The Ghosts of Ophelia's Past: A Small-Town Christmas Romance With A Touch Of Magic

by Afton Seeser

In this modern twist on A Christmas Carol, we meet Ophelia, who’s grappling with her obligations in motherhood, marriage, and small-town life. Unlike her neighbors, she feels misunderstood, longing for something beyond the small-town routines everyone else is satisfied with. Troubled by unfulfilled dreams, haunted by "what could have been", and a growing disconnect with her easygoing husband, Ophelia teeters on the edge until the Ghost of Christmas Past steps in. With one wild day to reclaim her lost free spirit, Ophelia faces truths about her past, her soul's purpose, and her relationships with her husband, daughter, and even an old flame. She is about to embark on a whirlwind of a journey to reclaim her power, passions, and ultimately, herself.

369 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2024

About the author

Afton Seeser is a yapper and an astrology junkie.

(Pisces Sun, Virgo Moon, and Sagittarius rising for those who appreciate a big three.)

She is a Texan native, but in late 2022, she moved across the world to Croatia. Texas called her back home, but it was because of her transformative experience in Croatia that this story came to be. She is married to her high school sweetheart, has two children, and believes she has found a soulmate in her cat, Bjorn. She wants you to know she loves you very much and is so appreciative that out of all the books you could fill your time reading, you picked up this one. The Ghosts of Ophelia’s Past is her debut novel.
Afton Seeser profile image

Reviews

[Ashley Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this up and coming author on tiktok and she was looking for people to ARC read her book. I offered as i always loved the Christmas carol movie when i was younger.

I started this book and absolutely loved it, I usually read books fast but i didn’t want this book to end so i took more time in reading it. It’s the perfect book and having a connection to the characters in the book and how it all goes well together I can’t wait to see what she delivers next and I highly recommend giving this a read.

It is one I will be purchasing to add to my shelf as soon as it gets released.

[Chelsie Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghosts of Ophelia’s Past was an unexpected delight—a story that goes beyond holiday cheer to explore real-life struggles and second chances. Going into this book, I was ready for a charming Christmas story, but what I found was so much more. This book brings a modern twist to A Christmas Carol, following Ophelia, a woman juggling the complexities of marriage, motherhood, and small-town expectations, while quietly longing for something more.

Ophelia’s story struck a chord, especially in the way it captures the quiet challenges and small victories of family life. Her relationship with her easygoing husband, Eli, felt so genuine and relatable; their conversations and occasional clashes were refreshingly real. The story does a fantastic job highlighting what a true partnership looks like—the ups and downs, the sacrifices, and the deep, unspoken love that holds it all together.

What I especially loved was Ophelia’s journey toward rediscovering herself. Through a magical twist with a ghostly visit, she’s thrown into a day of self-reflection that is both heartfelt and empowering. The author brings to life the bittersweet feelings of being both fully devoted to your family and yet craving a piece of yourself back. The writing beautifully captures the struggle of wanting more without losing sight of the love that grounds you.

This book is more than just a cozy read; it’s a reminder to embrace your dreams and passions, even in the midst of everyday life. The Ghosts of Ophelia’s Past is a wonderful read for the holidays and beyond, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author!

[Marli Eilers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put The Ghosts of Ophelia’s Past down! Afton’s writing is pure magic. Ophelia’s story felt so real, like I was right there with her, going through her ups and downs. Ophelia’s story is both relatable and heartbreaking. Her struggles as a wife and mother felt so real, and her journey of self-discovery was both inspiring and empowering. The way she captured the tension between Ophelia and Eli was spot on – it felt like I was eavesdropping on my own marriage! The introduction of Jesse rekindled old flames and stirred long-buried emotions, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

As someone who has been to Georgetown and ridden the train, and walked across the bridge she and Rose stood on, the setting added an extra layer of relatability. The quaint town and its charm were perfectly captured in the story.

This book is a beautiful reminder that it’s never too late to chase your dreams, even as a wife and mom. I’m so impressed with Afton’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written modern day retelling of A Christmas Carol. The author brings strong characters and does a fantastic job bringing the story to life with her descriptive scenes, making you feel all the emotions as if you were there. She brings the magic of Christmas and delivers a terrific holiday romance.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are freely given.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow this book was SO good! I laughed literally out loud, I shed a couple tears, I smiled and just ALL the feels. It reminds you of how precious life is and how easy it is to see the negatives when you’re actually being bathed in positives. I loved loved LOVED the setting. When she was being taken back to watch her past, I felt as though I was sitting right next to her, it was SO good. Just read it! Now! Go!

[Paloma Chianel🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ What a powerful message this book holds🥹 I was intertwined between Eli and Jesse at some point, I was just as confused as Ophelia somehow. It is beautifully written, and the way it portrays different topics like second chance, the feeling of not achieving your dreams because motherhood came, the feeling of not been heard and people minimizing the importance it holds for you, the way it shows the importance of communication and the things we might lost in the way, and the pain of Teenage heartbreak.

The Christmas Carol twist does gives it an amazing depth🥹

A tear fell down my cheek when reliving the glimpses of the past between Jesse and Ophelia, kind of relatable

Eli is the perfect husband, I would love an Eli in my life, and the ending of this book just explains and describe how mature couples should act in order to have a solid and honest relationship.🥹

This debut novel is amazing, Im great ful to have the opportunity to read it before it’s release, hope that can be read for as many people as possible, specially in the Christmas Spirit era coming so soon🌸

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This is a modern day retelling of A Christmas Carol. I absolutely loved the town and the charming feel it gave off. Ophelia has always dreamed of leaving her small town in search of a more adventurous life of travel. Her husband, Eli, doesn’t want to leave the town and worries about their daughter and how she would cope.

Feel down and outright tired of her small town life, Ophelia has had more than one conversation with Eli about traveling. He always responds with logic. Feeling unheard, she’s become grumpy and downright awful during the holidays. Until one day she meets Rose.

They travel back to see her past memories, present life, and of course a glimpse of her future. Will she be able to fulfill her desire to find peace in her future life?

I can’t recommend this book enough. It was cute, charming, and all around a great time. It’s the perfect book for Christmas that also comes with a great lesson or two.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down!

Afton Seeser crafts a character in Ophelia that feels deeply real and relatable - a woman caught between the life she's built and the memories she can’t escape.

What makes this book truly special is the way that Ophelia's struggles feel uniquely hers, yet her experiences resonate with anyone who has faced their own unresolved pain or tried to reconcile the past with the present.

Seeser's writing is both poetic and raw, perfectly capturing the complexity of relationships, the weight of regret, and the courage it takes to forge a path of your own.

This is a story that will stay with you, challenge you, and ultimately inspire you to look within. I can’t wait to read Afton Seeser’s next novel!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not gonna lie..I wasn’t on board in the beginning only because I couldn’t understand Ophelia’s emotions (and there was a lot of cussing…but I cuss a lot? I’m hard to please, I know). It wasn’t until the train scene where I started to finally understand and relate to her feelings of wanting more out of life. It takes a lot for me to shed a tear and I did so a few times. After finishing the book I can now say I really enjoyed this story. In the beginning I thought Ophelia was, in her words “a brat”. But it really is a hard thing to balance being a wife and mom all while trying to still find yourself and how to achieve your dreams. Reading how Ophelia was able to overcome her obstacles that were holding her back gives me hope that I can do the same.

[Meg Bozarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!! This is my first 5 star read of the holiday season! This is a debut novel from author Afton Seeser! The way she captures the essence of the classic a Christmas Carol, but at the same time the book has its on original flare to it!

You can feel Ophelia struggling with her identity and wanting to be more than just a mom will have so many readers relating to her struggle.

I loved this book so much. I read on my kindle and cannot wait to buy the physical copy to put on my bookshelf!

The vibe of the whole book has put me in the Christmas spirit and it’s a perfect read for this time of year!

The whole book is a chef’s kiss!!

[Brandi-Jo Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was given an ARC*
Oh, where do I begin? I’m flabbergasted first of all that this is Afton’s debut novel- the journey she took me on! This book was powerful especially if you have been in Ophelia’s shoes. So consumed with other facets of your life that you forget you exist too. I feel like we always see books where the FMC is figuring life out going into true adulthood, but here it shows that discovery can happen anytime in your life and that’s OKAY! The presentation of the past, present and future was such a wonderful take. If you are looking for a wonderful small town Christmas read. This is it.

[Lottie Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an arc. Let me just say I absolutely loved it. Ever since being a little kid I have always enjoyed everything Christmas from hallmark movies to just traditional Christmas movies. Theres something about how the author wrote this book that just made me feel joyful but also a sense of looking inward for growth. While also being ready for the holidays this year. Which I am very thankful for because this is my first year not feeling too happy about the holidays because it’s the first year celebrating without my family being close by. Personally I can’t wait to read more by this author and to also get my hands on the book to add to my book shelf.

[Reagan Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this wintery debut novel from Afton Seeser! The main character, Ophelia, has it pretty made in her picture-perfect Colorado town, but can’t shake some ghosts of her past tying her down. Her inner monologue is entertaining and relatable. Although a bit grumpy and complainy like Scrooge, Ophelia’s quick wit and snarky comebacks are hilarious. As a sarcastic, book lover, coffee addict, Swiftie, young parent, restless wanderluster myself, I resonated with Ophelia and her fears of never feeling free enough to be her authentic self and explore new places and possibilities. The character arc was perfect and tied up nicely with a pretty Christmas ribbon to finish.

[Juli Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved seeing what authors do to add their own imagination to classics such as the Christmas Carol. To say this book did not disappoint is an understatement. I could not put this down for anything and read it all in one sitting. The added element of seeing this classic from the view point of a modern day mom was just stunning. This is a Christmas must read. I received a digital arc from the author, who is a total sweetheart, but I cannot wait to pick up the physical copy to add it as a trophy to my shelves.

[Tabatha Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a good read (no pun intended). Every free moment I had, I was reading this book. It is the perfect story to read around this time of year. Reading this I felt a bit of nostalgia, a bit of familiarity but in a whole new and unique story type of way. If you have not read this book yet, you definately should. 10 out of 10 would reccomend!

[Renee J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written story that captures the heart of what it means to be a mom/wife and still have big dreams. This book reminds you to take a deeper look at the moments that shape you as you evolve into the person you are. A great Christmas read but this book is amazing for all year long.! I savored every page and enjoyed the journey. A must read!

[Alba Dorado · Rating 5 out of 5]

The added element of seeing this classic from the view point of a modern day mom was just stunning. This story was a breath of fresh air and I could not put this down for anything except to mark its quotes- I recommend slowing the highlighters after this read
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Afton Seeser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm the author of this book, so I'm a little biased, lol!
If you've read this book or plan to, I hope you enjoy Ophelia's story! As my debut novel, this book will always be very special to me. I hope that it finds its readers who don't mind an FMC with a lot of opinions about her yearning for more and that this book will hold a special place in their hearts as well.
xoxo Afton

[readingcactuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was incredibly frustrated because of how Ophelia was treated! The writing is so good that you start to emphasise with Ophelia from the first page. You get angry with her, feel hopeful and everything else.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Deborah Smithers · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom, I really connected with Ophelia and felt so much empathy for her. The Christmasy atmosphere and the charm of Georgetown drew me right in, making the whole story feel warm and inviting. It’s such a heartfelt read and a beautiful debut!

[Audury Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

1000 out of 10 I cried so much sad and happy tears 🥹 it was beautiful and relatable and just wow. It was so well written and I can’t wait for your next book. 🥰🥰🥰 highly recommend this book.

[Amanda Burkhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Well written story line. Couldn’t put it down!!! Must read!! No spoilers here!!! Great Christmas feel!!!

[Kaya Brinker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness. I went into this book expecting a fluffy Christmas story and ended up absolutely falling in love with it. I received this book as an ARC from an author I hadn’t read before (I believe this is her first book!) and had no clue what to expect.

This story was a breath of fresh air. It was realer than I could’ve ever imagined. I’ve read plenty of books with married couples as parents and have never related more to Ophelia and Eli’s dynamic. The things they talk and argue about are things I’ve talked with my husband about. This story shows what a real, healthy relationship looks like.

Being a young mom to young children, I see so much of myself in Ophelia. It’s so amazing how the author showed how a mother can feel-absolutely adoring her children but feeling like ONLY a mom. It feels as if you’re trapped. The writing perfectly portrayed that feeling.

Overall, I loved this story. I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future. This will be a perfect cozy Christmas read. Thank you again to the author for allowing me to read this as an ARC!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a great premise in an enjoyable setting. It's similar to A Christmas Carol in some ways, but quite different in others - definitely still its own book.

I really struggled through the first third of the book. I considered DNF'ing it because it just felt like profanity-laced complaining and Ophelia and her husband having the same argument over and over, making each other (and me) miserable. Even though I can't relate to Ophelia considering leaving her husband and child to go on a spontaneous adventure, I think most wives and mothers can empathize with the struggle to maintain our own identity while also doing our best to be good wives and moms. Ophelia frustrated me at first, but in the end, that was a good thing: she experienced a lot of good character growth over the course of the story. And unlike Ebeneezer Scrooge, there are no characters who are black-and-white "bad guys"; they are all complex and treated with compassion. That thoughtfulness made up for some of the writing style not being in my personal preference. The spelling and grammatical errors didn't stop the book from having a good plot.

The book definitely redeemed itself in my eyes by the end, and made me appreciate my life more - so thank you, Afton Seeser, for that! Even though the book wasn't quite my cup of tea in some ways, it was still a good read overall, and I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy it.

Thank you to BookSirens and Afton Seeser for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.

[Nicolette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timeless cozy read that felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket rocking in a chair on a winter porch!