What do you think?
Rate this book
You're Dead to Me, Reed Walker
A swoonworthy YA supernatural romcom where two academic rivals are trapped as ghosts to haunt the same house.
They'd kill each other...if they weren't already dead.
Tessa Sinclair is a winner. Winner of spelling bees, science fairs, and scholarships. So when she finds herself unexpectedly dead after a graduation party in an abandoned mansion, she's none too pleased. What's worse, her Harvard-bound, Mr. Perfect academic rival, Reed Walker, is there too—deceased, smug, and annoying as hell.
Being a ghost is hard enough, but it's a thousand times worse having to haunt the same house as your nemesis. But as Tessa and Reed retreat to RIP in their respective corners of the mansion, a mystery unfurls about the exact cause of their deaths.
Though they'd rather die (again) than work together, they'll need to overcome their differences to hunt down a murderer on the loose. And should they happen to fall for each other along the way...Who ever said you can't find love after death?
They'd kill each other...if they weren't already dead.
Tessa Sinclair is a winner. Winner of spelling bees, science fairs, and scholarships. So when she finds herself unexpectedly dead after a graduation party in an abandoned mansion, she's none too pleased. What's worse, her Harvard-bound, Mr. Perfect academic rival, Reed Walker, is there too—deceased, smug, and annoying as hell.
Being a ghost is hard enough, but it's a thousand times worse having to haunt the same house as your nemesis. But as Tessa and Reed retreat to RIP in their respective corners of the mansion, a mystery unfurls about the exact cause of their deaths.
Though they'd rather die (again) than work together, they'll need to overcome their differences to hunt down a murderer on the loose. And should they happen to fall for each other along the way...Who ever said you can't find love after death?
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Gwenyth Reitz
1 book42 followersGwenyth Reitz was born in Sri Lanka, and has since lived and worked in California, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Japan, and Mongolia. When not intrepidly exploring she writes genre-blending YA stories with swoony romance, mystery, humor, and heart. Gwenyth now lives with her husband and two kids in New York City, where she can often be found scribbling late into the night on her rooftop like the caffeine-obsessed night-owl she is.
As a theater maker with an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art, Gwenyth works for Lincoln Center Theater teaching acting and directing teens. For fun, she likes to sing Hamilton karaoke, maybe not well, but with gusto. YOU’RE DEAD TO ME, REED WALKER is her debut novel.
Follow her online @GwenythReitz or at www.gwenreitz.com
As a theater maker with an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art, Gwenyth works for Lincoln Center Theater teaching acting and directing teens. For fun, she likes to sing Hamilton karaoke, maybe not well, but with gusto. YOU’RE DEAD TO ME, REED WALKER is her debut novel.
Follow her online @GwenythReitz or at www.gwenreitz.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
November 1, 2025
Okay, so picture this: you die. Bummer, right? But WAIT—it gets worse. Your afterlife roommate? The one person who made your living days a competitive nightmare. Welcome to the deliciously twisted world of You're Dead to Me, Reed Walker, where academic rivals become ghostly roommates and somehow have to solve their own murders while navigating the most inconvenient feelings ever.
Let me tell you, I went into this book expecting some light paranormal fun, and I got that—but I also got sucker-punched by emotions I wasn't ready for.
Tessa Sinclair is my kind of protagonist: whip-smart, sarcastic as hell, and still fully herself even when she's, you know, dead. Reed Walker? Ugh. He's that golden boy who's annoyingly perfect and somehow gets under your skin in the best/worst way. Their banter? Chef's kiss. The kind of verbal sparring that makes you laugh out loud on public transportation and then have to explain to strangers why you're cackling at your phone.
But here's where this book surprised me—it's not just witty one-liners and ghostly shenanigans (though there are PLENTY of both). Underneath all that supernatural rom-com goodness is this achingly real exploration of what happens when everything gets cut short. When Tessa and Reed start grappling with the unfairness of dying young, of dreams left unfulfilled, of lives barely lived? Yeah. I felt that. Hard.
The romance develops exactly how it should: slowly, reluctantly, with lots of "I hate you" moments that very clearly mean something else entirely. Watching these two go from wanting to murder each other (again) to actually caring was surprisingly moving. The tension between irritation and attraction is so thick you could cut it with a knife—assuming ghosts can hold knives, which is honestly unclear.
The writing itself is fantastic—funny when it needs to be, devastating when you least expect it. You'll be laughing at some ridiculous ghostly mishap one moment, and then BAM, there's a line that just guts you. The author nails this balance between playful and profound, reminding us that life (and death) is meant to be lived, even when you're technically not alive anymore.
If you're into:
Enemies-to-lovers with actual stakes (ha, ghost pun)
Paranormal romance that doesn't take itself too seriously
Mystery elements that keep you guessing
Banter that makes you want to applaud
Stories that make you laugh AND ugly-cry
...then this afterlife adventure is definitely calling your name. Just maybe don't read it at 2 AM when you're already feeling existential. Ask me how I know.
Overall: Spooky, sweet, surprisingly deep, and totally worth your time. Even if it makes you contemplate your mortality while simultaneously shipping two dead teenagers. Which, honestly, is peak YA reading experience.
Massive thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for the digital ARC! Getting early access to quirky paranormal romances that mess with my emotions is exactly the kind of chaos I signed up for, and I appreciate you enabling my book addiction.
blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
Let me tell you, I went into this book expecting some light paranormal fun, and I got that—but I also got sucker-punched by emotions I wasn't ready for.
Tessa Sinclair is my kind of protagonist: whip-smart, sarcastic as hell, and still fully herself even when she's, you know, dead. Reed Walker? Ugh. He's that golden boy who's annoyingly perfect and somehow gets under your skin in the best/worst way. Their banter? Chef's kiss. The kind of verbal sparring that makes you laugh out loud on public transportation and then have to explain to strangers why you're cackling at your phone.
But here's where this book surprised me—it's not just witty one-liners and ghostly shenanigans (though there are PLENTY of both). Underneath all that supernatural rom-com goodness is this achingly real exploration of what happens when everything gets cut short. When Tessa and Reed start grappling with the unfairness of dying young, of dreams left unfulfilled, of lives barely lived? Yeah. I felt that. Hard.
The romance develops exactly how it should: slowly, reluctantly, with lots of "I hate you" moments that very clearly mean something else entirely. Watching these two go from wanting to murder each other (again) to actually caring was surprisingly moving. The tension between irritation and attraction is so thick you could cut it with a knife—assuming ghosts can hold knives, which is honestly unclear.
The writing itself is fantastic—funny when it needs to be, devastating when you least expect it. You'll be laughing at some ridiculous ghostly mishap one moment, and then BAM, there's a line that just guts you. The author nails this balance between playful and profound, reminding us that life (and death) is meant to be lived, even when you're technically not alive anymore.
If you're into:
Enemies-to-lovers with actual stakes (ha, ghost pun)
Paranormal romance that doesn't take itself too seriously
Mystery elements that keep you guessing
Banter that makes you want to applaud
Stories that make you laugh AND ugly-cry
...then this afterlife adventure is definitely calling your name. Just maybe don't read it at 2 AM when you're already feeling existential. Ask me how I know.
Overall: Spooky, sweet, surprisingly deep, and totally worth your time. Even if it makes you contemplate your mortality while simultaneously shipping two dead teenagers. Which, honestly, is peak YA reading experience.
Massive thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for the digital ARC! Getting early access to quirky paranormal romances that mess with my emotions is exactly the kind of chaos I signed up for, and I appreciate you enabling my book addiction.
blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
━━━ઇଓㅤ⤸
꒰ 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱ Ⓘ pub date: may 12th 2026
𝟐.𝟓 ✩
🎧꒱ ‘no body, no crime’ | Taylor Swift
꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
I’m unsure how I feel...
I requested the arc for this book because the premise had me really intrigued. You’re Dead To Me, Reed Walker follows two academic rivals who mysteriously find themselves dead after a graduation party. They both have to work together–putting aside their hate for each other–to solve the question of how they died. There’s a murderer on the loose, suspects who may or may not be innocent, and a ticking clock counting down the minutes until it’s too late. It's always so disappointing when the synopsis is promising, but the execution lacks. And that's exactly what happened.
Originally, I went into this book with no expectations, just vibes. And although I didn’t love it and had my negatives, I'd say the vibes were vibing. What I didn’t expect was how heavy this book was going to be. It’s advertised as a swoonworthy YA supernatural romcom, but I’d beg to differ. I didn’t laugh, I didn’t really swoon, and instead I cried for the loss of innocent lives taken away too early, and the reality that they’d never accomplish their dreams, never grow old, and never get to touch or hold or talk to their loved ones again. Death is a sobering subject; full of what-ifs, regrets, and lots of overthinking about life and what could’ve been. Reading about Tessa and Reed’s hopes and dreams for the future, the goals they wanted to achieve, and the deep regret they held absolutely shattered my heart. It made me fear for what’s to come after death.
The mystery in this book was alright. Not necessarily the greatest of mysteries out there, and I did suspect who it was from the start which takes the fun out of it all. You want something that hooks you in, makes you think you’re correct, and then knocks you off your feet when the true killer is unmasked. It wasn't much of a shock when we finally found out who the murderer was, but their motive for it all was very surprising, disturbing, and disgusting.
In my opinion, the main characters were a little unbearable at the start of the book. I found Reed a bit of a bastard throughout, though he did redeem himself by the end. And I didn’t like Tessa and how she always blamed him for their deaths. I understand that what happened to them was difficult to comprehend and wrap their heads around, but I did find it annoying how much Tessa accused Reed.
Overall, I had a good time. If you’re looking for a groundbreaking mystery, this probably isn’t the right book for you. But I'd still recommend if you’re in for the vibes or just looking for an easy read.
1 star for Hal, 1 star for Tilly, and .5 for the emotional damage.
━━━
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: ꒱
okay, i’m about 12% in and am kinda not liking it. but, i went into this book solely for the vibes. it’s so unlike other books i’ve read. You're Dead To Me, Reed Walker is about two academic rivals finding themselves dead after a graduation party, where they both haunt the same mansion. they have to work together to find out the reason for their deaths, a bit of a mysterious murderer on the loose. it sounds interesting, maybe even a little emotional from some of the reviews i read. i don’t expect it to be a 5 stars, and have decently low expectations, but i am hoping to somewhat have a good time.
Ⓘ thank you @netgalley and publisher for giving me the chance to read this free arc, i'm very eager to share my thoughts.
pub date: may 12th 2026
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 24/1/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 25/1/2026
-𝓖
꒰ 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱ Ⓘ pub date: may 12th 2026
𝟐.𝟓 ✩
🎧꒱ ‘no body, no crime’ | Taylor Swift
꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
I’m unsure how I feel...
I requested the arc for this book because the premise had me really intrigued. You’re Dead To Me, Reed Walker follows two academic rivals who mysteriously find themselves dead after a graduation party. They both have to work together–putting aside their hate for each other–to solve the question of how they died. There’s a murderer on the loose, suspects who may or may not be innocent, and a ticking clock counting down the minutes until it’s too late. It's always so disappointing when the synopsis is promising, but the execution lacks. And that's exactly what happened.
Originally, I went into this book with no expectations, just vibes. And although I didn’t love it and had my negatives, I'd say the vibes were vibing. What I didn’t expect was how heavy this book was going to be. It’s advertised as a swoonworthy YA supernatural romcom, but I’d beg to differ. I didn’t laugh, I didn’t really swoon, and instead I cried for the loss of innocent lives taken away too early, and the reality that they’d never accomplish their dreams, never grow old, and never get to touch or hold or talk to their loved ones again. Death is a sobering subject; full of what-ifs, regrets, and lots of overthinking about life and what could’ve been. Reading about Tessa and Reed’s hopes and dreams for the future, the goals they wanted to achieve, and the deep regret they held absolutely shattered my heart. It made me fear for what’s to come after death.
The mystery in this book was alright. Not necessarily the greatest of mysteries out there, and I did suspect who it was from the start which takes the fun out of it all. You want something that hooks you in, makes you think you’re correct, and then knocks you off your feet when the true killer is unmasked. It wasn't much of a shock when we finally found out who the murderer was, but their motive for it all was very surprising, disturbing, and disgusting.
In my opinion, the main characters were a little unbearable at the start of the book. I found Reed a bit of a bastard throughout, though he did redeem himself by the end. And I didn’t like Tessa and how she always blamed him for their deaths. I understand that what happened to them was difficult to comprehend and wrap their heads around, but I did find it annoying how much Tessa accused Reed.
Overall, I had a good time. If you’re looking for a groundbreaking mystery, this probably isn’t the right book for you. But I'd still recommend if you’re in for the vibes or just looking for an easy read.
1 star for Hal, 1 star for Tilly, and .5 for the emotional damage.
━━━
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: ꒱
okay, i’m about 12% in and am kinda not liking it. but, i went into this book solely for the vibes. it’s so unlike other books i’ve read. You're Dead To Me, Reed Walker is about two academic rivals finding themselves dead after a graduation party, where they both haunt the same mansion. they have to work together to find out the reason for their deaths, a bit of a mysterious murderer on the loose. it sounds interesting, maybe even a little emotional from some of the reviews i read. i don’t expect it to be a 5 stars, and have decently low expectations, but i am hoping to somewhat have a good time.
Ⓘ thank you @netgalley and publisher for giving me the chance to read this free arc, i'm very eager to share my thoughts.
pub date: may 12th 2026
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 24/1/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 25/1/2026
-𝓖
May 13, 2026
✩ 4 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Academic Rivals-to-Lovers
➼ He Falls First
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Haunted Mansion
➼ Self Discovery
➼ Murder Mystery
➼ YA Paranormal Romance
➼ Narrated by Peter Cross & Abigail Reno
➼ Dual First Person POV
Happy release day to You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker! 🎉🥳 I really loved this one and I didn’t want to miss the chance to hype it up today!
Based solely on the cover, you might expect this to be a fluffy paranormal romcom, but this was actually a very thought provoking and emotional read. The author herself told me to have tissues on hand and I really should have listened because she managed to pull quite a few tears out of me by the end. 🥹 Death is a heavy topic, especially when the lives of two young people with such promising futures are cut short, but this author explored every stage of their grief with tenderness and care. The ending was a little different than what I expected or maybe even hoped for, but the more I think on it, I think it was actually perfect. 🫶🏻
I adore paranormal romance and spooky reads, but I’ve honestly become a little more selective about YA books lately. They can be absolutely phenomenal, but I find that the bulk of them just don’t appeal to me as much these days. I guess I’m getting old. 😜 Whether you’re a die hard YA lover or someone who sometimes feels like you’re outgrowing the genre, I think you will love this book!
A big thank you to the author for providing me with a free signed copy of the book and adorable goodies! Thank you also to Libro.FM & Insatiable Press for providing me with the ALC! I feel so blessed! 🙏🏻😊
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: It may be spring, but I hear we’re officially halfway to Halloween! 🎃👻 Celebrating with a spooky read!
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram ✩ Tiktok
What to Expect:
➼ Academic Rivals-to-Lovers
➼ He Falls First
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Haunted Mansion
➼ Self Discovery
➼ Murder Mystery
➼ YA Paranormal Romance
➼ Narrated by Peter Cross & Abigail Reno
➼ Dual First Person POV
Happy release day to You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker! 🎉🥳 I really loved this one and I didn’t want to miss the chance to hype it up today!
Based solely on the cover, you might expect this to be a fluffy paranormal romcom, but this was actually a very thought provoking and emotional read. The author herself told me to have tissues on hand and I really should have listened because she managed to pull quite a few tears out of me by the end. 🥹 Death is a heavy topic, especially when the lives of two young people with such promising futures are cut short, but this author explored every stage of their grief with tenderness and care. The ending was a little different than what I expected or maybe even hoped for, but the more I think on it, I think it was actually perfect. 🫶🏻
I adore paranormal romance and spooky reads, but I’ve honestly become a little more selective about YA books lately. They can be absolutely phenomenal, but I find that the bulk of them just don’t appeal to me as much these days. I guess I’m getting old. 😜 Whether you’re a die hard YA lover or someone who sometimes feels like you’re outgrowing the genre, I think you will love this book!
A big thank you to the author for providing me with a free signed copy of the book and adorable goodies! Thank you also to Libro.FM & Insatiable Press for providing me with the ALC! I feel so blessed! 🙏🏻😊
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: It may be spring, but I hear we’re officially halfway to Halloween! 🎃👻 Celebrating with a spooky read!
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram ✩ Tiktok
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
This was a lot more emotional than what I expected. I started you’re dead to me, reed walker thinking it would be a cute paranormal romance but it surprised me in how well it dealt with grief. Maybe it shouldn’t because as you can see by the summary it is a story about two dead teenagers, but I think this will hit hard for teenagers especially, obviously, it is ya, but I’m an adult and I still very much enjoyed it.
Tessa and Reed are academic rivals and they both die at the same party and wake up as ghosts trapped in the same place, trying to solve the same mystery: how they died.
The reason I say this deals so well with grief is because we see the MCs families post their deaths and also, themselves trying to accept the future they thought they had was suddenly gone. I love how they were clearly teenagers, they would have the most ridiculous arguments again and again, and that’s exactly what teenagers would do. They don’t magically start to like each other and everything is fixed too, it’s a process and that was very realistic.
The end was a little messy I will admit, but I still liked it, especially the last few chapters. I really like the ending the author gave the main characters.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for the ARC.
This was a lot more emotional than what I expected. I started you’re dead to me, reed walker thinking it would be a cute paranormal romance but it surprised me in how well it dealt with grief. Maybe it shouldn’t because as you can see by the summary it is a story about two dead teenagers, but I think this will hit hard for teenagers especially, obviously, it is ya, but I’m an adult and I still very much enjoyed it.
Tessa and Reed are academic rivals and they both die at the same party and wake up as ghosts trapped in the same place, trying to solve the same mystery: how they died.
The reason I say this deals so well with grief is because we see the MCs families post their deaths and also, themselves trying to accept the future they thought they had was suddenly gone. I love how they were clearly teenagers, they would have the most ridiculous arguments again and again, and that’s exactly what teenagers would do. They don’t magically start to like each other and everything is fixed too, it’s a process and that was very realistic.
The end was a little messy I will admit, but I still liked it, especially the last few chapters. I really like the ending the author gave the main characters.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for the ARC.
November 26, 2025
Thank you much to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
-------------------------☽---------------------------
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-------------------------✩---------------------------
︎🍿- This book was great! The vibes were so good, and it was so fun reading about the old house and the ghosts! This book was so creative and the whole time I was reading it I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for what would happen next.
🎬- The Plot in this book was amazing! You’ve heard of the academic rivals to lovers trope. But have you heard of academic rivals to dead rivals to lovers?!?! The story was so interesting , and all the little details that were added made a super fun book!
🥰- I loved the romance between Reed and Tessa! They were so cute together, and it was so fun to see them start to grow closer together throughout the book.
🎥- This book really felt like something new. I thought it was super original, and it didn’t feel like something I had read a hundred times already.
📖- Overall, I thought this book was amazing and I would absolutely recommend you read it when it comes out next year!
-------------------------︎☽---------------------------
TW: grief, death, stalking, swearing, kissing, mentions sexual activity but doesn’t go into detail.
-------------------------☽---------------------------
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-------------------------✩---------------------------
︎🍿- This book was great! The vibes were so good, and it was so fun reading about the old house and the ghosts! This book was so creative and the whole time I was reading it I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for what would happen next.
🎬- The Plot in this book was amazing! You’ve heard of the academic rivals to lovers trope. But have you heard of academic rivals to dead rivals to lovers?!?! The story was so interesting , and all the little details that were added made a super fun book!
🥰- I loved the romance between Reed and Tessa! They were so cute together, and it was so fun to see them start to grow closer together throughout the book.
🎥- This book really felt like something new. I thought it was super original, and it didn’t feel like something I had read a hundred times already.
📖- Overall, I thought this book was amazing and I would absolutely recommend you read it when it comes out next year!
-------------------------︎☽---------------------------
TW: grief, death, stalking, swearing, kissing, mentions sexual activity but doesn’t go into detail.
Want to Read
November 20, 2025look at the cover and tell me those are not Jade and Beck
October 3, 2025
Teens bonding over their shared environmentalism is so 2025. I giggled.
- Rivals to lovers
- YA romance
- Paranormal romance
- Murder mystery
Tessa and Reed are long-time academic rivals, competing for the thing that is most important to each of them- the valedictorian spot in their graduating class.
This is, until a wild senior-year house party goes wrong, and they both wake up as ghosts.
In their limited amount of time before having to cross over, they will have to reconcile, crack the case of what really happened to them, and save their friend from meeting the same fate- all while dodging scary shadow monsters.
This was a lot heavier than I was expecting, but also fun.
I thought this would be a lot more light-hearted. Looking back, I am not sure why it didn’t occur to me that the death of two teenagers would be kind of sad.
I mean, Tessa and Reed having to grapple with their own deaths, accept that they will never be able to be with their family and friends again, watch as their loved ones mourn them, and come to terms with the fact that they will never be able to reach their dreams… ouch?
It was interesting to read about, and I actually enjoyed it- but there was this lingering sorrow that stayed with me the entire time.
I know it’s a cliché, but it made me appreciate being alive.
I appreciated Tessa’s realization that life should have been more to her than just good grades. She was loved regardless of her successes.
I think it’s a nice message for younger audiences, even with the heavy delivery.
The romance in this is nice, and I liked seeing Tessa and Reed’s rivalry evolve into something nicer. They were cute.
I would say the romance is a bit secondary to the mystery aspect- but it is still there.
Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Roaring Book Press and author Gwenyth Reitz for providing me with the eARC of “You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: May 05, 2026
- Rivals to lovers
- YA romance
- Paranormal romance
- Murder mystery
Tessa and Reed are long-time academic rivals, competing for the thing that is most important to each of them- the valedictorian spot in their graduating class.
This is, until a wild senior-year house party goes wrong, and they both wake up as ghosts.
In their limited amount of time before having to cross over, they will have to reconcile, crack the case of what really happened to them, and save their friend from meeting the same fate- all while dodging scary shadow monsters.
This was a lot heavier than I was expecting, but also fun.
I thought this would be a lot more light-hearted. Looking back, I am not sure why it didn’t occur to me that the death of two teenagers would be kind of sad.
I mean, Tessa and Reed having to grapple with their own deaths, accept that they will never be able to be with their family and friends again, watch as their loved ones mourn them, and come to terms with the fact that they will never be able to reach their dreams… ouch?
It was interesting to read about, and I actually enjoyed it- but there was this lingering sorrow that stayed with me the entire time.
I know it’s a cliché, but it made me appreciate being alive.
I appreciated Tessa’s realization that life should have been more to her than just good grades. She was loved regardless of her successes.
I think it’s a nice message for younger audiences, even with the heavy delivery.
The romance in this is nice, and I liked seeing Tessa and Reed’s rivalry evolve into something nicer. They were cute.
I would say the romance is a bit secondary to the mystery aspect- but it is still there.
Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Roaring Book Press and author Gwenyth Reitz for providing me with the eARC of “You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: May 05, 2026
November 23, 2025
This was a cute YA read. Tessa & Reed were murdered and turned into ghosts. It turned out they have a few days to figure out who did it before they are fully transitioned into their new ghostly life. In between this time, they slowly start to fall in love.
✨ T r o p e s ✨
Murder Mystery
YA Romance
Rivals to Lovers
Forced Proximity
He Falls First
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Author Gwenyth Reitz for the arc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
✨ T r o p e s ✨
Murder Mystery
YA Romance
Rivals to Lovers
Forced Proximity
He Falls First
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Author Gwenyth Reitz for the arc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This debut has my whole heart. I hope you enjoy reading about Reed and Tessa's sweet and haunting adventures as much as I enjoyed writing them.
October 28, 2025
Drop-dead funny and hauntingly romantic!
November 4, 2025
Oh this was so cute and sweet and SAD. My god, I'm still weeping a little.
March 30, 2026
I have to admit, this book was so much more than I expected. I was expecting a silly little YA romcom type book, and I got something much deeper than that. It is not only a romcom, but a little bit thriller/murder mystery, and also just a really heartfelt story with themes about letting go of guilt, dealing with grief, and how life in the end isn’t something we can control, and enjoying it while it lasts.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone intrigued by the synopsis, but just be aware it is not all lighthearted as the description sounds. Yes, this book made me smile and laugh, but it also has intense moments, and moments that brought me to tears.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone intrigued by the synopsis, but just be aware it is not all lighthearted as the description sounds. Yes, this book made me smile and laugh, but it also has intense moments, and moments that brought me to tears.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2025
This was an amazing read, and I am so glad I decided to pick it up. At first, when reading the description of the book, I wasn't sure how I felt about the book because the characters, Reed and Tessa, are ghosts. But honestly, it was amazing! It was unlike any romance I've ever read before.
I loved the mystery aspects of it, like how they were investigating their own deaths and trying to figure out who killed them.
Their romance was also beautiful, with them starting off as enemies while they were alive and becoming lovers as ghosts.
The best part, though, was their journey and their loved ones' journey to finding closure with their death. It made it such a beautiful story, and I absolutely loved the ending. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I loved the mystery aspects of it, like how they were investigating their own deaths and trying to figure out who killed them.
Their romance was also beautiful, with them starting off as enemies while they were alive and becoming lovers as ghosts.
The best part, though, was their journey and their loved ones' journey to finding closure with their death. It made it such a beautiful story, and I absolutely loved the ending. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 12, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ thank you so much to the author, Gwenyth Reitz for a digital and physical ARC!
I absolutely loved this book. It was the perfect blend of fun YA mystery romance and deep conversations about grief and moving on. The pacing was very balanced and it was so addicting that I - who has been on a two week reading slump, mind you - read it in three days!! I also appreciated how Gwenyth depicted high schoolers correctly and didn't treat them as though they were a bunch of young middle schoolers. That being said, there was mild language and a fade to black scene!
Reed and Tessa were absolutely swoonworthy. Their dynamic was so fun to watch and this relationship was real and raw. Academic rivals to lovers has always been my favorite trope and this book did not miss!
Words cannot describe how happy I am that YDTMRW ended the way it did. Gwenyth doesn't shy away from doing whats right for the book, even if it may upset some people, and I'm very grateful for that. The buildup and execution of the last 25% was beautifully done.
For this book to be a debut is so mind blowing. This was eloquent, creepy, romantic, and melancholy ALL IN ONE! I cannot wait to read more from this author - 2027, you cannot come faster!
I absolutely loved this book. It was the perfect blend of fun YA mystery romance and deep conversations about grief and moving on. The pacing was very balanced and it was so addicting that I - who has been on a two week reading slump, mind you - read it in three days!! I also appreciated how Gwenyth depicted high schoolers correctly and didn't treat them as though they were a bunch of young middle schoolers. That being said, there was mild language and a fade to black scene!
Reed and Tessa were absolutely swoonworthy. Their dynamic was so fun to watch and this relationship was real and raw. Academic rivals to lovers has always been my favorite trope and this book did not miss!
Words cannot describe how happy I am that YDTMRW ended the way it did. Gwenyth doesn't shy away from doing whats right for the book, even if it may upset some people, and I'm very grateful for that. The buildup and execution of the last 25% was beautifully done.
For this book to be a debut is so mind blowing. This was eloquent, creepy, romantic, and melancholy ALL IN ONE! I cannot wait to read more from this author - 2027, you cannot come faster!
May 16, 2026
Fucking yessssssssss!!!!!!!
May 5, 2026
I chose this book on a whim because there was something really fun about the premise - a supernatural YA rom-com? Say less, I'm already in.
I came for the quirky, but stayed because of the excellent banter, the deep rooted rivalry between Tessa and Reed, and how surprisingly sad and heartfelt this story was. That's not to say it's all sad --I mean, aside from the obvious-- there's a lot of life in this book about death.
You won't regret picking this one up. It'll make you laugh out loud. You'll shed a tear or two. You'll hug someone you love extra tight. And you'll be dream-casting the inevitable screen adaptation that simply must come next.
I came for the quirky, but stayed because of the excellent banter, the deep rooted rivalry between Tessa and Reed, and how surprisingly sad and heartfelt this story was. That's not to say it's all sad --I mean, aside from the obvious-- there's a lot of life in this book about death.
You won't regret picking this one up. It'll make you laugh out loud. You'll shed a tear or two. You'll hug someone you love extra tight. And you'll be dream-casting the inevitable screen adaptation that simply must come next.
December 28, 2025
This book was such a surprise! “You’re Dead to Me Reed Walker” pulled me in with its premise and kept me with its heartfelt journey. I thought this would be just a fun, lighthearted, supernatural romcom but it was so much more than that, dealing with grief in such a way that truly made me connect emotionally with each character (and made me cry at times). I felt like the story focused on the mystery rather than the romance, but both were strong, well-developed plot points. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!
“Only we don’t get forever. We only get these few perfect moments.”
“Only we don’t get forever. We only get these few perfect moments.”
October 17, 2025
I wasn’t sure I was going to be into this book. I’m not usually big on ghosts when it comes to reading choices. But I was pleasantly surprised. The story got pretty deep at times, which surprised me for a young adult read. The depth and comedy kept me engaged from start to finish.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Want to Read
May 12, 2025rivals to... ghost rivals? ngl that sounds hilarious
May 8, 2026
I went into You're Dead to Me, Reed Walker expecting a fun YA paranormal romcom as advertised.. and instead got an emotional story about grief. The premise follows academic rivals Tessa and Reed, who wake up dead after a graduation party and are forced to haunt the same mansion while trying to uncover what actually happened to them. There IS banter, tension, and some cute dynamics with a sweet romance, but the emotional heart of this book is really centered on death, mourning, and watching the people left behind try to cope.
I honestly think the marketing and cover undersell how layered this story becomes at times. Some scenes were genuinely heartbreaking, especially seeing two high school students grappling with losing their lives before they'd even gotten the chance to begin them. The romance felt secondary to the mystery and emotional journey, which isn't necessarily a bad thing - I just wasn't fully prepared for it based on how the book was positioned. If i had gone in expecting much more of a balance between romance and a supernatural grief narrative, I honestly think this could've landed even stronger for me.
Still, I really appreciated the way the author explored different forms of grief & unresolved emotions. It's a beautiful story underneath the paranormal setup - just much heavier than expected.
I honestly think the marketing and cover undersell how layered this story becomes at times. Some scenes were genuinely heartbreaking, especially seeing two high school students grappling with losing their lives before they'd even gotten the chance to begin them. The romance felt secondary to the mystery and emotional journey, which isn't necessarily a bad thing - I just wasn't fully prepared for it based on how the book was positioned. If i had gone in expecting much more of a balance between romance and a supernatural grief narrative, I honestly think this could've landed even stronger for me.
Still, I really appreciated the way the author explored different forms of grief & unresolved emotions. It's a beautiful story underneath the paranormal setup - just much heavier than expected.
May 12, 2026
I absolutely loved this academic rivals to rival ghosts story! There was a lot of great humor and heart, watching Tessa and Reed try to figure out what happened to them, why they were now ghosts, and where do things go from there. Both characters were easy to fall in love with so much personality. I love how Tessa kept trying to figure out how to ace being a ghost!”
This was another YA book that hit me with some deep existential angst because a lot of the book is a mix of them trying to figure out what is keeping them there, but also trying to let go because they only have a limited time as ghosts. Fear of the unknown is always hard for me and Tessa definitely had a lot of the same feelings I would have had.
The romance was also so cute and so very teenager. I read a huge variety of ages, but what I love about YA romances is the stupid innocence where they think they know everything and are slowly realizing they don’t. It was really fun to watch them both realize how much their antagonism was hiding feelings and watching them examine past events in a new light.
Thanks Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press for the ARC.
This was another YA book that hit me with some deep existential angst because a lot of the book is a mix of them trying to figure out what is keeping them there, but also trying to let go because they only have a limited time as ghosts. Fear of the unknown is always hard for me and Tessa definitely had a lot of the same feelings I would have had.
The romance was also so cute and so very teenager. I read a huge variety of ages, but what I love about YA romances is the stupid innocence where they think they know everything and are slowly realizing they don’t. It was really fun to watch them both realize how much their antagonism was hiding feelings and watching them examine past events in a new light.
Thanks Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press for the ARC.
May 12, 2026
Can a book be paranormal and cozy and have a murder mystery?? I think so!! A true testament to Gwenyths writing because she really did write a good book with all of these elements! And a bit of YA romance too!!
I could not put this down! Tessa and Reeds need to challenge each other and always compete was humorous but also added a bit of a tension to the blooming romance between them. Furthermore, this rivalry literally continued past death as they continued to try and one-up each other as ghosts! Truly a fun read and I did not expect to cry… but at that ending I was actually sobbing 😭
It was definitely a huge takeaway that perhaps death isn’t the end to it all and there is more to it… something to consider!
I could not put this down! Tessa and Reeds need to challenge each other and always compete was humorous but also added a bit of a tension to the blooming romance between them. Furthermore, this rivalry literally continued past death as they continued to try and one-up each other as ghosts! Truly a fun read and I did not expect to cry… but at that ending I was actually sobbing 😭
It was definitely a huge takeaway that perhaps death isn’t the end to it all and there is more to it… something to consider!
April 29, 2026
Academic rivals who die mid-feud… and wake up stuck together in the afterlife? Say less.
You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker brings enemies-to-lovers energy with a supernatural twist-forced proximity, unresolved tension, and a murder they now have to solve together.
It’s witty and chaotic, but also surprisingly heartfelt; grief, pressure, and everything left unsaid wrapped into a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers that actually earns it.
If you like your romance with banter, mystery, and just a little existential crisis… this one hits 👻
You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker brings enemies-to-lovers energy with a supernatural twist-forced proximity, unresolved tension, and a murder they now have to solve together.
It’s witty and chaotic, but also surprisingly heartfelt; grief, pressure, and everything left unsaid wrapped into a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers that actually earns it.
If you like your romance with banter, mystery, and just a little existential crisis… this one hits 👻
October 20, 2025
Oh my, I am a ball of competing emotions after reading this book. All the humor Reitz packed into the story had me laughing out loud—especially the banter that ignited between Tessa and Reed. I was flipping through the pages, having fun, falling head-over-heels for these characters that were doomed to die. So yes, when I found myself later crying at the reality of their situation, I should have been prepared. But I wasn't. Cue tears. Loved the ending!
October 29, 2025
holy crap!! What a ride! Absolutely perfect timing to read it just before Halloween! It was sweet it was tense it was terrifying and funny and bittersweet and sad and played with grief and growth in a really interesting way! I absolutely loved it!!
May 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker is a heartfelt, romantic, and thoughtful YA debut.
I absolutely adored this one. From the first page, the hilarious, compelling characters hooked me. Reed and Tessa were delightful main characters, and their romance was sweet, tender, and absolutely beautiful. I also loved the exploration of family and friendship. The plot was creative and thought-provoking, and the pacing fit the story well. The settings were vivid and atmospheric, and I enjoyed the infusion of horror. Gwenyth Reitz’s prose was captivating, relatable, emotional, and heartwarming, delivering a hopeful and propulsive story with a spectacular take on ghosts. I highly recommend this brilliant debut!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!
You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker is a heartfelt, romantic, and thoughtful YA debut.
I absolutely adored this one. From the first page, the hilarious, compelling characters hooked me. Reed and Tessa were delightful main characters, and their romance was sweet, tender, and absolutely beautiful. I also loved the exploration of family and friendship. The plot was creative and thought-provoking, and the pacing fit the story well. The settings were vivid and atmospheric, and I enjoyed the infusion of horror. Gwenyth Reitz’s prose was captivating, relatable, emotional, and heartwarming, delivering a hopeful and propulsive story with a spectacular take on ghosts. I highly recommend this brilliant debut!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!
October 16, 2025
"You're Dead to Me, Reed Walker" is a charmingly inventive YA supernatural rom-com with a mystery.
The premise is great. Two rivals Tessa and Reed suddenly find themselves deceased and haunting the abandoned mansion where they passed. Rivals to lovers as they team up to solve their own murder, and keep another from happening all while not being able to touch, or speak to anyone still alive.
I laughed quite a few times. The banter was great. An all around great read.
The premise is great. Two rivals Tessa and Reed suddenly find themselves deceased and haunting the abandoned mansion where they passed. Rivals to lovers as they team up to solve their own murder, and keep another from happening all while not being able to touch, or speak to anyone still alive.
I laughed quite a few times. The banter was great. An all around great read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC of You’re Dead To Me, Reed Walker!! All opinions are my own.
You’re Dead To Me, Reed Walker is a hilarious gut wrenching adventure. This book is a young adult romance book that I absolutely loved!! It was so funny, but constantly surprised me with its emotional moments.
This book follows Tessa and Reed who are high school rivals that turn into ghosts after they died at a party. They’ll have to work with each other in order to figure out what caused their deaths while dealing with ghost abilities and feelings for each other.
I loved how the author wrote the ghost experiences and interactions with humans!! I’ve never read anything like that and it made me curious about other ghosts in this world. While there were many comedic moments, this book dealt with grief in such a real and beautiful way.
You’re Dead To Me, Reed Walker is one of my favorite reads of this year so far, I definitely want to read more from this author!!
You’re Dead To Me, Reed Walker is a hilarious gut wrenching adventure. This book is a young adult romance book that I absolutely loved!! It was so funny, but constantly surprised me with its emotional moments.
This book follows Tessa and Reed who are high school rivals that turn into ghosts after they died at a party. They’ll have to work with each other in order to figure out what caused their deaths while dealing with ghost abilities and feelings for each other.
I loved how the author wrote the ghost experiences and interactions with humans!! I’ve never read anything like that and it made me curious about other ghosts in this world. While there were many comedic moments, this book dealt with grief in such a real and beautiful way.
You’re Dead To Me, Reed Walker is one of my favorite reads of this year so far, I definitely want to read more from this author!!
October 10, 2025
This book was a super cute and fast read, I can't imagine turning into a ghost with my sworn enemy but watching Tessa and Reed fall in love was interesting especially with the idea of a murderer on the loose!
I liked Tessa's character as well as Reed but I'm a bit curious on how although they died and it's sad, they handled it so well? I mean for two teenagers who were murdered they really locked in and found out the mystery! The ending was, interesting and really like has me wondering what happens after we die and step through that "door".
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I liked Tessa's character as well as Reed but I'm a bit curious on how although they died and it's sad, they handled it so well? I mean for two teenagers who were murdered they really locked in and found out the mystery! The ending was, interesting and really like has me wondering what happens after we die and step through that "door".
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the premise of this book so much. It’s a love story, ghost story and mystery all at the same time. The writing style reminded me of Holly Jackson’s in Not Quite Dead Yet. Overall would recommend for anyone looking for a cute love story with a different premise.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews