Happily Ever Afterlife: A Novel

by Emma R. Alban

A hauntingly good sapphic paranormal romance from USA Today bestselling author Emma R. Alban.

A struggling writer falls for the hot ghost mom she meets in the iconic Dakota Building in a romance perfect for fans of The Dead Romantics.

Frannie's awful boss, celebrated literary novelist Henry L. Olsen, just told her that her latest manuscript is a dud—again. Frustrated and lonely, Frannie stomps around the ninth floor of the famously haunted Dakota Building in Manhattan, desperate for something to change. And then, something does.

Bridgette, the ghost of a little girl from 1889, appears out of nowhere and asks Frannie to play catch. Shocked, and wildly curious, Frannie says yes to the ghostly invitation, and soon meets Bridgette's ghost-brother, Michael . . . and the children's exceedingly attractive and aloof 1960s ghost mom, Elsa.

Fascinated, and more than a little flustered, Frannie starts secretly writing a book about Elsa (a.k.a. Hot Ghost Mom). And while her boss is on book tour, through a mutual affection for musicals, banter, and the ghost children, Frannie and Elsa slowly become friends, until Frannie finds herself tumbling head over heels in love with a ghost tied to a building she couldn't afford to live in over four lifetimes.

Now, Frannie either has to give up her ambitions of becoming a novelist to remain Henry's assistant in the Dakota forever, or somehow free her ghost family from their immortal home. With her career, future, and heart on the line, can Frannie find a way to write them all a happily ever after . . . life?

Emma R. Alban brings her signature swoon-worthy writing to another gorgeous sapphic love story that will have every reader yearning for their own Hot Ghost Mom.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Queer, Fantasy, Paranormal, LGBT, Adult

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Raised in the Hudson Valley, Emma now lives in Los Angeles, enjoying the eternal sunshine, ocean, and mountains. When she isn't writing books or screenplays, she can usually be found stress baking with the AC on full blast, skiing late into the spring, singing showtunes at the top of her lungs on the freeway, and reading anywhere there’s somewhere to lean.

Reviews

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

this kinda pissed me off. “hot ghost mom” is repeated 100x and nothing hot or honestly particularly ghostly happens. any plot holes are immediately solved by the convenient ghost lore. the sex was very fade to black which not every romance book needs to have smut but come on … say less about the fictional supposedly amazing meta-book that the main character is writing and write this romance !!! also why do these dead kids even need a mom?

[BookishKB]

👻💕 Happily Ever Afterlife 💕👻

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Sapphic Romance
• Ghost Romance
• Found Family
• Writer FMC
• Haunted Building
• Paranormal Romance
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: September 29, 2026
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.25 stars

I can't review this book without spoilers, so caution ahead. What I wish I’d known coming into this book: Don’t expect your typical romance. It doesn’t have the same beats of girl meets girl, a tension filled will they/won’t they dance, and a hopeful HEA. This is a story about life and death and love and sacrifice and was quite a bit more melancholy than I expected. I teared up multiple times, so to that end, I think Emma R. Alban does a lovely job depicting a strange little ghost found family and conveying all the reasons Frannie would desperately want to cling to them. However, if there’s one thing a romance novel requires it is a HFN/HEA. This is even a plot point in the book. I felt stuck in suspended animation after I finished the final chapter, not sure whether to feel content or heartbroken and that’s not the feeling I want to take away from a romance. Because so much of the book is shrouded in uncertainty, that is Frannie and Elsa’s primary conflict, I think readers deserved for that uncertainty to be settled by the end of the novel. We were made to love and invest in this little family of ghosts for over 300 pages, the book is titled Happily Ever Afterlife, I wish we’d gotten to see a slice of it. For that reason I am taking off a full star from my rating, but I did like the book for the most part.

rep: single pov bi fmc | sapphic love interest

[erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

👻💗🎭📖 Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for my review!

• • • • • • • •

I read my first book by Emma R. Alban just last month and was instantly hooked, so when I was approved for this arc, I knew I wanted to read it immediately! This book was such a breath of fresh air for me. The concept was enticing, the characters lovable, and the story well written. I instantly fell in love with Bridgette and Michael, and, of course, the hot ghost mom, Elsa. The found family aspect is one of my favorite tropes when it comes to an LGBTQ+ book, and it certainly checks all of the boxes. I simply loved this book and can’t wait to read more of Alban’s future works!

[jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review ♡

There is something so unbelievably funny to me about the fact that I walked (ran) into this book expecting exactly one thing: haha hot ghost mom. That was the pitch that sold me and I ran. Not walked, RAN. You see, you cannot tell a sapphic audience “there’s a hot ghost mother living in the Dakota Building” and expect us to behave rationally. You simply cannot. I came in fully prepared for a campy paranormal romance with some flirting, a few ghostly shenanigans, maybe a couple of emotional moments sprinkled in for seasoning, and then I’d clock out, happily entertained. Instead, I’m here having to unpack grief, ambition, endings, love, family, the passage of time, what it means to hold on, what it means to let go, and whether happiness is defined by forever or merely by the time we were lucky enough to have.

Which is honestly a little rude of Emma R. Alban, if you ask me.

This book is, at its core, about death. But somehow it is even more about living. It is about time and the strange ways it stretches and collapses depending on who is experiencing it. It is about family, both the one you’re born into and the one you accidentally assemble because an eight-year-old Victorian ghost decided you looked lonely enough to throw a ball with. It is about dreams that ask impossible things of you. It is about choosing between the future you’ve spent years chasing and the present that unexpectedly becomes everything you’ve ever wanted.

This book is a romance, yes, but it is also a story about stories. It is a book about writers, about creating narratives, about the impossible pressure of writing endings worthy of the lives that came before them. Frannie spends so much of this novel trying to understand Elsa, trying to write her, trying to make sense of another person’s existence through fiction, while simultaneously trying to figure out her own. The novel keeps returning to this idea that every ending is also an interpretation and I found myself thinking about that a lot after I’d finished reading.

Well speaking of Frannie, she was such an easy protagonist to root for. She has that wonderfully awkward energy where she somehow manages to be endearing, embarrassing, funny, emotionally intelligent, and just a little bit of a disaster all at once. She overthinks everything, develops a hopeless crush on a woman who has technically died long ago, writes what is essentially glorified real person fanfiction about said hot ghost, and somehow I spent the entire novel thinking, “same.” I believed her insecurities, I believed her ambition, and most importantly, I believed why she fell so hard for Elsa.

Sigh. Elsa. I get it, Frannie. I really, truly get it. She is beautiful, guarded, intelligent, intimidating in that incredibly attractive way where someone seems perpetually two seconds away from judging your entire existence, and yet underneath all of that is someone who has spent decades protecting herself from inevitable loss. I really enjoyed watching that emotional armor crack open.

Their chemistry felt wonderfully effortless because so much of it wasn’t built on grand declarations, but on conversations, on watching movies together, on debating books, on existing beside each other. Sometimes love really is just finding someone who understands every niche reference your brain insists on making.

Speaking of conversations, I think one of my absolute favorite parts of the entire novel was how much these characters simply... talk. Like this books is just so…nerdy. Affectionately. Lovingly. Relatablely (that’s not a word, is it?). Everyone is constantly talking about books, movies, musicals, social media, pop culture, writing, storytelling, media, ghosts, and whatever bizarre rabbit hole their brains decide to sprint toward next, and I ate every single conversation up. These characters genuinely sound like people who consume stories because they love stories, and as someone whose personality has unfortunately become approximately 70% books and 30% talking about books, I felt extremely seen. Their banter never felt like references for the sake of references. It felt like the language these people naturally speak. It was playful, witty, sometimes delightfully dorky, and it made the relationships feel lived in. There was one discussion in particular about the infamous miscommunication trope and I have never felt so aggressively represented in my entire life. As a proud lifelong defender of miscommunication /when done well/, I felt incredibly seen. Thank you, Frannie, for fighting the good fight. Shakespeare walked so romance authors could continue refusing to let two people simply have one normal conversation.

The ghost mechanics were also surprisingly fascinating. I expected the paranormal elements to exist mostly as aesthetic dressing for the romance, but it actually puts a lot of thought into how ghosts function, what they can and cannot do (wink wonk), and how immortality becomes less magical and more...exhausting. The rules felt internally consistent, and more importantly, emotionally meaningful. Every supernatural limitation reinforced the central themes instead of distracting from them. I always appreciate speculative fiction that remembers its fantastical elements should serve the emotional heart of the story rather than simply exist because they’re cool. Although, to be fair, ghosts are pretty cool.

And then of course, Bridgette and Michael. They brought so much warmth, humor, innocence, and emotional weight to the story that I honestly cannot imagine the book without them. The found family aspect ended up becoming just as compelling to me as the romance itself. Watching Frannie slowly become part of this strange little household made every joyful moment sweeter because the entire time there was that awful little voice in the back of my head whispering, “nothing this beautiful can possibly last forever.”

If I do have one major criticism, it would probably be the pacing of the romance. I actually wanted MORE. Which, admittedly, is a nice problem to have. I loved Frannie and Elsa together enough that I found myself wishing the book lingered a little longer in their relationship before moving forward. I think a slower burn would’ve made the emotional payoff even stronger because every interaction between them was already so charming. I simply wanted more excuses to watch them exist together.

OKAY. This is where the spoilers (i think?) start. Tread carefully.

Unfortunately...I have very complicated feelings about the ending. Throughout the novel, there are so many conversations about endings. Happy endings. Sad endings. The importance of closure. Whether every story needs resolution. Whether love is worth pursuing even when you already know it cannot last forever. Because of that, I honestly believed the book was building toward an ending that would confidently commit to one emotional truth or another. I genuinely didn’t care whether it ended happily or heartbreakingly because I trusted the book and the author enough to make either choice feel earned. But instead, it chooses uncertainty with an open ending. Is that poetic? Yeah. Does it fit the themes? Honestly, yes. Did it still leave me staring at the final page like someone had unplugged my Wi-Fi halfway through the last episode of a 10 season TV show? Also yes. I think that’s what disappointed me the most and it’s not that I need every story tied up with a perfect little bow I SWEAR but because the novel spends so much time reflecting on the significance of endings that I found myself craving one with a little more certainty. I wanted to grieve something concrete or celebrate something concrete. JUST GIVE ME CONCRETE. Instead, I was left suspended somewhere between hope and heartbreak, and while I understand why that works artistically, emotionally I couldn’t help wanting just...a little more.

Maybe the real happily ever afterlife is the friends we made along the wa-*gunshots*

Even so, I don’t want that criticism to overshadow everything this novel accomplished because there is so much to love here. It’s funny, heartfelt, romantic, sexy, quietly devastating, endlessly charming, and surprisingly thoughtful. It made me laugh. It made me smile. It made me think about ambition, mortality, storytelling, and the impossible mathematics of loving people we cannot keep forever.

If there’s one thing this book reminded me of, it’s that I believe love isn’t only measured by permanence and that sometimes the bravest thing a story can say is that something was worth experiencing even if it couldn’t last forever. And while I may still be side-eyeing that ending just a little, I closed this book feeling grateful that I got to spend time with Frannie, Elsa, Bridgette, and Michael. They haunted me in the best way possible.

[susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Alcove Publishing. Thanks to both for giving me the opportunity to read this one early.

First off, I love the cover. I also love the concept. I've enjoyed Emma R. Alban's period romances, especially the most recent one, so when I heard she was doing something contemporary I was interested, especially because I'm also always up for a good supernatural romance. There's something about someone falling for a dead person that's got the potential for some excellent angst, and there is indeed plenty of that.

Frannie is the assistant/editor to a Straight Middle Aged White Man author who overworks her (although he pays her well enough), but is also encouraging her to write her own novel. She's written several, and he's rejected all of them as not having enough of HER in them. They work in one of those insanely expensive Central Park West apartment co-ops where the apartments cost millions and have killer views of the park. One day, she runs into a ghost child, and this leads to her meeting the rest of the kid's found family (a brother and a Hot Ghost Mom).

Hot Ghost Mom is also a great character (and honestly, it's very believable that a twentysomething lesbian who works too much and isn't into socializing would fall for her lol). She died in the 60s and lived in the building back then with her girlfriend (or, back then, her "good friend" and "roommate"). The two of them initially clash, but eventually fall in love.

One of the harder parts of this kind of romance is making it believable, and I think the author did a good job of making Frannie the type of person who would a) pretty immediately accept the existence of ghosts and b) fall for a Hot Ghost Mom. (I do sort of wish they'd gone into the previous lives of the two kids, but considering they died at ages 8 (in the 1890s) and 10 (in the 1920s), they probably weren't that uplifting; haunting a building would probably be a step up from whatever it was they were doing when they died)

I thought the love story was very sweet, and Frannie's author struggles were obviously drawn from personal experience.

The big roadblock isn't necessarily that Hot Ghost Mom (aka Elsa) is dead, it's that she's trapped in a building where the apartments are so far out of Frannie's price range that she won't be able to stay with them once she leaves her job as White Guy Author's assistant (which she eventually has to because she sells her own book for an insane amount of money and is going to go on her own publishing journey). Frannie thinks she can transport the ghosts across the street to a (slightly less insanely expensive) apartment she can actually afford, but Elsa is reluctant because she doesn't want Frannie to waste her life being in love with someone who can never leave her apartment building and so can't accompany her anywhere, can't meet her parents in their home, etc.

(It was funny that one of the big roadblocks was the price of real estate in Central Park West, but that's the modern world for ya.)

I won't reveal what eventually happens, but the ending is probably the only reason I didn't give this five stars, so make of that what you will. It was going really well up until then. Oh, one other gripe, I sort of wish White Guy Author had gotten a bit more pushback about his behavior towards Frannie, or at least would have acknowledged that he overworked her and took her for granted. He's self-absorbed and clueless rather than malicious, but that doesn't really make having Frannie work 12 hour days and pick up his groceries any less irritating.

Anyway, I still recommend this book. It's a cute romance with a relatively novel spin on the ghost love story, and the author's writing is just as clever and entertaining as it is in her Regency romances. I read it in a single day, which is something I'm hardly ever able to do anymore (my ADHD only gets worse as I get older), so I was that excited about finding out what happened next. I'm glad I got the opportunity to read it early. If you want to know what my biggest issue is, I'll include it below.


SPOILERS










Here's the thing, when I pick up a romance, I want a happy ending. That's one of the big reasons I read romances. Even if their circumstances might not be perfect or 100% assured, a romance to me should end with the main couple unambiguously together. They may still need to go to therapy to work through their issues, or figure out a way to move closer to one another, but they'll be together...

If I'm reading literary fiction, I'm fine with some ambiguity. If you want to end it with a fadeaway as someone is staring up at an apartment building, or someone walking towards a train station to board a train that will possibly take them to their lover, it's fine because the expectation isn't the same. (Example: While reading the Safekeep, I had no idea what was going to happen to the two women in the end, and as long as it made sense for the story, I was prepared for them either to reconcile or not)

All that to say, this book has an incredibly ambiguous ending. Now, for a large part of the book, the characters debate whether a romance needs to have a happy ending, or whether a bittersweet ending is somehow more poetic, so I feel like that's part of why the author did it, to sort of reinforce that theme and allow the reader to walk away with whatever they wanted. So, I understand why the author did it, and obviously it's her book so it doesn't really matter what I think... (I personally choose to interpret the ending as "why yes they did live happily ever after" and it can absolutely be taken that way.)

But sometimes I need things to be spelled out for me so I can definitively say "YES THEY'RE SO HAPPY TOGETHER". Maybe pre-2016 I wouldn't care as much, but man, I need all the good vibes I can get, and having to write a whole Note in my phone with reasons Frannie and Elsa definitely were happy together forever... that's not as much fun as just knowing lol.

(And yes I understand this may not bother everyone, and that on the scale of things, it's a pretty minor gripe, which is why the book still gets 4 stars and a totally unambiguous recommendation from me, I just had to put it out there in the world.)

[ObscureVi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted to love this one, really.

The premise sounded like something absolutely down my line, I mean: sapphic ghost romance and haunted house? I immediately imagined American Horror Story: Murder House, but make it lighter to the point of being a rom-com and with two women. Yes, please.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me and despite the fact, that there were parts that I liked, I can't make myself rate this book higher.

Let's start with the things I liked, since that part will be pretty short compared to the ones I didn't enjoy.

Humorous parts were a big hit or miss for me, but since we all have a different sense of humor, it's normal. Some jokes made me smile a bit and others didn't land to the point of making me want to roll my eyes, but I do enjoyed the ones that hit the mark. Definitely liked the Doctor Who reference and since I adore the show, it was a nice easter egg.

Now, onto the things that I didn't really enjoy.

The amount of repetition here was insane, or maybe it's just me feeling like I did lose my mind. The exact phrasing "Hot Ghost Mom" first appeared in chapter two and was with us till the very end of chapter seven and during that time it was used almost 180 times (yes, I counted). One. Hundred. Eighty. Chapter seven marked around... 1/3 of the book? I think it was roughly 30% in. After that, we finally learned her name: Elsa. Before you ask how many times the name appeared since the end of chapter seven till the end of the book... I tried, alright? I gave up when I got to around 200 and realized that I'm not even halfway. Yet... I did count how many times it did appear in chapther thirty. Why that specific chapter you might ask? It was 19 pages long (at least in my copy) and during reading it felt as if the name was popping too often, so I decided to check. It appeared almost 80 times. EIGHTY. I honestly have no idea if anything else was repeated as many times, because at some point in the story the only things my mind could think of were: Hot Ghost Mom & Elsa because of how many times it was mentioned and it just stayed with me until the end.

Remember when I mentioned American Horror Story? In a way, they're more similar than you could have guessed. I won't point all of them out, because it's not really important beside the major one being: the ghosts can decide if they want to be seen or not. I feel like we almost completely ignored the possibilities it could have given. I also feel like everything about the ghosts in this novel happened because... well just because. It simply could, so it did. Ghosts appeared to side characters without any problems (not to mention that almost everyone in this novel was so chill with the fact that they just seen a ghost, almost as if it was completely normal in the universe they live in?). That made me realize, that any time when any of the ghosts did something paranormal, it was almost always, if not always just because of Frannie.

We did get a bit of lore when Frannie talked with the paranormal investigator, but that part gave me even more questions than answers and I don't even want to get started about it. I think I could summarise their talk with a single sentence: source? trust me bro, I do this for living (the pun wasn't intended and I realized what I just did after I wrote it lmao). I just found the whole explanation on why and how the ghost appear not convincing, especially with all the holes it had.

At first, this part about the relationship betweem Hot Ghost Mom also known as Elsa and our main character, Frannie was suppoused to go into the parts I liked, but as I was writing the review I realized that... there wasn't really any relationship between them? Well, there was, just not one that convinced me. It seemed rushed and it was moving so fast, that I genuinely have no idea when something changed and they started to actually get closer. It was more on the insta-love side and while I don't mind that trope, I simply didn't buy it here. I definitely wished for something more, any build-up between the characters and I feel like there was almost nothing starting at point A being: oh my god, a Hot Ghost Mom and point B: I care about you/I love you. I think like we talked and focused more on Frannie's book than the actual romance.

Another part that I had a problem with were the ghosts itself... in a way and no, I don't mean to talk about their powers again. We have three main ghosts in the story being Elsa and two kids (that she takes care of, since they're kids and forever will be). All of them died during different time, so we have, respectfully going by the times: 1880s, 1930s and 1960s. Compared to the current times, I feel like it's a huge gap and you could expect that they would act/talk like people from that times, right? No, they didn't and while it's not something that I have a big problem with, my biggest problem would be the lack of any explaining. I missed any backstory/talk about the past. No one there is confused by anything modern and they're using it as if they were born in our era. I can only guess/assume, that they're familiar with the current times because they sort of... adapted? Watched the world as it changed and since they didn't have anything better to do, they learned as everything progressed?

I really feel like we needed more explanation in many aspects of the story, because it left me with more questions than answers.

[Phoebe Wilkes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I read by this author and I got to say... I was dissappointed. In fact, I had to DNF 40% in

I think my main problem was that this is a very plot driven story, while I prefer character driven ones. What do I mean by this? Well, what I mean is that, all through the story (up to the point I dropped it), everything randomly happened just for the sake of it. No explanation whatsoever.
Ghosts, for example, in every few pages it felt like they got a new power, just because it fit whatever the protagonist was doing at the time.

We need a character to see ghosts for the first time? No problem! The excuse is that ghosts can become visible or invisible any time they wish (and they thought Frannie was sad, so obviously nothing more uplifting than a dead person showing up in front of her)
We need child ghosts to take Frannie´s hand because it looks cute? No problem, either! Let´s just do it.
We need an excuse for ghosts to be able to go through walls, touch everything, dissappearing themselves and Frannie at invervals? I got it! Let´s say they all died electrocuted and are now trapped in the electric wiring of the building (which, well, not only sounds bollocks to me, but it left me wondering... What about the people who died electrocuted by a lightning bolt, before electricity existed? They couldn´t be trapped. So, no ghosts in that case? How can you say this is a specific characteristic of this particular type of death? Just because a paranormal investigator says so? Okay...)

I think you see what I mean: This is one of those kind of books that answer a question late and with so many plot holes I could fit in there another 20 questions.

Narration was good, but very YA (not my cup of tea, but probably you´ll enjoy it if you like that genre. Because, as I said, it´s not badly written). It just has a hell of a lot of conviniences. And the ghosts... (Well, I always go back to them because really, didn´t see much of the romance: This was very insta-love).

I felt the ghosts were just an excuse to talk about vintage things. Like that hell of a long conversations Frannie had with Hot Ghost Mom (yes, she is named like that only for a full 1/3 of the novel, to the point it ended up getting on my nerves) about old musicals vs new musicals.
Kids also liked watching modern things on TV, like Marvel or Barbie, and no one seemed confused about modern stuff even though we literally have dead people from the 1880s, 1930s and 1960s. And no, they didn´t behave like people from that times.

You could (I guess) argue they´ve been existing as ghosts for so long that they´ve already gotten used to nowadays inventions... But still, shouldn´t you be able to show me that through the novel? Because I saw none of that.

And also, isn´t it weird the Hot Ghost Mom is mothering two kids (and thus making them follow her mom rules) that died decades before her? I mean, in the book it´s implied she´s there to take care of them (which is super important because they are young) but... I mean, they already were alone before her. As ghosts. Does it even make sense or is it me?

Anyway, enough rambling. Didn´t like it.
All characters felt flat, the worldbuilding felt silly and I cannot remember the name of Hot Ghost Mom because I spent so long reading that cringey way of addressing her that my brain refused to retain the real one.

I still recommend this one if you either like YA fiction or this author in particular (probably, if so were the case, you´ll have more patience than me)

[jayden abel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Possible Spoilers*

Happily Ever Afterlife sounds extraordinarily corny, however, I found it to be a sweepingly romantic dramedy. While the book certainly dabbles in the supernatural, the resident ghost, Elsa, doesn’t read like a cheap ouija board spirit.

The ghost lore was pretty easy to understand. Elsa and her two children, Bridgette and Michael have been stuck in a haunted apartment building for many decades. Due to the nature of their deaths, the three are poltergeists, and attached to the building's electrical line. They don’t age in appearance, but certainly have learned many life lessons. I like how up-to-date Elsa and her kids are. Instead of going for an antique aesthetic, Alban wrote the ghosts as knowing how electronics work. Bridgette and Michael play the Switch. The three still have stuff to learn, but laptops and social media aren’t treated like snazzy new inventions.

The main character, Frannie, is the classic down on her luck writer in New York. She works unacceptable hours as an assistant for a well-meaning but demanding boss. What stood out was her ability to love. I adored her maternal relationship with Bridgette and Michael. She carries around hair ties to rebraid hair. If that isn’t mom coded, I don’t know what is. She tracks down books so that Michael can pursue his interests. When she snaps at Bridgette, Frannie takes accountability, apologizes, and strives to do better going forward. She treats the kids like beings worthy of respect.

I wish that we had gotten Elsa’s perspective. Frannie is perfectly likeable, but Elsa is the gorgeous, well-dressed sapphic ghost from the 1960s. I wanted to hear about Elsa’s (after)life from her, not second hand through Frannie. Elsa’s previous partner left her stuck in the apartment building, deciding that having a semi-visible immortal girlfriend during the mid twentieth century didn’t sound fun. While somewhat valid, it left Elsa with abandonment issues. She eventually becomes the protective mother of two wandering ghost children.

Elsa and Frannie work oddly well together. They debate the fine arts, crack jokes, and have movie nights with Bridgette and Michael. I loved reading about the holidays that they celebrated throughout the year. Elsa and the kids join Frannie in celebrating Jewish holidays. No fuss, no religious conversation. The family just takes part in holidays that are important to them. Frannie and Elsa try to be selfless and put the other’s happiness above all else, which admittedly does cause some problems.

I appreciated the open definition of family. Frannie and Elsa aren’t a cishet (or fully alive) couple with biological children. That doesn’t diminish the connection and love. My one note would be that Elsa using the term “douchebag” isn’t sexy. Frannie finds Elsa calling her boss a loaded term for a vaginal hygiene product attractive. I feel as though we could do better. If you’re looking for a romcom with a slightly chaotic cast of ghosts, supportive roommates, and a fun sapphic love story, this is a good pick.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

💀✨ Happily Ever Afterlife by Emma R. Alban ✨💀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📅 Publication Date: September 29, 2026
🏢 Publisher: Alcove Press

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC of Happily Ever Afterlife by Emma R. Alban!

I absolutely loved this book. The premise alone hooked me instantly, but the execution made it truly special. A paranormal found family made up of ghosts from different eras, plus a human who becomes part of their world? I was completely sold from page one.

The ghost family was the heart of this story. Bridgette (1889) and Michael (1923) were incredibly well written—children frozen in time at eight and ten years old, yet carrying the emotional weight of over a century of existence. They felt like “old children” in the most bittersweet and beautiful way. Elsa (1964), the more guarded and reluctant member of the group, added a compelling dynamic, especially as she slowly began to open up. And Frannie’s over-the-top author boss brought just the right amount of chaos and humor to the story.

Frannie and Elsa’s romance completely won me over. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I loved the way their relationship developed—slow, emotional, and full of yearning without ever feeling drawn out. Their connection felt authentic, making every moment between them even more impactful.

What surprised me most was how emotional this book became. It balances hope, sadness, and joy beautifully, particularly through the lens of a found family that quite literally cannot move on from one another or from their past lives. I became deeply invested in whether Frannie and Elsa could find a way to be together long-term, and that emotional tension carried me through the entire novel.

The concept of ghosts living alongside a human in a shared space was both charming and unique. I loved this unconventional, deeply bonded family and the way they cared for one another despite everything they had endured.

My only small complaint is that I never wanted it to end—I would have happily spent much more time in this world with these characters.

Overall, Happily Ever Afterlife is a beautifully emotional, cozy, and heartfelt paranormal romance featuring incredible found-family dynamics and a romance that delivers on yearning, tenderness, and genuine connection.

💀 What to Expect 💀

✨ Paranormal sapphic romance
💀 Ghost found family
✨ Historical child ghosts (1889, 1923, 1964)
💀 Slow-burn yearning romance
✨ Cozy, emotional atmosphere
💀 Unique contemporary-paranormal blend

A stunning, heartfelt read that completely won me over.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC!

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this eArc.

This book fell short of my expectations. This review is going to be a bit all over because my feelings about this book are all over the place.

While I got a sapphic ghost romance, everything fell short. The chemistry between Elsa and Frannie wasn’t really there and then suddenly it is. My issue with the chemistry is mainly from Elsa. You don’t really learn all that much about her until after Frannie falls for her. Like yes they spend a lot of time together with Michael and Bridgette but it seems like they don’t talk much about themselves. All they talk about is different forms of queer media, and how Elsa used to work in theater with a lot of big names before they found fame. Most of Frannie's attraction to her was how she looked. I did like their relationship with the ghost kids. (I also want to note that "Hot Ghost Mom" is in this book over 170 times! And it was very congested to the first few chapters. I almost DNF'd due to how annoying it was. )

Michael and Bridgette were adorable. Being stuck in a childlike state for eternity but being hopeful for a future outside of their apartments. The 'mom' roll being mostly due to how old she was when she died it was enduring to see Elsa with the children. Even though they had been dead much longer than Elsa, she still took care of them. They taught her how to be a ghost and get her out of her apartment.

I was so confused as to why she referred to Henry as a mean boss when it seemed like a normal relationship between assistant and boss. I get that he didn't send the books she wanted to his publisher, however he was right that there wasn't really anything notable about them. The moment that she wrote a book that he knew would make it he helped her navigate the publishing house aspect and encouraged her dreams. I liked how in the end they had 'made up'/ Frannie sees him as the mentor he was.

The saving grace of this book for me was the question of if they would make it across the street to live with Frannie or if they would be stuck at the Dekota. So suffice to say; I hated the ending. I knew the moment they started talking about the ending of Frannie's book being sad that this book would have an open ending (or sad ending) and I was right; much to my disdain. I hate open endings. I find them to be lazy and unimaginative; there are a few exceptions and this book was not one.

One quote that I really liked was about one's queerness.
"'But my relationship status has no bearing on my queerness, or whether or not I can be out with the people in my life. I was bi and proud before I met you, and I'll be bi and proud whatever happens between us.'"

[Zamantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to preface this review by saying that I typically don’t read romance or books that would mention things or people in the real world.

I had a hard time adjusting to reading about celebrities who exist in the real world, but at the same time, it was something I knew I had to get used to! I couldn’t raise an eyebrow every time Chappell Roan’s ‘Pink Pony Club’ was mentioned. Despite the setting being in modern Los Angeles and the constant reminder that this book would reference things you would see in real life, I felt that some dialogues wouldn’t be said in normal daily conversations. I appreciate the attempt to try to include commentary, especially since this is an LGBTQ+ book, but it fell short to me that a kid (even though they have been stuck in a kid’s body for years) would be talking about genderfluidity. There was also a scene where Frannie educates Elsa about asexuality in the middle of a conversation. I think there was an attempt at making the discussion normalized (like how discussions about topics like sexuality should be, of course!), but it made me feel like it was included just to include something.

I understood the connection being sparked between Frannie and Elsa because of their shared interest; however, I found issue with the fast connection because Elsa didn’t feel like a fully fleshed-out character aside from being the 'Hot Ghost Mom' who loves musicals and literature. What does Frannie know about her and what does she see? I also felt that their admittance of one another's feelings was too simple and early.

I quite enjoyed Frannie’s relationship with Bridgette and Michael more than her relationship with Elsa. I wanted Frannie to also stop referring to the kids as just her friends or her family. It would’ve been nice to read that she sees them as hers as well!

Towards the end of the book, I was able to enjoy Elsa more because of her defiance and her grit. To me, that showed who she is and how much she has endured in the Dakota. I felt that she was sincere in her willingness to let Frannie go so that Frannie wouldn’t lose herself just to keep them.

I enjoyed the latter part of this book because of how much characterization was given to the characters. They were cute and sweet, too. This book may just not be for me, and that’s okay! This may be someone else's cup of tea, and the author should still be proud of herself for writing this and putting it out to the world.

I am incredibly grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to get a copy of this ARC!

Publishing date: September 29, 2026

[Ruben Martinez Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.0★

Listen. If you tell me a book is about a bisexual writer falling in love with a ghost MILF haunting an old New York building, I’m already halfway sold.

Happily Ever Afterlife more than delivers on the premise. Emma R. Alban writes with her trademark warmth and emotional sincerity that makes the (fairly PG-13) F/F romance at the heart of this story easy to root for, and I especially enjoyed the found-family dynamic that develops around Elsa and her children. The queer representation is lovely and thoughtful, as always with Alban’s books, and the romance feels both heartfelt and deeply sincere. Fans of musical theater will also find more than a few gems in this one to laugh over.

That said, I did have a few reservations. Even by sapphic romance standards, I struggled a little with how quickly Frannie went from “intrigued by Hot Ghost Mom” to “I am prepared to spend literal eternity with this woman and her children.” U-Hauling is one thing; eternal commitment is another. I also found myself wishing for a bit more closure in a few storylines. Frannie’s dismissive boss spends most of the novel being a jerk, undervaluing her work, and belittling her writing (being “commercial” isn’t necessarily bad, but when Henry said it, it felt demeaning), and he never really gets the reckoning I felt he deserved. Likewise, Elsa’s history with Joan left me wanting some kind of emotional resolution, especially after Frannie’s failed attempt to orchestrate an apology behind Elsa’s back. On a much smaller note, Frannie’s roommate Jonathan seemed to ghost (ha!) for long stretches of the book; by the end, I felt like he could have been omitted entirely and the story would have been just fine.

Still, the strength of the romance and Alban’s lovely prose carried me through. As Frannie says near the end of the novel: “Look, real life is seldom so fantastic. Real people don’t go around meeting ghosts, and falling in love with them, and saving them. But isn’t it wonderful to live in a world where they do, just for a few pages?” If you’re looking for a heartfelt queer paranormal romance, and the phrase “Hot Ghost Mom” sparks immediate joy, this is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I'm beyond thrilled that Emma R. Alban decided to write a paranormal romance with a historical aspect. I am a huge fan of her historical sapphic romances and paranormal stories. I knew that this book was going to be good. The characters are well-written. I enjoyed how this story is about an inspiring author trying to write a book and falling in love with a ghost in the building. Frannie's romance with the hot ghost mom was full of tension. I love sapphic romances. I liked that we got to see their friendship turning into a relationship only when they built trust. I absolutely adore the ghost children. They were so adorable. I also enjoyed getting to know her friend Gretchen and seeing hints of her romance with a ghost hunter. This book will be perfect for the fall. I hope we get more books from her with paranormal aspects.

This book felt like a debut into the genre. In the first 40-50% of the book, the story flowed smoothly. I had a hard time understanding what was going on when the scenes kept changing rapidly. For example, we would get a scene of Frannie doing mundane work as an author's assistant, then her interacting with the ghosts, and then her working with her friend and the ghost hunter to learn more about ghosts. To me, it felt like scenes were running into each other. But after the 50%, this started to smooth out and became much easier to read. I do think this book would have been 5 stars if the first 50% was like the last. My other problem was the ending. I don't like ambiguous endings. I honestly had no idea how things ended because I was so confused. I'm glad it ended in a happy ending, but I would have loved to see them living their lives together.

Regardless of the negatives. I enjoyed this book. I will be buying a physical copy. I can't wait to listen to the audiobook. I know it's going to be amazing. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Emma R. Alban, and Alcove Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan Padilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book! Sapphic love story? Sold. Sapphic GHOST love story?? I’m sat.


When Frannie first encountered Bridgette made me giggle! Bridgette is adorable and forever 8 years old. When she introduced Frannie to Michael, her “older brother”, who’s forever 10, my heart felt for them for finally having someone to play or even talk to.

Hot Mom Ghost… she was such an interceding character and I love that it even took us a while to learn her name. Even though I loved still calling her Hot Ghost Mom! Elsa being the black cat type to Frannie’s golden retriever energy made the dynamic so much fun to see played out. I don’t blame Elsa (Hot Ghost Mom) for being so protective over the children and wanting to keep Frannie away, but once Frannie and Elsa FINALLY had their moment to get to know each other, it was all down hill from there.

The side characters were good additions to the story and even though Frannie’s boss, Henry, worked her to the bone it was nice to see that he actually believed in her as a writer and pushed and pushed her to write a book that sounded like her. Once Gretchen and Brad were on the same page of the ghost family it made me so happy that they wanted to help see if Michael’s plan of moving their energy to a different location so they could finally leave the Dakota.

I do love that Elsa believed in Frannie’s work so much that she slipped Frannie’s finished manuscript into Henry’s work. Seeing Frannie get the deal of her dreams to sell her book because Elsa believed in her was so heartwarming, even though Frannie was upset at first.

From chapter 32 until the end I was crying, mind you I was on an airplane finishing up this book, the open ending destroyed me because I REALLY want to know if they made it or not. So I’m choosing to believe that they made it and they lived Happily Ever Afterlife.

Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for the Advance Readers Copy!

[Megan Padilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

*there’s some spoilers so beware*
I absolutely LOVED this book! Sapphic love story? Sold. Sapphic GHOST love story?? I’m sat.

When Frannie first encountered Bridgette made me giggle! Bridgette is adorable and forever 8 years old. When she introduced Frannie to Michael, her
“older brother”, who’s forever 10, my heart felt for them for finally having someone to play or even talk to.

Hot Mom Ghost... she was such an interesting character and I love that it even took us a while to learn her name. Even though I loved still calling her Hot Ghost Mom! Elsa being the black cat type to Frannie’s golden retriever energy made the dynamic so much fun to see played out. I don’t blame Elsa (Hot Ghost Mom) for being so protective over the children and wanting to keep Frannie away, but once Frannie and Elsa FINALLY had their moment to get to know each other, it was all down hill from there.

The side characters were good additions to the story and even though Frannie’s boss, Henry, worked her to the bone it was nice to see that he actually believed in her as a writer and pushed and pushed her to write a book that sounded like her. Once Gretchen and Brad were on the same page of the ghost family it made me so happy that they wanted to help see if Michael’s plan of moving their energy to a different location so they could finally leave the Dakota.

I do love that Elsa believed in Frannie’s work so much that she slipped Frannie’s finished manuscript into Henry’s work. Seeing Frannie get the deal of her dreams to sell her book because Elsa believed in her was so heartwarming, even though Frannie was upset at first.

From chapter 32 until the end I was crying, mind you I was on an airplane finishing up this book, the open ending destroyed me because I REALLY want to know if they made it or not. So I’m choosing to believe that they made it and they lived Happily Ever Afterlife.

Thank you NetGalley and Emma R. Alban for this fantastic read!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has an amazing premise. I'm a sucker for a paranormal romance anyway, but the idea of a found family of ghosts who all died at different points in history and the human who joins them is charming, and I loved all of the characters to pieces. Children Bridgette (1889) and Michael (1923) beautifully encapsulated being stuck at ages eight and ten respectively but also having been around for a long, long time - they're basically old children, and that's not easy to show. Elsa, the mom of the group (1964), is much less trusting, though no less desperate for human interaction. All three of them, plus heroine Frannie and her over-the-top author boss, are beautifully written and realized.

My caveat is that the plot isn't quite tight enough. It takes relatively little time for Frannie to break down Elsa's walls, which means that there's a 40/60 split in terms of "getting together" and "angst," which is not ideal. I prefer an 80/20 split, because angst in romance novels can be a drag on the plot. In this case, I would have preferred that the solution to the problem be found and executed in about 75 fewer pages. Alban's writing is excellent, but this balance just didn't work for me and there were moments when I considered skipping ahead or skimming. (I did neither, but I thought about it.)

As a 250 page book, this would be amazing. As it is, it's very good, but heavier than it strictly needs to be. I'm sure that the ending will bother some readers; I didn't love it, but from a literary standpoint, I respect it, so my issue remains that it simply takes too long to get there.


EDIT: I have spent two days thinking, and I have come to the conclusion that the ending is somehow very unsatisfying. I'm not sure why, but the more I think about it, the more it annoys me.

[Genny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bisexual writer X ghost hottie momma in a paranormal sapphic romance? Say LESSSSS!!!

Frannie and Elsa are a romance for the ages! The relationship is a slow-burn that is filled with yearning and unquestionable chemistry. (And every scene discussing the nuances of the Alphabet Mafia was written so wonderfully.) It unfolds so beautifully before your eyes and you never want their story to end— both as a reader, and because you want to know how the relationship between a ghost and a human can possibly work in the long-term. You are rooting for them to find a way the entire time, which in my opinion makes this one of the more successful romantic paranormal romances I have read.

Also on the subject of ghosts: I loved their *found ghost family* and the child ghosts. They add to the emotional depth of this story and pull at your heartstrings. Their playfulness and ability to be inquisitive kids while simultaneously possessing insightful commentary that would be inappropriate for a child to have because they have existed as ghosts for so long, really worked for me.

My one minor annoyance was that Frankie doesn’t even know her name is Elsa until 24% in! I know it lends to the slow burn and shows the development of trust and friendship, but at the same time reading “Hot Ghost Mom” paragraph after paragraph so many many pages started to make the phrase turn into gibberish mush in my brain.

Be sure to grab a copy when it’s released on September 29, 2026!

Thank you to Emma R. Alban and Alcove Press for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[lily ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the publisher for giving me an eARC of this book through NetGalley!

I adored this book, and that’s why I’m destroyed sitting here having to write this review. I enjoyed this book so thoroughly that I took my time reading it because I didn’t want it to end. Now I wish I would’ve taken longer to finish it because the ambiguous ending left me incredibly disappointed. Earth shatteringly disappointed, even.

One of the plot points within this book is Frannie writing a novel that mirrors the events of the story. There’s a battle of deciding on the ‘happy ending’ vs ‘realistic ending.’ The greatest irony of this debacle is that the actual book goes through all of that, and then Emma Alban gives us neither ending. A non-committal flash forward that ultimately felt like a huge waste of pages.

Regardless of what the aftermath would’ve been, I wanted to experience it! Grief or joy, I wanted to be there along with Frannie as I had been for the entire novel thus far. Unfortunately, I was robbed of an ending, after what was otherwise an incredibly strong novel. What do they say about having too much of a good thing?

I’d still recommend reading this book, Emma Alban knows how to craft a compelling story and how to write characters you can’t help but fall in love with. I thought the ghost lore was well explained and the characters were all well developed. I was completely enamored with the romance between Frannie and Elsa. I thought the relationship between Frannie and her roommate-turned-friend was realistically established. Everything was perfect, until it wasn’t.

This one, and the potential it had, is going to haunt me for a long time. No pun intended.

[The Bookish Chimera - Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Language makes a big difference when you’re trying to explain how you feel, how you are.”

I had such a great time while reading Happily Ever Afterlife, and it gave me all the feels, to begin with a deep sweetness sensation. The dynamics between all the characters are delightful, and I loved that Frannie felt in love with the kids first, even before meeting their Host Ghost Mom. All the relationships feel genuine, and most of them are multidimensional in a large scale of gray (yes, even with the unsufferable boss ^^), and none of the characters/relationship felt left behind.
The book is quite uncategorizable (for the better), as it mixes several storyline kinds (all about the MC) that intertwine together, making the book more about Frannie —her evolution, but also her “ghostly family”— than the usual romance. It makes a pretty different book, and one I couldn’t put down as it made me laugh, swoon, but also cry a little … and think. As in others E.A.’s books, the theme of queerness and the importance to have words to be able to understand yourself is here, even though more discreet than in her HistRoms. New York (and its iconic/historical buildings) has a great importance in the story, especially through the “Ghost Hunter” part, but also the publishing world one.
In the end, Happily Ever Afterlife is, of course, a sweet sapphic romance between an aspiring writer and a ghost, but it’s also a love letter to family, writing, and New York’s history. I loved it, and probably will reread it during the spooky season!


4.5/5

Thank you Alcove Press for the free access to the eARC on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[ChristineReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect this book to make me cry so much at the end. It was beautifully written with such a great cast of characters I couldn't help loving them.

Frannie is a personal assistant to a famous author, while also trying to get a book of her own published, with limited success and at times limited support. Frannie is essentially living for her job and the opportunity of one day. For 2 months, Frannie is left to manage her bosses apartment and write a novel while he tours for his latest book. Lo and behold she is shocked when Bridgette, a young ghost girl in the building makes herself known to Frannie. Instead of freaking out Frannie befriends the ghost and soon connects with her brother and mom and a new novel idea pops into her head.

Frannie is writing her novel, getting to know her new ghosts friends, and quickly learning to love this latest chapter of her life. Elsa and Frannie begin to get close after Elsa was initially worried about the kids getting to close to Frannie. Frannie wants nothing more than for their family to be together but that might not be possible if she gets a book deal and has to leave from being her bosses assistant.

We get a very thought out story on what it means to live, to make certain choices for yourself, and find ways forward with your partner. I really enjoyed this and contrary to what I have seen in some reviews I loved the ending. It made me feel all my feels and hope for the best for Frannie and her family.

I highly recommend if you like paranormal romance, found family, supportive partners, and great friends. Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! Cute and paranormal! But it could just a little bit more “oomph”.

The first thing I noticed about this story was that there is some good chemistry between the main characters, Frannie and Elsa.
I really liked them together, and I especially liked the pacing of their progression as well.
It isn’t super slow, while also not being a “love at first sight”, sort of situation.
The development of their relationship is great, which is something I can appreciate.

Though, I must that that despite their chemistry and special bonding that I love, something about it just didn't quite land for me.
I think it’s that while I really enjoyed and cared for the characters together, I didn’t connect with them much individually.
On their own, they both just seemed a little bit blander to me. Neither had what I would consider to be a super interesting life or backstory outside of their relationship. Which hey! Perhaps that is part of the beauty of them finding their other half.
They’re cooler when they’re in love.

I have to say I really love the concept of a ghost family (though I am shocked at how little of a reaction Frannie has to finding out that ghosts are real, and living in her apartment building?!).
I think it's a fun and unique play on paranormal romance and blended families.

Overall, It’s okay!
It isn’t perfect, but also not bad either.

Thank you to Netgalley, Alcove Press and author Emma R. Alban, for providing me with the eARC of “Happily Ever Afterlife”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 29, 2026

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma R. Alban, don't ever stop! Alban takes a shot at contemporary romance in her newest, Happily Ever Afterlife, and I couldn't be happier. Frannie works as an assistant to a famous author while she also tries to get her own career as a writer going. But one day, she discovers that his Upper West Side building is haunted by two precocious children and a hot ghost mom. The more time she spends with them, the more she grows to love them. But they are tied to the building. And this place is decidedly out of her price range. Maybe with some help from her boss and friends, she can make all her dreams come true.

Overall, this was pretty fun, but I prefer Alban's historicals. Frannie hates her boss, but he doesn't seem that bad to me. Sure he's kinda arrogant and he does keep her working too long each day, but a lot of that seems to be Frannie. It feels like he's just oblivious and if she brought it up, he'd acquiesce pretty quickly. It also felt like he was on board with ghosts, so why didn't she just tell him? Elsa was also out of line when she keeps "helping" Frannie when she explicitly told her not to. Then it felt really weird that she was SO against a relationship with Frannie. I mean, I get some hesitation, but went too overboard. And it felt like she was deciding for Frannie rather than let her make her own decision. 🤷‍♀️ Still, I loved the kids and most of the other characters and this made for an interesting story.

[Misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

(rounded up from 4.5)

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I didn't expect that this book would elicit as many feelings as it did (and that always means I'll rate it fairly highly). I thought I was getting into a light romance about a hot ghost mom and an assistant to an established author who wants to get published but is doing drudgery in the meantime. Instead, I got a lovely and quiet little book about found family, holding on to an impossible situation for love, and trying to let go.

I normally prefer character-focused books, so this was a bit of a slower start for me since it's much more plot-oriented. The cast of characters is wholesome and engaging, albeit not as three-dimensional as I'd normally enjoy, but the central conflict involving very specific ghost mechanics reeled me in.

The cute children are adorable; the hot ghost mom is hot; Frannie is young, ambitious, and naive. I would have enjoyed a bit more depth to these characters by switching up the POV or giving us more from Elsa (hot ghost mom) about her fascinating life for nearly a hundred years in this one building and how long eternity actually feels like once you have to live it stuck in one luxury building, but I did enjoy the emotional core of the story about not wanting to risk the present day for an uncertain future.

I had a great time reading this and would definitely read more from Emma R. Alban.

[Ange · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a feat to withhold the love interest's name for seven chapters! In "Happily Ever Afterlife," Alban proves that she understands the pact romance authors make with their readers. So it is ... disconcerting ... that she chooses to break that pact? There's a meta element at play (the heroine is writing a version of Alban's book) and much of the story's emotional core revolves around discussions of whether one can actually believe in/hope for a HEA in the story of their own life. I appreciate Alban's ambition here—she tries to draw on the meta element to have her cake & eat it too, HEA-speaking. Alas, she does not succeed. As one character says about Alban's heroine's own book: the sadder ending is the better fit for this narrative. Alban's refusal to commit to a true HFN or HEA is ITSELF a breaking of the romance pact, which makes this whole project feel ... emotionally incoherent. This novel should have been marketed as commercial/women's fiction, and it should have committed to its inevitable bittersweet ending. I fear this book won't reach its ideal readers, at least not in its current form and packaging.

This is Alban's first contemporary novel and my first time reading one of her books. It seems like this novel is a significant departure from her other romances, so I must withhold my full assessment of Alban as a Romance Novelist until I read one of her historicals.

[Rory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I read Happily Ever Afterlife, I read Emma Alban's You're The Problem, It's You. I really enjoyed that one, so I was pleased to find I enjoyed this equally. The buildup in this really works for me. Surprisingly, in the span of only about a hundred pages I felt like I'd finished half a novel already. With another 200 pages left, I wondered where else it might go, and was honestly a little apprehensive because that felt like a lot of room for me to lose interest unless there was something the characters were actively working towards. Thankfully, for the next 150 pages I was wrapped up in a warm, comfortable blanket of domestic bliss experienced through the characters, with silly moments, fade-to-black spice and a lot of ghostly shenanigans, all before the stakes were raised as a final hurrah toward the end. The character development felt like it was happening in real time, realistically and naturally, and all the characters were equally likeable (even Henry, who I think I was supposed to dislike?), which I personally enjoyed. I was really rooting for the characters as a result, and the romance was very sweet. Without spoiling anything, I can see the ending not being for everyone, but I personally liked the way it was written. Being sweet, mildly spicy, easy to follow and with a satisfying conclusion, I would recommend this novel.

---
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

tysm to netgalley for the earc of this book!!

I thought I was going to adore this book the same way I adored her historical romances but I fear this one just didn't hit the same. I feel like every character who was introduced to the ghosts after Frannie & Elsa started dating just took it without any concerns and just accepted it, including the ghost hunter, who I would've thought would at least want proof, he just accepted her words at face value. The relationships between Frannie & the ghosts were so cute but it felt very rushed, and we didn't get to see those relationships develop a ton, they just insta clicked.

I also despised the ending omg I hate an ambiguous ending especially in romance like why don't we get to see them get to their new home or even know if they made it. was the book quote supposed to imply that they did make it across the street okay??

I feel like there could have been a much bigger deep dive on how ghosts are created and the different types of ghosts/why they are that way, because I feel like it was brought up and just wasn't explained further. How did they figure that out? Why is it that way?

All in all I liked this book but I feel like a lot could have been more fleshed out and the ending just made it feel unfinished.

[Daan Jansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had been a little while since I’d picked up a sapphic romance, so when Happily Ever Afterlife landed on my TBR, I was genuinely excited to dive in. Having already read (and loved!) Emma R. Alban’s previous work, my expectations were… let’s just say they were pretty high!

Frannie is an aspiring writer whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets a family of ghosts living in the legendary Dakota Building. What starts as being fascinated by the supernatural world around her soon ends up in getting involved in their lives to the point where they become her family, love interest, and everything else you could imagine.

One of my favourite things about this book was how accessible the paranormal side of the story felt. It never became overly complicated, which made it easy to get swept up in Frannie’s world. And can we talk about Elsa for a second? She might've been my favourite character in the whole book. The only thing that occasionally pulled me out of the story was how often the nickname "Hot Ghost Mom" (and later "ghost girlfriend") came up. They made me laugh at first, but after a while, they started to lose their charm a little.

Even so, I had a really enjoyable time with this one. Maybe it didn't completely knock my socks off the way I'd secretly hoped, but it was still a fun and refreshing read!

[Kat Reads Skulls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy! All opinions expressed are my own 🖤

Bitterly hopeful yet sorrowful throughout, this was sadder than I expected, but I couldn’t put it down.

The ghost kids and their antics were definitely a highlight for me! I loved that the author acknowledged their levels of awareness and maturity had changed with their years of haunting, while maintaining their childhood playfulness, hope, and curiosity.

Our MCs Frankie and Elsa were somewhat toxic at times but compelling. Elsa’s protectiveness towards the kids and Frannie’s near immediate adoption of them was so sweet. Add in the ghosts inconveniencing the residents they dislike and I had a lot of fun with this premise.

One element the author did well was building the tension between the two MCs and then just letting us sit within that tension. There are drawbacks to every possible ending and, despite the genre, you truly feel that any ending is on the table.

I’m going to politely disagree with the other reviewers that say the ending is left open or ambiguous. Without spoiling it, the answer of what happened is there, but is subtle and you have to read the context clues. It’s a quiet ending full of meaning that I found satisfying. Would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for an emotional paranormal sapphic romance.

[Marlo Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!

Truthfully, this book was okay. I got very excited for a sapphic paranormal romance, but I suppose I didn’t understand the entirety of what I was in for.

The two biggest gripes I have stem from the main character, Frannie. Firstly, I just straight up disliked her. I hate to say it, but I agreed with Elsa and how she shouldn’t put her life on pause to be a partner/mother to ghosts. This also unfortunately led to a lot of plot holes: HEAVIER SPOILERS AHEAD

Does this mean her family meets them? What about future friends? What happens to them in her death? Does Frannie find a way to be a ghost with them? What does that mean for their eternity in this building?

Secondly, I don’t really believe she was that deeply in love with Elsa to give up her life after a handful of months. Yes, I know lesbians move fast, but damn.

I simply just did not enjoy this read. I believe if you go into it with the mindset of not thinking then it should be a good time. I just over analyze and criticize some of my reads too much. This is probably the last book by Alban I’ll read.