Paper Ghosts

by Sarah Addison Allen

The highly anticipated new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Other Birds hailed as “whimsical, wise, and delightfully mysterious.” (Real Simple)

In a small North Carolina town, Wester House has stood in its richest neighborhood for decades, and the Wester women have held the town enthralled for generations. Some folks love them. Some folks fear them. But no one truly understands them. Why does a rainy season cause so much anxiety and dismay among them? Why do they know so much about those who live near and around them? Why is no one allowed inside the house and why does Willamena Wester want to bring her granddaughter, Bailey, back into the fold?

To understand the Wester women, you would have to meet Willamena fifty years before, when a love-struck girl made a fateful choice that trapped her in this house forever. The Wester women have always balanced their need for control with their desire for love, and when that balance is off, disaster happens. At age eighteen, Bailey Wester left town amid scandal and heartbreak. But now the pull of family is drawing her back, and old ghosts are stirring to life. Can curses be broken? Do ghosts find rest? And what does it take to become the woman you were always meant to be?

Sarah Addison Allen’s stunning prose will transport you to a place where enchantment is around every corner, and love finds a way of bringing us home.

Genres: Magical Realism, Fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary, Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Sarah Addison Allen is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eight novels. A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Allen is credited with bringing "Southern Magical Realism" to a mainstream audience. Her work, characterized by its romantic, lyrical prose and its exploration of family dynamics through a supernatural lens, has been translated into more than thirty languages and sold millions of copies worldwide.

Allen’s debut novel, Garden Spells (2007), became a breakout success and an indie bookseller favorite, spending weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Her subsequent works—The Sugar Queen (2008), The Girl Who Chased the Moon (2010), The Peach Keeper (2011), Lost Lake (2014), First Frost (2015) and Other Birds (2022)—have each been bestsellers, garnering acclaim for their quiet magic and subtle, folkloric elements integrated into contemporary Southern life.

The daughter of a journalist father and a mother who was a celebrated cook, Allen grew up in a household where storytelling and food were the primary love languages, elements that now define her fiction. She attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, graduating with a degree in Literature. At age 39, Allen took a hiatus from publishing following a diagnosis of late-stage breast cancer. Her return to writing was marked by a shift toward more poignant narratives.

Allen’s most recent project, Paper Ghosts (2026), continues her tradition of blending mystery with the supernatural. She currently resides in Asheville, North Carolina with her family.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Drake]

I can't wait. Sarah Addison Allen is my absolute favorite author. Her books are just delightful and anyone who loves her work should follow her social media. From time to time she writes tiny, whimisical snippits of stories that brighten any day.

[Judy]

Judy Sebastian from Eastham Public Library
I’m always excited when I get to read anything by Sarah Addison Allen, even her short paragraphs based on photos. She has a way of writing magic realism that delights and allows me to sink into the story, eager for the next page. The women of Wester House have always been feared in their community. They isolate themselves but seem to have some sort of magic ability to know everything about everyone in town. But their personal lives are never complete, so when Willa’s granddaughter Bailey comes back to be raised, Willa plans to do everything in her power to not make the same mistakes her grandmother made with her. Lyrically written and not to be missed, although some things are not completely explained which leaves me with questions. Loved it.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win an advanced copy of this book, and I devoured it in a day. Honestly, like all her other books, this one was so readable and had me racing to the finish. Upon finishing, I’ve been in a bit of a book daze, thinking about the characters and their choices. Maybe a touch more darkness than some of SAA’s other books, but lots of small town quirkiness and charm, interesting characters, and that touch of magic that makes the stories so special!

[Karisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a loss, Bailey and her father come to live with her grandmother, Willamena Wester in the small, slightly magical town of Hen Town, North Carolina. Willamena, Wills for short, has many secrets and gives few answers to her eager young granddaughter. Bailey yearns for connection to the place and her grandmother even while living there in her ancestral home. It’s a story that plays out across generations. Sweet and enjoyable fast read.

[Kathy Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The women of Wester House have always been feared in Hen Town. It starts like a story about witches, but it ends up being a story about love and misunderstandings and ghosts. It also reminds us that history doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes.

Thank you to Edelweiss for an advance copy of this book.

[Libby Reidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Webster Women of HenTown has always been looked at with a bit of mystique by their people in their town. They seem to know everything going on but hardly ever leave their house. When Bailey(the granddaughter ) returns home after her mother's death, her grandmother does everything she can not to repeat the history of the Webster women. I loved this book and will recommend it to my friends.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, cozy read, like Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls with a splash of Halloweentown. I loved all of the story lines and the characters. My only grievance is I wanted more from everyone, including the house, which was hinted at a few times as being a character all its own, but didn't really lean into it. Overall, a great read.

[Merrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book!
I am a huge fan of Sarah Addison Allen and was thrilled to win a copy of this book! I was not disappointed! I loved her character development with surprises I didn't see coming! Her North Carolina settings are always perfection! Hen Town was no exception! If you love magical realism, family drama and unexpected twists you will love this book!

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite of Addison's works -- so many threads of sadness that only very gradually resolve; so much isolation and dreams deferred. I liked that each generation finds their way to more kindness and more connection, and it is very well written.

Advanced Readers' Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Kaaren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I don't want to give away any spoilers but the "Sarah" magic is strong with this one. Wonderfully fleshed out characters.