Halloween Town

Halloween Town #2

by Joss Wood

It's always spooky season here…The week before her wedding, Poppy McMaster bolted—in her dress, bouquet still in hand—straight back to her grandparents’ haunted inn in Halloween Town. Only one the inn has already been sold… to Thom Sheffield, her ex-fiancé’s brooding, scandal-shadowed older brother. With the town overrun by its month-long Halloween festival (complete with pumpkin contests, ghost tours, and a zombie marching band), Poppy has nowhere to go and no choice but to share space with Thom.

But as they renovate the inn—and dodge mischievous ghosts who specialize in sabotaging almost-kisses—sparks ignite. Between the Halloween festival, meddling ghosts and some soul seeking, Poppy and Thom discover that love might just be the scariest (and most extraordinary) thing of all…

Genres: Romance, Autumn, Halloween, Small Town Romance, Fiction

351 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2026

About the author

Joss Wood loves books and travelling— especially to the wild places of Southern Africa and, well, anywhere.

She’s a wife, a mom to two teenagers, and is bossed around by two cats and a Great Dane X the size of a baby cow. After a career in local economic development, she now writes full time.


Be sure to follow Joss on BookBub for the latest on my releases https://www.bookbub.com/profile/joss-...

Reviews

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the first book in the series, I was excited to return to Halloween Town, and honestly, I think I enjoyed this one a bit more... at least for most of it.

Poppy is supposed to be walking down the aisle, but thanks to a little encouragement from two mischievous ghosts (yes, really!), she decides to trust her instincts, climb out of a bathroom window in her wedding dress and run. Naturally, she heads back to Halloween Town and the inn she always considered home, only to discover that her family has sold it without telling her. Even more surprising? The new owner is Thom, her childhood hero, the boy who abruptly left town years ago... and, to make things even more complicated, the stepbrother of the man she just left at the altar.

I really enjoyed Poppy and Thom's relationship. Their shared history gave their romance a solid foundation, and I loved watching Poppy slowly break free from the expectations everyone else had placed on her. She really starts finding herself throughout the story, and I found that journey just as enjoyable as the romance itself.

It was also wonderful returning to Halloween Town. The quirky ghosts, lovable townsfolk, cozy autumn atmosphere, Halloween decorations and seasonal festivities once again made this such a fun place to visit. It's one of those fictional towns I'd happily spend a few days in.

The romance itself was sweet, steamy and easy to read, making this a perfect cozy autumn romance.

Unfortunately, just like in the first book, the ending relied on a miscommunication and third-act breakup that felt completely avoidable. These are grown adults, yet instead of having one honest conversation, they immediately jump to conclusions. It was frustrating because I had been enjoying the story so much up until that point, and the unnecessary drama took away from what could have been an even stronger ending.

Overall, I still had a great time with this book. I loved the setting, enjoyed Poppy and Thom together more than the first couple, and appreciated watching Poppy finally become her own person. Despite my frustration with the ending, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what Halloween Town has in store next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me at 41%. The premise sounded like it could have been my kind of thing. Small town romance with paranormal elements is my cup of tea, but this one just fell quite flat.

There were a few things I struggled with in the story, but the main thing was the focus on women’s bodies. How they should be slim, large breasted perfect figures, and this was mentioned a lot by the time I DNFed. It also didn’t sit right with me that the FMC was very judgy with what other women wear (“could her dress be any shorter or tighter?”) what happened to women uplifting eachother? In understand that she was feeling threatened by this other lady, but those kind of thoughts don’t scream feminist to me.

The ghost element of the story was interesting, and I would have liked more of a focus on that and her friendships with the towns people/ spooky vibes.

Thanks to the publisher for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Adri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love Halloween Town by Joss Wood, but it felt like it was trying to be too many things at once. While the spooky town setting and ghosts were a fun concept, the execution fell flat.
The book suffers from a maturity gap. The constant miscommunication and juvenile back-and-forth between Poppy and Tom felt very high school. They were never on the same page, and if you dialed back the spice, this could easily pass as a YA romance. Because of that childish setup, the spicy scenes unfortunately just gave me a massive ick. To top it off, the ghost, Ruby, was too self-absorbed and quite annoying.
It’s a cute idea, but the conflicting tone just didn't work for me.

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween Town, a cozy, small town, fall romance

FMC Poppy flees back to her beloved town of Solstice Springs, after pulling a runaway bride stunt at her wedding. She spent summers as a child in Solstice Springs at her grandparents Inn, Solstice Deep and hopes to find herself again by staying there. Unexpectedly, she walks into the Inn and finds none other than Thom Sheffield, who apparently now owns and is renovating the Inn. Thom and Poppy were best friends up until Poppy was a teen, then Thom ran out of her life and she hadn't seen him since. He also happens to be the brother of the man she just ran out on. With a lot of catching up to do, and strange interference by some possible ghosts, Poppy and Thom find themselves drawn back together.

I love the town of Solstice Springs, and its year round Halloween theme. I think it would be such a fun place to visit, with a festive feeling no matter the season. I think Poppy fleeing her wedding was one of the best decisions she had made in what sounds like a few years. With extremely high expectations from her family, she had been simply going through the motions of what would make them happy. She finally got the nudge she needed to take her life in her own hands, even if it was from an unexpected, not sure if they were real, source.

I enjoyed all the people in Solstice Springs, as well as the paranormal aspect. Being able to come "home" and find her true passion again, Poppy starts to really thrive. Thom is in a similar situation, having left the corporate world to follow his passion. Felony, Thom's dog, is hilarious! I love how opinionated he is. Luna is also a fun character, part of the town's supposed coven, and all about making every aspect of Solstice Springs Halloween themed.

This is such a cozy read, I enjoyed getting into the fall spirit!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and One More Chapter for a copy of this book!

Some fav quotes:
"Solstice Deep, her grandparents’ bluff-top, Victorian inn on the edge of the small town of Solstice Springs, was where she most wanted to be. There, where the Berkshires loomed, and the lake glittered…"

"Blackweather Green, the large park running alongside the lake, would already be transformed in preparation for the town’s biggest festival, a month-long affair celebrating everything Halloween, culminating in the Bonfire of the Bewitched on Halloween night."

"Despite being across the road, the scent of fresh coffee and warm pie drifting out of Spirited Grounds hit her..."

"She was, she supposed, ghost-curious. Willing to consider the possibility of the paranormal..."

"Felony, his three-year-old golden retriever, looking like he had absolutely no fucks to give, gave him a “what do you want now?” glare."

"She was wearing too-big clothes, had a pounding headache, and her childhood idol was, inconveniently, a sexy, hot, ripped, sullen man. "

" She tasted mysterious, of magic and moonbeams."

[Melanie’s reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

“𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒖𝒔. 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒐.”

For a fun and light read this book has some real depth. I just love how this author empowers her female characters and in this she takes runaway bride Poppy fleeing her wedding to Benji, even writing his name makes me gag, and going back to her grandparents inn where she always felt safe.

Bit of a shock to get there and discover Benji's brother and her oldest best friend Thom now owns it and doesn't want her there.

As I hoped there were more ghostly hijinks and oh dear Ruby had a lesson of her own to learn from watching Poppy. Luna is still one crazy lady controlling everything Halloween and it was so nice to be back in Solstice Springs. Watching Thom tv may be a delight but the real star of the show was watching Poppy transform from parent/people pleaser to someone who realised she has worth just as she is.

[BookishKB]

🎃🧡 Halloween Town 🧡🎃

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Small Town
• Runaway Bride
• Fall Romance
• Cozy Autumn
_ _ __

📅 Pub Date: August 13, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Beth England · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I loved being back in Solstice Springs. The second book in the Halloween Town series follows Poppy, who runs away the morning of her wedding back to her childhood home. Except, Thom, her childhood best friend, has purchased the house and is renovating it. The two reconnect and it goes from there…

Thom Thom Thom. What a green flag guy. I adored him. And Poppy was so great. She was smart, kind and relatable. I loved seeing more of her friendship with Wren throughout this book, and her story of self-development. Of finding herself and her confidence. And, of course, I adored Thom and Poppy together. Childhood friends to lovers might just become one of my favourite tropes.

Of course we had our meddling ghosts, what else would you expect from a Halloween-obsessed town?! They really add some lighthearted fun to these books. I also liked the added depth of ghost Ruby’s story in this book. I adored our cute doggo Felony. His attitude killed me, and his adoration of Poppy was everything.

If you’re looking for a small town, cosy, Halloween read then this is for you. I’m so looking forward to the next book!

[Missyreadsromantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing Summerween, I couldn’t wait to return to Solstice Springs and Halloween Town leapfrogged the rest of my TBR.

On the day of her wedding, Poppy gets an eleventh-hour nudge from our favorite meddling ghosts and flees to the last place she felt like herself: her late grandparents’ inn in H-Town. Turns out it’s no longer owned by her family; the inn was sold to and is being restored by her childhood friend/ex-fiancee’s estranged brother Thom.

Halloween Town was everything I loved about the first book, with a little less of the emotional heaviness. Poppy and Thom both had their emotional hills to climb, but it felt more in line with your average romcom. (Which I appreciated!) The town and its residents were still charmingly quirky. The ghosts, meddlesome. The whole package, a warm, Halloweeny hug.

Now that I’ve devoured these first two books, I’m sad I’ll have to wait until next year for the thirddd.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Collins UK & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion. I was really excited for this one with the Runaway bride trope and also because I really enjoyed book one Summerween. I definitely loved being back in Halloween town and with all the towns people of solstice Springs, especially getting to meet the new ghosts. They were such a special part of Poppy’s story and I really liked that.

But unfortunately for me, Thom and Poppy just fell a little flat. I feel like they had a lot of miscommunication which made it feel a little unrealistic for me. Thom at times felt too pushy with her, and didn’t give her enough time to work through her own feelings about everything that happened, it kind of just felt like he was interested in his timeline instead and what/when he wanted. I was happy to see he came around in the end, I just wish throughout the story he had given her more grace and support to heal.

This series is a fun and light small town romance, especially for those of us who love all things fall and Halloween!

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ✨

Review of Advance Copy Received from NetGalley

The ghosts were great, but the farting dog was the real horror

There was so much to love about this story…but I have to say that this dog was actually the funniest thing.

I was so not expecting my favorite character to be a dog named Felony. Who's comedic timing was to get an attitude and pass gas when he didn’t get his way, actually the funniest thing to read.

Continuing on! I loved this book so much, what a great representation of learning to be yourself and accepting who you are as a person. We live in a society that encourages aesthetics over creativity and this was a great reminder to step out of the mold and live your life.

I will say, following all the different ghosts was hard at times. But, I highly encourage you to read this festive, but not too ✨woo-woo✨ story. I hope you fall in love with it just as much as I did.

Tropes
~ Found Family
~ Grumpy x Sunshine
~ Small Town

A special thank you to Joss Wood, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Mela]

When I was offered this arc, it was a bit out of my preferences because I wasn’t sure how I was going to like the brother’s ex trope, but I still wanted to give it a go. Unfortunately this was a dnf at 40%. My biggest issue wasn’t even the trope itself even if i still don’t like her getting with her ex’s brother. My biggest problem was the language and Thom’s povs. He just talked about her body the entire time and honestly their connection didn’t feel like a genuine love connection. The characters also fell flat. I did enjoy the ghosts and the atmosphere of the town, but due to their little space in this book I couldn’t make myself continue with the story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessa Vetrano (jess.reads.lit) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry I’m DNFing at 35% 😢 I wanted to love this! It’s just not it for me. I didn’t love Thom’s POV. Truly, why is he so obsessed with her body?? And not in a good way in my opinion. It was odd to me. I love the idea of this book but it missed the mark for me.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

For her entire life, Poppy McMaster has tried to please her family, but always felt like she fell short and was never “enough” for them. She always found solace with her grandparents at their Inn called Solstice Deep in Solstice Springs aka Halloween Town and with her friends Wren, Hayes, and the Sheffield brothers, Benji and especially Thom, who always acted as her protector. But when she was seventeen and Thom as twenty, he suddenly turned his back on her with no explanation and kept his distance. Heartbroken, she figures that like her family, she wasn’t enough for him either. For the next few years, she tries to find her way, but it isn’t until she gets engaged to Benji Sheffield that she finally feels accepted by her family, an engagement that she has doubts about, but to please her family, she pushes those feelings aside. But on her wedding day, she is confronted by the Halloween Town ghosts and she bolts. She returns to Solstice Deep, a place she always felt safe and happy, a place she believes her father now owns since her grandfather passed away. But she is in for a huge surprise…

After his father passed away, Thom Sheffield became the CEO of Sheffield Securities and was very successful, but things began to fall apart when his younger stepbrother Benji had an affair with Thom’s fiancée. Thom broke up with his fiancée and then cut ties with Benji and tried to move on. But Benji wasn’t done trying to destroy Thom, he fabricated evidence of embezzlement and had Thom fired as CEO. Thom escaped to Solstice Deep and stayed with Grandpa McMaster, while there he fights back against Benji and the board of Sheffield Securities, proves that he was wronged and wins big against the company. He then buys the inn with promise that Grandpa M could stay there for the rest of his life. Now that Grandpa M has passed, Thom has decided to renovate the inn and run it, while running his own consulting business. He is in the process of remodeling when he is surprised by the arrival of Poppy in her wedding gown, demanding to know why he was in her Grandparent’s Inn. Poppy is one of Thom’s greatest regrets, she is the girl he thought of as a sister until the summer she turned seventeen and he saw her for the woman that she would become and had feelings for her that he at twenty deemed inappropriate and fled, knowing that he hurt her, but couldn’t tell her why. Later when he thought that maybe they could have a relationship, he learned that she was engaged to Benji and took it as a sign that they were never meant to be, but what if he was wrong?

I loved the first book in this series and was really excited for this book, so I jumped at the chance to return to Halloween Town. Poppy and Thom were both in the first book, so readers got to learn a little bit about them before their story even began. I really loved catching up with Wren and Dane, as well as Luna, Hayes, Hayden and of course the ghosts of Solstice Springs, while getting to know Poppy and Thom better. I loved Thom, he is your typical grumpy hero who tries to hide his heart of gold. He is also trying to find his worth and wants to be chosen for himself and not what he can do for others. Poppy is also trying to find herself and wonders about her own self-worth. I liked this story, but at times it felt like there was contrived drama just for the sake of more drama and it was a bit formulaic. Overall, it was a fun read with some spice, a few ghosts, great secondary characters and ultimately a happy ending. If you are looking for a second chance type romance, set in a small town with a splash of supernatural, you should read this book! It is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second a ghost shows up in your bridal suite and tells you you're making a mistake, I feel like we're already past the point where anybody should be pretending this wedding is a good idea.

That's how Halloween Town opens, and honestly, I respected Poppy's decision-making process from the jump. If I'm standing in a wedding dress, questioning every life choice I've ever made, and a supernatural entity materializes in my mirror like an emotionally supportive horror movie character? I'm listening.

In a shocking twist, I actually read Summerween first, so for once I knew who everybody was and wasn't spending the first three chapters playing the romance reader version of detective. Getting to come back to Solstice Springs felt a little like visiting that weird friend whose house is covered in Halloween decorations year-round and somehow makes it work. This town is still completely ridiculous, and I mean that as a compliment.

Poppy runs home expecting comfort, safety, and maybe a chance to figure out who she is when she's not busy trying to make everybody else happy. Instead she discovers her grandparents' beloved inn now belongs to Thom, her childhood hero, her almost brother-in-law, and unfortunately a man with entirely too much quiet competence for her current emotional state.

I have a weakness for characters whose entire personality is basically "exhausted but dependable," and Thom walked right into that category. This man spends most of the book acting like he'd rather wrestle a bear than discuss his feelings, but he's also renovating an old inn, taking care of people, and looking at Poppy like she's the answer to a question he's been carrying around for years. It's annoying when fictional men are this appealing.

What worked best for me was Poppy's journey. Underneath all the spooky decorations, meddling ghosts, and romantic tension, this is really about a woman realizing she's spent most of her life trying to earn love by becoming whatever everyone else needed her to be. Family expectations, relationship expectations, social expectations... the poor woman is carrying enough emotional baggage to get charged extra at the airport.

And listen, the ghosts remain some of my favorite characters in this series. They are less "haunting the town" and more "retired busybodies with unlimited free time." Every time they appeared I got excited because they seem deeply invested in everybody's personal business and possess absolutely no respect for boundaries.

That said, I didn't love this quite as much as Summerween. Some of the pacing felt slower, and there were moments where I wanted Poppy and Thom to stop circling the same emotional conversations and just get on with it already. I was also here for the weird Halloween Town energy, and I could've happily taken even more of the town itself because Solstice Springs remains the real star of this series.

Still, there's something incredibly comforting about these books. They're cozy without being saccharine, emotional without turning into a therapy session, and just strange enough to feel memorable. Also, any town where ghosts are actively participating in local matchmaking deserves government funding.

This landed at a very comfortable 3.5 stars for me. Not quite the magic of Summerween, but still the kind of book that made me want to move to Halloween Town, open a candle shop, and let supernatural senior citizens ruin my life for my own good.

And thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the ARC. Between Summerween and Halloween Town, I've become alarmingly invested in a community where Halloween never ends, the ghosts are nosier than Facebook moms, and apparently running away from your wedding is just another local tradition.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halloween Town
by Joss Wood

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2026

First of all, thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read Halloween Town.

I didn't think I'd fall in love with Solstice Springs more than I already had after Summerween, but somehow Joss Wood made me love this quirky little town even more.

This time, the story follows Poppy, who makes the terrifying (and incredibly brave) decision to walk away from the life everyone else expects her to have. Returning to her childhood home in Solstice Springs seems like the perfect fresh start... until she discovers it's now owned by Thom, her childhood best friend.

Poppy's journey was easily my favorite part of the book. Beneath the cozy romance is a story about learning to trust yourself, finding your confidence, and realizing it's okay to choose your own happiness. Watching her slowly become the person she'd always wanted to be was incredibly rewarding.

And Thom... where do I find one?

Seriously, this man is the definition of a green flag. He's patient, dependable, supportive, and never tries to force Poppy into becoming someone she isn't. Their childhood friends-to-lovers romance felt effortless, and I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning. I think this book may have officially converted me into a lifelong fan of this trope.

One of the reasons this series works so well is because Solstice Springs feels alive. It's impossible not to want to visit this Halloween-obsessed town filled with quirky residents, charming shops, haunted houses, and ghosts who simply can't resist meddling in everyone's love lives. It honestly feels like wrapping yourself in your favorite cozy blanket on a crisp autumn evening.

The returning cast made the story even more enjoyable. I loved spending more time with Wren, getting to know Ruby a little better, and of course, Felony completely stole every scene he wandered into. I would happily read an entire novella from his point of view.

While Summerween carried some heavier emotional themes, Halloween Town felt a little lighter without losing any of the heart that made me fall in love with the series. It strikes such a wonderful balance between romance, humor, healing, and just enough spooky magic to make it feel perfect for the season.

As a Halloween girlie all year long, this series feels like it was written for me. Cozy, heartwarming, funny, and filled with autumn charm, Halloween Town is everything I want in a seasonal romance.

Now comes the hardest part... waiting until I can return to Solstice Springs again.

[Monique Costella · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Halloween Town by Joss Wood

Publication Date: August 13, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

🎃 Small Town
🎃 Paranormal
🎃 Runaway Bride
🎃 Haunted House

This is the 2nd book in the Halloween Town series. The first book is called Summerween and it follows Poppy's life. Poppy is of course Wren's best friend who we fell in love with in the first book. The book opens up to Poppy in the bridal suite getting ready for her wedding. Poppy is deaply overwhelmed by trying to please her over bearing mother and having to have the perfect wedding. Her wedding will be the talk of the town in Solstice Deap at her Grandparents Victorian Inn. Which resides at the edge of the small town in Solstice Springs. Halloween Town has year round Halloween celebrations and everything spooky. The mayor of this town is a witch and a full-time hustler. To Poppy this place always felt like home. Poppy is getting ready and as she is looking out the window she is fantasizing about jumping out and running away through the garden. However, Poppy's mother is apart of the A-List social scene and her dad is a neurosurgeon. She couldn't let them down. Poppy's fiance is Benji who is in the legendary Sheffield family. That family is a political dynasty of state judges and one of the oldest law firms in the state. All of a sudden an apparition appears in the mirror before Poppy in the bridal suite and says "your running out of time...your about to make a mistake you can't undo." What will Poppy do? Will she listen to the ghost or cave and do what her mother expects?

"She was sunshine and sweetness, all with a hint of ghost-tinged crazy. Creative and lovely, loving and absentminded, perfectly, perfectly Poppy."

"I want to stand in the storm with you, by your side."

I have read two books in the Halloween Town series and this is hands down my favorite one. The first book took a lot of time to set the scene and describe the most magical and spooky Solstice Springs town. This book got right into the swoon worthy relationship of Poppy and Thom. I absolutely adore how this book started off with Poppy as a runaway bride and then to her moving into a Haunted Inn. Poppy stood up to her mom and ultimately found herself and her confidence to go after the things she wanted most in life. This book was spicy, and steamy with a side of spooky delight. I highly reccomend this cozy Halloween read to get you into the spirit of the best Holiday there is. Another wonderful book by Joss Wood.

[Reading Gems · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-star rating – good
ARC READ

I really do enjoy this quirky town!
I love Poppy; she’s a woman who isn’t appreciated by her family. She tried her hardest to please them, but nothing was good enough. I found her easy to relate to. And she tried to make everyone else happy on her wedding day by giving into other people’s desires and ignoring her own wants for her wedding. The wedding isn’t her own. And after coming to a realisation, she runs to her safety net…
She’s such a gentle soul and needs to find herself, and her comfort is Halloween Town.
Thom, he is a walking green flag, albeit a little grumpy. He’s patient, kind, and caring. He is renovating the inn from his childhood, the one he would go to when he needed to find comfort as a youngster.
It’s the same inn that Poppy is running at too! It was her grandmother and grandpa’s inn and every summer growing up she’d visit. Thom and Poppy were childhood friends. She’d turn to him for safety, and he happily protected her, but as with most childhood friends, age gets in the way and time slips by and distance separates them.

Thom is older; it’s an age gap romance, but it’s only really referenced a few times. I think it’s a seven-year age gap, if I remember correctly.

I really liked the dynamic between the two and the tension, as Poppy was actually getting married to his half-brother. Which added another layer to their complicated situation.
They both have experience with past relationship trauma, and they both need time to work through it. Do I feel this is accomplished? Not really. It’s a work in progress even at the end.
Poppy did have me questioning her mental state as one night, she says she did not want sex, but the following day she’s happy for him to take her! I felt it was a little rushed; she only just left his brother at the altar.
I really enjoyed the added ghost POV in the last book—Summerween— but I don’t feel it was necessary here. And again, the multiple POPs weren’t clearly marked, so it took time to adjust to each one every time.
The miscommunication at the end was more of a misunderstanding; he misunderstood what she was wanting. So he retreated. Yes, I think he should have just spoken to her. But what I did like is it didn’t overwhelm the story; it was right at the end of the book, and he took accountability. He gave her space and understood she may have still needed the space when he spoke to her— finally!
Hopefully, their relationship continues to grow and mature in the later books.

[Sandra Emes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer is the perfect time for romance - sun, a blanket, something cold to drink, and a light, pleasant, predictable read... What more could you want?

Picking up "Summerween", and soon after, "Halloween Town", I was hoping for just that - relaxation, pleasant experiences, and, if the winds are right, a bit of humor. And I got all of that... but, to my surprise, the seemingly simple stories managed to smuggle something more.

To be clear, this is still primarily a cozy/small-town romance, which may be off-putting to readers “not clicking” with the genre, and the plots, while enjoyable, are essentially formulaic. So much so that the sequel's trajectory is clear from the very beginning of the first installment... However, I'd personally call this a "feature", not a "flaw". Cliches have a lot of charm, the characters, although predictable, have character and "something to say", and the town, even though commercialized to the point of grotesque, seduces with its atmosphere and hospitality (sometimes shown rather twistedly, but still).

But what truly captivated me about these books is the depth achieved, quite surprisingly, through the paranormal element. The ghost population of Solstice Springs (or "H-town", as the locals refer to it) is a colorful assembly of beings from different eras who deliberately interfere with the affairs of the living. This leads to many quite amusing situations, but above all, it also provides an intriguing moral. By observing the developing relationships and the protagonists' growth, the inhabitants of the afterlife come to terms with their own "demons of the past". They learn lessons that will allow them to move forward but also warn the new generation against making the same mistakes. The first part deals with this issue in a slightly more nuanced way than the second one, which is why, although it was an equally good read, reading "Halloween Town" left me with a slightly worse experience.

I wonder if it wouldn't be better if both volumes moved away from the "cozy" approach and instead explored the healing of trauma and coming to terms with oneself more seriously – there's potential here for an intriguing drama, or perhaps a more classical work of fiction. On the other hand, the current format of the dilogy (for now?) allows to “learn and have fun” at the same time. Which is also valuable ;)

[Kasey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Halloween Town by Joss Wood is the story of Poppy, a bride who realizes that she has spent her entire life appeasing her uptight family instead of living minutes before walking down the aisle. As Poppy contemplates whether to wed her deceitful, shallow fiancé anyway, two eclectic ghosts appear in the mirror telling her to run. Worried for her current sanity and future happiness, Poppy bolts to the only place she’s ever felt safe: her grandparents’ inn in Halloween Town. Poppy expects the inn to be abandoned but is instead being renovated by Thom, her ex-fiancé’s stepbrother and her childhood friend, who happens to be very handsome.

I really, really wanted to like this book; I love a good supernatural, cozy autumn romance. The premise of the story sounded like something I’d enjoy, and the first chapter—which was from Poppy’s perspective—was so good! But, to be clear, I stopped reading this book at 25% because the story fell flat quickly.

A big issue I had with Halloween Town was Thom’s perspective because he seems more like an egotistical caricature of a man than a real person. He constantly makes callous, objectifying comments about Poppy’s attractiveness, repeatedly noting how he likes her curvy form, but only because she’s still skinny. He also mentions her ‘childhood devotion’ to him three times in less than two pages while comparing her to a golden retriever puppy. Thom also has flimsy, unrealistic reasons for stopping his past friendship with Poppy, making the plot point feel contrived.

Another aspect that caused me to DNF was the general writing style. After the first chapter, the characters did a lot of telling about their past all at once, which felt boring. Chapter 3 is especially full of this. This information could have been communicated to readers in the form of dreams or nostalgic conversations, but instead they felt like odd wonderings that paused the whole story.

I rate Halloween Town 2/5. It would have been better entirely from Poppy’s perspective, with more focus on the ghosts and Halloween Town itself. Thank you to NetGalley, Joss Wood, and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC copy of the book in exchange for my review. All expressed opinions are my own!

[Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Joss Wood and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an eARC of this book on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to dive into Halloween Town after enjoying Summerween. If you’re in the mood for a cosy, autumnal romance with a hint of magic in the form of ghosts and witches, this could be the book for you.

I am slightly desperate to visit this quirky Halloween-obsessed town, complete with wacky residents, Reggie the traffic-stopping turkey, Morrigan the judgy cat and the meddlesome ghosts. This time, we occasionally get Ruby’s (a ghost) POV alongside Poppy’s and Thom’s which keeps things interesting and separates this from non-magical romance books.

In this book, we get to know Poppy and all her people-pleasing tendencies, see a little more of her relationship with Wren, and see how her relationship with Thom develops from ex-childhood best friends into something more.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read but I liked it a little less than Summerween for a few reasons. The main reason was the excessive focus on Poppy’s body. At times I found Thom’s POV really uncomfortable to read with his focus on Poppy being short, slim and curvy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with appreciating this body type but I found myself rolling my eyes every time it came up - it felt like he had nothing else to say about her, which was concerning especially as they were meant to be childhood best friends and have a deep emotional connection!

Throughout, there was a tendency to over explain, with a few instances of repetition even within a couple of pages. Finally, everyone’s least favourite trope (miscommunication) appeared although I do think it was handled better than many books I’ve read so I can just about accept this.

Overall, it was a nice and cosy read and I would have rated it 3.5-4 stars if there hadn’t been such a strong focus on Poppy’s looks. I will definitely be checking out the next book though as I love this town!

Favourite tropes:
- Small town - not just a small town but a bonkers town
- Ex’s brother - but not quite what you think…
- Animal companions - Fel the dog and the resident town cat and turkey get a brief mention too!

[Caitlynn Burnaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books tell a story, some books take you on a journey, but this book transports you to a place where whimsy and a bit of fantasy combine to form the most perfect spooky-season backdrop for a story of found family, redemption, and love! Halloween Town is a perfect cozy fall romance for lovers of cantankerous dogs, friendly ghosts, spirited witches who mean well, and all of the pumpkin latte perfection that comes with the season!

Thom is on the road to inner peace as he renovates an old property in Halloween Town when suddenly, his brother's ex-fiancée shows up on his doorstep after fleeing the altar on her wedding day. It didn't take much for Poppy to realize she didn't want her marriage or the over-the-top wedding and life that everyone else had planned for her. She runs home to Halloween Town in an attempt to find solace in the place that knows her better than she knows herself. The only hangup is Thom, new owner to the house her grandparents called home for many years. As the two butt heads over everything, they also recognize the same tired spirit within the other - a person who needed a place of acceptance, a place to call home, a place filled with love and companionship. And maybe, they could find that within each other.

This was such a sweet read to really put me in the fallish, spooky-season mood. Joss Wood's writing never hurries but chooses to linger in the sweet spots as Thom and Poppy begin to heal and find friendship and maybe a bit more. Looking deeper, Halloween Town reminds you that becoming who you're meant to be sometimes means that stepping out on your own is scary and going against others' expectations is nerve-wracking - but the inner growth of a self-discovery journey is worth every painful step. Whether you consider yourself a skeptic or a true believer in the supernatural, this book will be a hit for readers who love opposites attract, ex-childhood best friends (to lovers), and seasonal, cozy, small town romances. Thank you to One More Chapter, Author Joss Wood, and NetGalley for access to read and review this book.

[Chandraa | চন্দ্রা · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can Halloween also be healing, instead of just spooks and scares?

That is exactly what we set out to discover in “Halloween Town”, a fun, flirty, and spooky contemporary romance by Joss Wood. I picked up this ARC because the premise sounded incredibly charming (and also because I loved the cover!) and it turned out to be such an enchanting read.

We are introduced to Poppy, who has always felt like an odd one out in her own family and her only real safe haven has been her grandparents' home in Solstice Springs, a cozy town where it's Halloween all year round. So, when she ditches her own wedding after two literal apparitions warn her just in time, she naturally flees back to H-Town, only to find out that the house is now owned by Thom Sheffield, her childhood confidante, protector, AND her ex-fiancé's brooding older brother. What follows is a journey of healing, self-discovery and uncovering a love that was waiting for her all along.

​I absolutely loved the chemistry between Poppy and Thom. The way their backstories and deep-rooted connections have been painted made their dynamic feel incredibly relatable. I also loved that the story focuses more on the emotional intimacy between the leads, rather than just bringing the physical attraction between the two to the forefront.

The supporting cast is equally charming and I very much liked Luna with a slightly over-the-top personality, which fits in so well with the overall vibe of H-Town. The pacing is great, and the atmosphere is wonderfully cozy and immersive. My only tiny quibble is that the big romantic showdown between Poppy and Thom could have packed just a bit more dramatic spark and high-stakes tension!

Overall, this was a solid 4.5⭐️ read for me! I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves small-town romance, friendly ghosts, a good slow-burn and would like to see Halloween in an entirely different light with a healing and caring vibe, rather than just being spooky and fun! And oooh, there's a cutesy map of Solstice Springs too!

[TheRedBookBox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Halloween Town by Joss Wood - Spoilers - This is a paranormal romance in which both main characters are completely normal humans, but they’re being helped and hindered by the local ghosts.

First, the good. I loved the setting! The town was amazing, and I was thrilled each time there was a new Halloween Town event or area of the town to talk about. Additionally, many of the minor characters (the medium, the mayor, the coffee shop ghost) were all delightful. My favorite moments generally revolved around the events in town.

Next, the middle ground. The main character ghosts. When the ghosts weren’t participating in town shenanigans, the author used them as a sort of Greek chorus to talk about the relationship between the romantic leads. In places where several ghosts bantered back and forth, it worked pretty well, but in other places, especially when it was just a single ghost reflecting to themselves, the comments were trite or just plain awkward.

Finally, the bad. The third act breakup. The whole event felt very rushed and shoved in there to hit a story beat instead of an interesting plot twist. The initial fight made sense, but the characters, who were supposed to have had a lot of personal growth throughout the story, had a huge angsty breakup instead of trying to talk things through, and the breakup didn’t help them grow or change at all before the Happy Ending. Additionally, I feel like the true villains in this story didn’t get any sort of comeuppance. One of them said something bad could happen, but we didn’t see any follow through. Admittedly, a big part of the story was about learning to love yourself and not need approval from others, so just leaving the villains behind is probably a reasonable ending, but it felt very flat to me.

Thank you to Joss Wood and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the advanced reader’s copy!

Notes:
-F/M couple
-Third person POV (FMC, MMC, and one ghost)
-High spice (vanilla)
-Second chance romance
-Enemies to lovers
-Golden retriever MMC

[Brittany Montano · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded down to three

Halloween Town by Joss Wood immediately pulled me in with its charming premise and unforgettable setting. A small town where Halloween is celebrated all year long? Say less. As someone who would happily live in spooky season 365 days a year, I was completely sold from the very first chapter.

The opening act was incredibly strong. Watching Poppy climb out of a bathroom window in her wedding dress and return to the place where she's always felt most like herself made for a fantastic introduction. I was invested almost immediately and couldn't wait to see how her story unfolded.

Where I found myself struggling was with the interconnected nature of the series. While Halloween Town is marketed as a standalone, I often felt like I was missing pieces of the larger picture. Relationships, history, and certain character dynamics seemed to carry over from the first installment in a way that occasionally left me feeling like I'd walked into the middle of an ongoing conversation.

Rather than taking away from my overall enjoyment, it actually made me more curious about the series as a whole. I'll definitely be going back to read Summerween before revisiting Halloween Town, and I plan to continue with the third installment when it's released. I have a feeling reading the books in order will provide the additional context I was looking for and make this story even more enjoyable the second time around.

If you're looking for a cozy small-town romance filled with pumpkins, Halloween magic, and autumn vibes, Halloween Town is absolutely worth picking up. I'd simply recommend starting with Summerween first to get the most out of the experience.

Thank you to One More Chapter, Joss Wood, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest and fair review.

[thebookaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After recently finishing up a read of Summerween, I went on a Netgalley hunt for the spin-off installment Halloween Town.

I was super excited to know more of Poppy’s story and jump back into a visit to the little Halloween loving town of Solstice Springs.
We were introduced to Poppy in Summerween, getting snippets of her backstory and impending nuptials, while also getting to know the other living and non living inhabitants of this cozy and festive town.

While I continued to enjoy the small town charm, lakeside setting, and a number of the characters, this installment was a little slower for me to get into. I enjoyed the touch points of being true to yourself, trusting your gut instincts (even if they lead you to be a runaway bride!) and am always one for a “return to a true love” from long ago. But Poppy and Thom sometimes just didn’t fit as well as I wanted them to. The flow of their return to each other seemed very natural at times, but other times their actions or words just didn’t fit for me personally.

One other thought to mention, the side story with one of the ghosts in the town was somewhat disruptive to my engagement with Poppy and Thom’s narrative. I would have loved to have just had this book focus on Poppy and Thom. Their history was strong, their new and revisited attraction, and their internal journeys were enough to keep me intrigued in this whimsical Halloween romance, but I was not a fan of the Ruby interruptions (as I fondly labelled them while reading this). I think the ghosts in town being woven into the story is a cute addition, but found the transitions in point of view were sometimes difficult to ease from one to the next.

While I didn’t adore this one as much as Summerween, I will absolutely be looking forward to other books in the series (hopefully arriving this fall)! 👻

2.5🌟 rounded to 3!

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

👻👻 "You have the ability to split open my soul, to eviscerate me emotionally. You always did." -Halloween Town 👻👻

Tropes:
Cozy Town
Found Family
Ex Fiance's Brother
Ghosts!


First of all, let me say that every time I read the title of this super adorable book, I think of the Halloween Town movies, and I just feel nostalgic over and over - and I love it.

This book was absolutely adorable, and I loved the premise of the book. I think writing about a town that focuses it's entirety on Halloween is just such a cozy feeling, and I know I'd be visiting that town immediately.

I absolutely loved Poppy and Thom together. These two characters were well-written, and I appreciated that while Poppy grew up more spoiled - only in the money way, NOT in personality-, she didn't act like the world revolved around her. She was very likable, and I loved her interactions with her friends. Thom was absolutely amazing, and he was such a good guy. He genuinely cares for Poppy, and it was so much fun seeing them grow together.

The people of the town are absolutely nuts, and I loved reading about them. I especially loved that some of the chapters featured people from the other side- the ghostly kind. It was interesting reading about them being meddlesome matchmakers, and it was such a cute idea.

One of the few things that was hard to keep up with, though, was all of the people. While it might have been easier to remember them all by starting with the first book, I did not (this is still a standalone for sure). I had a hard time remembering who was who, and that's coming from someone who stays in the high fantasy genre a lot.

Otherwise, this was a cute read, and I definitely want to read the first book and any others that come out!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I finished the first book in this series, I noticed that the second book was already available on NetGalley. I immediately requested it, was accepted almost right away, and I was so excited. I had become so invested in both the storyline and the characters, especially Wren and Dane, and I couldn’t wait to return to Halloweentown.

While the first book centered on Wren and Dane, this installment shifts the focus to Poppy and Thom, and I really enjoyed that change. Even though they take center stage, Wren and Dane are still an important part of the story, making it feel like you’re returning to a familiar group of friends.

The story kicks off with Poppy making the bold decision to run away from her wedding, setting off a chain of events that completely changes her life. Poppy is independent, determined, and trying to figure out what she truly wants instead of following the path everyone expects of her. Thom is kind, dependable, and quietly supportive, making him the perfect balance to Poppy’s more impulsive personality. Watching their relationship grow felt natural, and I loved seeing them slowly lower their walls and trust each other.

One of my favorite parts of this series continues to be the magical atmosphere of Halloweentown. The ghosts once again play an important role, but this time they seem even more involved in the lives of the residents.

It took me less than two days to finish this book, which says everything about how much I enjoyed it. Once again, this book was easy to read. It had a really good flow, and I continue to enjoy Joss Wood’s writing style. I’m already looking forward to returning to Halloweentown again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Caffs37 · Rating 3 out of 5]

After absolutely devouring Summerween and falling in love with every second of it, I knew I had to get my hands on the next installment in Joss Wood’s Halloween Town series as soon as possible. Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to dive into this sequel before its August 13 release, and it was such a treat to return to this world.

Like the first book, the descriptive writing is top-tier. Stepping back into this town felt like coming home; it’s cozy, atmospheric, and perfectly captures the Halloween festivities that make this setting so unique. It was wonderful to reconnect with the town and the characters I grew to adore in the first book.

This story centers on Poppy, who makes the drastic decision to run from her own wedding to find her true self at her childhood safe place,her grandparents inn. Her journey is deeply heart-tugging; watching her reflect on the ways she has shrunk herself or played roles to accommodate others was incredibly relatable, and I couldn’t help but root for her to find her own version of a happy ending.

The romance with Thom, a man she hasn't spoken to in thirteen years, provides plenty of that slow-burn, spicy tension I usually love. However, while I enjoyed the setup, I found myself frustrated with the dynamic in the later chapters. The pacing felt a bit rushed and, at times, a little off, which unfortunately dampened the buzz I felt earlier in the book. It didn’t quite fulfill the promise of the tropes I enjoyed so much in the first installment.

Overall, while I enjoyed this book, it didn’t quite hit the same high bar as Summerween. That said, I am still deeply invested in this town and its people. Even with a few pacing hiccups, I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series later next year.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween Town is an irresistibly cosy, pumpkin‑lit escape — the kind of romance that wraps around you like a warm blanket on a crisp October night. From the moment Poppy McMaster climbs out of that bathroom window in her wedding dress, you know you’re in for a story that blends humour, heart, and just the right amount of small‑town magic.

Joss Wood captures the charm of a place where it’s always spooky season with such ease that you can practically smell the cinnamon and see the jack‑o’‑lantern glow. But beneath the whimsy is a genuinely heartfelt journey: Poppy returning home not just to escape a disastrous almost‑wedding, but to rediscover the version of herself she left behind.

And then there’s Thom Sheffield — brooding, steady, infuriatingly appealing. Childhood hero. Ex‑fiancé’s older brother. The absolute last man she should be thinking about… which of course makes every interaction between them delicious. Their chemistry is warm and slow‑burning, threaded with nostalgia and the kind of tension that makes you grin into the page.

The town itself is a character — full of traditions, community, and that year‑round Halloween sparkle — and watching Poppy find her footing again among its cosy chaos is deeply satisfying. It’s a story about second chances, unexpected connections, and the courage it takes to choose joy after everything falls apart.

A charming, atmospheric, feel‑good romance perfect for readers who love small‑town settings, autumn vibes, and love stories with a touch of magic. Utterly delightful.

With thanks to Joss Wood, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Jaici Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follow-up to Summerween was just what I was hoping for! I knew everytime Poppy was mentioned in the first installment that her story would be next and it delivered! The opening sequence of her in her ugly poofy wedding dress getting ready to go out into her wedding to a man she frankly barely knows and is only marrying to appease her snooty family was so perfect how she was mildly freaking out about doing it until ghosts came and somehow calmed her more than the wedding itself and encouraged her to flee because it was the biggest mistake she’d make in life! She runs back to H town to the inn of her grandfather where she grew up and the only place that ever felt like home to find out Thom who was her older best friend and protector and conveniently also felt like home to her had bought it and was renovating it because he also did not get along with his family and had the best memories from his childhood in that place as well.

I loved the first half of the book the most and felt like it was setting up so well and was adorable and funny while also addressing some childhood and family drama that affected their lives. Towards the end of the book I did get a little frustrated with their lack of communication and shutting down on each other instead of just having some grown up conversations and explaining things better instead of just walking away for a decent amount of time. Overall it was just as fun as the first book and the ghosts POV’s and interference add to the silliness and halloweeny spooky vibes of the story. Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins and One more chapter for the chance to read and review this book early!