Are any of these books actually Halloween romances? No. But they do contain a ghost, a witch, and a not-quite-ghost. That’s close enough for candy corn in this case.
My recommendations, my rules.
A Ghost in Shining Armor by Therese Beharrie–Gemma Daniels has the ability to see ghosts and she likes to help them settle their unfinished business. Which is good because the stranger she kissed on a bet was actually a ghost and her kiss turned him solid. Now Levi has a second chance at life if he helps Gemma reunite with her long-lost sister. Meanwhile, Levi has some sibling issues of his own that Gemma wants to help him work out. And there’s the whole being super attracted to each other business, which is kind of a problem given the whole ghost thing.
I admit that I suffered from a lot of secondhand embarrassment while reading this book. Gemma is not at all logical when it comes to her plans to introduce herself to her long-lost sister, who happens to be an author. There’s a lot of family drama involving adoption, responsibility, and people pleasing. I was hooked on the ride of Gemma and Levi’s romance, trying to figure out how it was going to work out. Because it’s a romance. There has to be a happy ending. Spoiler alert: there is. There’s also some pretty steamy scenes. Who knew ghost sex could be so satisfying?
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna–Mika Moon is one of few witches in Britain. As a rule, witches aren’t supposed to mingle or be open about their witchy-ness, but Mika likes to post videos of herself pretending to be a witch because she’s sure no one will take her seriously. Until one day, someone does. She’s summoned to Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their powers. Breaking the no mingling rule, Mika takes up the task, which moves her into Nowhere House and into the not-so-good-graces of Jamie, the Nowhere House Librarian who is very protective of the girls, which is something they have in common.
This is such a sweet romance. Mika and Jamie are inevitable, but it’s lovely watching them fall for each other, challenging their own hang-ups in the process. The three witches Mika is charged with teaching are feisty and adorable. And the girls’ guardian makes me think of Ian McKellan. There’s a bit of a mystery and an outside threat because we need to have some stakes, but it all ties in beautifully. It’s an enjoyable read.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston–August is living her cynical life in New York City, living with weird roommates and working at a 24 hour pancake diner when she has a chance encounter with a gorgeous woman on the subway. Jane isn’t like other girls. Literally. She’s displaced in time and stuck on the subway train. August is determined to help Jane get back to her time, but the more time she and Jane spend with each other, the harder it will be to let her go.
I loved this book so much. It was different and engrossing and I loved all of the characters. There were drag parties and subway sex and tragic histories and punk rock and laugh out loud lines. I wanted to live in this book. With a premise like this, though, it’s hard to see how the happy ending is going to happen, but the conclusion is a satisfying one.
I hope these books fit your spooky season romance vibe. And if they don’t, haunt someone else.
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