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What Happens at Nightfall: A Novel
New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig returns with What Happens at Nightfall, a delightfully spooky contemporary romance about love, haunting, and a little bit of demon-hunting.
In the sprawling, beautifully Gothic expanse of Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, some secrets refuse to stay buried.
Recently laid off and searching for purpose, Jess reluctantly joins her best friend on a supposedly fun nighttime cemetery tour. Separated from her group by accident, she discovers a group of terrified boys and a strange, ancient key. Both lead to the Green-Wood’s surprisingly handsome resident arborist, Adam Chervinsky.
Recently widowed, Adam has more to protect than the leafy residents of Green-Wood. His children, stricken by grief at the loss of their mother, are acting strangely. Why is his savvy tween daughter so taken with Jess, and why is his quiet son suddenly so popular—and so good at Latin? A haunting is afoot, and Jess seems to have more answers than she’s letting on. Despite the undeniable sparks flying between her and Adam, things are about to get very spooky indeed.
As Jess and Adam delve deeper into the cemetery’s haunted history, they uncover a Gilded Age curse, a ghostly socialite, and a demonic pact that stretches across generations. What lays hidden in the Green-Wood’s splendid Vanderwilt marble mausoleum? The line between the living and the dead blurs, and the shadows of Green-Wood begin to stir with malevolent intent. Jess must confront not only the supernatural forces but a shocking connection to the past if she and Adam truly want to live happily ever after.
In the sprawling, beautifully Gothic expanse of Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, some secrets refuse to stay buried.
Recently laid off and searching for purpose, Jess reluctantly joins her best friend on a supposedly fun nighttime cemetery tour. Separated from her group by accident, she discovers a group of terrified boys and a strange, ancient key. Both lead to the Green-Wood’s surprisingly handsome resident arborist, Adam Chervinsky.
Recently widowed, Adam has more to protect than the leafy residents of Green-Wood. His children, stricken by grief at the loss of their mother, are acting strangely. Why is his savvy tween daughter so taken with Jess, and why is his quiet son suddenly so popular—and so good at Latin? A haunting is afoot, and Jess seems to have more answers than she’s letting on. Despite the undeniable sparks flying between her and Adam, things are about to get very spooky indeed.
As Jess and Adam delve deeper into the cemetery’s haunted history, they uncover a Gilded Age curse, a ghostly socialite, and a demonic pact that stretches across generations. What lays hidden in the Green-Wood’s splendid Vanderwilt marble mausoleum? The line between the living and the dead blurs, and the shadows of Green-Wood begin to stir with malevolent intent. Jess must confront not only the supernatural forces but a shocking connection to the past if she and Adam truly want to live happily ever after.
544 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2026
About the author
Lauren Willig
42 books4,817 followersLauren Willig is the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen works of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages, awarded the RITA, Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards, and chosen for the American Library Association's annual list of the best genre fiction. After graduating from Yale University, she embarked on a PhD in History at Harvard before leaving academia to acquire a JD at Harvard Law while authoring her "Pink Carnation" series of Napoleonic-set novels. She lives in New York City, where she now writes full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you William Morrow for the gifted Book, and LibroFM for the gifted audiobook!
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
This was my first read by this author, but her historical roots could be seen very clearly in the setting and writing style. Brooklyn’s historic Green-Wood Cemetery is rendered with such vivid, tactile precision that it easily becomes the book's most compelling character. I loved the quiet, eerie atmosphere, and the paranormal moments were really fun. However, this is most definitely a rom-com before anything else. The light dialogue and tonal shifts will no doubt work for fans of that genre, but much of the humor felt very cringey to me.
The pacing was also very uneven, sagging significantly in the middle as the plot focuses on the central mystery. I found myself increasingly frustrated by how long it took the leads to acknowledge the glaringly obvious supernatural clues dropping right in front of them. There were moments where I wanted to shake them and say: look at the literal ghosts, please!
When the characters aren't willfully ignoring the plot, however, their dynamics are quite endearing. The slow-burn connection between Jess, a sharp-witted whistle-blower trying to rebuild her life, and Adam, a grieving resident arborist and single father, is built on a sweet, mutual need for healing. The inclusion of Adam’s children adds a welcome layer of emotional weight, and honestly, the unique background details about the arborist profession were surprisingly fascinating.
Ultimately, What Happens at Nightfall was a mixed bag that I think will work best if you adjust your expectations. This will work for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy looking for a fun paranormal twist, but fans of paranormal romance may be disappointed.
✦ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 ✦
This was a single narration from Jesse Vilinsky. I felt that although many of the jokes didn’t land for me, Jesse still had excellent comedic timing throughout. She always does such a great job varying her voices to fit the tone of the story and each individual character, and her performance for this book was no different. Excellent sound quality, and clear recording. I definitely recommend the audio, but I think going with your preferred format is best here!
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
Second Chance/Healing Hearts Romance
Slow Burn
Single Dad
Found Family
Haunted Setting
Grief and Moving On
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✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
This was my first read by this author, but her historical roots could be seen very clearly in the setting and writing style. Brooklyn’s historic Green-Wood Cemetery is rendered with such vivid, tactile precision that it easily becomes the book's most compelling character. I loved the quiet, eerie atmosphere, and the paranormal moments were really fun. However, this is most definitely a rom-com before anything else. The light dialogue and tonal shifts will no doubt work for fans of that genre, but much of the humor felt very cringey to me.
The pacing was also very uneven, sagging significantly in the middle as the plot focuses on the central mystery. I found myself increasingly frustrated by how long it took the leads to acknowledge the glaringly obvious supernatural clues dropping right in front of them. There were moments where I wanted to shake them and say: look at the literal ghosts, please!
When the characters aren't willfully ignoring the plot, however, their dynamics are quite endearing. The slow-burn connection between Jess, a sharp-witted whistle-blower trying to rebuild her life, and Adam, a grieving resident arborist and single father, is built on a sweet, mutual need for healing. The inclusion of Adam’s children adds a welcome layer of emotional weight, and honestly, the unique background details about the arborist profession were surprisingly fascinating.
Ultimately, What Happens at Nightfall was a mixed bag that I think will work best if you adjust your expectations. This will work for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy looking for a fun paranormal twist, but fans of paranormal romance may be disappointed.
✦ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 ✦
This was a single narration from Jesse Vilinsky. I felt that although many of the jokes didn’t land for me, Jesse still had excellent comedic timing throughout. She always does such a great job varying her voices to fit the tone of the story and each individual character, and her performance for this book was no different. Excellent sound quality, and clear recording. I definitely recommend the audio, but I think going with your preferred format is best here!
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
Second Chance/Healing Hearts Romance
Slow Burn
Single Dad
Found Family
Haunted Setting
Grief and Moving On
Follow me on Instagram for more bookish content
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's been a long time since I've picked up a book by Willig and this was a welcome return to her work! I'm used to her stories having more of a dual timeline with most of it happening in the past, but this book is set entirely in the present, mostly in the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY. Jess is recently laid off and is filling most of her time by following around her best friend, this time on a nighttime tour through the cemetery. When Jess accidentally gets separated from the group, she happens upon a boy who seems to be in distress and volunteers to walk him home. Conveniently, his home is within the walls of the cemetery, because his father is the resident arborist, Adam. When Adam then volunteers to walk Jess back to the subway (and check on the family mausoleum that his son opened), they wander into some supernatural happenings, and neither of them can resist the mystery.
I thought this was a fun read with just the right amount of spookiness and tension. I liked the ties to the Gilded Age, and how Willig integrated the beauty of the cemetery into the story. There also was a lot of humor worked in, which was a nice contrast to all the weird happenings. The romance is a smaller part of the story, but still entertaining. I enjoyed this, and look forward to working more of Willig's books into my current reads.
I thought this was a fun read with just the right amount of spookiness and tension. I liked the ties to the Gilded Age, and how Willig integrated the beauty of the cemetery into the story. There also was a lot of humor worked in, which was a nice contrast to all the weird happenings. The romance is a smaller part of the story, but still entertaining. I enjoyed this, and look forward to working more of Willig's books into my current reads.
August 21, 2026
This is a story I would never have expected from Willig. Ghosts, demons, & curses? No, but I was pleasantly surprised. Of course, I love everything that Lauren writes, so not completely surprising. Greenwood cemetery in New York is hiding some secrets. Only Jess and Adam can defend against this supernatural creature. Along the way they find love, new friends, and few more special moments that makes me this story amazing. Perfect for a cozy fall day.
September 27, 2026
What an unexpected surprise! I’m familiar with the author’s historical fiction, but this book was so fun, so engaging, it blew me away. I went into this story knowing nothing, and I think it’s best to read it that way, so I’m saying nothing more. Thanks to William Morrow for the arc.
October 18, 2026
I settled in with my coffee and Lauren Willig’s What Happens at Nightfall, apparently ready to consider a cemetery as a place to meet a man. Thank you to William Morrow for the gifted copy. At what point does a nighttime cemetery tour stop being a fun outing and become something your best friend owes you an apology for?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jess is out of a job and unsure what comes next when an evening with her best friend lands her in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery. Getting separated from the tour leads her to a frightened boy, an ancient key, and Adam, the handsome widowed arborist who lives on the grounds with his two children. Helping someone get home sounds harmless enough. The family curse complicates things.
I liked that Jess is still figuring herself out in her thirties. She doesn’t have a tidy plan, but she has the instinct to help, even when helping gets considerably stranger than she anticipated. I wanted her to find something good after everything that had gone wrong.
And Adam had my attention beyond the handsome-single-dad situation. He’s trying to raise children who miss their mother while finding his own way through grief. His family gave me something to care about beyond what might be lurking in a mausoleum. I appreciated that his connection with Jess has to make room for the children and their feelings, too.
The romance shares space with quite a bit of supernatural trouble, so I was just as invested in the cemetery mystery as the attraction. Gilded Age secrets, a ghostly socialite, and a demon are a lot to work into your schedule when you’re already having a difficult week.
Green-Wood’s winding paths and elaborate tombs made such a beautiful, unsettling backdrop. I could happily read about them from my couch. Investigating suspicious activity after dark? Please refer that request to someone wearing sensible shoes and possessing fewer survival instincts.
The humor kept this fun, while the grief and possibility of starting over gave it tenderness. A little spooky, a little romantic, and a very unusual way to meet the family.
What’s the most unlikely romantic meeting you’ve enjoyed in a book?
#WhatHappensAtNightfall #LaurenWillig #WilliamMorrow #ParanormalRomance #BookReview #RomanceReaders #SpookyReads #Bookstagram
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jess is out of a job and unsure what comes next when an evening with her best friend lands her in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery. Getting separated from the tour leads her to a frightened boy, an ancient key, and Adam, the handsome widowed arborist who lives on the grounds with his two children. Helping someone get home sounds harmless enough. The family curse complicates things.
I liked that Jess is still figuring herself out in her thirties. She doesn’t have a tidy plan, but she has the instinct to help, even when helping gets considerably stranger than she anticipated. I wanted her to find something good after everything that had gone wrong.
And Adam had my attention beyond the handsome-single-dad situation. He’s trying to raise children who miss their mother while finding his own way through grief. His family gave me something to care about beyond what might be lurking in a mausoleum. I appreciated that his connection with Jess has to make room for the children and their feelings, too.
The romance shares space with quite a bit of supernatural trouble, so I was just as invested in the cemetery mystery as the attraction. Gilded Age secrets, a ghostly socialite, and a demon are a lot to work into your schedule when you’re already having a difficult week.
Green-Wood’s winding paths and elaborate tombs made such a beautiful, unsettling backdrop. I could happily read about them from my couch. Investigating suspicious activity after dark? Please refer that request to someone wearing sensible shoes and possessing fewer survival instincts.
The humor kept this fun, while the grief and possibility of starting over gave it tenderness. A little spooky, a little romantic, and a very unusual way to meet the family.
What’s the most unlikely romantic meeting you’ve enjoyed in a book?
#WhatHappensAtNightfall #LaurenWillig #WilliamMorrow #ParanormalRomance #BookReview #RomanceReaders #SpookyReads #Bookstagram
October 10, 2026
I liked this book, but something was missing for me. Jess first meets Adam and his children, when she's on a cemetery tour and she finds Adam's son Ben cowering under a shrub. She brings him to his house, which is on the grounds of Green-Wood cemetery, because Adam is the cemetery's arborist. After, they go to the Vanderwilt mausoleum because Ben took the key and opened it for his school friends and they find a lot of weird stuff going on and discover that a demon called Belfagor has been released. Jess then finds the apartment of the tour guide Ingrid, and goes there to return her parasol and what she discovers there is frightening. Picture after picture of Adam's daughter Melinda, demons and statuary from the cemetery, that she then shows to Adam. So begins the crux of the story of them trying to figure out how to get rid of Belfagor, and solve the mystery of how he came to be and fight their growing attraction to each other. There are some spooky moments in the book and I enjoyed learning about the cemetery and all of it's history, which I knew nothing about. For me, there was too much talking and thinking and not enough action. I did like the uniqueness of how Belfagor used his power, like projecting his voice through electronics, making frogs come out of Ingrid's mouth, and making people bend to his will by invading their thoughts. Overall it's not a bad book but I felt it was lacking that certain something.
October 16, 2026
I was excited and a tad bit nervous about a book set in a cemetery at night (I’m not a fan of being scared!). But, I have to say this was such a fun read that had me hooked from the beginning. It was spooky, but not really scary. Cozy filled with demons and hunters, curses and kisses, love and found family. The historic Green-Wood cemetery in Brooklyn added the perfect atmospheric backdrop to this book. And the characters, mature main characters both at a crossroad in their lives, fun and engaging secondary characters. Overall, it was a fun Halloween read.
Thanks to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
Thanks to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was a little different from this author’s usual books.. I did think it was a little slow moving at times. I thought the characters were annoying and it was a little predictable. It’s a good book for your October reading list.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🪦 What Happens at Nightfall 🪦
'𝘐𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯, 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘥.'
Jess reluctantly joins her best friend on a nighttime tour of the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. When a group of terrified boys interrupts the tour, she becomes separated from the group. Stranded in the cemetery after the gates have closed, she returns one of the boys home to his father, Adam, who's the resident arborist. After realizing the boys left a family mausoleum unlocked, Adam and Jess go to lock it... only to discover that something has been awoken from it... and its sinister intentions may be set on Adam's daughter.
I'll start with the good. The Green-Wood Cemetery setting is well done, lending a backdrop that's both eerie and historic. I also really enjoyed the story's set-up and paranormal elements and think the bones were there for a solid mystery.
Unfortunately, some things made this a like not love for me. The romance aspect is a bit too insta-love, and the quarrels regarding mistrust felt repetitive and tedious for two people who 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 met. It also wasn't hard to see the big twist with the demon very early on but took 3/4 of the book for the reveal and somehow 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 longer for the characters to piece it together; this resulted in the tension and climax feeling lackluster.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 has an intriguing premise and atmospheric setting, but the mystery's execution faltered. That said, while I may have wished for a bit more spooky and a bit less romance, I think other readers will perhaps find more to love than I did.
🎙The audio was again a like not a love. Jesse Vilinsky did a decent job with the narration but some of her voices for characters, particularly Ben, weren't my favorite; to be fair, this could have been impacted by my increased listening speed (1.8x).
✨️ Thank you to William Morrow for my ARC via Net Galley & LibroFM for my ALC.
[𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 10•6•2026]
'𝘐𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯, 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘺𝘢𝘳𝘥.'
Jess reluctantly joins her best friend on a nighttime tour of the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. When a group of terrified boys interrupts the tour, she becomes separated from the group. Stranded in the cemetery after the gates have closed, she returns one of the boys home to his father, Adam, who's the resident arborist. After realizing the boys left a family mausoleum unlocked, Adam and Jess go to lock it... only to discover that something has been awoken from it... and its sinister intentions may be set on Adam's daughter.
I'll start with the good. The Green-Wood Cemetery setting is well done, lending a backdrop that's both eerie and historic. I also really enjoyed the story's set-up and paranormal elements and think the bones were there for a solid mystery.
Unfortunately, some things made this a like not love for me. The romance aspect is a bit too insta-love, and the quarrels regarding mistrust felt repetitive and tedious for two people who 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 met. It also wasn't hard to see the big twist with the demon very early on but took 3/4 of the book for the reveal and somehow 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 longer for the characters to piece it together; this resulted in the tension and climax feeling lackluster.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 has an intriguing premise and atmospheric setting, but the mystery's execution faltered. That said, while I may have wished for a bit more spooky and a bit less romance, I think other readers will perhaps find more to love than I did.
🎙The audio was again a like not a love. Jesse Vilinsky did a decent job with the narration but some of her voices for characters, particularly Ben, weren't my favorite; to be fair, this could have been impacted by my increased listening speed (1.8x).
✨️ Thank you to William Morrow for my ARC via Net Galley & LibroFM for my ALC.
[𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 10•6•2026]
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This was my first book by Lauren Willig. It is a perfect spooky cozy romantasy to read on a chilly fall evening. “It all began, as so many of these stories do, with a dare in a graveyard.” That’s a great first line. It is set in a real place, Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, which I definitely want to visit after reading this book.
He is Adam, the arborist at Green-Wood. She is Jess, who lost her job after whistleblowing fraud at her old employer. He has two children, 11 and 15, and an amazing spooky home on the cemetery grounds. She has a best friend who writes popular historical nonfiction and a mother who still won’t tell her who her father was. (Which, I have to admit I found kind of annoying. You won’t tell your 37-year-old daughter who her father was? She could always send her DNA to Ancestry – do you want her to find out that way?)
There are crypts and angel statues, and an eccentric grad student on the trail of a real demon. I found the book slow starting, but I enjoyed the plot and the characters once things got going. It won’t get it, but it could use a good edit to cut out some repetitive passages and things that don’t add to the story. The book also has a very pretty cover!
I am currently working part time at Kohl’s and found a reference to the store amusing.
I read an advance reader copy of What Happens at Nightfall from Edelweiss.
He is Adam, the arborist at Green-Wood. She is Jess, who lost her job after whistleblowing fraud at her old employer. He has two children, 11 and 15, and an amazing spooky home on the cemetery grounds. She has a best friend who writes popular historical nonfiction and a mother who still won’t tell her who her father was. (Which, I have to admit I found kind of annoying. You won’t tell your 37-year-old daughter who her father was? She could always send her DNA to Ancestry – do you want her to find out that way?)
There are crypts and angel statues, and an eccentric grad student on the trail of a real demon. I found the book slow starting, but I enjoyed the plot and the characters once things got going. It won’t get it, but it could use a good edit to cut out some repetitive passages and things that don’t add to the story. The book also has a very pretty cover!
I am currently working part time at Kohl’s and found a reference to the store amusing.
I read an advance reader copy of What Happens at Nightfall from Edelweiss.
October 17, 2026
Thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy. All opinions below are my own.
Jess joins her friend on a tour of a historic graveyard and ends up enmeshed with the family who maintains the graveyard on a demon hunting expedition.
This one literally has all the things… an ancient key, main characters who are likable and easy to root for, a complex history linked to evil forces and even a little romance. I really appreciated that even though the scenario was completely bananas, the main characters dealt with it in a very regular human way. It also has fully adult main characters and some teens so I could see it appealing to readers of all ages. This is a perfect read for spooky season if you like a good romp around the graveyard.
Jess joins her friend on a tour of a historic graveyard and ends up enmeshed with the family who maintains the graveyard on a demon hunting expedition.
This one literally has all the things… an ancient key, main characters who are likable and easy to root for, a complex history linked to evil forces and even a little romance. I really appreciated that even though the scenario was completely bananas, the main characters dealt with it in a very regular human way. It also has fully adult main characters and some teens so I could see it appealing to readers of all ages. This is a perfect read for spooky season if you like a good romp around the graveyard.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really unique story (at least for me as a reader). I enjoyed the setting and the level of detail given to the scenery and history of the plot. Jess was a fun main character but did feel a little surface-level at times. However, I think that actually worked well with what we learn of her past. Adam was well written, and I enjoyed his interactions with his kids. I was also happy that everyone didn’t just accept everything with no questions asked. They all had doubts, so it felt more realistic, and it let me enjoy the characters more. The epilogue was really cute. Thank you to the publisher for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2026
Lauren Willig is one of my favorite romance authors. I enjoyed this book but Paranormal is not my favorite flavor of Romance.
It was a very low spice romance and although I would have preferred more spice, there is a very good in-book reason for this.
I'm glad that Lauren Willig is writing straight up romances again (although her historical fictions with a hint of romance are also good) and look forward to what she writes next.
It was a very low spice romance and although I would have preferred more spice, there is a very good in-book reason for this.
I'm glad that Lauren Willig is writing straight up romances again (although her historical fictions with a hint of romance are also good) and look forward to what she writes next.
October 14, 2026
Fun! This is a departure from the type of novels Willig usually writes. It's perfect for spooky season as there are a lot of paranormal/supernatural elements. I love Willig's writing style and the way she develops the atmospheric setting with Gothic vibes. Full review to come.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ooooh in my personal opinion, this might be Lauren Willig's best book yet!!!!!!!!! I love her first foray into the paranormal world and I think she did a great job!! This book has everything you love in fantasy fiction, demons, angels, love, magic, etc.
September 19, 2026
When I requested this book, I thought I was getting a romance set in a cemetery, and while there are romantic elements and plenty of cemetery atmosphere, this book turned out to be so much more than I expected!
Jess joins her best friend for a spooky tour through Green-Wood Gothic style cemetery when a group of boys accidentally send the contents of her purse flying. While gathering everything up, Jess discovers an ancient key and a little boy who has been left behind. Instead of finishing the tour, she decides to get the boy home, which leads her to an extraordinary house where his father, Adam, lives with his children.
From there, things get considerably stranger. 👀
This book packed a LOT into its 384 pages: tons of characters, history, family secrets, ghosts, demon hunting, and, of course, a little romance. There was definitely no shortage of things happening!
My biggest struggle was the length. This book took me an entire week to read, and despite being only 384 pages, it felt much longer because there was so much history and backstory to keep track of. I also found myself having to keep up with quite a few characters and secrets along the way.
That said, I really enjoyed the unexpected spooky elements and the way the story turned out to be completely different from what I thought I was signing up for. If you’re looking for a gothic, atmospheric read with romance, ghosts, secrets, and a little demon hunting thrown in, this might be one to add to your list. 🗝️👻
Jess joins her best friend for a spooky tour through Green-Wood Gothic style cemetery when a group of boys accidentally send the contents of her purse flying. While gathering everything up, Jess discovers an ancient key and a little boy who has been left behind. Instead of finishing the tour, she decides to get the boy home, which leads her to an extraordinary house where his father, Adam, lives with his children.
From there, things get considerably stranger. 👀
This book packed a LOT into its 384 pages: tons of characters, history, family secrets, ghosts, demon hunting, and, of course, a little romance. There was definitely no shortage of things happening!
My biggest struggle was the length. This book took me an entire week to read, and despite being only 384 pages, it felt much longer because there was so much history and backstory to keep track of. I also found myself having to keep up with quite a few characters and secrets along the way.
That said, I really enjoyed the unexpected spooky elements and the way the story turned out to be completely different from what I thought I was signing up for. If you’re looking for a gothic, atmospheric read with romance, ghosts, secrets, and a little demon hunting thrown in, this might be one to add to your list. 🗝️👻
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Lauren Willig, William Morrow & Harper Collins for the free, pre-publication copy (ARC or Digital Review Copy) of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
As a self-proclaimed Tombstone Tourist, I was so excited when given the opportunity to dive into this spooky, yet cozy story about the fictional goings-on at the infamous Green-Wood Cemetery, a place I have longed to visit. How wonderful it was to be able to visit it in the pages of this delightful novel that painted such a vivid picture of the long winding trails of this almost 500-acre cemetery rooted with history.
We meet Jess, a thirty-something recently unemployed woman, as she is joining her dearest friend Kimmy for a cemetery tour. Things get a bit derailed on tour and she then encounters young Ben lost amongst the tombstones on that fatefully stormy night. Of course, wanting to aid the young boy, she walks him home, which happens to be right there on cemetery grounds where we then meet the cemetery’s arborist Adam, widowed father to Ben and his older sister Melinda. Their slow-burn coming together throughout this story was an absolute delight, it was so nice to feel the tension between them grow and for them to set boundaries based on each other’s circumstances. It felt so much more adult and mature in nature, people can’t always just dive into what they want because it not only affects them but all those around them. Being a bit older myself, I loved seeing a mature romance portrayed.
While Jess and Adam are our adventurous leads, and we have a plethora of lovely side characters including Adams kids, a cooky tour guide who turns out to be more than originally believed, a long-time always supportive friend whose education and patience is always there to assist Jess and others, the cemetery itself is most definitely the star of the show. With its history steeped in the Gilded Age, I found it fascinating how the author intertwined historical facts into the story. The descriptions of the tombstones and mausoleums brought each location to life, from the stone statues to colorful and precious stained glass it was easy to envision myself there with our ragtag group of misfits. I found myself constantly looking up images of this cemetery as I was reading, traveling amongst the tombs along with the characters, and learning so much more about this fascinating place.
Without giving too much away, our character’s journey basically leads up to Nightfall, an autumn arts festival hosted every year at the cemetery. The backdrop of the festival lends to the chaos of the climatic finale in such a unique way, one that I would never expect at a cemetery. And to learn that the festival is in fact a real one made me want to visit even more...with respect to the trees and all dwellers in this gorgeous place of course.
Another thing I found quite enjoyable in this book were all the references to things in the past that I too love myself, from Cher & Dionne in Clueless, to Lord of the Rings, Young Sherlock Holmes (a film I LOVED when I was younger) and the reference to the use of a bookmark from Shakespeare & Co., one of which I use myself. So many references scattered throughout this book made me smile, and I appreciated them all so much.
This book was spooky, but not scary, and had just the right amounts of paranormal demon hunting, cemetery wanderings and light romance to make this one of my most enjoyable cozy reads of the year thus far. I look forward to reading more of Lauren Willig’s books!
As a self-proclaimed Tombstone Tourist, I was so excited when given the opportunity to dive into this spooky, yet cozy story about the fictional goings-on at the infamous Green-Wood Cemetery, a place I have longed to visit. How wonderful it was to be able to visit it in the pages of this delightful novel that painted such a vivid picture of the long winding trails of this almost 500-acre cemetery rooted with history.
We meet Jess, a thirty-something recently unemployed woman, as she is joining her dearest friend Kimmy for a cemetery tour. Things get a bit derailed on tour and she then encounters young Ben lost amongst the tombstones on that fatefully stormy night. Of course, wanting to aid the young boy, she walks him home, which happens to be right there on cemetery grounds where we then meet the cemetery’s arborist Adam, widowed father to Ben and his older sister Melinda. Their slow-burn coming together throughout this story was an absolute delight, it was so nice to feel the tension between them grow and for them to set boundaries based on each other’s circumstances. It felt so much more adult and mature in nature, people can’t always just dive into what they want because it not only affects them but all those around them. Being a bit older myself, I loved seeing a mature romance portrayed.
While Jess and Adam are our adventurous leads, and we have a plethora of lovely side characters including Adams kids, a cooky tour guide who turns out to be more than originally believed, a long-time always supportive friend whose education and patience is always there to assist Jess and others, the cemetery itself is most definitely the star of the show. With its history steeped in the Gilded Age, I found it fascinating how the author intertwined historical facts into the story. The descriptions of the tombstones and mausoleums brought each location to life, from the stone statues to colorful and precious stained glass it was easy to envision myself there with our ragtag group of misfits. I found myself constantly looking up images of this cemetery as I was reading, traveling amongst the tombs along with the characters, and learning so much more about this fascinating place.
Without giving too much away, our character’s journey basically leads up to Nightfall, an autumn arts festival hosted every year at the cemetery. The backdrop of the festival lends to the chaos of the climatic finale in such a unique way, one that I would never expect at a cemetery. And to learn that the festival is in fact a real one made me want to visit even more...with respect to the trees and all dwellers in this gorgeous place of course.
Another thing I found quite enjoyable in this book were all the references to things in the past that I too love myself, from Cher & Dionne in Clueless, to Lord of the Rings, Young Sherlock Holmes (a film I LOVED when I was younger) and the reference to the use of a bookmark from Shakespeare & Co., one of which I use myself. So many references scattered throughout this book made me smile, and I appreciated them all so much.
This book was spooky, but not scary, and had just the right amounts of paranormal demon hunting, cemetery wanderings and light romance to make this one of my most enjoyable cozy reads of the year thus far. I look forward to reading more of Lauren Willig’s books!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What Happens at Nightfall
~Lauren Willig
Renowned for blending historical elegance with sharp wit, Lauren Willig ventures into Gothic noir in What Happens at Nightfall. A lushly layered story that mixes romance, mystery, and the supernatural world. Set in Brooklyn's legendary Green-Wood Cemetery, this story delivers her trademark charm with a darker, more haunted edge. Where grief meets magic and love stirs beneath the weight of the past.
Jess accompanies her friend Kimmy to a haunted cemetery tour at Green-Wood and gets separated from the group. As is looking for a lost item, she encounters a terrified young boy among the headstones and walks him home. His home happens to be the cemetery arborists house, where she meets Adam, the arborist. Adam is a widower, raising two children – Melinda and Ben who are still grieving over the death of their mom.
As Adam and Jess form a connection, something ancient awakens deep withing Green-Wood. Jess digs deeper and finds out disturbing history about the cemetery and those buried there, she is determined to protect Adam and his children. But after that malevolent force targets her, she realizes that saving Adam's family, and herself, will require her to confront more than just what resides within the cemetery.
Willig's cast of characters shine with complexity, vulnerability, and their own unique quirks. Jess is clever, skeptical, and impulsive. Obtaining more bravery than despites life's disappointments than she realizes. Adam is broody and grief-stricken, but grounded by tenderness and duty to protect what is his. The Vanderwilt lineage, decadence of the Gilded-Age plagued with secrets and generational sins that linger into the present. Even Green-Wood Cemetery is alive with character – rooted in history, historic monuments, and legends pulse with eerie vitality. The emotional despair, wit, and slow-burn attraction between Jess and Adam bring about a story built on trust amid chaos, rather than impulsivity.
Pacing is steady and deliberate, allowing truths to unravel naturally. Every scene is infused with authenticity – historical facts about the cemetery seamlessly blending with fictional curse creating a world that feels immersive and tactile. No jump scares here, Willig uses her writing to engage readers directly into the scenes creating a gripping cinematic atmosphere. Those craving frantic action will find this slower, but the rewards lie in the sustained tension and emotional depth rather than spectacle.
Willig's What Happens at Nightfall is a Gothic thrill – eerie and tender, rich in history and emotion. If you appreciate a slow-burn romance, haunted secrets, and stories that breathe atmosphere, this story will draw you into the mist through cemetery gates as they creak closed locking you in through the very end!
Releasing October 6, 2026 and available for pre-order now on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dZaTPt
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lauren Willig for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC What Happens at Nightfall. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.
~Lauren Willig
Renowned for blending historical elegance with sharp wit, Lauren Willig ventures into Gothic noir in What Happens at Nightfall. A lushly layered story that mixes romance, mystery, and the supernatural world. Set in Brooklyn's legendary Green-Wood Cemetery, this story delivers her trademark charm with a darker, more haunted edge. Where grief meets magic and love stirs beneath the weight of the past.
Jess accompanies her friend Kimmy to a haunted cemetery tour at Green-Wood and gets separated from the group. As is looking for a lost item, she encounters a terrified young boy among the headstones and walks him home. His home happens to be the cemetery arborists house, where she meets Adam, the arborist. Adam is a widower, raising two children – Melinda and Ben who are still grieving over the death of their mom.
As Adam and Jess form a connection, something ancient awakens deep withing Green-Wood. Jess digs deeper and finds out disturbing history about the cemetery and those buried there, she is determined to protect Adam and his children. But after that malevolent force targets her, she realizes that saving Adam's family, and herself, will require her to confront more than just what resides within the cemetery.
Willig's cast of characters shine with complexity, vulnerability, and their own unique quirks. Jess is clever, skeptical, and impulsive. Obtaining more bravery than despites life's disappointments than she realizes. Adam is broody and grief-stricken, but grounded by tenderness and duty to protect what is his. The Vanderwilt lineage, decadence of the Gilded-Age plagued with secrets and generational sins that linger into the present. Even Green-Wood Cemetery is alive with character – rooted in history, historic monuments, and legends pulse with eerie vitality. The emotional despair, wit, and slow-burn attraction between Jess and Adam bring about a story built on trust amid chaos, rather than impulsivity.
Pacing is steady and deliberate, allowing truths to unravel naturally. Every scene is infused with authenticity – historical facts about the cemetery seamlessly blending with fictional curse creating a world that feels immersive and tactile. No jump scares here, Willig uses her writing to engage readers directly into the scenes creating a gripping cinematic atmosphere. Those craving frantic action will find this slower, but the rewards lie in the sustained tension and emotional depth rather than spectacle.
Willig's What Happens at Nightfall is a Gothic thrill – eerie and tender, rich in history and emotion. If you appreciate a slow-burn romance, haunted secrets, and stories that breathe atmosphere, this story will draw you into the mist through cemetery gates as they creak closed locking you in through the very end!
Releasing October 6, 2026 and available for pre-order now on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dZaTPt
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lauren Willig for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC What Happens at Nightfall. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
April 12, 2026
What Happens at Nightfall
~Lauren Willig
I honestly love everything Lauren Willig! Mixing historical elegance with sharp wit, Lauren Willig ventures into Gothic noir in What Happens at Nightfall. A lushly layered story that blends romance, mystery, and the supernatural world. Set in Brooklyn's legendary Green-Wood Cemetery, this story delivers her trademark charm with a darker, more haunted edge. Where grief meets magic and love stirs beneath the weight of the past.
Jess accompanies her friend Kimmy to a haunted cemetery tour at Green-Wood and gets separated from the group. As is looking for a lost item, she encounters a terrified young boy among the headstones and walks him home. His home happens to be the cemetery arborists house, where she meets Adam, the arborist. Adam is a widower, raising two children – Melinda and Ben who are still grieving over the death of their mom.
As Adam and Jess form a connection, something ancient awakens deep withing Green-Wood. Jess digs deeper and finds out disturbing history about the cemetery and those buried there, she is determined to protect Adam and his children. But after that malevolent force targets her, she realizes that saving Adam's family, and herself, will require her to confront more than just what resides within the cemetery.
Willig's cast of characters shine with complexity, vulnerability, and their own unique quirks. Jess is clever, skeptical, and impulsive. Obtaining more bravery than despites life's disappointments than she realizes. Adam is broody and grief-stricken, but grounded by tenderness and duty to protect what is his. The Vanderwilt lineage, decadence of the Gilded-Age plagued with secrets and generational sins that linger into the present. Even Green-Wood Cemetery is alive with character – rooted in history, historic monuments, and legends pulse with eerie vitality. The emotional despair, wit, and slow-burn attraction between Jess and Adam bring about a story built on trust amid chaos, rather than impulsivity.
I read this in one sitting, and hated to see it end!! For Willig fans, she told me this book is the most “Pink adjacent” IYKYK!!! And I totally get it!!
April 12, 2026
What Happens at Nightfall
~Lauren Willig
I honestly love everything Lauren Willig! Mixing historical elegance with sharp wit, Lauren Willig ventures into Gothic noir in What Happens at Nightfall. A lushly layered story that blends romance, mystery, and the supernatural world. Set in Brooklyn's legendary Green-Wood Cemetery, this story delivers her trademark charm with a darker, more haunted edge. Where grief meets magic and love stirs beneath the weight of the past.
Jess accompanies her friend Kimmy to a haunted cemetery tour at Green-Wood and gets separated from the group. As is looking for a lost item, she encounters a terrified young boy among the headstones and walks him home. His home happens to be the cemetery arborists house, where she meets Adam, the arborist. Adam is a widower, raising two children – Melinda and Ben who are still grieving over the death of their mom.
As Adam and Jess form a connection, something ancient awakens deep withing Green-Wood. Jess digs deeper and finds out disturbing history about the cemetery and those buried there, she is determined to protect Adam and his children. But after that malevolent force targets her, she realizes that saving Adam's family, and herself, will require her to confront more than just what resides within the cemetery.
Willig's cast of characters shine with complexity, vulnerability, and their own unique quirks. Jess is clever, skeptical, and impulsive. Obtaining more bravery than despites life's disappointments than she realizes. Adam is broody and grief-stricken, but grounded by tenderness and duty to protect what is his. The Vanderwilt lineage, decadence of the Gilded-Age plagued with secrets and generational sins that linger into the present. Even Green-Wood Cemetery is alive with character – rooted in history, historic monuments, and legends pulse with eerie vitality. The emotional despair, wit, and slow-burn attraction between Jess and Adam bring about a story built on trust amid chaos, rather than impulsivity.
I read this in one sitting, and hated to see it end!! For Willig fans, she told me this book is the most “Pink adjacent” IYKYK!!! And I totally get it!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
At thirty-seven Jess Waters has found herself spending her night following her best friend around a cemetery in Brooklyn on the Domiciles of the Damned tour because she has nothing better to do. Her career has imploded and the only thing waiting for her at home is her Netflix queue and a dead plant. If you look at the plant in the right light it might be considered sculptural. Possibly. Her best friend Kimmy writes popular nonfiction, her paperbacks are staples of airport bookstores. The one she is currently researching is about Susan Smith McKinney Steward, the first African-American female doctor in New York, who happens to be buried in Green-Wood Cemetery. Hence them following a tour guide dressed in a bustle carrying a parasol and wearing more purple than anyone should. Adam Chervinsky is the live-in arborist at Green-Wood Cemetery. He's been a widower for four years trying to get by by feeding as many different chicken recipes as possible to his two children. Melinda is fifteen and wicked smart and seems to have herself put together even if she's developing a deep aversion to chicken. Ben is a different story. He was closer to his mother and at eleven he is starting over at a new school. It's because of Ben that Jess and Adam are destined to meet. In order to impress some boys at his new school Ben has borrowed the key to his mother's family crypt. The Vanderwilt mausoleum is impressive and imposing, with a bust of the Gilded Age matriarch, Cornelia, perched on the roof like a bird of prey. Something scares the boys off and Ben bumps into Jess and Jess, separated from her tour, helps Ben home through a hellacious storm. The least Adam can do is walk Jess to the subway, but she's missing her OMNY card, which must have been lost when Ben bumped into her. They decide to take the long way around, look for Jess's card and lock up the vault. Eerily, the card is at the vault and the vault isn't just open, a stained glass orb that was part of an interior window has been shattered and there's a Ouija board and battery powered candles. The tomb is worthy of M.R. James and Jess is happy to get out of there as soon as possible but there's a problem. There's a parasol. A parasol which was definitely part of her tour guide's ensemble. Adam has been more than generous so she offers to take the parasol back to it's owner and she sighs as she assumes that that will be the last time she sees Adam. Fate and history have other plans in store. The Domiciles of the Damned tour is operated out of a building just blocks from Jess's apartment in Suite 66 on the sixth floor. Only, it's not an office, it's an apartment. The apartment of the tour guide if the clothes in the closet are anything to go by. The murder board is another matter. She's not sure if the guide wants to raise the dead or summon a demon but whichever it is is going to happen this coming weekend at the solstice. And Adam needs to be told. Because it's not just pictures of demons littering the wall, but also pictures of his daughter Melinda. Adam is spooked. He thinks that maybe Jess is stalking his daughter and arranged everything. It's been hard for him to open up after he lost everything in an instant. What is this woman hiding? She has to be dishonest and crazy doesn't she? Because otherwise everything he's even known is wrong and demons might exist. But what's scariest of all is that maybe he can move on with this woman of immense power who he's just met and has spent her life trying to make herself smaller.
What's interesting about Lauren is that she doesn't write what she most likes to read. From years of reading her recommendations it's clear that she loves all things supernatural. Because of her I've found other favorite authors, Ben Aaronovitch, Heather Fawcett, and Daniel O'Malley just to name a few, and yet, her name isn't among this list of supernaturally inclined authors. She's been the queen of historical fiction for so long that even the modern framing devices have gone the way of the dodo. And yet it was because of her modern day characters that first appeared in The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, Eloise Kelly and Colin Selwick, that I first became a fan of hers. If you're a fan of the Pink Carnation series you know that they are somewhat controversial characters, in that at one point they were almost shown the door. But they survived and made it all the way to their HEA in the twelfth and final volume of the series. As I mentioned above, since then Lauren's work has been phasing out using a modern day framing device. In fact, if it wasn't for her Team W books, she hasn't had any modern device or characters for over a decade now. And the thing about Lauren is, she's really good at working in modern references and jokes, which is why I so connected to Eloise and Colin in the first place. It felt a shame that it looked like, at least from my point of view, that she was burning out on history. Her books were still as brilliant as ever, but they felt more and more entrenched in the history and not having any room to breath. Though, if you've ever seen her exuberantly promote a book you know, she barely stops for breath. Therefore when she announced What Happens at Nightfall I was overjoyed. This was a chance for her to get back into romancelandia and write the type of book she herself would read. But, because of her historical bent, the history of Green-Wood Cemetery gives the supernatural aspects a grounding that I don't think a lot of other authors of the supernatural achieve, the aforementioned authors excluded. Green-Wood was its own character. It came alive with Lauren's treatment. She used actual monuments and events to tie into the backstory of how exactly the Vanderwilts ended up with a demon in the family. History going hand in hand with the hellish. Though, for me, I don't know why I'm all in for the demonic but the angelic just felt too religious. Must be me revolting from my Catholic education. As for our hero and heroine? They are perfect, in the most imperfect way. What's more, you can feel Lauren is having fun. She's riffing on all the things she loves, I particularly loved the love for Warehouse 13 and Young Sherlock Holmes. I want more Lauren books like this. Just a thrill ride of fun and emotion and love and the demonic, a little like Evil was. Because what better message can a book have than to be loved and accepted for who you are? All of you, the demonic and the angelic.
What's interesting about Lauren is that she doesn't write what she most likes to read. From years of reading her recommendations it's clear that she loves all things supernatural. Because of her I've found other favorite authors, Ben Aaronovitch, Heather Fawcett, and Daniel O'Malley just to name a few, and yet, her name isn't among this list of supernaturally inclined authors. She's been the queen of historical fiction for so long that even the modern framing devices have gone the way of the dodo. And yet it was because of her modern day characters that first appeared in The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, Eloise Kelly and Colin Selwick, that I first became a fan of hers. If you're a fan of the Pink Carnation series you know that they are somewhat controversial characters, in that at one point they were almost shown the door. But they survived and made it all the way to their HEA in the twelfth and final volume of the series. As I mentioned above, since then Lauren's work has been phasing out using a modern day framing device. In fact, if it wasn't for her Team W books, she hasn't had any modern device or characters for over a decade now. And the thing about Lauren is, she's really good at working in modern references and jokes, which is why I so connected to Eloise and Colin in the first place. It felt a shame that it looked like, at least from my point of view, that she was burning out on history. Her books were still as brilliant as ever, but they felt more and more entrenched in the history and not having any room to breath. Though, if you've ever seen her exuberantly promote a book you know, she barely stops for breath. Therefore when she announced What Happens at Nightfall I was overjoyed. This was a chance for her to get back into romancelandia and write the type of book she herself would read. But, because of her historical bent, the history of Green-Wood Cemetery gives the supernatural aspects a grounding that I don't think a lot of other authors of the supernatural achieve, the aforementioned authors excluded. Green-Wood was its own character. It came alive with Lauren's treatment. She used actual monuments and events to tie into the backstory of how exactly the Vanderwilts ended up with a demon in the family. History going hand in hand with the hellish. Though, for me, I don't know why I'm all in for the demonic but the angelic just felt too religious. Must be me revolting from my Catholic education. As for our hero and heroine? They are perfect, in the most imperfect way. What's more, you can feel Lauren is having fun. She's riffing on all the things she loves, I particularly loved the love for Warehouse 13 and Young Sherlock Holmes. I want more Lauren books like this. Just a thrill ride of fun and emotion and love and the demonic, a little like Evil was. Because what better message can a book have than to be loved and accepted for who you are? All of you, the demonic and the angelic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is like a Hallmark movie and an old school Disney channel Halloween movie had a baby, and I'm here for it. The entire time I was reading it that's what I imagined. I enjoyed it quite a bit but I probably would have more if I'd have read it in the fall. This is a great one to grab a blanket, a cup of coffee and crisp fall air and read in a day. My only complaints were at times things seemed so obvious it was ridiculous that the characters didn't see it. Like their level of just stupid or oblivious to it all was astounding. But otherwise I liked it all. I also think it'll be a good one to re-read every so often, it may not be ground breaking but it feels like a comfort show/movie that you can turn on and half pay attention too but still enjoy after the hundredth rewatch.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2026
I listened to the audiobook of Lauren Willig's historical novel "Band of Sisters", and it was excellent. What Happens at Nightfall sounded like a departure from her usual style, so I wanted to give it a go. I was expecting a creepy, Gothic romance. What I was NOT expecting was to laugh my tuchus off while reading it!
In the sprawling Gothic expanse of Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, some secrets refuse to stay buried. Recently laid off and searching for purpose, Jess reluctantly joins her best friend on a supposedly fun nighttime cemetery tour. Separated from her group by accident, she discovers a bunch of terrified boys and a strange, ancient key. Both lead to Green-Wood’s surprisingly handsome resident arborist, Adam Chervinsky. Recently widowed, Adam has more to protect than the leafy residents of Green-Wood. His children, still dealing with the loss of their mother, are acting strangely. A haunting is afoot, and Jess seems to know more than she’s letting on. Sparks fly between Jess and Adam—and the unquiet spirits of Green-Wood rise from their century-long slumber. As Jess and Adam delve deeper into the cemetery’s haunted history, they uncover a Gilded Age curse, a ghostly socialite, and a demonic pact that stretches across generations. What lies hidden in the Green-Wood’s splendid Vanderwilt mausoleum? As the line between the living and the dead blurs, and the shadows of Green-Wood begin to stir with malevolent intent, Jess must confront not only the supernatural forces but a shocking connection to the past if she and Adam truly want to live happily ever after.
I was not the least bit disappointed that this story was totally not what I was expecting; I am thrilled I had a chance to read this. I'd been cranky for the last few days for no reason, and this book was exactly what I needed. First of all, I loved the location. I actually find cemeteries to be calming places. I love old ones where I can read the tombstones. (Call me weird; I don't mind. I remember when as kids my sister and I visited a cemetery close to where my Grandpa worked; we always looked for "Martha's" old tombstone.) I've never been to Green-Wood Cemetery and hope one day I have the opportunity to visit. It sounds beautiful. The dead can't hurt you; only the living can do that. The lead characters, Jess and Adam, were fantastic. Adam is definitely on my "book boyfriend list". Jess was fired from her job when she became a whistleblower; the employer in turn ruined her reputation. She was just meandering through life as her lawyers worked on a suit against her former employer. She was close to her mother but didn't live close by; luckily she had her best friend Kimmy and her lovely family in her life. Adam was widowed four years ago, and he's raising his two children Melinda (15) and Ben (11) as he worked as an arborist at Green-Wood Cemetery. They had a house on the cemetery grounds, and it sounded like a soothing, lovely place. When Kimmy and Jess went to a cemetery night tour, Jess was left behind after some kids knocked into her and she was picking up her things that fell out of what must be the hugest handbag ever. She found one of the children, Ben, who brought her to his house so Adam could open the gates so she could go home. Thus begins a slow-building romance. Which was lovely until they discovered that a demon was set loose in his wife's family's tomb. Of course I don't want to ruin everything; you just need to read and enjoy the fun (interspersed with a bit of heartache). The supporting characters were great. I especially liked Melinda, Adam's daughter; I loved her sarcasm and sense of humor. Kimmy was an awesome friend, and was always there for Jess. I really liked Ingrid, the tour guide who led the ghost tour the gals were on. She was desperately trying to trap the loose demon; let's just say she was a better historian than a demon wrangler. I knew this was a humorous story when even the demon was funny. Horror stories are great for this spooky time of the year; but make room on your bookshelf for a really entertaining story with lots of humor...that just happens to have a demon. I adored everything about this book!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
In the sprawling Gothic expanse of Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, some secrets refuse to stay buried. Recently laid off and searching for purpose, Jess reluctantly joins her best friend on a supposedly fun nighttime cemetery tour. Separated from her group by accident, she discovers a bunch of terrified boys and a strange, ancient key. Both lead to Green-Wood’s surprisingly handsome resident arborist, Adam Chervinsky. Recently widowed, Adam has more to protect than the leafy residents of Green-Wood. His children, still dealing with the loss of their mother, are acting strangely. A haunting is afoot, and Jess seems to know more than she’s letting on. Sparks fly between Jess and Adam—and the unquiet spirits of Green-Wood rise from their century-long slumber. As Jess and Adam delve deeper into the cemetery’s haunted history, they uncover a Gilded Age curse, a ghostly socialite, and a demonic pact that stretches across generations. What lies hidden in the Green-Wood’s splendid Vanderwilt mausoleum? As the line between the living and the dead blurs, and the shadows of Green-Wood begin to stir with malevolent intent, Jess must confront not only the supernatural forces but a shocking connection to the past if she and Adam truly want to live happily ever after.
I was not the least bit disappointed that this story was totally not what I was expecting; I am thrilled I had a chance to read this. I'd been cranky for the last few days for no reason, and this book was exactly what I needed. First of all, I loved the location. I actually find cemeteries to be calming places. I love old ones where I can read the tombstones. (Call me weird; I don't mind. I remember when as kids my sister and I visited a cemetery close to where my Grandpa worked; we always looked for "Martha's" old tombstone.) I've never been to Green-Wood Cemetery and hope one day I have the opportunity to visit. It sounds beautiful. The dead can't hurt you; only the living can do that. The lead characters, Jess and Adam, were fantastic. Adam is definitely on my "book boyfriend list". Jess was fired from her job when she became a whistleblower; the employer in turn ruined her reputation. She was just meandering through life as her lawyers worked on a suit against her former employer. She was close to her mother but didn't live close by; luckily she had her best friend Kimmy and her lovely family in her life. Adam was widowed four years ago, and he's raising his two children Melinda (15) and Ben (11) as he worked as an arborist at Green-Wood Cemetery. They had a house on the cemetery grounds, and it sounded like a soothing, lovely place. When Kimmy and Jess went to a cemetery night tour, Jess was left behind after some kids knocked into her and she was picking up her things that fell out of what must be the hugest handbag ever. She found one of the children, Ben, who brought her to his house so Adam could open the gates so she could go home. Thus begins a slow-building romance. Which was lovely until they discovered that a demon was set loose in his wife's family's tomb. Of course I don't want to ruin everything; you just need to read and enjoy the fun (interspersed with a bit of heartache). The supporting characters were great. I especially liked Melinda, Adam's daughter; I loved her sarcasm and sense of humor. Kimmy was an awesome friend, and was always there for Jess. I really liked Ingrid, the tour guide who led the ghost tour the gals were on. She was desperately trying to trap the loose demon; let's just say she was a better historian than a demon wrangler. I knew this was a humorous story when even the demon was funny. Horror stories are great for this spooky time of the year; but make room on your bookshelf for a really entertaining story with lots of humor...that just happens to have a demon. I adored everything about this book!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
ARC received through publisher giveaway on GoodReads
Before I picked this up, I had a short conversation with myself, trying to decide if this was a book I'd actually want to read. "Do I want to read a spooky book? "Spooky" is not typically something I seek out. Do I want to read a spooky book in August? Surely there are better months to read a quasi-horror novel. Right?"
In the end, I did talk myself into reading it, and I did mostly enjoy it. Mostly. My two biggest gripes with the story were the length (it felt overly long, somehow slightly repetitive and lacking on actual information at the same time) and the incredible disregard of all the clues that were thrown at, thrust towards, dropped on the laps of the two main characters throughout the entirety of the story.
The number of times a truly important, big or eye-opening piece of information was brought up then completely ignored by Jess - and sometimes Adam - floored me. They'd be all, "Wow, that's an interesting and likely very big clue. You gonna eat that Danish?" and then we'd go two or three or four chapters with them bumbling about, missing more - albeit, smaller - clues as they went, until something made them realize: "Hey...I knew that bit of information!" and they started figuring things out.
The alternating points of view were interesting and done well, despite the fact that I didn't immediately get some of the views we were pointed to. The characters were a bit...over the top? Jess with her initial moping, Adam with his initial distrust (dude, I get it. 2026 and stalkers and the AI age and all that - can't trust anybody, amirite?), Ingrid with her - whatever the heck Ingrid had other than her own puffed-up sense of importance and credibility - and even Kimmy, who couldn't be bothered to stop and help her friend - her best friend pick up the contents of her spilled bag. In the middle of the night. In the middle of a cemetery. Just. Really?
I think my favorite scene of the whole story came towards the end, an unexpectedly touching moment that caught me by surprise.
The end felt a bit rushed, and a tiny bit unbelievable (said with the acknowledgement that this book is about demons and such.) It was just too pat I also admit to not wholly loving the end end , which also felt rushed.
Despite all that, it is a quick and easy read. I do hope that they take a pair of scissors to at least some sections of the story before it publishes. The may "It was bad, Jess" and "not winning any Father of the Year awards" and so many more repeated sentences, paragraphs, scenes can be cut, trimming the book, and it won't even be noticed.
Also, bonus points to the author for taking the time to personally separate the historical from the fiction. I'd never heard of Green-Wood before this book, and kind of love that Nightfall is an actual thing. The more you know, I guess.
Before I picked this up, I had a short conversation with myself, trying to decide if this was a book I'd actually want to read. "Do I want to read a spooky book? "Spooky" is not typically something I seek out. Do I want to read a spooky book in August? Surely there are better months to read a quasi-horror novel. Right?"
In the end, I did talk myself into reading it, and I did mostly enjoy it. Mostly. My two biggest gripes with the story were the length (it felt overly long, somehow slightly repetitive and lacking on actual information at the same time) and the incredible disregard of all the clues that were thrown at, thrust towards, dropped on the laps of the two main characters throughout the entirety of the story.
The number of times a truly important, big or eye-opening piece of information was brought up then completely ignored by Jess - and sometimes Adam - floored me. They'd be all, "Wow, that's an interesting and likely very big clue. You gonna eat that Danish?" and then we'd go two or three or four chapters with them bumbling about, missing more - albeit, smaller - clues as they went, until something made them realize: "Hey...I knew that bit of information!" and they started figuring things out.
The alternating points of view were interesting and done well, despite the fact that I didn't immediately get some of the views we were pointed to. The characters were a bit...over the top? Jess with her initial moping, Adam with his initial distrust (dude, I get it. 2026 and stalkers and the AI age and all that - can't trust anybody, amirite?), Ingrid with her - whatever the heck Ingrid had other than her own puffed-up sense of importance and credibility - and even Kimmy, who couldn't be bothered to stop and help her friend - her best friend pick up the contents of her spilled bag. In the middle of the night. In the middle of a cemetery. Just. Really?
I think my favorite scene of the whole story came towards the end, an unexpectedly touching moment that caught me by surprise.
The end felt a bit rushed, and a tiny bit unbelievable (said with the acknowledgement that this book is about demons and such.) It was just too pat I also admit to not wholly loving the end end , which also felt rushed.
Despite all that, it is a quick and easy read. I do hope that they take a pair of scissors to at least some sections of the story before it publishes. The may "It was bad, Jess" and "not winning any Father of the Year awards" and so many more repeated sentences, paragraphs, scenes can be cut, trimming the book, and it won't even be noticed.
Also, bonus points to the author for taking the time to personally separate the historical from the fiction. I'd never heard of Green-Wood before this book, and kind of love that Nightfall is an actual thing. The more you know, I guess.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early review copy.
I was immediately sucked into this story, because Willig is just that good. I didn't even mean to start reading it right away, I just glanced at the first page and then whoops! I read the whole chapter and didn't want to stop! I love her breezy, fun, and elegant style. Lately, Willig's historical fiction novels have been very serious, and it was wonderful and refreshing to read a contemporary book with a return to fun hijinks reminiscent of the Pink Carnation era. More like this, please, Ms Willig!
The spookiness level was perfect for me (a person who does not like to feel terrified). Gothic graveyards? spooky! Statues that move? creepy! Ghosts that throw urns at you? scary! Trees that can talk to the gardener? I'm intrigued! A demon who is possessing people? yeah that's freaky. Sometimes you get the demon's POV, which really helped dial back the terror, because the demon is a complete blowhard. Yes, he has the power to do some really awful things, but mostly he's obsessed with the fact that Baphomet gets all the attention instead of him.
Willig has clearly done her research and spent a lot of time in Green-Wood. I found myself googling pictures of some of the places described in the book. I found a NYT article about the real care-taker of Green-Wood, who really does live in a (VERY Gothic!) house inside the graveyard. Willig describes many of these locations, and her inspiration, in her author's note and acknowledgements at the end, with additional reference materials listed, which was fascinating and much appreciated! Even her demon, Belfagor, is a "real" demon who shows up in classic literature.
I did have a few complaints. After the "whoa what is going on here?" antics in the beginning, the pace did sag in the middle. Both Jess and Adam were incredibly slow to figure out a few things that were obvious to the reader, which was frustrating. The ending was a bit hand-wavey - they spent all this time saying “I don't know what to do about this demon” and then bam! In the end it's pretty simple.
I had so much fun reading this! The will they / won't they romance was a nice sub-plot. I loved how clever the title was, because the end of this book really is about what happens at the Nightfall event in Green-Wood. And there are quite a few unresolved issues, which leaves me feeling VERY hopeful that this will be the start of a series. I would love that! (Willig also teases us with the "next time? dragons" at the very end of her acknowledgements, and YES I'd love to read that too!! Please be reading this, Ms Willig!!!)
Unresolved plot points - POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!
What really happened to Jess's grandma?
Why did Jess's grandpa tear off across the country? (And why did no one ever question that?)
What other family does Jess have in Brooklyn? Are they also "gifted"?
What happened to Cornelia?
What did Ingrid's advisor make of her obsession?
Does Ingrid eventually get her PhD?
What is history of Adam's powers - did other family members have his ability?
Did Kate's family know anything about the demon?
words I looked up:
Putti (singular: putto) are art figures that look like small, chubby, naked, and often winged infant boys. Cherubs are religious imagery, putti are secular.
I was immediately sucked into this story, because Willig is just that good. I didn't even mean to start reading it right away, I just glanced at the first page and then whoops! I read the whole chapter and didn't want to stop! I love her breezy, fun, and elegant style. Lately, Willig's historical fiction novels have been very serious, and it was wonderful and refreshing to read a contemporary book with a return to fun hijinks reminiscent of the Pink Carnation era. More like this, please, Ms Willig!
The spookiness level was perfect for me (a person who does not like to feel terrified). Gothic graveyards? spooky! Statues that move? creepy! Ghosts that throw urns at you? scary! Trees that can talk to the gardener? I'm intrigued! A demon who is possessing people? yeah that's freaky. Sometimes you get the demon's POV, which really helped dial back the terror, because the demon is a complete blowhard. Yes, he has the power to do some really awful things, but mostly he's obsessed with the fact that Baphomet gets all the attention instead of him.
Willig has clearly done her research and spent a lot of time in Green-Wood. I found myself googling pictures of some of the places described in the book. I found a NYT article about the real care-taker of Green-Wood, who really does live in a (VERY Gothic!) house inside the graveyard. Willig describes many of these locations, and her inspiration, in her author's note and acknowledgements at the end, with additional reference materials listed, which was fascinating and much appreciated! Even her demon, Belfagor, is a "real" demon who shows up in classic literature.
I did have a few complaints. After the "whoa what is going on here?" antics in the beginning, the pace did sag in the middle. Both Jess and Adam were incredibly slow to figure out a few things that were obvious to the reader, which was frustrating. The ending was a bit hand-wavey - they spent all this time saying “I don't know what to do about this demon” and then bam! In the end it's pretty simple.
I had so much fun reading this! The will they / won't they romance was a nice sub-plot. I loved how clever the title was, because the end of this book really is about what happens at the Nightfall event in Green-Wood. And there are quite a few unresolved issues, which leaves me feeling VERY hopeful that this will be the start of a series. I would love that! (Willig also teases us with the "next time? dragons" at the very end of her acknowledgements, and YES I'd love to read that too!! Please be reading this, Ms Willig!!!)
Unresolved plot points - POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!
What really happened to Jess's grandma?
Why did Jess's grandpa tear off across the country? (And why did no one ever question that?)
What other family does Jess have in Brooklyn? Are they also "gifted"?
What happened to Cornelia?
What did Ingrid's advisor make of her obsession?
Does Ingrid eventually get her PhD?
What is history of Adam's powers - did other family members have his ability?
Did Kate's family know anything about the demon?
words I looked up:
Putti (singular: putto) are art figures that look like small, chubby, naked, and often winged infant boys. Cherubs are religious imagery, putti are secular.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lauren Willig clearly has a passion for historical context, a gothic setting and 80s pop culture. I'll give it three stars. I wanted the action to move quicker, the romance to burn hotter, and the demon to be serious.
While on a cemetery tour Jess gets separated from her group and finds the arborist's son Ben crying under a tree. She returns him to his house on the grounds, has a meet-cute with Adam and Melinda, his Dad and sister, and then Jess and Adam go back out into the cemetery to retrieve her lost subway card and close up the family mausoleum Ben was sneaking into. They find her tour guide's parasol in the mausoleum, and she offers to return it. When she does, she sees Adam's daughter Melinda's picture all over a murder board in the guide's abandoned office and calls Adam to let me him know. It's a great set-up. I was all-in for the first 25% or so but then it never lived up to the intensity level I was expecting.
The banter was very 90s sitcom-esque. There were sooo many asides and references to songs and movies that diverted from the plot at critical moments. It got frustrating rather than cute. I think all the characters had ADD. They couldn't stay ON TASK or on topic. They would've put things together a lot quicker if they'd stay focused. Demonic Cookie Monster didn't warrant more discussion? A ghost gives you a mysterious key and you forget about it for half the book? WAKE UP and smell some investigative skills, people! By 70% they were on borrowed time with this demon and me as a reader. I was so frustrated with the lack of urgency, putting two and two together and the frequent rehashing of both Jess and Adam's pasts. I needed the final action to kick off quicker, the stakes to get increasingly higher, but there were so many delays.
When the THREE historians they had "helping" brought in clues, they had sooooo much exposition. It's time for summary! A demon is hunting an 11-year old boy! The pace was too slow for the horror/thriller it was. I guess I just don't like books where the heroes are slower on the uptake than the reader. I want to be surprised. Did anyone think to look for Ben in the mausoleum? Well, yes I did about two chapters before the characters did. Even the demon seemed like a laughable doofus half the time. Was he an evil murderer or a goofy idiot? It was hard to tell.
Plus, where was the sexy pay-off for Adam & Jess? Several times I was confused when I pictured their scenes because one minute, they'd be knocked to the ground on top of each other and them getting up was never mentioned and then suddenly he's like pulling her arm to stop her from walking away and I'm like - oh, I thought we were still on the ground... The picture wasn't painted well in a few spots like that.
It made a unique addition to my Gothtober/Summerween TBR. It was an interesting blend of the genres of contemporary romance, romantic-comedy and gothic romance with historical fiction and supernatural mystery/horror. It was a bit of an identity crisis in a book. I couldn't figure out how to absorb it. I liked it, but it also drove me crazy.
While on a cemetery tour Jess gets separated from her group and finds the arborist's son Ben crying under a tree. She returns him to his house on the grounds, has a meet-cute with Adam and Melinda, his Dad and sister, and then Jess and Adam go back out into the cemetery to retrieve her lost subway card and close up the family mausoleum Ben was sneaking into. They find her tour guide's parasol in the mausoleum, and she offers to return it. When she does, she sees Adam's daughter Melinda's picture all over a murder board in the guide's abandoned office and calls Adam to let me him know. It's a great set-up. I was all-in for the first 25% or so but then it never lived up to the intensity level I was expecting.
The banter was very 90s sitcom-esque. There were sooo many asides and references to songs and movies that diverted from the plot at critical moments. It got frustrating rather than cute. I think all the characters had ADD. They couldn't stay ON TASK or on topic. They would've put things together a lot quicker if they'd stay focused. Demonic Cookie Monster didn't warrant more discussion? A ghost gives you a mysterious key and you forget about it for half the book? WAKE UP and smell some investigative skills, people! By 70% they were on borrowed time with this demon and me as a reader. I was so frustrated with the lack of urgency, putting two and two together and the frequent rehashing of both Jess and Adam's pasts. I needed the final action to kick off quicker, the stakes to get increasingly higher, but there were so many delays.
When the THREE historians they had "helping" brought in clues, they had sooooo much exposition. It's time for summary! A demon is hunting an 11-year old boy! The pace was too slow for the horror/thriller it was. I guess I just don't like books where the heroes are slower on the uptake than the reader. I want to be surprised. Did anyone think to look for Ben in the mausoleum? Well, yes I did about two chapters before the characters did. Even the demon seemed like a laughable doofus half the time. Was he an evil murderer or a goofy idiot? It was hard to tell.
Plus, where was the sexy pay-off for Adam & Jess? Several times I was confused when I pictured their scenes because one minute, they'd be knocked to the ground on top of each other and them getting up was never mentioned and then suddenly he's like pulling her arm to stop her from walking away and I'm like - oh, I thought we were still on the ground... The picture wasn't painted well in a few spots like that.
It made a unique addition to my Gothtober/Summerween TBR. It was an interesting blend of the genres of contemporary romance, romantic-comedy and gothic romance with historical fiction and supernatural mystery/horror. It was a bit of an identity crisis in a book. I couldn't figure out how to absorb it. I liked it, but it also drove me crazy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2026
This is a fascinating, magical love story — about a cemetery. Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York is a real place with nearly 100,000 monuments, 600,000 permanent “residents,” a colony of South American parakeets, and a horticultural paradise and arboretum covering nearly 500 acres. Green-Wood has an almost built-in mystery-novel atmosphere: a gigantic Gothic entrance, winding roads disappearing among trees, a caretaker “castle” resembling an Edward Gorey sketch, elaborate mausoleums, hidden family vaults, angels and other sculptures, famous and forgotten people buried side by side, Revolutionary War history, and nearly two centuries of stories. Its historic map lists such wonderfully atmospheric locations as the Catacombs, the Brooklyn Theatre Fire Memorial, the Steinway Mausoleum, and the restored Angel of Music on the Gottschalk Monument. Of course, it must be haunted and probably has a demon or two entrapped in marble boxes somewhere. It’s no wonder that Lauren Willig, the author, was invited on a real tour and immediately knew that a romantic mystery novel was waiting to break out of the cemetery.
In her plotline, Adam Chervinsky is a young widowed arborist living in the cemetery’s carekeeper cottage with fifteen year old Melinda and eleven year old Ben. One night, Jess Waters, separated from her tour group, finds Ben weeping under a majestic rhododendron, along with a mysterious key, and helps Ben get back to Adam and the strange cottage they live in. Jess and Ben also find a steampunk parasol, presumably belonging to the tour guide. As a person who returns things as well as lost boys, Jess tries to return the parasol, and finds an apartment/tour company HQ with a red-stringed mystery board featuring stalkerish photos of Melinda. Jess alerts Adam and the marvelous and scary adventure that consumes them begins.
This was a delightful story, complete with a Renaissance demon, a haunted family history, and a crazy grad student obsessed with reincarnation. The author sprinkles interesting facts about real Gilded Age disasters, monuments and mausoleums, into the plot which eventually turns into a reluctant romance. The real star of the story is still Green-Wood Cemetery. I love books that also reveal the lesser known mysteries of real places and then incorporate and embellish the facts to create a terrific story. “What Happens at Nightfall” is one of those rare pleasures. 4.5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Adam has greenish-hazel eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO With an arborist as our romantic hero, we learn about erotic flowers, ginkgo leaf drops, and yew toxicity.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.
In her plotline, Adam Chervinsky is a young widowed arborist living in the cemetery’s carekeeper cottage with fifteen year old Melinda and eleven year old Ben. One night, Jess Waters, separated from her tour group, finds Ben weeping under a majestic rhododendron, along with a mysterious key, and helps Ben get back to Adam and the strange cottage they live in. Jess and Ben also find a steampunk parasol, presumably belonging to the tour guide. As a person who returns things as well as lost boys, Jess tries to return the parasol, and finds an apartment/tour company HQ with a red-stringed mystery board featuring stalkerish photos of Melinda. Jess alerts Adam and the marvelous and scary adventure that consumes them begins.
This was a delightful story, complete with a Renaissance demon, a haunted family history, and a crazy grad student obsessed with reincarnation. The author sprinkles interesting facts about real Gilded Age disasters, monuments and mausoleums, into the plot which eventually turns into a reluctant romance. The real star of the story is still Green-Wood Cemetery. I love books that also reveal the lesser known mysteries of real places and then incorporate and embellish the facts to create a terrific story. “What Happens at Nightfall” is one of those rare pleasures. 4.5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Adam has greenish-hazel eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO With an arborist as our romantic hero, we learn about erotic flowers, ginkgo leaf drops, and yew toxicity.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Jacinta “Jess” Waters agrees to meet her best friend Kimmy for a cemetery tour in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, she couldn’t even begin to imagine how much her life was about to change. For the last year Jess’s life has been a mess, first she got what she believed to be her dream job, but soon the dream became a nightmare when she discovered her bosses were using the company to launder money, she turned them in, but they turned the tables on her and ruined her credibility and her had her blackballed in the financial community. So, the outing with Kimmy seemed like just the thing to take her mind off things but is regretting that decision when she gets knocked into by some boys and gets separated from the group. As she is picking up her things, she hears someone crying and investigates, she finds a young boy huddled under a bush and tries to help him when something strange happens, which has them running for their lives.
The cemetery’s resident arborist, Adam Chervinsky is a widower and the father of a teenage daughter and a tween son. When he hears a knock at his door, he thinks it is another lost tour participant who needs him to unlock the gate for them, so imagine his shock when he opens the door to find his son, who he thought was in his room with a lovely stranger. He is stunned to learn that his son was at his late wife’s family mausoleum, and somehow this pretty woman was caught in the middle. When Jess reveals that her phone is dead and she has lost her Metro card, he offers to escort her to the subway and pay her fare, but first they need to lock up the mausoleum. Simple right? What they find at the tomb will pull them both into things that neither of them even thought was real and hopefully, they will survive…
This was a well-written, nicely paced story with wonderful characters, which totally sucked me in and kept me flipping pages way past my bedtime (completely worth the lost sleep!). The book has ghosts, demons, slow burn romance, ride or die friends, mystery, great secondary characters, frogs, some witty dialogue, family drama, secrets, moving statues, and a very satisfying ending complete with an epilogue. As much as I enjoyed this book, I wasn’t really sold on the romance, I felt like Adam still had issues with his late wife to deal with and his mistrust for Jess made it hard to believe that he fell in love with her so quickly. Overall, this was a great read, it was spooky but not scary, and very unputdownable. If you are looking for a fun, spooky read with a bit of romance, you need to read this book!
*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. *
The cemetery’s resident arborist, Adam Chervinsky is a widower and the father of a teenage daughter and a tween son. When he hears a knock at his door, he thinks it is another lost tour participant who needs him to unlock the gate for them, so imagine his shock when he opens the door to find his son, who he thought was in his room with a lovely stranger. He is stunned to learn that his son was at his late wife’s family mausoleum, and somehow this pretty woman was caught in the middle. When Jess reveals that her phone is dead and she has lost her Metro card, he offers to escort her to the subway and pay her fare, but first they need to lock up the mausoleum. Simple right? What they find at the tomb will pull them both into things that neither of them even thought was real and hopefully, they will survive…
This was a well-written, nicely paced story with wonderful characters, which totally sucked me in and kept me flipping pages way past my bedtime (completely worth the lost sleep!). The book has ghosts, demons, slow burn romance, ride or die friends, mystery, great secondary characters, frogs, some witty dialogue, family drama, secrets, moving statues, and a very satisfying ending complete with an epilogue. As much as I enjoyed this book, I wasn’t really sold on the romance, I felt like Adam still had issues with his late wife to deal with and his mistrust for Jess made it hard to believe that he fell in love with her so quickly. Overall, this was a great read, it was spooky but not scary, and very unputdownable. If you are looking for a fun, spooky read with a bit of romance, you need to read this book!
*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. *
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What Happens at Nightfall • Lauren Willig
A haunted cemetery romance with Gilded Age curses, demon hunting, second chances, and gothic chaos? Say less 🪦✨
This book feels like taking a nighttime tour through a cemetery and realizing halfway through that the ghosts are not the biggest problem.
Jess is newly unemployed, stuck in that weird life limbo where nothing feels certain, and somehow ends up separated from a cemetery tour in Brooklyn’s Green Wood Cemetery. Enter Adam, the widowed resident arborist trying to protect his grieving kids, his quiet life, and apparently everyone from whatever supernatural disaster just got unlocked.
And the vibes?
Immaculate.
Green Wood Cemetery feels like its own character in this story. Gothic, eerie, beautiful, strange, and full of secrets that absolutely refuse to stay buried. I loved how the historical mystery tied into the supernatural elements, especially the Gilded Age curse, the haunted mausoleum, and the demonic pact stretching across generations.
What I loved most was how this balanced spooky fun with real emotional heart. Adam is grieving. Jess is trying to figure out what comes next. Both of them feel a little lost, and watching them slowly trust each other while everything around them gets more haunted and unhinged was so satisfying.
The romance has that lovely second chance at life energy. Not just romantic love, but the kind where someone sees all the strange, messy, powerful parts of you and does not ask you to be smaller.
Also, demon hunting in a cemetery with romantic tension?
Yes please.
✨ Tropes & vibes:
🪦 haunted cemetery setting
👻 ghosts and demons
🖤 gothic romance
🌙 second chance at love
🗝 ancient key mystery
🏛 Gilded Age curse
🌳 widowed single dad
🔮 supernatural secrets
🕯 spooky but cozy
💞 slow burn connection
📚 Read this if you like:
Spooky romance, cemetery mysteries, haunted history, found purpose after life falls apart, and stories where the setting is just as important as the characters.
This was eerie, romantic, emotional, and so much fun. I would happily read a whole series of Lauren Willig taking us through haunted places with messy people falling in love.
#WhatHappensAtNightfall #LaurenWillig #ParanormalRomance #GothicRomance #BookReview @williammorrow
A haunted cemetery romance with Gilded Age curses, demon hunting, second chances, and gothic chaos? Say less 🪦✨
This book feels like taking a nighttime tour through a cemetery and realizing halfway through that the ghosts are not the biggest problem.
Jess is newly unemployed, stuck in that weird life limbo where nothing feels certain, and somehow ends up separated from a cemetery tour in Brooklyn’s Green Wood Cemetery. Enter Adam, the widowed resident arborist trying to protect his grieving kids, his quiet life, and apparently everyone from whatever supernatural disaster just got unlocked.
And the vibes?
Immaculate.
Green Wood Cemetery feels like its own character in this story. Gothic, eerie, beautiful, strange, and full of secrets that absolutely refuse to stay buried. I loved how the historical mystery tied into the supernatural elements, especially the Gilded Age curse, the haunted mausoleum, and the demonic pact stretching across generations.
What I loved most was how this balanced spooky fun with real emotional heart. Adam is grieving. Jess is trying to figure out what comes next. Both of them feel a little lost, and watching them slowly trust each other while everything around them gets more haunted and unhinged was so satisfying.
The romance has that lovely second chance at life energy. Not just romantic love, but the kind where someone sees all the strange, messy, powerful parts of you and does not ask you to be smaller.
Also, demon hunting in a cemetery with romantic tension?
Yes please.
✨ Tropes & vibes:
🪦 haunted cemetery setting
👻 ghosts and demons
🖤 gothic romance
🌙 second chance at love
🗝 ancient key mystery
🏛 Gilded Age curse
🌳 widowed single dad
🔮 supernatural secrets
🕯 spooky but cozy
💞 slow burn connection
📚 Read this if you like:
Spooky romance, cemetery mysteries, haunted history, found purpose after life falls apart, and stories where the setting is just as important as the characters.
This was eerie, romantic, emotional, and so much fun. I would happily read a whole series of Lauren Willig taking us through haunted places with messy people falling in love.
#WhatHappensAtNightfall #LaurenWillig #ParanormalRomance #GothicRomance #BookReview @williammorrow
October 17, 2026
Green-Wood Cemetery is not your average backdrop. Sprawling, gothic, and steeped in centuries of history, it's the kind of place that feels alive even when it probably shouldn't. In What Happens at Nightfall, Lauren Willig transforms this Brooklyn landmark into a character all its own, eerie, beautiful, and full of secrets that absolutely refuse to stay buried.
Jess is at one of those uncertain crossroads in life, unemployed and unmoored, when a cemetery tour goes sideways and she finds herself separated from her group in the shadowy heart of Green-Wood. Adam, the widowed arborist who calls the cemetery home, is doing his best to hold his quiet life together for the sake of his grieving kids. Neither of them is looking for trouble. Trouble, naturally, has other plans.
What's been dormant for 150 years is no longer content to stay that way. A demonic pact rooted in the Gilded Age, a haunted mausoleum, and a curse stretching across generations all converge in ways that are genuinely creepy. The author ties the historical mystery into the supernatural, and the result is a story that earns its gothic atmosphere.
The romance between Jess and Adam is a slow burn, sweet and tentative, grounded in two people who are each a little lost. Watching them build trust while the world around them grows increasingly unhinged gives the story real emotional weight. Every character brings something distinct and unique to the story.
Humor shows up in just the right places, keeping things from tipping into full-on dread. The author's note is both informative and funny. The pacing takes its time, but it's worth it. What Happens at Nightfall is eerie, romantic, and surprisingly fun, with a real heart beating beneath all that gothic atmosphere.
Recommended for fans of gothic romance, supernatural fiction, and anyone who enjoys wandering cemeteries and wonders about lives of the permanent residents.
Thank you to the publisher for a gorgeous finished hardcover in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Spooky, swoony, and so much fun!
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley Review and HarperCollins Publishers for the Advanced Reader Copy!
I'll read anything Lauren Willig writes - she has been an auto-buy for me since I first picked up Pink Carnation 20 years ago - but What Happens at Nightfall is very possibly my new favorite. It is her first foray into contemporary paranormal, and she pulls it off, as she does everything she puts her pen to. The book still has the sharp banter and the love of history that make her books so brilliant.
When Jess Waters gets lost on a nighttime tour and runs into Adam Chervinsky, the cemetery's widowed arborist, things get very strange very fast. An old curse, an ancient key, and a little demon hunting all follow.
The setting is spooky perfection. Green-Wood Cemetery is moody and atmospheric, full of Gilded Age secrets, and Willig clearly loves every crumbling angel and mausoleum (just follow her socials!!) I could literally feel the wind in my hair, the chill on my skin ... her ability to paint a picture with words is unmatched. If you're looking for an immersive fall read, look no further!
Jess and Adam are wonderful together. Their chemistry is a slow build, and their dialogue is genuinely funny. Underneath the spooky plot there's a tender second-chance story about grief and starting over.
The book was just the right amount of scary (read: no nightmares) and Willig's knowing asides kept me grinning even in the darkest moments. The climax at the Nightfall festival was truly nail-biting and had the perfect payoff.
If you want a cozy-creepy October read with heart, humor, and history, this is the one. I loved every page!
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley Review and HarperCollins Publishers for the Advanced Reader Copy!
I'll read anything Lauren Willig writes - she has been an auto-buy for me since I first picked up Pink Carnation 20 years ago - but What Happens at Nightfall is very possibly my new favorite. It is her first foray into contemporary paranormal, and she pulls it off, as she does everything she puts her pen to. The book still has the sharp banter and the love of history that make her books so brilliant.
When Jess Waters gets lost on a nighttime tour and runs into Adam Chervinsky, the cemetery's widowed arborist, things get very strange very fast. An old curse, an ancient key, and a little demon hunting all follow.
The setting is spooky perfection. Green-Wood Cemetery is moody and atmospheric, full of Gilded Age secrets, and Willig clearly loves every crumbling angel and mausoleum (just follow her socials!!) I could literally feel the wind in my hair, the chill on my skin ... her ability to paint a picture with words is unmatched. If you're looking for an immersive fall read, look no further!
Jess and Adam are wonderful together. Their chemistry is a slow build, and their dialogue is genuinely funny. Underneath the spooky plot there's a tender second-chance story about grief and starting over.
The book was just the right amount of scary (read: no nightmares) and Willig's knowing asides kept me grinning even in the darkest moments. The climax at the Nightfall festival was truly nail-biting and had the perfect payoff.
If you want a cozy-creepy October read with heart, humor, and history, this is the one. I loved every page!
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