Giving Up the Ghost: A Daughter's Memoir

by Samantha Rose

Winner for Memoir! San Francisco Book Festival 2025
Finalist! Parenting and Family, Best Book Awards 2025

“Rose’s prose is introspective and lyrical, sprinkled with moments of humor that provide relief amidst the heaviness of loss. "— Publishers Weekly Booklife Review

New York Times bestselling ghostwriter, Samantha Rose, steps out of the shadows to unravel the mystery surrounding her mother’s suicide. What begins as a solitary journey of grief shifts form when her mother slips back from the darkness beyond to reconcile her irreversible choice. Raw, deeply revealing, and with resilient humor throughout, Giving Up the Ghost explores the layered complexity of mental health, the love between mothers and daughters, and how, in the aftermath of inconceivable loss, we can release our inner ghosts and write a new story for ourselves.

Giving Up the Ghost is a memoir about a ghostwriter who “ghosts” a ghost—beyond that interplay, the narrative reveals hidden truths—about her mother’s shocking death and also, it shines a light on how Rose had become a ghost in her own life—hiding, shrinking, no longer speaking for herself. This awakening took center stage as the most significant theme in Rose’s healing process and ultimately, Giving Up the Ghost encourages readers to similarly What does it mean to live in the shadows? Am I hiding? What am I reflecting to the world around me? Is it honest? What is the story I’m telling about my own life? And if I’ve lost my voice, or buried my truth in the shadows, am I ready to give up the ghost?

Editorial Reviews

"With equal measures of humor, humility and chutzpah… Rose’s memoir serves as a siren call to anyone who still thinks it's possible to do it all without help.”—San Francisco Chronicle Review

"This book is the perfect example of why I read: When the bravery of someone telling their story can reach inside of you and help you know that you’re not alone…there is something almost miraculous in that.”—Steph Hockersmith, Pie Lady Books

Giving Up the Ghost is an intimate, unfiltered, heart wrenching and, at times, hilarious account of a family story forever changed by suicide. In these confusing and increasingly lonely times for us all, Rose’s memoir is a must read for anyone coping with grief and surviving loss.” —Eve Rodsky, author of the New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick, Fair Play

"A testament to strength and resilience all rolled into poetic writing." —Tovah P. Klein, Ph.D., author of Raising How to Help our Children Thrive in Times of Uncertainty

"A subtle powerhouse of a memoir—tender, weighty, and human. In a voice that’s both earnest and meaningful, she gently invites the reader into her grief—not to solve it, but to sit with it." —Cole Imperi, author of A Guide to Grief

"Incredibly gripping and moving. For anyone who has ever felt alone in their grief, this book will provide you with connection, comfort and eventually hope." —Sheryl Ziegler, PsyD, author of Mommy Burnout and The Crucial Years

"A visceral account of profound grief and loss beautifully exemplified in scenes that will make the reader laugh and sob, sometimes simultaneously.” —Meghan Riordan Jarvis, MA, LCSW, author of Can Anyone Tell Me? Essential Questions About Grief and Loss

“A beautifully written and piercing reflection on grief, the bonds between mothers and daughters and the importance of finding your own voice. Rose’s journey of resilience inspires us to dig deep for the answers that will set us free and that have the power to ripple outward and offer hope and healing to us all.” —Cathy Heller, podcast host and author of Abundant Ever After

“Heartbreaking, raw, honest, and inspiring…this book serves as a powerful reminder that love never dies and we are never truly alone.” —Rebecca Rosen, author of the national and international bestseller, Connect to the Guides Around You

"Samantha Rose shoulders emotional freight with extraordinary valor, grace, and sure-handed storytelling. This achingly honest account of a complicated grieving process is sure to stir raw emotion and vibrant book club discussions." —Joni Rodgers, New York Times bestselling author and ghostwriter

“I devoured this memoir and found nourishment I didn’t know I needed within its pages—and I trust many other readers will feel the same.”—Courtney Cook, author of The Way She Feels: My Life on the Borderline

“A blueprint for surviving suicide—the shock, the grief, the learning.”—Susannah Kennedy, author of Reading Jane

Genres: Memoir

408 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2025

About the author

Samantha Rose is an Emmy award-winning television writer and a New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling ghostwriter whose titles have been selected as Reese’s Book Club and Target Bookmarked Picks and featured in the Wall Street Journal, Oprah and Harper’s Bazaar. She is the principal of YellowSkyMedia, a boutique editorial agency in Petaluma, California, where she lives with her son. Her new memoir, Giving Up the Ghost, is her first book written under her own name.

Reviews

[Books.Abound.With.A.Hound · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You may never forget, but you can heal.”

This is such a beautifully written memoir- full of depth and layers- about a daughter’s journey of grief after her mother’s suicide and how she was able to find herself through this loss.

Such a complex, raw and thought-provoking story. The writing style was perfect - it captures both the serious moments along with wry humor. I felt I was personally there with her throughout her entire journey.

Recommend reading this memoir! Thank you for sharing your personal and inspiring story!

Thank you @tlcbooktours & @samantharose_writer for this #gifted copy and including me on this tour!🫶🏼

[Julie Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many layers and so much profound depth & layers of wisdom to this memoir! When a ghostwriter contends with her grief & her mother’s ghost, she is forced to grow & evolve in unexpected ways. Truly a compelling & insightful read. Hopefully the first of many under the author’s own byline.

[Danielle Ticoulat-bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Giving Up the Ghost" by Samantha Rose is an emotionally compelling and thought-provoking memoir that delves deep into the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship, while also exploring themes of grief, healing, and spiritual connection. As someone who might not typically gravitate toward books centered on suicide or familial dynamics, I found this memoir to be unexpectedly enriching and captivating.

What stands out in this book is Rose’s unique perspective on ghostwriting and the way she channels voices and spirits. The way she intertwines the metaphysical with personal experience adds a layer of depth and intrigue to the narrative. Her exploration of how writing can serve as both an outlet for expression and a bridge to the unseen world is a fascinating aspect of the story.

Samantha Rose’s writing is raw, honest, and beautifully crafted. It’s clear that she has a special gift for capturing the nuances of her journey, and I found myself moved by her vulnerability and insight. More than just a memoir, “Giving Up the Ghost” serves as a powerful tool for anyone who is working to heal, understand their relationships, or tap into their own light.

For those seeking to reflect on loss, growth, and the ways in which we can connect to something greater than ourselves, this memoir is a must-read. It’s a story of resilience and transformation, and I have no doubt that many will find it a valuable resource on their own paths to healing. Thank you, Samantha Rose, for sharing this deeply personal and inspiring story.

[Julia Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving Up the Ghost by Samantha Rose is a layered story of grief in all its facets, from shock and guilt, horror and shame, sorrow and reflection. Death by suicide, an intentional death, is always the hardest to understand and to come to grips with. Rose is not alone in her grief, but standing in such a place, where your own mother chooses to leave you, takes her to near-breaking, as she grapples with her young son's sadness, her own shock, and the need to be practical. Such a death leaves so many questions behind, but the person left behind (the child within) feels the abandonment keenly.

Rose tells her story of being "ghosted" by her mother, as a ghost writer telling her mother's story, in a metaverse of soulful writing that brings the late Susan Swartz to life again, so that the reader also feels the loss. With a deft hand and skillful prose, Rose shows her journey from discovery/shock to reconciliation with her mother's guiding voice/spirit, in a moving memoir sure to linger with you. Susan Swartz was a force, and those who knew her still feel her loss. Kudos to Samantha Rose for sharing this journey with us.

[Carlin Steere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really interesting.

[Aza Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving Up the Ghost: A Daughter's Memoir, is a spellbinding story, plunging the reader into a daughter's crushing grief, but also her fearless journey to find the truth about her mother's mental illness and her tragic death. Sam also finds the truth about who she is in the wake of her mother's passing. Samantha Rose tells a story that is bittersweet, as well defiant, and at times darkly humorous, as she weaves her way through loss, grief, anger and growth. This is a beautiful book, a book that gives hope for those who grieve, but also validates the difficulty of grief, without dismissing it.
It is a book about mental health and loss, but also hope, growth and unwaivering love. It is a testament to the truth that the bonds of love cannot be broken, even in death.

[Rachel Tarshis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for sharing this story. What a powerful and profound memoir. Poetic. I loved the symbolism, the redemption, the grief journey (whilst never over), the conversations with B, the self reflections, relational observations, the journey the book took me on. I cried (and I laughed) and I felt moved.

I couldn't put this book down. Samantha Rose's vulnerability, honesty and authenticity made the read so connecting. As a person who has lost my own mother, it helped me on my healing journey. Truly for anyone who has lost someone they loved, or will. This book offers support and guidance through the lens of Rose's own experience.

Thank you!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚Giving Up the Ghose
✍🏻Samantha Rose
Blurb:
Winner for Memoir! San Francisco Book Festival 2025
Finalist! Parenting and Family, Best Book Awards 2025

“Rose’s prose is introspective and lyrical, sprinkled with moments of humor that provide relief amidst the heaviness of loss. "— Publishers Weekly Booklife Review

New York Times bestselling ghostwriter, Samantha Rose, steps out of the shadows to unravel the mystery surrounding her mother’s suicide. What begins as a solitary journey of grief shifts form when her mother slips back from the darkness beyond to reconcile her irreversible choice. Raw, deeply revealing, and with resilient humor throughout, Giving Up the Ghost explores the layered complexity of mental health, the love between mothers and daughters, and how, in the aftermath of inconceivable loss, we can release our inner ghosts and write a new story for ourselves.

Giving Up the Ghost is a memoir about a ghostwriter who “ghosts” a ghost—beyond that interplay, the narrative reveals hidden truths—about her mother’s shocking death and also, it shines a light on how Rose had become a ghost in her own life—hiding, shrinking, no longer speaking for herself. This awakening took center stage as the most significant theme in Rose’s healing process and ultimately, Giving Up the Ghost encourages readers to similarly What does it mean to live in the shadows? Am I hiding? What am I reflecting to the world around me? Is it honest? What is the story I’m telling about my own life? And if I’ve lost my voice, or buried my truth in the shadows, am I ready to give up the ghost?
My Thoughts:
This is such a beautifully written memoir- full of depth and layers- about a daughter’s journey of grief after her mother’s suicide and how she was able to find herself through this loss.So many layers and so much profound depth & layers of wisdom to this memoir.
What stands out in this book is Rose’s unique perspective on ghostwriting and the way she channels voices and spirits. The way she intertwines the metaphysical with personal experience adds a layer of depth and intrigue to the narrative. Her exploration of how writing can serve as both an outlet for expression and a bridge to the unseen world is a fascinating aspect of the story. Rose tells her story of being "ghosted" by her mother, as a ghost writer telling her mother's story, in a metaverse of soulful writing that brings the late Susan Swartz to life again, so that the reader also feels the loss. With a deft hand and skillful prose, Rose shows her journey from discovery/shock to reconciliation with her mother's guiding voice/spirit, in a moving memoir sure to linger with you. Susan Swartz was a force, and those who knew her still feel her loss. Kudos to Samantha Rose for sharing this journey with us..
Thanks NetGalley,, Sibylline Digital First and Author Samantha Rose for the advanced copy of "Giving Up the Ghost" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#SibylineDigitalFirst
#SamanthaRose
#GivingUptheGhost
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jt O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a stunning book! It's power is in the humanity that is laid out on every page. Yes, Samantha Rose tackles sadness and grief but she does it through the lens of time and memory. Her presentation is real and will make you know you are alive.

The book opens with the day Ms Rose's world was shattered. While the author was having a pedicure, her mother, Susan Swartz, was in the process of taking her own life. The thing is that there was no warning, no indication that this tragic event was in the author's future. Ms. Rose and her mother had a tight connection. They saw each other regularly and texted as close friends do. That she would choose to end her own life was unthinkable.

Samantha deftly takes the reader through those early impossible days when she and her sisters struggled to absorb their loss. To complicate things, Ms Swartz died just two weeks before the world shut down because of the COVD pandemic. Ms. Rose and her family were forced to sit with this heavy loss while also sitting with the fear and isolation of a global pandemic. Throughout this memoir, the author tackles difficult subjects: death of a parent, suicide, long term relationships. divorce and children, adult parent/child relationships, and all the stuff of living in this modern world. Susan Swartz had been a well known journalist/author and her final actions surprised and puzzled her past and present audiences and friends.

Samantha Rose does a masterful job, in my opinion, of somehow making sense of her mother's actions. Certainly many people wondered what precipitated this tragedy and I appreciated the words, the conversations, the images that Ms Rose used to come to some kind of peace with her mother's whole life. That's the thing. Susan Swartz went out with a big statement but her life was much more than that final action.

I applaud Samantha Rose for having the courage to write this memoir. She shows all of the goodness, warmth, depth, and humanity that was her mother. She allows the reader to know the full person that lived as Susan Swartz. The book offers the reader some understanding of how such a vibrant and loving person could make this final choice. In the telling of that choice, Samantha lays out a strong case for authenticity in life. To be your true self throughout your life, however, is no easy task, particularly not in these present-day times. Samantha Rose gives an observant reader much to think about.

Thank you for sharing your story, Samantha.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death by suicide of a loved one is such a shock—a trauma. Because it’s impossible to understand. And yet when Samantha Rose’s mother dies so tragically, this author manages to do the impossible in “Giving Up the Ghost.” She does a stunning job of probing the experience of her grief and the relationship with her mother, unpeeling the layers of who her mother was and why she might have made the choice that the narrator finds nearly unbearable. They were so close; how is it she did not know this was coming? It is not without help that she probes the questions of why and how and where. She has the support of B, rabbi turned grief counselor, and conversations with the ghost of her mother that are touching, revealing, and push her understanding forward. And then there is her young son Derby, who keeps her grounded. Rose’s writing is so clear, at times crystalline—I went oh, wow with her breakthroughs. I couldn’t help but admire how she processes her grief and uses her suffering and loss to transform her own life. While this is very much Rose’s personal story, it will give comfort to anyone who has lost a loved one by suicide or in any other unexpected, horrible way. While it doesn’t outright offer a template for moving through grief, a reader certainly could glean one from it. I recommend it for anyone who has had a sudden loss and for the broader audience of readers who would all benefit from understanding the impact of death by suicide on family and friends and the toll it takes on our society.

[Linzreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never experienced the loss of an immediate family member to death, but I do not have a relationship with my mother. Some call this a "mother wound." This book opened up a new perspective for me on what it means to grieve.

I have grieved the loss of a mother who is still living, and Samantha's book helped me gain perspective on the individuality of each person's human experience and how we never truly know what someone is going through. There were so many parallels to my own experience of having to find myself without my mother in my life. I'm learning to redefine myself and trust my own instincts.

I also use prayer and writing to send my mom the love that I deeply want to share with her. I love this book—it was heartbreaking to read, but in a meaningful way. Life is not easy, but it is a journey, and it often becomes so much lighter when we learn to embrace the helplessness we feel in our lack of control over other people's choices.

Grief’s presence was alive in Sam’s words. She painted a vivid picture, and I know that in my lifetime, I will grieve twice for my mother. I am amazed at what we, as humans, can endure, and I would not be able to move so freely through life if it weren’t for my belief in the unseen.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs help processing loss. It is raw, gentle, heartbreaking, uplifting, deeply human, and profoundly powerful.

[Lorraine Devon Wilke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tragedy and tentacles of suicide are always challenging subjects to tackle, especially when they involve a most beloved person, but author Samantha Rose chronicles the heartbreaking event of her mother’s death, and the subsequent year of grief that follows, with touching, candid, and deeply personal honesty.

As I was reading I was struck, in fact, by how vulnerable and unveiled Rose is throughout, never dodging the deeper emotions, the shocking, violent nature of her mother’s death, the sometimes-crippling aftermath that left her, her sisters, and other family and friends stunned, disbelieving, and ultimately shattered. Given her many years as a successful ghost writer, it’s not surprising that Rose brings talent and literary expertise to this beautiful, evocative telling of the story, but it’s her willingness to go deep, get unvarnished and naked in exploring her thoughts, doubts, roller-coastering emotions, and aching introspections that give the book heft and authenticity.

With its exploration of the various modes of help Rose availed herself of, including the mystical, meaningful “conversations” she had with her mother after her death, GIVING UP THE GHOST offers solace, even suggestions, to others facing similar tragedies, losses of every kind, even the letting go of a growing child, with a beautifully realized arc to conclusion that is fully satisfying and deeply moving.

A profound read I highly recommend.

[Kathy Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never expected to feel empowered by a story about suicide and loss, but that’s exactly what happened when I read Giving Up the Ghost.

Samantha Rose’s story about losing her mother to suicide hit close to home for me. I lost my brother to suicide, and my son lives with schizophrenia and major depression, so her honesty and courage truly resonated.

Instead of feeling heavy, I felt hopeful. Her strength, humor, and ability to keep going—even while rediscovering who she really is—are remarkable. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn’t put the book down.

The imagery is so vivid that I could see every scene, especially inside her mother’s home. The mirror she finds at the antique store became such a powerful symbol of reflection and self-discovery.

I also love the meaning behind the title. Giving Up the Ghost isn’t just about letting go of her mother’s ghost, but also stepping away from her ghostwriting career—and the “ghost” version of herself she’d been living as.

It’s heartfelt, brave, and unexpectedly uplifting. This book reminded me that even after deep loss, there’s still hope and healing.


Sam,
I just want to say how proud I am of you. Reading Giving Up the Ghost was an emotional, empowering experience, and I’m in awe of your courage, honesty, and heart. Thank you for sharing your story—it’s beautiful, brave, and full of hope. ❤️

Kathy

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving Up the Ghost by Samantha Rose is an emotional, moving, honest look at what someone goes through while grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. The loss is unique from others, complicated by guilt and anger.

I have lost several family members in this way. The questions come from well meaning friends: whether you saw it coming; whether you tried to help; whether it was a shock. The phone rings with journalists seeking your story. And all the while you are just trying to swim with your head above water.

Her words on these pages resonated with me. I saw my own journey in hers. I remembered all of complicated feelings. I remembered standing in her shoes and fighting my own emotions.

I found her writing to be raw, vulnerable, honest, and filled with compassion for others even in the moments when she failed to give herself grace. I watched her begin to heal - coming to terms with life as it now was - as time passed. Her strength as a writer enhanced the experience, as she was able to capture all of the nuance of mourning. I am very glad to have been asked to read this one by @tlcbooktours - it is a moving and reflective book, deeply personal, provoking, thoughtful and meaningful.

4.5 stars rounded up

[Leah Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal love letter to a mother. A phenomenal guide for grieving. A phenomenal inspiration for living.

Giving Up The Ghost kept me up reading well past bedtime for several nights until I finished the book. As I read, I laughed, cried, felt afraid, and felt inspired. Samantha Rose's story is touching and relatable because it's vulnerable - which is a key part of what has stuck with me about the book: the importance of authenticity in our relationships (with ourselves and others). While reading, I reflected a lot on my relationship with my family members and feel better-equipped to walk through the grieving process upon their deaths... and to embrace being with them while they're alive!

[Muriel Murch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonoma County, next to Marin county, just up the road so to speak - the Press Democrat - drawing the threads that join those who live in Northern California. Writers, families, community, death and geography are brought together in this spoken work memoir. For it felt as spoken as written, this telling of such a personal story Maybe it was particularly touching - for me - knowing your geography; Bodega, Sebastopol, Petaluma, those back roads through the farm lands to the cliffs and sea. I finished this book here in London this afternoon and closed my eyes thinking about the closeness of my mother. Thank you for this beautiful book. I hope all daughters who need to find the comfort and strength you have laid out before them.
Muriel A Murch 'Harvesting History While Farming the Flats'.

[Sarah Hakkarainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Rose’s Giving Up the Ghost is a breathtaking memoir that explores grief, healing, and self-discovery with raw honesty and resilient humor. As she unravels the mystery of her mother’s suicide, Rose also confronts the ways she has been living in the shadows, ultimately reclaiming her voice and stepping into authenticity. Her lyrical, unguarded writing transforms sorrow into resilience, inviting readers to examine their own inner ghosts and rewrite their stories. Deeply moving and thought-provoking, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking healing, self-reflection, and the courage to embrace their truth.

[Alyssa J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I was so moved by the openness and raw honestly of the author. We can all relate to the loneliness of COVID-times and then on top of it, Samantha writes about dealing with divorce, raising a young child, the heart wrenching death of her stepfather, & then suddenly her mother’s suicide. The dialogue between characters is beautiful (especially with therapist & son) and at times hilarious. The structure of the book weaves both the journey to understanding a mother’s decision to end her own life, and ultimately a daughter’s decision to write her own story in a powerful, meaningful way. 5 stars!

[Margie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sentiments in this memoir are relatable for anyone who has experienced grief, especially the loss of a beloved mother.

I enjoyed the writing style and insights, such as, “I hadn’t anticipated what it would mean to lose the person who remembers with you because they share your history, they share your same stories, the beginning, middle, and the end. We had a lifetime of memories that belonged solely to us.”

I nodded my head throughout, remembering experiences such as going through the house and deciding what items to keep and what to give away, and the one-year death anniversary.

This book is one that will help you understand your own grief journey or those of others.

[Nika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful and important read- a memoir that vividly captures the complexities of grief after suicide in a family. Understanding from the inside this journey, starting with a beautiful mother / daughter connection and then a daughter left to make sense of the world after a loss like this. Compounded with the fact that this happened in the height of the pandemic, layers of grief and complexity that the author skillfully carries us into with her narrative. I learned so much from this book- from the inside, vulnerable shares to just seeing this situation in new eyes and also the challenges of loss & grief in the time of the pandemic.

[Crissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Rose wrote a beautiful memoir that was not only about navigating grief after her mother ended her life, but her own growth to stepping out of the shadows. I really resonated with Rose's story of being a background person and feeling comfortable out of the limelight, but also experiencing some frustration of not having a voice, and ultimately fear of using that voice. Most of all, I appreciated that Rose was so forthcoming of her midlife story in the midst of grief. It felt like a fullcircle story, as her own mother was also known for writing honestly about the midlife experience - something we women need more of! I highly recommend this story!

[miriam silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Losing a friend or anyone to suicide is the supreme loss that is so hard to fathom, move forward from, let alone begin to laugh again. Losing your mother to suicide? This memoir allows for so much understanding, and in a remarkably relatable and kind way. It is up there with the best memoirists on the same subject matter, like Amy Bloom, Miriam Towes, Sloane Crosley and Sigrid Nunez. They are all women writers I admire who made me laugh while also imparting wisdom I take with me. Lots of post-its in all these books. Try them all, but start with Rose's Giving Up the Ghost.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Giving up the Ghost, Sam Rose offers a book that is part memoir, part mystical journey, part guided and comforting lesson in how to make your way through devastating loss. What’s truly beautiful here is that rather than submerge the reader in the pain of her mother’s unexpected and tragic death, Rose provides a bittersweet, funny and ultimately uplifting story; it’s a gift to anyone trying to process suicide, the passing of a parent or the death of someone close. It’s a story of family, love and forgiveness -- at a time to embrace all those things.

[Carlo Rossi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! What a terrific read! A deeply heartfelt, poignant and moving account of the author's journey through the tragedy of losing her mother. Samantha Rose takes us along on her journey as she traverses the emotional roller coaster of sitting with her mother's suicide and ultimately offers us an insightful look at suicide through a different lense. I couldn't put this book down; it's changed my view of suicide and reinforces the love that a daughter has for her mother, father and her child. Brilliant! Thank you! Carlo Rossi

[Lennlee Keep · Rating 5 out of 5]

BIG thumbs up.
Giving Up the Ghost: A Daughter's Memoir by Samantha Rose is a deeply personal, raw, and surprisingly humorous exploration of loss.
I felt like I was right there with her through the ups the downs and all the sideways of grief.
Giving Up the Ghost isn’t just about loss; it’s about finding a way to live after grief, and continuing relationships even after loss. A page turning read that I can’t recommend enough.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha brings you to this major intersection in her life of so many things - loss, divorce, single motherhood, perimenopause, juggling a career, sisterhood, friendship. And she shares deeply, honestly, in a witty voice of candor and simplicity. Every page is captivating and relatable.

Read this book. Tell your friends. And grab some tissues.

[Leighann Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who had a sudden loss of a beloved parent, this book captivated me immediately!

The heartfelt exploration of grief resonated deeply with my own experiences. It combines captivating moments with moments of wry humor, making it a poignant and engaging read. The insights offered prompted me to reflect on my journey, as I decide on a new emotional and enriching path.

[SamReadsAll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to win this book from a Goodreads give away and happy that I did. This was very powerful story and gave me a lot of insight on Mental Illness and Suicide. I myself am very close with my Mother and found myself relating to the author and her mothers relationship. It put a lot of things in perspective for me and I would recommend this book to my friends.

[Elaine Yu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really touched me. I’ve lost my brother, my father, and almost my mom, so I know how grief never really goes away. Reading Samantha Rose’s story, I felt her pain right alongside mine. I’m so glad she was able to put those feelings into words. Her honesty and courage reminded me that even in loss, we’re never truly alone.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading about sudden, tragic and unforeseen loss can be difficult no matter the circumstances, but Samantha Rose brings such beautiful prose, clear-eyed insight and honest revelations about the loss of her mother, I was absolutely riveted and could not put the book down. Whether you've lost someone in these circumstances or not, this book will speak to anyone who has had to grieve.