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A Date with Death
When the Grim Reaper develops feelings for the children’s librarian whose soul he is supposed to collect, he finds that with feelings comes something far worse than death—life.
Helena Hart isn’t having the best night. Her date just ditched her, her Halloween costume bombed, and her only sympathetic ear is a dead silent partygoer in a Grim Reaper get-up. But when she falls off a balcony and he catches her with a very real skeletal hand, she realizes he may not be a party guest at all. Before she can process the near-death experience, he vanishes, leaving her to wonder if she hallucinated the whole thing.
Grim isn’t supposed to save souls. He’s supposed to reap them. And while he’s not sure why he spared Helena, he does know that if his superiors find out, he’s as good as dust—which is saying something for a guy who’s mostly bones. But keeping away from Helena is proving harder than expected—especially when she isn’t the least bit afraid of his monstrous form.
Worse, to his horror, Helena makes him feel. And for a reaper, feeling is a fate far more dangerous than death.
Helena Hart isn’t having the best night. Her date just ditched her, her Halloween costume bombed, and her only sympathetic ear is a dead silent partygoer in a Grim Reaper get-up. But when she falls off a balcony and he catches her with a very real skeletal hand, she realizes he may not be a party guest at all. Before she can process the near-death experience, he vanishes, leaving her to wonder if she hallucinated the whole thing.
Grim isn’t supposed to save souls. He’s supposed to reap them. And while he’s not sure why he spared Helena, he does know that if his superiors find out, he’s as good as dust—which is saying something for a guy who’s mostly bones. But keeping away from Helena is proving harder than expected—especially when she isn’t the least bit afraid of his monstrous form.
Worse, to his horror, Helena makes him feel. And for a reaper, feeling is a fate far more dangerous than death.
384 pages, Paperback
Published July 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
August 27, 2026
Awww yall this was waaaay better than I thought it was going to be! I went in with very little expectation and I was pleasantly surprised! It was a wonderful read to start off the fall season. I’m going to give it a full 4⭐️ rating here. The FMC is a children’s librarian covered in glitter and literally the MC is death. The banter is BANTERING and the plot kept me occupied the whole time. I was expecting like one date meet cute- nope this is a whole ass plot from beginning to end. It is fun, it is campy, it is yearning and the spice is spicin. Honestly I would be shocked if this one doesn’t start blowing up a bit this spooky season!
July 27, 2026
I think I must be the absolute worst nightmare of a reader for this book. I almost DNF'd so many times, but frankly, I kept going out of sheer, "How much more can she possibly get wrong?" angle.
The premise is a delight. The Grim Reaper inexplicably saves the life of the children's librarian whose soul he's supposed to harvest, kicking off an escalating series of misadventures in which he tries to keep her from dying so no one realizes he's to blame for the quota shortage.
Great right?
Except a few major problems.
The first of which is the library. Just.. this library. I'm not entirely convinced that this library was not supposed to be a retail environment and the author simply did a CTRL+F to replace all the nouns with library nouns. It is treated as odd if the children's librarian is found in the adult section. Pages and assistants are assigned to specific areas and apparently do not cross these department lines. This is not how any library I have worked in has functioned.
There are several other oddities, as well. The budget allows for a dedicated archivist, but not for extra glue sticks. They have done a brand new teen center in the basement, but then we are told that there is constant, ongoing plumbing issues, which raises some questions about the teen center, its new furniture, and its collection. And don't get me started on the bookmobile.
And then there's Helena herself, whose characterization is one that is told to us rather than one we read about. We're told consistently that she likes to see the good in people, but she is full on slut shaming the unknown woman the guy she's on a first date with talks up. She's a children's librarian, we are told repeatedly, but we don't see her in the children's section until page 300. One of the ways she shames people is by saying, "I bet they haven't even read Shakespeare. Or Keats." Which is a very odd way of shaming someone, given librarians take many paths to librarianship, and someone whose BS is in Stats is just as good a librarian as one who has a BA in English. She never seems to take much joy in her job. There's no affection in her constant complaints about it -- it is simply bitching.
The depiction of the library is, frankly, what I imagine someone who has fond memories of the Story Times they went to would think up for a story like this. (Which would also explain why the most recent children's book Helena mentions came out in 2003.) It doesn't seem like actual research of how libraries run or what it's like to work in one was involved. Just Manic Pixie Dream Librarian.
Helena's ukulele (because of course she plays a ukulele) is "covered in glittery stickers," Grim says as he stares at the strings. Which means they're on the top. Which dulls the resonance. Grim supposedly plays guitar at an expert level; it's the sort of detail I'd expect him to notice.
Grim's 1969 Pontiac Judge with an original interior doesn't have a shoulder harness, despite those being federally mandated in all cars produced in the United States starting in the 1968 model year.
It is claimed the clock strikes 13 at the end of "As The World Falls Down" from the Labyrinth soundtrack. It does not.
And so on.
Grim, too, is more of a collection of vibes than anything else. My Chemical Romance, guitars, Shadow Daddy powers. In fact, this entire book is what one would expect from a novel that is built around aesthetic rather than actual character work.
And that's probably why the entire romance ultimately falls flat for me. The only reason Grim seems to fall for Helena is, "She's not afraid of me." And Helena? Helena, in her own words, has a tendency to fall for any guy who gives her the time of day. So why these two? Because they're built around "Grumpy" and "Sunshine" aesthetic, despite consistently displaying behaviors that contradict the stated traits.
Again, maybe I am simply the worst possible reader for this book. I have the exact intersection of weird knowledge and life experiences to see every spot where the author could have done a bit more research. But, at the same time, I also caught enough very simple-to-check factual errors that I'm left wondering what factual errors are in there that I didn't catch.
The premise is a delight. The Grim Reaper inexplicably saves the life of the children's librarian whose soul he's supposed to harvest, kicking off an escalating series of misadventures in which he tries to keep her from dying so no one realizes he's to blame for the quota shortage.
Great right?
Except a few major problems.
The first of which is the library. Just.. this library. I'm not entirely convinced that this library was not supposed to be a retail environment and the author simply did a CTRL+F to replace all the nouns with library nouns. It is treated as odd if the children's librarian is found in the adult section. Pages and assistants are assigned to specific areas and apparently do not cross these department lines. This is not how any library I have worked in has functioned.
There are several other oddities, as well. The budget allows for a dedicated archivist, but not for extra glue sticks. They have done a brand new teen center in the basement, but then we are told that there is constant, ongoing plumbing issues, which raises some questions about the teen center, its new furniture, and its collection. And don't get me started on the bookmobile.
And then there's Helena herself, whose characterization is one that is told to us rather than one we read about. We're told consistently that she likes to see the good in people, but she is full on slut shaming the unknown woman the guy she's on a first date with talks up. She's a children's librarian, we are told repeatedly, but we don't see her in the children's section until page 300. One of the ways she shames people is by saying, "I bet they haven't even read Shakespeare. Or Keats." Which is a very odd way of shaming someone, given librarians take many paths to librarianship, and someone whose BS is in Stats is just as good a librarian as one who has a BA in English. She never seems to take much joy in her job. There's no affection in her constant complaints about it -- it is simply bitching.
The depiction of the library is, frankly, what I imagine someone who has fond memories of the Story Times they went to would think up for a story like this. (Which would also explain why the most recent children's book Helena mentions came out in 2003.) It doesn't seem like actual research of how libraries run or what it's like to work in one was involved. Just Manic Pixie Dream Librarian.
Helena's ukulele (because of course she plays a ukulele) is "covered in glittery stickers," Grim says as he stares at the strings. Which means they're on the top. Which dulls the resonance. Grim supposedly plays guitar at an expert level; it's the sort of detail I'd expect him to notice.
Grim's 1969 Pontiac Judge with an original interior doesn't have a shoulder harness, despite those being federally mandated in all cars produced in the United States starting in the 1968 model year.
It is claimed the clock strikes 13 at the end of "As The World Falls Down" from the Labyrinth soundtrack. It does not.
And so on.
Grim, too, is more of a collection of vibes than anything else. My Chemical Romance, guitars, Shadow Daddy powers. In fact, this entire book is what one would expect from a novel that is built around aesthetic rather than actual character work.
And that's probably why the entire romance ultimately falls flat for me. The only reason Grim seems to fall for Helena is, "She's not afraid of me." And Helena? Helena, in her own words, has a tendency to fall for any guy who gives her the time of day. So why these two? Because they're built around "Grumpy" and "Sunshine" aesthetic, despite consistently displaying behaviors that contradict the stated traits.
Again, maybe I am simply the worst possible reader for this book. I have the exact intersection of weird knowledge and life experiences to see every spot where the author could have done a bit more research. But, at the same time, I also caught enough very simple-to-check factual errors that I'm left wondering what factual errors are in there that I didn't catch.
Did Not Finish
July 4, 2026Holy shit fritters dnf @ 7%
March 29, 2026
I absolutely loved this one.
While the premise is familiar, a romance involving the Grim Reaper, it felt fresh, fun, and completely engaging from start to finish. The author takes a concept we have all seen before and gives it a unique and playful twist that really works.
The characters were a standout for me. Helena is such a bright and vibrant presence, and her personality brings so much warmth and humor to the story. Her introduction at the Halloween party was memorable, and from that moment on I was fully invested. Watching her slowly piece together what is happening, and why she keeps surviving situations she should not, added a really fun layer to the plot.
Grim was just as compelling. The dynamic between him and Helena develops naturally, and their relationship was easy to root for. As the story progresses, their connection deepens in a way that feels emotional (and spicy!) without losing the fun tone that makes the book so enjoyable.
The pacing kept me turning pages, and the mix of romance, humor, and paranormal elements worked really well together.
I will not give too much away, but this is a perfect addition to a fall or Halloween reading list, especially if you enjoy paranormal romance with a lighter, fun twist.
While the premise is familiar, a romance involving the Grim Reaper, it felt fresh, fun, and completely engaging from start to finish. The author takes a concept we have all seen before and gives it a unique and playful twist that really works.
The characters were a standout for me. Helena is such a bright and vibrant presence, and her personality brings so much warmth and humor to the story. Her introduction at the Halloween party was memorable, and from that moment on I was fully invested. Watching her slowly piece together what is happening, and why she keeps surviving situations she should not, added a really fun layer to the plot.
Grim was just as compelling. The dynamic between him and Helena develops naturally, and their relationship was easy to root for. As the story progresses, their connection deepens in a way that feels emotional (and spicy!) without losing the fun tone that makes the book so enjoyable.
The pacing kept me turning pages, and the mix of romance, humor, and paranormal elements worked really well together.
I will not give too much away, but this is a perfect addition to a fall or Halloween reading list, especially if you enjoy paranormal romance with a lighter, fun twist.
July 31, 2026
When i say i want a fluffy, supernatural and comedic romance, this is it.
I had so much fun listening to the audiobook for this because it was 10x hilarious when rhe narrators started arguing especially grim when he was all angsty. Lowkey, i wanna be Helena because a grim reaper with a emo/punk human version + him in his natural boney state? Sign me tf up.
Aside from that, the other half of the story was more heartfelt because we dove right into his past and the sacrifice he went through 🥲🥲
Overall from that, i really enjoyed this book. Would recommend if you like a rom-com supernatural story 👍
I had so much fun listening to the audiobook for this because it was 10x hilarious when rhe narrators started arguing especially grim when he was all angsty. Lowkey, i wanna be Helena because a grim reaper with a emo/punk human version + him in his natural boney state? Sign me tf up.
Aside from that, the other half of the story was more heartfelt because we dove right into his past and the sacrifice he went through 🥲🥲
Overall from that, i really enjoyed this book. Would recommend if you like a rom-com supernatural story 👍
September 27, 2026
Perhaps the worst depiction of librarianship that I have ever encountered. Almost DNFed multiple times but the inaccuracies kept me rage reading.
July 15, 2026
this was cute! It lost me at some points. It felt long and Helena felt a bit childish but the plot made up for it. Overall it was alot of fun.
September 12, 2026
4.25/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️
1/5 🌶️
July 31, 2026
Thank you so much to Gallery Books for the gifted ARC!
💜💀
This book is suuuper cute and was such a fun read!! The grumpiest grump there could ever be, A Grim Reaper falls for a Children's Librarian and instead of collecting her soul as he's called to do, he instead keeps saving her life.
"I will come back a hundred .. a thousand .. times if I have to. I will stop fate every time. I don't care anymore."
Helena and Grim are hilarious together. Shouldn't work together but they do. She's a bubbly children's librarian that loves Taylor Swift and he's a grouchy reaper that drives a classic car and collects guitars. I loved Helena and her corny sayings in place of cursing. And Grim, a tortured, old soul (literally) that just probably needs a hug. He spends most of his time as a skeleton but his human form is 🥵 who knew Death himself would make such a hot book boyfriend! He's got is sooo bad for Helena. Also this book was way spicier than I was expecting in the best way 🔥🔥🔥
"Pretty thing. I will have you."
As a Library worker, all the silly library related hijinks made me laugh. I'm so glad they finally get a new book mobile 😂
I found the world building and politics of the Netherworld really interesting and loved the
quirkiness of Grim's "coworkers." I had zero clue how this was going to end but the little twist surprised me!
The tropes on the back of the ARC copy lists this book as a cozy horror romance with summerween vibes. I think that is pretty accurate! I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Kelly Creagh! 💜💀
💜💀
This book is suuuper cute and was such a fun read!! The grumpiest grump there could ever be, A Grim Reaper falls for a Children's Librarian and instead of collecting her soul as he's called to do, he instead keeps saving her life.
"I will come back a hundred .. a thousand .. times if I have to. I will stop fate every time. I don't care anymore."
Helena and Grim are hilarious together. Shouldn't work together but they do. She's a bubbly children's librarian that loves Taylor Swift and he's a grouchy reaper that drives a classic car and collects guitars. I loved Helena and her corny sayings in place of cursing. And Grim, a tortured, old soul (literally) that just probably needs a hug. He spends most of his time as a skeleton but his human form is 🥵 who knew Death himself would make such a hot book boyfriend! He's got is sooo bad for Helena. Also this book was way spicier than I was expecting in the best way 🔥🔥🔥
"Pretty thing. I will have you."
As a Library worker, all the silly library related hijinks made me laugh. I'm so glad they finally get a new book mobile 😂
I found the world building and politics of the Netherworld really interesting and loved the
quirkiness of Grim's "coworkers." I had zero clue how this was going to end but the little twist surprised me!
The tropes on the back of the ARC copy lists this book as a cozy horror romance with summerween vibes. I think that is pretty accurate! I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Kelly Creagh! 💜💀
July 14, 2026
Okay the Grim Reaper falling for a children's librarian?? SIGN ME UP
Helena Hart is stood up and finds herself on a balcony with someone dressed as the Grin Reaper. She's literally sunshine and rainbows while babbling about her unfortunate luck and complimenting the costume she's about to meet her demise when the Grim Reaper saves her. Never before has he done that. When he's called to collect a soul he does it but there's something about Helena that stops him.
Helena and Grim are a perfect opposites attract. She's fated to die yet no matter how much he tries Grim can't let her go. On top of that he discovers a plot to try to over throw his position while someone is trying to use Helena. This book was the right amount of cozy yet dealing with grief and gilt.
Thank you gallery books for the gifted ebook.
Helena Hart is stood up and finds herself on a balcony with someone dressed as the Grin Reaper. She's literally sunshine and rainbows while babbling about her unfortunate luck and complimenting the costume she's about to meet her demise when the Grim Reaper saves her. Never before has he done that. When he's called to collect a soul he does it but there's something about Helena that stops him.
Helena and Grim are a perfect opposites attract. She's fated to die yet no matter how much he tries Grim can't let her go. On top of that he discovers a plot to try to over throw his position while someone is trying to use Helena. This book was the right amount of cozy yet dealing with grief and gilt.
Thank you gallery books for the gifted ebook.
August 10, 2026
This was my first “monster” romance, although I’d say it was pretty light on the monster part. The MMC in this is the literal Grim Reaper (who his friends/colleagues refer to him as just “Grim.) While he can take his human form, he first appears in his cloaked skeleton form- and still, the FMC Helena is attracted to him.
This one took me a little longer to get through, as I’d stop, start, and stop again. But I’m glad I stuck with it, because in addition to the romance, there was a little mystery going on that I wanted answers to. Overall, a fun and cute read!
𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Lovers of monster romance will like this, or fans of spice with a bit of paranormal/supernatural elements.
This one took me a little longer to get through, as I’d stop, start, and stop again. But I’m glad I stuck with it, because in addition to the romance, there was a little mystery going on that I wanted answers to. Overall, a fun and cute read!
𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Lovers of monster romance will like this, or fans of spice with a bit of paranormal/supernatural elements.
March 27, 2026
This was such a needed change of pace from what I usually read. Grim is a stellar MMC and his character arc is excellent. The world was so well built and thought out. I’m such a sucker for comedic relief characters and there were too many to count. The magic system was extremely unique and detailed. I’m so glad to have received this as an arc!
Plot: 9/10
Magic system: 5/5
Spice level: 3/5
Plot: 9/10
Magic system: 5/5
Spice level: 3/5
Did Not Finish
September 29, 2026I'm about 40% through and it's been a struggle. The concept is so cute, I just think it's not convincing enough.
October 2, 2026
4/5 ⭐️
Deducted a point because the ending was very… Disney.
But, I loved it nonetheless. A fun and light read, with a sprinkle of spice. 🔥💀
Deducted a point because the ending was very… Disney.
But, I loved it nonetheless. A fun and light read, with a sprinkle of spice. 🔥💀
August 22, 2026
He shouldn't have been able to morph into a human. That's the whole review, folks.
August 5, 2026
ok so i was genuinely surprised to see all the good reviews for this book :o it took me ten days to finish and lemme tell you, every day was a struggle. i contemplated dnf’ing it so many times!!
the concept seemed right up my alley and i was excited to dive in, but i seriously couldn’t connect with these characters. i never really felt any emotional development taking place, which is one of the biggest things i look for in a romance. everything felt too superficial in my opinion.
and the fmc was wayyy too childish, i couldn’t stand it. i found it so bizarre that an adult was having full-on conversations with a stuffed pineapple. and i hate when characters act like they’re above swearing!! wtf is “mother-flipping” and “cheese and crackers”??
also, the world building was quite weak. the netherworld wasn’t explored deeply enough, which made that part of the story feel kinda underdeveloped. 1.5 ⭐️
the concept seemed right up my alley and i was excited to dive in, but i seriously couldn’t connect with these characters. i never really felt any emotional development taking place, which is one of the biggest things i look for in a romance. everything felt too superficial in my opinion.
and the fmc was wayyy too childish, i couldn’t stand it. i found it so bizarre that an adult was having full-on conversations with a stuffed pineapple. and i hate when characters act like they’re above swearing!! wtf is “mother-flipping” and “cheese and crackers”??
also, the world building was quite weak. the netherworld wasn’t explored deeply enough, which made that part of the story feel kinda underdeveloped. 1.5 ⭐️
July 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ It’s a cute book! I got it from a giveaway! It took forever to gain traction. It had some exciting scenes but I was like “okay where is this going?” Let’s get the ball moving lol but the last 40% was exciting and really good.
July 28, 2026
This was a super cute, lighter read, perfect as a palate cleanser but still enough stakes to keep me intrigued. Was I sometimes a little distracted by other things while reading? Yes, but I have the feeling that´s just me at the moment and wasn't necessarily due to the book.
The romance was cute, I loved the MCs, the side characters and the humour was funny.
The story was not overly exciting but kept me intrigued. The ending was resolved a little too easily but I did not mind very much.
I did not like that we never really got any information on who Grim was in his past or if he remembers again at the end of the book but I think at the end of the day it doesn´t matter.
Safety infos (might contain spoilers):
Very safe. MMC Grim hasn´t been touched or done anything sexual since he became a reaper, which has been centuries. He doesn´t know who he was before he became the reaper and his past is blank. So he´s been celibate for hundreds of years, even thinking he might never done anything like that before because he just can´t remember. I don´t think he is a virgin, as he knows what he´s doing but there´s zero details on his past. We never really get any information from which decade he´s really from, which I thought was weird, but it could be as early as the middle ages. All we learn later is his name and age when he became the reaper.
FMC is experienced but is not lucky when it comes to relationships and dating.
There´s slight OM drama because her slimy ex works at the same library but it´s nothing serious. No OW drama.
The romance was cute, I loved the MCs, the side characters and the humour was funny.
The story was not overly exciting but kept me intrigued. The ending was resolved a little too easily but I did not mind very much.
I did not like that we never really got any information on who Grim was in his past or if he remembers again at the end of the book but I think at the end of the day it doesn´t matter.
Safety infos (might contain spoilers):
Very safe. MMC Grim hasn´t been touched or done anything sexual since he became a reaper, which has been centuries. He doesn´t know who he was before he became the reaper and his past is blank. So he´s been celibate for hundreds of years, even thinking he might never done anything like that before because he just can´t remember. I don´t think he is a virgin, as he knows what he´s doing but there´s zero details on his past. We never really get any information from which decade he´s really from, which I thought was weird, but it could be as early as the middle ages. All we learn later is his name and age when he became the reaper.
FMC is experienced but is not lucky when it comes to relationships and dating.
There´s slight OM drama because her slimy ex works at the same library but it´s nothing serious. No OW drama.
September 12, 2026
Thank you to Gallery Books for the gifted copy of "A Date with Death".
"A Date with Death" is the story of Helena, a children's librarian who gets left at a Halloween party by her date, subsequently making her approach the mysterious man who's dressed as the Grim Reaper. After talking his ear off for a while (to his silence), Helena almost falls off the balcony until he catches her - or rather, his very real skeleton arm does. She realizes he's ACTUALLY the Grim Reaper, and he realizes he's drawn to her (even though he's supposed to reap her soul), and thus begins their dance of love and trying to survive whatever is after Helena.
Okay. Let's start with the good: the side characters rock in this book. I loved them and their aspect of found family, and thought they brought a wonderful depth to the book when things between Helena and Grim became stagnant and repetitive. And I loved the spice, and the love between Helena and Grim - the pacing felt real, and the dynamic between the two was sweet.
Now for the bad, which is basically the rest of the book. Listen, I am a librarian. I have worked in libraries for a few years now. So when the old trope of a children's librarian infantilizing herself and never swearing and wearing glitter and tutus on the regular pops out, it irks me. And not only does she not swear, she says things like, "Son of a paperback book!" And she has a stuffed pineapple who is her "only friend she talks to", and every metaphor involves literature, as if a librarian is literally the only thing she can be and all other personality aspects don't exist.
Yeah. It's bad.
I don't mean to ruffle feathers, but this book is as if Taylor Swift's music was a person - bland, eye-roll inducing, and absolutely cringey. Why is the "grumpy, metalhead, centuries old" Grim Reaper saying things like, "Sorry, not sorry!"?! The dialogue made me cringe as I read it - these were not real characters, they were played out tropes. I'm gonna be honest, I can't really believe how this book got published...no self respecting adult speaks the way Helena does, and it was so surface level and unbelievable that it took me out of the book. Honestly it read like a bad YA book with sex scenes in it. Absolutely not for me.
"A Date with Death" is the story of Helena, a children's librarian who gets left at a Halloween party by her date, subsequently making her approach the mysterious man who's dressed as the Grim Reaper. After talking his ear off for a while (to his silence), Helena almost falls off the balcony until he catches her - or rather, his very real skeleton arm does. She realizes he's ACTUALLY the Grim Reaper, and he realizes he's drawn to her (even though he's supposed to reap her soul), and thus begins their dance of love and trying to survive whatever is after Helena.
Okay. Let's start with the good: the side characters rock in this book. I loved them and their aspect of found family, and thought they brought a wonderful depth to the book when things between Helena and Grim became stagnant and repetitive. And I loved the spice, and the love between Helena and Grim - the pacing felt real, and the dynamic between the two was sweet.
Now for the bad, which is basically the rest of the book. Listen, I am a librarian. I have worked in libraries for a few years now. So when the old trope of a children's librarian infantilizing herself and never swearing and wearing glitter and tutus on the regular pops out, it irks me. And not only does she not swear, she says things like, "Son of a paperback book!" And she has a stuffed pineapple who is her "only friend she talks to", and every metaphor involves literature, as if a librarian is literally the only thing she can be and all other personality aspects don't exist.
Yeah. It's bad.
I don't mean to ruffle feathers, but this book is as if Taylor Swift's music was a person - bland, eye-roll inducing, and absolutely cringey. Why is the "grumpy, metalhead, centuries old" Grim Reaper saying things like, "Sorry, not sorry!"?! The dialogue made me cringe as I read it - these were not real characters, they were played out tropes. I'm gonna be honest, I can't really believe how this book got published...no self respecting adult speaks the way Helena does, and it was so surface level and unbelievable that it took me out of the book. Honestly it read like a bad YA book with sex scenes in it. Absolutely not for me.
October 3, 2026
💀💕 Book Review: Date with Death 💕💀
Cute little read! 🥰 I really liked how Grim got his happy ending. 🖤✨ After all the death and darkness, it was nice to see things work out for him! 😂💀
A fun, sweet read with just the right amount of spooky! 👻📚💕
Cute little read! 🥰 I really liked how Grim got his happy ending. 🖤✨ After all the death and darkness, it was nice to see things work out for him! 😂💀
A fun, sweet read with just the right amount of spooky! 👻📚💕
August 7, 2026
Unlike this librarian, I am not pure of heart.
July 7, 2026
be still my heart, this is my new favorite book!
what happens when a sweet, quirky children's librarian is fated to die... but the Grim Reaper saves her instead?
this book was everything! it’s hilarious, heartwarming, emotional, and unbelievably romantic. i laughed, i cried, and maybe (definitely) got a little too hot for the Grim Reaper. and i’m sorry but this book had ✨soul fucking✨ and i’m obsessed.
i was so excited to receive this ARC because i absolutely LOVE grim reapers, but i did not expected this to be so incredible, it completely shattered my expectations.
Grim is officially one of my new top book boyfriend. he’s a cheeky asshole with the biggest heart, perfectly balancing the grumpy to Helena's sunshine. Helena was an absolute delight, i adored how kind, quirky, and unintentionally hilarious she was. she had me cackling like some of feral creature. these two were truly a match made in the Netherworld, and their love transcends death itself.
the side characters were just as lovable. Flora, Hunter, and especially Pluto completely stole my heart. a talking raven who speaks in rhymes and riddles? perfection! he was so stinking cute.
this really had it all, witty banter, silly puns, action, swoony flirting, and so much charm. Kelly's writing was outstanding. funny, thrilling, heartfelt, and ridiculously sexy, i never wanted this book to end.
the ending left my jaw on the floor and tears in my eyes. beneath all the humor and romance, there is such a beautiful reminder of how often we become our own worst enemies and how easily we can lose ourselves in the prisons we create.
i’ll be chasing the high of this book for a long time. it has earned a permanent spot on my favorites shelf, and i would give it 10 stars if i could!
thank you so much to Gallery for the ARC and for introducing me to my new favorite book!
what happens when a sweet, quirky children's librarian is fated to die... but the Grim Reaper saves her instead?
this book was everything! it’s hilarious, heartwarming, emotional, and unbelievably romantic. i laughed, i cried, and maybe (definitely) got a little too hot for the Grim Reaper. and i’m sorry but this book had ✨soul fucking✨ and i’m obsessed.
i was so excited to receive this ARC because i absolutely LOVE grim reapers, but i did not expected this to be so incredible, it completely shattered my expectations.
Grim is officially one of my new top book boyfriend. he’s a cheeky asshole with the biggest heart, perfectly balancing the grumpy to Helena's sunshine. Helena was an absolute delight, i adored how kind, quirky, and unintentionally hilarious she was. she had me cackling like some of feral creature. these two were truly a match made in the Netherworld, and their love transcends death itself.
the side characters were just as lovable. Flora, Hunter, and especially Pluto completely stole my heart. a talking raven who speaks in rhymes and riddles? perfection! he was so stinking cute.
this really had it all, witty banter, silly puns, action, swoony flirting, and so much charm. Kelly's writing was outstanding. funny, thrilling, heartfelt, and ridiculously sexy, i never wanted this book to end.
the ending left my jaw on the floor and tears in my eyes. beneath all the humor and romance, there is such a beautiful reminder of how often we become our own worst enemies and how easily we can lose ourselves in the prisons we create.
i’ll be chasing the high of this book for a long time. it has earned a permanent spot on my favorites shelf, and i would give it 10 stars if i could!
thank you so much to Gallery for the ARC and for introducing me to my new favorite book!
July 30, 2026
It was cute.
3⭐️
3⭐️
May 29, 2026
Big thanks to the publisher for the Advanced Reader copy!
Okay y’all need to know, I read almost entirely on vibes and this book absolutely NAILED the vibes for me. I had such a good time with it! Like genuinely kicking my feet and grinning at my gorgeous (love the art! Nails the vibe) paperback the entire time.
Helena is such a lovable/cringe main character in the best way. She’s a children’s librarian and has this cozy awkward charm to her that made her feel really easy to root for. And then there’s Grim, who is literally well Grim, but somehow also charming, funny, protective, and weirdly endearing??? Their dynamic was SO fun to read.
The whole concept of Death saving the same girl twice and then becoming completely fascinated by her is already enough to hook me, but the banter and chemistry really made this work. It’s flirty, gothic, cozy, emotional, and just the right amount of dramatic.
I wasn’t even overanalyzing plot details or worldbuilding because I was simply having a GREAT time. The characters were lovable, the romance had me giggling, and the overall vibe was just immaculate.
If you like supernatural romance, cozy gothic energy, lovable weirdos, and books that make you wanna kick your feet a little, definitely pick this one up! I had a blast!
Okay y’all need to know, I read almost entirely on vibes and this book absolutely NAILED the vibes for me. I had such a good time with it! Like genuinely kicking my feet and grinning at my gorgeous (love the art! Nails the vibe) paperback the entire time.
Helena is such a lovable/cringe main character in the best way. She’s a children’s librarian and has this cozy awkward charm to her that made her feel really easy to root for. And then there’s Grim, who is literally well Grim, but somehow also charming, funny, protective, and weirdly endearing??? Their dynamic was SO fun to read.
The whole concept of Death saving the same girl twice and then becoming completely fascinated by her is already enough to hook me, but the banter and chemistry really made this work. It’s flirty, gothic, cozy, emotional, and just the right amount of dramatic.
I wasn’t even overanalyzing plot details or worldbuilding because I was simply having a GREAT time. The characters were lovable, the romance had me giggling, and the overall vibe was just immaculate.
If you like supernatural romance, cozy gothic energy, lovable weirdos, and books that make you wanna kick your feet a little, definitely pick this one up! I had a blast!
July 30, 2026
I did not like one! But that’s on me.
July 16, 2026
I think I got too hyped for this one. You see, I am a Librarian and was a Children's Librarian for over a decade and I love LOVE Death personified. A Date With Death seemed like it was such a "me" book that I jumped right on reading it.
Let me talk about what I liked: I liked Grim. I loved his grumpiness but his willingness to listen and learn and adapt. I loved the side characters (Johann especially was a nice touch) and I loved the spice. The spice was GOOD.
Unfortunately I didn't like our FMC Helena. This could be a me thing (which I might be saying a lot in this review) but I have such a hard time with the "sunshine" character who is an overly apologetic people pleaser. It's exhausting. I could maybe get past that but some of the things that come out of her mouth genuinely made me feel sick from secondhand embarrassment. She doesn't swear (she is a "GOOD GIRL") so instead she says things like, "Oh, goodnight moon," "son of a bookworm," or "overdue fines and porcupines." Friends, I HATED this. I hated it. ALSO it is important to note that the author uses a Harry Potter reference ("Holy Hogwarts house" IN THE YEAR 2026) so do with that what you will. Those are just three examples of some incredibly off-putting dialogue. Don't even get me started on the language used by the 18 year old, Hunter. Right from the beginning the librarian-aspect had me cringing. I have worked in libraries for over 20 years and to see someone say, "when it came to library jobs, Pages existed on the bottom rung" was so grossly tone-deaf. Or the way in which Hunter was "hiding in the 900s" as a Page to avoid having to help patrons. Every aspect of her job felt forced and not real and I wish the author would have asked someone in library leadership what it is actually like working in a library. It felt like the author sat in on a story time so she could create this quirky sunshine-filled children's librarian character. I almost DNF the book after just a few chapters because of this.
Finally, I hated the ending. It was tied up with a neat little bow which would be fine except the bow comes in the form of a character doing a complete turn on their personality throughout the whole novel. Then...I get to the end of the book and there is a place for a teaster for book two?! Again, this is a me thing and shouldn't bother others but I seriously hate when I read a book and find out that it is part of a series. There was this weird part at the end that made it seem like maybe more was coming and I was a little confused and then got to this teaser and it was so aggravating.
So do I think you should read the book? If you don't work in libraries you probably won't care how she portrays library staff. If you don't mind cringe dialogue or think you can move past it then Helena's language probably won't bother you. If you love a sunshine-character who is a little silly, naïve, and overly apologetic then you will love Helena. As I said, the spice is good and the the romance is fun. I would be comfortable recommending this novel to someone who wants and easy paranormal romance. It's a good Autumn read as you are trying to make your reading goal for the year.
Let me talk about what I liked: I liked Grim. I loved his grumpiness but his willingness to listen and learn and adapt. I loved the side characters (Johann especially was a nice touch) and I loved the spice. The spice was GOOD.
Unfortunately I didn't like our FMC Helena. This could be a me thing (which I might be saying a lot in this review) but I have such a hard time with the "sunshine" character who is an overly apologetic people pleaser. It's exhausting. I could maybe get past that but some of the things that come out of her mouth genuinely made me feel sick from secondhand embarrassment. She doesn't swear (she is a "GOOD GIRL") so instead she says things like, "Oh, goodnight moon," "son of a bookworm," or "overdue fines and porcupines." Friends, I HATED this. I hated it. ALSO it is important to note that the author uses a Harry Potter reference ("Holy Hogwarts house" IN THE YEAR 2026) so do with that what you will. Those are just three examples of some incredibly off-putting dialogue. Don't even get me started on the language used by the 18 year old, Hunter. Right from the beginning the librarian-aspect had me cringing. I have worked in libraries for over 20 years and to see someone say, "when it came to library jobs, Pages existed on the bottom rung" was so grossly tone-deaf. Or the way in which Hunter was "hiding in the 900s" as a Page to avoid having to help patrons. Every aspect of her job felt forced and not real and I wish the author would have asked someone in library leadership what it is actually like working in a library. It felt like the author sat in on a story time so she could create this quirky sunshine-filled children's librarian character. I almost DNF the book after just a few chapters because of this.
Finally, I hated the ending. It was tied up with a neat little bow which would be fine except the bow comes in the form of a character doing a complete turn on their personality throughout the whole novel. Then...I get to the end of the book and there is a place for a teaster for book two?! Again, this is a me thing and shouldn't bother others but I seriously hate when I read a book and find out that it is part of a series. There was this weird part at the end that made it seem like maybe more was coming and I was a little confused and then got to this teaser and it was so aggravating.
So do I think you should read the book? If you don't work in libraries you probably won't care how she portrays library staff. If you don't mind cringe dialogue or think you can move past it then Helena's language probably won't bother you. If you love a sunshine-character who is a little silly, naïve, and overly apologetic then you will love Helena. As I said, the spice is good and the the romance is fun. I would be comfortable recommending this novel to someone who wants and easy paranormal romance. It's a good Autumn read as you are trying to make your reading goal for the year.
July 11, 2026
I don’t read a lot of paranormal romance, so it always takes a really fun concept to pull me in—and A Date with Death absolutely did. The premise alone hooked me: the Grim Reaper starts developing emotions after meeting the children’s librarian whose soul he’s supposed to collect. It sounds dramatic (and it is), but it’s also surprisingly funny, sweet, and ridiculously charming.
One of my favorite parts was watching Grim realize something was…wrong. Suddenly he has feelings, emotions, curiosity, and absolutely no clue what to do with any of it. His complete panic over experiencing emotions for the first time had me laughing more than once. For someone who literally embodies death, he is hilariously unprepared for being alive.
Helena is the perfect counterpart. She’s sunshine in human form—kind, funny, endlessly patient—and somehow completely unfazed by the terrifying skeletal being standing in front of her. Their relationship becomes the ultimate dark meets light romance, and somehow Kelly Creagh makes it feel both adorable and surprisingly steamy. Even though this leans paranormal, the romance remains the heart of the story. The emotional growth, the banter, and watching Grim slowly discover humanity made this feel unique while still delivering plenty of swoony moments.
I also listened to the audiobook, and both narrators elevated the experience. Shania Summerville perfectly captured Helena’s warmth, sweetness, and optimism. Curtis Michael Holland was absolutely made for Grim. His deep, gritty, commanding voice gave the character exactly the presence he needed while still allowing those unexpected emotional moments to shine. Even though I don’t think I’ve listened to either narrator before, they both felt instantly familiar, the kind of performances that let you settle into the story from the very first chapter.
If you’re looking to dip your toes into paranormal romance without going too far outside the romance lane, this is a fantastic place to start. It’s funny, surprisingly heartfelt, a little spooky, plenty romantic, and perfect for fall reading—or Summerween if you’re already embracing spooky season early.
Perfect for readers who love:
* Paranormal romance
* Grumpy (literally Death) × sunshine
* Opposites attract
* Halloween vibes
* Cozy spooky season reads
* Funny immortal characters learning to be human
* Steamy romance with heart
September 29, 2026
I’m gonna have to DNF this at least for now.
The FMC is so weirdly immature and kind of stupid and rude and the MMC just seems like some kind of sad emo boy with anger issues who has “shadow powers” because no one can be original anymore.
Also, so many things in this book are just…off. The prose feels like the author had a computer rewrite it to sound smarter.
Why does the FMC say “I tossed back my wheat colored hair” WHO TALKS LIKE THAT? It’s like the author just told the thesaurus to replace every single reference to color with some other word for that color. “Onyx bird” “Crimson sheets” “ice blue eyes” etc etc etc it’s goes on and on.
The prose is just so weirdly written.
And then the plot, which is paper thin, is so basic and yet the book is so long winded about everything with no real world building or explanations.
Why is Grim trying to save her? He messed up and didn’t reap her soul and he could save himself a lot of trouble if he just reaped it, turned it in and moved on. They have no real connection otherwise other than the fact that she can see him because she is SO pure of heart since she’s a children’s librarian 🙄🙄🙄🙄
She fights off monsters with her pumpkin shaped purse after having an honest to god Happy Meal it’s so cheesy and stupid is she a grown adult or not.
Names and characters are just introduced and terms and references are made to things that the reader has no idea about.
The Few…who are they? What does that mean? Who is Mr. White? God? Why is there a separate reaper for children who is a childlike, barefoot girl who talks like a leprechaun? Who is the wizardy looking guy with the bird as a pet? Like…what is his title and job? He is referred to and involved in so many scenes but I don’t understand what purpose in the story he serves. The Grim Reaper has money, and a car…does he get paid? But why would he need a car? He plays guitar? Of course he does…he also has a drivers license and car registration? WHAT? Why?
I’m almost halfway through and the story just goes on and on with only half the information I’d need to enjoy this. And all the five dollar words and purple prose just make it seem like maybe this book was written in another language? Or the author REALLY wants to seem smart and cool.
I don’t know. I’m disappointed, but that’s become a standard feeling for me with new releases. They just don’t take their time and write books like they used to.
The FMC is so weirdly immature and kind of stupid and rude and the MMC just seems like some kind of sad emo boy with anger issues who has “shadow powers” because no one can be original anymore.
Also, so many things in this book are just…off. The prose feels like the author had a computer rewrite it to sound smarter.
Why does the FMC say “I tossed back my wheat colored hair” WHO TALKS LIKE THAT? It’s like the author just told the thesaurus to replace every single reference to color with some other word for that color. “Onyx bird” “Crimson sheets” “ice blue eyes” etc etc etc it’s goes on and on.
The prose is just so weirdly written.
And then the plot, which is paper thin, is so basic and yet the book is so long winded about everything with no real world building or explanations.
Why is Grim trying to save her? He messed up and didn’t reap her soul and he could save himself a lot of trouble if he just reaped it, turned it in and moved on. They have no real connection otherwise other than the fact that she can see him because she is SO pure of heart since she’s a children’s librarian 🙄🙄🙄🙄
She fights off monsters with her pumpkin shaped purse after having an honest to god Happy Meal it’s so cheesy and stupid is she a grown adult or not.
Names and characters are just introduced and terms and references are made to things that the reader has no idea about.
The Few…who are they? What does that mean? Who is Mr. White? God? Why is there a separate reaper for children who is a childlike, barefoot girl who talks like a leprechaun? Who is the wizardy looking guy with the bird as a pet? Like…what is his title and job? He is referred to and involved in so many scenes but I don’t understand what purpose in the story he serves. The Grim Reaper has money, and a car…does he get paid? But why would he need a car? He plays guitar? Of course he does…he also has a drivers license and car registration? WHAT? Why?
I’m almost halfway through and the story just goes on and on with only half the information I’d need to enjoy this. And all the five dollar words and purple prose just make it seem like maybe this book was written in another language? Or the author REALLY wants to seem smart and cool.
I don’t know. I’m disappointed, but that’s become a standard feeling for me with new releases. They just don’t take their time and write books like they used to.
May 19, 2026
Review of advanced copy from Goodreads Giveaway.
In A Date with Death, Creagh wrote a compelling and heartwarming love story that felt new and exciting to read. For the majority of the book, the plot was paced perfectly. Helena and Grim's relationship didn't feel rushed and had an easy, natural progression (save the paranormal influences that brought them together). Overall, A Date with Death's paranormal love story feels fit for a cozy Halloween night.
The ending, however, felt too neat, to the point of being convenient. How lucky that the main antagonists suddenly became supporters of Grim and Helena's supposedly forbidden relationship? And for Cedric to have always had Grim best interest at heart, when prior he had always found ways to irritate him for seemingly no reason?
Honestly, the last 30 pages felt like so clean of a resolution (if you can even call it that as it completely got rid of the entire main conflict) that you're left with more questions about the what actually motivated Cedric and The Few. The given explanation feels so flimsy that any plot drive is lost right at the end. The spectacular fireworks that seems to have building up vanish, and the book ends with a puff of smoke. I truly think it would have been more engaging to maintain Cedric's selfish and malicious motivations for deposing Grim. A punchy plot twist, such as Cedric being Phineas, that would have required real conflict resolution only possible through character development (which became relatively unnecessary after the Cedric revealed he just wanted Grim to be open with someone, which happened all of 8 pages in) and would have easily made this a five star book.
In A Date with Death, Creagh wrote a compelling and heartwarming love story that felt new and exciting to read. For the majority of the book, the plot was paced perfectly. Helena and Grim's relationship didn't feel rushed and had an easy, natural progression (save the paranormal influences that brought them together). Overall, A Date with Death's paranormal love story feels fit for a cozy Halloween night.
The ending, however, felt too neat, to the point of being convenient. How lucky that the main antagonists suddenly became supporters of Grim and Helena's supposedly forbidden relationship? And for Cedric to have always had Grim best interest at heart, when prior he had always found ways to irritate him for seemingly no reason?
Honestly, the last 30 pages felt like so clean of a resolution (if you can even call it that as it completely got rid of the entire main conflict) that you're left with more questions about the what actually motivated Cedric and The Few. The given explanation feels so flimsy that any plot drive is lost right at the end. The spectacular fireworks that seems to have building up vanish, and the book ends with a puff of smoke. I truly think it would have been more engaging to maintain Cedric's selfish and malicious motivations for deposing Grim. A punchy plot twist, such as Cedric being Phineas, that would have required real conflict resolution only possible through character development (which became relatively unnecessary after the Cedric revealed he just wanted Grim to be open with someone, which happened all of 8 pages in) and would have easily made this a five star book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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