Добри духове

Ghosted #1

by B.K. Borison, Б. К. Борисън

Авторката на бестселъри на New York Times Б. К. Борисън ни очарова с романтично приключение с магически привкус! И всички ще се влюбят в призрака на отминалите Коледи.

Той е призрак на отминалите Коледи. Тя не е точно Скрудж.

Тази година призракът на отминалите Коледи Нолан Калахан възнамерява да витае по празниците като всеки друг път – да влезе, да си свърши работата и да се върне към иначе безцелното си съществуване като призрак, който очаква отвъдния живот. Но когато се запознава с Хариет Йорк, най-сладката задача, която някога е имал, внезапно започва да желае бъдеще.

Хариет Йорк няма представа защо я преследва призрак. Тя е добър човек. Или поне се опитва да бъде. Винаги се стреми да угажда на всички и прави това, което се очаква от нея. Когато обаче с Нолан започват да
разглеждат миналото ѝ, откриват, че нещо ги свързва и че за преминаването нататък е необходимо повече. Крайният срок е Бъдни вечер и бързо наближава.

Дали ще намерят ключа към бъдещето в своето минало? Или ще останат в настоящето, отдадени на неочакваната си пламенна връзка?

Изпълнена с магия, преплетени ситуации и невероятен празничен уют, „Добри духове“ е най-доброто от Б. К. Борисън досега!

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Fantasy, Audiobook, Paranormal, Fiction

456 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 2025

About the author

New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today Bestselling author B.K. Borison is the author of cozy, contemporary romances featuring emotionally vulnerable characters and swoon-worthy settings. When she’s not daydreaming about fictional characters doing fictional things, she’s at home with her family, more than likely buying books she doesn’t have room for.

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Reviews

[Kaila.Books]

I laughed, I cried, I f cking loved this book. IT WAS PERFECT.

And now I suddenly have a craving for a peppermint tea, a candy cane, and a fisherman in flannel.

[ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh b. k. borison, i adore you. this was perfect. my muppet christmas carol heart is so happy. the CATS???? and the COZINESS?? and the DOWN BAD MMC?? i feel like she looked into my brain and plucked out everything i love and put it into a book. top 3 of the year EASY

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE BEST CHRISTMAS ROMANCE HANDS DOWNNNN!!!! I don’t care that christmas is over — read it.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m proudly announcing my top romance pick for 2025! I’m so certain nothing will surpass this one!

I’ve always adored B.K. Borison’s romcoms, but her fresh take on the Ghosted series with this magnificent paranormal romance is something truly special. I loved every part of it! The grumpy-meets-sunshine trope was perfectly executed, the main characters were absolutely delightful, and I even considered knitting scarves for them! They’re sweeter than fig jam, lemon drops, and blueberry Danish combined!

This is the kind of book that makes you want to shout your love from the rooftops!

The story follows Harriet York, who inherits her Aunt Mathilda’s antique shop. She may see herself as a people-pleaser, but in reality, she’s the kindest soul—always putting others first, even when her loved ones criticize her for not standing up for herself. In her mid-twenties, with curly hair, a love for colorful fashion, a sweet tooth, and a home filled with Christmas cheer, she’s basically the anti-Scrooge!

But one night, as she sips on stale peppermint tea, she discovers an unexpected visitor in her home—Nolan, a ruggedly charming Irish sailor in his mid-twenties. He introduces himself as the Ghost of Christmas Past, claiming he’s haunting her for the wrongs she’s committed. His mission? To take her on a journey through her past so she can face her mistakes, after which he’ll disappear forever.

But two things Nolan doesn’t anticipate:

Harriet is genuinely one of the sweetest, most selfless people ever—far from the Scrooge he expected to redeem.
The more time they spend together, the less ghostly Nolan feels. His magic starts to wane, and for the first time, he begins to feel something real.
If Harriet isn’t the Scrooge he was meant to haunt, why was he sent to her? And how can he possibly walk away when he’s falling so hard for her?

Overall: THIS BOOK IS CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE FOR MY SOUL!
I can’t even put into words how much I adored it! It may be early in the year, but I already know this will be my favorite romance of 2025. I genuinely can’t imagine loving another book as much as this one!

⭐ 10 stars, easily! ⭐

A massive thank you to B.K. Borison for writing such an incredible book—I cannot wait for the next installment in the Ghosted series!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[chan ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh so sweet

[maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG THIS WAS SO SO BEAUTIFUL🥹🥹🥹 im surprised at how much I enjoyed it and how emotional it was. B.K Borison did her big one with this book fr🙂‍↕️

Nolan & Harriet belong to me🫂

rtc



┆ ⤿ 👻 ༝ pre-read:

IT’S TIMEEEE!!!!

finally going to start this after months of putting it off, one of my most anticipated reads🤸🏻‍♀️ I really hope it doesn’t disappoint me like most of B.K Borison’s books🤞🏻

[Ali Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! I loved how this book blends great holiday vibes, romance, paranormal ghostly plot and characters, and a little bit of mystery (our main character has no idea why she is being haunted). There's so many cool elements making it a new fav holiday read for me!!

The only reason I didnt rate it higher is it more just felt like a fun romance. I didn't have that obsessed can't put this book down feeling but I would highly recommend reading it around the holidays!!

[anh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I have some conflicting thoughts about this book. I need to preface this by saying I know my taste, and I rarely find a holiday Christmas book that I'd actually consider good. Honestly, I find the majority of Christmas books borderline trash, so I went into this one with a very open mind. I was intrigued since everyone was saying this was super emotional, and of course, the whole ghost mmc thing caught my attention.

As a holiday romance, I don't think it's entirely bad. It definitely tries to achieve something meaningful, which has made it better than most other Christmas books I've read. Those other books feel completely devoid of meaning, but in this one, I could see that it tried and actually achieved something deeper in its themes.

I really appreciated how the book explored both main characters helping each other face and overcome their hardship. There's this underlying current of hidden pain in both of them that felt very genuine. I love the whole concept of him haunting her, being this ghost who's stuck and helping her find herself, while she helps him find peace, and the idea of two people who are both lost in different ways finding each other and pushing each other toward growth is exactly the kind of depth I wish more holiday romances would attempt.

Unfortunately, in this one the execution got completely bogged down by how physically attracted the main characters were to each other, and that overshadowed all the deeper emotional development that could have made this special.

My main issue is that while I appreciate that it was trying to achieve more than just a romance with its themes, the actual romance itself fell entirely apart for me. I was expecting this book to be very emotional, and don't get me wrong, it had several emotional moments, but they just didn't resonate with me at all. I hate to say it, but I felt so detached the whole time I was reading this.

The romance was the weakest part because their relationship moved SO fast. They literally just met, and immediately they're physically attracted to each other, then they kiss, then they're dealing with deep emotional problems together. I would have liked to see so much more built between them. Then they started having sex soooo many times throughout this book, which I eventually skipped, cause I'm sorry, but B.K. Borison's smut scenes will never fail to make me cringe.

Bottomline, I'm quite disappointed because I really thought I would enjoy this. That said, if you're less bothered by rushed romance pacing than I am and you enjoy the concept of deeper themes in a Christmas romance, this might work for you.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need Nolan fr

[Jessica Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t even understand.

and if you're into official things like blurbs, this is mine:

"Good Spirits is holiday romance perfection, with BK Borison's trademark mix of witty banter, a cozy setting that feels like being wrapped up in the warmest blanket, and a love story that makes you want to scream into a pillow, all of it topped with a bow of pure, undiluted magic. Borison is a gift to romance readers, and fully in a league of her own."

[Uswah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cute story 🥹 but way less than my expectations 😭

Maybe I had very high expectations because of all the positive reviews 😭 but this didn’t catch my attention the way I hoped it would.

It wasn’t too spicy, but there were some scenes that felt unnecessary 😭 There wasn’t any unnecessary smut, but the situation itself felt unnecessary 😭 Like, okay bro, her pajamas are cute and hot, but he really exaggerated his fantasies there 😭 And I get that you’re meant to be together, but umm… you’ve only met each other like 2–3 times, and you’re already having THOSE thoughts?? 😭 Umm… sorry, no. 😭

That being said, I really liked the whole Ghost of the Christmas Past scenario and taking a path down memory lane 🥹 It was sweet and emotional at the same time 🩵 so I can’t really say that I hated the book, I actually liked it 🙂‍↕️🩵 But it did take me longer to finish.

Harriet and Nolan — they’re really cute together 🥹🫶 but they’re also really dumb together 💀 Sometimes, I just wanted them to act like real adults 🥰 but hey, it happens. So I’m gonna ignore that 🙂‍↕️ And I really liked the ending 🥹🫶 ofc, by putting logic aside 🙂‍↕️

Oliver is the best character, and omg, how could I forget Aunt Matilda 🤭🫶 I love these two characters so much. Oh, and Sasha too 🙂‍↕️ Atp, I love the side characters more than the main ones 💀 help- 😭

If I had gone in with lower expectations, I definitely would’ve liked it more. It really was a sweet story, just don’t keep your hopes too high, y’all 😭 Well… not as high as mine 😭

Yeah, that’s it, guys. Love y’all 🫶🩵♥️

———————————————
⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ pre-read ⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙

Book Club Read

I’ve been seeing this book everywhere and I’m so happy our book club picked it for December 🥹🩵 Can’t wait to find out what all the hype is about.

[bruna]

๋ · ˚ 🖇️ ⊹ ⌇ pre-read. ⋆
⤿ started on december 23, 2025.

trying to squeeze in a christmas book before christmas arrives. 🎄🌟 i usually don’t vibe with festive reads for some reason, but i’ve been seeing this book everywhere and it has me *very* curious so i guess i have to see what the hype is all about! 👀

[Sydney Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* AW THIS WAS CUTE ☺️ I loved the premise and I love this author’s writing. Felt a bit long buttttt I’m gonna need more paranormal holiday romcoms in my life!!

[ଘRory · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★

“ If I’m a ghost, maybe she’s a witch.”

🧸➳ Okay, I have to admit something before I dive into this review: this is the coziest romance I have ever read. I've never encountered a book that gave me such persistent butterflies. Even after finishing the last page, they're still fluttering in my stomach, living there completely rent-free as the entire story has taken up permanent residence in my mind.
It's a ghost-hunting tale where a woman is being haunted, but it's overflowing with the most fluffy, romantic, and cozy vibes you could ever ask for—and then some! This is the magic of this book: it takes what should be a spooky premise and transforms it into something utterly warm and captivating. The 'haunting' feels more like a tender courtship, making it a perfect blend of otherworldly mystery and heart-melting romance. If you're looking for a book that is unique and will leave you with a lasting sense of warmth, you have to pick this up.

“ Like a book out of place on a shelf. A single note out of tune. A rope frayed in the middle. There’s something different about Harriet York, and I can’t put my finger on what it is.”

💌➳ On the first day of December, the universe gave Harriet York a ghost. But for me, the real magic was Harriet herself. I genuinely liked her—a 27-year-old woman who was both understanding and resilient, yet constantly trying to mold herself into what everyone else expected her to be. I know how exhausting it is to live up to society's standards, but the most draining pressure of all comes from family. And in Harriet's case, that weight was embodied by her mother.

“ If he’s a ghost, he’s a handsome one.”

⚓➳ And then there's her ghost—a lonely spirit I utterly adored. Nolan Callahan is the quintessential solitary man, whose love for books knitting and company of cats is irresistibly cute. The tragedy is that he was a fisherman in life, in an existence full of sensation, and his death meant losing everything that makes life feel real: dreams, feelings, tastes. This made his haunting not scary, but deeply sorrowful and beautiful.

“You’re the first thing in a hundred years to make me feel anything at all, Harriet York, and I don’t think that’s an accident.”

💫➳ The love dynamic between them is so palpable it literally made me yearn! 😭 They developed their emotions by traveling to the past, a experience that felt like a beautiful, hazy dream drenched in winter vibes. I felt every electric touch, every brash and deep kiss, and I absolutely cherished every single hug. The urge to fall in love after reading this book is overwhelming! >>>333

I had a dream.” He pauses. “About you.”

That single line holds the entire, breathtaking power of this love story. This book left me in such a state that while writing this review, the only thing in my head were the lyrics from Arctic Monkeys' 'I Wanna Be Yours':


If you like your coffee hot / Let me be your coffee pot... / Secrets I have held in my heart / Are harder to hide than I thought... / I just wanna be yours.

•||||၊၊||၊|။|||▶︎|||၊၊||၊|။|||| •

“I am nothing but sensation. Heat and lust and delirium. Raw power drifts around me, sending out sparks but landing like snowflakes.”

✒️➳B.K. Borison's writing is the heart of this book's magic—it's incredibly cozy and vibrates with feeling. My entire reading experience was emotionally immersive; she has a gift for describing emotions in a way that makes everything feel alive and resonant. For me, this is a solid four-star read. While I adored the journey, the ending felt a touch predictable, and I wished for a bit more from Harriet's sister's subplot. Her moment of vulnerability seemed to exist primarily to move the plot forward, and I was left expecting a deeper resolution for her character. Despite this, the emotional rollercoaster was one I'd happily ride again.

iconic quotes 🕯️💗🧷

:
“She feels … familiar. Like the edge of a memory I can’t quite grasp. Or an … impression, almost. A song I’ve heard before.”
“I know. But something feels off about this one.”
“Even if going unnoticed breaks your heart.”
“You’ll be safe with me. You have my word.”
“Are you the fly in this scenario, or the honey?”
“Iwant to reach out and grab him. Sink my hands back into his hair and hold on. Wrap him in a blanket and stick him on my couch. Hug him until he remembers what it feels like.”
“Perhaps she’s the hopeful, optimistic antithesis to the dark cloud I’ve become, meant to hold up a mirror to my life and my actions.”
“I haven’t wanted anything in decades, but I think I want you..”
“I’d like to be a person with you, Harriet.”
“ She looks like something carved out of marble. Like something that deserves to be worshipped.he looks like something carved out of marble. Like something that deserves to be worshipped.”
“I think you’re bringing me back to life, Harriet.” “That’s a ridiculous statement.”
“Do something, I think. Touch me. Kiss me. Damn the consequences.”
“You said I had universes in my hair, whatever that means. That you wished you could wrap yourself in it like a blanket.”
“Maybe she’s the candle, and I’m the idiot drawn to her flame. She’s so damn beautiful.”
“Do not mistake me for a good man. I am not here out of some misplaced sense of honor or duty. I demand your attention and I desire your affection.”
“You look like a dream,” he murmurs. “You don’t dream.” I laugh. “I do. I dream of you.” His voice is low. “Every time I close my eyes, it’s you I see. You I want.” I want to pause time right here.
“You make me want impossible things, Harriet.” I know the feeling. “Yeah.” I sigh. “You, too.”
“Maybe I was always supposed to find you,” I rasp. Maybe, my heart adds, you were always supposed to be mine.
“That guy sort of looked at you like you hung the moon,”
“It was always supposed to be you.”

[Bea27x · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5
Sorry! I feel guilty about this rating becasue I enjoy the author, but I just didn't like this.

I’m sad, sad I didn’t love it like practically everyone else; I’m absolutely in the minority here, so maybe I’m the problem. I had high expectations and thought it was cute and promising at the start but ended up just bored and annoyed by the second half. I enjoyed the concept and the ghosts aspect, I also wanted to see Harriet stand up to her mother, I felt for her. Character wise, Harriet was ok, Nolan felt very generic. But the biggest thing that didn’t work for me was the romance, it didn’t get my interest, I didn’t believe in it, too insta and heavy on attraction from the start; I didn’t feel any chemistry and because of all of that by a certain point it just felt so cringy and eye rolling to me.

P.S. (minor spoiler) Probably a small thing that might have bothered only me, but the scene where Nolan wants Harriet to try to accept compliments since all of her life her mother made her feel wrong really annoyed me, it should have been sweet and meaningful, but all his compliments were related to her appearance inspiring lust in him.

I still have a lot of interest for the next books in the series.

[chloé ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

what’s December without a cheesy, quick, and festive romance book? 🎄

this was overall very cutesy and pretty fun. in a unique spin on the normal Christmas romance, the MMC is a ghost of Christmas past rather than a human being. this is SUCH a fun concept as long as you don’t think so hard about how, exactly, a ghost can get together with a human woman.

beware fantasy readers – the logistics of our ‘magic system’ don’t really add up in any way. just go with the flow and have fun with it, i guess. it’s probably best if you don’t think too hard.

the romance, of course, was very sweet. our FMC, of course, is a proponent for making Christmas as festive as possible. i don’t think the romance really stuck out to me more than any other book i’ve read, but it was cute. i do think a bit more emotional buildup would've been nice.

was this borderline too cheesy at times? yeah, i’ll admit it was. i can withstand a LOT of cringe during the holiday season while reading holiday books, so it was expected. (i will say, though, that the scene where she gets her hand stuck in her pocket somehow (???) while trying to get an emotional support candy cane was a little much for me.)

BK Borison is the queen of holiday books that are short enough, full of cheer, a bit cheesy, and make you feel merry & bright. this book gave me as much as i expected and it was good enough for a cute, quick holiday read.

Lovelight Farms remains my favorite by this author but all of her books are wholesome and will make you feel good.

i have to end this by saying i AM excited for the next book supposedly about a grim reaper 🫢

[April (s.i. work is busy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars ★

“You’re the first thing in a hundred years to make me feel anything at all, Harriet York, and I don’t think that’s an accident.”


I was looking for cozy Christmas vibes and that's exactly what I got. This was the perfect read to get into the Christmas spirit.

Good Spirits is the first book in the Ghosted series. It's a paranormal romance with a unique magic system. I loved that this had time travel aspects. You had better hold on tight because this magic will spin you into glimpses of the past.

The story follows Harriet York, a twenty-seven-year-old who inherited her late Aunt Matilda’s antique shop. One night, on December first she is at home sipping on peppermint tea when a man appears from behind her tree. Insert Nolan Callahan, the Ghost of Christmas past who is sent to haunt her and revisit her past. They have until Christmas Eve to change her ways. As Christmas Eve approaches, they find that there are threads that bind them together.


Harriet York is colorful, has a soft heart and has a sweet tooth. She comes off as a bit of a people pleaser, but she is the sweetest, kindest soul. All she's ever wanted was to fit in, especially with her own family. Is that so bad to want to feel loved or wanted? No, I don't think it is. In this case it made her resilient and stronger. One of my favorite moments was when she stood up to her mom and chose herself over trying to mask how she's been treated her entire life just to make them happy. I loved watching her grow and build up courage to this moment.

“This is who I am. I’m proud of it. You can choose to know me, or not. But it’s up to you now. I won’t be trying any longer.”


Nolan Callahan is lonely spirit who has been moving from one haunt to the next as the ghost of Christmas past. I felt a pull toward him immediately. As the story unfolds so does his. He is a grumpy, yet charming Irish fisherman with a sweet and tender side who has a love for books and knitting. As if I couldn't love him anymore, then I find out he reads. B.K. Borison had me swooning for this ghost.

"Perhaps she’s the hopeful, optimistic antithesis to the dark cloud I’ve become, meant to hold up a mirror to my life and my actions."


Harriet and Nolan couldn't be any more perfect for one another. Sure, they are opposites where she is sunshine while he is grumpy but more than that he's a ghost sent to haunt her. That's the beauty of it, they are meant to be, their paths always meant to cross. Their feelings for one another slowly grow every time they make a trip into the past, getting to know each other in every which way on these journeys. Their chemistry was palpable. The longing, the tension, the banter. There were even moments where they disagreed or said things that they didn't mean out of frustration. Every one of these moments and those in between made their love feel real and raw. I was rooting for them the whole time they just made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

“You look like a dream,” he murmurs. “You don’t dream.” I laugh. “I do. I dream of you.” His voice is low. “Every time I close my eyes, it’s you I see. You I want.”


I kept seeing great things about this, but I never thought that it would be as cute as it was. This gave me emotions that I wasn't expecting and Ioved every moment of it. I adored this book and the characters so much. I'm excited to see what the next book in the series has in store.


Favorite quotes and moments

"She feels . . .familiar. Like the edge of a memory I can’t quite grasp. Or an . . .impression, almost. A song I’ve heard before."

“I think you’re bringing me back to life, Harriet.”
“That’s a ridiculous statement.”

“I could spend an eternity studying you and still not know what you might do next. You give so much of yourself, so freely. You’re . . .wild with your attentions. Miraculous. I’ve seen so many lives, Harriet, but I’ve never seen someone live like you.”

“Your heart. This foolish, beautiful thing. It’s been bruised, hasn’t it?”

“What a gift that is. To still wish and dream and want. To find the good. To wear it on your sleeve.”

“It was always supposed to be you.”

"He came from another time to love me, and I’ve been waiting to love him in return."

“The unfinished business I have is with you, Harriet York. You better get used to having me around.”
“Haunting me?”
“No. Loving you.”


------------------

.ೃ࿔*:･ Pre-read

Starting off my holiday reads with this one! I've seen great things. Hoping it lives up to the hype 🤞❤️


Ahhh we have a cover 😍 I can't wait for the release next year! It's going to be the perfect holiday read 🥹❤️

[rei ‧₊˚✩彡 · Rating 5 out of 5]

╰┈➤ 5 stars!

this is genuinely the perfect christmas book 💚🎁🎄, and i already know i’ll need days, maybe even weeks or months, to fully process how much i loved it. it’s the kind of story that lingers long after you finish, wrapping itself around you like a warm blanket on a cold night. everything about it felt cozy, intimate, and quietly magical—the kind of holiday romance that doesn’t just rely on christmas aesthetics, but actually feels like the season. comfort, longing, hope, and warmth are all woven so naturally into the story that i couldn’t help but fall completely in love with it.

this is only my second b.k. borison book, and going in, i honestly didn’t expect much. first-time caller didn’t fully work for me, so i kept my expectations low—but this book completely surprised me. it didn’t just meet them, it exceeded them in every possible way. this one truly takes the cake.

୨ৎ harriet. she is a character who hit way too close to home. from the very beginning, i felt like i was looking at parts of myself reflected back at me, and that was both comforting and heartbreaking. she makes herself small so she won’t be noticed, so she won’t be a burden, and watching that unfold was quietly devastating. there’s something so painful about seeing a character believe that taking up less space is the safest way to exist, especially when you can see how much kindness and love she has to offer. her vulnerability felt raw and real, and it made her incredibly easy to connect to and root for.

୨ৎ nolan. gosh, he is so sweet. the fact that he keeps candy canes simply because he knows harriet loves sweets already told me everything i needed to know about him. it’s not just the big moments with him, but the small, intentional ones. the snow globe, the mistletoe, all the tiny gestures that show how deeply he pays attention. his care feels thoughtful rather than performative, and that made his affection feel so genuine and sincere. he loves in ways that feel quiet but steady, and that kind of love is honestly one of the most beautiful things to read about.

the tension between them? absolutely toe-curling. it’s slow, simmering, and filled with longing, which made every interaction feel charged. they’re so good for each other, and watching their connection grow felt natural and earned. even their disagreements worked for me. i know this might be controversial, but i actually enjoyed the moments where they clashed because they were written in such a realistic way. sometimes emotions overflow, words come out wrong, and you only realize afterward that you reacted too strongly—and that’s such a human experience. it didn’t feel dramatic for the sake of drama; it felt real.

this story is also incredibly invisible-string coded, and i loved every second of it. all the coincidences, the parallels, the way their lives were unknowingly intertwined long before they ever met—it gave the book such a soft, fated feeling. it made everything feel intentional, like they were always meant to find their way to each other. it genuinely made me feel more festive, more hopeful, and more emotionally open as a reader.

what really stayed with me is the idea that she spent her life waiting without realizing it, while he spent his searching—and when they finally found each other, it felt inevitable. once they ended up in each other’s arms, it was clear they were bound for good. their connection feels deep, grounding, and safe, like coming home after a long time away.

these lines completely gutted me because they put into words something so soft yet overwhelming—the idea that love isn’t always loud or immediate, but sometimes patient and timeless.

"He came from another time to love me."

it feels literal as much as it feels emotional, like their souls were always aligned even before their lives were. that hollow ache she feels isn’t loneliness for the sake of being alone, but a quiet recognition that something was missing, that she was waiting for someone she couldn’t name yet. the realization that they simply had to find each other makes the love feel destined, not rushed.

"I’ll think of you every day. Every moment. It’ll be only you."

this stayed with me because of how simple yet devastatingly sincere it is. there’s no grand promise there, just devotion in its purest form. it’s about choosing someone in the smallest moments, over and over again, and letting them quietly become part of your everyday existence.

this book didn’t just give me a love story—it gave me comfort, warmth, and that quiet ache that only the best romances leave behind. i need more christmas books like this, more stories that feel this intentional and heartfelt. this one completely stole my heart, and i’m more than happy to let it keep it 🥹🫧✨💌🎄

・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・

pre-read:

christmas book #3!! 🤭 i’m extremely excited for this one because everyone has been raving about this and the fomo is getting to me 😔 wish me luck!!

[ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

jokes over, why was this so much better than i thought it was going to be? going in, i just thought it was going to be a silly, cute, and fun holiday romance, but turns out this book packs emotional punches — which, as i’m reading the reviews for other b.k. borison books, is common for her. i haven’t had the best luck in the past with christmas romances — most of them feel like books that authors put in the minimal amount of effort for just for the sake of releasing a book. however, borison’s emotions were tangible in this one; the plot was also something creative and compelling to read about.

one complaint that i do have is we weren’t really focusing on the “holiday” aspect much. in the beginning, there were a few mentions of holiday-related activities/wear, but other than that it felt like a normal romance.

overall, i highly recommend this book if you want a cute romance during the holiday season with likable + relatable main characters <3

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Karyn⁠ ۶۟ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars 🎄 🧤 🐱 🍬 ⛸️ 🧣 🌨️

❝ 𝘐 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝙄 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪.
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
𝘐 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. ❞

╰── ⋆❅*𖢔𐂂꙳ ──╮

ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ʜɪꜱ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ɴᴏʀᴛʜ ✵
(𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦.)

╰── ⋆꙳•❅‧*₊⋆☃︎‧*❆₊⋆ ──╮

Okay, I need to be very honest first:
the beginning was a struggle for me.
The first 20% felt slow and I had to push myself a bit to keep reading.

But PLEASE don’t stop reading.

Because after the 20% mark, the story will get so much better, and before you realize, you will be fully in. Smiling, invested, and actually excited to keep turning the pages.

╰── ·꙳⋆𖢔𖠰𖢔·꙳⋆ ──╮

💭 ┆ Thoughts

This book is definitely THE perfect Christmas book for me.
I enjoyed it very much. It made me squeal and giggle while enjoying a cup of hot choco.

It’s magical (actual magic), and their first kiss is easily one of the cutest moments ever written, and that moment alone is worth picking up the book for.
The ending is exactly what you want. It’s sweet and the perfect wrap-up for this cozy book.

╰── ⋆꙳༄˖•❅‧*₊⋆ ˖𖠰 𖠰 ──╮

💋ྀིྀི ┆ Read this if you love …

➢ 🎄 A magical Hallmark Christmas movie
➢ 💋 Kissing under the mistletoe (but add a little Christmas magic 🪄)
➢ ☀️ Grumpy x sunshine (but he’s so clingy)
➢ 🫂 He hasn’t been held in years, and she holds onto him for what it’s worth
➢ 📝 The cutest hug & kiss scenes EVER!!!
➢ 🧎‍♂️ He begs for her. Begs.

╰── ⋆꙳•❅‧*₊⋆☃︎ ‧*❆ ₊⋆ ──╮

“𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁, 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄.”
𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘯.
𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵, 𝘕𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘯.
“𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁.”

╰── ⋆꙳•❅‧*₊⋆☃︎‧*❆₊⋆ ──╮

Buddy read this with my bestie Vanessa, and it made the experience even more special 🤍 We loved it so much, same rating, same favorite scenes, same feelings. I’m so happy I got to read this with you. Check out her review here!! ❄️

[Madison Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

i fear this has taken the place for my number one christmas read of all time. the love in here … palpable!!!

[Zoë · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay but does he have a social security number now or what.

[Alyssa Nieves · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS!!! SO GOOD

[Laura Jane ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

“You’re the first thing in a hundred years to make me feel anything at all, Harriet York, and I don’t think that’s an accident.”

Ok this was really cute! 🫶🏼
I ended up enjoying this more than I’d expected - I only read one Christmas book before and let’s just say it didn’t go well for me. However, although this gives off festive and cosy vibes, I enjoyed that the book focused more on the romance and the characters pasts, more than the fact it was Christmas. I will admit I did get a bit teary towards the end too cause damn that was sweet.

I really liked both Harriet and Nolan and enjoyed their dynamic. I will say, as sweet as they were, their relationship did feel a tad lusty at times - which I think I why I didn’t fully connect to this one. There were a few things I found a tad silly but you know it’s a cute Christmas book so I didn’t really mind all that much. Plus they were so wholesome and at times found myself laughing and smiling along.

Overall this was a really sweet and cosy book that you can fly through! Nothing stand out special for me personally but enjoyable enough - however I definitely enjoyed first time caller a lot more & would highly recommend that one 🤭


__________
·꙳⋆𖢔𖠰𖢔·꙳⋆ Pre-read: My only wish was I was reading this in a wintery and magical environment hehe. Hopefully this is cute for this months read with my girls Grace and Kayla 🤍
Also manifesting a win so Alyssa doesn't block me 🤣

[Jaime Fok · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

Loved the clever setup in this one! Cozy, Christmassy, and has that wonderful banter we all know and love from BK Borison.

The full on corporate paranormal office idea is genius, obsessed. And our characters felt perfect for a holiday romance.

Just had a few issues with some logic holes & the romance development happening too fast. It felt like our characters had just met each other… and then all of a sudden they cared about each other enough to have a full on soul-deep argument with each other. I would have liked to see more build with them!

Tried to overlook some of the logic holes (reminding myself this isn’t a fantasy… but a ghostly holiday romance). But the fantasy reader in me couldn’t help but notice things that just didn’t make sense or weren’t explained in the “magic” of it all 😂

Overall - cute, and perfect for this time of the year!

[Brooke &#x1d717;&#x1d71a; · Rating 5 out of 5]

╰┈➤ 𝟻 ✰ 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜.

❝ “𝒴𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝒽𝓊𝓃𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝓎𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓂𝑒 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁, 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓉 𝒴𝑜𝓇𝓀, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉’𝓈 𝒶𝓃 𝒶𝒸𝒸𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓃𝓉.” ❞

📚⋮ 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐛�� 𝐁.𝐊. 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧
📱⋮ 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎
🏷️⋮ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
📆⋮ 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟷𝟸/𝟸𝟺/𝟸𝟻-𝟷𝟸/𝟹𝟷/𝟸𝟻
📃⋮ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other: get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he's faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he's ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future. As Harriet and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together and realize there might be more to moving on than expected. With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other's pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?���」

⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆ ⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆

❝ “𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒶 𝑔𝒾𝒻𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈. 𝒯𝑜 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉. 𝒯𝑜 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝒹. 𝒯𝑜 𝓌𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒾𝓉 𝑜𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓈𝓁𝑒𝑒𝓋𝑒.” ❞

ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟶𝟸 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: 🎄
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴄᴀɴᴅʏ ᴄᴀɴᴇꜱ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: 👍🏼
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ꜱᴜᴘᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ — ᴀʀɪᴀɴᴀ ɢʀᴀɴᴅᴇ
2:04 ———♡——— 2:43

⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

╭───
┆
╰⪼ 🎶 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾'𝗌 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗌𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗇' 𝗆𝖾, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝖨 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗅. 𝗂𝗍’𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗌𝗎𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗇𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖺𝗅. 𝗂𝗍’𝗌 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝗂𝗇' 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗆𝖾, 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗇𝗇𝖺 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝗅𝗅.

⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
❄️ ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ
⛸️ ꜰᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
🧣 ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ʀᴇᴀʟɪꜱᴍ
❄️ ᴀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴍᴀꜱ ᴄᴀʀᴏʟ
⛸️ ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ x ꜱᴜɴꜱʜɪɴᴇ
🧣 ꜱᴜᴘᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ

❝𝒮𝒽𝑒’𝓈 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝓂𝑒 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝒽𝒶𝓃𝒹𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓀𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝒹𝑒𝒸𝒶𝒹𝑒𝓈. 𝒮𝒽𝑒’𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓉 𝓊𝓅 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓇𝓃𝑒𝓇𝓈.❞

⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆ ⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆


💬⋮ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
FULL RTC 🔜

——— pre read:
last christmas read with my boo Kelsey ♡

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

where do i sign up to have my soul audited by a hot irish ghost?

Read my full review

i’ll see you tomorrow never sounded so romantic!!

and thank you b.k. borison for the sexy ghost representation

“‘I remember. […] Of course I remember’”

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc to review.

Bookstagram | Blog

[aeryn rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️⭐️ !!!

"I could spend an eternity studying you and still not know what you might do next. You give so much of yourself, so freely. You're...wild with your attention. Miraculous. I've seen so many lives, Harriet, but I've never seen someone live like you."

I don't think there are words in the English language that can accurately describe my love for this book. It was beyond incredible, so put it lightly. This might go down as one of my top favorite reads of this year, honestly, and I'm so mad at myself for not reading this sooner. IN MY EYES, IT'S A MASTERPIECE!

For a book that is only 370 pages long, man did this have depth! While I'm not the biggest fan of characters that are people pleasures, this made complete sense and it had a purpose, it had a reason. Harriet did not have an easy life growing up because of her relationship with her mother, and I really found myself relating to her on a completely different level than normal. This book is just a testament to her story that there is strength in words and being yourself and not letting anyone define you. The whole time while reading this book, all I wanted to do was give her the biggest hug and say, "I understand you." I almost never, EVER feel that strongly to a character in a book.

Then we get to Nolan. I don't take what I'm about to say lightly, but he was damn near perfect. His mindset, his motivation, his love. Everything was unrequited and he made for a swoon-worthy MMC that you can't help but fall in love with while reading this. Harriet and Nolan's chemistry was off the damn charts. Their banter, the funny remarks? It was perfect. This wasn't one of those books where it's all fluff and filler. Everything in here had a purpose and I really, truly loved how it wasn't just your typically love story between them. There was trauma and heartbreak, but also self-acceptance and self-confidence.

The plot of this book was also something very unique that I think B. K. Borison absolutely nailed. I mean, the ghost of Christmas Past being paired up with a girl who is so wholesome and sweet trying to figure out why they're both there? THE IDEA WAS AMAZING TO BEGIN WITH and the execution was **chef's kiss**. I was a bit surprised at first why I couldn't put this down, but when you really get into this book the pages fly by. I was able to finish this in 2 sittings because it was THAT captivating.

Overall, if you're going to read any Christmas book this season, I cannot recommend this enough. Initially I swore off this author because I hated the Lovelight series and thought I would hate all of her work. BOY WAS I WRONG! It's widely agreed upon that that series was a miss for most people, but this book delivered on all cylinders and made for a swoon-worthy, sweet romance about learning to love yourself and be proud of who you are. I can't wait to try out more of B. K. Borison's work. ❤️

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 🎄❤️

Miss Borison...I am giving you one more chance since everyone seems to love this one, even my friend at the bookstore gave me hope, but I have minimal expectations honestly 😭

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE Christmas book this year! Charmingly quirky, insanely creative, with both hilarious and heartfelt moments, Good Spirits is a stunning grumpy meets sunshine holiday paranormal romance. 🎄❄️👻🧣

“Is there a word for what this is?” he says. His eyes hold mine. “Because if there is, I’m not familiar with it. I think about you all day long. I fall into a sleep I don’t need and I dream of you. Of your smile, and your laugh, and the way your mouth tastes. The sounds you make. I wake up wondering where you are, how you’re feeling, and I hope—” His eyes search mine. “I hope you’re thinking of me. You make me hope, Harriet. You make me want. You haunt *me*, Harriet.” He slips his hand around my neck, his palm squeezing at my nape. “Do not mistake me for a good man. I am not here out of some misplaced sense of honor or duty. I demand your attention and I desire your affection.”

[ Contains some spoilers ]

PLOT SUMMARY
27-year-old people-pleaser and former lawyer, Harriet York, runs her late Aunt Matilda’s antique shop called the Crows Nest, a dream that severely strains her relationship with her mother and sister. She receives a formal invitation to her family’s Christmas Gala, knowing it is merely for the sake of depicting the perfect family.

One night, she is visited by a Ghost of Christmas Past, Nolan Callahan. A former Irish fisherman who drowned in 1902, he is now assigned every year to change the ways of headstrong people before Christmas Eve otherwise they are doomed for eternity. Mistakes are never made with assignments. Only, he has been assigned Harriet. And he is confused: not only does she seem harmless, there is a familiarity about her too.

Strange things begin to happen – including trips to Nolan’s own past that he does not remember. Harriet wonders if perhaps she is meant to help Nolan find a way to his afterlife instead of the life he has, something which Nolan has begun to lose hope of obtaining. Drawn to each other but knowing a relationship can only ever be temporary, they decide to keep things casual.

Feelings are caught, rules are broken – but time is running out: not only will Harriet not remember Nolan, but Nolan’s actions in stalling the assignment will result in further consequences.

Nolan says, matter-of-fact. “You’re boundless.”
“Boundless,” I repeat, unimpressed.
“Aye. Boundless,” he says again. “I could spend an eternity studying you and still not know what you might do next. You give so much of yourself, so freely. You’re . . . wild with your attentions. Miraculous. I’ve seen so many lives, Harriet, but I’ve never seen someone live like you.”

This is told from the first-person present-tense POV of Harriet and Nolan.

OVERALL OPINIONS
ㅤ🧭👻 a granted wish ❄️🧣
First of all, a huge thank you to NetGalley for granting my wish to read this! For those who have never heard of this concept, some books aren’t available to request instantly on NetGalley but reviewers can “wish” for a book which lets publishers know you are interested and they can “grant” the wish, should they choose to. This has never happened to me before and I’m so honoured because I love B.K. Borison.

ㅤ🧭👻 the story’s message and depth ❄️🧣
Moving swiftly onto the book itself, wow! What a read! What a find! B.K. Borison usually writes things that tug at my heartstrings and this is without a doubt one of them! I went into this with the notion that I would receive another festive season romcom story – but this was so much more than that. I had no idea the depth that would be within here!

Did I cry reading this? Yes. Is this the second B.K. Borison story to make me cry? Absolutely. And I’d do it all again. All I will say is: the compass scene! That is all. You will understand.

In the Acknowledgements, Borison matches her dedication at the front and the story within, emphasising the importance of self-worth, hope and the value of patience:

I hope that if you feel like a lost and forgotten thing, that you realize how beautiful and special you truly are. And I hope that if you feel like you’ve been left waiting, that there’s beauty in that, too. That maybe, the thing you’ve been searching for is right around the corner.

As someone who has experienced being overlooked and underappreciated for various reasons, this resonated with me and I’m sure others will too. Those who get it, get it.

ㅤ🧭👻 the relationship ❄️🧣
Harriet and Nolan’s relationship is the most wonderful thing I’ve ever read in my life! IN MY LIFE! Everything about them is my kind of thing. Their first meeting is hilarious! I love their banter and witticisms, the parallels between their lives as they have spent much of it alone, and how they both notice things about the other to make them happy. They have the loveliest juxtaposition in their despair and longing: Nolan has lost hope in there being more for him and Harriet keeps hoping people will see her as more. Their knowing each other makes hope for both of them a reality, and this was explored exceptionally well. I also liked that Harriet has struggled with grieving over Aunt Matilda and travelling to the past heals this part of her, which for Nolan must have been impactful as he does it so often and doesn’t see what a gift it is to see the past.

Not only that but I was impressed by the creativity of the two spicy scenes. A lot of novels are getting to the point where things happen and the opportunity to play with (pun not intended, actually) the setting is missed. The snowglobe effect that Nolan accidentally causes and then the “present” concept were things I would never have thought of – and they’re literally chef’s kiss! It made the story all the more engaging. The other thing I adored was the unconventionality of having the woman take control in the bedroom, something we need to have more of, for sure.

ㅤ🧭👻 narration and characterisation ❄️🧣
The writing style and character quirks are the real charm for me. She has this way of narrating the story that, predictable or not, you just know it’s going to have you grinning ear to ear. When I read the opening lines, I was sold when I saw my sense of humour:

On the first day of December, the universe gave to me— A busted knee, a twisted string of garland, and a cat with an attitude problem.

Each character is unique: from Darryl the postman who has muddled the mail for two decades, to Harriet’s friend/store manager Sasha who takes no nonsense so calls people out and speaks unfiltered thoughts, to Isabella the terrifying yet reindeer-headband-wearing supervisor of the Department Nolan works for.

ㅤ🧭👻 worldbuilding and book 2 ❄️🧣
I did really like that not only is this story character-driven, particularly through Harriet’s arc from being a people-pleaser for her toxic family to finally standing up for and choosing herself over them, but it is rich in some physical journeys made through some remarkable worldbuilding too. Both characters journey back to the past and the different ages and settings of the individual (be it Harriet or Nolan) help to shape their understanding of the other.

Borison draws the idea of the Ghost of Past, Present and Future we all know from Dickens and transforms this into an office-like department of spirits. She adds layers of complexities to spirits: they can be seen by people but not remembered by them, they don’t dream, don’t remember their previous life the longer they remain a ghost, can’t be physically hurt, can’t taste things, can’t check in on loved ones after they are gone, are not supposed to use their magic outwith time-travelling. And the actual travels to the past are immersive: not a quick gentle journey but a snowstorm, and the elements themselves feel separate like the cold is buffered, the snow “feels like marshmallows” and the water doesn’t sting or burn.

There is a mention of Reapers/Grim Reapers too, which very nicely alludes to the plot for the next book, Grim Tidings: receptionist Betty says one of the Reapers has gone missing and Gideon, the oldest and cruellest Reaper, is handling it. Sounds awfully intriguing, potentially a dark romance mystery story? Anyway, I’m very excited about that! Sept 2026 can’t come quick enough!

ㅤ🧭👻 to conclude ❄️🧣
Long story short, there were a few missed opportunities BUT it did not detract from anything. I loved this! I hope you do too!

<< Positives >>
🠚 Nolan friggin Callahan.
🠚 Fun yet interesting read with creative and compelling supernatural romance.
🠚 Subverts the well-known concept of Ghosts of Christmas Past into something original.
🠚 Unexpected interdimensional scavenger hunt, looking for something to bring Nolan to an afterlife of rest.
🠚 Beautiful character arc of Harriet with an inspiring journey of reclaimed self-worth.
🠚 Remarkable worldbuilding with strong physical journeys and setting.
🠚 Quirky descriptions and characters.
🠚 Touching contrast between Nolan’s despair and Harriet’s hope.
🠚 Successful blend of character depth and action.
🠚 Creative spice scenes utilising the setting.
🠚 Refreshing and unconventional dynamic with woman in control.

<< Negatives >>
🠚 There was a missed opportunity with the worldbuilding: Nolan is to pass off Harriet to the next ghost, but we never actually get this.
🠚 Another missed opportunity was the jam that Harriet had been trying to re-create for 20 years, the one she tried to swipe before returning to the present again – I had so hoped that Nolan would have travelled back in time and grabbed a different jar for her to give for Christmas as well as the scarf. It would have matched.
🠚 I would have loved the continuation of the “on the first day of December” at various times of the month.
🠚 There could have been more Christmas events in this book other than the ice-skating and gala. For example, Nolan could have taken Harriet to a Christmas market considering her previous time was with Brent and her mother who mocked her.
🠚 There was a missed opportunity to talk about Aunt Matilda to her mother at the gala. To be honest, I was hoping for her to say how pathetic her mother behaved all because of a feud with Matilda years ago.
🠚 It might have been interesting to have had Brent on the scene at the gala, though this wouldn’t have been necessary.
🠚 The time travel paradox did throw me and left me with a lot of questions: How can he have been looking for something before even actually knowing her around the time of his drowning? How can there be as many parallels as they have, like the jam? Is that a coincidence or is it something to do with the magic? However, I don’t necessarily mind it.
🠚 There is a large plot hole: how has Harriet come to own the very same compass that was once Nolan’s? I would have liked a small explanation about how it was found. Even if it was just Aunt Matilda found it when she travelled to Ireland once or something.
🠚 The Isabella incident with the birdcage music box felt random yet intriguing. Hopefully this is in book 2.

CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Harriet꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ When Harriet said that “sometimes it’s best to make yourself as small as possible so you can go unnoticed”, I felt that. I hated that her parents favoured her sister Samantha; that she could do no wrong while Harriet could do no right. She was just a child who wanted to be loved! I’m glad that Samantha wants to work towards being sisters again.
Her character arc was so beautiful to see! It was heartbreaking to watch her believe that she must deserve whatever comeuppance is in store for her. As Nolan says, she is so inspiring with her positivity despite all the mistreatment, and it is truly admirable how she rises above it. Her journey is a profound demonstration of resilience and reclaimed self-worth. As someone who has been with a narcissist, her toxic relationship with Brent who puts her down and moulds her into someone she’s not hit me hard and I’m proud of her.
I love that she gets him a box of candies because he liked her cinnamon candy. I like how her babbling calms Nolan down when he is spiralling.

-ˋˏ ꒰ Nolan꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ Oh my word, I could talk about this man –or spirit or whatever you want to call him– all day. All year, in fact! He is not only so darn fine but such a darn gentleman! His sophisticated vocabulary and way of speaking adds so much humour. And the Irish accent? Woop! Another Irish man to swoon over this year, ladies! (I’m looking at Tom from If Not for My Baby)
When he said “Don’t be polite, Harriet. Take it.” I screamed!
I like how his emotions are explored: he is not used to company so is grumpy and bitter, but decides to do better because he doesn’t like hurting Harriet’s feelings. He is used to being in this strange working purgatory, so when Harriet comes along and things start happening to him –like he has dreams, feels things, even sees his own past– he gets frantic. I wanted to scream at him for not telling her about the compass.
The main moment I melted for him was when he did his magic trick for her. I was squealing and giggling and kicking my feet when he had that dream about Harriet! I knew it! And every time he says he hasn’t done these things in years (hugging someone, wanting someone). And then his obsession with her hair, and his twirling it around his finger ahhh! The mistletoe!! When he asks to kiss her! The way he was so worried when he was magic drunk and was worried he had taken advantage of her! The praising in the bedroom! Big swoon. The gentle “Look at me” and then gently making Harriet look at him when she refuses to! Gurl we were BOTH dying for that man in that snowglobe byeee! His yearning for her and the defending of her honour behind her back!! His encouragement of Harriet to be herself at the gala. This man is everything. Everything!

FAV QUOTES
• For the lost and forgotten ones. And the believers who bring them back.
• Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. It’s the only time of year when it feels like magic might be real, hovering somewhere close to the surface. Like you can reach out and touch it. Cup it between frostbitten fingertips like sugarplum kisses and popcorn strung on ribbon. Crackling fires beneath the hearth and gingerbread cookies fresh from the oven. Christmas has always felt right. Christmas has always felt true.
• In addition to every person who has ever been even moderately important to me, I’m being ghosted by a literal ghost. My life is a joke.
• “You’re the first thing in a hundred years to make me feel anything at all, Harriet York, and I don’t think that’s an accident.”
• “You don’t do as I say.” I gesture to the dress at her side. “Case in point.” | “Well, you’re you.” | I grin. I like being the exception to Harriet’s rules, even if it results in my frustration.
• I drowned in the ocean once and I think I could just as easily drown in Harriet. Sink down into her and lose myself for days.
• His eyes are fixed somewhere around my mouth. “I liked the way you said my name. I haven’t heard my full name in—” He exhales. “A very long time,” | Goose bumps prickle my arms. “I like saying it,” I manage, voice faint.
• I feel more grounded like this, wrapped in his arms. Protected, like maybe the ground won’t fall out from beneath my feet as soon as we leave this place. Like maybe I can hold on to this memory just like I’m holding on to him.
• He looks like a period drama on steroids. My thoughts are nowhere decent, that’s for sure.
• “Maybe I should kiss you more often.” | “I like to think I’m always agreeable.” My cheeks burn hot. “But maybe.” *Kiss me as much as you can,* I beg in my head. *Kiss me until I can’t possibly forget you.*
• She doesn’t even know how well she takes care of me. With her easy smiles and careful touches. Her too-soft heart and that smart mouth. She’s made me feel more alive in a handful of weeks than I have in decades. She’s lit up all of my darkest corners.
• I know what my consequences are. I’ll forget all of this. Mistletoe ceilings and fathomless blue eyes that crinkle at the corners. His hands in my hair and this soft, tender feeling in my chest. I’ll forget that for one perfect holiday season, I was important to someone. That someone thought I was lovely.
• “You look like a dream,” he murmurs. | “You don’t dream,” I laugh. | “I do. I dream of you.”
• “Do you need me?” He asks it quietly, earnestly, and my heart stumbles over itself. I could tell Nolan I needed a plate full of fancy Brie for this conversation, and he’d disappear to the cheese board without another word. No one has ever taken care of me the way Nolan has. I’m not sure anyone ever will again.
• *Remember this,* I tell myself as he laces our fingers together, his eyes closed as he tucks my hand against his mouth. He drags a kiss across my knuckles and I slot it in the secret place right next to my heart. *Please, please, please. Remember him.*
• “Maybe I was always supposed to find you,” I rasp. *Maybe,* my heart adds, *you were always supposed to be mine.*
• Nolan cups my jaw and drags my mouth to his, kissing me like his life depends on it. And in a way, I suppose it does. He came from another time to love me, and I’ve been waiting to love him in return.
• “I’ll see you tomorrow, Harriet.” He brushes a kiss to my bottom lip, the dip in my chin, the hollow of my throat. His hand finds my jaw and he holds me steady. “I’ll see you the tomorrow after that, and the one after that, and the one after that.” He punctuates each statement with a kiss, his scruff tickling at my skin. When he pulls back, he holds my face between his hands, gazing at me with tender, aching longing. Deep, sure possession. “I’ll be with you for every tomorrow you allow, and I suspect a time after that, too.”
• “The unfinished business I have is with you, Harriet York. You better get used to having me around.” | I sniffle. “Haunting me?” | “No.” He smiles. “Loving you.”

══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank B.K. Borison, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✩ 5 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Grumpy x Sunshine
➼ Fated Lovers
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Ghost x Human
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Modern Christmas Carol retelling
➼ Holiday Romance
➼ Magical Realism
➼ Dual Narration performed by Karissa Vacker & Will Watt
➼ Dual First Person POV

Harriet & Nolan forever! This was a 5 star read and is easily the best holiday romance I’ve read! 🙌🏻 That cover art by Brittany Keller would have had my hopes high even if this hadn’t been written by one of my favorite authors, but the combination of the two had my expectations through the roof! I had been impatiently waiting for this release for an entire year and by the time I finally got around to reading it, I was almost afraid to start. I never should have doubted B.K. though because she 100% delivered!

This is a romance, so I never doubted we’d get our HEA, but I did worry about how the author would get there considering the MMC is a ghost. The premise sounded very intriguing but I could see how it could have gone very badly in the hands of a less talented author. The spice for example could have been very strange if she hadn’t written him as a very solid presence that was fully capable of manipulating his surroundings both through magic and touch.

The story was so incredibly sweet while not feeling overly cheesy or Hallmarky like so many holiday romances. Nolan was that perfect balance of gruff with underlying yearning that I think we’re all perpetually looking for in an MMC. Harriet was an incredibly likable FMC who managed to always stay positive despite her circumstances. Nolan initially mistook this trait as toxic positivity but eventually saw to the heart of her - that she CHOSE to see the good in everything daily. After so many years as a ghost, spending his days interacting with the worst of humanity, he was desperately in need of her warmth and light. I loved everything about their journey together and all the little details the author included in their story. 💗

I know Christmas is over, but if you haven’t read this one, please don’t skip it!

Thank you to Libro.FM, the publisher and the author for providing me with the ALC.

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Pre-read: I’ve been showing EXTREME restraint and saving this book to read this week. So excited to finally start this!! 🤗🎄✨

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What?! I need this immediately! This might just be the cutest cover I’ve ever seen!

It’s stupid how excited I am for a book that doesn’t come out until October! 😩

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