What do you think?
Rate this book
With All My Haunted Heart
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26A witch hired to ethically haunt a small-town B&B instead finds herself spellbound by her non-magical client in this cozy and enchanting sapphic romance.
Steadily losing clients to the new DIY-magic shop on the other side of town, Pippa Ainsley is getting desperate. Instead of hiring the witch to correct their magical maladies, local mundanes have been taking their chances with the cheaper—and unpredictable—crystals and herb blends. So when Pippa’s best friend hires her to inspect his newly acquired bed-and-breakfast for ghosts, she doesn’t think twice about it.
That is, until she learns that his unfairly attractive co-owner, Elle Thompson, doesn’t want Pippa to rid their business of spirits. She wants Pippa to give them an edge over the competition by haunting their B&B.
It’s the perfect challenge for Pippa’s experimental magic, but just because she could figure it out, doesn’t mean it’s a smart or safe idea. But Elle is persistent, and the financial boost could save her own business if Pippa succeeds. Soon, Pippa finds herself testing the limits of her magic… and her ability to stop the growing attraction she feels toward Elle, a woman with a painful secret of her own.
Steadily losing clients to the new DIY-magic shop on the other side of town, Pippa Ainsley is getting desperate. Instead of hiring the witch to correct their magical maladies, local mundanes have been taking their chances with the cheaper—and unpredictable—crystals and herb blends. So when Pippa’s best friend hires her to inspect his newly acquired bed-and-breakfast for ghosts, she doesn’t think twice about it.
That is, until she learns that his unfairly attractive co-owner, Elle Thompson, doesn’t want Pippa to rid their business of spirits. She wants Pippa to give them an edge over the competition by haunting their B&B.
It’s the perfect challenge for Pippa’s experimental magic, but just because she could figure it out, doesn’t mean it’s a smart or safe idea. But Elle is persistent, and the financial boost could save her own business if Pippa succeeds. Soon, Pippa finds herself testing the limits of her magic… and her ability to stop the growing attraction she feels toward Elle, a woman with a painful secret of her own.
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 8, 2026
About the author
Isabel Sterling
6 books1,733 followersIsabel Sterling is a master coach and author of sapphic romance for teens and adults. Their novels include These Witches Don’t Burn, This Coven Won’t Break, The Coldest Touch, and the forthcoming With All My Haunted Heart. She lives with her spouse and fur-babies in Central New York, where the winters are frigid, the summers are too hot, and autumn is perfect.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
April 29, 2026
💫🕯️💜 With All My Haunted Heart💜🕯️💫
Sapphic Romance 🫱🏽🫲🏽 Cozy Paranormal
Oh this was so cute and cozy. Literally all of my favorite things. Sapphic love, witches, ghosties, magic, and found family.
Pippa might be one of my favorite witchy FMCs of all time. I loved her so much, and my heart hurt for her just as much. I definitely have beef with her mom.
It took me a bit longer to warm up to Elle, and I didn’t always love her choices, especially toward the end. But I did come around to her, and I really liked her with Pippa.
This story balances cozy, fun moments with heavier themes like grief and family estrangement. I thought those were handled really well. There is a lot of emotional reflection and healing throughout the book. The author’s note at the end made this book even more heartfelt.
👻What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Witch FMC
• Small town B&B
• Ethical haunting
• Experimental magic
• Found family
• Cozy paranormal romance
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
📝 Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Sapphic Romance 🫱🏽🫲🏽 Cozy Paranormal
Oh this was so cute and cozy. Literally all of my favorite things. Sapphic love, witches, ghosties, magic, and found family.
Pippa might be one of my favorite witchy FMCs of all time. I loved her so much, and my heart hurt for her just as much. I definitely have beef with her mom.
It took me a bit longer to warm up to Elle, and I didn’t always love her choices, especially toward the end. But I did come around to her, and I really liked her with Pippa.
This story balances cozy, fun moments with heavier themes like grief and family estrangement. I thought those were handled really well. There is a lot of emotional reflection and healing throughout the book. The author’s note at the end made this book even more heartfelt.
👻What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Witch FMC
• Small town B&B
• Ethical haunting
• Experimental magic
• Found family
• Cozy paranormal romance
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
📝 Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
March 20, 2026
Who wouldn’t want to stay at a haunted B&B and actually get to interact with the ghosts?
This storyline was such a cool concept, and it was very clear there was at least some research into the different products Pippa used when dealing with all things witchy.
At first I was a little iffy about Elle, she seemed really closed off and I felt like we didn’t get to learn a lot about her until close to the end.
Pippa was my absolute fave, I seriously felt like there was no faults that were her own, and she went through some CRAP with her family.
This book felt pretty low-stakes, but man did it tug at my heart a few times. There were a lot of emotions to be had between all of the characters.
I do wish there had a bit more when it came to Pippa and Elle’s relationship, I just didn’t feel a big enough connection between them. It was overall a solid read though, LOVED a few things Pippa did with her magic ;)
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!
This storyline was such a cool concept, and it was very clear there was at least some research into the different products Pippa used when dealing with all things witchy.
At first I was a little iffy about Elle, she seemed really closed off and I felt like we didn’t get to learn a lot about her until close to the end.
Pippa was my absolute fave, I seriously felt like there was no faults that were her own, and she went through some CRAP with her family.
This book felt pretty low-stakes, but man did it tug at my heart a few times. There were a lot of emotions to be had between all of the characters.
I do wish there had a bit more when it came to Pippa and Elle’s relationship, I just didn’t feel a big enough connection between them. It was overall a solid read though, LOVED a few things Pippa did with her magic ;)
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!
Read
March 7, 20264 stars; review to come September 2026
April 28, 2026
2.5 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
I wanted to like this one, I really did. It has all my favorites; sapphic, spooky, haunting, ghosts, a bed and breakfast. But it just fell flat for me and I really struggled. I was basically speed reading to get through it towards the end.
The characters weren’t great, or very fleshed out. The magic system was very “but why” to me and the world building didn’t do it for me.
I liked the tackling of grief and real world problems they faced but overall it was a big miss
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the arc
I wanted to like this one, I really did. It has all my favorites; sapphic, spooky, haunting, ghosts, a bed and breakfast. But it just fell flat for me and I really struggled. I was basically speed reading to get through it towards the end.
The characters weren’t great, or very fleshed out. The magic system was very “but why” to me and the world building didn’t do it for me.
I liked the tackling of grief and real world problems they faced but overall it was a big miss
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the arc
June 25, 2026
The whole concept of this book was amazing. The way the magic is described felt as if it could be real in our world which I absolutely loved. The characters were all super fun and while this is a bit predictable, it doesn’t take away from how solid of a story this was.
I ended this book story feeling happy AND THEN I read the authors note and now I’m crying.
I ended this book story feeling happy AND THEN I read the authors note and now I’m crying.
May 12, 2026
Pippa loves working on experimental and creative magic and has been working hard to keep her business afloat after cheaper competitors seem to dominate the market. When her best friend Xander hires her to haunt his new bed and breakfast before Halloween, Pippa sees it as her last chance to save her business. Pippa is determined to create the impossible before her deadline, but doesn't expect to meet Elle Thompson, the co-owner. Pippa feels a connection to Elle right away, even though Elle seems distant at first. As Halloween approaches, Pippa pushes her magic further, and while she and Elle spend more time together looking for ghosts, their feelings for each other start to grow.
With All My Heart is a cozy fantasy with a fun and original story. Honestly, who wouldn’t be curious about staying in an intentionally haunted bed and breakfast? I really liked the main characters, especially because they each had their own flaws. Each character seemed to grow throughout the story, and I especially enjoyed seeing Pippa realize her magic was something to be proud of, even if her family didn’t agree. Overall, this was a wonderful romance that made me laugh and cry. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal sapphic romances.
If you read With All My Heart, I recommend checking out the author’s note. The situation the author talks about is heartbreaking. I am glad the author was able to honor her child in this way. I’ve been thinking about the author’s note ever since I finished the book, and it made the story feel even more special.
With All My Haunted Heart is out September 8th.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to review With All My Haunted Heart. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With All My Heart is a cozy fantasy with a fun and original story. Honestly, who wouldn’t be curious about staying in an intentionally haunted bed and breakfast? I really liked the main characters, especially because they each had their own flaws. Each character seemed to grow throughout the story, and I especially enjoyed seeing Pippa realize her magic was something to be proud of, even if her family didn’t agree. Overall, this was a wonderful romance that made me laugh and cry. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal sapphic romances.
If you read With All My Heart, I recommend checking out the author’s note. The situation the author talks about is heartbreaking. I am glad the author was able to honor her child in this way. I’ve been thinking about the author’s note ever since I finished the book, and it made the story feel even more special.
With All My Haunted Heart is out September 8th.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to review With All My Haunted Heart. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 9, 2025
I want to recommend With All My Haunted Heart to everyone! It was so cozy and magical and inviting—this absolutely darling B&B for the setting and characters who instantly felt like people you’d want to befriend. I loved Pippa and Elle and Xander, who were kind and funny and lovable. And who were each dealing with their own deep hurts. I adored the friendships and romance (swoon!), made all the more poignant for the carefully portrayed aches and how they worked through different kinds of grief together. Honestly, this book was such a balm! <3
Want to Read
March 24, 2026🕯️💜 With All My Haunted Heart 💜🕯️
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
💫 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Witch FMC
• Small town B&B
• Magic shop rivalry
• Cozy paranormal romance
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
📝 Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
💫 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Witch FMC
• Small town B&B
• Magic shop rivalry
• Cozy paranormal romance
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
📝 Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 8, 2026
This was such a fun and quirky read! I loved the magic in this book, the way it was described felt so tangible to me. Sterling has a way of dropping you into a story and instantly feeling like you know the main character deeply, while also moving the pace along and focusing on the story. It’s a gift! I loved the ghosts, I wanted more of them, I hope we get a sequel with Xander and the ghosts!!
June 17, 2026
Thank you to Berkley for this eARc, this book was magical and wonderful and emotionally devastating and broke my goddam heart but felt like a privilege to read. The world would be better if the magic in this book was real but reading something like this lets us have a small slice of that and for that I’m grateful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2026
A cute and warm read; The story is a cozy supernatural romance- where our main character Pippa find her services requested to 'cleanse a friend's BnB' only to discover the real job behind the request.
I found the characters to be rather enjoyable, and the romance to be cute; and although I would say this story is mostly a low-key romance; I found it also touched on themes of loss and grief. The loss of relationships being what pushed our characters to make many of the decisions they made throughout the story. It was an interesting read, a first of its kind for me.
I thought it was a cute book and overall a decent read.
Id like to thank NetGalley and the publishing team for granting me access to this book.
I found the characters to be rather enjoyable, and the romance to be cute; and although I would say this story is mostly a low-key romance; I found it also touched on themes of loss and grief. The loss of relationships being what pushed our characters to make many of the decisions they made throughout the story. It was an interesting read, a first of its kind for me.
I thought it was a cute book and overall a decent read.
Id like to thank NetGalley and the publishing team for granting me access to this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, Berkeley Publishing and author Isabel Sterling for this ARC opportunity. I am thrilled to share my honest review.
I know they say not to judge a book by its cover but the cover is absolutely adorable. I was immediately captivated by the colors, the art, the cute girls kissing and the sweetly spooky title! I definitely went in having judged this book to be a winner and, thankfully, it totally was. So, I will preface this by saying that I typically don't like paranormal stories nor do I usually care for witches, ghosts or most anything too spooky but this cover had me jumping at the chance to read this book. I am so glad that I ventured outside of my typical contemporary sapphic romance comfort zone for this cozy witchy sapphic romance! I was delighted and entertained from beginning to end. With All My Haunted Heart is a charming and emotionally layered magic filled sweet paranormal sapphic romance. This book has a unique and wonderfully original storyline with a sweet and heartwarming love story that I won't soon forget.
Pippa agrees to help out her bestie Xander with an interesting business proposal. Use her magic abilities to intentionally haunt their his acquired Bed and Breakfast to create a unique and one of a kind guest experience. Pippa is a bit skeptical and defilely loath to work with Elle, her besties business partner and co-owner of the B&B, but let's face it, her business is hanging on by a thread. Pippa is a talented practical witch but her magic business is struggling as most of the town are turning to an alternative DIY magic shop, crazy consequences from practicing magic without knowledge or experience be damned. Okay so since I very rarely read paranormal stories, I found the concept of a town where magic is real and often used to be at once crazy and wonderfully refreshing. I loved the way Isabel Sterling created this world in a completely inviting and not at all scary way.
Pippa embarks on her mission to ethically haunt the new B&B and must work closely with the frustratingly beautiful and sometimes difficult, Elle. What ensued was a fun and quirky story full of delightful ghosts (something I never thought I would say) and fun manifestations. The haunting aspect is much more complex and carries with it more emotional depth than I had anticipated. Real feelings, grief and unresolved pain of our main characters become intricately tied in and I really appreciated this depth. It made the story so much more emotional and memorable for me. The romance between Pippa and Elle develops slowly but surely and I was all about it. The attraction is definitely there from the start, despite Elle’s sort of stoicism. I could see the spark between them two and it was so much fun to watch their connection grow. They have a delicious tension and sometimes their viewpoints clash but their push and pull dynamic is great. They are drawn together because they sort of unsettle each other. Rather than a simple and easily compatible romance, we get a sweet and organic adventure toward a real relationship. I really liked Pippa and Elle together and felt they complimented one another so well. Their chemistry was authentic and watching them bond and fall for one another was really rewarding.
I enjoyed the writing a great deal. I was immensely impressed with Isabel Sterling and her ability to create a world full of ghosts, magic and witches that was appealing to me. I loved world building and found her writing style to be very engaging. The writing is clean and easy to read with a ton of emotion and a cozy romance tone. I loved the characters in this book! Sterling creates deep, realistically flawed and really likeable characters who I grew to care about. I was invested in their happiness and was thrilled to watch them grow, heal and embrace good things in their lives. The love story was deliciously sweet and I was rooting for Pippa and Elle all along.
Overall, this book was a blast to read and made me appreciate a genre that I never knew I could. I will absolutely look for more from this author and can't wait to see what magic filled paranormal sapphic love stories she cooks up next! With All My Haunted Heart is an original, emotionally deep sapphic romance with a fun and quirky dose of paranormal elements that you will not regret reading. This story will dance around in my mind for a long time to come!
I know they say not to judge a book by its cover but the cover is absolutely adorable. I was immediately captivated by the colors, the art, the cute girls kissing and the sweetly spooky title! I definitely went in having judged this book to be a winner and, thankfully, it totally was. So, I will preface this by saying that I typically don't like paranormal stories nor do I usually care for witches, ghosts or most anything too spooky but this cover had me jumping at the chance to read this book. I am so glad that I ventured outside of my typical contemporary sapphic romance comfort zone for this cozy witchy sapphic romance! I was delighted and entertained from beginning to end. With All My Haunted Heart is a charming and emotionally layered magic filled sweet paranormal sapphic romance. This book has a unique and wonderfully original storyline with a sweet and heartwarming love story that I won't soon forget.
Pippa agrees to help out her bestie Xander with an interesting business proposal. Use her magic abilities to intentionally haunt their his acquired Bed and Breakfast to create a unique and one of a kind guest experience. Pippa is a bit skeptical and defilely loath to work with Elle, her besties business partner and co-owner of the B&B, but let's face it, her business is hanging on by a thread. Pippa is a talented practical witch but her magic business is struggling as most of the town are turning to an alternative DIY magic shop, crazy consequences from practicing magic without knowledge or experience be damned. Okay so since I very rarely read paranormal stories, I found the concept of a town where magic is real and often used to be at once crazy and wonderfully refreshing. I loved the way Isabel Sterling created this world in a completely inviting and not at all scary way.
Pippa embarks on her mission to ethically haunt the new B&B and must work closely with the frustratingly beautiful and sometimes difficult, Elle. What ensued was a fun and quirky story full of delightful ghosts (something I never thought I would say) and fun manifestations. The haunting aspect is much more complex and carries with it more emotional depth than I had anticipated. Real feelings, grief and unresolved pain of our main characters become intricately tied in and I really appreciated this depth. It made the story so much more emotional and memorable for me. The romance between Pippa and Elle develops slowly but surely and I was all about it. The attraction is definitely there from the start, despite Elle’s sort of stoicism. I could see the spark between them two and it was so much fun to watch their connection grow. They have a delicious tension and sometimes their viewpoints clash but their push and pull dynamic is great. They are drawn together because they sort of unsettle each other. Rather than a simple and easily compatible romance, we get a sweet and organic adventure toward a real relationship. I really liked Pippa and Elle together and felt they complimented one another so well. Their chemistry was authentic and watching them bond and fall for one another was really rewarding.
I enjoyed the writing a great deal. I was immensely impressed with Isabel Sterling and her ability to create a world full of ghosts, magic and witches that was appealing to me. I loved world building and found her writing style to be very engaging. The writing is clean and easy to read with a ton of emotion and a cozy romance tone. I loved the characters in this book! Sterling creates deep, realistically flawed and really likeable characters who I grew to care about. I was invested in their happiness and was thrilled to watch them grow, heal and embrace good things in their lives. The love story was deliciously sweet and I was rooting for Pippa and Elle all along.
Overall, this book was a blast to read and made me appreciate a genre that I never knew I could. I will absolutely look for more from this author and can't wait to see what magic filled paranormal sapphic love stories she cooks up next! With All My Haunted Heart is an original, emotionally deep sapphic romance with a fun and quirky dose of paranormal elements that you will not regret reading. This story will dance around in my mind for a long time to come!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book (expected publication date of September 8th, 2026) in exchange for my honest feedback!
I don’t typically gravitate towards romance books, but wow, this one was absolutely adorable. I’m really grad I picked this one up!
Pippa is a witch with a problem. Her business, in which she uses magic to help mundanes (non-magical people), is in trouble due to heavy new competition from a more DIY magic shop, C3. Luckily, Pippa’s best friend, Xander, has moved back to town, and wants to hire her to haunt his newly purchased B&B. Less luckily, Xander’s gorgeous business partner, Elle, seems quite non-compromising on what this haunted B&B will look like, regardless of how challenging this magic will be. And even worse, Elle doesn’t seem to return Pippa’s infatuation.
Overall, this book was super cute. Sure, the romance was predictable and somewhat formulaic, but the magical element was so much fun, and the romance was still enjoyable.
None of the characters were perfect, and they were all far too hard on themselves, but their flaws made the book feel more real. Pippa is extremely insecure and self-deprecating. She makes everyone else’s misfortunes about herself. But it is warranted, given her family trauma. Elle’s moods seem to change in an unpredictable manner, but that’s at least partially explained by her relationship and family trauma as well. I really appreciated how none of the characters labeled each other as being melodramatic or whatnot for having and expressing their feelings, and that they seemed to value honest communication (for the most part).
Yes, this is a book about romance and magic. But it’s also a book on chosen family, and overcoming the harm your family does to you. Pippa’s mother is so cruel, which has very clearly left emotional scars on her, but Pippa’s friends recognize this, and help her overcome this pain without blaming her for it.
Pippa uses her sigil to avoid dealing with unpleasant realities, like her grief. Elle labels this “serial killer magic,” but in reality, it’s Pippa’s attempts to overcome her grief. But she cannot really come to terms with (and work through) her grief without feeling it. That’s exactly what she needs her chosen family for—providing her the space to accept and work on her feelings—and that’s exactly what they give her.
Other than Pippa’s lightning-quick 180 on her moral unwillingness to consider haunting the B&B, there was only one real plot hole I noticed, and that involved Willa’s ghost. We know from early ghost encounters with Pippa and Elle that ghosts take the form they died in (I believe there was a ghost whose head was partially disconnected from his neck?). So, how would Willa’s ghost have been healthy and able to talk in ways she wasn’t when she died? Why is it that Willa’s ghost is suddenly healthy, when that wasn’t the experience of other ghosts? I’m sure there’s some in-universe explanation that could be concocted, but it felt messy to me. (Ooh, and we also can’t forget that despite knowing Xander since the start of college, she didn’t know enough about his personal life to even know the gender of his childhood best friend?)
There’s also one detail that I feel the need to highlight, because of how brilliant it was. Party Polygraph, the game Xander invented in college (mentioned starting in chapter 10), was an absolutely genius tool for character development. It helps highlight what types of magic Pippa can perform, and it lead to absolutely brilliant development between Pippa and Elle. It allowed for a potentially juvenile game to further the romance, without making any of the characters feel juvenile themselves. Absolutely fantastic idea by the author! If this were a movie, I would have LOVED an extended version / blooper where they all played this game after the conclusion of the story.
Sure, this book was rather predictable, and sure, the romance felt absolutely absurd for two people who have only known each other for under a month. But it was incredibly heartwarming too, and was an absolute joy to read.
I don’t typically gravitate towards romance books, but wow, this one was absolutely adorable. I’m really grad I picked this one up!
Pippa is a witch with a problem. Her business, in which she uses magic to help mundanes (non-magical people), is in trouble due to heavy new competition from a more DIY magic shop, C3. Luckily, Pippa’s best friend, Xander, has moved back to town, and wants to hire her to haunt his newly purchased B&B. Less luckily, Xander’s gorgeous business partner, Elle, seems quite non-compromising on what this haunted B&B will look like, regardless of how challenging this magic will be. And even worse, Elle doesn’t seem to return Pippa’s infatuation.
Overall, this book was super cute. Sure, the romance was predictable and somewhat formulaic, but the magical element was so much fun, and the romance was still enjoyable.
None of the characters were perfect, and they were all far too hard on themselves, but their flaws made the book feel more real. Pippa is extremely insecure and self-deprecating. She makes everyone else’s misfortunes about herself. But it is warranted, given her family trauma. Elle’s moods seem to change in an unpredictable manner, but that’s at least partially explained by her relationship and family trauma as well. I really appreciated how none of the characters labeled each other as being melodramatic or whatnot for having and expressing their feelings, and that they seemed to value honest communication (for the most part).
Yes, this is a book about romance and magic. But it’s also a book on chosen family, and overcoming the harm your family does to you. Pippa’s mother is so cruel, which has very clearly left emotional scars on her, but Pippa’s friends recognize this, and help her overcome this pain without blaming her for it.
Pippa uses her sigil to avoid dealing with unpleasant realities, like her grief. Elle labels this “serial killer magic,” but in reality, it’s Pippa’s attempts to overcome her grief. But she cannot really come to terms with (and work through) her grief without feeling it. That’s exactly what she needs her chosen family for—providing her the space to accept and work on her feelings—and that’s exactly what they give her.
Other than Pippa’s lightning-quick 180 on her moral unwillingness to consider haunting the B&B, there was only one real plot hole I noticed, and that involved Willa’s ghost. We know from early ghost encounters with Pippa and Elle that ghosts take the form they died in (I believe there was a ghost whose head was partially disconnected from his neck?). So, how would Willa’s ghost have been healthy and able to talk in ways she wasn’t when she died? Why is it that Willa’s ghost is suddenly healthy, when that wasn’t the experience of other ghosts? I’m sure there’s some in-universe explanation that could be concocted, but it felt messy to me. (Ooh, and we also can’t forget that despite knowing Xander since the start of college, she didn’t know enough about his personal life to even know the gender of his childhood best friend?)
There’s also one detail that I feel the need to highlight, because of how brilliant it was. Party Polygraph, the game Xander invented in college (mentioned starting in chapter 10), was an absolutely genius tool for character development. It helps highlight what types of magic Pippa can perform, and it lead to absolutely brilliant development between Pippa and Elle. It allowed for a potentially juvenile game to further the romance, without making any of the characters feel juvenile themselves. Absolutely fantastic idea by the author! If this were a movie, I would have LOVED an extended version / blooper where they all played this game after the conclusion of the story.
Sure, this book was rather predictable, and sure, the romance felt absolutely absurd for two people who have only known each other for under a month. But it was incredibly heartwarming too, and was an absolute joy to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A cozy, sapphic, paranormal-ish romance. Didn’t quite land for me but I am confident it will find its audience.
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to Berkley Publishing group and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This publishes September 8, 2026.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC 1: Perpetua “Pippa” Ainsley Erikson (aka “pip” or “sweetheart”). Witch whose magic shop is in need of funding. Is hired by her best friend, Xander, to help him and his business associate haunt their B&B
– FMC 2: Louie “Elle” Thompson. Along with her best friend, Alex (Xander), is opening a haunted B&B. Has her own reasons for starting this business venture
– POV: Single first-person (Pippa)
– Spice: 2-3 open-door and fade-to-black spicy scenes (not overly explicit)
– Tropes: dislike to love, workplace romance, sapphic romance, paranormal/fantasy, cozy, small town-ish, she’s my best friend’s other best friend
– Content warning: on-page child death, family estrangement
– Representation: LGBTQIA+ main and side characters, non-binary minor characters
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
Please note before reading that this book contains the on-page death of a child due to terminal illness. It's handled with care, but the subject matter is understandably very heavy.
With All My Haunted Heart blends cozy magic with deeper themes of grief, family estrangement, and the corrupting influence of power. The premise immediately caught my attention: rather than getting rid of ghosts, the characters are trying to recruit them to help haunt a B&B. It felt a bit like Ghosts crossed with Sabrina the Teenage Witch (for adults rather than teens). I also appreciated Pippa's commitment to practicing magic ethically.
While I can see this being a great fit for readers who enjoy cozy fantasy, I've realized that cozy stories aren't quite my preferred reading experience right now. That said, I did enjoy how the author incorporated complex family dynamics and emotional themes into the magical setting.
Where the book lost me was in the character connections. I struggled to fully connect with Pippa and even more so with Elle. The multiple names and nicknames for several characters (Pippa/Perpetua, Elle/Louie, Alex/Xander) occasionally pulled me out of the story and made it harder to keep track of everyone. Because I never became invested in the characters, the romance didn't quite work for me either. The transition from tension to attraction felt underdeveloped, and their chemistry read more as friendship than romance.
What stood out most was the exploration of grief. Knowing that the author drew from personal experiences surrounding the loss of a child added a layer of authenticity and emotional depth that made those moments particularly impactful.
Overall, the writing was solid, though it didn't consistently move me on an emotional level outside of the grief-centered storyline. While this one wasn't the right fit for me, I think readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with heartfelt themes and a unique paranormal premise may have a different experience.
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn—————✧——————Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy————————✧———Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to Berkley Publishing group and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This publishes September 8, 2026.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC 1: Perpetua “Pippa” Ainsley Erikson (aka “pip” or “sweetheart”). Witch whose magic shop is in need of funding. Is hired by her best friend, Xander, to help him and his business associate haunt their B&B
– FMC 2: Louie “Elle” Thompson. Along with her best friend, Alex (Xander), is opening a haunted B&B. Has her own reasons for starting this business venture
– POV: Single first-person (Pippa)
– Spice: 2-3 open-door and fade-to-black spicy scenes (not overly explicit)
– Tropes: dislike to love, workplace romance, sapphic romance, paranormal/fantasy, cozy, small town-ish, she’s my best friend’s other best friend
– Content warning: on-page child death, family estrangement
– Representation: LGBTQIA+ main and side characters, non-binary minor characters
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
Please note before reading that this book contains the on-page death of a child due to terminal illness. It's handled with care, but the subject matter is understandably very heavy.
With All My Haunted Heart blends cozy magic with deeper themes of grief, family estrangement, and the corrupting influence of power. The premise immediately caught my attention: rather than getting rid of ghosts, the characters are trying to recruit them to help haunt a B&B. It felt a bit like Ghosts crossed with Sabrina the Teenage Witch (for adults rather than teens). I also appreciated Pippa's commitment to practicing magic ethically.
While I can see this being a great fit for readers who enjoy cozy fantasy, I've realized that cozy stories aren't quite my preferred reading experience right now. That said, I did enjoy how the author incorporated complex family dynamics and emotional themes into the magical setting.
Where the book lost me was in the character connections. I struggled to fully connect with Pippa and even more so with Elle. The multiple names and nicknames for several characters (Pippa/Perpetua, Elle/Louie, Alex/Xander) occasionally pulled me out of the story and made it harder to keep track of everyone. Because I never became invested in the characters, the romance didn't quite work for me either. The transition from tension to attraction felt underdeveloped, and their chemistry read more as friendship than romance.
What stood out most was the exploration of grief. Knowing that the author drew from personal experiences surrounding the loss of a child added a layer of authenticity and emotional depth that made those moments particularly impactful.
Overall, the writing was solid, though it didn't consistently move me on an emotional level outside of the grief-centered storyline. While this one wasn't the right fit for me, I think readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with heartfelt themes and a unique paranormal premise may have a different experience.
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn—————✧——————Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy————————✧———Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The cover for this was what initially caught my eye, but then I noticed the author as well. I read Isabel Sterling’s These Witches Don't Burn and its sequel three or so years ago and enjoyed it, so I was eager to read this one. Thankfully, this book was a little more grownup than the other series, which is one of the reasons I liked this one even more. I am far from my teenage years, so I can always identify with the characters a little better when they’re adults like in this book.
Pippa is the eldest daughter of a prominent witch family, but her experimental magic caused her to get kicked out by her very traditional mother five years ago. After being disowned by her family, she opened a business to use her less traditional magic to help others. The business is struggling, though, so when her best friend, Xander, and his childhood best friend/business partner, Elle (who Pippa is pretty instantly attracted to), ask her to haunt their new B&B with ghosts to give their guests a unique experience, Pippa reluctantly agrees after some convincing. And after she’s offered a large sum of money that will help her floundering business stay afloat.
With All My Haunted Heart isn’t a perfect book, but it is a mostly entertaining read, nevertheless. It’s not all fun and games, though; the three primary characters are all broken in different ways and there were some parts in the book that didn’t have me crying exactly but did leave me a little teary.
The story is told from Pippa’s point of view, and her family’s rejection and being told her whole life that she wasn’t good enough has left her with plenty of doubt and insecurities. Xander is also going through a recent breakup and Elle is clearly not okay, but she keeps her problems a secret from Pippa, who knows there’s something going on with her. She just doesn’t know what that something is. In a way, they’re all dealing with heartbreak, just different kinds. Honestly, all three of the characters really needed to get some therapy. Because of this, the book was a little heavier than I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a little more of a straightforward romance, but to me, the book is also very much about different kinds of grief and heartbreak and trauma, not letting fear ruin you or the good still in your life just to protect yourself, and chosen family when your biological family disappoints.
While I did like the book, I guess Elle was my biggest issue with the whole thing. Even by the end, I wasn’t sure whether I liked her or not. Sometimes I did and sometimes I didn’t. She could just be a bit too hot and cold for me, especially in the beginning when she was pretty crappy to Pippa. And despite her reasoning, I don’t really get why she wasn’t a little more open with Pippa. Yes, she’s technically a stranger, but she knows Xandra trusts her, so why all the secrecy? I felt like it was mostly to add more drama to the story.
I also wished we’d gotten more of Dea, who is introduced in the beginning but is then not in most of the book. My other (minor) complaint is the use of “B and B” throughout the book. I have legitimately never seen bed and breakfast abbreviated this way. I’ve only ever seen it as B&B or BnB, so it always threw me.
Regardless, Isabel Sterling is definitely an author I will continue to keep an eye on for new books.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Pippa is the eldest daughter of a prominent witch family, but her experimental magic caused her to get kicked out by her very traditional mother five years ago. After being disowned by her family, she opened a business to use her less traditional magic to help others. The business is struggling, though, so when her best friend, Xander, and his childhood best friend/business partner, Elle (who Pippa is pretty instantly attracted to), ask her to haunt their new B&B with ghosts to give their guests a unique experience, Pippa reluctantly agrees after some convincing. And after she’s offered a large sum of money that will help her floundering business stay afloat.
With All My Haunted Heart isn’t a perfect book, but it is a mostly entertaining read, nevertheless. It’s not all fun and games, though; the three primary characters are all broken in different ways and there were some parts in the book that didn’t have me crying exactly but did leave me a little teary.
The story is told from Pippa’s point of view, and her family’s rejection and being told her whole life that she wasn’t good enough has left her with plenty of doubt and insecurities. Xander is also going through a recent breakup and Elle is clearly not okay, but she keeps her problems a secret from Pippa, who knows there’s something going on with her. She just doesn’t know what that something is. In a way, they’re all dealing with heartbreak, just different kinds. Honestly, all three of the characters really needed to get some therapy. Because of this, the book was a little heavier than I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a little more of a straightforward romance, but to me, the book is also very much about different kinds of grief and heartbreak and trauma, not letting fear ruin you or the good still in your life just to protect yourself, and chosen family when your biological family disappoints.
While I did like the book, I guess Elle was my biggest issue with the whole thing. Even by the end, I wasn’t sure whether I liked her or not. Sometimes I did and sometimes I didn’t. She could just be a bit too hot and cold for me, especially in the beginning when she was pretty crappy to Pippa. And despite her reasoning, I don’t really get why she wasn’t a little more open with Pippa. Yes, she’s technically a stranger, but she knows Xandra trusts her, so why all the secrecy? I felt like it was mostly to add more drama to the story.
I also wished we’d gotten more of Dea, who is introduced in the beginning but is then not in most of the book. My other (minor) complaint is the use of “B and B” throughout the book. I have legitimately never seen bed and breakfast abbreviated this way. I’ve only ever seen it as B&B or BnB, so it always threw me.
Regardless, Isabel Sterling is definitely an author I will continue to keep an eye on for new books.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. Thanks to both for the opportunity.
I've so far enjoyed everything Isabel Sterling has written and this is no exception. In fact, this may be my favorite one so far.
Much like Ashley Herring Blake, Sterling creates characters who feel like real people with real people problems, and when they do something or make decisions that seem like they aren't the best, it feels genuine because it fits with the characters as they've been written. This is a talent that is less common than it should be, especially in romance (to be clear, I love the romance genre, but too often protagonists do things because they need to in order for the plot to happen; the best romance authors write characters who act like a person would, flaws and all).
Pippa is a witch, who delights in coming up with new spells and methods of doing things magically, which isn't how the old school witches in charge of making the rules like it. Five years ago, she was disowned by her important witch family for not being exactly how they wanted her to be, and while she's made a life separate from them, and is happy with it, she still has some issues with being used, not being good enough and being left by people who are supposed to love her.
She's hired by her best friend to help with the B&B he's starting, and there she meets Elle, who is her best friend's childhood best friend. Elle initially seems cool and unfriendly, but as they get to know each other, they start to fall for one another.
The magic system is fascinating, the story moves right along, and the characters are likable. I was rooting for them to overcome their various issues, both internal and external, and the third act conflict was incredibly emotional. The HEA feels earned, and it wasn't them just falling straight back into one another's arms, but deciding to go about things in a way that would allow them both space to work through their individual issues while figuring out how to be together (healthy relationships in romance?? amazing).
There is a very big trigger warning for death of a child and while I thought the scene was well done, it is extremely emotional.
The author states in a note that some of this comes from their own experience of grieving a child, and that's evident from the way that the scene is written and with the emotions of the characters when dealing with it. At least some of this book is their way of working through that grief, and I think that only adds to the finished product.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book, and would absolutely recommend it, especially to anyone who loves a good witchy romance.
I've so far enjoyed everything Isabel Sterling has written and this is no exception. In fact, this may be my favorite one so far.
Much like Ashley Herring Blake, Sterling creates characters who feel like real people with real people problems, and when they do something or make decisions that seem like they aren't the best, it feels genuine because it fits with the characters as they've been written. This is a talent that is less common than it should be, especially in romance (to be clear, I love the romance genre, but too often protagonists do things because they need to in order for the plot to happen; the best romance authors write characters who act like a person would, flaws and all).
Pippa is a witch, who delights in coming up with new spells and methods of doing things magically, which isn't how the old school witches in charge of making the rules like it. Five years ago, she was disowned by her important witch family for not being exactly how they wanted her to be, and while she's made a life separate from them, and is happy with it, she still has some issues with being used, not being good enough and being left by people who are supposed to love her.
She's hired by her best friend to help with the B&B he's starting, and there she meets Elle, who is her best friend's childhood best friend. Elle initially seems cool and unfriendly, but as they get to know each other, they start to fall for one another.
The magic system is fascinating, the story moves right along, and the characters are likable. I was rooting for them to overcome their various issues, both internal and external, and the third act conflict was incredibly emotional. The HEA feels earned, and it wasn't them just falling straight back into one another's arms, but deciding to go about things in a way that would allow them both space to work through their individual issues while figuring out how to be together (healthy relationships in romance?? amazing).
There is a very big trigger warning for death of a child and while I thought the scene was well done, it is extremely emotional.
The author states in a note that some of this comes from their own experience of grieving a child, and that's evident from the way that the scene is written and with the emotions of the characters when dealing with it. At least some of this book is their way of working through that grief, and I think that only adds to the finished product.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book, and would absolutely recommend it, especially to anyone who loves a good witchy romance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So this book was the most adorable, cozy, beautiful, warm read in the whole entire world.
It is witchy and magical and halloweeny, but in my opinion it is fine and fully enjoyable to read in any season, it’s definitely not horror vibes, it’s cozy warm vibes, and it snows, so definitely not a halloween spooky exclusive read.
This book follows Pippa as she navigates the biggest job she has had in... well ever. Pippa has been tasked with haunting her friend Xander and his friend Elle’s new B&B. Not ghost busting, ghost inviting? Pippa has never done anything like this before, but creating new ways to use magic is her thing, it’s why she is better than everyone else (her words not mine) it’s also why her family disowned her, she’s creative with her magic, she doesn’t stick to tradition, she’s experimental and wants to use magic in ways that help everyone without taking away their autonomy. Anyway, to haunt this new B&B Pippa is given a deadline of less than a month and the best room in the B&B while she works.
Elle and Pippa have a rough start, as Elle struggles letting people in and trusting people, she wants this haunted B&B experience to be perfect, she has her reasons but won’t let Pippa in, it comes to blows when Elle rejects every ghost Pippa brings forward, the list of qualities Elle needs is impossible. Both are decent girlies though, so they talk it out in the end, they even flirt a little, they always flirt a little.
The Elle and Pippa romance is HONEY, it’s so sweet, both characters have a lot going on, and although Pippa opens up over time, its still hard for both of them, like I said they have been through a lot and have put barriers up to protect themselves, but the yearning is so sweet, and the sneaky kisses and all the kisses, every scene between them is beautiful and they are written beautifully, THE WRITING IS SO GOOD!!!
I also loved the story itself, I have read books with witches before, but this was different in so many ways, the magic system was so incredibly cool and different, I loved it. I loved the ghosts too, the first group especially, I miss them, AND LANEY! SO cool, I love them, I want to watch the eras tour with them. Also I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I LOVED all the pop culture references and all, they weren’t too much, they weren’t too often, they were just enough to be funny and relatable, like if you were a ghost and someone wanted you to come to their B&B you would definitely ask for taylor swift and brownies. I would ask for maisie peters and icecream but that’s just me.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY OF LOVE!
It is witchy and magical and halloweeny, but in my opinion it is fine and fully enjoyable to read in any season, it’s definitely not horror vibes, it’s cozy warm vibes, and it snows, so definitely not a halloween spooky exclusive read.
This book follows Pippa as she navigates the biggest job she has had in... well ever. Pippa has been tasked with haunting her friend Xander and his friend Elle’s new B&B. Not ghost busting, ghost inviting? Pippa has never done anything like this before, but creating new ways to use magic is her thing, it’s why she is better than everyone else (her words not mine) it’s also why her family disowned her, she’s creative with her magic, she doesn’t stick to tradition, she’s experimental and wants to use magic in ways that help everyone without taking away their autonomy. Anyway, to haunt this new B&B Pippa is given a deadline of less than a month and the best room in the B&B while she works.
Elle and Pippa have a rough start, as Elle struggles letting people in and trusting people, she wants this haunted B&B experience to be perfect, she has her reasons but won’t let Pippa in, it comes to blows when Elle rejects every ghost Pippa brings forward, the list of qualities Elle needs is impossible. Both are decent girlies though, so they talk it out in the end, they even flirt a little, they always flirt a little.
The Elle and Pippa romance is HONEY, it’s so sweet, both characters have a lot going on, and although Pippa opens up over time, its still hard for both of them, like I said they have been through a lot and have put barriers up to protect themselves, but the yearning is so sweet, and the sneaky kisses and all the kisses, every scene between them is beautiful and they are written beautifully, THE WRITING IS SO GOOD!!!
I also loved the story itself, I have read books with witches before, but this was different in so many ways, the magic system was so incredibly cool and different, I loved it. I loved the ghosts too, the first group especially, I miss them, AND LANEY! SO cool, I love them, I want to watch the eras tour with them. Also I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I LOVED all the pop culture references and all, they weren’t too much, they weren’t too often, they were just enough to be funny and relatable, like if you were a ghost and someone wanted you to come to their B&B you would definitely ask for taylor swift and brownies. I would ask for maisie peters and icecream but that’s just me.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY OF LOVE!
June 16, 2026
This story was a quaint, cozy, slightly spooky tale with a great found family. There were relatable struggles between our main characters that were handled with care. And plenty of snarky ghosts to make this an enjoyable fall read.
The story's setting and premise were executed wonderfully. I loved the way magic worked in this story. The author is very knowledgeable about crystals and such. As someone who knows next to nothing, everything was explained in a way that felt easy. I didn't feel dumb for not knowing these things already. In combination with the sigils, I thought it was pretty unique without being overly complicated. The premise of a B & B was quaint and cozy. It was a nice backdrop for all the ghosts, and you could really feel the magic in the building as they started bringing ghosts to the mansion.
This story took a little to pick up for me. Maybe a little around halfway is when I would say the action picked up. That's what caused the book to read pretty slowly to me. Perhaps I may not be used to reading the cozy genre. But I was a little bored in the first half, which made it hard to get fully invested. But once things started happening, it got much better.
Despite how slowly the story began for me, the romance seemed to develop lightning fast. It was a little bit difficult for me to get invested in the relationship because it seemed very lust-forward on Pippa's part. On the contrary, Ellie began to feel a little flat for me. Both of them seemed to have better relationships with the other characters than with each other. The 'love' of it all just happened too quickly for me. I found myself not really caring about their intimate moments. Their conversations were good, though. I appreciated how they both opened up about their baggage with each other.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The story's setting and premise were executed wonderfully. I loved the way magic worked in this story. The author is very knowledgeable about crystals and such. As someone who knows next to nothing, everything was explained in a way that felt easy. I didn't feel dumb for not knowing these things already. In combination with the sigils, I thought it was pretty unique without being overly complicated. The premise of a B & B was quaint and cozy. It was a nice backdrop for all the ghosts, and you could really feel the magic in the building as they started bringing ghosts to the mansion.
This story took a little to pick up for me. Maybe a little around halfway is when I would say the action picked up. That's what caused the book to read pretty slowly to me. Perhaps I may not be used to reading the cozy genre. But I was a little bored in the first half, which made it hard to get fully invested. But once things started happening, it got much better.
Despite how slowly the story began for me, the romance seemed to develop lightning fast. It was a little bit difficult for me to get invested in the relationship because it seemed very lust-forward on Pippa's part. On the contrary, Ellie began to feel a little flat for me. Both of them seemed to have better relationships with the other characters than with each other. The 'love' of it all just happened too quickly for me. I found myself not really caring about their intimate moments. Their conversations were good, though. I appreciated how they both opened up about their baggage with each other.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! This comes out September 8th.
Pippa, a witch, is hired to ethically haunt a small-town B&B and finds herself spellbound by one of her clients, Elle.
With All My Haunted Heart was very much just okay. The characters are flat and it felt like Isabel Sterling came up with two complex, tragic backstories and then gave them to her characters, with no other work to flesh them out. I didn’t care about Pippa and Elle, and as a result didn’t care about their romance which had little to no chemistry. What makes this book interesting is the magic, which I think Isabel Sterling could have taken farther. There’s very little world-building or fleshing out of the magic system and it mostly just felt like Pippa had some special quirks instead of actual magic powers. I would have loved to see her magic do more than relax others or give them the magical version of a caffeine boost. The most interesting part of the book is the summoning of ghosts but that also isn’t taken quite far enough in my opinion. Pippa and Elle talk more than once about how they are going to haunt the B&B ethically but we never really see how they do this. Basically every ghost they meet is happy to join the B&B with no issues along the way. There was room for a lot more complexity but Isabel Sterling doesn’t go there.
I enjoyed Isabel Sterling’s YA book The Coldest Touch which I found much more complex and engaging. I’m always excited when a YA author I’ve enjoyed a book from branches out into adult but this was a real let-down.
I’m rating it three stars because it didn’t do anything to offend me but, at the end of the day, my strongest feeling towards it is largely indifference.
Pippa, a witch, is hired to ethically haunt a small-town B&B and finds herself spellbound by one of her clients, Elle.
With All My Haunted Heart was very much just okay. The characters are flat and it felt like Isabel Sterling came up with two complex, tragic backstories and then gave them to her characters, with no other work to flesh them out. I didn’t care about Pippa and Elle, and as a result didn’t care about their romance which had little to no chemistry. What makes this book interesting is the magic, which I think Isabel Sterling could have taken farther. There’s very little world-building or fleshing out of the magic system and it mostly just felt like Pippa had some special quirks instead of actual magic powers. I would have loved to see her magic do more than relax others or give them the magical version of a caffeine boost. The most interesting part of the book is the summoning of ghosts but that also isn’t taken quite far enough in my opinion. Pippa and Elle talk more than once about how they are going to haunt the B&B ethically but we never really see how they do this. Basically every ghost they meet is happy to join the B&B with no issues along the way. There was room for a lot more complexity but Isabel Sterling doesn’t go there.
I enjoyed Isabel Sterling’s YA book The Coldest Touch which I found much more complex and engaging. I’m always excited when a YA author I’ve enjoyed a book from branches out into adult but this was a real let-down.
I’m rating it three stars because it didn’t do anything to offend me but, at the end of the day, my strongest feeling towards it is largely indifference.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cozy. Witchy. Sapphic. Words that describe WAMHH on the surface but don’t truly capture the experience of reading this book. Immediately, I was impressed with this author's level of knowledge in all things witchy. I’m a crystal girly so I loved seeing the use of crystals along with the sigils. Even as cool as magic can be, that was not what made this book for me. What made the book for me was the beautiful character development that we see in the characters as the book progresses. The book makes you really think about how we carry hard moments and grief and how that may change the interactions that we have with others. I found myself relating to Pippa so much, but also Elle as well. They both have qualities that I know many of us struggle with and it was nice to see how someone else might work through that. Who needs therapy when you have books? LOL.
Another thing that I really liked about this book was the plot itself. A lot of times, especially when you read a lot of romance, it can feel a little repetitive with popular tropes and plot twists, but this plot was very unique to me. I found myself excited to see how that part of the story played out, even though I knew the romance would be the focus. All in all, I am so happy that I was able to read this story. It was such a cozy vibe and I found myself smiling so often throughout because I genuinely was enjoying most things about this book. There is also enough going on within the story that it doesn’t all feel like pining and inner monologue which some romances can feel like. A very refreshing read and a heavily anticipated release so I can have her on my shelf!
Thank you, Isabel Sterling and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Another thing that I really liked about this book was the plot itself. A lot of times, especially when you read a lot of romance, it can feel a little repetitive with popular tropes and plot twists, but this plot was very unique to me. I found myself excited to see how that part of the story played out, even though I knew the romance would be the focus. All in all, I am so happy that I was able to read this story. It was such a cozy vibe and I found myself smiling so often throughout because I genuinely was enjoying most things about this book. There is also enough going on within the story that it doesn’t all feel like pining and inner monologue which some romances can feel like. A very refreshing read and a heavily anticipated release so I can have her on my shelf!
Thank you, Isabel Sterling and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
March 19, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this eARC!
Oh, I loved this one! So unique and fun. It gives off small town/big city rom-com vibes, as if you mixed together The Runaway Bride and Practical Magic. I loved the setting, the characters, the plot. It made an easy & fast read, with a world that consumed me.
There was a recurring theme of how we handle grief - grief from the ending of relationships, losing jobs, to death. It was very interesting to see and well-done, make me personally reflect and look inward on myself. Truly a heartfelt book.
Other than the grief aspect, the romance between Pippa and Elle was sweet and full of yearning, tension, and tenderness.
The only complaints I have was it was a bit confusing at first with Louie/Elle’s gender identity. At first, I thought Louie was a man, then it was revealed that Elle was actually a woman, so I just assumed she was trans, but Louie is a nickname for Eloise.
Elle has always been a women, a cis-women, and that’s fine too, just like it would have been if she was trans. Just this whole thing with hiding her gender up until Pippa meets her - and I suppose being the love interest to Pippa - was written in a very confusing way that I was not sure what the point was. Why keep her pronouns a secret until the main character meets her, especially if it’s stated in the description that Elle is the love interest? Odd choice!
My other issue is the lack of backstory on the witch government organization, NACOW. I’d love learning more about that, how it was formed, what goes on, etc.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this and recommend it to anyone who likes Casper and sapphic love stories! Will be buying a copy!
Oh, I loved this one! So unique and fun. It gives off small town/big city rom-com vibes, as if you mixed together The Runaway Bride and Practical Magic. I loved the setting, the characters, the plot. It made an easy & fast read, with a world that consumed me.
There was a recurring theme of how we handle grief - grief from the ending of relationships, losing jobs, to death. It was very interesting to see and well-done, make me personally reflect and look inward on myself. Truly a heartfelt book.
Other than the grief aspect, the romance between Pippa and Elle was sweet and full of yearning, tension, and tenderness.
The only complaints I have was it was a bit confusing at first with Louie/Elle’s gender identity. At first, I thought Louie was a man, then it was revealed that Elle was actually a woman, so I just assumed she was trans, but Louie is a nickname for Eloise.
Elle has always been a women, a cis-women, and that’s fine too, just like it would have been if she was trans. Just this whole thing with hiding her gender up until Pippa meets her - and I suppose being the love interest to Pippa - was written in a very confusing way that I was not sure what the point was. Why keep her pronouns a secret until the main character meets her, especially if it’s stated in the description that Elle is the love interest? Odd choice!
My other issue is the lack of backstory on the witch government organization, NACOW. I’d love learning more about that, how it was formed, what goes on, etc.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this and recommend it to anyone who likes Casper and sapphic love stories! Will be buying a copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book felt like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day with just enough spooky charm to keep things interesting. The premise alone sold me immediately because “ethical haunting” is such a fun concept, but the execution made me stay invested the whole way through.
Pippa and Elle had such an easy chemistry together that made the romance feel natural and cozy without losing the tension. I especially loved how soft and supportive their dynamic became as the story went on. Elle’s determination mixed with Pippa’s cautiousness worked really well, and the slow build between them felt genuine instead of rushed.
The atmosphere was honestly one of my favorite parts. The small-town magic vibes, the haunted B&B, the little magical details sprinkled throughout the story… it all felt whimsical without becoming overly cheesy. It reminded me why I love cozy fantasy romances so much in the first place.
I also appreciated that while the book stays light and comforting overall, it still touches on grief, loneliness, and fear of failure in ways that felt relatable. The emotional moments landed for me because they never felt too heavy for the tone of the story.
My only small “want” is that I wanted a little more depth in certain areas, especially with the magic system and some side characters, because the world was charming enough that I didn’t want to leave it yet.
Overall, this was cute, comforting, magical, and sapphic in the best way. If you love cozy fantasy romances with charming banter, small-town vibes, and haunted houses that are more adorable than terrifying, definitely pick this one up.
Pippa and Elle had such an easy chemistry together that made the romance feel natural and cozy without losing the tension. I especially loved how soft and supportive their dynamic became as the story went on. Elle’s determination mixed with Pippa’s cautiousness worked really well, and the slow build between them felt genuine instead of rushed.
The atmosphere was honestly one of my favorite parts. The small-town magic vibes, the haunted B&B, the little magical details sprinkled throughout the story… it all felt whimsical without becoming overly cheesy. It reminded me why I love cozy fantasy romances so much in the first place.
I also appreciated that while the book stays light and comforting overall, it still touches on grief, loneliness, and fear of failure in ways that felt relatable. The emotional moments landed for me because they never felt too heavy for the tone of the story.
My only small “want” is that I wanted a little more depth in certain areas, especially with the magic system and some side characters, because the world was charming enough that I didn’t want to leave it yet.
Overall, this was cute, comforting, magical, and sapphic in the best way. If you love cozy fantasy romances with charming banter, small-town vibes, and haunted houses that are more adorable than terrifying, definitely pick this one up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley, Isabel Sterling, and Berkley for the advanced reader copy!
I love love love love a spooky sapphic love story and this was no exception, especially when you add in the fact that it's enemies to lovers!
The story follows Pippa Ainsley, a young witch struggling to keep her business afloat as a DIY-magic shop appears in her town. Desperate, she agrees to try to ethically haunt a small-town B&B as a favor to her best friend.
Then she meets her best friend's extremely attractive co-worker, Elle Thompson.
"Soon, Pippa finds herself testing the limits of her magic… and her ability to stop the growing attraction she feels toward Elle, a woman with a painful secret of her own."
This cozy and enchanting romance is a great read for any young witch or anyone who is a romantic at heart. While it did deal with some heavier topics (death, ghosts, child death, family issues, abandonment issues, emotional abuse), overall, this book was a very sweet read with well-rounded characters and fantastic world-building.
There were a few communication issues that popped up between the two main characters that I think I could have done without (i.e. one character saying something hurtful on purpose toward the other that is a specific dig toward their trauma), but I understand that miscommunication is a common trope of the genre and thankfully it didn't last the entire story.
I related to Pippa quite a bit more than I was expecting to and that made this story all the better to read! I really found myself dragged into the story and thought it was a perfect pride month read!
I love love love love a spooky sapphic love story and this was no exception, especially when you add in the fact that it's enemies to lovers!
The story follows Pippa Ainsley, a young witch struggling to keep her business afloat as a DIY-magic shop appears in her town. Desperate, she agrees to try to ethically haunt a small-town B&B as a favor to her best friend.
Then she meets her best friend's extremely attractive co-worker, Elle Thompson.
"Soon, Pippa finds herself testing the limits of her magic… and her ability to stop the growing attraction she feels toward Elle, a woman with a painful secret of her own."
This cozy and enchanting romance is a great read for any young witch or anyone who is a romantic at heart. While it did deal with some heavier topics (death, ghosts, child death, family issues, abandonment issues, emotional abuse), overall, this book was a very sweet read with well-rounded characters and fantastic world-building.
There were a few communication issues that popped up between the two main characters that I think I could have done without (i.e. one character saying something hurtful on purpose toward the other that is a specific dig toward their trauma), but I understand that miscommunication is a common trope of the genre and thankfully it didn't last the entire story.
I related to Pippa quite a bit more than I was expecting to and that made this story all the better to read! I really found myself dragged into the story and thought it was a perfect pride month read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'll take 18 more of these this year, please!
This book had so many elements that I absolutely loved (magic, witches, ghosts, Halloween, and a fun cast of side characters), and I am not joking... I'll take 18 more like this. Seriously. Please.
This was my first Isabel Sterling title, but it definitely won't be my last.
These characters have heart. They have big, complicated emotions at times. There are tender moments with humans and ghosts alike. It was evident that great care was taken in the crafting of this story.
The magic system was unique, and it wasn't quite like anything I've read before. Pippa was sort of in uncharted waters herself, and I enjoyed being along for the ride as she worked out new solutions in a world that didn't seem to love magical innovation. (That maybe makes it sound gross and like a LinkedIn post, but I promise it's not!!! I just don't want to spoil anything so I'm being very vague here.)
I also really enjoyed the fact that Pippa's trauma and the entirety of her family issues weren't swept under the rug for the sake of resolution or whatever.
Elle has a lot going on. She's a little terse and demanding at first, but the reasons for that are messy and complicated. The third act breakup was tough, but the situation itself was really rough...and sadly pretty real. I had a feeling pretty early on that it would shake out like it did, but I would caution readers to heed the TW.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for ARC access 💕
This book had so many elements that I absolutely loved (magic, witches, ghosts, Halloween, and a fun cast of side characters), and I am not joking... I'll take 18 more like this. Seriously. Please.
This was my first Isabel Sterling title, but it definitely won't be my last.
These characters have heart. They have big, complicated emotions at times. There are tender moments with humans and ghosts alike. It was evident that great care was taken in the crafting of this story.
The magic system was unique, and it wasn't quite like anything I've read before. Pippa was sort of in uncharted waters herself, and I enjoyed being along for the ride as she worked out new solutions in a world that didn't seem to love magical innovation. (That maybe makes it sound gross and like a LinkedIn post, but I promise it's not!!! I just don't want to spoil anything so I'm being very vague here.)
I also really enjoyed the fact that Pippa's trauma and the entirety of her family issues weren't swept under the rug for the sake of resolution or whatever.
Elle has a lot going on. She's a little terse and demanding at first, but the reasons for that are messy and complicated. The third act breakup was tough, but the situation itself was really rough...and sadly pretty real. I had a feeling pretty early on that it would shake out like it did, but I would caution readers to heed the TW.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for ARC access 💕
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Isabel Sterling and Berkley Publishing Group for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
With All My Haunted Heart by Isabel Sterling is a heartfelt and cozy story about finding confidence in yourself even when you don’t fit the expectations placed on you. Pippa is a disowned witch who practices many forms of magic but struggles with healing magic, the one specialty her family values most. Because of this, she carries a lot of insecurity and hurt after being rejected by them. When her struggling business faces competition, her friend Xander and his childhood bestfriend Elle invite her to help with their new bed-and-breakfast concept—bringing ghosts to peacefully coexist with guests. The magical premise is both charming and unique, and it creates a warm backdrop for Pippa’s personal growth.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the immersive ghost-hunting aspect as Pippa searches for spirits who might want to stay at the bed and breakfast. The process of communicating with ghosts and finding ones who would enjoy interacting with guests added such a fun and creative layer to the story and made the magical world feel really vivid. I also loved that the two main characters each have realistic healing arcs. The romance is such a satisfying slow burn, and I loved seeing how their relationship gradually developed alongside the cozy chaos of starting the B&B together.
With All My Haunted Heart by Isabel Sterling is a heartfelt and cozy story about finding confidence in yourself even when you don’t fit the expectations placed on you. Pippa is a disowned witch who practices many forms of magic but struggles with healing magic, the one specialty her family values most. Because of this, she carries a lot of insecurity and hurt after being rejected by them. When her struggling business faces competition, her friend Xander and his childhood bestfriend Elle invite her to help with their new bed-and-breakfast concept—bringing ghosts to peacefully coexist with guests. The magical premise is both charming and unique, and it creates a warm backdrop for Pippa’s personal growth.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the immersive ghost-hunting aspect as Pippa searches for spirits who might want to stay at the bed and breakfast. The process of communicating with ghosts and finding ones who would enjoy interacting with guests added such a fun and creative layer to the story and made the magical world feel really vivid. I also loved that the two main characters each have realistic healing arcs. The romance is such a satisfying slow burn, and I loved seeing how their relationship gradually developed alongside the cozy chaos of starting the B&B together.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*3.75
Thank you Berkley for the E-arc of the sweet book!
Thank you to Isabel Sterling for sharing such a vulnerable story with us readers. It was an absolute honor to read this and to get to meet Rykelan through this book.
With All My Haunted Heart is a sweet and cozy sapphic paranormal romance between a witch, Pippa, assigned to bring ghosts to haunt a local inn, and one of the inn owners who hired her, Elle!
This is a perfect read to snuggle up in your warm bed to read throughout!
The concept of having a B&B purposefully haunted was really intriguing. I was curious as to how it would be executed so having Pippa’s POV throughout the book was really fun to read through, given her knowledge on all things witchy. I can assure you that ethical ghost hunting takes place, and it is honestly really well written!
The romance aspect had me a bit hesitant at first. Elle is someone who is very withdrawn and hardheaded in certain aspects. Which can be hard to read through because you really want her to be more open and accepting towards Pippa. At times, it felt like Elle was pushing Pippa into stressful circumstances but understanding Pippa’s past and the trauma she endured growing up really helps you gain some insight into the relationship that they have.
If you're looking for a cozy paranormal sapphic romance, I definitely encourage you guys to pick this up! There are some incredibly sweet and emotional moments that really capture your heart.
Thank you Berkley for the E-arc of the sweet book!
Thank you to Isabel Sterling for sharing such a vulnerable story with us readers. It was an absolute honor to read this and to get to meet Rykelan through this book.
With All My Haunted Heart is a sweet and cozy sapphic paranormal romance between a witch, Pippa, assigned to bring ghosts to haunt a local inn, and one of the inn owners who hired her, Elle!
This is a perfect read to snuggle up in your warm bed to read throughout!
The concept of having a B&B purposefully haunted was really intriguing. I was curious as to how it would be executed so having Pippa’s POV throughout the book was really fun to read through, given her knowledge on all things witchy. I can assure you that ethical ghost hunting takes place, and it is honestly really well written!
The romance aspect had me a bit hesitant at first. Elle is someone who is very withdrawn and hardheaded in certain aspects. Which can be hard to read through because you really want her to be more open and accepting towards Pippa. At times, it felt like Elle was pushing Pippa into stressful circumstances but understanding Pippa’s past and the trauma she endured growing up really helps you gain some insight into the relationship that they have.
If you're looking for a cozy paranormal sapphic romance, I definitely encourage you guys to pick this up! There are some incredibly sweet and emotional moments that really capture your heart.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I absolutely adored this book. This is my first read by Isabel Sterling and it won't be the last.
With All My Haunted Heart was (imo) a cozy, low stakes story. We follow the story of three friends who end up working together to get a B and B up and running, with friendly ghosts.
The characters aren't overly complex, nor is the story, which is something I really needed right now.
I love Pippa and Elle together. I thought the progression of their relationship was well paced and they're both extremely sweet people (together and with others). They both are struggling with pretty intense, internal issues which effect how they are together in the story.
Pippa clearly has abandonment issues with a lot of imposter syndrome and Elle is going through something that would be a spoiler to specify.
I love how much both women lean on one another and overcome their trials together.
The side characters and ghosts were neither here nor there for me. It was nice to read a story that just covers people going about their day and lives without there being this huge contention point or anything. <-- I hope that makes sense.
If you want a witchy story with ghosts and a lot of pining, with feels mixed in, don't pass on this story.
With All My Haunted Heart was (imo) a cozy, low stakes story. We follow the story of three friends who end up working together to get a B and B up and running, with friendly ghosts.
The characters aren't overly complex, nor is the story, which is something I really needed right now.
I love Pippa and Elle together. I thought the progression of their relationship was well paced and they're both extremely sweet people (together and with others). They both are struggling with pretty intense, internal issues which effect how they are together in the story.
Pippa clearly has abandonment issues with a lot of imposter syndrome and Elle is going through something that would be a spoiler to specify.
I love how much both women lean on one another and overcome their trials together.
The side characters and ghosts were neither here nor there for me. It was nice to read a story that just covers people going about their day and lives without there being this huge contention point or anything. <-- I hope that makes sense.
If you want a witchy story with ghosts and a lot of pining, with feels mixed in, don't pass on this story.
July 4, 2025
I just finished this beautiful, moving romance (full of big, hard issues but also so much fun and humor and hope as well as ghosts and swoony romance) and sent this blurb to the author:
"With All My Haunted Heart deftly weaves humor and steam with deep, true emotions in a gorgeous queer romance full of both literal and metaphorical ghosts and magic."
Seriously, I was so blown away by how perfectly she weaved in issues so intense that I would normally struggle to even read about them (content warning for one character who is ) with such delicacy, respect, and care that it never even occurred to me to stop reading - I was SO invested in every part of the beautiful, resonant story, including its hardest bits.
And oh, the magic and the ghosts are so much fun! And the romance is SO fun and steamy and swoony. But most of all, I just loved seeing the PoV heroine learn to love herself at last after her own family had taught her not to.
I finished the book with SO MUCH satisfaction - and I can't wait for Isabel Sterling's next adult romantasy!
"With All My Haunted Heart deftly weaves humor and steam with deep, true emotions in a gorgeous queer romance full of both literal and metaphorical ghosts and magic."
Seriously, I was so blown away by how perfectly she weaved in issues so intense that I would normally struggle to even read about them (content warning for one character who is ) with such delicacy, respect, and care that it never even occurred to me to stop reading - I was SO invested in every part of the beautiful, resonant story, including its hardest bits.
And oh, the magic and the ghosts are so much fun! And the romance is SO fun and steamy and swoony. But most of all, I just loved seeing the PoV heroine learn to love herself at last after her own family had taught her not to.
I finished the book with SO MUCH satisfaction - and I can't wait for Isabel Sterling's next adult romantasy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With All My Haunted Heart was such a pleasant surprise. More emotional than I was expecting, but just spooky enough to keep me hooked.
The story follows a girl who’s being haunted (literally and emotionally) and Sterling does a great job tying those two threads together. The haunting isn’t just a plot device; it’s tied to everything around her, and the things she’s been avoiding. The romance adds warmth to the story without overshadowing the heavier themes. I also loved the friendships and the sense of community woven throughout.
There were a few moments where I wanted a bit more clarity around the magic system or the rules of the haunting, but nothing that pulled me out of the story. The vibes, the tension, and the character work more than made up for it.
Overall, this was a really engaging, heartfelt read with a great blend of spooky atmosphere and emotional depth. A strong 4‑star book!
↪ 4 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows a girl who’s being haunted (literally and emotionally) and Sterling does a great job tying those two threads together. The haunting isn’t just a plot device; it’s tied to everything around her, and the things she’s been avoiding. The romance adds warmth to the story without overshadowing the heavier themes. I also loved the friendships and the sense of community woven throughout.
There were a few moments where I wanted a bit more clarity around the magic system or the rules of the haunting, but nothing that pulled me out of the story. The vibes, the tension, and the character work more than made up for it.
Overall, this was a really engaging, heartfelt read with a great blend of spooky atmosphere and emotional depth. A strong 4‑star book!
↪ 4 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2026
ARC Review: With All My Haunted Heart
Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Gosh I just can't wait for witchy season! So much so, that I've started reading witchy books already and it's still summer! I thoroughly enjoyed this book which follows Pippa, a witch who is hired to haunt a B&B by her best friend and his business partner, Elle. Pippa initially isn't sure about helping with this request but it would be an excellent way to test her experimental magic. Pippa and Elle don't get off to the best start but as they spend more and more time together their attraction continues to grow.
I quite enjoyed this book! I thought the magic was really interesting. I liked the chemistry and eventual relationship between Pippa and Elle. I loved the cast of ghosts (though honestly would have loved even more from them!). Definitely a book to put on your TBR during the fall!
One note of caution with this book - Please do mind the content warnings at the beginning because they could be intense for some readers - there is the on page death of a terminally ill child and while I do think this is handled with care, it's certainly not for every reader. There are also themes of parental abandonment and challenging parental relationships. Though the cover is cute and witchy, there's definitely a lot of depth to this book so go in knowing that and I think you'll have a good time!
Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Gosh I just can't wait for witchy season! So much so, that I've started reading witchy books already and it's still summer! I thoroughly enjoyed this book which follows Pippa, a witch who is hired to haunt a B&B by her best friend and his business partner, Elle. Pippa initially isn't sure about helping with this request but it would be an excellent way to test her experimental magic. Pippa and Elle don't get off to the best start but as they spend more and more time together their attraction continues to grow.
I quite enjoyed this book! I thought the magic was really interesting. I liked the chemistry and eventual relationship between Pippa and Elle. I loved the cast of ghosts (though honestly would have loved even more from them!). Definitely a book to put on your TBR during the fall!
One note of caution with this book - Please do mind the content warnings at the beginning because they could be intense for some readers - there is the on page death of a terminally ill child and while I do think this is handled with care, it's certainly not for every reader. There are also themes of parental abandonment and challenging parental relationships. Though the cover is cute and witchy, there's definitely a lot of depth to this book so go in knowing that and I think you'll have a good time!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews