What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
6 days and 19:34:45
20 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
I Haunt It That Way
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26Win a free print copy of this book!
6 days and 19:34:45
20 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
She wanted her dream cabin. She’s getting her worst nightmare.
Creaky floorboards, crisp fallen leaves, chilly evenings by the bonfire… Thora Williamson thinks she knows what to expect when she moves into her family’s long-abandoned mountain cabin for a fresh start. Instead, she gets the surprise of her life when Lee Halliday—her ex’s best friend and her own personal nemesis—pulls up in the driveway.
What’s even worse? The place is not a simple fixer-upper, and Lee is determined to help with the renovation. But no amount of elbow grease will fix the mysterious phone calls or the unsettling sense they’re not alone.
The more Thora and Lee work together, the more it becomes clear this cabin has unfinished business… and so do they. As eerie autumn nights lead to unexpected sleeping arrangements—Thora Is the cabin trying to push them closer, or keep them here forever?
Creaky floorboards, crisp fallen leaves, chilly evenings by the bonfire… Thora Williamson thinks she knows what to expect when she moves into her family’s long-abandoned mountain cabin for a fresh start. Instead, she gets the surprise of her life when Lee Halliday—her ex’s best friend and her own personal nemesis—pulls up in the driveway.
What’s even worse? The place is not a simple fixer-upper, and Lee is determined to help with the renovation. But no amount of elbow grease will fix the mysterious phone calls or the unsettling sense they’re not alone.
The more Thora and Lee work together, the more it becomes clear this cabin has unfinished business… and so do they. As eerie autumn nights lead to unexpected sleeping arrangements—Thora Is the cabin trying to push them closer, or keep them here forever?
288 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 25, 2026
1 person is currently reading
8145 people want to read
About the author
Isabelle Popp
5 books87 followersIsabelle Popp's first attempt at writing a romance novel came in middle school, when she began a story about a weirdo girl who could photosynthesize. That project was abandoned, but she has plenty of other silly ideas in the hopper. When she isn't reading or writing, she's probably knitting, solving crossword puzzles, or scouring used book stores for vintage Gothic romance paperbacks. Originally from New York, she's as surprised as anyone that she lives in Indiana. Let's Give 'Em Pumpkin to Talk About is her first novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 22, 2026
I liked Lee and Thora. How their relationship was. Their history and reasons for not progressing anything before.
I really liked Lee’s temperament and his purposeful actions.
I loved the title, it attracted my poor millennial soul.
If anything, I felt like the story could be longer. This would give more time, as the progress of the relationship felt a little sudden at points and didn’t seem as organic. Which was a shame as there were other points where it was and it worked well.
I really liked Lee’s temperament and his purposeful actions.
I loved the title, it attracted my poor millennial soul.
If anything, I felt like the story could be longer. This would give more time, as the progress of the relationship felt a little sudden at points and didn’t seem as organic. Which was a shame as there were other points where it was and it worked well.
Want to read
August 6, 2025One thousand percent here for this book just on the title alone.
Want to read
March 24, 2026👻 I Haunt It That Way 👻
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
What to Expect
👻 Haunted cabin
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🛠️ Forced proximity renovation
😤 Ex’s best friend
🌲 Isolated mountain setting
📞 Creepy paranormal activity
🛏️ Only one bed
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
📝 Thank you to Harlequin Afterglow Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
What to Expect
👻 Haunted cabin
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🛠️ Forced proximity renovation
😤 Ex’s best friend
🌲 Isolated mountain setting
📞 Creepy paranormal activity
🛏️ Only one bed
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
📝 Thank you to Harlequin Afterglow Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Firstly, I'm conflicted about rating this book three or four stars as I feel like each half of the book deserves different ratings, but for now I'm going with three. That's a positive three, by the way.
This book was a great mix of romance, mystery, paranormal and comedy. One page I was swooning over the small moments between Thora and Lee, the next I was looking over my shoulder after something creepy happened at Juniper (the large cabin/ manor the book is mostly set at). The plot was very comfortable, aside from Thora and Lee being possibly haunted by Juniper and being forced together, nothing really goes wrong until the inevitable third act breakup, and the story mostly focuses on grief and finding the right person at the right time.
The romance felt a little forced at first, Thora was definitely a bit harsh towards Lee and in return Lee was just so smitten with her that he let it all slide. Once it got to the halfway mark a lot of past grievances were cleared and it began to feel a lot more genuine and meaningful. I liked that they both had history and there's always been elements of Lee's crush on Thora. The fat representation was also really sweet and well written, especially with the spicy scenes, I always love seeing a big girl represented properly in romance novels.
The settings were so autumnal and creepy, whilst also being cosy. The ending wraps everything up in a perfect HEA, which I enjoyed. Overall, this was a sweet yet spicy, eerie but emotional read which I'd recommend for anyone looking for something on the shorter side that includes all the yummy cliché romance tropes!
3.5/ 5 🌟
Firstly, I'm conflicted about rating this book three or four stars as I feel like each half of the book deserves different ratings, but for now I'm going with three. That's a positive three, by the way.
This book was a great mix of romance, mystery, paranormal and comedy. One page I was swooning over the small moments between Thora and Lee, the next I was looking over my shoulder after something creepy happened at Juniper (the large cabin/ manor the book is mostly set at). The plot was very comfortable, aside from Thora and Lee being possibly haunted by Juniper and being forced together, nothing really goes wrong until the inevitable third act breakup, and the story mostly focuses on grief and finding the right person at the right time.
The romance felt a little forced at first, Thora was definitely a bit harsh towards Lee and in return Lee was just so smitten with her that he let it all slide. Once it got to the halfway mark a lot of past grievances were cleared and it began to feel a lot more genuine and meaningful. I liked that they both had history and there's always been elements of Lee's crush on Thora. The fat representation was also really sweet and well written, especially with the spicy scenes, I always love seeing a big girl represented properly in romance novels.
The settings were so autumnal and creepy, whilst also being cosy. The ending wraps everything up in a perfect HEA, which I enjoyed. Overall, this was a sweet yet spicy, eerie but emotional read which I'd recommend for anyone looking for something on the shorter side that includes all the yummy cliché romance tropes!
3.5/ 5 🌟
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had way too much fun reading this.
I Haunt It That Way completely tricked me into thinking I was going to read “just a little bit” and then suddenly I was at the end like… oh, okay, guess I live here now. It’s fast, addictive, and has just enough chaos to keep things interesting the whole time.
The tension? Top tier. And I don’t just mean the romantic tension (although… yeah, that too). There’s this constant “something is not right here” feeling in the background, and I loved how it never fully lets you relax. It made everything feel a little sharper and more intense.
Thora and Lee drove me insane but in the way that keeps you hooked. There’s so much history and stubbornness between them, But I’m not even going to pretend honesty….Thora irritated me at times. The way she kept blaming Lee for her uncle’s death felt so unfair and honestly just… weird. I get that grief makes people act irrationally, but it definitely had me side eyeing her more than once.
And listen the spice? It delivers. It’s not just thrown in randomly either, it actually feels earned because of how much tension builds beforehand.
If I had one complaint, it’s that I lowkey wanted more. Not because anything felt lacking, but because I wasn’t ready to be done with it yet. I would’ve happily stayed in this story a little longer.
And the ending? I loved it. That full-circle moment where you realize what you’re actually reading was such a fun touch. It could’ve felt cheesy, but it didn’t, it just worked and made everything land even better.
Overall, this was a quick, slightly chaotic (in a good way), spooky romance. If you like tension, banter, spice and spooky stuff, you’ll eat this up.
I Haunt It That Way completely tricked me into thinking I was going to read “just a little bit” and then suddenly I was at the end like… oh, okay, guess I live here now. It’s fast, addictive, and has just enough chaos to keep things interesting the whole time.
The tension? Top tier. And I don’t just mean the romantic tension (although… yeah, that too). There’s this constant “something is not right here” feeling in the background, and I loved how it never fully lets you relax. It made everything feel a little sharper and more intense.
Thora and Lee drove me insane but in the way that keeps you hooked. There’s so much history and stubbornness between them, But I’m not even going to pretend honesty….Thora irritated me at times. The way she kept blaming Lee for her uncle’s death felt so unfair and honestly just… weird. I get that grief makes people act irrationally, but it definitely had me side eyeing her more than once.
And listen the spice? It delivers. It’s not just thrown in randomly either, it actually feels earned because of how much tension builds beforehand.
If I had one complaint, it’s that I lowkey wanted more. Not because anything felt lacking, but because I wasn’t ready to be done with it yet. I would’ve happily stayed in this story a little longer.
And the ending? I loved it. That full-circle moment where you realize what you’re actually reading was such a fun touch. It could’ve felt cheesy, but it didn’t, it just worked and made everything land even better.
Overall, this was a quick, slightly chaotic (in a good way), spooky romance. If you like tension, banter, spice and spooky stuff, you’ll eat this up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The vibe of this is actually a bit spookier than I thought it would be! Which I will never complain about.
It actually has some creepier moments, as opposed to just being “cute spooky”.
It also has a deep, autumnal atmosphere. This I love love LOVE.
the setting really is gorgeous and vividly written. I can feel the chilly fall air and hear those crispy dead leaves. 🍁
The author really did an awesome job on it.
Nice going on the plus size FMC representation. I don’t see this in books often!
So I think it’s a great addition to this, especially since it’s mentioned a few times- but isn’t like a focal point of the story. (Aka: Thora was written with multiple traits aside from just this! Another thing I applaud.)
My little gripe with this (and the soul reason I didn’t rate it higher), is that it I personally thought it could benefit from some more personality!
There are some eccentric moments, and a few stranger elements that give it an interesting feel. But, it sort of felt forced. The “different” vibe didn’t feel natural all the time.
Overall, it’s good! Perhaps it needs a bit less of a mellow tone. I would love to see it keep that same spooky autumn feel- but with an added layer of enthusiasm or emotionality from the characters. I still think it’s done well though!
I think it would hit especially hard when it’s seasonally appropriate.
Thank you to Netgalley, Afterglow books by Harlequin and author Isabelle Popp, for providing me with the eARC of “I Haunt it That Way”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: August 25, 2026
It actually has some creepier moments, as opposed to just being “cute spooky”.
It also has a deep, autumnal atmosphere. This I love love LOVE.
the setting really is gorgeous and vividly written. I can feel the chilly fall air and hear those crispy dead leaves. 🍁
The author really did an awesome job on it.
Nice going on the plus size FMC representation. I don’t see this in books often!
So I think it’s a great addition to this, especially since it’s mentioned a few times- but isn’t like a focal point of the story. (Aka: Thora was written with multiple traits aside from just this! Another thing I applaud.)
My little gripe with this (and the soul reason I didn’t rate it higher), is that it I personally thought it could benefit from some more personality!
There are some eccentric moments, and a few stranger elements that give it an interesting feel. But, it sort of felt forced. The “different” vibe didn’t feel natural all the time.
Overall, it’s good! Perhaps it needs a bit less of a mellow tone. I would love to see it keep that same spooky autumn feel- but with an added layer of enthusiasm or emotionality from the characters. I still think it’s done well though!
I think it would hit especially hard when it’s seasonally appropriate.
Thank you to Netgalley, Afterglow books by Harlequin and author Isabelle Popp, for providing me with the eARC of “I Haunt it That Way”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: August 25, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely love anything a lil ghosty, a lil paranormal and a lil bit autumn and this book is EXACTLY that! I Haunt It That Way is the perfect blend of spooky, cosy, and spicy. Isabelle’s writing is sharp, funny, and completely bingeable! I flew through it in one sitting.
Lee is the ultimate green flag, balancing out Thora, who’s navigating grief and life after divorce, and their dynamic adds both heart and tension. The paranormal elements are subtle but effective; more eerie than terrifying...which really sets the mood without feeling overdone and corny.
With just the right mix of chaos, emotional growth, and spice, this is a well-rounded rom-com that’s perfect for spooky season. Safe to say, I’ll be picking up more from this author ASAP.
Thank you to the Author, Harlequin Romance and NetGalley for an eARC, all opinions are my own.
Lee is the ultimate green flag, balancing out Thora, who’s navigating grief and life after divorce, and their dynamic adds both heart and tension. The paranormal elements are subtle but effective; more eerie than terrifying...which really sets the mood without feeling overdone and corny.
With just the right mix of chaos, emotional growth, and spice, this is a well-rounded rom-com that’s perfect for spooky season. Safe to say, I’ll be picking up more from this author ASAP.
Thank you to the Author, Harlequin Romance and NetGalley for an eARC, all opinions are my own.
March 20, 2026
~ NETGALLEY ARC REVIEW ~
2.5 stars (rounded up)
10% in and i was feeling bored but was determined to stick it out. it finally started to pick up around 15% but it still didn't get that much better. at first there were random references to suspicious activities that she experienced but that we as readers never knew happened so it feels like we are being left out of knowing parts of the story... finally at about 28% their romance connection feels forced, but also so does the fmc's distaste for him. truthfully it didnt get much better for me. i appreciated that the fmc was pust size though so that was a yay.
2.5 stars (rounded up)
10% in and i was feeling bored but was determined to stick it out. it finally started to pick up around 15% but it still didn't get that much better. at first there were random references to suspicious activities that she experienced but that we as readers never knew happened so it feels like we are being left out of knowing parts of the story... finally at about 28% their romance connection feels forced, but also so does the fmc's distaste for him. truthfully it didnt get much better for me. i appreciated that the fmc was pust size though so that was a yay.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a quick, fun read! I enjoyed the characters. The mystery was enjoyable. The romance was okay. I wasn’t really feeling it between them. I was also still confused a bit about why she had issues with him. But overall, I enjoyed it. It felt like just the right length and mix of spooky and romance.
March 20, 2026
3.5/5 stars
This was a lovely opposites attract, forced proximity, SPOOKY paranormal romance! Way spookier than I thought, but I enjoyed this read. The chemistry felt a tad bit forced, but it was an excellent story, well told.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
This was a lovely opposites attract, forced proximity, SPOOKY paranormal romance! Way spookier than I thought, but I enjoyed this read. The chemistry felt a tad bit forced, but it was an excellent story, well told.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews