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A Song in the Dark
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5 copies available
U.S. only
From the author of
Hearts Still Beating
comes a chilling and romantic supernatural novel set in a small town with dark secrets, about a teen girl who falls in love with a ghost.
Every summer for the past twenty years, a kid from Blackridge has disappeared, snatched away and never seen again.
It’s not the ideal town to relocate to, but after a tragic accident kills Jo’s best friend, her mom drags Jo and her siblings to the small, haunted town to start fresh. They move into an old house, and quickly, Jo learns they are not alone. Flickering lights. Radio stations that inexplicably change. A cold, faint breath across her ear....
Then she meets Finn. Finn is mysterious and sweet, and he shares Jo’s passion for music and songwriting. There's just one problem—he's a ghost. And he’s not the only one in the house. There are two others, and more that came before them.
As Jo and Finn grow closer, Jo believes that he and the other spirits are connected to the missing kids whose disappearances have devastated Blackridge. Desperate to hold on to the one bright spot in her dark world, she must unravel the mystery of what happened to them all before she loses Finn forever.
Every summer for the past twenty years, a kid from Blackridge has disappeared, snatched away and never seen again.
It’s not the ideal town to relocate to, but after a tragic accident kills Jo’s best friend, her mom drags Jo and her siblings to the small, haunted town to start fresh. They move into an old house, and quickly, Jo learns they are not alone. Flickering lights. Radio stations that inexplicably change. A cold, faint breath across her ear....
Then she meets Finn. Finn is mysterious and sweet, and he shares Jo’s passion for music and songwriting. There's just one problem—he's a ghost. And he’s not the only one in the house. There are two others, and more that came before them.
As Jo and Finn grow closer, Jo believes that he and the other spirits are connected to the missing kids whose disappearances have devastated Blackridge. Desperate to hold on to the one bright spot in her dark world, she must unravel the mystery of what happened to them all before she loses Finn forever.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 24, 2025
3.5
i love writing about grief. i love reading about it. i'm happy to report that this book portrayed it wonderfully. it checked all the boxes of what i wanted to read. jo's narration felt realistic, characteristic of a teenage girl who has lost more people than someone so young should have (she's just lost her best friend in a car accident, her dad is barely in the picture, her sister is distant, and she has lost herself). she's jaded, cynical, and understandably so. every metaphor hit me in the feels. it's one of those books that makes you wish you'd written them.
it's the paranormal part that fell a bit behind my expectations. another review highlighted this in a much better way than i can articulate, but there were some inconsistencies with the way the ghosts were portrayed and their nature + behavior. i won't get into it now because of spoilers, but there were some headscratchers that kind of took me out from what could have been a really cool concept.
the villain plot and the reveal weren't too impactful. they were just.... eh. at least their reasoning to do what they did was well explained and it fit well with the themes of the book, but villain monologues bore me, and i would've rather seen it be hinted throughout the book instead of having the villain info dump it at the end. the epilogue also felt a bit disjointed? but it can serve as an interesting sequel hook.
overall, i really enjoyed this. the portrayal of grief is the real superstar here.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
i love writing about grief. i love reading about it. i'm happy to report that this book portrayed it wonderfully. it checked all the boxes of what i wanted to read. jo's narration felt realistic, characteristic of a teenage girl who has lost more people than someone so young should have (she's just lost her best friend in a car accident, her dad is barely in the picture, her sister is distant, and she has lost herself). she's jaded, cynical, and understandably so. every metaphor hit me in the feels. it's one of those books that makes you wish you'd written them.
it's the paranormal part that fell a bit behind my expectations. another review highlighted this in a much better way than i can articulate, but there were some inconsistencies with the way the ghosts were portrayed and their nature + behavior. i won't get into it now because of spoilers, but there were some headscratchers that kind of took me out from what could have been a really cool concept.
the villain plot and the reveal weren't too impactful. they were just.... eh. at least their reasoning to do what they did was well explained and it fit well with the themes of the book, but villain monologues bore me, and i would've rather seen it be hinted throughout the book instead of having the villain info dump it at the end. the epilogue also felt a bit disjointed? but it can serve as an interesting sequel hook.
overall, i really enjoyed this. the portrayal of grief is the real superstar here.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
arc-tbr
November 6, 2025
Want to read
November 9, 2025pre-read notes:
ARC received! Paranormal romance and mystery? Say less, this is going to be greattt 🤭🩵
ARC received! Paranormal romance and mystery? Say less, this is going to be greattt 🤭🩵
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Brooke Archer for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader Copy of this book!
If you enjoy A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder mixed with paranormal elements, this book is absolutely for you.
I was fully engrossed from the very beginning. The first ~30% of the book focuses heavily on grief as we follow our FMC and get grounded in the world, the town, and its atmosphere. The worldbuilding was strong, and once the paranormal elements were introduced, everything started clicking into place. We slowly begin to understand why this town is so strange and why so many things feel “off.”
I really loved the paranormal and mystery aspects of this story. One thing I appreciated was how the book gives you enough information to figure out who did it without ever outright stating it too early. As someone who reads a fair amount of mystery, I will say the answer felt fairly straightforward, but I was never 100% certain. It was more of a “this person seems most likely” feeling rather than a guaranteed conclusion, which kept me engaged.
The friendships and romance were another highlight. I did cry a little while reading, and I thought the themes, especially grief, were handled with a lot of care. Seeing how different characters processed loss in their own ways felt very real and meaningful. The romance was especially well done; it truly felt like a friends-to-lovers story, with a lot of tenderness, patience, and natural connection between the characters.
My only very tiny gripe is the epilogue. What was that?! I typically enjoy ghost-focused paranormal stories, and other paranormal elements don’t always work for me—so for my own peace, I’m choosing to pretend the epilogue doesn’t exist haha.
4.75 ☆
Thank you again to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Brooke Archer for the opportunity to read and review this Advance Reader Copy!
If you enjoy A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder mixed with paranormal elements, this book is absolutely for you.
I was fully engrossed from the very beginning. The first ~30% of the book focuses heavily on grief as we follow our FMC and get grounded in the world, the town, and its atmosphere. The worldbuilding was strong, and once the paranormal elements were introduced, everything started clicking into place. We slowly begin to understand why this town is so strange and why so many things feel “off.”
I really loved the paranormal and mystery aspects of this story. One thing I appreciated was how the book gives you enough information to figure out who did it without ever outright stating it too early. As someone who reads a fair amount of mystery, I will say the answer felt fairly straightforward, but I was never 100% certain. It was more of a “this person seems most likely” feeling rather than a guaranteed conclusion, which kept me engaged.
The friendships and romance were another highlight. I did cry a little while reading, and I thought the themes, especially grief, were handled with a lot of care. Seeing how different characters processed loss in their own ways felt very real and meaningful. The romance was especially well done; it truly felt like a friends-to-lovers story, with a lot of tenderness, patience, and natural connection between the characters.
My only very tiny gripe is the epilogue. What was that?! I typically enjoy ghost-focused paranormal stories, and other paranormal elements don’t always work for me—so for my own peace, I’m choosing to pretend the epilogue doesn’t exist haha.
4.75 ☆
Thank you again to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Brooke Archer for the opportunity to read and review this Advance Reader Copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Fair disclosure I haven't read a million paranormal romances, but it's a category on my radar.
I didn't know what to expect upon diving into this book outside of that it would be a love story between the dead and the living. Without spoiling the full truth of that its so much more.
I was captivated by Brooke's writing. She wove the story so beautifully that it was enchanting. I didn't suspect the truth behind what was happening and that is a really hard job to accomplish.
I'm an amateur slueth (definitely not Sherlock) and with most mysteries or love stories, be it a book or TV show, I've received enough hints throughout to have that birds eye view of the story behind the story. This one pleasantly had me guessing until it was revealed in real time.
The journey this takes and its outlook on grief and how we move and learn to live with it is worth every word. I believe this book can reach even the toughest skeptics.
I didn't know what to expect upon diving into this book outside of that it would be a love story between the dead and the living. Without spoiling the full truth of that its so much more.
I was captivated by Brooke's writing. She wove the story so beautifully that it was enchanting. I didn't suspect the truth behind what was happening and that is a really hard job to accomplish.
I'm an amateur slueth (definitely not Sherlock) and with most mysteries or love stories, be it a book or TV show, I've received enough hints throughout to have that birds eye view of the story behind the story. This one pleasantly had me guessing until it was revealed in real time.
The journey this takes and its outlook on grief and how we move and learn to live with it is worth every word. I believe this book can reach even the toughest skeptics.
November 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.
A Song in the Dark is a book I eagerly looked forward to having been a massive fan of Brooke Archer’s Hearts Still Beating. While it’s very different in focus from that book it does further prove that Brooke Archer’s name is going to be well known in the YA space.
Jo is our main character, having moved to a small town, Blackridge, with her family that is on edge all summer waiting for the other shoe to drop. See Blackridge has experienced a kidnapping of a child every summer for the past few years and as a result it acts the opposite of most small towns, early curfews and a careful eye out on kids running around enjoying themselves. Jo doesn’t seem to mind it much given she’s grappling with the searing grief and guilt of losing her best friend in a crash they were both in, feelings that were beautifully written. The paranormal parts of this book were really refreshing as (despite being based on tragic mysteries) they brought some humor and light heartedness to the heavy shroud Jo has around her.
The book goes so much deeper and wider than all this but its marriage of the dark and light was so well done, as was the journey to self realization and growth.
But this is what really excited me - completely out of nowhere - THAT EPILOGUE! I didn’t believe this was at all related to Hearts Still Beating until the very last sentences. My goodness, so unexpected but such an amazing moment. It may be a little unexpected for those who didn’t read that book (and you don’t have to) but for Brooke’s fans this is everything!
A Song in the Dark is a book I eagerly looked forward to having been a massive fan of Brooke Archer’s Hearts Still Beating. While it’s very different in focus from that book it does further prove that Brooke Archer’s name is going to be well known in the YA space.
Jo is our main character, having moved to a small town, Blackridge, with her family that is on edge all summer waiting for the other shoe to drop. See Blackridge has experienced a kidnapping of a child every summer for the past few years and as a result it acts the opposite of most small towns, early curfews and a careful eye out on kids running around enjoying themselves. Jo doesn’t seem to mind it much given she’s grappling with the searing grief and guilt of losing her best friend in a crash they were both in, feelings that were beautifully written. The paranormal parts of this book were really refreshing as (despite being based on tragic mysteries) they brought some humor and light heartedness to the heavy shroud Jo has around her.
The book goes so much deeper and wider than all this but its marriage of the dark and light was so well done, as was the journey to self realization and growth.
But this is what really excited me - completely out of nowhere - THAT EPILOGUE! I didn’t believe this was at all related to Hearts Still Beating until the very last sentences. My goodness, so unexpected but such an amazing moment. It may be a little unexpected for those who didn’t read that book (and you don’t have to) but for Brooke’s fans this is everything!
October 26, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
Spooky mystery story about kids going missing and a ghostly romance that sets up an interesting premise with the missing kids in town and the main character's paranormal experiences, but then the ghost stuff often doesn't really make that much sense, and the ending is disappointing both in the reveal of the villain and the larger story it hints at.
The main character, Jo, has lost her best friend Harper in a car accident, and so her mother decides to take Jo and her younger sister and brother and move to Blackridge, where Jo's aunt Paige lives in an old house, and children disappear every summer from the town. The book sets up an effectively spooky atmosphere with the disappearing kids in town and the old house, along with Jo's past trauma from the accident and the loss of her friend. Jo then comes to realize that there are three ghosts in the house, and she's able to see them and talk to them, while everyone else cannot. She grows closer to Finn, the teenage ghost who's friendly and shares an interest in music with her, and his twin sister happens to be Jo's coworker at the bookstore. But she might eventually lose Finn, which makes her determined to figure out what happened to these ghosts and what's happening to the disappearing kids.
The ghost stuff of course requires some suspension of disbelief, but it also just doesn't really make sense under even a bit of scrutiny. Much is made of how the ghosts have trouble interacting with things in the real world unless they really concentrate, so they can sometimes turn the dial on the radio or move silverware, but can't really reliably interact with every object. But then how are they able to walk everywhere without falling through the floor? How do they sit on couches and beds without worrying about falling through them? They also cannot seem to leave a certain area around Jo's house, but the reason why is never adequately explained, and it seems to be just for plot convenience, so that they can't be present or helpful in certain scenes. I understand that it's all fantastical and made-up, but it still needs to be consistent to some degree.
The ending is also kind of a letdown. The reveal of the villain is not all that surprising, since there's only so many suspects that are introduced in the story, and the villain turns out to be a cartoonishly villainous figure, in complete contrast to how they are presented before then. There's even a secret facility involved, straight out of the crazy villain handbook. The book then goes on in an epilogue to hint at some much larger, international conspiracy, which feels completely out of place after this small-town, intimate story with teenagers. Is the intention that it's a setup for further books? The tone and setting of the epilogue are so completely different from the book that precedes it that it was jarring to read.
I found the setting well done and the premise interesting, but I was let down by some of the nonsensical ghost rules and the ending that is both cartoonishly stereotypical in the villain reveal and also completely jarring in its change in tone in the implications of a much larger plot.
Spooky mystery story about kids going missing and a ghostly romance that sets up an interesting premise with the missing kids in town and the main character's paranormal experiences, but then the ghost stuff often doesn't really make that much sense, and the ending is disappointing both in the reveal of the villain and the larger story it hints at.
The main character, Jo, has lost her best friend Harper in a car accident, and so her mother decides to take Jo and her younger sister and brother and move to Blackridge, where Jo's aunt Paige lives in an old house, and children disappear every summer from the town. The book sets up an effectively spooky atmosphere with the disappearing kids in town and the old house, along with Jo's past trauma from the accident and the loss of her friend. Jo then comes to realize that there are three ghosts in the house, and she's able to see them and talk to them, while everyone else cannot. She grows closer to Finn, the teenage ghost who's friendly and shares an interest in music with her, and his twin sister happens to be Jo's coworker at the bookstore. But she might eventually lose Finn, which makes her determined to figure out what happened to these ghosts and what's happening to the disappearing kids.
The ghost stuff of course requires some suspension of disbelief, but it also just doesn't really make sense under even a bit of scrutiny. Much is made of how the ghosts have trouble interacting with things in the real world unless they really concentrate, so they can sometimes turn the dial on the radio or move silverware, but can't really reliably interact with every object. But then how are they able to walk everywhere without falling through the floor? How do they sit on couches and beds without worrying about falling through them? They also cannot seem to leave a certain area around Jo's house, but the reason why is never adequately explained, and it seems to be just for plot convenience, so that they can't be present or helpful in certain scenes. I understand that it's all fantastical and made-up, but it still needs to be consistent to some degree.
The ending is also kind of a letdown. The reveal of the villain is not all that surprising, since there's only so many suspects that are introduced in the story, and the villain turns out to be a cartoonishly villainous figure, in complete contrast to how they are presented before then. There's even a secret facility involved, straight out of the crazy villain handbook. The book then goes on in an epilogue to hint at some much larger, international conspiracy, which feels completely out of place after this small-town, intimate story with teenagers. Is the intention that it's a setup for further books? The tone and setting of the epilogue are so completely different from the book that precedes it that it was jarring to read.
I found the setting well done and the premise interesting, but I was let down by some of the nonsensical ghost rules and the ending that is both cartoonishly stereotypical in the villain reveal and also completely jarring in its change in tone in the implications of a much larger plot.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted e-arc all opinions are my own.
I'm going to start this one off with mentioning that in the end I did enjoy the book. The first half of the book though was slow. I had a hard time keeping my interest to the pages as it was such a large lead up to what was eventually to happen.
The FMC Jo is hit with tragedy when she loses her best friend, and her mom moves her family back to her hometown to live with their aunt. Jo is a character I could relate to in grief at a young age, separating yourself from others and putting up walls and not wanting to get close to anyone else. If no one is close to you then you can't get hurt right? I liked watching Jo's shift through the story as she slowly opens up and her walls come down.
The cover hints at the paranormal which it does. We have our ghosts living within the Griffin home and one of them is Finn. One of the many kids to go missing in town and Finn was a character I enjoyed. Their friendship blossoms while darkness closes in around not only him but Jo and the others. I love the love he has for music and the connection he makes with the resident musician Jo. I can't touch to much on this area though as it would contain spoilers.
Halfway through is probably when the plot actually picked up for me and then later is when it really picked up for me and became gripping. For a book that falls on a thriller aspect there was nothing that kept me on the edge. The mystery behind the town was simple for me. I actually had the twist and plot end guessed VERY early in the book so once the mystery was revealed and wrapped up I was not shocked. I was actually very underwhelmed. Some aspect didn't make sense to me either as to why it was part of the story that will be hidden behind spoilers for those that want to read about it.
The ending for the book leaves it open to another one planned possibly. I'm not sure what to make of it at this point without reading the next book if there is one. The storyline is left open, questions still exist. Outside of this though the author touched on grief well and really depicted the aspects of true feelings from multiple teenagers who have experienced grief and are expressing it in their own ways. The story itself was enjoyable once it picked up for me.
I'm going to start this one off with mentioning that in the end I did enjoy the book. The first half of the book though was slow. I had a hard time keeping my interest to the pages as it was such a large lead up to what was eventually to happen.
The FMC Jo is hit with tragedy when she loses her best friend, and her mom moves her family back to her hometown to live with their aunt. Jo is a character I could relate to in grief at a young age, separating yourself from others and putting up walls and not wanting to get close to anyone else. If no one is close to you then you can't get hurt right? I liked watching Jo's shift through the story as she slowly opens up and her walls come down.
The cover hints at the paranormal which it does. We have our ghosts living within the Griffin home and one of them is Finn. One of the many kids to go missing in town and Finn was a character I enjoyed. Their friendship blossoms while darkness closes in around not only him but Jo and the others. I love the love he has for music and the connection he makes with the resident musician Jo. I can't touch to much on this area though as it would contain spoilers.
Halfway through is probably when the plot actually picked up for me and then later is when it really picked up for me and became gripping. For a book that falls on a thriller aspect there was nothing that kept me on the edge. The mystery behind the town was simple for me. I actually had the twist and plot end guessed VERY early in the book so once the mystery was revealed and wrapped up I was not shocked. I was actually very underwhelmed. Some aspect didn't make sense to me either as to why it was part of the story that will be hidden behind spoilers for those that want to read about it.
The ending for the book leaves it open to another one planned possibly. I'm not sure what to make of it at this point without reading the next book if there is one. The storyline is left open, questions still exist. Outside of this though the author touched on grief well and really depicted the aspects of true feelings from multiple teenagers who have experienced grief and are expressing it in their own ways. The story itself was enjoyable once it picked up for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A Song in the Dark is a YA paranormal mystery thriller with a touch of romance.
After a tragic accident kills Jo's best friend, her mom moves her and her siblings to the small town of Blackridge. But Blackridge is not an ordinary town. Every summer for the past twenty years, a child goes missing and is never seen again. In addition, Jo's starting to think that the house they moved into is haunted. Lights flicker. The radio stations inexplicably change. Spoons go missing. A chill running up her spine.
Jo's suspicions are confirmed when she meets Finn, the ghost of a teenage boy living in her house. And he's not alone. There are two other ghosts there as well, and more that have come before them. As Jo and Finn spend time together, she begins to suspect he and the other ghosts are connected to the missing kids who have gone missing from Blackridge. Jo must scramble to find the connection and figure out who kidnapped Blackridge's children, before it's too late.
I enjoyed this book overall. The combination of the mystery of the disappearing children and paranormal thriller elements worked well together. The small-town setting coupled with the old Victorian house Jo's family lives in, sets a creepy tone for the story and gives great paranormal vibes.
Aside from the murder mystery and ghost aspects, Jo is dealing with the loss of her best friend and trying to learn how to let someone in again. Brooke Archer does a good job of exploring this theme of grief and grieving. We see Jo try different ways to process the tragedy she is dealing with because it affects her in many ways.
While I did enjoy the book overall, I was a little disappointed with the mystery aspect. Halfway through the book I had figured out who had kidnapped the children, why they did it, and where they were keeping them. I feel like there weren't enough red herrings to point readers in a different direction, and it became obvious who the culprit was way before Jo and Finn figure it out. In addition, this book is partially being marketed as a romance, but since Finn is a ghost the romance isn't a very strong one. They do develop feelings for each other, but it has a different feel to it than a normal romance, because Finn is a ghost so they can't truly be together. Lastly, the epilogue felt completely out of left field. I have read other reviewers say it creates a connection to Archer's previous book. However, as someone who has not read that book, it just felt like it didn't fit.
Not a bad book, but it could have been stronger. I will say though that before the epilogue, it does wrap up nicely.
After a tragic accident kills Jo's best friend, her mom moves her and her siblings to the small town of Blackridge. But Blackridge is not an ordinary town. Every summer for the past twenty years, a child goes missing and is never seen again. In addition, Jo's starting to think that the house they moved into is haunted. Lights flicker. The radio stations inexplicably change. Spoons go missing. A chill running up her spine.
Jo's suspicions are confirmed when she meets Finn, the ghost of a teenage boy living in her house. And he's not alone. There are two other ghosts there as well, and more that have come before them. As Jo and Finn spend time together, she begins to suspect he and the other ghosts are connected to the missing kids who have gone missing from Blackridge. Jo must scramble to find the connection and figure out who kidnapped Blackridge's children, before it's too late.
I enjoyed this book overall. The combination of the mystery of the disappearing children and paranormal thriller elements worked well together. The small-town setting coupled with the old Victorian house Jo's family lives in, sets a creepy tone for the story and gives great paranormal vibes.
Aside from the murder mystery and ghost aspects, Jo is dealing with the loss of her best friend and trying to learn how to let someone in again. Brooke Archer does a good job of exploring this theme of grief and grieving. We see Jo try different ways to process the tragedy she is dealing with because it affects her in many ways.
While I did enjoy the book overall, I was a little disappointed with the mystery aspect. Halfway through the book I had figured out who had kidnapped the children, why they did it, and where they were keeping them. I feel like there weren't enough red herrings to point readers in a different direction, and it became obvious who the culprit was way before Jo and Finn figure it out. In addition, this book is partially being marketed as a romance, but since Finn is a ghost the romance isn't a very strong one. They do develop feelings for each other, but it has a different feel to it than a normal romance, because Finn is a ghost so they can't truly be together. Lastly, the epilogue felt completely out of left field. I have read other reviewers say it creates a connection to Archer's previous book. However, as someone who has not read that book, it just felt like it didn't fit.
Not a bad book, but it could have been stronger. I will say though that before the epilogue, it does wrap up nicely.
October 28, 2025
I won a free copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway. Here is my honest review:
'A Song In the Dark' is an interesting mix of supernatural/paranormal YA and 'murder' mystery with an obvious conclusion.
Jo is back in the small town her mother grew up in after having moved there from the city. They're looking for a new start after Jo and her best friend Harper got into a car accident that only she survived. The new town and living with their aunt are supposed to help her out of the shell she's been in since that day. Maybe, she'll even start making music again.
This isn't just any small town, though. Every summer for years, a kid has gone missing - just vanished, poof! - as if they never existed. And their house isn't normal either. It's haunted! Not by your average ghosts, but by the spirits of some of those missing kids.
As I mentioned, there's a bit of a 'mystery' here, but it's extremely obvious what was behind it all. It was heavily foreshadowed. There were so many hints. There was really only one plot twist that got me to raise an eyebrow - everything else was predictable.
As a ghost or mystery story, this book is just ok. Where this truly shines is in its depiction of grief, blame, survivor's guilt, and learning to move on and live life again after tragedy. There were many realistic examples of love destroying people - even the villain of this story fits well into this theme.
3.5 because, even though I'd never reread it, I'm glad I gave it a chance this time. Also, kudos for a YA novel with a cute and healthy romantic relationship - even if that wasn't the focus. Also, supportive family dynamics that are also believable for the win.
'A Song In the Dark' is an interesting mix of supernatural/paranormal YA and 'murder' mystery with an obvious conclusion.
Jo is back in the small town her mother grew up in after having moved there from the city. They're looking for a new start after Jo and her best friend Harper got into a car accident that only she survived. The new town and living with their aunt are supposed to help her out of the shell she's been in since that day. Maybe, she'll even start making music again.
This isn't just any small town, though. Every summer for years, a kid has gone missing - just vanished, poof! - as if they never existed. And their house isn't normal either. It's haunted! Not by your average ghosts, but by the spirits of some of those missing kids.
As I mentioned, there's a bit of a 'mystery' here, but it's extremely obvious what was behind it all. It was heavily foreshadowed. There were so many hints. There was really only one plot twist that got me to raise an eyebrow - everything else was predictable.
As a ghost or mystery story, this book is just ok. Where this truly shines is in its depiction of grief, blame, survivor's guilt, and learning to move on and live life again after tragedy. There were many realistic examples of love destroying people - even the villain of this story fits well into this theme.
3.5 because, even though I'd never reread it, I'm glad I gave it a chance this time. Also, kudos for a YA novel with a cute and healthy romantic relationship - even if that wasn't the focus. Also, supportive family dynamics that are also believable for the win.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I loved this book. This is the book I wanted to tell everyone about and get people to read. It is well-written and atmospheric and a great exploration of grief.
And then we had the epilogue. The epilogue is so jarring. It kind of insults the rest of the book. I highly encourage the editor and author to nix it before publication. As far as I can tell (not having read her other work), I think it is supposed to link this book to the author's previous work. However, there is nothing in the promotion of this book that says it is related to the previous work so for those of us who haven't read it, it is not a great addition. It did not make me want to read the previous work. I feel like those who have read the previous book could make the connections the author wanted them to make without it and the book would be better for it. Also, I would be more interested in reading the previous work if I read people talking about how excited they were about that connection without it being an incongruous addition to this otherwise amazing book.
Or I could be wrong and it could be a set-up for a sequel which still doesn't make me happy.
UGH. I talked myself into rating this three stars instead but because of this new verification system Goodreads is not letting me change my rating. UGH.
And then we had the epilogue. The epilogue is so jarring. It kind of insults the rest of the book. I highly encourage the editor and author to nix it before publication. As far as I can tell (not having read her other work), I think it is supposed to link this book to the author's previous work. However, there is nothing in the promotion of this book that says it is related to the previous work so for those of us who haven't read it, it is not a great addition. It did not make me want to read the previous work. I feel like those who have read the previous book could make the connections the author wanted them to make without it and the book would be better for it. Also, I would be more interested in reading the previous work if I read people talking about how excited they were about that connection without it being an incongruous addition to this otherwise amazing book.
Or I could be wrong and it could be a set-up for a sequel which still doesn't make me happy.
UGH. I talked myself into rating this three stars instead but because of this new verification system Goodreads is not letting me change my rating. UGH.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
First of all, the only thing I can think of is "Wow!" I was literally standing in the middle of my living room screaming "No! "No way!" This book is hands down one of my favorites. I started this book yesterday and finished it in a day.
I was crying, screaming and then telling my boyfriend everything that was happening and he was just along for the ride haha! Oops!!
Anyway, I couldn't put this book down.
I honestly didn't know what to expect when diving into this book, except that it would be a love story between the dead and the living. The way Brooke Archer wrote about grief was so beautiful yet haunting that I couldn't put this book down. I am going to say that a lot but it was just that good! The progression of Finn and Jo's relationship was so sweet and adorable! I was rooting for them! Margot reminded me of me from my childhood when I was fifteen. And the banter between Margot and Jo was so sweet yet funny that I could relate with them pretty well.
I didn't expect the ending, That Epilogue? WOW!!
Brooke Archer created such a masterpiece that makes me want to read more of her books.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot! If you love paranormal, mystery, subtle romance, and talks of grief, this book is for you!
First of all, the only thing I can think of is "Wow!" I was literally standing in the middle of my living room screaming "No! "No way!" This book is hands down one of my favorites. I started this book yesterday and finished it in a day.
I was crying, screaming and then telling my boyfriend everything that was happening and he was just along for the ride haha! Oops!!
Anyway, I couldn't put this book down.
I honestly didn't know what to expect when diving into this book, except that it would be a love story between the dead and the living. The way Brooke Archer wrote about grief was so beautiful yet haunting that I couldn't put this book down. I am going to say that a lot but it was just that good! The progression of Finn and Jo's relationship was so sweet and adorable! I was rooting for them! Margot reminded me of me from my childhood when I was fifteen. And the banter between Margot and Jo was so sweet yet funny that I could relate with them pretty well.
I didn't expect the ending, That Epilogue? WOW!!
Brooke Archer created such a masterpiece that makes me want to read more of her books.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot! If you love paranormal, mystery, subtle romance, and talks of grief, this book is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but I can tell you I was surprised by what I got. I really enjoyed this book!
The characters were developed well, and I loved the themes of forgiveness of others and yourself. The plot was interesting, although I found the supernatural elements to be lacking in terms of proper worldbuilding and description. I still am not quite sure how some of the plot connects, and some other plot points felt like they existed purely out of necessity or convenience rather than springing up naturally. Plus, some of the characters just... stop showing up in the book kind of abruptly. I think there could have been some better wrap-up.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by how clean this book is! There were some curse words, but not too many, and there was almost no sexual content outside of a brief kiss.
Overall, I had a really good time reading this book, and I did not want to put it down.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for giving me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
The characters were developed well, and I loved the themes of forgiveness of others and yourself. The plot was interesting, although I found the supernatural elements to be lacking in terms of proper worldbuilding and description. I still am not quite sure how some of the plot connects, and some other plot points felt like they existed purely out of necessity or convenience rather than springing up naturally. Plus, some of the characters just... stop showing up in the book kind of abruptly. I think there could have been some better wrap-up.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by how clean this book is! There were some curse words, but not too many, and there was almost no sexual content outside of a brief kiss.
Overall, I had a really good time reading this book, and I did not want to put it down.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for giving me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
[arc review]
Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
A Song in the Dark releases April 14, 2026
“Hope is more dangerous than any grief. Grief may never go away, but it softens. Hope digs its claws in, down to the bone, and never lets go.”
In the midst of moving to Blackridge and grieving the loss of her best friend, Joanna is doing her best to survive, even if that means isolating herself from her family and the things she once loved.
But then shortly after settling into their new home, with all of its oddities and creaky floors, Joanna stumbles across the ghosts of three Blackridge kids who’ve been missing for years.
This paranormal romance was written well. I loved the bond Joanna formed with the other characters, and how she overcame the fear of opening her heart again to love. For the most part, I was satisfied with the outcome, but would’ve loved just a bit more of Joanna and Finn together after the whole Blackridge mystery was solved.
Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
A Song in the Dark releases April 14, 2026
“Hope is more dangerous than any grief. Grief may never go away, but it softens. Hope digs its claws in, down to the bone, and never lets go.”
In the midst of moving to Blackridge and grieving the loss of her best friend, Joanna is doing her best to survive, even if that means isolating herself from her family and the things she once loved.
But then shortly after settling into their new home, with all of its oddities and creaky floors, Joanna stumbles across the ghosts of three Blackridge kids who’ve been missing for years.
This paranormal romance was written well. I loved the bond Joanna formed with the other characters, and how she overcame the fear of opening her heart again to love. For the most part, I was satisfied with the outcome, but would’ve loved just a bit more of Joanna and Finn together after the whole Blackridge mystery was solved.
January 17, 2026
I really, REALLY wanted to like this. But my god it was just so…boring. It was definitely more of a contemporary ghost story as opposed to the thriller I thought it would be and maybe that’s on me, but I just really wanted more from this.
Finn was a great character and what ended up being The Thing was intriguing enough I guess, but I clocked who was doing it literally the second they were introduced and the epilogue completely ruined any two stars I might’ve given this.
As I said, it was just simply a boring story that was super drawn out for no reason and honestly I truly hated that everything the ghosts said was italicized. It was annoying AF. Again, a me problem potentially, but don’t go into this thinking it’s creepy or thrilling. It’s just about grief and solving a town mystery, which is fine, but not what it’s marketed as.
Finn was a great character and what ended up being The Thing was intriguing enough I guess, but I clocked who was doing it literally the second they were introduced and the epilogue completely ruined any two stars I might’ve given this.
As I said, it was just simply a boring story that was super drawn out for no reason and honestly I truly hated that everything the ghosts said was italicized. It was annoying AF. Again, a me problem potentially, but don’t go into this thinking it’s creepy or thrilling. It’s just about grief and solving a town mystery, which is fine, but not what it’s marketed as.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Due to a tragedy that almost took Jo's life, she and her family move to a new town, old house. It turns out, for the last twenty years people have been taken. It seems the ghosts of some of the kids who are missing are in Jo's house and she can hear them, one of them asking Jo to find her. Jo finds out the ghosts only have three years from when they die until they disappear, (die forever).
My favorite parts of the book is when Jo "meets" Finn. They are both surprised she can see him because he's one of the ghosts. She becomes accustomed to him being around and hanging out, especially when she realizes she can call his name and he appears!
I definitely recommend this book to those who love paranormal mystery/thriller romances. Easy five star for me!
I was given the opportunity to read this by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
My favorite parts of the book is when Jo "meets" Finn. They are both surprised she can see him because he's one of the ghosts. She becomes accustomed to him being around and hanging out, especially when she realizes she can call his name and he appears!
I definitely recommend this book to those who love paranormal mystery/thriller romances. Easy five star for me!
I was given the opportunity to read this by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2026
This brought me right back to the 2010s. I used to devour any and all paranormal romance I could get my hands on, and I will always have heart eyes for YA paranormal-romance stories.
The mystery of the missing kids was very interesting, the characters felt sharp and real. I loved Jo’s relationship with her family and her newfound friendships, both human and supernatural. This story focuses heavily on grief and I related to it hard.
I think the ending will be conflicting to people. I liked it, but the epilogue caught me off guard. I’m a little torn between liking the twist, and thinking it was too abrupt and confusing to throw in there at the end.
4 stars. A SONG IN THE DARK by Brooke Archer is available April 14. Thank you to @penguinteenca for the ARC! 👻
The mystery of the missing kids was very interesting, the characters felt sharp and real. I loved Jo’s relationship with her family and her newfound friendships, both human and supernatural. This story focuses heavily on grief and I related to it hard.
I think the ending will be conflicting to people. I liked it, but the epilogue caught me off guard. I’m a little torn between liking the twist, and thinking it was too abrupt and confusing to throw in there at the end.
4 stars. A SONG IN THE DARK by Brooke Archer is available April 14. Thank you to @penguinteenca for the ARC! 👻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2026
ARC 5/5
This haunting mystery was such a cozy read. I loved the YA and subtle romance through this novel. The looks. The almost touches. The yearning!! It is exactly what I hoped it would be.
The banter and conversations between the girls, sisters, and two main love interests were so fun. Behind the dark and sadder theme of the story, they brought a lightness that touched your heart. I adored Finn and Jo. They were light, and sweet, and hopeful, yet doomed.
“He looks down at our hands, hands that might have touched in another love but will never meet in this one.”
“I wish I’d met you when you were real, Finn. “
“Me too.”
YUP. Ima eat this trope up every time. No matter how much it hurts.
This haunting mystery was such a cozy read. I loved the YA and subtle romance through this novel. The looks. The almost touches. The yearning!! It is exactly what I hoped it would be.
The banter and conversations between the girls, sisters, and two main love interests were so fun. Behind the dark and sadder theme of the story, they brought a lightness that touched your heart. I adored Finn and Jo. They were light, and sweet, and hopeful, yet doomed.
“He looks down at our hands, hands that might have touched in another love but will never meet in this one.”
“I wish I’d met you when you were real, Finn. “
“Me too.”
YUP. Ima eat this trope up every time. No matter how much it hurts.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, and my review contains my honest thoughts.
A Song in the Dark truly is unlike any other book I’ve ever read. The author’s creativity in crafting this story is such a breath of fresh air. My heart broke several times throughout the read, and the whole time I had such a sad sense of knowing what the full truth would turn out to be. It really brings light to the fact that children go missing far too often (a fact I can’t stand), but also shows that parents never give up despite all odds. I honestly cannot believe how much this book tugged at my heart strings. I rarely cry because of a book… but dare I say this one truly broke me.
Brooke Archer created a masterpiece. I absolutely look forward to reading more by her in the future.
A Song in the Dark truly is unlike any other book I’ve ever read. The author’s creativity in crafting this story is such a breath of fresh air. My heart broke several times throughout the read, and the whole time I had such a sad sense of knowing what the full truth would turn out to be. It really brings light to the fact that children go missing far too often (a fact I can’t stand), but also shows that parents never give up despite all odds. I honestly cannot believe how much this book tugged at my heart strings. I rarely cry because of a book… but dare I say this one truly broke me.
Brooke Archer created a masterpiece. I absolutely look forward to reading more by her in the future.
March 9, 2026
4.3 stars!!
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Brooke Archer and Netgalley for the ARC!
This had me hooked the moment I started it and I could not let go omg
It was a weird mix of contemporary and a slightly horrific ghost story? All I know is it still freaked me out at the end, which i’ll get to
The storyline flowed nicely and the characters were all pretty interesting, i loved the banter and jokes between the Jo and the ghosts, and the romance honestly was really really cute
It had a lot to do with grief, which I thought was depicted well but could get a bit repetitive but I understand why
I genuinely just had a really fun time reading this tbh
but the ending??? was a bit weird and freaky and idk i don’t like it but overall it was good!!
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Brooke Archer and Netgalley for the ARC!
This had me hooked the moment I started it and I could not let go omg
It was a weird mix of contemporary and a slightly horrific ghost story? All I know is it still freaked me out at the end, which i’ll get to
The storyline flowed nicely and the characters were all pretty interesting, i loved the banter and jokes between the Jo and the ghosts, and the romance honestly was really really cute
It had a lot to do with grief, which I thought was depicted well but could get a bit repetitive but I understand why
I genuinely just had a really fun time reading this tbh
but the ending??? was a bit weird and freaky and idk i don’t like it but overall it was good!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First and foremost, I received an eARC from NetGalley.
A Song in the Dark is a lot darker than what I expected via the blurb. It’s shockingly creepy and may have you second guessing who people are. If you are a person with children reading this book, take caution as some of the subject matter may rattle you.
A Song in the Dark is a lot darker than what I expected via the blurb. It’s shockingly creepy and may have you second guessing who people are. If you are a person with children reading this book, take caution as some of the subject matter may rattle you.
March 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an early copy. 3.5⭐️ I liked this.. But I didn’t love it. I love a good ghost in a book, but the pacing of this was really slow to me. This didn’t grip me like I was hoping and I didn’t find myself loving the characters. Not a bad book.. Just didn’t really work for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
oh be still my fucking heart I’m gonna cry
This was so heartbreakingly heart wrenchingly beautiful I just
I can’t
Jo, Aisha, Sloane, Margot, FINN 😭
The way I fell in love with these characters. I SPED through this in two sittings. TWO. this was such a beautiful experience.
This was so heartbreakingly heart wrenchingly beautiful I just
I can’t
Jo, Aisha, Sloane, Margot, FINN 😭
The way I fell in love with these characters. I SPED through this in two sittings. TWO. this was such a beautiful experience.
February 17, 2026
3.5⭐️
Thank you penguin teen Canada for an ARC of this book. I loved the writing as well as the characters. I thought the mystery element was engaging and I couldn’t put the book down. Unfortunately I thought the romance element was underdeveloped but overall a fun, emotional, spooky read.
Thank you penguin teen Canada for an ARC of this book. I loved the writing as well as the characters. I thought the mystery element was engaging and I couldn’t put the book down. Unfortunately I thought the romance element was underdeveloped but overall a fun, emotional, spooky read.
March 22, 2026
review pending
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I thought this was a fantastic YA paranormal thriller. I called the bad guy pretty quick but I did not see a set up for a book 2 coming. That was unexpected. I will be on the look out for that.
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