
I gave it 2 stars for the ghost that had to endure the stupidity of the characters!
I hate writing negative reviews. I am glad I don't have to write them often.
May 28, 2024
IF I STOP HAUNTING YOU might be listed as a romance paranormal, but it was no TWILIGHT. I won mine in a Goodreads giveaway as an Advance Readers' Edition. I therefore felt obligated to finish it even though that was a chore. It took over a third of the story before enemies became lovers. I wouldn't have minded if it was more than just the same anger/lust over and over again. To tell the truth, I finished the last 50+ pages sitting in a waiting room or I would still be working on it. I will pass it on in the hope that somebody else enjoys it.
Trigger warnings were in the front of the book, which was a nice gesture.
Trigger warnings were in the front of the book, which was a nice gesture.
October 12, 2024
2 stars
Potential not reached, If I Stopped Haunting You is plagued by shortcoming typical in a debut: hodgepodge of disconnected ideas, weak characterization, and absence of an involving pacing. There are nuggets of quality throughout, and the various representations are wholeheartedly welcome, but overall this supernatural, hate-to-love rom-com is a miss.
The story opens in the wrong foot immediately with the root of its 'hate' element; the heroine's unprovoked public shaming of the hero is so pointlessly hurtful and irresponsible (She's basically being Kayne West to Taylor Swift during 2009 VMA), there's really nothing the author can do to redeem the heroine afterward—the way the hero rationalizes this as a thoughtful wake-up call (when it's basically public defamation) further adds salt to injury.
Things does get more interesting when the supernatural element is introduced, unfortunately it turns out to be a 'non-story' as the buildup to its mystery leads to a very limp, anticlimactic conclusion—more of a scattering of creepy moments rather than a cohesive secondary plot line.
If I Stopped Haunting You is half-baked across the board: characters in their 30s read like horned-up juvenile teens, surface-level commentary regarding racism in the publishing industry, and a romance that's subtly problematic. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I hope Colby Wilkens' next novel will only improve from here.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Potential not reached, If I Stopped Haunting You is plagued by shortcoming typical in a debut: hodgepodge of disconnected ideas, weak characterization, and absence of an involving pacing. There are nuggets of quality throughout, and the various representations are wholeheartedly welcome, but overall this supernatural, hate-to-love rom-com is a miss.
The story opens in the wrong foot immediately with the root of its 'hate' element; the heroine's unprovoked public shaming of the hero is so pointlessly hurtful and irresponsible (She's basically being Kayne West to Taylor Swift during 2009 VMA), there's really nothing the author can do to redeem the heroine afterward—the way the hero rationalizes this as a thoughtful wake-up call (when it's basically public defamation) further adds salt to injury.
Things does get more interesting when the supernatural element is introduced, unfortunately it turns out to be a 'non-story' as the buildup to its mystery leads to a very limp, anticlimactic conclusion—more of a scattering of creepy moments rather than a cohesive secondary plot line.
If I Stopped Haunting You is half-baked across the board: characters in their 30s read like horned-up juvenile teens, surface-level commentary regarding racism in the publishing industry, and a romance that's subtly problematic. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I hope Colby Wilkens' next novel will only improve from here.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
May 26, 2024
The implication that ghosts are able to ejaculate is not something I’ll be forgetting anytime soon
3.75 stars, rounded up | Rtc
3.75 stars, rounded up | Rtc
October 25, 2024
this book is a 0/5 stars bc 1) it feels like it’s written by a 16 year old AI generator and 2) THE AUTHOR IS POSING AS AN INDIGENOUS PERSON??? yeah no thanks! dnf @ 26% :(
March 30, 2024
Wow, this book was awful.
I don’t know where to start. Do I start with the bland characters, the blatant pandering, the weak storyline, the lack of character growth, or the terrible dialogue? Because all of the above brought this book down from a 5-star to a 3-star..
There are 4 characters to this book, and only 2 of them matter. 2 of them are entirely useless, only popping up randomly to make strange jokes about the main characters having sex. It’s so juvenile, borderline cringey. Other than that, I don’t know why those characters exist. I’d say the book would have been better without them, but they were so insignificant that it wouldn’t have changed the plot at all.
Neil is a fine character. He’s bland, but there’s nothing inherently wrong with him. It’s the female lead that is reprehensible. She starts the book out by physically assaulting the male lead by throwing a book at his head and making him bleed, even leaving him with a scar. Not that there’s ever a reason for physical assault, but she gives zero reason for it. The main character is mad at the male for having written a book she doesn’t agree with. That’s it.
What drops this book from a 3-star to a 1-star is how this is handled. If this was part of her growth it could be interesting, but the author doubles down on excusing this behavior, going as far as to celebrate it by saying there are groups of people who might “have joked that maybe she shouldn’t have thrown the book, but they didn’t blame her for it in the least.��� She mentions that a group of people even sided with her. There is no world or situation written that could make me find physical assault silly to begin with, but to actually hail the female main lead as a hero because of it? I’m speechless.
I was lured in by the great cover and fun premise, and left so disappointed and uncomfortable. Huge miss, I cannot recommend this book or this author.
I don’t know where to start. Do I start with the bland characters, the blatant pandering, the weak storyline, the lack of character growth, or the terrible dialogue? Because all of the above brought this book down from a 5-star to a 3-star..
There are 4 characters to this book, and only 2 of them matter. 2 of them are entirely useless, only popping up randomly to make strange jokes about the main characters having sex. It’s so juvenile, borderline cringey. Other than that, I don’t know why those characters exist. I’d say the book would have been better without them, but they were so insignificant that it wouldn’t have changed the plot at all.
Neil is a fine character. He’s bland, but there’s nothing inherently wrong with him. It’s the female lead that is reprehensible. She starts the book out by physically assaulting the male lead by throwing a book at his head and making him bleed, even leaving him with a scar. Not that there’s ever a reason for physical assault, but she gives zero reason for it. The main character is mad at the male for having written a book she doesn’t agree with. That’s it.
What drops this book from a 3-star to a 1-star is how this is handled. If this was part of her growth it could be interesting, but the author doubles down on excusing this behavior, going as far as to celebrate it by saying there are groups of people who might “have joked that maybe she shouldn’t have thrown the book, but they didn’t blame her for it in the least.��� She mentions that a group of people even sided with her. There is no world or situation written that could make me find physical assault silly to begin with, but to actually hail the female main lead as a hero because of it? I’m speechless.
I was lured in by the great cover and fun premise, and left so disappointed and uncomfortable. Huge miss, I cannot recommend this book or this author.
March 23, 2024
the enemies were enemying a little too hard in this one. in a contemporary romance, it is never that serious, and quite frankly, penelope is a jerk and there will be no redemption for her absurd behavior at the beginning of the novel. if I fell in love with a woman who physically assaulted me to the point of bleeding and also publicly humiliated me by dragging my entire career through the mud, I would hope a loved one would admit me to the nearest psychiatric facility.
I also heard there is ghost cum, and although board studying already has me in shambles, I cannot in my semi-right mind stick around to see what that's all about.
thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
✧ DNF 22%
I also heard there is ghost cum, and although board studying already has me in shambles, I cannot in my semi-right mind stick around to see what that's all about.
thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
✧ DNF 22%
October 6, 2024
2 stars.
I did not like "If I Stopped Haunting You" by Colby Wilkens. I tried to get over the fact that Pen, the main female character, starts the book by physically assaulting Neil, the main male character, by throwing a book at him in a public setting (a book panel at a convention). Four months pass, and Pen and Neil find themselves in each other's orbits again when they stay in a haunted castle in Scotland for a writer's retreat. Repeatedly, for the next 300+ pages, Pen attempts to justify her actions by gaslighting Neil. She makes *herself* the victim of the situation and blames everyone else for her issues. This did not sit well with me at all. I love books with complicated female main characters. In fact, I frequently and actively seek them out, but there is a fine line between complicated and straight-up toxic. Pen is just toxic, full stop. *Maybe* she could have been redeemable without the assault (which scarred him, by the way!), but the fact that she does not grow at all during the entire novel leads me to believe that's not the case. She's still the same sanctimonious, self-important, angry person she was in the beginning. By the end of the story, the only difference is that Pen has convinced Neil that he wants to be with the person who assaulted him. Representing what it is like to be BIPOC in the publishing industry is important, admirable, and necessary. Indigenous romance stories are few and far between, which is a disgrace. I also appreciate the bi-representation here. We need more diverse books in the romance genre! This is, by far, the best part of the book. Unfortunately, the rest of it is a mess. The haunting aspects were also not all that spooky. It was just a letdown all around. I usually love enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity stories, but this was not my cup of tea. I do not recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Colby Wilkens, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I did not like "If I Stopped Haunting You" by Colby Wilkens. I tried to get over the fact that Pen, the main female character, starts the book by physically assaulting Neil, the main male character, by throwing a book at him in a public setting (a book panel at a convention). Four months pass, and Pen and Neil find themselves in each other's orbits again when they stay in a haunted castle in Scotland for a writer's retreat. Repeatedly, for the next 300+ pages, Pen attempts to justify her actions by gaslighting Neil. She makes *herself* the victim of the situation and blames everyone else for her issues. This did not sit well with me at all. I love books with complicated female main characters. In fact, I frequently and actively seek them out, but there is a fine line between complicated and straight-up toxic. Pen is just toxic, full stop. *Maybe* she could have been redeemable without the assault (which scarred him, by the way!), but the fact that she does not grow at all during the entire novel leads me to believe that's not the case. She's still the same sanctimonious, self-important, angry person she was in the beginning. By the end of the story, the only difference is that Pen has convinced Neil that he wants to be with the person who assaulted him. Representing what it is like to be BIPOC in the publishing industry is important, admirable, and necessary. Indigenous romance stories are few and far between, which is a disgrace. I also appreciate the bi-representation here. We need more diverse books in the romance genre! This is, by far, the best part of the book. Unfortunately, the rest of it is a mess. The haunting aspects were also not all that spooky. It was just a letdown all around. I usually love enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity stories, but this was not my cup of tea. I do not recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Colby Wilkens, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
March 30, 2024
I received a free copy of, If I Stopped Haunting You, by Colby Wilkens, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Horror writer Penelope Skinner is at a writers retreat with her nemesis Neil Storm, in a castle. This was a nice book, a little scary and romantic at the same time.
July 18, 2024
Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for approving me for this ARC!
Rating: 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟's
-》Review《-
This book flaunts being both a "steamy hot enemies to lovers romance" and a chilling haunting horror story. To be frank, it wasn't much of either. The two main characters, Penelope and Neil, quickly go from hatred to sex scenes, and the scenes aren't that steamy. I attribute this to the lack of buildup, I love slow burn stories and seeing two characters come together over time while slowly falling in love. This book was the opposite of that, Penelope and Neil go from disliking the other person to sex scenes in the next chapter.
Nevertheless, there is still a massive page turner aspect to this book! I read it in a solid two days, and keep coming back to read even just a few pages during my bathroom breaks at work 😅 It is well written, and although it's cliché, it's the haunted house cliché you wanted.
This book won't be everyone's cup of tea, and I feel that it is falsely advertised as both a streamy romance and a thriller. To me, it was more of a romcom/parody of a haunted house. The characters seem like your classic 'How to not survive a horror movie' type, and watching them consistently make dumb decisions keep me reading.
Overall, if you like romcoms and clichés then this is a book to add to your shelf! It comes out October 15th, so you can read it with a cup of hot chocolate in an oversized sweater, perfect autumn romcom 🫶
March 16, 2024
Horror and romance don't seem like genres that could comfortably coexist, but Colby Wilkens makes it work. The story follows a group of four horror authors, two of whom might as well not even be in the story, as they go to a Scottish castle reputed to be haunted for a writer's retreat. Penelope and Neil have a contentious relationship (read: repressed longing/lust, and also she threw a book at him at a convention) discover that the haunting is real, and then they have to balance breaking through their writer's block, fixing the ghost problem, and wanting to screw for the rest of the book. I'm being flippant, but I also read it in two sittings, so this is a fun time.
The romance definitely outweighs the horror here, and that's okay. There are elements, like the other two writers, that feel lost or extraneous for most of the book, which isn't great, and I don't feel like Pen and Neil's Native identities were as strictly necessary as they're billed as. But as a racial and ethnic minority myself, I still love that that piece was there, because there's nothing like actually seeing yourself represented on the page, especially in a book that isn't about racial trauma.
All in all, this is a nice, cozy read. The balance isn't always right, but if you just want an escape, this is a very good bet.
The romance definitely outweighs the horror here, and that's okay. There are elements, like the other two writers, that feel lost or extraneous for most of the book, which isn't great, and I don't feel like Pen and Neil's Native identities were as strictly necessary as they're billed as. But as a racial and ethnic minority myself, I still love that that piece was there, because there's nothing like actually seeing yourself represented on the page, especially in a book that isn't about racial trauma.
All in all, this is a nice, cozy read. The balance isn't always right, but if you just want an escape, this is a very good bet.
March 24, 2024
I wanted to love this one 😭😭
It just fell so flat
It just fell so flat
October 14, 2024
This book brings together two Indigenous writers at a haunted Scottish castle for a writers' retreat. It's got that enemies-to-lovers vibe with a dash of horror, which immediately piqued my interest. Penelope (Pen) Skinner and Neil Storm have a complicated history, especially when it comes to their professional lives, and now they’re stuck together at this retreat, both battling writer's block.
The tension between them is real. Pen is pretty outspoken and fiery, and she’s not a fan of Neil's last book, which she thinks he sold out on. Neil’s side of things? He has a scar from this crazy lady. Well, he’s definitely attracted to Pen, and there are some steamy moments, but they felt a bit forced, like they didn’t naturally fit into the flow of the story.
Now, the spooky castle part? That was more my speed. The creepy atmosphere and haunting builds slowly, with each of them wondering if they heard something, and then it gradually ramps up to the haunting. There’s some genuinely eerie stuff going on in the castle, which was fun.
Overall, the premise—haunted castle, writers' retreat, two people who can’t stand each other—was super promising, but the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me. That said, I did appreciate the insights into Indigenous authors and the lack of representation in the writing world. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, Laszlo and Daniela.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an advance copy for review.
The tension between them is real. Pen is pretty outspoken and fiery, and she’s not a fan of Neil's last book, which she thinks he sold out on. Neil’s side of things? He has a scar from this crazy lady. Well, he’s definitely attracted to Pen, and there are some steamy moments, but they felt a bit forced, like they didn’t naturally fit into the flow of the story.
Now, the spooky castle part? That was more my speed. The creepy atmosphere and haunting builds slowly, with each of them wondering if they heard something, and then it gradually ramps up to the haunting. There’s some genuinely eerie stuff going on in the castle, which was fun.
Overall, the premise—haunted castle, writers' retreat, two people who can’t stand each other—was super promising, but the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me. That said, I did appreciate the insights into Indigenous authors and the lack of representation in the writing world. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, Laszlo and Daniela.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an advance copy for review.
May 30, 2024
I love paranormal romance, but, unfortunately, this was lacking in a few places for me... it was very slow, and I felt this should've or maybe originally was going to be YA, but then that was decided against. It reads both ways which was a tad off putting.
A haunted castle for a writers retreat with "enemies" started off strong in idea, but just fell flat for me. I thought Lazlo and Daniella, who are not the main characters, had much more character than Penelope & Neil who's story this is for.
I did not connect with Penelope & Neil, I dont think enough backstory was given on them to do so other than "they're rival authors who are native". The enemies to lovers (is this it?) romance seemed very forced and the enemy part was over too quickly because of forced proximity of the haunted castle. There was barely any build up of it and too quickly had resolve into their new relationship.
Thank you to NetGalley & St.Martins Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A haunted castle for a writers retreat with "enemies" started off strong in idea, but just fell flat for me. I thought Lazlo and Daniella, who are not the main characters, had much more character than Penelope & Neil who's story this is for.
I did not connect with Penelope & Neil, I dont think enough backstory was given on them to do so other than "they're rival authors who are native". The enemies to lovers (is this it?) romance seemed very forced and the enemy part was over too quickly because of forced proximity of the haunted castle. There was barely any build up of it and too quickly had resolve into their new relationship.
Thank you to NetGalley & St.Martins Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
October 30, 2024Not starring this - the author has been revealed to have faked Indigenous identity, and luckily I didn't get to this ARC before I heard that. Consider this notes to self, Bon. DNR.
October 6, 2024
I love a spooky book for the fall, and while this read delivered the spooky vibes, it fell short on the romance!
Enemies to lovers snowed in at a haunted house in Scotland? I should have devoured this, but the romance was not giving what needed to be given.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Enemies to lovers snowed in at a haunted house in Scotland? I should have devoured this, but the romance was not giving what needed to be given.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2024
If I Stopped Haunting You 📝 by Colby Wilkens
⭐️ ARC review ⭐️ with net galley
A haunted castle? Check. A really hot MMC with a feisty rival FMC? Check. Diving into Indigenous issues while still being a seriously hot rom com? Absolutely check.
This book really scratched the itch of a romance with some seriously great sub plots. The writing was a touch repetitive for my liking, but all in all this read should definitely be making its way into your TBR.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
⭐️ ARC review ⭐️ with net galley
A haunted castle? Check. A really hot MMC with a feisty rival FMC? Check. Diving into Indigenous issues while still being a seriously hot rom com? Absolutely check.
This book really scratched the itch of a romance with some seriously great sub plots. The writing was a touch repetitive for my liking, but all in all this read should definitely be making its way into your TBR.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
March 29, 2024
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me early access to this title in exchange for an honest review.
this one's going to be short. i didn't like this. maybe it might just be me and the timing, but this was not a book for me. i LOVE and KNOW all things paranormal and this just did not hit the way i wanted it to :/
this one's going to be short. i didn't like this. maybe it might just be me and the timing, but this was not a book for me. i LOVE and KNOW all things paranormal and this just did not hit the way i wanted it to :/
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