How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House

by Jenny L. Howe

In this spooky, small-town YA romance, an amateur ghost hunter and a supernatural skeptic team up for a haunted home renovation project. But is their relationship the real fixer upper?

Amity Callaway is sick of being known as the weird girl. As annoyed as she is that her recently divorced mom just moved them across the country to the tiny, quirky town of Harlow’s Rest, Massachusetts, it could be the fresh start she needs.

Until Amity discovers their absolute disaster of a new house is supposedly haunted.

Theo Hargrave, amateur ghost hunter and son of the local general contractor, is a true believer. When he shows up on their property with his EMF reader in hand, Amity is ready to debunk all his theories. She’s definitely not staring at the small scar through his eyebrow or his ridiculously soft lips.

But even Amity can admit their home renovation is doomed. Nothing is going right, from the paint that refuses to dry to the fixtures that keep coming loose. So Amity and Theo strike a deal—his family’s construction expertise for her help investigating the house’s supernatural secrets. Even scarier than ghosts, though? Amity’s growing feelings for Theo.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Fiction, Paranormal, Rom Com, Ghosts, Halloween

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 21, 2026

Reviews

[labibliofille]

Full rtc, but I really loved this one!!

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got an arc from work, 4.5/5

This is an older ya that really feels like it cares for that transitory period teenagers go through, and I really appreciate that. It’s goofy and cringey-cute in that way that teens are, and it’s a good summerween read. I really loved how organic the relationships, both platonic and romantic, felt; I would want to be friends with these characters when I was their age. It especially hit home for me as someone who, like Amity, had shitty friends turn on me and talk shit in a chat behind my back, so I FELT THAT and it GUTTED ME. Genuinely wish I’d had a book like this at that age, maybe I would’ve believed sooner that I would find my people.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much!!
First—can we talk about the cover??
• Leni??
• Orangey perfection??
• PLUS SIZED CUTIES???
Immediate yes. No notes.

This book was so adorable I couldn’t help but slap a big ol’ 5 stars on it with zero regret.

Amity (and yes, her name is Amity and I’m obsessed) is just a regular girlie living in California with her mom, getting ready to start college. Then life said “plot twist”: her parents split, the house is getting sold, and her mom lands a job all the way in Massachusetts. Because of her age and the fact that she’s getting a free ride to college, Amity has no choice but to go… not that she’d leave her mom anyway because she’s low-key adorable.

And the house they move into? An old, charming fixer-upper that is very much 100% haunted.

Enter Theo, ghost hunter extraordinaire (self-proclaimed, amateur) and contractor working with his dad, who gets hired to help fix up the house. These two team up to figure out what’s going on with the haunting so Amity and her mom can actually settle in and start fresh.

And listen… I loved Amity and Theo. They were so ridiculously cute together. The banter? The teamwork? The soft, lovey moments?? I was blushing. I was giggling. I was eating it UP.

Also, Amity wanting to be an archivist?? Okay nerd, I see you and I love you. And the puns in this book, top tier. Truly.

I had such a fun time with this one and I really hope more people pick it up because it’s just pure cozy, spooky, adorable goodness.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher!!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and random house publishing for allowing me to read this arc for a honest review

This book was a five star read for me. I am all about plus size fmc. This was written so well and I sat down and read this in one sitting it was def a page turner

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent romantic light horror story. I genuinely laughed aloud a few times and was creeped out enough to stop reading a chapter or two at night. This story balances the nuances of first love with navigating living in a haunted house. Jenny Howe is quickly becoming an absolute standout in YA literature, and this book is another hit. Highly recommend.

[ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: How (not) To Renovate A Haunted House
ARC Provided By: Netgalley, Random House Children’s Books
Expected Release Date: 07|21|2026
Genre: YA Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Main Characters: Theo & Amity
Book Type: Standalone

This was such a cute YA romance with spooky and some horror(ish) themes. I adored both characters, Theo and Amity and Amity’s mom was such a great addition too.

I loved the dynamic between Amity, a total ghost skeptic determined to prove they aren’t real, and Theo, a passionate ghost hunter trying to convince her otherwise. Their banter and constant bickering made their personalities shine and kept things so fun!

The author also did a beautiful job bringing depth to Amity’s character. From her experiences as a plus-size girl to navigating her anxiety, everything felt real and I definitely related to her. I especially loved how comfortable she became opening up to Theo and how genuinely he listened.

Overall, this was a great read and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books and Author Jenny Howe for the arc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Jessica Katica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. While I’m not the target audience for a YA novel this was so cute! I kept forgetting it was YA. Fun fall or summerween read!

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

👻🏚️ How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House 🏚️👻

I need more cozy paranormal romances in my life because this was so adorable and cute!

✨💖 Amity & Theo foreverrrrr 💖✨

Theo was genuinely so sweet and a total consent king, which we love to see. And I loved Amity too, even if she was truly terrible at communication at times.

The ending did feel a little rushed, but it still came together in a really satisfying way. It wrapped things up nicely for Amity, her friendships, and her family, which made it feel full circle.

💖 What to Expect
• YA paranormal
• Haunted house
• Ghost hunter MMC
• Skeptical FMC
• Small town
• Opposites attract
• Supernatural mystery
_ _ _ _

⭐️ Final Score: 5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: July 21, 2026

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books, Delacorte Romance, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Maureen Hester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accidentally stumbled upon How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House by Jenny L. Howe, and was pleasantly surprised to end up with a 4.5 star read (rounded up to 5 here) in my hands! This is a Young adult spooky romance... and I did not realize it was a YA book when I requested the ARC. It had caught my eye because I thought the cover was cute, and the title was really kinda funny. I mistakenly assumed it was a spooky romance that just happened to be about young people... completely my bad (don't do these things when you're sleepy, friends...). That being said, the entire premise was fantastic, and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House is about an incoming college freshman named Amity, who has a (pretty unwanted) major change of plans for the fall when her mom takes a job entirely on the other side of the country, in Massachusetts. Amity, enrolled at the same university where her mother is faculty, goes with her so she can enroll in the school for the sweeeeet perk of free tuition. Although the two of them have a great relationship, this is definitely a stressor, and things get a lot worse when Amity realizes the ghost hunter videos she's been watching on their cross country drive are being filmed outside of the house they just bought. Enter Theo: ghost hunter, son of the towns best contractor, and Amity's soon-to-be romantic interest. The rest of the book follows their adventures in navigating the all the usual complexities of youth... falling in love and living in a haunted house.

There was a lot to love about this book. Firstly, as someone born and raised in Massachusetts, I think Howe really nailed the smalltown vibe you can find in a lot of places here. The quirkiness of the people and businesses, and even how the sense of community often comes along with people being just a little too interested in what you might be doing at any given time, were just really well done. And as a MA girly, I obviously lost it at the reference to the Bridgewater Triangle--- A+ for authenticity! I def chuckled, and will now forever think of the fictional town of Harlow's Rest on my weekly drive down 495. I also think Howe wrote the characters really well- they were not only really well-developed, but felt very real. Even just little things, like how Amity would rather drive an extra 30 min to be able to order takeout online vs over the phone, definitely embodied how young adults are today! Even Amity's relationship with her BFF Taylor felt so real: it seemed Taylor was the point of reference for almost all things that Amity thought and felt, and I absolutely remember things being that way at 18. All the relationships in the book were really nicely thought out (Amity with her mom, Amity with Theo, Theo with his dad and brother, etc). I really enjoyed the character development and interactions. I really do appreciate how authentic the relationship between Amity and Theo felt- including lots about her nerves and insecurities about being so new to that kinda stuff made her so much more relatable.

Aside from the cutesy feel good romance stuff, the spooky part of this story was actually... very spooky? The haunting-related aspects of the book were not over done or gory or anything like that, but Howe definitely created a super creepy vibe that really had me on edge finishing this up in bed in the dark last night! I loved how the story of Mercy was intertwined with the present day stuff, and no spoilers, but I loved how things ended.

Honestly would recommend this one to anybody looking for a cozy, ghostly read! This is perfect as a fun Summerween beach read, or a great way to kick off your spooky reads this fall!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books, Delacorte Romance, and Netgalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will preface this review with the fact that I am potentially in a biased position as I am, in loose terms, friends with the author, Jenny L Howe.

With that being said, ‘How (not) to Renovate a Haunted House’ is Jenny’s second Young Adult Contemporary Romance and I am pleased to say that yes, I loved it.

It is evident that with each publication, Jenny’s talent blossoms. Her innate ability to immediately capture her audience and invite us into her character’s worlds will always be my favorite aspect of reading her stories.

In this particular adventure, we follow Amity, who is suddenly uprooted from her life and is involuntarily moved across the country to a small town in New England, abundant with history and paranormal activity.
While facing many new challenges in her life, like preparing for her freshman year in college, processing the reality of her parents divorce, and now having to renovate a historical homestead her Mother purchased, Amity finds herself in the middle of a centuries long mystery tied to her allegedly haunted house. With the support of new friends (and old), Amity is given the opportunity to build a new life, explore her curiosity over skepticism, and embrace new and meaningful relationships.

I really did enjoy Amity’s journey in finding her stride and also particularly respected Theo’s (her male love interest) perspective on the paranormal. Like many of us who believe in ghosts, Theo, had an emotionally charged experience as a child which nurtured his interested in the paranormal. While this created a respectable conflict between our two main characters, it also led to healthy communication.

Now, while I loved this book, I do find it important to address that while reading, I identified some sensitive misinformation that needed revision. Thankfully, the author was receptive and open to these criticisms and was prompt in addressing it. I do not in any way believe that this was done intentionally and the author was very respectful during our conversation.

With that being said, ‘How (not) to Renovate a Haunted House by Jenny L Howe is scheduled to be published on July 20th, 2026 and I do highly encourage readers to check this one out! Especially for those of us who love a little historical spookiness.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Amity lives in California, where she plans to attend the college where her mother teaches to save on tuition instead of joining her friend Taylor. When her mother gets another job directing the writing center at Rehoth College, Amity is suddenly whisked across the country to Harlow’s Rest, Massachusetts. She’s irritated about the sudden notice and missing a taco crawl with Taylor, although not particularly concerned about leaving her father, from whom her mother was recently divorced. When their new lodgings turn out to be a local haunted house, Amity isn’t happy, even though she has the whole third floor to herself, and cute fledgling podcaster Theo is interested in the house. Amity struggles with social anxiety, but it isn’t long before she is making a few friends and arguing with Theo. Theo’s family is involved in renovating Amity’s house, which has some weird paranormal phenomena going on. Will the two fight their way through the renovations and haunting, or come to a cozy understanding?

I’m always looking for romances with high school characters that would be appealing to middle school students, so I had great hopes for this one, since horror is also a popular genre with my students. There is at least one f-word early on, but this could work for middle school. It wasn’t my favorite, since I am not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and found Amity’s behavior a bit young for a college student. She is so anxious she will only order food online so she doesn’t have to talk to staff, and muses that “There should be some kind of script available online to guide people through interactions with strangers.” (I thought there probably was; my daughter said that there is, in fact, a Reddit that addresses this, although I didn’t research it further.)

My big objection was the use of the phrase “got smote”, since the mother is supposed to be a college professor of writing. The principal parts of the verb “to smite” are smite, smote, smitten. This is grammatically esoteric, to be sure, but Amity’s mother should have corrected her.

Cute story, liked the premise, would probably buy for a high school library, but this wasn’t my favorite.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet & Spooky 👻🥰

This genre mash up of a haunted house story and a YA romance was really sweet, just a bit spooky (but not scary!), and an excellent book.

High school grad, Amity, has her summer and college plans thrown out the window by an unexpected move across the country. Her and her mom arrive at their new home to find out that it’s none other than the local haunted house. Shortly after the move, Amity runs into local ghost hunter, Theo. Theo is not only convinced her house is haunted by the spirit of a colonial era ghost named Mercy Harlowe, but he also happens to be a part of a family construction business and will help Amity renovate her house for a discount IF she lets him investigate the hauntings. From there, shenanigans and *feelings* develop…

Some thoughts:

- Amity was, understandably, upset about the move and her life being upended but she adjusted quickly and was able to understand her mom’s decision with minimal angst. I get it. I was a teenage girl once upon a time, we can be angsty 😂. But I tend to get annoyed when the angst reaches unreasonable levels and lasts the whole book/movie/tv show. Unreasonable annoying teenage daughter is almost a standard requirement in a lot of media and it drives me up the wall. Amity was not that. She felt her feelings, and then she adapted without taking it out on her mom.

- The spooky events started off slow and ramped up over the course of the book, culminating in an exciting and fast pace end of the book. Things were wrapped up really well and the story had a satisfying ending.

- Amity’s and Theo’s relationships with their fathers were both highlighted in the book and I really enjoyed reading those. They have very different fathers and very different relationships with them but it felt very real the way that they interacted and ultimately resolved, or didn’t resolve, those relationships. Overall, Amity dealt with a lot of really big things for a teenager and it always felt realistic and well-handled to me.

- Dale was the MVP!

Overall this was a really good read and if you like sweet, YA romance and a little bit of spookiness, I highly recommend it!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House, a novel by Jenny L. Howe, available July 21, 2026!

Are you ready for a spooky haunted house, the trials and tribulations of first love, and enough Casper references to make your heart swoon? Well, look no further! Amity has to move across the country with her mom, leaving her best friend behind, only to find out the house she'll be living in is none other than Harlow’s Rest’s infamous haunted house. Enter Theo Hargrave (not a ghost): YouTube sensation Mr. FixIt’s son, aspiring social media manager, and amateur ghost hunter who makes it his mission to help Amity fix her house, but also prove that ghosts are real. Amity is an aspiring archivist who understands science and facts, and at every cool spot, wisp of wind, or odd occurrence, finds a reason for the house’s hijinks. These two would inevitably fall in love! Also, there’s a squirrel named Dale. Need I say more?

The story is so heartwarming and perfect for early romance readers or anyone looking for a fun, teenage-angsty, how-do-I-navigate-having-a-boyfriend-for-the-first-time story. Amity’s struggle with being labeled the “weird” girl, and Theo’s unwavering support and love for her, are done so perfectly! And the plus-size rep is superb as only Jenny L. Howe can! Also, I’m not a horror reader, but some parts were SPOOKY! Maybe it’s because I live in New England and know we all have Pilgrim ghosts in our cellars (read: cellahs).

Plus, this book is GORGEOUS and looks so perfect next to Love At Full Tilt (did I mention there are cameos from our favorite Fableland friends in this book?!).

Thank you so much to Delacorte, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced (e-)reader copy and a chance to rate and review this book!

5 ⭐️ 0 🌶 (lots of pining!)

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & Delacorte Romance for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I did not want to put this book down. Honestly, it's the YA romance I didn't know I was looking for. The romance is really sweet (and although sex is mentioned, it doesn't happen in the book, and all conversations are appropriate for teenagers, I think). Add in the spooky-but-not-too-scary paranormal aspects, small town vibes, and cool history, and I'm HOOKED.
I highlighted quite a few quotes in here that really stuck out, most of which follow the theme of loving yourself, understanding that the world isn't as awful as you may think, and that things aren't black and white. Overall, some really, really great themes in this book.
I'd definitely consider rereading this in the fall months, and I'd for sure recommend it to anyone who has the same taste in books as me.

Started: June 1
Finished: June 3
Ebook
ARC
Thank you to NetGalley & Delacorte Romance for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I did not want to put this book down. Honestly, it's the YA romance I didn't know I was looking for. The romance is really sweet (and although sex is mentioned, it doesn't happen in the book, and all conversations are appropriate for teenagers, I think). Add in the spooky-but-not-too-scary paranormal aspects, small town vibes, and cool history, and I'm HOOKED.
I highlighted quite a few quotes in here that really stuck out, most of which follow the theme of loving yourself, understanding that the world isn't as awful as you may think, and that things aren't black and white. Overall, some really, really great themes in this book.
I'd definitely consider rereading this in the fall months, and I'd for sure recommend it to anyone who has the same taste in books as me.

Started: June 1
Finished: June 3
Ebook
ARC

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a fun time reading How Not to Renovate a Haunted House! This was a great paranormal romance that had the perfect mix of mystery, humor, and heart.

Amity was such a lovable main character. My heart really went out to her as she struggled with feeling "weird" because of the bullying she experienced. I loved that her best friend never gave up on her, and after moving, she was able to find people who accepted her for exactly who she was. That message really stood out to me.

And Theo? I absolutely loved him. I had so much fun watching him try to convince Amity that her house was actually haunted. Their relationship grew so naturally through all of their ghost-hunting adventures, and I loved seeing two people who seemed completely different realize they actually had so much in common.

The paranormal aspect was one of my favorite parts. It was just creepy enough to keep things interesting without ever being scary, which makes it a great choice for teen readers who want something spooky but not horror.

What I appreciated most, though, was the message behind the story. It reminds readers that you don't have to be who everyone else expects you to be just because it's considered "normal." It's okay to be different, it's okay to be yourself, and the right people will appreciate you for exactly who you are.

Overall, this was such an enjoyable read with lovable characters, a sweet romance, fun paranormal moments, and a meaningful message. If you're looking for a light paranormal romance that's equal parts charming, spooky, and heartwarming, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came together in all the best ways. Amity feels like the weird girl – a larger sized body, interests that don’t necessarily fit her peer group, a desire to become an archivist and learn about history. After a divorce, her mom moves her across country, to the house that everyone thinks is haunted. All during that precious time of transitioning between high school and college.

Tucked into this book are explorations of relationships – healthy, and unhealthy, friend groups; navigating a first romantic interest; an available parent, and a distant parent - they all blend into pieces of Amity, adding to the richness of the story. People are met where they are, and loved and accepted simply for being themselves. Amity’s friends from both before and after her move are robust, and I appreciated how natural it felt having everyone come together.

There’s also the haunted house/ghost story aspect, leading the plot for the character pieces to come together. It brought sides of both believers and nonbelievers together. It showed the ways that history can be pieced together. It was enough spooky to keep me on my toes, without being over the top.
Starting over and moving forward doesn’t mean that everything gets left behind. Amity got to bring along her friendships, while creating space for new ones. She was given space for her voice, and surrounded with love, support and acceptance. It’s one of those books that I would have loved when I was in the same part of growing as she is.

Thank you Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was so much fun to read with its spooky vibes and building chemistry between Theo and Amity. The characters all felt so real to me and the haunted house setting felt like it was actually happening and I found myself believing in ghosts while reading.

Besides a story about hauntings and first love, this novel also dealt with tougher issues in an authentic way. Amity experienced bullying in her past that added to her lack of self confidence and increased her anxiety and tendency for panic attacks. Amity also was going through moving across the country and starting over, something her introverted self had a tough time dealing with. Her mom is such a supportive parent, unlike her dad who was uninvolved with Amity's life. Her parents' divorce took more of a background theme and the fact Amity's dad didn't want to give her his attention and time was more of the focus. I felt Amity's anger during these scenes.

Amity has loyal friends who stay supportive and I enjoyed how much they loved each other. Amity also makes new friends who are also likeable and loyal. Amity and Theo obviously like each other and their relationship is a slow build until one moment which sparks a need for consent before proceeding. I enjoyed the honesty and openness of their relationship which is based on a strong friendship. I would enjoy a companion novel/sequel featuring Theo and Amity as they navigate college together. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Gils · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you didn’t know that you needed to read a YA novel that was so much more than you expected. Sometimes that novel is written by a local author that you are excited to support. And sometimes you relate to that book so much that you felt like hugging it with every new chapter.

Amity’s life is thrown into upheaval when her mother delivers some difficult news shortly before her 18th birthday, they are moving across the country. With her dreams of being an archivist in limbo, Amity is devastated. Little does she know that the move will change her life in every way possible when her mother moves them to a very haunted house.

Amity finds herself making new friends, discovering a great deal about herself while discovering things about her house. And while renovating, finds love for herself and in a relationship with the charming and disarming Theo.

I fell in love with this book so quickly. Amity’s struggles with questioning herself constantly will resonate with so many. Her struggles with allowing someone to love her were so relatable and something that I think we all feel at some point in our lives. Theo’s calming presence allow Amity to be her true self. And while it doesn’t happen without difficulty, in communication with each other, they grow and learn together.

This book was full of wit, heart, snark, and spookiness. If you loved the magical and historical side of Practical Magic and the sweetness of Casper, this book is for you. Truly one of my favorite YA reads!

I received an advance copy of this book at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny L Howe is a delightful and hilarious read each and every time! This is a sweet YA read filled with humor and...

👻a haunted house
🥞 great local town food spots (creatively named as always)
💲fun thrifting trips
🛠️ home repair disasters
🐶 golden retriever MMC
📚 bookworm and archivist hopeful FMC

This book hooked me from the start with main character Amity's move across the country into a supposedly haunted house in Massachusetts. Her raw emotions and insecurities about the big life changes caused by graduating high school, her parents getting divorced, and grappling with trauma from mean girls in school made her such a relatable teen. Finding Ghost Boy Theo through online videos was a great way to introduce him and then have a ghost hunting related meet-cute! Amity's ability to be unabashedly herself with Theo despite her social anxiety was great to see, and I love how all of the side characters allowed her to start fresh and show her interests and be accepted unequivocally.

The ghost busting premise of this book was unique and a great way to center the storyline. Amity and Theo were forced to reveal parts of themselves and be honest with each other, deepening their relationship and testing out what it means to lean on and support someone else.

The mystery payoff was worth it and well done. I was only sad the story was over!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC review copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Nicole Guerra-Coon · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Amity's mom tells her they have to move across the country for her new job, she is not happy. Not only is she leaving her best friend, but it upsets her summer plans and her college plans. So when they pull up to their new place in a small Massachusetts town, Amity is really not thrilled that it is an old house that needs lots of work, and that it's the local haunted house. As a anxious girl with social anxiety, she really doesn't need to be the 'haunted house girl,' too.
Amity quickly meets Theo, an amatuer ghost detective with a youtube channel, who is doing a series about her house. Theo is a true believer, but Amity is all about facts. At first, Amity sets out to debunk Theo, but his kindness and thoughtfulness start to break through her tough exterior. Strange things start happening at the house, and Amity tried to find logical explainations, but evenutally, the incidents become too serious to ignore.
I loved so much about this book! I love the plus sized characters and lgbtq+ representation. I appreciated that Jenny Howe wrote a book about a contemporary teen who has no romantic or sexual experience as they enter college. There is no spice in this book, not because of some chaste ideas, but because they are young and just don't feel ready for that kind of commitment. Plus it's all wrapped up in a ghostly story about a house being haunted by colonial teen girls! A+

[Katherine C.]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House Children's Books. Giving my honest review!

I am giving this a 3.5 ⭐️ which means I enjoyed it and thought it was a great summerween book! This is a YA romance that starts out with our FMC Amity. I feel very nostalgic over this book right away because it feels like something I would’ve read and liked as a teenager. We start off with 17 y/o Amity going through some major life changes of having to move cross country with her mom after a divorce. Switching colleges, leaving her BFF behind… only to move into the haunted house of the ‘new to her’ neighborhood.

There she meets Theo. It’s an opposites attract—ghost hunter/enthusiast vs non-believer romance which takes place while Amity and her mom are trying to renovate their home. Amity is having some (possibly ghost related) struggles—streaky paint, leaking sinks, etc. Very cute conversations between Amity and Theo as they start spending more time around each other through the renovations. Theo wants to make content for the family construction business while ghost hunting as a side hobby.

This book is good for those that love a little spookiness as it delves into haunted houses, ghosts and ghost stories, ghost summoning and seances. But what I really liked was the new friendships Amity formed, her relationship with her Mom and a new relationship with Theo.

[Amanda Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored How (Not) To Renovate a Haunted House by Jenny L. Howe from the very first page to the very last. This book was the perfect blend of cozy romance and campy haunted house fun, and it completely stole my heart.

One of my favorite parts was the incredible found family dynamic. The friendships felt so genuine and supportive, adding so much warmth to the story. Every character brought something special, making the house feel just as alive as the ghosts haunting it.

Jenny L. Howe also managed to combine two of my favorite genres so seamlessly. The haunted house elements were spooky enough to keep things interesting while still leaning into that fun, slightly over-the-top horror vibe that never took itself too seriously. Pair that with a sweet, heartfelt romance, and it was the perfect combination.

This book had me laughing, smiling, and rooting for everyone to find exactly where they belonged. It was charming, heartfelt, delightfully haunted, and completely unforgettable. If you love cozy romances with supernatural twists, found family, and a haunted house full of personality, this one deserves a spot at the top of your TBR.

👻 Tropes:

* Found family
* Haunted house
* Small-town charm
* Cozy paranormal romance
* Friends to lovers vibes
* Home renovation

5 ⭐️ 0.5🌶️

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 4.5⭐️

How cute was this?!

Seriously, this was so much fun! As soon as the physical ARC arrived on my doorstep (thank you, Get Underlined! I had no idea one was coming after I’d already requested and received the eARC on NetGalley), I dove right in with an immersion read since I also had complimentary access to the ALC through the Penguin Random House Audio app.

I think YA readers are going to eat this one up. The FMC, Amity, is such a fun and dynamic character. Her life gets turned upside down when she finds herself living in—and renovating—a haunted house, and she handles it all with panache.

I absolutely loved Amity’s relationship with the adorable amateur ghost hunter who happens to work for his dad’s renovation company. They made such a great duo, and it was so much fun following them as they navigated creepy happenings alongside their budding romance.

I also really enjoyed the audiobook. Darcy Rhodes was the perfect choice for the narration and did a fabulous job bringing the characters to life. I always enjoy immersion reading, but this one especially stood out to me.

I think readers both young and old will have a great time with this charming, spooky story.

[Stacy71 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amity’s parents’ divorce hasn’t been easy but finding out that her mom is uprooting her life and college plans and moving them across country is one thing. Discovering that the cute amateur ghost hunter she finds online is obsessed with the haunted house in their new town is another, especially after she sees they are moving into said haunted house.

This YA story had more substance than expected from a “ghost story.” There was a lot of emotional depth and understanding between Amity and Theo. The awkwardness of their courtship felt real and truer than the fairy tales you see portrayed in most books. I appreciated that it gave a different perspective of what a “romance” could look like and how intimacy can progress at that age.

I also enjoyed the paranormal aspect of the story. It was not as straightforward as it seemed. It was spooky but not too scary for its intended audience. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lauren Bayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, Jenny L. Howe makes you believe in true love. Amity and Theo brought out the best in each other, and the slow development of their relationship unfolded in such a realistic and delightful way. Side plots were fleshed out well, and each of the supporting characters had their chance to shine brightly while still keeping the light on the two main characters. Of course, Howe is best known for crafting dynamic plus-sized heroines, and Amity is a fantastic character and narrator.

Some things were a little repetitive, and if this is a reader's first introduction to Howe, they might be lost with the references to Love At Full Tilt. Otherwise this was a wonderful romance, filled with spooks and swoons.

Side note: any time plus-sized characters are illustrated so adorably on a cover, I want to kick my feet in delight. I am simply obsessed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Murphy Baisley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the eARC of How (Not) to Renovate A Haunted House. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First off, I love this concept, and blending ghosts, hauntings, and a little dash of fear with romance sets my hopeless romantic, horror-loving heart on fire. The romance in this was so cute and heart-warming and just what young people need to see - as well as some older people! Amity is also so relatable in tone and life experience for me, and I loved how she learned self-acceptance. It felt almost as she learned how to accept the unknown as well, she grew into herself and who she is.

The writing is accessible but not boring and repetitive, like some feel YA can be. There's emotional depth and themes here that anyone can get something out of. I absolutely loved it.

4.5 rounded up to 5. Personally, I would have liked more background on hauntings in general. I'm a sucker for the esoteric.

[Aja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me first start off by saying… this book was ADORABLE! I absolutely love how it gave such spooky feels but all that cozy small town vibe. I absolutely loved all the different types of representation in this book! We have the LGBTQIA+ representation and I absolutely adored Arden, Taylor and Nadya. The social anxiety rep as well? I have some of the worst and it felt like I was seen! Also the plus size rep! You don’t see too much of that in romance books so that was also awesome!

I gave it 4 stars only because it’s such a spooky season book and I felt me mood turn on my a couple times cause I am not in the spooky season mood lol with that being said this book is PERFECT for it! It kinda felt like I was reading an episode of ghost adventures. It definitely gave me chills in certain parts. Almost didn’t wanna read it in bed at night lol but over all it was a great book and I will definitely recommend it for spooky season to my reader friends!

[Connie Rivet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was about two of my favorite things, romance and spooky stuff. While it definitely leaned more towards romance there was a good amount of spooky too, especially towards the end of the book.

I loved Amity and how she was written. As a plus-sized girl with anxiety myself, it was nice to see a character written like Amity. The author did a really good job as I have had a lot of those same thoughts and feelings myself. It’s also not often you see a main character of a romance as plus-sized. I appreciated this as we fall in love too and should also be represented.

If you’re looking for some cozy, romantic, spooky vibes then definitely read this! Even better if you are a fan of the 90s movie Casper too! It all felt very nostalgic for me. Who didn’t swoon over Devon Sawa and Christina Ricci falling in love?

**Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Romance, and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review**

[Shaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Children's Random House for the ARC!

Okay, WOW! This is not my usual cup of tea, so I will say I was so pleasantly surprised to find out that I love cozy spooky romance! I LOVED IT!

This book was a YA, small-town, cozy spooky romance - it also was so inclusive! This book was the kind of book I was dying for when I was a teenager.

There is so much representation of different backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and body types, but it is done in such a way that it doesn't feel forced or out of place, it just is! Exactly how it should be!

The characters were cute and the love story was even cuter! I am a sucker for a black cat x golden retriever duo and this book delivered!

Not only was there an adorable set of main characters, but the friend group was so fun and quirky too!

This book is being released just in time for Summerween and I highly HIGHLY recommend!

[Amy A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this YA romance!
As a former plus-size teen, I instantly connected with Amity, our skeptic FMC with a lot of past hurt but still so much heart. Theo (our sweet, amateur ghost-hunting love interest) is just adorable the entire time. And the friend group she builds as the story unfolds is so supportive and wholesome it honestly made my heart happy.

There’s bullying, big life changes, and starting over, but what I loved most is how Amity slowly lets people back in. And yes, the cute boy being all in on her from the get go - I loved to see it. This book is cozy, uplifting, and all about love, friendship, and realizing change isn’t always the end of the world. I am one hundred percent here for it!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!