Phantoms, Ghosts & Other Heartbreaks

by Beth Morton

What happens when masks are pulled away?

Christine Derring is thrilled when she lands an entry level gig at the nonprofit Gardner Opera house, hoping to network it into a strategy job at the elite Gardner Industries once she finishes her MBA. Her manager is a nightmare, but she’s been through worse growing up in the foster system. It’s taught her to be practical. Her schooling and career come first. The only thing holding her back is a big presentation in front of the entire department. The idea of standing in front of all those experts as they rip her work apart sounds like her worst nightmare.

On the evening of the annual masquerade gala fundraiser, a blackout hits New York City. Christine is stuck in an elevator with Erik Gardner, the man who can determine her professional future with his company. No pressure.

Reclusive Erik opens up to her over their hours in the dark. When the lights come on and his scars and injuries are put on full display, he lashes out. As an apology, he offers to help her overcome her fears of public speaking. He tries to keep things professional, but as they work together, the sparks he felt in the darkness turn into a consuming flame.

When Christine’s first attempt at public speaking under his tutelage goes viral, the spotlight exposes long hidden secrets and fears neither is ready to face. With their feelings growing, and her presentation date closing in, they have to find a way to work it out. But some hurts run deeper, and the secrets may destroy everything they’re trying to build.

Genres: Romance, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romance

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2025

About the author

I grew up on Long Island, New York and received my bachelors in Dramatic Literature and Creative Writing and MBA in Marketing and Sales at NYU. Currently I live in Northern New Jersey with my husband and two children.

Follow me @Beth_Morton_Writer on Instagram!

Reviews

[Leslie ☆︎ · Rating 1 out of 5]

A “Phantom of the Opera” retelling hates to see me coming.

I really, *really* wanted to like this one, because I adore the concept: a sleek, sexy “Phantom” retelling where Erik is a frat boy turned reclusive CEO of a bajillion-dollar empire and Christine is a former foster kid working her way up the ranks of said empire while pursuing her MBA. The backdrop is today’s Manhattan, which glitters for the wealthy and chafes against the not so wealthy.

Cool concept, right? Unfortunately, a concept alone doesn’t make a compelling novel. You also need to execute that concept well, and that’s where this novel falters.

My principal gripe with “Phantoms, Ghosts & Other Heartbreaks” is that it features WAY too much telling and not enough showing. Take this excerpt from page 25:

“In moments of stress, his anger was a comforting balm. It promised to protect him from threats and see to his best interests. Only when the crisis passed did he realize how much his temper did more harm than good.”

That’s fantastic characterization, but a more engaging novel would convey that information through said character’s actions and physicality, not through narration. I don’t enjoy novels that spoon feed me. I enjoy novels that trust that I’m intelligent enough to read between the lines.

Here’s a simpler example from page 122: “Reza looked pained.” Don’t spoon feed me that information; *demonstrate it* to me via Reza’s appearance and let me use my brain to decipher his feelings myself. What does “pained” look like on this dude? Does he cringe? Do his brows furrow? Does he grit his teeth? What does it look like when his face is “etched with sadness” (page 233)?

Always write for a reader who is smarter than you. That’s Fiction Writing 101. The year is 2025, artificial superintelligence is just a stone’s throw away, and our oligarchs don’t want us to think. Writing a novel your reader can engage with mentally is a form of resistance. We’re smart enough to figure out the why behind the what if we’re given enough physical clues.

Back to the story itself. The pacing was bizarre. For example, the sex scenes were written in the purplest prose ever committed to print, while the third act breakup scene raced by like a hit and run.

Speaking of the breakup, its catalyst — the Raoul counterpart — has no personality whatsoever. He’s a nice guy who wants to help Christine succeed, and that’s it. Despite being the cause of a ton of drama, I came away from this novel knowing nothing about him besides the fact that his parents are rich and he grew up with Christine. I know what he does, but I don’t know who he is.

What really sealed my one-star rating were the little logical inconsistencies the prose is peppered with: e.g., “Meg ignored Val’s comment with an eye roll.” If she’s rolling her eyes at the comment, then she’s not ignoring it! (I’m shocked that both an editor AND a proofreader missed that.)

And I’ll wrap up this review by addressing the most heinous sin of all: According to the author’s bio, she’s from Long Island. I don’t buy it, because every native Long Islander (including myself!) will happily chew your ear off about how the grammatically correct phraseology is “ON Long Island,” not “IN Long Island.” As my father says, if you want to be in it, dig a hole!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A modern retelling of the Beauty and the Beast trope, “Phantoms, Ghosts & Other Heartbreaks”, by Beth Morton, features a hero with a serious disfigurement and a heroine with some issues but a gentle, nurturing personality.
The classic meeting in the broken elevator was potent, promising mystery and emotional intensity between Erik and Christine. I loved the suspense anticipated in this initial scene.
The hero’s disfigurement is severe. I appreciated the author’s directness about it. The external physical and psychological effects are obvious. Erik is a tortured, temperamental hero and is still hiding and trying to avoid the “new normal”.
Christine is dealing with her own issues. I liked how she dealt with them, with Erik’s help.
Notoriety, fame, success, financial struggles, loss and grief are explored in the story.
I felt this story could have been shorter. There was a lot of melodrama. The transitions to sex were a bit abrupt and I find the leads’ often crude verbiage didn’t match their personalities.
Because it was so radical, I was left wondering what would be the functional impact of the amputation.

[Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know POTO, if you don't, you'll enjoy this book. I greatly appreciated each and every character in this book. I understood going into this that it was based loosely off POTO, so I didn't go in with expectations that this would be a perfect romance. POTO is a very tragic romance that doesn't exactly end the way Eristine lovers would've hoped, of course, but I'm happy to report this book doesn't disappoint. Erik's temper is very reminiscent of the Phantoms, and I liked how over the course of things he learned how to let Christine and others into his life more. I also was overjoyed to see such wonderful disability rep, from Erik's anxiety, depression and his journey with disability aids via his prosthesis, but Christine's anxiety that she learns coping strategies for with the help of the people who care for her. It was so lovely seeing the characters develop the way they did, and I liked that 'The Persian' in POTO had a much bigger role as that's a character you don't really see much of in the film/Broadway adaptation or original novel. This book is perfect for Broadway, music, and theatre lovers in general. I do think that possibly the way Christine and Erik are may be a bit lost on those who aren't as familiar with the POTO world, so I would implore those who read and check out reviews to remember that this is heavily inspired off that before they get upset about the characterization and everything like that.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op & Beth Morton for sharing an e-ARC of Phantoms, Ghosts & Other Heartbreaks with me in exchange for an honest review!

This book was very cute! I am personally a huge fan of Phantom of the Opera (POTO) so I was so excited to dive into this. I think I did enjoy it more because I knew the lore and story of POTO, but it is not necessary in order to enjoy the book! I feel that the plot of the story was executed really well and it was able to strike a perfect balance between being different enough from the original while still paying homage and being able to draw the similarities. I found myself being able to relate to Christine and I loved getting to read about her progression in her stage fright and just overall confidence in her day to day life. I had so much empathy for Erik and felt so bad everytime he pushed someone away due to his insecurities (I wanted to punch the christmas tree dude). I loved getting to see how Christine’s love was able to help Erik as well as how Beth handled the sensitive topics of Anxiety, Depression & physical disfigurement. I love a good slow burn and this book delivered!

Overall if you are looking for a cute romance story, or are a fan of Phantom of the Opera, you will want to pick this up!

[Readingwithmammabear · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really decent and promising debut. There were a lot of really great elements to this, and I loved how the entire story focused on Christine and Erik's relationship development - though there were moments and scenes that needed a bit more editing and finesse.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Victory Co-op for the ARC opportunity.

[Lisa Conant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶 out of 5

🥀Modern Phantom of the Opera Retelling
🎵Musical & Business Genius Billionaire
❤️‍🩹Scarred/Reclusive MMC
👔Workplace Romance
🫂Close Proximity
🩵Comfort & Healing
❤️‍🔥Slow Burn
🫦Age Gap (25, 35)

✨️Review
Wow! What an amazing modern Phantom of the Opera Retelling! What I love seeing in stories like these is that we explore some of the psychological damage along with the physical. Erik is brilliant but broken in his own way...self isolating, staying on schedules so that he doesn't lapse into depression. But he's an incredibly savvy business man and a musical genius of sorts.

The slow burn is highly effective and evokes the tenderness from both Erik and Christine. She's finding her way in the world but is highly goal oriented but afflicted with her own fears of stage fright.

First, how these two meet. The "meet-cute" in an elevator that loses power has a wonderfully original twist and makes it incredibly bittersweet and such a hook for the narrative! They fall into each other's orbit and have to learn to navigate their own insecurities and overcome real problems in this world. I appreciated the light shining on Erik's struggles and steps to overcome.

Intimate moments are handled with care and sincerity and felt very true. If I had one thing to add, I'd say I wish the last act (pre epilogue) was just a little longer in its reveals (I don't wanna spoil). But this is a highly recommended modern retelling!

I can't believe this is a debut so please give this author a read because she's beautifully in tune with emotionally gripping characters and can't wait for her second book!

[Janae McGinnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this story to be enjoyable. It some nods to Phantom of the opera and the beauty and the beast trope. A few things I liked was that the author didn’t hide Erik’s injury and made it be what it was. I also enjoyed that Christine wasn’t written to be overly dramatic or emotional when regarding their relationship. I’m also a huge lover of Dual POVs so I loved that this had one. The reasons I couldn’t give higher stars is I found some of the story just went on and on and could have been removed. To me the spicy scenes were
abrupt and flowed weirdly into the story. Then during them the words characters were using just didn’t feel like ones they’d really say. It was like the author knew these are phrases in spicy scenes let me just throw them in here. It was just ehh. I’m not a fan of an 10 year age gap. At some points I felt the age gap was a little blah since he’s a little over 10 years older and read at times older than that or her same age. Overall, I found the book to be good but not great for me.

[MC · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 / 5.0

Phantoms, Ghosts, and Other Heartbreaks by Beth Morton is a Phantom of the Opera retelling. Christine is an orphan and Erik, 10 years her senior, is her billionaire guardian angel.

The story, characters, and stakes follow the musical beat for beat, but is set recently circa late 2023 into 24. There is references to modern events and societal offerings, such as the players on sport team rosters and TikTok, but the dialogue and setting is contrived and at times unbelievable. There are pages of text about people or places that’s grammatically correct, but it’s weighed down by incorrect details and superfluous, obviously forced drama. The characters build slow chemistry until half way through and suddenly, wham/bam they are hot and heavy. The FMC’s struggle with anxiety and stage fright completely belies her chosen profession and apparent competence. The switchbacks of forced emotion with these characters is messy and, though the themes of growth are important, the execution is novice.

Overall, I did enjoy this book but it needs significant development and editing. I was not motivated to keep reading and only ended up finishing it because I am such a fan of Phantom of the Opera.

Until Next Time,
MC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christine está cursando su MBA y consiguió un trabajo en el Gardner Opera House con el objetivo de conocer a Erik, el CEO de Industrias Gardner, para poder demostrar sus habilidades y conseguir un buen empleo. Un día, por fortuna o mala suerte, se queda atrapada en un ascensor con nada menos que Erik, quien lleva una máscara que le cubre la mitad de la cara. Al principio, ella no le presta mucha atención, se concentra en darle una buena impresión, le demuestra su conocimiento y le da algunas ideas para sus negocios. Todo parecía ir de maravilla hasta que, al regresar la luz, descubre que Erik ya no lleva la máscara puesta, y se da cuenta de que no tiene nariz y que la mitad de su rostro está desfigurado. Él, quien había mantenido en secreto su accidente durante años, se siente acorralado y le dice palabras hirientes. Sin embargo, pronto se da cuenta de su error y, al intentar disculparse, termina ayudándola a superar su miedo a hablar en público. Comienzan a pasar más tiempo juntos y desarrollan sentimientos, pero él sigue arrastrando traumas relacionados con su apariencia y cómo la gente reacciona cuando lo ve sin máscara. No cree qu pueda ofrecerle una familia debido a sus inseguridades.




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelly (aka jsybookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Wow, Wow! An absolutely glorious modern story, based loosely on The Phantom of The Opera, which I enjoyed and devoured every single page of, constantly wanting more!

Christine Derring has been working hard at the Gardner Opera House for 11 months, hoping her dream job of becoming employed at Gardner Enterprises comes true once she secures her MBA. The head of the organisation is Erik Gardner who, due to suffering horrendous facial injuries when he was younger, is now a recluse, only emerging in public when wearing a mask. However, on the night of a high end opera fundraiser gala, which Christine has painstakingly organised, the city suffers a blackout, and Christine finds herself trapped in an elevator with a stranger who turns out to be Mr Erik Gardner himself. Erik feels safe taking his mask off in the darkness and enjoys the 4 hours of conversation he has with Christine until the power is resumed. The spell of magic in the dark elevator disappears but so does Erik’s gentile demeanour as once the lights come back on Christine sees Erik without his mask on. Erik covers his horror of her seeing his horrific scars and disfigurement with a very undeserved verbal tongue lashing. Later feeling contrite he seeks her out to apologise and she opens up to him about her worries about presenting her MBA as she has awful stage fright. Erik resolves to help her overcome this in order to apologise for the way he behaved in the elevator and so a friendship blossoms. It soon becomes clear to both Erik and Christine, after spending time with each other, that they feel more than friendship for each other and fall into a relationship. However this comes with its challenges, Christine is happy to take Erik in any way that he can give her, but he worries that a true relationship is impossible due to him not being able to date Christine properly in the open. He feels he is holding her back from what she truly deserves from a partner and therefore ends things with her, which results in making them both truly miserable and heartbroken. Will Erik be able to open himself up and convince himself that he is enough for Christine and that he really can be her partner who can join her in the real world instead of, like his fears, holding her back in the shadows?! And if Erik can do this will Christine forgive him for breaking her heart or decide the right decision is to run far away from the Gardner Opera House and the ghost of a man who runs it?!

Well, what an incredible story and I really hope that in this review I can do the book the justice it deserves! As soon as I saw the blurb for this book, I knew I had to read it, as it has been 21 years since the movie came out and I became Phantom of The Opera (POTO) obsessed. I admit I was nervous starting it as I went in with quite high expectations, but I need not have worried as they were absolutely 100% met! I can’t quite believe that this is a debut novel from Beth Morton as it was written so well and after reading this I can’t wait to see what she writes next…….. I can’t lie I would love a sequel to this one but that’s just the POTO fangirl in me! I absolutely loved the “meet-cute” in the elevator and the conversation later on about “Love Actually” had me giggling. I adored Christine for being so feisty and standing her ground when she needed to but at the same time being caring and considerate and loving towards Erik who had never really had that type of romantic love in his life before. I thought the masks between events were great and I also loved the playlist at the end of the book. This book brought out all my emotions; I laughed out loud in chapter 15 and then in chapter 18 my heart broke for Christine. Erik was a great character, albeit with flaws, but it hurt my heart how he was so hard on himself despite it being plainly obvious to the reader (and his friends and Christine) that he wasn’t the awful ugly person he thought he was! I loved both Christine’s and Erik’s character development throughout the book.

In all honesty this book blew me away and there was nothing in it that I didn’t like or would want to change. I now truly know the meaning of having a “book hangover” as I have definitely got one after finishing this one (my first book hangover ever).

5 stars doesn’t really do the story justice, so I am going to add a + in there and rate it 5+ stars therefore breaking my rating scale! I have always shipped Erikstine and so this book was perfect for me. It is now firmly in my top 3 of favourite books ever and I can certainly see this is going to be a repeatedly re-read book. I am really looking forward to seeing what Beth Morton writes next.

Overall, a 5+ star rating and I would recommend this for any fans of the rom com genre, whether you are a POTO fan or not you will definitely enjoy this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Beth Morton and C.M Publishing for my advanced reading copy. Out now.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet, contemporary re-telling of The Phantom of the Opera, with low angst and a golden-retriever hero. It was certainly not what I was expecting. Going into this I thought that the MMC, Erik, would be the typical grumpy and broody Phantom-like hero. I was wrong. Erik is a self-deprecating sweetheart with emotional regulation problems. Christine, the FMC, was stronger and more self-reliant than how she is normally depicted- and I loved it! However, she had some significant daddy (and other) family issues. That’s not surprising, of course. We all have our own issues. Some are just easier to see than others. The struggles that both Erik and Christine were dealing with really rang true. As did the solutions, or help, that each character either received or sought. I loved how Ms. Morton took such care, not only of mental health, but also with physical disfigurement.

For a book that contained such low angst, I was surprised how heart-wrenching the third act was. I didn’t think the title really fit the book, but when I got to that point I understood (even though I'm not a fan of it). I hope people give this book a chance, as I think it will appeal to those who enjoy a low angst story (although I don't know how they'd feel about the third act, it, unfortunately, wasn't for me). It’s certainly worth the read, especially if you are a Phantom Phan. I am also hoping that this book undergoes some revisions to either to consistently keep it low angst, or to add more, depending on what type of story the author wants to achieve.

I want to thank NetGalley, CM Publishing, and Beth Morton for the privilege of reading this ARC.

[Kelsey Melton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying this is a very loosely based Phantom of the Opera modern-day retelling. The characters share similar names and stories, but that's about it.

This book is written in third person, alternating between Christine and Erik's POV. I am personally not a fan of third person. I'm still unsure of how I feel about the third-person/dual POV writing style, but that again is a personal thing, not a jab at the author. There is a third-act breakup and a few spicy scenes.

This book was ok. The writing style was decent. But the back and forth emotions from Erik and Christine were harsh. They're happy and in love one moment, and at the flip of a switch they're angry at each other. The spicy scenes were very abrupt and rushed in my opinion. After reading the synopsis of the book, I was hoping we would read more about Erik helping Christine with her stage fright. We did in the beginning of the book, but this plot point fell to the wayside halfway through the book.

Overall, not bad for a debut novel. Some things could've been fleshed out better in my opinion. But worth a read.

[Tracie Piqué · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I promised myself I’d keep this succinct, but I have so many thoughts. One of my undergraduate degrees is in theatre performance, and I’m one semester away from finishing my graduate degree in Theatre. Needless to say, I kinda geek out about all things POTO—which heavily inspired this beautiful story. The cover got my attention, but the story kept me locked in from page one. But I’m going to put the theatrical part of this aside and focus on all of the other things I loved.

Erik—his character is so beautifully redeemed in this story. He has his shortcomings, and his temperament is off-putting, but he truly has a wounded heart. I wanted to scoop him up and hug him. I love that his friends are willing to be honest with him even at the risk of suffering his wrath. He has a beautiful tribe of supporters. His willingness to open up, to grow, to put aside his fears and anxiety… sigh He just… he has such a beautiful arc.

I loved everything about Christine. She is wickedly smart. She’s not overly emotional, and she stands on her own two feet. She works hard for her dreams, and in the end, she proves that she can do things on her own merit without external influences. She had a truly forgiving heart, and it’s one of my favorite things about her.

EVERY character in this story is distinct and memorable. I love that the author captured such varied personalities in even in the smallest roles.

It’s been a long time since I’ve highlighted so many things in a book, so bear with me as I dive into:

My Favorite Things:
· Line: He seemed unconcerned, if not amused by her response, but small children amused people. She wanted to impress him.
· The mask images as section breaks! Adorable!
· Quote: “I sense you trying to slow-walk me to some realization.” I cackled.
· Line: Impersonal. Short. It gave nothing away. Even his emails wore a mask.
· Quote: “I’m nearly twenty-six years old. I cannot possibly be breathing wrong!” So relatable. ANY person who has been trained in music or theatre understands this line with their whole soul. I remember making the same exclamation in my first ever voice lesson.
· Quote (and words to live by): “When all is said and done, you’re the one who must decide to succeed. If you decide to achieve your goals, you’ll set yourself up for success. Yes, you may fail, but if you prepare yourself to fail, that’s the only possible outcome.”
· Quote: “I’m not really a misanthrope. I’m a shut-in. Very different.” Hilarious.
· Quote: “I don’t want a relationship only on your terms.” YES, GIRL!
· Line: “Money doesn’t buy happiness, but poverty buys a heck of a lot of misery.” This line hits so hard for those of us who were raised in poverty. I felt this in my soul.
· Quote: “I’m thankful for old elevators.”
· Quote: “I’m prettier in the dark.” SOBS.
· Quote: “I was terrified and said I’d fall flat on my face. And he said he’d catch me if I did.” The full-circle moment here nearly took me out. Tears.
· Quote: “You’re so much more than anything I’ve ever done for you, or anything I could ever do for you.”
· Quote: “I want to be happy, but I don’t want to be rudderless. I want my boat to go somewhere…with purpose.”
· Vienna—just… every mention of it. It’s one of my favorite songs, so the whole Vienna tie-in is just lovely.
· The support group. The Zoloft. The light the author is spreading on the reality of mental health and necessary supports, both medical and emotional. All of it. Loved it.
· Omg. Erik called Rafe to come to the hospital… how beautiful.
· “Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.” TOOK ME OUT.

Honestly, I could rave about this one until I’m blue in the face.

This is one I will always look back on fondly.

A personal note to the author—where in the world have you been hiding? Really, you were perfect.

…okay. Now I’m back in my POTO-obsessed era.

[Sixella MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: “Phantoms, Ghosts, and Other Heartbreaks” by Beth Morton

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

Determined to secure a strategic marketing position at Gardner Industries, Christine Derring is balancing her demanding job at the Gardner Opera House while pursuing an MBA at Columbia. When a blackout during a work gala leaves Christine stuck in an elevator with Eric Gardner—the mysterious, masked CEO of Gardner Industries—she soon discovers that her life, and her heart, are about to change.
This debut novel by Beth Morton is a modern retelling of “The Phantom of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux, set in the post-pandemic 2020s. Morton’s world-building not only pays homage to the original novel and its celebrated musical adaptation but also effectively grounds the characters and their individual arcs in a contemporary context. The narrative explores themes such as workplace toxicity, stage fright, anger management, and the importance of overcoming inner fears through trust, boundaries, and communication.

While Christine and Eric’s dynamic begins on a rocky note, Christine’s character evolves into a confident, no-nonsense individual who asserts her agency and pursues her goals. Meanwhile, Eric, with Christine’s influence, learns to open up, manage his anger, and respect her wants and needs. The novel also features Reza, a reimagining of Daroga, a character from Leroux’s original work. This underrated character is important to note in the context of the history of the novelization as Daroga challenged the harmful “Orientalism” stereotype, making him ahead of his time in regards to the representation presented. Ready to start the new year by falling in love with “The Phantom of the Opera” all over again? Don’t miss this book when it hits online shelves on January 16, 2025!

Tropes to Expect: Contemporary Romance, Retelling, Billionaire Romance, Self-Discovery, Self-Healing, Shady Boss Antagonist, Academia Narrative, Opposites Attract, Slow Burn Romance, Masked Man Love Interest, Opera Marketer x CEO, Disability Representation, Forced Proximity, and Musical Exploration.

Trigger Warnings: Discussions of Generalized Anxiety and Stage Fright, Discussions of Internalized Ableism, Discussions of Anger Management, Trust Anxiety, Relationship Anxiety, Family Conflict, Workplace Conflict, Deaths of Family Members, Existentialism, and Discussion of Freak Accident.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Meter: 5/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

[Alyson Roseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for great characters, believable and not overly dramatic plot lines, laughs and steamy scenes?! Congrats you’ve found your next read!! I’ve read many, many popular romance novels by the greats over the past few years (Emily Henry, Elle Kennedy, Ali Hazelwood, Tessa Bailey, Abby Jimenez, Colleen Hoover, Talia Hibbert, Elena Armas, Christina Lauren, Casey McQuiston, Katherine Center, the list goes on) and this book stands out in the best way. It’s well written by an author who offers a fresh voice in this saturated genre along with a fabulous story that beautifully showcases complex adults who form a great, adult relationship. The sex scenes are also quite adult in the best way: nicely written and spicy as hell. I also read this as someone not familiar with Phantom of the Opera plot and I loved it still.

I can’t wait to see what else Beth Morton puts out! Definitely a new top author for me ❤️

[Mary Zaleski · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was… so healthy. Like the story was adorable and held some perfect moments from the original but the relationship was so healthy. Like they both had problems they had to work through and they did and they talked it out and made it work and didn’t rush and there was always consent. I could go on about this for a while. I loved this book. So much. The author did my sweet babies justice in this retelling.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you found this book, you’re probably familiar with the Phantom of the Opera story. In this book, Morton has modernized the tale of unusual love (still in an opera setting, of course), with interesting and engaging characters following a familiar but still hard to predict plot arc. If you’re a fan of that genre, or of the Broadway show, you’ll love this book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creative riff on phantom of the opera with emotional depth and great character development. Appreciated that the characters were like able but imperfect and struggled with their mental health - they had believable arcs and a real spark. I had an ARC.

[Bayard Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phantom feels!

An imaginative and well-told debut work from Beth Morton seeing what the Phantom of the Opera could actually look like in modern life, complete with its spiciness and hard times. If you love Phantom you will appreciate seeing it come to life here.

[angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for early access to this book.

Where do I start? I’m not much of a romance reader, but I feel I ought to be because I can’t not read stories like this. I am a huge POTO enthusiast, I’ve seen the musical many times, I listen to the cast recordings daily, I’ve read the original book thousands of times, so I am knowledgeable when it comes to Gastón Leroux’s novel.

I was a bit skeptic when I requested this ARC, fearing it would be another The Phantom of Manhattan/Love Never Dies fiasco. And boy, was I wrong!!

This book is exactly what it promises to be, a magnificent retelling of a tragic story now turned romance. I have always been torn between The Phantom and Raoul, and it was very interesting to read a novel with a different outcome than the original.

I love how the idea was developed and executed, the characters were very interesting to read, overall I believe this was a very good book. I do find myself reading it again sometime soon. If you like POTO, I am sure you will enjoy this book.

[Vania Vela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always loved Phantom of the Opera—I’ve seen the musical countless times. While the original story is beautifully tragic, I’ve always wished for a happier ending for Erik and Christine. This book delivered exactly what I was looking for.
Morton did such a great job retelling the story. The tragic characters and their struggles are still there, but they’re actually explored in a deeper way. The characters felt really well-developed, and I loved the attention to detail. The romance was so well-paced—it felt natural and built up really nicely.
One of the standout aspects of this retelling is the way Morton handles Erik’s disfigurement. It’s not brushed aside or treated as a fleeting detail—it’s an important part of who he is. The heroine’s acceptance of him as he is was truly heartwarming, adding layers of emotional richness to the story. Similarly, I loved that the heroine wasn’t perfect either. She had her own struggles to face, and the narrative gave both characters the space to grow individually while finding love together.
The steamy scenes? Wow. They were written in vivid detail—enough to stir emotions and bring a blush to my face! HAHA. I’d say this book is for readers who are comfortable with mature content because it doesn’t hold back on those moments.

That said, the story did feel a bit lengthy in parts, and some transitions could have been smoother. But overall, the writing was solid, and I had a great time with this story.

Pub Date: Jan 16 2025   

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m vaguely familiar with the plot of Phantom of the Opera but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this steamy romance set in New York City about a scrappy young woman with big dreams who falls in love with our wealthy and reclusive hero after a chance meeting.
The story moves at a good pace, and has just the right amount of spice. The cast of characters is well rounded, and I’m hoping for a Book 2 that tells Rafe’s story!

[bookswithmeg_26 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Phantoms, Ghosts & Other Heartbreaks by Beth Morton is a contemporary take on the classic Beauty and the Beast theme and loosely based on POTO. The story features a deeply scarred hero, both physically and emotionally, and a heroine who, despite her own personal struggles, radiates warmth and compassion. Their first encounter set in a broken elevator sets the tone with an intriguing mix of mystery and emotional tension. I was immediately drawn in by the suspense hinted at in that moment.

Erik’s disfigurement is severe, and I appreciated the author's unflinching honesty in portraying both its physical and psychological impact. He’s a brooding, haunted figure still wrestling with the aftermath of trauma and resisting the demands of a new reality. Christine, meanwhile, faces her own inner battles, and I admired the way she navigated them especially with Erik’s support.

Themes of fame, infamy, ambition, financial hardship, grief, and healing are woven throughout the narrative, adding depth and emotional resonance.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun , exciting , keep you on the edge of your seat romance novel ! I couldn’t put it down !! I loved it ❤️

[Pete Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time well spent!

First, a confession…somehow I have not seen The Phantom of the Opera. Not sure how I have let that happen. So, I read this as a stand-alone book and loved it! Ms. Morton has written multi-dimensional characters and a story that draws you in. Christine is easy to care for, Erik is easy to dislike…at first. As their story evolved, I found myself cheering them on. The story contains some spice, but not too much. In addition to the Christine/Erik dynamic, the supporting characters were well-developed and added to the overall enjoyment of the story. I eagerly await another novel from Ms. Morton!

[Natalia ✧ ⋆⁺₊⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for an exchange of my honest opinion!


AAAAA!!! I love The Phantom of The Opera, music and romance! I’m so glad I had privilege to read it early because what a book it was!

Modern retelling of POTO met all my expectations and hopes. I love Erik and Christine as well as backstory characters. I liked how MMC developed through the plot.

This book managed to keep me on my toes. It was a funny, well-written and exciting journey. I literally couldn’t put this book down.

I’m thankful for old elevators 🙌

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well as a big fan of the POTO musical and an Eristine shipper I just HAD to read this, and it DID NOT disappoint! There are obvious elements of both the musical and the original novel in here, I'm more a fan of the musical than the original book and it's been a while since I've read it but if memory serves I think Meg and Madame Giry feature more in the musical than they do in the original novel? And the Persian doesn't feature in the musical, so I feel this book is a mix of both - you have 'Marie' Giry (Who interestingly is Erik's aunt in this book! Which makes sense because she helps him out a lot in the musical) Christine's friend Meg is here as well, 'Rafe' is our Raoul, and 'Reza' is the Persian - so those are our main characters, plus some of the main scenes from the original book/musical feature, I love the opening of the book with Erik and Christine stuck together in the dark elevator, it gets everything going straight away without feeling rushed at all and feels reminiscent of the 'lair' in the original, plus the scene of the lights coming back on and Christine seeing Erik's face with his upset turning into anger is VERY reminiscent of the original 'unmasking', plus the Gala is like the Masquerade - but enough of the original, you DON'T have to be a POTO fan to enjoy this book, I think anyone who likes a bit of spicy romance will love this! And it DOES get spicy, oh my! Just the way the hand holding in the elevator was written, the touch of her arm in Erik's apartment when Christine first starts to meet up with him, the hand on her stomach when he helps her with breathing exercises were enough to get me excited, it's a slow burn until it starts getting to the REALLY hot stuff but it is SO worth it, that scene in the CAR was such a tease! But they DO do the do eventually, and it is HOT, this isn't for anyone under 18! Some other notes, I like the change up of Erik living in a penthouse rather than under the opera house, I also like how there's a bit of an age difference, 10 years, enough that it makes them hesitant to be with each other but without being SUCH a big difference that it comes off as creepy - it's also interesting that Christine ISN'T a singer in this version, in this Erik helps her with stage fright rather than helping her learn to sing, and even though he's not her 'Angel of Music' as he is in the original he's still her 'Guardian Angel' having helped her get the job she wanted! And on a more superficial level, I just like how there's masks separating the paragraphs, plus the pics and playlist added at the end - anyway, I think that's everything, an easy 5 stars for me!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christine Derring and damaged Erik Gardner's story is well written and has a very good storyline with great characters and a happy ending. This is a modern retelling of Phantom of the Opera. I enjoyed reading their story. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Catherine Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There's a saying old, says that love is blind
Still we're often told, seek and ye shall find
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind"
-Someone to Watch Over Me by George Gershwin

I am a huge fan of the Phantom of the Opera since I first saw the movie as a teenager in 2005. After I watched the movie, I read the book, listened to the songs on repeat, and became a lifelong fan. Since then, I have always been a fan of Phantom of the Opera retellings-especially ones that focus on "Christine" and the "Phantom or "Erik". When I saw this book debut by Beth Morton that was a retelling of the Phantom of the Opera, I had to check it out!

Phantom, Ghosts & Other Heartbreaks has all the elements that make a Phantom retelling (masked and musically talented and brooding MMC, mentoring through music, and the Phantom acting as an "angel" of sorts for the FMC by helping her before they meet face to face to name a few) while still having an original contemporary twist.

This story involves 35 year old Erik (who is a reclusive billionaire who is the CEO of the Gardner Opera House [his last name is also Gardner-his grandfather bought the Opera House] and avoids public places, and never goes without a mask due to the fact he was in a horrible car accident that left his face brutally harmed), and 25 year old Christine (who is a business grad student and an intern for the Gardner Opera House, and who was raised by her father until his death at age 12, where she was raised by her foster family). Although they were in each others orbit for awhile (he knew and was mentored by her musician father, and she always wanted to work for the Gardner Opera House), they did not meet until a chance encounter on an elevator that got stuck during a power outage. The two had instant chemistry, and fell into easy conversation. However, that all came to an end when the power came back on, and Christine saw him without his mask. He reacted with fear and anger towards Christine, scaring her away. He tries to make it right by having her sign an NDA with a big stipend of money, but she refuses. Eventually, he gets her to talk to her again, and find out she suffers from stage freight, and that is a hindrance to her thesis defense. Erik offers to mentor her, and uses his music to help her. This eventually becomes a friendship which includes them singing together, even in public (a masked bar on Halloween), and then turns into much more.

I highly enjoyed this book! It was beautifully written, with a story that keeps the reader engaged and invested in the characters. As a Phantom of the Opera fan, I appreciated all the references to the musical and book, but it would also be a wonderful read for a non-Phantom fan as well. I especially enjoyed all of the characters and their interactions. The characters were written very well, and it was wonderful seeing the main characters evolve throughout the story both in their relationship with each other and with themselves. The chemistry was well written in this slow burn relationship, and the intimate scenes were swoon worthy! The secondary characters were also great, and I loved hearing about the main characters relationships with them as well! I especially liked the found family that both Erik and Christine find not only with themselves, but with others.

I appreciated the mental health representation in this book, as both Christine and Erik suffer from anxiety and depression. Christine has anxiety regarding failure, and also suffers from anxiety regarding public speaking. She also is on anxiety medication, and its mentioned in the book how that has helped her. Erik has depression and anxiety regarding his accident, and the aftermath of that. Throughout the book it is clear that he is struggling, and the author does a great job of dealing with the complexities of mental health, and how it can impact a person. I haven't read many books with anxiety representation, so this helps me feel more seen as someone who struggles with anxiety.

This is definitely a book I will be thinking about for a long time, and is now one of my Phantom of the Opera retellings. I highly recommend this book for any fan of Phantom of the Opera or contemporary romance!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

Okay, buckle up, because I need to talk about how this book completely swept me off my feet, and I'm still a little dizzy from the emotional ride it took me on. From the very first page to the last, I was utterly captivated. This isn’t just another romance; it’s an experience.

What struck me most was how Beth handled the delicate subject of Erik’s disfigurement. It wasn't some side note, a little detail to be quickly glossed over. It was a core part of him, of his story, and the narrative treated it with such care and respect. You felt Erik’s pain, his vulnerability, and the walls he’d built around himself. And then you got to see Christine, bless her heart, slowly but surely break those walls down, not with pity, but with genuine acceptance and love. It’s not about looking past his scars, it's about seeing him, the whole man, and that journey was so incredibly moving. It made my heart swell with a tenderness I didn’t expect. Honestly, their acceptance of each other, flaws and all, is just beautiful.

And it wasn't just Erik that I found myself so connected to. Christine was far from perfect and that's what made me root for her so hard. She has her own battles, her own insecurities, and watching her navigate them made me feel like I was on her team. This wasn't a story where one character rescued the other, it was about both of them growing, both of them learning and becoming stronger together. It felt so real, so relatable, it made me ache with the desire for them to find their happiness.

The story unfolds with these small, intimate moments, the kind that make your stomach flip and your chest feel tight. You’re there in the elevator with them during the blackout, feeling the tentative connection forming between these two souls who were drawn together in such an unexpected way. You're there when Erik first unveils himself, feeling the sting of his vulnerability right alongside Christine, and you're there as they start having these meaningful conversations that slowly strip away their defenses. Each scene made the book feel more alive, more tender.

The way the feelings between Erik and Christine develop is so wonderful. It’s not an instantaneous, explosive kind of love; it’s a quiet burn, a slow, steady fire that grows and engulfs you. The kind of love that feels earned. It's about connection, understanding, and finding someone who sees you, really sees you, in all your flawed glory. And oh my goodness, I was head over heels for it.

This is a Phantom of the Opera retelling that took the core concept and made it new, fresh, and deeply heartfelt. It’s about the masks we wear, the secrets we keep, and the courage it takes to show our true selves. It's a story that made me laugh, made me tear up a little, and made me hold it close to my heart. If you're looking for a romance that will make you feel all the feelings, then pick up "Phantoms, Ghosts & Other Heartbreaks." Once it’s out! You won't regret it. It's a book I know I'll be revisiting again and again whenever I need a good dose of heart and hope.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Billionaire romance, grumpy/sunshine, opposite attract, ceo mmc/opera marketer fmc, musical romance, age gap, forced proximity