Where Old Ghosts Meet

by Kitty Conway

What if the home you’ve been searching for could only be found in the past you tried to forget?

Josie O'Driscoll thought she had escaped the ghosts of Maplewood forever.

Fifteen years ago, Josie fled the small Pennsylvania town where her young life burst into flames, seeking refuge in Ireland, where she painstakingly rebuilt both her life and the walls around her heart. But when the death of her beloved mentor, Sarge, brings her back to Maplewood, she discovers that the past she thought she left behind never truly let her go.

Josie intends a brief return to Maplewood—but Sarge has other plans. He’s left behind a trail of letters for her and Sawyer, the boy who once shattered her world. Each letter unearths secrets, pain, and love they thought were long buried. As Josie and Sawyer grapple with their shared past, they begin to uncover not only the truths about themselves but also the hidden chapters of Sarge’s life—revealing a poignant story of his own love, loss, and the scars of a world that failed him.

Told in alternating timelines, Where Old Ghosts Meet explores Josie and Sawyer’s journey from the innocence of first love, through betrayal and heartbreak, to the raw realities of adulthood. As they piece together their fractured story, they’ll confront the weight of generational trauma, the scars of their unraveling, and the ache of knowing they now live worlds apart.

With unforgettable characters, bittersweet humor, and a deeply emotional core, Where Old Ghosts Meet is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the courage it takes to make peace with the past—all while discovering that home isn’t always a place, but something you carry within.

435 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2025

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where Old Ghosts Meet will captivate you from the first chapter. I could not put it down.

Following Josie through her past and present experiences will take you on a rollercoaster of poignant feelings. This heartwarming story is thought-provoking and highlights the complexities of working through trauma, protecting your peace, and having the courage to live the life that you deserve.

This is one of those books with characters you instantly love and will want to revisit over and over again!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a well written story that enables you to mirror how each character is feeling and be able to relate it to your own personal experiences. Every detail was there - emotionally, mentally, and physically. I cannot wait for the next read by Kitty Conway.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debut novel, Where Old Ghosts Meet by Kitty Conway, was our most recent book pick for Barbie Book Club! The book follows Josie O’Driscoll as she is brought back to her hometown of Maplewood, Pennsylvania due to the passing of her mentor and pseudo-grandfather, William/Sarge. 15 years have passed since she lived in Maplewood and as the title reads, where girlie held a lot of old ghosts that she never thought to encounter again, including Sawyer, her first love.

From the grave, Sarge sends these two old flames on a scavenger hunt to unearth his past, one that he chose to keep hidden. We get to see a past and present format take place in the book, allowing us to see Josie’s complex past and the current place she finds herself due to that really shitty past. Unfortunately, Josie’s mother struggled with alcoholism, and most children from a home situation with that type of disease tend to find themselves at the brunt end of a narcissistic, abusive and overall caregiving position, this is the path Josie’s life path path took. Due to this, she developed trust issues, leading to a failed relationship with Sawyer. Their relationship ending wasn’t all on Josie and we can’t forget to mention, Val, she was a pos.

Honestly, I’m not sad her parents died in this. Her mother was a terrible person, yes, she had an addiction but she was slowing suffocating and traumatizing those around her. Josie’s dad, well, didn’t care much for him. He enabled her poor behavior, didn’t have Josie in any sort of therapy and allowed her to take on the caregiver role.

Josie girl almost ruined the whole thing in the end there but she got her shit together, and hopefully some therapy cause girlie has a significant amount of trauma and needs to work through it. Then she goes on to develop postpartum anxiety, oof, she needs an SSRI as well. Sarge’s story was sad but also unfortunately, very common during that time , wish we could have had more of him and of course, him and Rupert.

Good job on your first novel, Kitty!
4 stars 😊

[Jennifer Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I thought it would be!! It was about ghosts but the kind that hold you back from your past. It was a romance about high school sweethearts who each had their own fall backs that interfered with their relationship both past and present. How a man ( Sarge)who was not only a neighbor but a friend to both of them (Sawyer and Josie) tried to bring them together while he was alive and also as he passed away in letters. He didn’t want them to loose each other , the way he lost his one true love. That’s when the twist comes in. It was challenging, heartbreaking and yes a sweet story but it was drawn out a little bit for me. There were times I wanted to smack Sawyer and Josie especially near the end and say come on already. So that’s why I gave it 4 stars. I do recommend this book however especially if you like a romance.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book right from the start…I fell in love with the characters and the way the story was written in past and present time. It’s a great story to get lost in and that feeling of never wanting the story to end.

[Katie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the characters in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the now and then format, going from the past to the present. This gave the book a wonderful flow. It’s truly a story that will stick with me for a long time.

[Brooke Newhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first paperback book I have read in over 4 years. This made me fall back in love with reading again. The characters were so vivid, and I LOVED the story line. I liked the bit of mystery and not being able to see where the author is taking you. I will be recommending it to everyone.

[Tanya Horsky-Howells · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely beautiful story! Kitty Conway paints a beautiful picture of a young girl, broken by life but healed by love.

[Sally Gaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Awesome book. Loved every minute reading this. Will recommend to anyone. Great story and ending. Really Enjoyed it. Keep writing.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great debut novel! I enjoyed the dual timeline aspect. It made me want to continue reading to find out what happened next.

[Sharon Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!
4.5 stars

[Tori Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It is probably the best book I’ve read this year. It is very well written and you can’t help but fall in love with the characters. I can’t recommend it enough!!

[Kay K Wettemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me feeling everything the characters were feeling.

[Maureen H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare to be entranced with this amazing story…I could not put it down! Kitty Conway is an artist, she paints the story with vivid descriptions and poetic language. You find yourself walking the streets of Maplewood and imaging you are right there with Josie and Sawyer.