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Shake Out the Ghosts
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26Left with PTSD and facial scars after an attack 9 months ago, eccentric portrait artist Micah finds the sanctuary of his home disrupted by signs of a haunting. Between 80’s synth pop and motivational messages scrawled on his bathroom mirror, Micah is more charmed than frightened by Cosmo, the deceased previous resident of his apartment. But when Cosmo’s ghost suddenly disappears, Micah’s determined to lure him back.
Dramatic, unconventional and very much alive, sculpture artist Cosmo mourns his old self. His boyfriend’s a serial cheater, he’s continually passed over for a promotion at work, and he’s lost his best friend. To make matters worse, his apartment’s being haunted by a bespectacled man with an eye socket of scars. Seeking a new start, Cosmo moves out.
In a chance meeting, Cosmo and Micah’s paths cross again, and tentative sparks fly. But the phantoms of their pasts still linger. To find a future where they can be happy together, they must confront their trauma once and for all.
Dramatic, unconventional and very much alive, sculpture artist Cosmo mourns his old self. His boyfriend’s a serial cheater, he’s continually passed over for a promotion at work, and he’s lost his best friend. To make matters worse, his apartment’s being haunted by a bespectacled man with an eye socket of scars. Seeking a new start, Cosmo moves out.
In a chance meeting, Cosmo and Micah’s paths cross again, and tentative sparks fly. But the phantoms of their pasts still linger. To find a future where they can be happy together, they must confront their trauma once and for all.
288 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 17, 2026
3 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Al Hess
34 books211 followersAuthor of World Running Down, Key Lime Sky, Yours Celestially, and the award-winning Hep Cats of Boise series.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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October 31, 2024Art, ghosts, morbid humor, 80s synthwave, graveyard dates, and TWISTS. I think you're going to like this one. Out Spring 2026.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC read from netgalley
This was so different! Really refreshing and heart warming too! Cosmo and Micah are sweet hearts and their relationship is beautiful ♥️
Though this isnt just about love, its about trauma, letting people in, trust and unexpectedly parallel universes!
Wonderful 💜
This was so different! Really refreshing and heart warming too! Cosmo and Micah are sweet hearts and their relationship is beautiful ♥️
Though this isnt just about love, its about trauma, letting people in, trust and unexpectedly parallel universes!
Wonderful 💜
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Unconventional paranormal romance with some 80’s dance music with queer twists. I absolutely love how queer this novel is and the chemistry between the two. Despite it being unconventional the chemistry is undeniable. The protagonist may be down on his luck, so why not lure back someone who really sees you for you? Think about it, if someone was haunting your home – how much would they know about you and your habits?
Think about the way this narrative is both cozy while making the speculative notion of what it means to be seen. I think this is what works so well in this narrative. There can be loneliness embedded into the queer experience. So, to be seen as who you are really makes that spark ignite. There is something about the way Al Hess addresses the queer experience that really makes this relatable. I appreciate the quips and back and forth banter between Micah and Cosmo.
This is a narrative also have real trans representation. But what does it mean to be queer and trans and find romance? That is what the novel speculates on. I appreciate Al Hess for making a novel that truly embodies queerness and understands the experience in depth. There is a lot of love written into the diction that furthers the experience for us readers. What is the queer experience haunted by that makes it so freeing to be seen as yourself by someone?
There is a lot of love about the simplicity of this neon 80’s inspired cover and budding queer romance. The narrative is written with love with this air that goes beyond the traditional haunting. This is a narrative about being seen and the paranormal. A comedic romance that will have you falling in love with the characters by the end of it. We all want to be seen in the end. Thank you Al Hess, Angry Robot, and Netgalley for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
For tarot readings, reviews, and recommendations, visit my blog https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/
Think about the way this narrative is both cozy while making the speculative notion of what it means to be seen. I think this is what works so well in this narrative. There can be loneliness embedded into the queer experience. So, to be seen as who you are really makes that spark ignite. There is something about the way Al Hess addresses the queer experience that really makes this relatable. I appreciate the quips and back and forth banter between Micah and Cosmo.
This is a narrative also have real trans representation. But what does it mean to be queer and trans and find romance? That is what the novel speculates on. I appreciate Al Hess for making a novel that truly embodies queerness and understands the experience in depth. There is a lot of love written into the diction that furthers the experience for us readers. What is the queer experience haunted by that makes it so freeing to be seen as yourself by someone?
There is a lot of love about the simplicity of this neon 80’s inspired cover and budding queer romance. The narrative is written with love with this air that goes beyond the traditional haunting. This is a narrative about being seen and the paranormal. A comedic romance that will have you falling in love with the characters by the end of it. We all want to be seen in the end. Thank you Al Hess, Angry Robot, and Netgalley for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
For tarot readings, reviews, and recommendations, visit my blog https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for approving my request to read an arc of this book.
I’ll start by saying that Al Hess is one of my favourite authors and so I already had high hopes and expectations for this story, and I ended up enjoying it even more than I’d expected! Al Hess continues to write some of the most unique and intriguing plots and characters I have ever come across and he makes it so that not a single page is dull or any character feels unimportant. His books always contain such a wonderful balance of fantasy realism that is just my cup of tea.
Shake Out The Ghosts deals with ptsd, healing, scaring rep, depression, and other heavy topics in such a respectful and honest manner while also giving the reader a beautiful romantic story full of twists and turns.
This book comes highly recommended by me and I absolutely loved it!
I’ll start by saying that Al Hess is one of my favourite authors and so I already had high hopes and expectations for this story, and I ended up enjoying it even more than I’d expected! Al Hess continues to write some of the most unique and intriguing plots and characters I have ever come across and he makes it so that not a single page is dull or any character feels unimportant. His books always contain such a wonderful balance of fantasy realism that is just my cup of tea.
Shake Out The Ghosts deals with ptsd, healing, scaring rep, depression, and other heavy topics in such a respectful and honest manner while also giving the reader a beautiful romantic story full of twists and turns.
This book comes highly recommended by me and I absolutely loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was very cute and I thought the concept was unique and well executed. The two main characters were likable and you wanted to see them succeed, both in their relationship and healing in life.
Some parts felt a little over the top, but maybe that's because I'm not normally a romance reader.
Overall, I appreciated the interesting concept, the trans and aesexual representation, and the deeper themes about healing and trauma.
Some parts felt a little over the top, but maybe that's because I'm not normally a romance reader.
Overall, I appreciated the interesting concept, the trans and aesexual representation, and the deeper themes about healing and trauma.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews