Entities to Lovers

by Mallory Marlowe

A connection that’s more than supernatural emerges between two rival tour guides who wish they could ghost each other in this sparkling romantic comedy from USA Today bestselling author Mallory Marlowe.

Paranormal medium Rory Woods spends her days offering psychic readings at Ye Olde Spirit Shop and nights haunting the streets of Boston as a ghost-tour guide. Sure, business could be better, but she’s proud of the shop she runs with her mom.

Enter Ezra adjunct history professor, noted thorn in Rory’s side, and—though she’d only admit it under threat of medieval torture he surely knows too much about—a distractingly handsome, charismatic coworker.

Rory can’t stand Ezra’s know-it-all, show-offy behavior. Ezra loves to tease the gorgeous, brilliant medium at the shop. And when the two are forced to host a tour together? It’s no wonder they end up hexed after disturbing a matchmaking ghost.

Saddled with perpetual bad luck unless they’re physically near each other, Rory and Ezra will try anything, from séances to kissing, to stop the jinx from wreaking havoc on both their lives. But in their quest to appease the spirit, they realize that growing closer might not be the curse they once thought it was.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Halloween, Autumn, Paranormal Romance, Adult

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2026

About the author

Mallory Marlowe is the USA Today Bestselling author of Love and Other Conspiracies, Love at First Sighting, and Entities to Lovers. Seriously right-brained since childhood, her love of telling stories began with highly elaborate plots for her Barbie dolls and taking elementary school writing projects too seriously. She studied Writing for Film and TV at Emerson College. When she isn’t writing, she’s likely reading, stuck in L.A. traffic, or fallen down a weird internet rabbit hole. She lives in Los Angeles, CA and writes video games by day.

Reviews

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two rivals forced together by a curse? What’s not to like? Apparently, a lot.

To be fair, this is not a bad book by any means. I think this is a very sweet and basic story that could work as a palate cleanser. But I’ve read a lot of romance lately and the usual formulas just aren't cutting it for me right now, so I found myself getting annoyed with a lot of it. And that’s why it’s getting two stars.

Here’s what I didn’t like:

* Too much telling: The book starts with a boring, info-dumpy life story. I was basically reading a list of why they hate each other, followed by a list of what they do at "Ye Olde Spirit Tours" and "Ye Olde Spirit Shop”, etc. (side note: am I the only one annoyed with the amount of times I had to read these words? 44 times!! Could they not just say tour or shop?). I wish this had been structured more naturally, letting me pick things up on my own. It also felt like I was being rushed through the fun moments, but forced to read boring details like them brushing their teeth.

* The Rivalry: Rory is bitter because Ezra is a know-it-all who is good at his job. Understandable, I guess? But the rivalry is done so poorly. Most of the time I just thought they were acting like children. For example, when they find out they are booked on the same tour, Rory immediately gets her mother to step in and fix it. She literally screams “Mom!”. Seriously? Aren’t they both adults? It was an immediate ick for me.

* The Romance: These two are clearly into each other from page one, spending the first chapters thinking how attractive they find one another. I’m not the biggest fan of this setup and I also don’t think it was executed well so it was a no for me. I’m not even going into specifics on the third-act breakup, but I thought it was the most boring and unnecessary breakup ever.

* Other things: The dirty talk felt forced and unnatural. And I really didn’t like some of the things that were said like: “You are a test i could never be ready for”. I get that he’s a professor but this isn’t cute. I also don’t like reading about real brands in books (iphones, ring cameras, youtube, jeopardy!, etc), but that’s 100% on me. it's a pet peeve of mine.

Forcing myself to finish this was a mistake, and I absolutely should have DNF’d it.

─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: i’m 45% in and the romance is a total disaster. i think i’ll still finish it but i’m not going to be happy about it 

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc!

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the vibes, it's such a fun read for spooky season, filled with ghosts and a curse that brought two people closer together!! I do think everything happened a little too fast and while it kinda made sense with a curse, it also made their connection less believable..

Rory spends her days working with her mother at Ye Olde Spirit Shop offering psychic readings and her nights being a tour guide on a haunted tour.. Ezra, a fellow tour guide, has always been a thorn in her side, but after they are forced to guide a tour together and they accidentally knock a table over angering a ghost, they end up cursed.. Bad things happen when they aren't together, so having to spend all their time within a small radius, trying to find a way to break the curse, they are growing closer and closer.. Maybe their animosity has always been something else, something more?

I liked Rory, she struggled with not being enough and it broke my heart a little, but she was such an amazing person. I didn't really understand her attitude towards Ezra at the beginning though, I think it was a little much and it made little sense..
Ezra was a hit or miss for me, just like Rory he struggled with the thought of never being good enough, not doing enough, but there were moments where I didn't like his attitude or jokes..
The ghosts were the best part, I always love them the most!! Temperance was a sassy and meddlesome ghost, but she was such a great addition. Clementine was my favourite though, which is something I never thought I would say towards a haunted doll, but here we are.

While I do think their progression from animosity to love was rather quick and slightly unbelievable, even though it was clear that there was always an attraction between them, I did like them together. They were very similar and they both needed to learn how to trust in themselves and to let go, so ultimately they complimented each other very well. The forced proximity, the vulnerability, the one bed, the way they fit with each other, the fear they carried, it was all a very bumpy, but cute journey to their happily ever after.. Their joint ghost tours were so good, I wish I could go on one.

The pace could've been better, it drag at certain parts and I honestly wish some moments were more impactful, but it was still a great read and I had fun!!

*Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC.*

[hailee]

thank you to the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.

dnf @ 25%.

i think i knew from the start this one was not for me. straight off the bat, it was entirely tell instead of show and was just a basic rundown of the fmc’s life. it did not feel natural and was not a great beginning to the story.

what really caused me to dnf this was the writing style. again, it’s entirely tell instead of show and does not allow the reader to, well, read through the stories naturally. everything felt very forced, especially the rivalry between the two main characters. they’re very immature and the arguing was beyond juvenile.

what i did like:
- the setting: i love boston very much & found that to be a lot of fun. also i love autumn & the halloween vibes were absolutely there
- the concept: rival ghost tour guides who are cursed together?! chef’s kiss idea

that being said, i can absolutely see why many readers are enjoying this one. it’s a fun, atmospheric read for october & the autumn season.

[Jono Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this one, but I struggled. I can appreciate what Marlowe was trying to do, but so much of the story just didn’t work for me.

Rory spends a good 60% of the book being absolutely insufferable. I understand that her behavior is rooted in trauma, but the way she treats Ezra makes her incredibly difficult to like. She constantly accuses him of behaving in ways we never actually see, so her hostility feels completely unjustified. No matter how often she tells us she finds him attractive, it’s hard to root for a romance when she spends so much time being unnecessarily cruel to him. Ezra, meanwhile, is great, but his own self-doubt leads to a confusing third act breakup that feels out of character.

There are some cute moments here, but overall this feels like a step down from Marlowe’s last two books. The plot relies too much on convenient circumstances, and it all feels more like an excuse to release a book for Halloween than a fully realized story.

[ambersometimesreads · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

OH I LOVED THIS.

the whole entire plot of this book was adorable, while also throwing in slight disses to ai and shitty men which I appreciate 🤭 you can tell the author is educated on actual issues in the world and that’s probably why she knows how to write a hot man and a good book.

this is a paranormal romance between a medium and her enemy. the fmc’s job is doing ghost tours except they accidentally curse themselves while doing one and the side effect of the curse is that they have bad luck anytime they aren’t together. so now they’re kind of forced to be around eachother, just so things don’t keep going wrong.

alsooo the mmc is such a nerd and that also means he has a way with words (;

[Kelsey reviews•books]

I’m calling this at 70%.

Nothing has really happened and it started to get repetitive. This is a low-stakes paranormal romance, so if you’re looking for that, you may enjoy this one more than I did.

This has at least one open door spice scene. It is in dual first-person POV.

I will say one thing I did enjoy (at least at first) was the depiction of mental health with the FMC. But by 70%, I didn’t feel like ANYTHING had been explored to warrant development.

Tropes: dislike to like, FMC is a medium, both MCs do haunted tours in Boston, only one bed (but one sleeps on the couch), MCs are cursed, insta-attraction (and a lot of internal dialogue about said attraction)

Thank you to Lina for the buddy read!

I read an early copy of this one thanks to Berkley and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Lina]

DNF at 50%. I was really looking forward to reading this book because I had heard so many good things about the author's other books, but this one just didn't work for me.

At around 40%, I still felt like they didn't have any sort of real plan to get rid of the curse and I felt like no one had any urgency to get rid of the curse so I felt like I misunderstood the stakes or perhaps the stakes weren't clear.

Ezra and Rory's connection seemed to be mostly based on ogling each other and I just wish that they talked a little more about what they liked about each other.

Also, I had a hard time understanding how Ezra felt about the supernatural. He seemed completely fine with the doll handing him coins and Rory being a psychic and it was kind of hard for me to buy into the fact that he had almost no questions, hesitations, etc. And if that was the case, I wanted at least a line acknowledging that.

Thank you to Kelsey for the buddy read!

This book might be great for other so if any of the below look interesting, check it out.
⭐ Rivals to lovers
⭐ Paranormal romance (she speaks to ghosts)
⭐ Ghost tour guides
⭐ Halloween in Boston
⭐ He’s a hot professor
⭐ Oops they’re cursed

[Genevieve (GenLikesToRead) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an eARC!

Tropes:
🧡 Rivals to Lovers
🖤 Ghost Tour Guides
🧡 Autumn in Boston
🖤 She’s Clairvoyant
🧡 Ace Rep
🖤 Forced Proximity Hex
🧡 Only One Bed

Book Review:
I just adore Mallory Marlowe. Her books are so underrated and need to be in the hands of more people! Her concepts are so fun and the execution is fantastic. Yes, there is an inherent silliness to her books but they also tackle really important topics at the same time. And I think she balances the two wonderfully.

On top of being fun, Entities to Lovers was straight up funny. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times, which I don’t commonly do with books. This also lends to great banter which only had me loving our main couple more.

I also got lucky because I happened to be in Boston when I was reading this book, so it only enhanced my experience. New England has such a rich history of paranormal activity so I really loved the setting of this book.

Individually, these characters had so much depth, and I found them both lovable in their own way. They both experienced different types of feelings of inadequacy which we tackled throughout the story. I think so many people feel this way that it’s so important to have representation like this in novels.

Overall, I just adored Entities to Lovers and absolutely can see myself re-reading this one each fall! If you haven’t picked up a Mallory Marlowe yet, this is your chance! It’s spooky season so it’s the perfect time to get your hands on this book.

[Erin · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

☆ 3.5 stars

Two workplace rivals being cursed into remaining in close proximity by a matchmaking ghost or else nothing but bad luck will find them? Yes please! Entities to Lovers by author Mallory Marlowe was such a witty and entertaining experience from beginning to end. This is a story that reads with ease with the steady pacing helping the plot to progress forward in a way that feels natural. I’ve been really leaning into the ‘summerween’ vibes this summer which made Rory and Ezra’s story the perfect read to fit my mood reading brain. I really enjoyed how heavily this book leans into the impact that the paranormal can have upon the living and the importance in having authentic mediums that can help to bridge that communication gap. This was pleasantly filled with compelling and emotional dialogue that approaches the topics of mental health struggles, anxiety, asexual representation and perhaps a touch of burnout in a way that feels lighthearted and yet, still impactful. The banter was fun and I greatly enjoyed the (no pun intended) liveliness that the several ghostly entities brought on-page and into the vibes of the overall story. I do wish that we could’ve gotten some more backstory on some the ghosts that have recurring appearances throughout the book, but overall this is a strong story that reads with ease and is perfect to dive into throughout the colder months.

Aurora ‘Rory’ Woods definitely felt like the biggest challenge for me within the first half of her story with her tough exterior and (at times) unpredictable responses making it difficult to understand her emotional complexities. Something I immediately recognised is the fear she carries about being ‘replaceable’ and feeling insignificant to the people around her. I empathised with the way she leans into her workplace persona during the ghost tours as a way that she can pretend to be something that (she believes) she isn’t capable of in a safe and secure way. Rory’s kindness isn’t something that will be typically perceived in a loud and vibrant manner. It’s soft and private in the way she gladly assists the ghosts that seek her out in their desperation to be seen and known after years of solitude. She can be brash and reactive when her emotional sensitivities feel attacked which is something we get to see Rory address as her story continues to progress. Her passion for her craft shines through the pages alongside the love and devotion that she harbours for her mother. Her commitment to running the family store and her desire to be somebody that can mother can be proud of helped me to better understand Rory overall. I loved getting to witness Rory’s progression as she begins to internalise the lessons that the curse is actively working to make her understand for her own benefit. I adored her asexual representation and the vocalised acceptance that she doesn’t fit into the standard mould when it comes to dating and relationships which is perfectly okay. Rory undergoes a deep emotional transformation from beginning to end and I largely enjoyed getting to see her learn how to trust in herself as she recognises her strength over time.

Despite being academically accomplished with a huge passion for attaining as much knowledge as his brain can hold, Ezra Blackwell continues to feel deeply insecure about how ‘behind’ he feels within his career in comparison to the people around him. It broke my heart to see how little value Ezra has within himself despite all of the wonderful things that he has managed to achieve. He’s a deeply feeling and emotional man who struggles with knowing how to voice his own wants and needs in fear of not being enough to want long-term. I would’ve loved to have gotten more depth on his past relationships to greater explain this deep-rooted fear that he carries over being worthy enough to be wanted within a lasting relationship. His relationship with his brother clearly means a lot to him but also lacked in the depth that I’d hoped to see alongside his love for his parents. The concept of letting the people Ezra loves the most down largely plays a huge role in his character development and I just think strengthening those emotional bonds would’ve greatly benefitted showcasing his struggles throughout the book. I will admit that something about a man with an ear piercing, eyeliner and painted nails seems to do it for me which makes it no surprise how often I wanted to swoon in response to Ezra. This is a man who is down bad for a woman determined to hate him and I found it really entertaining to see how much joy he found in antagonising Rory. His ability to pull her fiery personality to the forefront was hilarious and there’s no denying that I did greatly adore Ezra overall as character, alongside the dedication he has towards being a role model for his students. He’s a secret softie and hopeless romantic that has only ever yearned for an earnest and honest love story to claim as his own… and I loved getting to join his chaotic journey towards securing his own happy ending.

I really enjoyed getting to witness both Rory and Ezra become challenged on their surface level perceptions of one another as their conversations get deeper and more vulnerable. It’s easy to make assumptions on somebody you don’t actually have any depth on which made their interactions more interesting as their narrative begins to unravel with the truth of their insecurities. It felt really rewarding to see the pair finally break down their metaphorical walls and converse their feelings as they’re faced with the realisation with not only just how wrong they’ve been… but also how alike they truly are. It becomes very clear that their rivalry has been largely stemmed from the insecurity and jealousy in a comparison that never needed to exist in the first place. Getting to see Rory and Ezra begin to recognise and understand one another felt like a pivotal moment in their relationship development that I loved getting to see this being forced upon two equally stubborn individuals that would never have gotten to this point without paranormal intervention. I personally really enjoy the tension that can be derived between two main characters that clearly feel attracted to one another from day one whilst essentially feeling betrayed by their own preferences due to an inability to get along. Their heated banter left me smiling on numerous occasions and I loved getting to see the developing tender interactions they manage to share once shedding the protective masks that both characters often wear. The yearning left me swooning and I was equally pleasantly surprised at the heat that the spice scenes brought into their dynamic. Rory and Ezra really go through it in this book and I loved getting to see their stubbornness and determination in combating their curse together as a pair. Their love story feels hard-earned and there’s no denying how giddy I felt in my joy at their well deserved happily ever after.

Entities to Lovers is a very bingeable read that will be perfect to add to your spooky season TBR. This was my first book by Marlowe and will most definitely not be my last… especially with the end giving confirmation that we can expect Micah’s story next which I’m very excited for.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.

[Maggie (EvermoreBooklore) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start this review by saying that 3 stars isn’t a bad rating. I didn’t hate this book at all, I just didn’t love it as much as this author’s previous two books.

The tension felt lower, the storyline was much more in depth and while the romance was fine, the love interests didn’t completely win me over. That being said, I will absolutely continue reading anything this author writes because her debut Love and Other Conspiracies is AMAZING. Whether you end up loving this book or not, I highly recommend picking that one up.

Some books just aren’t for everyone and unfortunately this one fell into that category for me. I absolutely loved the cursed elements and the ghosts but Rory and Ezra weren’t my favorite book couple. Their relationship never fully clicked for me and at times they felt like two people who wouldn’t naturally fit together outside the pages of the story. There were also moments where their indifference toward each other felt a little strange.

I do want to emphasize again that I didn’t dislike this book. I think my expectations were just higher because I enjoyed Marlowe’s other books so much. When an author has already set the bar that high for me, it’s hard not to compare and I’m probably being a little extra picky because of it.

[Adri · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

The ultimate comfy, cozy Halloween read with a sweet happily ever after. I loved the forced proximity setup and how naturally Rory and Ezra’s relationship progressed—their competitive snark with each other, and Ezra’s acceptance of Rory’s paranormal side was so heartwarming. Temperance’s sassy, fiery spirit (pun intended) was fun to see it pushing the pair together. Watching Rory’s mum put herself back out there added to the story, and I really appreciated how the main characters resolved their conflict. A wonderfully charming seasonal romance!

[abby :) · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

am i also haunted by an evil spirit who thinks i'll be alone forever???

cozy paranormal romances are becoming more of a staple each year for me and this was just that! you're immediately pulled into the spooky shop vibes of ye olde spirit shop, and maybe its because i've been in beacon hill during halloween time, but this was perfect with the levels of boston spookiness! i could imagine being on this ghost tour, seeing the cemeteries and the old brick buildings. while i myself would be too freaked out to partake in a night time ghost tour, i admire the practice and the effort from kitty and royce!

rory runs this shop with her mom, and ezra is her nemesis... aka he's hot and she can't stand his know it all attitude about history. ezra is a history professor who lowkey hates his day job so he feels free to be himself when he's giving tours and going on and on about history. these two are giving a tour one night when they get cursed, obviously. this means they must spend every second together or bad luck prevails, talk about forced proximity. i really loved how mallory marlowe described rory's apartment, this is kinda random but the two spend a significant amount of time there and it just felt so cozy and homey to me. i loved seeing them travel to meet fellow curse havers (idk what they're called), the lobster hotel will forever be on my mind.

the third act of this book did loose me a bit. i think i may have just lost interest which doesn't make a ton of sense considering this is where most of the action takes place. i just hated the third act breakup. it felt so sudden and ridiculous. i wanted more of them figuring shit out together, more trivia, more tours. i thought we'd see the big tour (and proposal) at the end. this is definitely a perfect book for those fall vibes, a chill in the air and a pumpkin candle going would make for the best reading experience!

*thank you to netgalley and berkley for the copy!!*

[RosieRitesReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Entities to Lovers by Mallory Marlow! I was just reminiscing about the time I went to Boston, did the Freedom Trail, and gorged myself on authentic Italian food in the North End. This book brought back that trip's nostalgia and made me feel like I was right back in Boston, only this time I was taken on a ghost tour gone wrong!

This book follows Rory and Ezra, two tour guides who can’t seem to stand each other. When they’re accidentally booked to lead the same tour, they're cursed with perpetual bad luck whenever they’re apart. The only way to turn their luck around is to stay close to each other, forcing them to spend practically every waking moment together while they try to break the curse.

If you’re looking for a romcom with cozy fall vibes, you are in the right place! I mean, it's Halloween time in Boston! Mallory Marlow does a fantastic job setting the atmosphere with spooky history, ghost tours, and paranormal chaos. I could not get enough of Rory and Ezra! Their characters felt so real, each dealing with their own struggles, and watching them navigate those challenges while developing a mutual appreciation for one another added so much emotional depth to the story.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are voluntary and entirely my own.

[mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

would recommend for a spooky season read!!

howeverrrr something about this wasn’t landing for me. the vibes were great, i had hocus pocus on my tv while reading this and it was just peak fall 🤭 but i didn’t fall in love with either of the characters and i think because ezra lowkey icked me out i just couldn’t get into the romance either. SUCH a bummer because i was expecting to love this but again would still recommend!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc!! all opinions are my own <3

[Jennifer · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Entities To Lovers is a sexy romantic comedy featuring rival ghost tour guides. She is a paranormal medium who speaks to ghosts. He is a hot professor.

The cover is gorgeous. This is my first book by this author. The book is dual POV and takes place in Boston. This is a workplace romance set in the Fall around Halloween.

Rory and Ezra hate each other. They lead ghost tours in Boston. The book features rivals to lovers and forced proximity.

One night on a ghost tour they anger a spirit and are cursed. Trying to get rid of this curse is the main premise of the book.

Things I liked: ghost tours, tarot card readings, and that she can talk to ghosts. I am also obsessed with Clementine the haunted doll who leaves gifts for people she likes.

The book features self doubt and not feeling worthy of love. Both Rory and Ezra lacked confidence in themselves and had insecurities. This added something interesting to the book.

Overall the book had a lot of things that I like. But I just wasn’t overly invested in the story. I liked the main characters okay. The curse thing is just okay. The romance is okay. Definitely much sexier than I was expecting. It is a fun read for October and good for spooky season.

*There is a Love And Other Conspiracies cameo.


Thanks to netgalley and Berkley Romance for allowing me to read this book.

[Krista ⟡ Ever Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

⟡ Thank you for the free audiobook, PRH Audio + the free ARC, NetGalley and Berkley Romance.

Marlowe’s third paranormal romcom was as entertaining as the first two. I’ve loved her quirky, nerdy characters, and Rory and Ezra’s story was no exception. Narrators Jamie Pak and Elizabeth Lamont gave wonderful performances.

[V · Rating 2 out of 5]

When the main characters already find each other attractive from the very beginning of the book, that's when I start losing interest, sadly. I'm just not in the mood for books where they're already admiring each other from the start. Like, shut up. Instead, tell me why you're attracted to them and let me experience the moment you realize it. Smhhhh. I also hate this kind of cocky, smug, or whatever male love interest. Bye.

[kelsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’ve read mallory’s first two books & loved them so knew i had to pick this one up as soon as i could! i will say it might be my least favorite mallory but it was still cute. i loved the fmc rory but didn’t really like the mmc ezra LOL. usually nerds are right up my alley but he just wasn’t attractive to me & kind of a pansy 😳 whoops. (and listen. i know authors like for things to be real sometimes but come on don’t make him 5’8 let that be ONE thing you go crazy with!!)

this kinda moved crazy fast for me, it went from hate to love SO FAST. i did love the paranormal aspect, especially luna 🥰 also the creepy doll being nice was a great turn of events & i really liked that. i will say this does make me want to go on another ghost tour. (loved the cameo of hallie and hayden!!! and i want THAT scene to be released!!!)

this would be a great spooky season read! thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3

[Kassyreadsalot · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Title: Entities To Lovers

Author: Mallory Marlowe

Synopsis: A connection that’s more than supernatural emerges between two rival tour guides who wish they could ghost each other in this sparkling romantic comedy from USA Today bestselling author Mallory Marlowe.

Paranormal medium Rory Woods spends her days offering psychic readings at Ye Olde Spirit Shop and nights haunting the streets of Boston as a ghost-tour guide. Sure, business could be better, but she’s proud of the shop she runs with her mom.

Enter Ezra adjunct history professor, noted thorn in Rory’s side, and—though she’d only admit it under threat of medieval torture he surely knows too much about—a distractingly handsome, charismatic coworker.

Rory can’t stand Ezra’s know-it-all, show-offy behavior. Ezra loves to tease the gorgeous, brilliant medium at the shop. And when the two are forced to host a tour together? It’s no wonder they end up hexed after disturbing a matchmaking ghost.

Saddled with perpetual bad luck unless they’re physically near each other, Rory and Ezra will try anything, from séances to kissing, to stop the jinx from wreaking havoc on both their lives. But in their quest to appease the spirit, they realize that growing closer might not be the curse they once thought it was.

Review: I am so happy that I waited until October to pick up this cute and romantic paranormal read! The characters chemistry with one another was great and it’s obvious from the very beginning that they are both into one another! It has a great atmosphere if you are looking for it this spooky season! I loved seeing how snarky they are with each other and the buildup of their relationship! Also I thought it was nice how even Rory’s mom was slowing putting herself out there to date again was a sweet touch! Please pick up this sweet Autumn read you will not regret it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an arc of this delightful book!

[Charlene (pageandplace) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Mallory Marlowe, Publisher Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received a gifted copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.

Welcome to the Ye Old Spirit Shop!

Rory: by day she’s a paranormal medium offering psychic readings, by night she haunts the streets of Boston as a ghost tour operator.

Ezra: by day an adjunct history professor, by night a thorn in Rory’s side and her tour competitor.

A scheduling mishap puts Rory and Ezra on a crash course as they must co run the evening ghost tour. After knocking over a table on the tour and disturbing a ghosts’ possessions the two are hexed! Suffering a string of bad luck unless the two are physically near one another may not be a course for these two after all.

This was a cute, sexy, romcom for spooky season reading! A forced proximity full of banter and a ghost tour I would love to take!
Told in a dual POV with a cameo from Love and Other Conspiracies, and an array of ghosts to enjoy throughout.

[b.andherbooks · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

i had so much fun listening to Entities to Lovers, especially at how grounded the main characters were. Neither are huge successes in their field(s), and have to work really hard to make ends meet and enjoy their niche of Boston life. I felt for poor adjunct history professor Ezra and his uncertain future despite his passion for teaching. Whew did I ever (I too have my MA in History).

Both narrators were excellent for their characters, making this a perfect listen for October.

thank you to PRH audio for the ALC, I also checked out a physical copy from my library.

[Leanna · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

super cute but very cheesy. they are rivals but not really, you can tell they are into each other from the start. The journey of them trying to break the curse was predictable but enjoyable

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review copy from Edelweiss and Library Journal. I am once again in love with another adorable couple from Mallory Marlowe. Rory and Ezra were the perfect rivals to lovers, seeing that attraction and similarities were hiding under the friction and animosity. They certainly used that friction in the slow burn of their romance. It can be hard to balance that in a forced proximity storyline but this was excellent, plus ONE BED! I loved the historical tidbits throughout and the appearance of our couple from Love & Other Conspiracies. Highly recommend for a spooky season read, ghosts galore and more!

[fromthestudyof · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute spooky Halloween romance

things to know:
- workplace rivals
- she’s a medium x he’s a history professor
- cursed by a ghost where terrible things happen when they aren’t physically near each other
- forced proximity (thanks, ghost)
- dual pov

this was really cute & perfect to read on a unseasonably cool day in August

[Jefferz · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by Berkley.

A kitzy paranormal spirit shop, tarot card readings, light hauntings, and animated competitive ghost tour rivals forced to work together to break a curse of endless bad luck. Entities to Lovers by Mallory Marlowe is a fun and casual paranormal contemporary romance novel featuring an amazing pun of a title that well represents its focal enemies-to-lovers arc. Full of cozy Halloween vibes and a solid slate of narrative elements, this book is a great Fall season read and an overall good book brought down by several small but notable drawbacks. (On Goodreads, 2.5 star rating rounded down.)

Highlights
☕︎ Octoberfest setting, weather, plot, and various Halloween-adjacent paranormal elements make this a cozy and easy read perfect for the Fall season.
☕︎ Narrative elements including kitzy ghost tours, novelty paranormal guest experiences, and tarot card readings are particularly detailed and well done.
☕︎ Themes of worthlessness, pessimism, misjudgment, and fear of rejection serve as a great foundation for character development. The projection of these insecurities and their connection to the curse is a strong recurring element.

Considerations
After a strong start, the story starts to drag in places with the plot lacking substance. Paranormal elements are great when they are featured but can often feel too limited in terms of content.
The chemistry doesn’t feel like it ever fully works despite looking good on paper. Rory can come off as unlikable due to her conflict with Ezra having weakly written motivations. The antagonist enemies arc consistently feels forced while using miscommunication for an ineffective and contrived third-act breakup.

Pitched as a paranormal romance novel set around a rivalry between two ghost tour guides, Entities to Lovers is a fun read that mostly lives up to its marketing pitch. While it features a nice slate of staples of paranormal genres, the book keeps them relatively light, which makes this a very accessible read for those curious about the paranormal romance genre. The overall story follows the obvious enemies-to-lovers arc facilitated via forced proximity due to a mysterious otherworldly curse, a simple premise that nonetheless works well.

One of the book’s bestselling points is how Autumn-inspired it is, an appropriate cozy seasonal read perfect for October when it's set to be published. With decorative items, chilly evening outings, festivities, and an exciting upcoming Halloween-themed event scheduled to take place at Ye Olde Spirit Shop, the Fall vibes in this book are vibing. In addition to the seasonal flavor, another area that this book gets right is that specific kitzy feel of many paranormal-themed ghost history tours and themed spirit shops. From Rory and Ezra’s tour host personas to the mix of history with the occult, questionable puns, and cheeky humor, the focal yet limited ghost tours depicted are well done. Having been on similar tours before with animated (and sometimes a bit too extra) guides, Marlowe nails the energy and general experience.

Another asset of the book is its recurring themes that are connected to both its characters’ development and focal curse. Despite both appearing confident and prideful on the surface, Rory and Ezra are masking their lingering insecurities that color and affect their daily actions and outlook on life. An upsetting past event has led Rory to believe that she’s undesirable, unworthy, and unlovable, which leads to an abrasive and guarded persona that keeps everyone else away. Meanwhile, Ezra suffers from similar feelings of inadequacy and deems himself a failure to launch, incapable of doing anything right. Both characters project and externalize their insecurities externally and towards each other, all while the curse forces them to begrudgingly work together to figure out what is happening.

While this book’s narrative elements and ideas appear strong on paper, the actual execution of them is much more of a mixed bag. While the story has a great hook, premise, and great start, the plot soon starts to drag in places. The hallmark curse occurs surprisingly far into the book, where the characters' constant bickering starts to get repetitive (more on that shortly) followed by outings or bad luck occurrences that largely feel like filler. At times, it can feel like the book is directionless and as lost as its characters feel. Certain parts that stay on topic with paranormal shenanigans and romantic scenarios are good; noteworthy scenes are when Rory does a read for Ezra, they infiltrate a historic mansion after hours, or their first co-hosted ghost tour. However, the rest of the plot can seem a bit dry, generic, and forgettable when it isn’t utilizing its seasonal setting or supernatural elements.

Another area that some may find weak or unappealing is the chemistry between Rory and Ezra. While their relationship roughly follows the enemies-to-lovers trope, both the enemies and lovers arcs can feel a bit off for different reasons. The biggest issue early on is that Rory’s hate for Ezra can seem thinly constructed and a poor explanation for her intense dislike of him. On one hand, it technically works for the book’s theme of having its characters project their own insecurities externally, but it’s far too obvious early on for the reader where her frustration can feel misplaced. As this book is written with dual POVs, the reader has direct insight into Ezra’s feelings and perspective, and while Rory clearly views him as an enemy, the reverse direction isn’t the same and appears more like a competitive rival. The mismatch in energy, on top of Ezra’s character having far fewer obvious flaws, results in Rory’s character being less appealing and likable for much of the first half of the book. Once cursed and forced to work together, their chemistry improves slightly. My personal belief and takeaway is that if not for the titular pun, this book probably would’ve worked much better if they were set against each other following a rivals-to-lovers trope instead of enemies, especially because their competition towards each other is quite silly; hate for each other because one has better Yelp experience ratings? Perhaps a stronger alternative scenario would be them competing to eventually take over Ye Olde Spirit Shop, earn a promotion as the manager for the ghost tours, or pursue expansion of the business, or any other setup where the stakes are more meaningful.

Unfortunately, the chemistry starts to slip again in the back half during the book’s lovers arc. Scenes meant to be swoony and romantic are often quite awkward, as the characterization for both characters feels noticeably off, almost like they’re completely different people. The book’s dialogue is generally pretty cheeky and sassy, which is completely lost in these chapters, especially Ezra’s energy that walks a fine line between eccentric goth and historical geek; the smooth and swoony approach feels like it flattens his entire character into generic romance MMC material which is noticeably off-brand considering the reader is shown a perfect example of him smooth-talking another woman prior to Rory with far more personality. The same could be said for Rory to a lesser extent. The dirty talking and thirsty flirting also consistently feel unnatural and even a bit bizarre at times, the spicy content being one of the book’s weakest elements. While the plot mechanisms for forced proximity and romantic scenarios are in theory good, the execution of the scenes consistently feels contrived and questionable. This is also before the third-act breakup, which comes off as entirely forced, the base conflict utilizing trite miscommunication and baffling character logic on Ezra’s end. Though the romance is functional and gets the job done, for me it pales in comparison to the paranormal elements, which are already limited in use.

On a more micro level, there are quite a few areas that could be improved with slight tweaks. While Rory’s history with ghost encounters leading to her insecurities is conceptually good, most of it feels quite brief and underdeveloped. Ezra’s day job at the university also seems oddly underused; despite being an adjunct professor, he seemingly is rarely at the university, teaching classes, or having office hours while supposedly being inseparable from Rory. Both of their backstories consist of the reader simply being told what happened and stated their repercussions rather than showing what happened or demonstrating their debilitating effect. Their investigations and interviews with past cursed workers feel far too brief considering how interesting and connected to the book’s premise they are, while the Halloween special and ending chapters similarly feel rushed. There’s a great cameo appearance by Marlowe’s previous protagonists Hallie and Hayden, which are nice but likely could’ve been longer considering how entertaining they are as well as serving as an epilogue of sorts to Love and Other Conspiracies. Ordinarily, these points wouldn’t be that noticeable if not for my struggle to stay invested in the story, which felt slow and long despite this book being a standard length for a contemporary romance novel.

As a casual and light-hearted paranormal romance set in the cozy season, Entities to Lovers is a book that more or less delivers. It follows the marketed enemies-to-lovers trope, has paranormal elements, and has strong October vibes. On paper, this novel looks great, but across the board, the execution leaves something to be desired. It’s by no means a poor book and none of its issues are necessarily deal-breakers, but cumulatively they add up to a book I personally had a difficult time keeping up with. In the author’s acknowledgement section (text in the final published version subject to change), Marlowe mentions that this was the hardest book of her career to write, and unfortunately despite the effort and editing, I fear it shows. I originally got the ARC for this book having Marlowe’s previous novels Love and Other Conspiracies and Love At First Sightings on my to-read list, and though this book isn’t for me, I can still see its potential and am more than willing to give her other books a try. For those looking for a cozy Fall book or contemporary romance readers looking to venture into the paranormal romance genre, Entities to Lovers is a fine pick for a chill afternoon kind of read. For those that are interested in the book’s supernatural premise or fans of Marlowe’s previous books, I’d recommend going in with modest expectations.

*For more reviews, book lists and reading updates, check out my blog TheBookGrind!

[megan ◡̈]

dnf at 29%

[Tammy - Books, Bones & Buffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The nitty-gritty: Ghosts, curses and tarot cards combine in this Halloween-centric cozy paranormal romance.

Entities to Lovers is the perfect cozy/spooky book to read leading up to Halloween, especially since the story itself takes place around the holiday. I loved the characters (especially the ghosts!), and the romance is the nice slow burn kind that leaves plenty of room for other things, like an intriguing mystery, a fun setting and even some “gentle” themes like believing in yourself and facing things that scare you. This is a mostly low stakes story with lots of humor and cute moments, and I really enjoyed the time I spent reading it.

The story alternates between two first person narratives. Rory lives in Boston and works at Ye Olde Spirit Shop with her mother Delia, doing tarot readings and acting as a tour guide for Delia’s ghost tour business. Ever since she was a child, Rory has been able to sense and communicate with ghosts, and this ability makes their business even more popular. Ezra is a fairly new hire and also works as a tour guide, but his day job is teaching history at a local college. Unfortunately, his teacher's salary is barely enough to cover his expenses in such an expensive city, so his second job helps with that.

Rory is jealous of Ezra’s natural charisma, which seems to make him a more popular tour guide, although as annoyed as she is, she can’t stop staring at him (and his many tattoos!) Erza, on the other hand, has been attracted to Rory since he first met her. Sparks seem to fly whenever the two are together, but not the good kind.

One night, Delia double books them both on the same tour by accident, and Rory and Ezra are forced to do a tour together. One of the stops is a house haunted by a woman named Temperance Talbot, and after an argument, the two manage to knock over and break one of Temperance’s artifacts. After that, both Rory and Ezra begin to experience a string of bad luck: Rory’s alarm clock doesn’t go off and she ruins her favorite stockings; Ezra drops his toothbrush in the toilet and mistakenly sends a group email to his students with an embarrassing typo. But when they are together, their luck changes for the better. Rory soon realizes what’s going on: Temperance has cursed them. As long as they stick together, they’re fine, but when they go their separate ways, bad luck ensues.

Forced into close proximity, they try to figure out how to break the curse. But the more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re starting to like each other…

I thought the back and forth formatting worked great, since it lets the reader see inside both characters’ heads. Not only do we learn how they secretly feel about each other, but we see their flaws as well. Rory is haunted by a spirit who “attached” itself to her when she was young and made her feel terrible about herself. Even though the spirit was exorcized, it still returns during Rory’s darkest moments, ruining her self esteem. Now Rory second guesses everything—her worth as a tour guide and medium, and especially her ability to find a significant other.

Ezra also has some insecurities he’s struggling with. He loves teaching and wants nothing more than to light a spark in his students, but the stodgy curriculum he’s forced to follow doesn’t let him teach outside the box. He hasn’t reached the point where he can confidently move on to another job, so he’s basically miserable. You can see that these two need each other, not only romantically, but to grow into the people they are supposed to be. Not only were there some hysterically funny moments, but their slow burn romance was both sweet and spicy.

I absolutely loved the paranormal elements, which elevate this from just another romance novel. Rory has a polite ghost who lives in her apartment, and there’s also a shop ghost named Clementine (who inhabits a porcelain doll!) who gives you things if she likes you. Even the ghost of Temperance Talbot, who caused all the problems in the first place, turns out to be much more than she first appears.

We also meet two podcasters named Hallie and Hayden who, it turns out, were the romantic couple in Mallory Marlowe’s Love and Other Conspiracies. And now I’m wondering if one or two of the side characters in Entities to Lovers will feature in a future book, perhaps Ezra’s younger brother Micah? I love when authors connect their books in various ways, and now I need to go back and read the author’s previous books!

Rory and Ezra eventually figure out how to break the curse (of course), and I loved that the final resolution gave the characters a chance to be honest with each other—and themselves. Entities to Lovers is the feel-good Halloween romance you didn’t know you needed in your life!

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the gifted ARC!

4.5 stars rounded up. Listen, give me rivals to lovers, a ghost curse, and forced proximity, and I’m already sold.

Rory and Ezra were such a fun pair to follow. Their banter was so good, and I loved that even while they were constantly trying to one-up each other, it was pretty obvious there was something more underneath. The curse forcing them to stay close together led to so many funny moments, but it also gave them the chance to really get to know each other.

The setting was probably one of my favorite parts, well that and the meddling ghost. A haunted spirit shop, ghost tours through Boston, cursed objects, and a medium who actually talks to ghosts? It was the perfect mix of cozy and just a little spooky. I also really liked that beneath all the humor, both Rory and Ezra were working through their own insecurities, so their relationship had a lot more depth than I expected.

If you’ve read Love and Other Conspiracies, you’ll be happy to see some familiar faces pop up, but this can absolutely be read on its own.

This was such a fun, cozy paranormal romance with plenty of laughs, a little bit of spooky season energy, and characters I couldn’t help rooting for.

[TheKailyChapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when two people who can't stand each other are suddenly cursed to stay together? Comedy, chaos, and romance.

Mallory Marlowe has done it again with another cozy paranormal romance that arrived just in time for fall reading season. The premise of Entities to Lovers is so clever, and I loved every supernatural adventure Ezra and Rory had to go on in their attempts to break their curse. The plot moved well from adventure to adventure, and the forced proximity trope gets such a fun and fresh paranormal twist here.

My one critique is that the climax felt a little abrupt. Without spoiling anything, when everything came to a boiling point, it felt like the characters suddenly lost the growth they had been building throughout the story. They had been learning and evolving so beautifully, and then the pressure hit, and it felt like they regressed. It didn't ruin the experience, but it did keep this from being a five-star read for me.

Overall, Entities to Lovers is a fun, light, and charming read that is absolutely perfect for fall.

[Kelly B · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ rounded up

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Mallory Marlowe for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Entities to Lovers via NetGalley!

This book should be an immediate add to your fall/spooky season TBR! Entities to Lovers is a rivals to lovers paranormal romance, and YES there are meddling ghosts! Entities to Lovers is the perfect mix of swoony romance and (mostly) charming supernatural beings.

Read this book if you like:
👻 rivals to lovers
👻 forced proximity
👻 banter
👻 spooky vibes (on the lighter side of spooky. you don't need to keep the lights on while reading 😅)
👻 one bed
👻 corset laces get stuck and she needs help 👀🤭

I really enjoyed Entities to Lovers. The story was funny and romantic, and was really perfect as a seasonal read. I also really loved how the author tackled sexuality, feelings of inadequacy, and complicated family relationships. This isn't my first book by Mallory Marlowe, and it won't be my last!