Merry Spooky Love: The swoon-worthy paranormal Christmas romance from the bestselling author of One Day in December

Melody Bittersweet #3

by Josie Silver

From the bestselling author of One Day in December comes the third novel in an irresistibly romantic series, full of supernatural charm.

Melody Bittersweet’s Christmases are more haunted than holly jolly, and this year may be her most complicated yet.

When the death of its owner leaves beloved department store Libertines facing closure, Melody – who inconveniently sees ghosts – is called in to help save it. Teaming up with the heir determined to protect her family’s legacy and one very persistent ghost, Melody throws herself into the case.

But the job also reunites her with Fletcher her sceptical, infuriating, still-very-tempting ex. Fletcher doesn’t believe in ghosts, but as sparks fly once again, Melody must untangle family secrets, restless spirits, and the feelings she thought she’d buried long ago.

Can she save Libertines before Christmas – and risk her heart one more time?

Josie Silver 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Christmas, Holiday, Cozy Mystery, Chick Lit, Fiction

Audible Audio

Expected publication October 8, 2026

About the author

Josie lives in a small English town with her husband, their two sons, plus a changing cast of cats, dogs and fish. She writes full-time in a studio at the bottom of the garden.

Reviews

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife]

If you enjoy a cute story loaded with humorous, eclectic characters, this series and this book bring them to you.

Melody can see and speak with spirits. This tends to cause issues with some people, especially her man crush, Fletch. They are on fire for each other, but he does not believe in her work. Because of this, sparks fly in different ways throughout this story: heat and fire.

Silver brings back many of the same fabulous characters in this story: friends, family, and foes. The new characters are just as delightful and add depth to the story.

Merry Spooky Love is a cozy mystery with the flair of paranormal aspects. We get humor and fun blended into a unique storyline. Melody and company keep us entertained, especially with Fletch. Definitely an HEA alert!!

~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/merry-spooky...

[Sophie]

Review of advanced copy from Netgalley.

I definitely liked this one, but pacing felt off sadly.

Merry Spooky Love is the third book featuring Melody Bittersweet and her merry band of ghost detectives, and this time they're trying to save the town's department store from being closed down, reuniting her with Leo Dark (a frustrating ex) and Fletcher Gunn (a man she just can't stay away from.)

In many ways I really liked this book; on top of the usual ghost escapades, it explores what it means to have different beliefs/ faiths in relationships and the definition of family, wrapped in entertaining and sweet bow. Having said that, my main critique is how aware I was from the beginning of the novel that this was tying up loose ends, as well as addressing a new ghost job for Melody, which meant the pacing felt off. The ghost assignment was far less dwelled on than usual, which meant that it felt the outcome came very quickly and we didn't get to enjoy the mystery and characters along the way like we did in the others. And I understand why, as it made room for all this personal development and growth for our main characters, but even then it felt like a few of their plot lines were rushed through.

Overall though, I'll miss these characters, and was pleased to see a proper ending for everyone.

Thanks again to Random House UK, Cornerstone and Netgalley for this ARC.

[Holly]

*4.5 stars ✨

[Martina]

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine the gifted ARC!

4.5 stars rounded up. I’m so sad to see this cozy ghost hunting series come to an end 😭 I somehow didn’t realize this was the final book until I finished it, and honestly I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Melody and the gang.

This series has been such a fun mix of cozy mystery, ghostly chaos, humor, with some tension and romance thrown in. It was exactly what I needed after a streak of pretty lackluster reads. Even if it did mean reading a Christmas book in May 🤣 I really enjoyed the mystery in this one and loved getting to spend more time with all of these kooky characters. Watching Melody juggle all the ghostly drama and her relationship struggles with Fletcher kept me hooked the whole time. I still wanted to shake Fletcher a little though because HOW are we this far in and you still don’t fully believe her?!

I thought this wrapped the series up really well overall, even though there were definitely a few things and character moments I would’ve loved to see explored more. Honestly, I would’ve happily kept reading more books in this world. I’ve gotten so attached to these characters and all their hijinks over the course of the series.

If you’re looking for a cozy paranormal mystery series with humor, heart, ghosts, and a bit of romance, definitely check these out! They’re perfect seasonal reads too!

[B]

I'd already read the first 2 books in the series and I loved them. So I was excited to read the third and apparently final installment. They're not super serious, just low-stakes funny paranormal stories with a smattering of romance.

I adore their Girls Ghostbusters enterprise with Artie included. Melody and her dog are hilarious, she's so stubborn and shoots herself in the foot constantly, but also very relatable. I would kill to have Glenda manage my life or Marina as a BFF.
There was a hint of love triangle before, but they've moved away from that, even though this was the first time I was actually rooting for a second chance with her ex (after a much needed redemption arc hopefully). Her and Fletch do have great chemistry too, unfortunately thats all they've really had so far. So we'll see how it goes in the final book!

This one was a 3-3.5 stars for me.

The plot this time was a little more predictable, but seeing everyone interact was still great fun. That said I simply disagree with the destination for certain character arcs, but that's obviously on me.

The writing was as witty and engaging as usual, though it did lack a little ridiculousness I had enjoyed from the pervious books, i still love being inside Melody's head.
Leo took more of back seat this time around which was sad since he's such a OTT character and fun to laugh at.

This series is a great cosy read for spooky. With low-stakes, low-steam, and lots of humour, it's perfect to read on the train or snuggle up on the couch around family with it.

---- Spoilers ahead ----

This one is much steamier, though still not spicy overall. I think it was very odd to go to i love you at this stage, considering we havent been shown a lot of emotional involvement between the two, they have only been sleeping together sporadically for months? a year? and were rivals of sorts before that.

This one's a lot more emotional as well, with Melody realising she can't go on as she has been and deserves better.
I guess if I could forgive Edward for leaving Bella in New moon than I can forgive Fletch. Though I just don't see them working out long term, so it's more of a HFN.

Seeing your best friend kiss your ex —who left you for a career move and whom your bff said she hated — has gotta suck. But I guess she's too numb to care.

Thank-you NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone | Evermore for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

-----Quotes-----

“Everybody is all right,” I whisper. “Everybody is all right.” Except I’m not.

I left most of my reservations on the floor in the Turkish bath when they turned me against the wall and hosed me down.

[Elizabeth Ann Hurt]

Josie Silver does it once again! First of all, I have thoroughly enjoyed this series from her, which is quite different from some of my other favorite reads by her, but it's a delight! Each book from this series has been so beautifully balanced with mystery, found family, and, of course, a little romance! In the book, we follow the most adorable mix matched found family as they try and solve a new mystery with help from the dearly departed! This time around, we watched the crew help save the beloved Libertines department store, and it was so much fun, especially to feel transported to an English department store at Christmas time! I laughed, I cried, I swooned, the book was so unbelievably adorable as always, the banter and wit was chefs kiss, and was the perfect blend of Christmas and spooky vibes! There was so much growth and character development through this book, with every character that warmed my heart, the pacing was impeccible and truly felt like the perfect ending to this series! Thank you again, Dell Romance and Net Galley, for an ARC, truly a dream come true!

[Jennifer]

This series is reliably fun and funny, in an endearingly madcap kind of way. Oddball British characters, teaming up to help friendly ghosts and solve fun mysteries. It gives me Bridget Jones/Edgar Wright vibes, if you get that.

It’s also a great book that you can step away from and come back to. I was interrupted by another book I desperately needed to read ASAP, so there was no problem picking this up whenever I could. Easy breezy. I’m a serial monogamist when it comes to reading, but I actually could manage this at the same time as the other, no problem.

It’s good - nothing amazing, but definitely worth picking up for spooky season/Christmas season vibes. And something light to balance out horror and angst, if you’re me.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mimi]

This is a very entertaining, whimsical and lighthearted mystery bracketed by Melody's ghost-busting and romantic activities. Together with Marina, Artie, and several ghosts, Melody is determined to help Fleur save the family store. But it's really Fletch who has taken the lead in the efforts to save the store. Is her attraction to Fletch strictly physical or is there the possibility of something more? Can she live with the fact that Fletch doesn't believe in ghosts, something that is integral to Melody's being. This is the third and final novel in the Melody Bittersweet series. It manages to wrap up a lot of the loose ends from the previous novels. An enjoyable, cozy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Megan Whalen of Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read a free ARC of this delightful novel in exchange for an honest review.

[TheConnieFox]

4/5 stars. Review to come. ♥️💚♥️💚

[Simply Bookish]

Thank you to NetGalley, Dell/Penguin Random House Publishers, and Josie Silver for the electronic advanced reader’s copy of Merry Spooky Love in exchange for my honest review.

Josie Silver is known for writing contemporary love stories with a comedic twist. She is a master storyteller and one of my go-to authors. Josie’s newest novel will resonate with fans of
Sarah Addison Allen, Jenny Bayliss, and Sarah Morgan.

Merry Spooky Love is a spirited Christmas story that will have you staying up all hours of the night to read just one more chapter. I was skeptical of how an author could possibly combine the magic of Christmas with ghosts (which I deem to be strictly in the Halloween lane) but Josie masterfully blends Christmas coziness with lively ghosts and a spunky cast of characters. Her trademark wit and humor are prevalent throughout the novel and you will find yourself laughing out loud.

I am a big fan of Josie Silver but have not read Crazy Spooky Love or Kooky Spooky Love for two reasons. Firstly, I prefer Christmas to Halloween and secondly, I am easily scared. I wasn’t sure where these books fell on the spectrum of losing sleep due to nightmares. I am happy to say you do not have to have read either of these books to understand the characters or plot of Merry Spooky Love. Josie does a great job of giving small recaps throughout the first few chapters so you will feel as if you’ve already spent time with Melody and her company. I am also happy to let you know this story isn’t the slightest bit scary. The ghosts are loveable rather than spiteful, and you will find yourself enveloped with their characters.

Readers will appreciate this novel for its lively cast, cozy Christmas setting, effortless humor, relatability of characters along with their individual arcs, and of course the journey of Melody and Fletcher’s relationship.

This review has not been written or aided by artificial intelligence. All opinions, grammatical errors, and spelling mistakes are my own.

[Jennifer]

Thank you to Dell and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Is this the end of the series?

I need someone to tell me because the last 12% or so of this book felt like the end of a series and I don't think I'm ready to say goodbye to the Girls Ghostbusting Agency or Chapelwick or anybody yet and I actually shed a couple tears reading that epilogue.

This definitely isn't my favorite of the series (trilogy?), but it definitely improved as we got further along into the book. I was looking forward to reading a Christmas read (so what if it's May) and that really wasn't delivered to me until more than halfway book. But we eventually got there, so it worked out fine.

I enjoyed this installment's mystery, though I do wish we'd gotten just the teensiest bigger bow on the ending and what happened with the Libertine family. This book is much more about family relationships, I'd say, than that central mystery. The Libertine's are the central focus, yes, but Melody and her mom have frequent conflict and then there's some stuff going on with Fletch's family as well, all of which I enjoyed. Reading the Libertine ghosts pass over unexpectedly got me to cry as well.

Fletch, though, I'm still not the biggest fan of. Something about it just rubs me the wrong way and that was compounded for me in this book. I just don't like how he treats Melody a lot of the time. He redeemed himself a tiny bit towards the end, but I just don't care for him as a love interest or a character. I'd still prefer to see Melody with that ghost from the first book. To show how much I don't like Fletch and Melody together: Marina gets a love interest in this book and I was immediately invested in and rooting for that relationship more, even though it happens in the background and we don't even know it's happening until the 70% mark.

But I came here for a cozy romp with some of characters I've come to love and that's what I got, with added Christmas cheer. If this is the last book (I hope not!), I'm happy where everyone's ended up. I'm happy to wave them all off into the sunset.

[Jen]

4.25 ⭐️


Wow! What a perfect conclusion to the Melody Bittersweet series, combining the heart, humor, and paranormal charm of the first two books with a surprising amount of depth.


Not that Josie Silver ever shied away from depth in the previous books—they’ve always had their poignant moments—but here the difference is noticeable. In this final installment, the focus shifts, and the story feels more like romance-with-a-side-of-cozy-mystery rather than the other way around.


That’s not to say Melody and her ghost-busting gang aren’t hard at work. They are, after all, helping several generations of ghosts save their family legacy, the beloved local department store, Libertines. But the overall stakes feel lower, and the central mystery is less complex, while more time is spent on Melody’s relationship with Fletcher and, to a lesser degree, her relationships with her mother and grandmother.


The Melody and Fletcher of it all is SO good. The flirty, love-to-hate-you banter of the first two books is still present, but their relationship has evolved into something far more vulnerable and emotionally complicated. As their feelings become harder to ignore, they’re forced to deal with their fundamental differences in perspective, resulting in romantic conflict that feels true to both characters rather than contrived. So much yearning and pining. Love it!


Again, this was such a lovely end to this series. Without giving anything away, I truly appreciated how the author resolved the romantic conflict. And I loved that Melody and Fletcher aren’t the only characters who get an HEA. Sad to see this series end and looking forward to revisiting it in the future.


Thanks so much to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing this advance copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Maja Leutner]

Ein letztes Mal kehren wir zurück zur Girls Ghostbusting Agency und erleben in einem winterlichen Wunderland allesamt humorvolle und herzzerreißende Lesestunden. Die Storyline war diesmal weniger rätselhaft, dafür umso kuscheliger. Denn die gesamte Geschichte versprüht cozy und weihnachtliche Vibes. Allein die Atmosphäre und die Hoffnung auf ein Weihnachtswunder haben dem Buch etwas Magisches verliehen. Die Figuren samt ihrer magischen Fähigkeit, Geister zu sehen, haben dann ihr Übriges getan. Dieses Mal suchen wir mit den Figuren nach einem verschollenen Erben und vielem mehr. Unsere Protagonistin wächst dabei immer weiter über sich hinaus und leitet uns trotz ihrer kindlichen und humorvollen Seite gut durch die Geschichte. Ich habe viel gelacht, aber auch geweint. Denn man spürt den Zwiespalt und die Konflikte zwischen den Figuren im Herzen stechen. Umso mehr freut es einen aber auch, wenn die Figuren über sich hinauswachsen. Die Lovestory hat sich über drei Bände hinweg aufgeladen und hier endlich ihr verdientes Ende gefunden. Dabei hat mir besonders gefallen, dass die Figuren allesamt Kompromisse eingehen mussten und nicht auf einmal alles Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen war. Das Ende war wundervoll authentisch und hat sehr gut zu unserer Protagonistin gepasst. Denn wir bekommen ein Happy End, das voller Liebe und Verbundenheit steckt. In gewisser Weise bekommt jeder sein glückliches „Und sie lebten bis an ihr Lebensende“. Mittlerweile habe ich die Geschichte wirklich liebgewonnen. Der letzte Band der Reihe war dementsprechend etwas Besonderes. Es hat mich glücklich und traurig zugleich gemacht, denn die Figuren haben sich wie Zuhause angefühlt. Ich gebe dem Buch volle fünf Herzen und eine klare Leseempfehlung.

[Kaitlin Fiore]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this cozy romance!

I was so happy to receive this ARC as the final installment of this fun Girls Ghostbusting series, but I have to say everyone who reads it around it's publication date in the Fall/Holiday season will greatly benefit from both the spooky and holiday themes in the book!

While previous books in the series were more cozy mystery, this one came off much more cozy romance. The ghosts and mystery piece in this story seemed to take a back seat in this volume, which felt right for the conclusion of the series.

The character growth in this book was excellent. All of the main characters Melody, Marina, Artie, Fletcher and even Leo and Melody's mom (Silvana) were really heart warming to read. This crew is the true definition of found family.

I love Melody's character arc and unwillingness to bend on who she is at her core for Fletcher, her undeniable sense of self and needing to be loved for all of her made her so genuinely lovable. I may have wanted to shake Fletcher some times in the story, but he made up for it in the end.
I also really enjoyed the growth in the relationship between Melody and Silvana. It showed that familial love is not always easy and sometimes requires hard work and confrontation along with unconditional love. Silvana's ability to finally show some flexibility in order to accept what makes Melody happy was beautiful mother daughter relationship stuff.

A fun, cozy and heartwarming read all around.
Would highly recommend as a cozy fall and Holiday lighthearted read.

[Liza]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

It’s been a while since I binged a book in a day. I couldn’t put Merry Spooky Love by Josie Silver down. I’m obsessed with the Melody Bittersweet series, and this book just hit the spot. It is the third book in the series, but you don’t have to have read the previous ones. (But I highly recommend them!)

It has:
👻 Scooby-Doo vibes mixed with Ghostbusters
🐍 Humor
💄 The best characters from Babs the Mystery Machine, Lestat the one-eared farting pug, and awkward Artie the ghostbusting apprentice with a pet python
👻 Ghosts
🐍 A wedding
💄 Department store during Christmas


Melody sees ghosts, as do her mother and grandmother. Seven months ago, Melody started a Ghostbusting agency. This time she needs to help Fleur, the granddaughter of the recently departed owner of the department store Libertines. Fleur’s twin brothers want to sell their shares of the business, and Fleur doesn’t have enough money to buy them out. Melody talks to the ghosts who inhabit Libertines to uncover a long-hidden secret that will hopefully help keep the department store open past Christmas.

In her personal life, Melody discovers she has feelings for the man she’s sleeping with, but they’re fundamentally different people. He doesn’t believe that she sees ghosts, and Melody refuses to be with someone who doesn’t love all parts of her. Melody goes behind his back to prove she’s not a fraud, but it might be her biggest mistake yet.

It's a wonderful Christmas delight!

[Amanda]

Thank you Net Galley for the invite to read this. Melody runs the Girls Ghostbusting Agency as she can see and talk to ghost. This time Melody and the gang are helping out her grandma's friend, Lucy. When Lucy died, her department store, Libertine's, was left to her granddaughter, Fleur, and her brothers. Unfortunately, the brothers want to sell the store. Melody, Marina, and Artie take the case in hopes of helping Fleur keep the store. As Melody investigates, she consults another deceased member of Lucy's family who reveals that there is more to the story than they realize. While trying to save Libertines, Melody is also dealing with her present and past love interest. Her current fling, Fletch, is working to get a good story to help save Libertines. Feelings between them intensify, however Fletch still is having a hard time accepting that Melody can see ghost complicating their relationship. As they work to save Libertines, Melody and the gang get into hijinks, realize who they love, uncover secrets, and hope to save the day and have a Merry Christmas. This was a fast paced, engaging, and fun read. The heart and soul of these books is the friendships and found family formed at the Girls Ghostbusting Agency. I love Melody and Marina as their banter and ride or die bond is both hilarious and heartwarming. It was incredibly sweet seeing all the gang get their HEA's. If you are looking for a lighthearted and easy read, this is the perfect series to binge.

[Monica Hills]

This was a super sweet paranormal romance set at Christmas time. This was the third one in the series but I had not read the first two and I had no problem following along with what was happening. After reading this one I am now interested in reading the first two as this was such a fun series.

Melody runs a ghostbusting agency because she can see and talk to ghosts. In this installment she is determined to help Lucy, a recently deceased ghost, and Fleur, Lucy's niece, save their family's department store Libertines. Fleur's two brothers inherited it as well and are determined to sell it. To complicate matters, the brothers have hired Melody's ex, who can also see ghosts, to help them sell the store. On top of everything, Melody is very attracted to Fletcher but her family does not approve and Fletcher refuses to accept her lifestyle. A series of different incidents happen that has Melody searching for ways to save the store without anyone getting hurt.

There was a lot to love about this story. The romance had some spice to it but it was not over the top. There was a little bit of mystery and lots of action as well as great characters. A great cozy story set at Christmas time with a ghost twist you won't want to miss.

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tracey]

I absolutely adore this series!
It’s just so much fun, witty, kooky and completely addictive. Every book has such a brilliant mix of characters and I love how eclectic they all are. They each bring something different to the story and somehow all work so well together.
I absolutely love Melody. She’s so much fun, funny and just such a great character. She has such a great personality and I just love the chaos and humour she brings to the story.
And then there’s Fletch… I adore him! His backstory is so sad and my heart really went out to him. They had issues but he is just so perfect for Melody. I’m so glad he finally got some resolution in this book because he really deserved it.
The story was quick-paced and kept me hooked from beginning to end. There was always something happening and I genuinely never felt bored. It’s one of those books that’s just so easy to get swept up in, and I flew through it!
I really hope there are more books in this series because I’m absolutely not ready to say goodbye to these characters yet!
Another fun, entertaining read from Josie Silver and another book in this series that I absolutely adored.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this earc from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My review is based on my own opinion and has not been influenced.

[Kate Laycoax]

This was such a fun return to this cozy, paranormal rom com world. I really enjoyed the first two books in the series, and this one was definitely filled with the same charming mix of romance, humor, and ghostly chaos that I really love.

The ghost hunting element continues to be one of my favorite parts because it’s such a cool, playful concept, especially wrapped up in a festive, holiday setting. The storyline centered around saving the beloved Libertines department store added a nice emotional depth to it, and I loved the sense of community and history tied into it. Even though this book was filled with spooky antics, I appreciated this more warm and feeling aspect.

I do think there were definitely moments where it felt like a lot was going on at once. Between the ghosts, the romance, the family drama, and the ticking clock, things could get a little hard to follow at times. But it didn’t take away too much from the experience and it still felt like a light, enjoyable read.

This is exactly the kind of book I’d reach for during the holiday season when I want something cute, a little magical, and full of escapism. I highly recommend this and the other books in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Josie Silver, and Ballantine/Dell for the eARC of this book.

[Sandy]

Melody Bittersweet is back again with another ghost filled mystery to solve. This time, Lucy Libertine, owner of the department store where families memories have long been made for generations has died. The store is left to Fleur and her twin brothers, Francis and Tom. The twins want to sell but Fleur wants to keep the store going. Unless Fleur can come up with the money to buy out her brothers, the store will be sold. Lucy is working with Melody and her team to find a way to keep the store going. Everyone in the community is taking sides including Melody's ex boyfriend, Leo Dark who is working with the twins and Melody and her team working with Fleur. Add in Fletcher Gunn, the local reporter who causes Melody to lose her ability to say no when he is around but who also frustrates her to no end. Tensions with solving the store's dilemma are just the tip of the iceberg, romance tensions and sparks are flying everywhere as well.

This is a cozy fast read read, more romance than mystery but it's all good fun and reading with fun characters such as Melody's grandmother, her bumbling but sweet assistant and her dog as well. Very enjoyable, the Christmas theme adds to the atmosphere, grab a cup and settle in for an enjoyable read. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballatine.

[Jo Perault]

“I’m Melody Bittersweet, proprietor of the Girls’ Ghostbusting Agency, and I see dead people.”


I came for the festive ghost shenanigans and stayed because I am apparently incapable of saying goodbye to this gang without getting emotional. 👻🎄

This book was hands down, the funniest Melody Bittersweet book for me. The banter had me laughing out loud, Artie has officially entered his good jokes era, and even the ghosts know how to cause a little chaos. But somewhere between all that ridiculousness, this story became the most heartfelt book in the series, too. Rude, honestly. I was having a perfectly good time laughing. 😭

I loved being back with these characters for one last mystery. Their friendships and messy dynamics are what make this series such a joy, and this finale reminded me how attached I’ve become to all of them. I’m going to miss this gang so damn much.

If you’ve been following Melody and the gang, this is a funny, spooky, surprisingly emotional send-off. Now please excuse me while I pretend there’s another book waiting for me. 😂


Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Josie Silver for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

&&As always, HAPPY READING! 🫶🏼

[Punkin’]

This book was not for me unfortunately. I really like the ghostly elements of the plot and the 50s retro era Macy’s background we get with the department store setting! Honestly, I was really enjoying it until I got to the sex scenes which were not written well and felt very rushed and then we started getting some very immature dialogue and I was just turned off from it. It’s very much giving Colleen Hoover and Abby Jimenez and that is not my vibe.

Here’s a quote from the book:

“I’m going to get a tiny rhino tattoo” I mumble, and laughter rumbles low in his chest.
“Where?”
“You can pick” I say. “It represents you.”
“Because I’m hung like a rhino?”
I huff softly
“Because you’ve released a herd of teeny tiny rhinos in my bloodstream…”

I will not and cannot read anymore books with full grown adults that speak and act immaturely, this scene is not even satire the characters are being genuine after a sex scene, that was not written well in my opinion. If the author is looking for some constructive criticism, I would probably have enjoyed this book more without the smut in this one.

˚⊹⋆˙⟡Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy! My opinions on this read and this review are my own!₊˚⊹⋆˙⟡

[Roz]

This is the third in a trilogy featuring Melody Bittersweet as the main protagonist, who heads up a trio of ghostbusters helping those that have departed with an earthly quest. Having not read the first two books I was unsure whether this would make sense and happily it did, however I’m sure the relationships between the main characters would be enriched by having started at the beginning of the series.

The plot is fun and the characters are quirky and interesting to read about. Melody and her family can all see spirits and she uses her powers to help them. Melody has a fabulous relationship with her family and friends and a very hit and miss relationship with her ex, fellow spiritualist Leo and something yet to be decided with her on and off love/hate partnership with journalist Fletch.

I would definitely recommend this for some lighthearted reading and some cozy crime with some humour added in. The references to the ghosts who appear are very much of the friendly variety and in no way scary.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth Gerson]

Merry Spooky Love fully leans into its delightfully silly premise, and at this point in the series, that’s part of the charm. This is my third time reading about Melody and her ghost-talking escapades, thanks again to NetGalley, and I’ve grown attached to these characters. The setting this time around, a grand, slightly magical department store at Christmas, gave major Harrod’s energy and was such a standout. The descriptions brought everything to life in a way that felt festive and immersive without being over the top.

What really made this one satisfying was seeing some long-building threads finally come together. A romance that’s been simmering since book one gets its moment, and the family dynamics that have felt tense and complicated start to settle into something warmer and more hopeful. It all lands in a way that feels earned. If you’re already invested in this series, this is a cozy, heartfelt continuation that delivers on the emotional payoff, with just the right mix of romance, ghosts, and holiday atmosphere.

I received an ARC from NetGalley

[Vanessa]

This is very cute. It has early Charlaine Harris vibes. If you enjoy her early series, this trio of books might be what you are looking for. They are a mix of cozy mystery, fantasy, and romance.

Melody can see ghosts. She helps to solve their mysteries and problems so that they can move on to whatever comes after being ghosts. There is a reporter that Melody and her family have a feud with. He doesn't believe in ghosts, or anything intangible, so he believes they are all charlatans. There is an awful ex-boyfriend who tries to insert himself into every case and solve it first, while also acting like a pompous ass and filming a local tv show. Melody and her friends drive around town in what I imagine in my head is the equivalent of the Scooby-do Mystery Machine. While there is a dog, it definitely does not talk.

It's pretty camp. But the characters are loveable and the stories are fun. The pace is fast. I read all 3 of these, and they kept me engaged. I think it's really the characters. Definitely recommend if you like this genre.

[Dani✨]

I am so glad I read Merry Spooky Love! The combination of clairvoyance/mediumship and Christmas was quite intriguing. I enjoyed the different relationship dynamics! Melody had a unique relationship each person in the story. As our own character traits vary depending on who we spend time with, and seeing these vulnerabilities on paper was excellent. Not only do we see Melody's relationships, but those of the people around her and how they all interact with each other. The longer I ruminate on it, the more I realize, not every romance novel has touched so much of side characters. By the end of the book I felt as though I was saying goodbye to new friends. The character connections were reflective of real life: fun, raw, and messy. Most readers will find a bit (or more) of themselves among the storyline. The mystery of it all was enticing. There was much sentimental value throughout the story which was a nice touch of merry mixed with spooky. I highly recommend giving MSL a read this coming holiday season!

[Libby]

5⭐️

This was the absolute perfect ending to this trilogy, even though I'm still so sad that it's over. I genuinely would continue to read this group solving mysteries for 30 more books (Dell and Josie Silver, I'm begging you).

The dynamic between Melody, Marina, and Archie is SO good and wholesome - it genuinely made the way they go about solving these mysteries so fun to read. Melody's family dynamic also played such a heavy role in this story. It's so clear that she is who she is because of them, but the character growth she has in this because of the slight tension between her and her mom just made her feel so realistic. And Melody and Fletch??? Especially in this book the yearning and the back and forth and the tension!!!! I'm absolutely obsessed with them and the way they continue to find each other.

Everyone pick all these books up immediately, I don't care that they are technically out of season. They are wonderful and perfect and amazing.

Thank you to Dell and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

[Katy Jones]

Merry Spooky Love is the latest installment in the Melanie Bittersweet series and, if you loved the others in the series, you will not be disappointed! I do think you have to read the other books in the series to get the full effect, as there are some watershed moments in the series in this book. With that said, this one has all of the charm of the other books -- ghost mysteries, believers and non-believers, sweet friendships and found family, and some will-they-won't-they romance. I really loved how each of the characters and their relationships developed over the course of this book and I deeply hope this won't be the last book in the series because I need more! Even though talking to ghosts seems more like a Halloween story, I think both Halloween and Christmas fans alike will enjoy this one. It made me laugh out loud, giggle, smile, and even cry. If you like quirky, endearing characters with a lot of heart, this is a must-read series and a must-read book. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Margaret McAlister]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🫑
This was very charming, but I did not realize that it was a series and was mildly confused for the first couple chapters. I will say that I was able to catch up pretty quickly, and I think that it would be totally fine to read as a standalone, however, I would recommend going back and starting at the beginning to get the full breadth of all of these characters. I think that I have somewhat spoiled for myself a few key character arcs, but I enjoyed this enough that I will still go back and read the first two books when I have time.
This was a fun marriage of Halloween “spooky” vibes, and Christmas cheer, with a cute, low steaks mystery tying everything together.
The characters were enjoyable, the dog had one ear, and everything was tied up in a neat bow. I read this in one afternoon and, while I think I would’ve preferred to have done it at a time of year when I could’ve had a fire and hot chocolate, I thought it was a lovely way to pass a lazy day. I would recommend for a cozy holiday read!

[Kaeding Chrysler]

Advanced Readers Copy from NetGalley

This book was good fun, it managed to get me in the spirit for Halloween and Christmas all at once, as the title promised. I have not read the first 2 books of this series but love Josie Silver so went ahead and read this anyway. Given that I think some of the characters maybe felt less developed to me than they might have. I did not love that Marina and Leo were end game, it felt like a bravo reunion (iykyk) but I did really love Marina, and Melody’s friendship. I also really loved the save department store storyline. It really added to the holiday aesthetic and gave warm and fuzzy feels. I was bought in to the Fletch and Melody storyline, and enjoyed their banter. I have to say her leaving toward the end dramatically without telling anyone did make me laugh a little when I realized it was only for a 2 week cruise. But alas like I say it was a fun read.
Not my favorite Josie Silver but still a solid little read. Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC!!