The Haunted Librarian

by Auralee Wallace

A lonely librarian finds love, friends, and a few ghosts between the shelves in this cozy, paranormal tale from beloved bestselling author Auralee Wallace.

It’s a dark and stormy night…and Amelia Bates is caught in the rain. Life hasn’t always been kind to her, and being a ghostseer certainly doesn’t make things any easier.

Glowing warmly through the autumnal downpour is her safest the library. Amelia, the newly hired librarian, has always relished the comfort of curling up with a novel, vastly preferring it to the company of humans (alive or ghostly).

But Amelia is shocked to discover the building is full of more than quiet stories and warm cups of tea. There are curious, talkative patrons, a shy, bespectacled head librarian who makes her heart skip a beat, and three quirky spirits causing paranormal havoc that endangers the future of the library.

To help the ghosts and save the building, Amelia will have to gather all her bravery and wits, because learning to trust others might just be the first step to a happily ever after she only thought was possible in books.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Halloween, Cozy Fantasy, Autumn, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

After spending her formative years reading Grimms’ fairy tales and stirring up potions in the creek behind her house, Auralee Wallace knew she would grow up to be a witch. When that didn’t work out, she decided becoming a writer was the next best thing. Now, Auralee is the author of multiple novels, including the Otter Lake mystery series and The Evenfall Witches B&B mysteries. She lives in Ottawa with her husband, kids, dog, and cat.
She can be found on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and her website http://auraleewallace.com/.

Auralee is represented by Natalie Lakosil, Looking Glass Literary and Media.

Reviews

[Krystal]

The Haunted Librarian marks my second time reading Auralee Wallace's work and I am enjoying her quirky, heartwarming style. The cozy cover art is a great fit for this gentle narrative about a ghostseer falling in love with a crumbling library that hosts a trio of ghosts from different time periods.

The Professor
He has a lovely demeanor and flawed memory. He sits in his favorite chair upstairs by the fire reading. If I had to be a ghost I could think of worse ways to spend the afterlife. 😉

Minnie
She has limited communication and a scarier physical appearance than the others. However, Minnie hit me square in the heart because as her longing was palpable.

Braden
He embodies the late '80's early '90's Point Break style. His character provided some laugh out loud interactions with Amelia the beloved, buttoned up librarian. He is the ghost with the most page time and he also provides a much-needed connection between the characters.

Amelia is excited to begin her new job as a librarian. Spending her days among the stacks fills her with joy. The handsome bespectacled fellow librarian causes her nervous heart to flutter. Amelia has spent her life ignoring the ghosts she sees and sticking to books to feel balanced. The library is in trouble, and she may have to rely on some unlikely help to save it.

A cute, cozy read for spooky season. Even the chilled, rainy atmosphere felt right to welcome autumnal vibes. The dash of romance had more to do with personal growth than sultry vibes so take that into consideration according to your personal preferences. It was a perfect read for me to take in nibbles before bed during a busy week.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ashley Lynn]

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a cozy fun read. Amelia’s character growth was perfect, she goes from anxious librarian to a confident one with the help of her ghost friends. This book is about being unafraid, accepting yourself for who you are, and being ready to admit when it is time for you to move on. The ghosts were my favorite part and brought a lot of laughter and growth to the story and the main character, Amelia. Simon is adorable. And Rosalinda - 🥹. The book made me laugh and cry! Such a fun cozy read, perfect for fall!

[Tracy Emro]

Amelia Bates has not had an easy life, she grew up in foster care and never quite fit in, and to make matters worse, she saw ghosts and had to keep it secret, so no one thought she was crazy. She completely cut out that part of her life, going as far as to make rules to ignore them. Without family or friends, Amelia lost herself in books and her greatest wish in life was to become a librarian. So, when she receives an invitation to apply at the Cavendish Library on Prince Edward Island, she was thrilled. But things seemed to go down from there…

First, she encountered several ghosts on her way to the library and then the weather turned and she was drenched and disheveled when she arrived for her interview, late of course, only to find the door locked. But to her surprise and relief, she was called back by a librarian named Rosalinda, when she turned to leave and was given the job with no questions asked. She was delighted until she was introduced to Simon, the head librarian, who just happened to be just about the most gorgeous man she has ever seen, leaving her tongue tied and feeling awkward. When Simon asks to speak to Rosalinda alone, she realizes that she is not alone, there are several ghosts haunting the library. Ghosts that she refuses to acknowledge and who refuse to be ignored, making it hard for her to seem “normal” and alienating her from Simon. But this is just the beginning, and things are about to get even stranger, and Amelia will have to decide if she is going to stick to her rules or will she finally open her heart and mind?

I really liked this story, it wasn’t the romantasy I was expecting, it was more cozy fantasy with a potential love interest. Amelia is a very interesting and complex character whose life has taught her to be secretive and private, she has never had friends and her experiences at the library take her out of her comfort zone, but as she grows and heals, she slowly learns to trust others and herself. I wasn’t sure if I liked her for the first third of the book, but she grew on me and I ended up rooting for her to find her way to happiness. Overall, it was a charming story of found family, trust, and new beginnings and a book that I would happily recommend.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for a DRC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

[Anna Tan]

Amelia Bates has three rules when dealing with ghosts, which basically amounts to ignoring anything and everything about them. But the old library on Prince Edward Island, where she's finally fulfilling her life-long dream of being a librarian, is filled with ghosts. And not just any ghosts she can ignore, but ones who are actively trying to get her attention. And of course, the head librarian just has to be the most dreamy - yet unattainable - guy, doesn't he?

I don't normally go for ghost stories, but this one sounded like not so much horror but more rom-com, ala Caspian the Friendly Ghost. It does have its darker moments - Amelia has to figure out the three resident ghosts' pasts in order to help them move on, and not all of that is pretty. The story as a whole, however, is light-hearted and cosy. Amelia has to confront her fears and her awkwardness, the ghosts have to face their pasts, and somewhere along the lines, they actually become friends.

Whilst love is a major theme - and weaves itself through the book- the actual romance side of it is super slow burn and no spice. I think this is partly because Amelia spends most of the book going "BUT HE DOESN'T LIKE ME" in the face of all the evidence. The main theme is self-acceptance with a huge dose of found family - not just for Amelia, but for all of them.

I brought this along with me during a weekend trip to Bangkok, and I have to say that The Haunted Librarian is a perfect light read over vacation. It's funny and light hearted, and though there are ghosts and malevolent happenings, there's nothing too dark to scare you while you're in unfamiliar places.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Ashley]

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of The Haunted Librarian through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Amelia is a librarian who can communicate with ghosts and Simon is her coworker and fellow librarian who wears SLG!…be still my heart! I love a book with an FMC that can see ghosts and The Haunted Librarian delivered all of the cozy paranormal vibes for me.

It was fun seeing Amelia and the ghosts slowly become friends and work together to save the library. I thought Amelia was a great character and could definitely see how her past had affected her as an adult. I did find myself wishing that some of the relationships between the characters would have been explored more and not taken place off the page.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
• Haunted Library
• Paranormal Fiction
• Cozy Mystery
• Personal Growth

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️

If you love paranormal vibes and library romance with a cozy ghost mystery then I would definitely recommend The Haunted Librarian.

[Tyler Hancsak]

This was so cute, wholesome, and I loved the haunted spooky vibes for a good kick off to Halloween season! Amelia had so much growth in this book and it was honestly such a soft and sweet cozy fantasy. Even the ghosts were fun and seeing the slow burn romance develop was cuuuuute.

[Calamity Ayne]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Auralee Wallace’s latest book was as nice to read as her others. She builds worlds that feel real, and that you can step right into. MC Amelia’s new job as the night librarian in a sentient library haunted by three ghosts proves to be more than she was expecting.

(You’ll need to suspend your disbelief as to why a small town library with hardly any patrons would need a night librarian.)

As a (reluctant) ghostseer, Amelia’s always done her best to avoid ghosts at all costs. When the library and the ghosts’ fates entangle, she’s compelled to lean into her abilities for the good of the library, the ghosts, and her new friends.

An overall good and cozy read. I like the author’s writing, and really hope she gets back to writing the
Evenfall Witches B&B series!

Thank you to ACE and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Allison]

Thank you to Kate Ferraro from the Publicity department of the Berkeley Publishing Group (under Penguin Random House) for sending me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a charming book! I’ll be honest—I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, so I’m glad I gave it a chance. It’s definitely a good read for this upcoming autumnal season, and I think a lot of readers will identify with Amelia over her love of books and feeling awkward around other people.

Honestly, my only criticism is that the book, at times, tries almost too hard to convince us Amelia is awkward, which only serves in turn to make the book feel a bit awkward and cringey. But thankfully that tapers off a bit as the book goes on.

If you love books, mysteries, and stories about ghosts who need help moving on, I think you’ll enjoy this book!

[Nicole Alycia]

4.25 🌟

Amelia has dreamed of becoming a librarian so when she gets a job at her dream library she wants nothing more than for it to go perfectly. There’s just one thing, Amelia can see ghosts and they might make her perfect library job a tad more difficult than anticipated.

I had a lot of fun reading this one! I really loved all the ghost characters in this and loved getting to learn about them and Amelia throughout the story!
And the setting … the setting of this book is absolute perfection! A little island village with blustery fall days back setting an old gothic library…. Can I move there please?

If you enjoy cozy ghost stories I highly recommend picking this one up!

[Sowmya]

This had promise and was such a let down.
Amelia darling... you have serious issues and its not related to your tragic backstory or the ghosts or even your lack of coherent thoughts that often spills out totally unfiltered.
Wait... that your good side
The boring side is everything Amelia.
This had it all
sentient Library
Ghosts with wit AND issues
a smart MMC with glasses
BOOKS, BOOK and seeecccrretttsss but in the end the book just haunts my TBR's.

[Natalie Bennett]

2.5 ⭐️ — It was a really cute premise, and it started out strong, but I felt like there was very little storytelling about Amelia being an actual librarian. Most of the time she was at the library, it was closed. There was reference to her being such a great librarian and people talking about all the amazing things she did for patrons, but there was little of her doing her job actually discussed in the story. Also, her relationship with Simon wasn't as touched upon through the story as much as I would have liked. The majority of their interactions were her pushing him away, so it felt a bit rushed when they admitted their feelings for one another in the end without much build-up beforehand. I thought her relationship with the ghosts was really cute, as well as her opening up and being vulnerable to make relationships and build connections with other people and seeing the good in her ghost-seeing abilities, but I feel like the storytelling didn't land as well as I hoped it would.

[★patt★]

wooo!!! cant wait

[Alice]

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Auralee Wallace for a copy of the eARC!

I am always delighted to try out a new cozy fantasy and Wallace's Evenfall Witches B&B was captivating so I knew I had to pick this one up.

✔ Romance without smut
✔ Healthy relationships
✔ Paranormal
✔ Learning to love oneself
✔ Learning to lean on others
✔ World that is easy to jump right into
✔ Possibly sentient library with lots of books

Amelia, an orphan and a ghostseer, has just been offered a job at a library. Growing up, she has learned to hide the fact that she can see ghosts from everyone, including the ghosts themselves. However, she finds out when she starts her job that there are 3 ghosts stuck in the library and they are requesting for her help. Amelia finds out that she needs to face her own worries/fears as she finds out that the presence of ghosts may endanger her workplace.

I loved how each chapter started with a quote from a book, a verse, or a song. Some of them have definitely intrigued me enough for me to look it up. I find it very endearing for the author to add these tiny bits to her work, as it obviously means that she's had to have read the book/poem or heard of the song to relate it to each chapter.

Amelia was not very lovable at first, but I cannot blame her for her personality as she grew up ostracized due to her ability to see ghosts. She has learned to avoid any sort of weird reactions so people don't get spooked. It also doesn't help that she's an orphan and looks down on her own self. She does get a little more lovable later. I do love a good character growth book.

Simon, on the other hand, I could not relate to. I feel like every time he was brought up.... it was because Amelia was fawning over him. He felt a little one dimensional to me, especially since we only hear snippets of him and his family's history with the library. I got a little irked when every time there was an interaction, it always ended up in him looking disappointed or something.... Like just man up and tell the girl what you think. She's not the brightest in interpersonal relationships.

The side characters were definitely the saving grace, considering both the FMC and MMC were kind of awkward beings. We have a senior librarian who obviously keeps trying to play cupid. A ghost professor who does not remember why he's stuck in the library, but is very happy with being there. A young millennial ghost who wants to be "unstuck" from the library so he can live out his ghost life. Lastly, a pioneer ghost lady who is absolutely enthralled with romance books and loves to be read to. She also seems to have an affinity to spiders as that's the thing that she combusts into whenever she wants to disappear. All these side characters seem to be a little more fleshed out than the main. We find out their stories and get a little more detail as to why they are stuck in the library. It did make the ending a little bittersweet for me as I felt more bonded to them than the main characters.

One other issue I had with this book is the amount of pop culture references... Again, the book probably won't age too well and will need to be updated in the future years. I also felt a little shocked to be called "middle-aged" as I feel like I am definitely in the age group of Braden, the (possibly) millennial ghost. The fact that the author uses shows such as Friends or movies such as Scream/Titanic, and then proceeds to say that Braden's friends (who are still alive) are probably in their middle-age and have kids made me gasp in horror.

[Karen Brooks - TheTxLitChic]

The Haunted Librarian
~Auralee Wallace

The Haunted Librarian by Auralee Wallace is the literary equivalent of finding a secret room hidden behind a bookcase. You settle into a quiet place to read, and the next thing you know, the whole afterlife comes barging in.

Amelia Bates isn't exactly normal. Her life's dreams have always been written between the covers of a library book, where overdue notices and shelving returns fill her days. So when the opportunity to work at her dream library as a night librarian comes along, she rents an apartment sight unseen in a small, remote village not far from Cavendish. After the library's manager, Rosalinda, offers her the position, Amelia discovers the library is inhabited by ghosts. She is a ghostseer, which makes for a lonely life when you can't share your secret with anyone.

Three troublemaking spirits whose antics threaten to shut the place down, a shy head librarian who makes Amelia even more guarded about her secret, and an encouraging friend in Rosalinda lead Amelia toward discovering secrets she can't hide forever if she wants to truly live.

Wallace proves her mastery of character development through Amelia, Simon, Rosalinda, and the three mischievous spirits within the library. Amelia is the driving force of the story. Her journey toward understanding that what she believes is a curse may truly be a blessing is at the heart of the book. She must discover her true self, as well as learn to trust others, both living and dead.

Simon is soft-spoken, sweet, and easy to root for. He has trust issues of his own to overcome, though he seems to ease into that journey much more easily than Amelia. Rosalinda provides the tie that binds the two. I will leave that as is, because any more would ruin her role.

The ghostly trio, though, is where the fun really lives. Their chaos, comedy, and heartfelt stories bring the afterlife to life. While I enjoyed all of the characters, I did feel there was some disconnect at times that could have been resolved by delving deeper into their backstories and current circumstances.

The Haunted Librarian's strongest element is its atmosphere. Cozy and lived-in, with creaking wood, candlelit corners, the smell of dust and old books, and orbs being chased by ghosts, the library feels like a place you could wander into and never want to leave. The tone remains light, even when the plot brushes against loss and old wounds.

The bump in the road is pacing. The beginning is smooth and steady, while the ending is fast-paced and immersive. The middle, however, is lower-stakes and tends to float along with the spirits. That gentle speed suits the story, despite the middle dragging a tad. The vibe, humor, and growth of a woman looking to find her people and learning to trust make it worth the visit.

If you're looking for a cozy paranormal comfort read for the fall, The Haunted Librarian by Auralee Wallace is a great choice to add to your TBR for its October 6, 2026, release.

I would like to thank Penguin Random House, NetGalley, and author Auralee Wallace for the opportunity to preview The Haunted Librarian. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. Karen Brooks, aka The Tx Lit Chic. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review of The Haunted Librarian.

 

[Dotti]

Auralee Wallace’s The Haunted Librarian is a very fun cozy paranormal novel with a romance subplot. Our story follows Amelia, a new graduate hired at her favorite private library. Amelia can see ghosts, which has isolated her from most social interactions. When the ghosts at the library ask her for help, Amelia must decide if she will finally engage with the ghostly visitors, or risk the library itself.

This book is being described as a cozy fantasy, which I don’t think is accurate. The only real fantasy element is the presence of ghosts and ghost seers, which feels more paranormal than fantasy. There’s a romance subplot, but the romance does not feel central to the story.

This is a book for people who love books. There are constant literary references, from Tolstoy to Austen to what I assume is meant to be Ice Planet Barbarians. There’s nods across the genre spectrum, from literary classics to modern romance. There’s the small delight of shelving and the excitement of book restoration and so many moments of enjoyment. It’s a delight to see an author who clearly loves books and gives her character that love.

There were some very whimsical elements in this story that served to delight me. Amelia’s boss chooses her to work at the library by dropping slips of paper from the second and seeing which one would land on the desk. There’s an incident where a kitten poster is eaten. There’s small moments of levity, like ghosts crying over Titanic (the movie, not the event) or reading romance novels. The actual stakes in the story feel large at times, with the structural integrity of the library at risk, but these moments of delight helped the story remain charming.

However, Amelia’s characterization was very hard to follow. Her lack of understanding of social cues made the writing feel frustrating, and her over-awareness of her own social deficiencies feels awkward and stilted. Other characters are able to point out her strengths to her, but her terrible self esteem makes the book less enjoyable.

There was a lot of good in this book, but the main character’s internal monologue made this book much less enjoyable. I wish the character was a little more comfortable with herself, and given the growth she has through the story, I think a second book would probably be more enjoyable.

Thank you to Auralee Wallace, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

[Vicky]

This was a fun book to read, especially since I’m a librarian who worked at one time in a haunted library! Amelia is a great character with a rough background that has caused her to be extremely introverted. She was abandoned as a baby, grew up in the system, and was always thought of as “odd” because she talks to the air – except for her, there is a person there. A ghost. So in order to seem “normal” she comes up with three rules – don’t look, don’t talk, don’t interact. And it works well until she gets a job at a special library where three ghosts live. They can’t leave and can’t move on unless she helps them, so she must break her rules and they have to work together before the building collapses from a cosmic maelstrom. Oh, and there’s an adorable main librarian – Simon – who makes her heart throb, but she can’t let him know what she can do or he’ll treat her like everyone else does.

While I really enjoyed the story, especially the interaction between Amelia and the ghosts, I thought the relationship between her and Simon could have been better. There was really no build up at all until the very end which was a little hard to accept. I liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and how they related to the chapter. But I really loved the subtle reference to “The Wizard of Oz” and the Cowardly Lion – “I do believe in you (spooks). I do. I do. I do.” I had to laugh at that. There are other little subtleties like that throughout.

Still, even with the relationship issues, I really enjoyed this book. It brought back a lot of memories of that old library (housed in an 1800s mansion) and the idiosyncrasies that go along with old buildings.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books for providing this ARC.

[MichelleAriana]

4.5⭐️

A cozy, ghostly delight that stole my whole heart.

I don't think I've fallen this hard for a cozy read in ages. The Haunted Librarian had me from the very first page; I was completely hooked. Auralee Wallace has such a gift for making a setting feel like a character in its own right, and this library practically breathes. It's cozy, it's a little eerie, and it's absolutely bursting with charm. She knows exactly how to set a mood, and from that opening scene I was completely swept in.

Amelia Bates might be one of my favorite protagonists this year. As a "ghostseer," she's spent her life feeling like an outsider, and honestly, my heart just ached for her in the best way. She's the kind of character who'd rather disappear into a novel than deal with people (living or otherwise), and as a fellow bookworm, I felt SEEN. Watching her slowly, hesitantly open herself up to the found family she stumbles into at the library was such a tender, satisfying arc.

The ghosts! I was expecting spooky, but I wasn't expecting to laugh out loud as often as I did. The three spirits haunting the library are absolute chaos, and their antics gave this book such a fun, mischievous energy without ever undercutting the emotional stakes. There's a real sense of danger to the library's future that kept me anxiously flipping pages, but it never felt heavy, just perfectly balanced cozy-with-a-side-of-peril.

Auralee Wallace has officially made me a lifelong fan. Cannot recommend this one enough. Witty, warm, wonderfully spooky, and utterly charming. A new favorite!

If you love cozy paranormal romance with heart, humor, and a hero worth falling for, The Haunted Librarian is an absolute must-read. I'll be thinking about Amelia and her library ghosts long after turning the last page. 👻📚🍂

A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Haunted Librarian. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Nikki C.]

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC!*

Let me start with disclosing that I'm one of those people that ADORED Ghost Whisperer. Do you remember that show? Melinda and Jim et al? I watched all 5 seasons so many times. That show and this book had a lot in common.

The Haunted Librarian follows an introverted, awkward woman named Amelia as she takes on the graveyard shift at her library. Amelia is a ghostseer - meaning exactly that, she sees ghosts - and so her story unfolds as she discovers that library has some initially unwanted occupants. I loved her coworkers, Rosalinda and Simon, but of course I especially loved the ghosts Braden, Winnie, and the professor. The relationships were wholesome, the library setting was cozy (I love libraries), and the ghost-seeing was incredibly fun.

I will say, you might need to give this book time. Throughout half of the book, I felt my experience was hovering around 3-3.5 stars. There are a lot of exclamation points and Amelia's awkward, significantly introverted character was frustrating at times. I also felt some parts of the book did not hit the mark - in particular, the pacing. The tension between Amelia and Simon dragged out for far too long IMO, and the time it took to solve the peak of the book's conflict also felt unrealistic considering the state the library was in (I wouldn't consider a cosmic vortex very...patient).

But, by the book's end, I felt my experience was a solid 4 stars. I fell in love with the characters and felt so much when I got to the book's end. Amelia grows a lot as a character and when...well, when we reach the resolution, you're left feeling as empty as the library.

If you love cozy settings, the idea of coexisting (and interacting) with ghosts in the living world, and books, I recommend picking this one up. I'll be picking up my own copy as well, not just because of the story but to show off that cute cover as well!

[Kristen | CozyNovelTea]

[Thank you Ace/Berkley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!]

In a perfect world, Amelia would have her dream job in her dream library and definitely wouldn't see ghosts... but I guess two out of three isn't bad?

Hoping to live a ‘norma’l life, Amelia has three rules: don't look, don't talk, don't interact with the ghosts. And it’s worked mostly fine until she meets the three ghosts trapped in her library.

Amelia and the three ghosts are the focus of the story. And thanks to them, Amelia grows a lot over the course of the book. For most of her life, she’s been insecure about being a ghostseer and lonely because she couldn’t let anyone know the real her. But she slowly becomes kinder to herself and learns how to make connections and be vulnerable with others.

Most of the story takes place while Amelia is working the night shift at the library, so it was a little confusing when she overhears her colleagues talk about how helpful she is with the patrons. We never actually see any examples (aside from what she overhears) so it almost felt like some of the story was missing.

The romance between Amelia and Simon (not Ken) is in the background. She’s oblivious to his interest in her so it ends up being a very slow burn with no spice (which was fine with me because I loved the ghosts).

This book has ghosts and a cosmic maelstrom so it’s just a touch spooky, but not enough to actually scare you. Just enough to make you want to get cozy under a blanket.

I was sad to see the ghosts go. It felt like we got to know them more than we got to know Amelia, but I think that makes sense seeing as she’s been closed off her entire life.

Overall, this is a story about self acceptance, learning to open up to others, and knowing when it’s time to move on - and it’s perfect for your fall TBR!

[Rmplift, Rachel Phillips]

*Received my ARC copy from NG*
Spoiler Free Summary
A woman has a fresh start and her dream job but also sees dead people.

Vibes
This was my first Auralee Wallace book, and I absolutely loved it! I honestly didn’t know what to expect going in, but this book completely surprised me. First off, I thought the title was incredibly clever and fit the story so well. The plot itself was fantastic, and I really loved the deeper meaning woven throughout the story without it feeling overly preachy.

One of my favorite parts was the underlying message about embracing your unique gifts and never being ashamed of who you are. I thought the author handled that theme beautifully. I also really enjoyed how every ghost felt completely different. They each had their own personalities, perspectives on life, and ways of dealing with problems, which made them feel like actual characters rather than simply being there for the sake of the paranormal aspect.

Another thing I really appreciated was how the author explored three different perspectives on moving forward from trauma and confronting some of the biggest fears we experience in life. There was a lot more depth to the story than I initially expected, and I loved seeing how each character approached their own struggles differently.

That being said, I did feel like the book dragged in a few places. There were definitely moments where I thought certain sections could have been shortened without losing anything important to the overall story. The FMC’s constant internal battle and the repeated lying became a little frustrating after a while, especially when it felt like we were circling the same issues. I also thought the ending was much longer than it needed to be. Considering the emergency circumstances the characters were in, I expected the conclusion to move much faster.

[Jessica Strider]

Pros: interesting protagonist, lovely setting

Cons: little emotional connection, too much telling rather than showing

When Amelia Bates lands her dream job working at an old library, she's dismayed to discover it's haunted by 3 ghosts. Her ability to see ghosts has always caused problems, so she created rules to never interact with them. But the library is in danger because the ghosts are unable to move on, so she has to overcome her preconceptions and befriend them.

I really liked Amelia. She had a rough childhood and ghosts contributed to that, so having her at odds with the ghosts in the library makes sense. I loved her snarky inner voice, and how she addressed different parts of herself, like 'hysterical Amelia' and 'rational Amelia'.

The library was great and I'd love to visit and spend some time there perusing the books.

I thought the beginning of the book did a good job of setting the scene and showing how Amelia wanted to improve her skills. She had trouble talking to library patrons despite her desire, and was befriended by both Simon and Rosalinda. But as the book went on, it seemed like everything began to focus on the ghosts to the exclusion of continuing to depict those human relationships. There's a scene where Amelia overhears Simon and Rosalinda talking about how she helped some library patrons, but those scenes should have been shown so the reader could see how she's grown as a person. This telling rather than showing came up more towards the end, where we're told that Amelia has gotten closer to the ghosts by doing various activities with them. But those descriptions didn't show me any emotional connection between the characters to the extent that I didn't feel any emotional kick by the ending. Instead of being told she watched a movie with Bradon, I wanted a scene where the two discuss the film afterwards. There were a few early scenes of Amelia having tea with Rosalinda, but then we're just told it was important to her. After being told that Amelia's customer service abilities have been improved, we're finally given a scene right at the end where she rudely cuts short a conversation with one patron so she can talk to the patron she's wanted to help the whole book.

I was shocked that Amelia never asked people around her for help. Rosalinda believed in the supernatural, so why not confide in her about the ghosts, or at least ask her about Minnie's case? Similarly, why not ask the sailor ghost outside why he's telling people not to go in the building? Does he have a sense of what's going on? I also thought the explanation of why the book kept disappearing unsatisfying given how important the knowledge it held was.

I liked Amelia, but I found the book on the whole didn't give me any emotional connection to characters beyond her. I didn't get to see her grow as a person the way I wanted. I felt her journey was hampered by too much telling rather than showing, especially towards the end of the book.

[S Mille]

Life hasn’t treated Amelia kindly. She spent her childhood in foster care, being ‘the weird’ kid, find solace only in books and of course, libraries. She’s now grown, and, having obtained her degree in library science, about to interview for what she thinks is her ideal job: a librarian in a beautiful old building, in a small town.

Unfortunately, fate has other ideas. Because Amelia’s a ghostseeer - someone who can hear and see ghosts - and the library is haunted. She’s spent her whole life fighting her abilities (which, along with the whole seeing ghosts thing) has given her the ‘weird’ label. To appear normal, she’s come up with a series of rules - don’t listen to them, pretend not to see them, and don’t interact with them. But before her first day on the job is over, she’s broken all of her rules.

This was a fun book - a bit of mystery, a bit magic, a bit of humor - perfect for reading with a hot cup of tea. It was great seeing Amelia slowly start to realize that maybe her rules weren’t all that useful and come out of her shell There were a few loose ends (like Amelia realizing maybe she’s supposed to help ghosts, the touch of romance brewing between her and the head librarian Simon, and finding out what happened to her parents) that suggest this might be the first in a series.

Recommended - I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

[Leisa Back Porch Pages]

✨Welcome to the Auralee Wallace Fan Club where I’m surely the biggest fan! Her books feel like the warmest hug for autumn souls like me, and I hope she never stops delivering these fall favorites.

✨This book feels like it was written just for me. There’s a lonely bookworm, a haunted library, a Gothic atmosphere and autumn in a charming small town. IF THAT DOES NOT SPELL LEISA, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT DOES! There’s even a tender romance, and I just loved every last word.

✨The story is VERY bookish, and I love how the library and books are woven so perfectly into the paranormal aspect of the story. There’s this perfect blend of emotion, humor and supernatural fun with characters you can’t help but love, a tender found family element and a sweet feeling that lasts.

✨The curl up and get lost in a story vibe is strong with this one, and I recommend it with all my cozy, autumn-loving, bookish heart.

🎧 I listened to the audiobook for this book and thought Stephanie Cannon @sparkthecannon did such a fabulous job voicing the various characters and bringing the story off the pages for me.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Cozy paranormal stories
✨Books about books
✨Haunted libraries
✨Bookish heroines
✨Friendly ghosts
✨Autumn cham
✨Sweet slow-burn romance
✨Found family
✨Canadian seaside settings

[Peppy Librarian]

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the premise of this story, but overall it didn't quite meet my expectations. I started out feeling bad for Amelia given her tragic backstory, but she quickly became unlikable and I was often frustrated with her. I'm not a fan of characters whose personalities are based on being awkward and helpless, and this was heightened by the way Amelia treated the ghosts as if they weren't people. I did enjoy the character arc of her becoming friends with the ghosts and I found myself wanting more of those moments. I think part of my disappointment was because I was expecting this to be more of a romance novel, but the promised romance wasn't really there. It was instalove on Simon's part while Amelia spent most of the book acting clueless and pushing him away. There was also very little shown of Amelia being a librarian. Overall, this was a cozy read that could have been a little shorter. I would recommend this book to someone looking for a cozy spooky-season read as long as they didn't have expectations of it being a romance novel. I loved the setting and I would be willing to read a second book if this becomes a series.

[Michelle Hairell]

ARC Review for NetGalley: Auralee Wallace has once again enchanted readers with her magical prose and witty banter between characters. Imagine if you grew up in the foster care system, always felt out of place, and never seemed to be able to relate to others or get close to anyone. Amelia Bates knows this life all too well. Considered as odd by anyone she’s ever come into contact with, Amelia is extremely cautious when interacting with people, and for good reason: she sees dead people. Amelia has been seeing ghosts for as long as she can remember, and she has three rules that she strictly follows in order to keep herself as normal as possible: 1) Don’t look at a ghost. 2) Don’t listen to a ghost. 3) Don’t speak to a ghost. This is a code that Amelia has lived by for so long, and she’s not about to break it now, ESPECIALLY when she has gotten her dream job as a librarian! Everything changes when she meets three desperate apparitions who have somehow become trapped in the Library. She may have to break her rules in order to help them escape, because their presence seems to be affecting the library itself. Can Amelia break down her barriers and allow anyone to get close to her, to know the truth of who she is? Can Amelia help the ghosts and save the library before it’s too late?

[Amanda Mooney]

4.5 ⭐ I adored everything about this book. It is the epitome of the perfect 'cozy' read. It features an enchanted library, a Canadian setting (PEI!), (mostly) friendly ghosts, and a sweet slow burning romance (omgosh Simon 😍). From the beginning I liked the main character, Amelia, and it was understandable how she found it hard to connect to people because of her childhood. I did wish there was more information given about her parents/family (e.g. did they have the same gift as her?) It was rewarding to watch her grow throughout the story and how her ghost friendships helped her develop her human relationships.

Amelia has been a 'ghostseer' for her entire life but tries her best to pretend like she cannot see them. She accepts a job as a night librarian at a historical building downtown Charlottetown. In the library she finds three ghosts - Braden, Minnie and the professor. I found myself enamored by each of their individual stories and rooting for them to be able to pass on.

Thank you NetGalley & Berkley/Ace for the opportunity to read this ARC! I hope Auralee Wallance writes an Amelia & Simon pt 2. :)

[Abby]

Let me start by saying that for a large portion of this book, I was devastatingly sad that I was reading a character with such low charisma. Amelia was over the top introverted and closed off, and it made it hard to relate to her, or even like her. It also made the connection, the almost instant connection, that she had with Simon baffling to me as a reader. However, once we pushed through that first round of pushing everyone away, lying all the time, and denying who she was, the book really found its footing! I ended up really enjoying it, and the last 1/3 of the book had me totally hooked and enraptured. I couldn’t put it down.

That being said, I do wish the author had spent more time showing us more of Amelia‘s past, showing her learning about her powers, and letting us see more of The Ghostseer’s Handbook!

That criticism aside, this story was perfect for spooky season! And a book that I will probably come back to again in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Jeremy Reppy]

I was somewhat disappointed in how long it took for Amelia to admit to Rosalinda and Simon that she was a ghostseer. I understand and appreciate her reasons for reluctance, especially given her childhood and past experiences when she told people she could see ghosts/people realized she was seeing (or that she believed she was seeing) things others could not see. However, considering what is at stake and considering the importance of the library to Rosalinda and Simon, I would have preferred she opened up earlier. Despite this criticism, I liked the Amelia character— her social awkwardness, her love of books, her fascination with the library, her helpful nature in spite of social discomfort, her resourcefulness and determination, etc. I also liked the ghosts inhabiting the library (the professor, Minnie, Braden). I liked how the author resolved the problems facing the library and the ghosts, including the identity of the professor and Minnie’s secret, and how Amelia was able to help living patrons (one in particular).

[Deidre]

Amelia, a reluctant ghostseer, aka medium, gets her dream job in a coastal Canadian library and must embrace her abilities to save the building from destruction by supernatural forces. Think the UK TV show Ghosts but set during an apocalypse. Befriending, counseling and crossing all the ghosts over was the goal. It was total catnip for me. I wasn't ready for how emotional I got at the end.

Where the story lacked for me was the underuse of Simon's character. Wallace built the sweetest, hunkiest male librarian (with glasses!), who tries adorably to bring Amelia out of her shell with little success. What a waste of a dreamy MMC! The romance in this one is non-existent. I needed Amelia to tell the truth and team up with Simon at about 40% - not 90%.

Ghosts + Gothic Library setting + found family + self-improvement = a solid add to my Fall/Spooky TBR. Follow the example of the ghosts and Amelia and don't let your fear of the unknown stop you from living - or reading this book! I'm excited to have found this author - next up - Evenfall Witches B&B series!

[Dani (Daniiireads)]

This was such a cute, cozy spooky read! I really loved the whole haunted library setting and the three ghosts definitely ended up being my favorite part of the story. They brought so much humor and personality to the book, and I really enjoyed getting to know each of them.

I also really liked Amelia’s journey throughout the story. Watching her slowly come out of her shell, learn to trust people, and stop seeing her ability to see ghosts as something she needed to hide was really sweet.

I will say, I wanted a little more from the romance. Simon was adorable, but their relationship felt very much like a subplot and I would have loved more time to see their connection develop.

Overall, this was a really cute fall read with cozy library vibes, ghosts, found family, and a little romance. Definitely not scary, but perfect if you're looking for something light and spooky for the season!

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
Cozy Paranormal 👻
Haunted Library 📚
Ghosts
Librarian FMC
Slow-Burn Romance
Found Family
Small-Town Setting
Fall/Autumn Vibes 🍂
Self-Discovery
Light Mystery
No Spice