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You're the One That I Haunt
Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 05:59:47
50 copies available
U.S. only
To save her best friend and lifelong crush from his family’s deadly curse, Libby must team up with (and try not to catch feelings for) a handsome ghost only she can see
Libby Lakoski has two major problems. First, she’s secretly in love with her best friend, Carter Coldwell, and second, he’s marrying someone else. Carter’s the only person who has ever made Libby feel chosen, and sure, his fiancee is a British diamond heiress, but Carter and Libby have years of shared history and longing looks between them. Not to mention, Libby is the only person Carter trusted enough to tell about the dark magic that plagues his family.
But then a third and related problem presents itself—or, himself. Trip Coldwell is Carter’s handsome, smart, flirtatious cousin who also happens to be… a ghost. Trip’s “unfinished business” is to break the Coldwell curse, but the solution hinges on Libby encouraging Carter to allow his wedding to proceed. Unfortunately, Libby is the only person who can see Trip, and her objective is the exact opposite. Can Libby put aside her pining for Carter and work with his hot and not-quite-living cousin to save both men?
As they follow a trail of clues across New York City, Libby finds herself questioning just how much Carter reciprocated her friendship, feeling perplexed by a growing attraction to Trip, and fantasizing about actually touching him. With the countdown to the wedding in full swing, Libby must choose between saving the Coldwells and holding tight to her own happily ever after.
Libby Lakoski has two major problems. First, she’s secretly in love with her best friend, Carter Coldwell, and second, he’s marrying someone else. Carter’s the only person who has ever made Libby feel chosen, and sure, his fiancee is a British diamond heiress, but Carter and Libby have years of shared history and longing looks between them. Not to mention, Libby is the only person Carter trusted enough to tell about the dark magic that plagues his family.
But then a third and related problem presents itself—or, himself. Trip Coldwell is Carter’s handsome, smart, flirtatious cousin who also happens to be… a ghost. Trip’s “unfinished business” is to break the Coldwell curse, but the solution hinges on Libby encouraging Carter to allow his wedding to proceed. Unfortunately, Libby is the only person who can see Trip, and her objective is the exact opposite. Can Libby put aside her pining for Carter and work with his hot and not-quite-living cousin to save both men?
As they follow a trail of clues across New York City, Libby finds herself questioning just how much Carter reciprocated her friendship, feeling perplexed by a growing attraction to Trip, and fantasizing about actually touching him. With the countdown to the wedding in full swing, Libby must choose between saving the Coldwells and holding tight to her own happily ever after.
Audible Audio
First published September 22, 2026
About the author
Katie Jung
3 books258 followersKatie Jung lives in Syracuse, New York with her husband and three children. By day, she works in climate change communications, but spends her evenings writing stories with happier endings. YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I HAUNT was selected for the 2024 SmoochPit Mentorship Program. When she's not daydreaming about her characters, you can find Katie walking the golf course near her house (often listening to an audiobook), having solo dance parties in her car, or chasing after her kids with a cup of coffee that's most likely gone cold. Connect with her on all social media platforms at @katiejungwrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,360 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 wildly enthusiastic stars. I. ABSOLUTELY. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. I finished the acknowledgements, realized it was 100% finished, and then I literally happy snorted, something I have never done in my life??
Let me back up a bit, though, and start out by thanking NetGalley and Viking Penguin for giving me a free copy of this book so that I could share my thoughts about it.
The premise of the book (which reminded me very slightly of Just Like Heaven, an extremely 2000s-coded movie from 2005 starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo) is that Libby, the female main character, is hopelessly in love with her rich, privileged male bestie Carter. Unfortunately, Carter is newly engaged to Sabrina, the world’s most perfect woman, and as Libby goes off to lick her wounds from this very sad (for her) reality at the happy new couple’s engagement party, she bumps into the “ghost” of his cousin, who isn’t actually dead, but is in a coma after a bad accident (and is therefore astral projecting, I guess?). The story starts from there.
I found this to be the best read; it checked all of my "tropes I love" boxes, and I absolutely flew through it. My one and only complaint is that I simply didn't get enough of any of it: I wanted to see more of the relationship between Libby and her grandmother, and more of her and Trip, and more of her and Sabrina, and more of her with her bestie Zuri, and more of her with her job/passion for helping others, and more of her new seeing the dead powers, and more of the epilogue. Obviously, fitting this all in would have made the book 700 pages long, so I absolutely understand why this wasn't in the cards, but still...a little less Carter and a little more of all of that would have been delightful.
What I especially enjoyed about this book was the way that it had a great message, but I wasn't bashed over the head with that message, either. Libby’s character journey revolves around learning to trust that she’s worthy of being chosen—not just by others, but by herself—and the way she embarks on that journey was extremely realistic for her particular personality...which was a little bit avoidant, a little bit meek, and a little bit uncertain, yet also very strong and focused and formidable when she was in one of her comfort zones.
By the end of the book, Libby was a better, stronger person, and yet she was also still the same person, just a slightly evolved version who is much more willing to fight for herself. And, without giving any spoilers, I felt like the choices she made along the way were good ones.
As for Trip the “ghost”...can he please have an entire book? He was such an amazing character, but then again, so was Libby's grandmother, Sabrina, and (even though we don’t get to see much of her) Yuri, too.
All in all, I thought this book was engaging and fun, and it left me feeling delighted all the way til the last page. Out of a sea of indecisive, self-sabotaging, and often outright stupid main characters, getting a flawed yet still likable main character like Libby was SUCH a breath of fresh air. I cannot wait to read more from this author. What a great debut!
Also, additional kudos to the author’s publishing team for helping her put out such a nicely finished total package (especially that cover!). This book is the perfect example of where traditional publishing still shines. When the team involved is willing to invest their time, effort, and resources into creating the best possible final product, it really shows.
Blog post: https://www.ace-reviews.com/arc-revie...
Let me back up a bit, though, and start out by thanking NetGalley and Viking Penguin for giving me a free copy of this book so that I could share my thoughts about it.
The premise of the book (which reminded me very slightly of Just Like Heaven, an extremely 2000s-coded movie from 2005 starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo) is that Libby, the female main character, is hopelessly in love with her rich, privileged male bestie Carter. Unfortunately, Carter is newly engaged to Sabrina, the world’s most perfect woman, and as Libby goes off to lick her wounds from this very sad (for her) reality at the happy new couple’s engagement party, she bumps into the “ghost” of his cousin, who isn’t actually dead, but is in a coma after a bad accident (and is therefore astral projecting, I guess?). The story starts from there.
I found this to be the best read; it checked all of my "tropes I love" boxes, and I absolutely flew through it. My one and only complaint is that I simply didn't get enough of any of it: I wanted to see more of the relationship between Libby and her grandmother, and more of her and Trip, and more of her and Sabrina, and more of her with her bestie Zuri, and more of her with her job/passion for helping others, and more of her new seeing the dead powers, and more of the epilogue. Obviously, fitting this all in would have made the book 700 pages long, so I absolutely understand why this wasn't in the cards, but still...a little less Carter and a little more of all of that would have been delightful.
What I especially enjoyed about this book was the way that it had a great message, but I wasn't bashed over the head with that message, either. Libby’s character journey revolves around learning to trust that she’s worthy of being chosen—not just by others, but by herself—and the way she embarks on that journey was extremely realistic for her particular personality...which was a little bit avoidant, a little bit meek, and a little bit uncertain, yet also very strong and focused and formidable when she was in one of her comfort zones.
By the end of the book, Libby was a better, stronger person, and yet she was also still the same person, just a slightly evolved version who is much more willing to fight for herself. And, without giving any spoilers, I felt like the choices she made along the way were good ones.
As for Trip the “ghost”...can he please have an entire book? He was such an amazing character, but then again, so was Libby's grandmother, Sabrina, and (even though we don’t get to see much of her) Yuri, too.
All in all, I thought this book was engaging and fun, and it left me feeling delighted all the way til the last page. Out of a sea of indecisive, self-sabotaging, and often outright stupid main characters, getting a flawed yet still likable main character like Libby was SUCH a breath of fresh air. I cannot wait to read more from this author. What a great debut!
Also, additional kudos to the author’s publishing team for helping her put out such a nicely finished total package (especially that cover!). This book is the perfect example of where traditional publishing still shines. When the team involved is willing to invest their time, effort, and resources into creating the best possible final product, it really shows.
Blog post: https://www.ace-reviews.com/arc-revie...
October 21, 2026
3⭐️ seems like i may be an outlier here…? i liked it, but didn’t love it!
i went into this one SOLD on the concept! a paranormal rom com with a flirty ghost, a curse to break, and an NYC setting? sign me up! but a little PSA for my fellow seasonal readers… despite the ghostly premise, this is NOT a spooky cozy halloween read! the story actually mostly takes place in winter & spring. it reminded me of the dead romantics in that it has all the makings of a fall book, but thematically, it was much more about new beginnings (cute!) (but ugh!!) (why did i spend my precious fall reading time on this?)
i did really appreciate the overarching message about self respect, knowing when to walk away, and recognizing that love isn’t just about being chosen, but about actively choosing someone yourself. a lovely sentiment!!
libby was an okay heroine, but omg her obsession with carter was sooo frustrating. that man treated her embarrassingly badly and she just kept coming back for more. i understand that her inability to walk away was kind of the whole point, but that didn’t make it any less painful to read!
overall, i found the writing a little overly simplistic. there were some really cute moments, and i genuinely enjoyed the paranormal elements, but i wanted a little more depth from the characters and a little less repetition throughout. a cute debut with a fun premise, but not necessarily a new “must-read” imo! 👻
i went into this one SOLD on the concept! a paranormal rom com with a flirty ghost, a curse to break, and an NYC setting? sign me up! but a little PSA for my fellow seasonal readers… despite the ghostly premise, this is NOT a spooky cozy halloween read! the story actually mostly takes place in winter & spring. it reminded me of the dead romantics in that it has all the makings of a fall book, but thematically, it was much more about new beginnings (cute!) (but ugh!!) (why did i spend my precious fall reading time on this?)
i did really appreciate the overarching message about self respect, knowing when to walk away, and recognizing that love isn’t just about being chosen, but about actively choosing someone yourself. a lovely sentiment!!
libby was an okay heroine, but omg her obsession with carter was sooo frustrating. that man treated her embarrassingly badly and she just kept coming back for more. i understand that her inability to walk away was kind of the whole point, but that didn’t make it any less painful to read!
overall, i found the writing a little overly simplistic. there were some really cute moments, and i genuinely enjoyed the paranormal elements, but i wanted a little more depth from the characters and a little less repetition throughout. a cute debut with a fun premise, but not necessarily a new “must-read” imo! 👻
September 30, 2026
3.5💫
believe it or not, i did enjoy this book! the reason my rating is much lower than i expected is because of the pacing of this book. there were SO many time jumps. we started i think 6 months? away from the wedding day, but things really didn’t starting moving until a few weeks away from the wedding. like why were we jumping so much and had nothing to show for the moments in between. i think i would’ve enjoyed it more if we saw more progress and less jumps.
the premise of this debut(!!) novel was so intriguing that i just had to pick it for my BOTM. our main character Elzbieta (Libby/Elz) is in love with her guy best friend Carter who is months away from getting married. one day she runs into the ghost of Carter’s cousin & they plot to break the curse on the males in the Coldwell family. we follow along as they follow leads to figuring out how to break the curse and reveal that it’s not going to be broken the way they think.
i enjoyed it but it was not my favorite🤷♀️ i think it was cute enough that i’d recommend especially for spooky season and for a fun read!
Read if you like:
👻 paranormal romance
👻 century old family curse
👻 New York setting
👻 slowburn
👻 women finding their worth
👻 he falls first
👻 they can’t touch
˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀ — preread
update: i think i may read this one next!! it won't be read before october is over, but it'll be close enough that i will still be in the mood for this kind of ghosty spooky book!
picked this as my free add on from BOTM! this looks pretty good so im excited to get to this eventually this fall!!
this book is an October BOTM pick!! if you would like to join and use my referral code, i can get a free book and you get your first book for just $5! What a steal!! https://www.mybotm.com/hxfx2nddyjs (not sponsored btw, just for fun!)
believe it or not, i did enjoy this book! the reason my rating is much lower than i expected is because of the pacing of this book. there were SO many time jumps. we started i think 6 months? away from the wedding day, but things really didn’t starting moving until a few weeks away from the wedding. like why were we jumping so much and had nothing to show for the moments in between. i think i would’ve enjoyed it more if we saw more progress and less jumps.
the premise of this debut(!!) novel was so intriguing that i just had to pick it for my BOTM. our main character Elzbieta (Libby/Elz) is in love with her guy best friend Carter who is months away from getting married. one day she runs into the ghost of Carter’s cousin & they plot to break the curse on the males in the Coldwell family. we follow along as they follow leads to figuring out how to break the curse and reveal that it’s not going to be broken the way they think.
i enjoyed it but it was not my favorite🤷♀️ i think it was cute enough that i’d recommend especially for spooky season and for a fun read!
Read if you like:
👻 paranormal romance
👻 century old family curse
👻 New York setting
👻 slowburn
👻 women finding their worth
👻 he falls first
👻 they can’t touch
˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀ — preread
update: i think i may read this one next!! it won't be read before october is over, but it'll be close enough that i will still be in the mood for this kind of ghosty spooky book!
picked this as my free add on from BOTM! this looks pretty good so im excited to get to this eventually this fall!!
this book is an October BOTM pick!! if you would like to join and use my referral code, i can get a free book and you get your first book for just $5! What a steal!! https://www.mybotm.com/hxfx2nddyjs (not sponsored btw, just for fun!)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
One word: OBSESSED. If you want a man who pines and yearns!?! Look no further, because Trip will become your new favorite ghost boyfriend.
Seriously, if you love 2000s rom coms, you've come to the right place. You're the One That I Haunt takes place in New York City and is about our heroine Libby who has been in love with her best friend for years. Except her best friend comes back from London with a fiancé. And at one of their parties, she takes a break in the family's library and comes face to face with a ghost, who just so happens to be her best friend's cousin. Very hot cousin. And he needs her help. Trip is in a coma and asks for Libby's help to break a family curse before the wedding. These twooooo. Omg. They are falling so hard for one another as they try to break this curse together, and time is ticking to literally save Trip's life. I loved their journey towards breaking the curse and their chemistry!? The TENSION!? Imagine yearning for someone you literally can't touch even if you tried. I was so obsessed with these two and this book is for sure a favorite of the year.
I know this one doesn't come out for a few months, but pleeasseee preorder this one and pick it up when it releases! We need more ghost romances and I'm so happy Katie Jung absolutely delivered with this one!
One word: OBSESSED. If you want a man who pines and yearns!?! Look no further, because Trip will become your new favorite ghost boyfriend.
Seriously, if you love 2000s rom coms, you've come to the right place. You're the One That I Haunt takes place in New York City and is about our heroine Libby who has been in love with her best friend for years. Except her best friend comes back from London with a fiancé. And at one of their parties, she takes a break in the family's library and comes face to face with a ghost, who just so happens to be her best friend's cousin. Very hot cousin. And he needs her help. Trip is in a coma and asks for Libby's help to break a family curse before the wedding. These twooooo. Omg. They are falling so hard for one another as they try to break this curse together, and time is ticking to literally save Trip's life. I loved their journey towards breaking the curse and their chemistry!? The TENSION!? Imagine yearning for someone you literally can't touch even if you tried. I was so obsessed with these two and this book is for sure a favorite of the year.
I know this one doesn't come out for a few months, but pleeasseee preorder this one and pick it up when it releases! We need more ghost romances and I'm so happy Katie Jung absolutely delivered with this one!
Want to Read
September 8, 2026I JUST GOT APPROVED I'M SQUEALING
September 23, 2026
We can write our own fairytales!!! *sobs* This is like if "My Best Friends Wedding" & "Just Like Heaven" had a baby.
arcs-to-read
April 22, 2026OMG I GOT THE ARC 😭💗 I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED TO READ THIS 🥹🤭
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
—◊▸⊱✧One of my favorite debut of 2026
If you are fan of Ashley Poston and Kirsty Greenwood then this book is perfect for you!
» TRIP COLDWELL— the most devastatingly HOT and empathetic ghost in the history
He is truly an ANGEL 🥹🫶
I can dedicate my whole review to this character. I am genuinely so deeply touched by the actions of this man. One of the best characters i have read.
The way he brings out the side of Libby which she herself didn't know existed. The way she felt free around him. He was so good, so charming. He gave the perfect home-y vibes. Every moment with Trip is so so enjoyable in the story. He genuinely cared for her. They can't even touch each other and he says things like 'tell me what you want'. What more a girl can ask for, huh?
I am never getting over his character;)
Forever will have a special place in my heart♡
» And boy the banter. It was genuinely soooo good. perfect timed dialogues. just perfect! i was having fun and hurting at the same time. Most lethal combination btw :)
» Can we talk about the whole premise of this book? The NewYork setting? The wedding events? The mystery? The lovable side character? The whole idea of this book just blown my mind away. So so well executed plot. I loved each and every character. And dare i say i also loved Carter? Whatever happened between them was all so genuine and agreeable. Everything just kept me so so engrossed into the story that i read this straight up in two days! Eeeeekkkk, I am never gonna shut up about this book.
» There's also this small ache in my heart, a very delicious ache, like it hurts and is smoothed with a balm immediately, in a most delicate way possible, i hope i'm making sense;)
» Just a little part of me was longing for Trip's POV. I was feeling that absence of his POV at some points. And also we can't call this a love triangle she spent a lot of time with Trip and at some point her feelings were straight predictable.
BUT ANYWAYS,
⇒My heart genuinely feels so full after reading this. *sighs* really loved this book.
This was my most anticipated book of this year and it hit the marked just PERFECT!
5/5 stars without a blink.
*Thank you Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for this ARC
⁕⁙°◊—————————————————◊°⁙⁕
↪pre-read
—⁕◊ OMG i got the ARC. This is my most anticipated book of the year😭
I am not even wasting a single minute for starting this!
*Thank you Random House UK for this ARC
If you are fan of Ashley Poston and Kirsty Greenwood then this book is perfect for you!
» TRIP COLDWELL— the most devastatingly HOT and empathetic ghost in the history
He is truly an ANGEL 🥹🫶
I can dedicate my whole review to this character. I am genuinely so deeply touched by the actions of this man. One of the best characters i have read.
The way he brings out the side of Libby which she herself didn't know existed. The way she felt free around him. He was so good, so charming. He gave the perfect home-y vibes. Every moment with Trip is so so enjoyable in the story. He genuinely cared for her. They can't even touch each other and he says things like 'tell me what you want'. What more a girl can ask for, huh?
I am never getting over his character;)
Forever will have a special place in my heart♡
» And boy the banter. It was genuinely soooo good. perfect timed dialogues. just perfect! i was having fun and hurting at the same time. Most lethal combination btw :)
» Can we talk about the whole premise of this book? The NewYork setting? The wedding events? The mystery? The lovable side character? The whole idea of this book just blown my mind away. So so well executed plot. I loved each and every character. And dare i say i also loved Carter? Whatever happened between them was all so genuine and agreeable. Everything just kept me so so engrossed into the story that i read this straight up in two days! Eeeeekkkk, I am never gonna shut up about this book.
» There's also this small ache in my heart, a very delicious ache, like it hurts and is smoothed with a balm immediately, in a most delicate way possible, i hope i'm making sense;)
» Just a little part of me was longing for Trip's POV. I was feeling that absence of his POV at some points. And also we can't call this a love triangle she spent a lot of time with Trip and at some point her feelings were straight predictable.
BUT ANYWAYS,
⇒My heart genuinely feels so full after reading this. *sighs* really loved this book.
This was my most anticipated book of this year and it hit the marked just PERFECT!
5/5 stars without a blink.
“Just give it a second.”iykyk and they still can't touch
“The noises you make are enough for me to wish for a second life.”
“I love Sabrina. But Carter and I have been friends for fifteen years. I’ve loved him for fifteen years. It— it’s complicated.”always seeing rigth through her
“Is it?”
*Thank you Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for this ARC
⁕⁙°◊—————————————————◊°⁙⁕
↪pre-read
—⁕◊ OMG i got the ARC. This is my most anticipated book of the year😭
I am not even wasting a single minute for starting this!
*Thank you Random House UK for this ARC
October 14, 2026
I LOVED THIS!! Literally from the prologue I was hooked. This was truly the recipe for my perfect romance: a man who yearns PAINFULLY, banter, crazy tension, NYC setting, female friendships, beautiful growth, and even a little bit of the paranormal. I loved Libby and Trip so much. I found myself relating a LOT to Libby personally which made this an even more special read. I LOVED Trip and how supportive he was of Libby but also how he’d challenge her to do things for herself. I loved the paranormal aspect and how a bit of a mystery played a role in that. It added so much to the story for me and kept me even more entertained. Two of the most special parts of this book for me were the female friendships and Libby’s relationship with her grandmother. As a grandma’s girl who misses her everyday, I loved seeing how close they were and how she played such a big role in Libby’s life. I also really adored Sabrina and her character growth and friendship with Libby. I loved how they became best friends instead of being pit against each other because of Carter. I truly loved every aspect of this book and think it all came together so well to create the sweetest paranormal romance with a fun plot and excellent side characters. Obviously I really enjoyed the writing, the pacing, etc. I just really can’t say enough good things about this one!! A really fun fall read but honestly a perfect year round romance 🩷 adding to my favorites list!!
November 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(3.5/5, romance)
This sexy ghost romance was EXACTLY what the doctor ordered to close out spooky season. I think it’s important that you picture the ghost as less of a Casper (slightly blue & floating) and more as a fully formed, three-dimensional, hot Marlon Brando-type gentleman. But he is a ghost, so if that’s not your thing, beware!!!
Libby’s best friend, who she’s been secretly pining for her entire life, is getting married, and she is bereft! During his engagement party, she sneaks away to the library to vent to herself, as one does, and she’s surprised by a handsome man in the library! Actually, they’re both surprised! She didn’t notice him because he’s a ghost, and he’s shocked someone can see him. He needs her help, she’s won over by his good looks (jk, it’s nice to help out a ghost who’s in limbo!), and these two join forces to break a generational family curse!
Light, fun, & ghosty! I was very pleasantly surprised!!!
This sexy ghost romance was EXACTLY what the doctor ordered to close out spooky season. I think it’s important that you picture the ghost as less of a Casper (slightly blue & floating) and more as a fully formed, three-dimensional, hot Marlon Brando-type gentleman. But he is a ghost, so if that’s not your thing, beware!!!
Libby’s best friend, who she’s been secretly pining for her entire life, is getting married, and she is bereft! During his engagement party, she sneaks away to the library to vent to herself, as one does, and she’s surprised by a handsome man in the library! Actually, they’re both surprised! She didn’t notice him because he’s a ghost, and he’s shocked someone can see him. He needs her help, she’s won over by his good looks (jk, it’s nice to help out a ghost who’s in limbo!), and these two join forces to break a generational family curse!
Light, fun, & ghosty! I was very pleasantly surprised!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
💜👻You're the One That I Haunt 👻💜
This was so fun! And surprisingly emotional.
The author doesn't shy away from the complexities of family relationships, friendships, and love. There was so much growth for nearly every character in this story. It was very satisfying and I really loved how it ended!
🕯️What to Expect
• Love Triangle
• Ghost MMC
• Family Curse
• Unrequited Love
• Forced Partnership
• Paranormal Romance
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026
Thank you to Viking Penguin, Penguin Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
This was so fun! And surprisingly emotional.
The author doesn't shy away from the complexities of family relationships, friendships, and love. There was so much growth for nearly every character in this story. It was very satisfying and I really loved how it ended!
🕯️What to Expect
• Love Triangle
• Ghost MMC
• Family Curse
• Unrequited Love
• Forced Partnership
• Paranormal Romance
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026
Thank you to Viking Penguin, Penguin Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
October 12, 2026
FINALLY A 5 STAR READ I LOVED THIS SO MUCH
September 14, 2026
oh my god !!!!!! full review to come
October 22, 2026
This is a DNF for me at 25%. It started out fun and fresh, and then the pacing started to lag and characters flattened. But what disappointed me most was the out-of-the-blue and unnecessary dissing on Jesus and Christianity in favor of witchcraft. Nope, not for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 / 5 Stars
I had really high hopes for this one and sadly it didn’t work for me. I wanted more from the romance and the mystery.
I love a love triangle when there are two viable options for the lead. There’s tension between the lead and option A. There’s tension between the lead and option B. And there’s tension because there can be multiple options. Carter, her best friend, was such a bad option, that the love triangle didn’t feel like a triangle. What we see on the page is him being a bad friend so I almost felt embarrassed for Libby that she liked him. We hear about why she was friends with him but didn’t see any of those reasons and so it made it really hard to see why she would want to have any connection with him.
Libby’s connection with Trip felt too sudden. I didn’t feel any chemistry between them and then suddenly Trip was all in on Libby and it left me scratching my head.
I was excited for the fall curse angle and Libby’s involvement in solving it. I thought there were some fun parts there but at the end, the answer felt a bit random and disconnected from the story for me.
I did enjoy Libby's connection with her grandmother and all of the Polish representation. I wished there was even more of Libby and her grandmother.
I think if you feel more of a connection to the romance, then you might really enjoy this book.
You will probably like this book if you like:
⭐ Speculative, magical realism romcoms
⭐ Love triangles
⭐ He falls first
⭐ Slutty little earring
⭐ Mystery
Thank you Viking Penguin | Penguin Books and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: September 22, 2026
⋆ ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
I had really high hopes for this one and sadly it didn’t work for me. I wanted more from the romance and the mystery.
I love a love triangle when there are two viable options for the lead. There’s tension between the lead and option A. There’s tension between the lead and option B. And there’s tension because there can be multiple options. Carter, her best friend, was such a bad option, that the love triangle didn’t feel like a triangle. What we see on the page is him being a bad friend so I almost felt embarrassed for Libby that she liked him. We hear about why she was friends with him but didn’t see any of those reasons and so it made it really hard to see why she would want to have any connection with him.
Libby’s connection with Trip felt too sudden. I didn’t feel any chemistry between them and then suddenly Trip was all in on Libby and it left me scratching my head.
I was excited for the fall curse angle and Libby’s involvement in solving it. I thought there were some fun parts there but at the end, the answer felt a bit random and disconnected from the story for me.
I did enjoy Libby's connection with her grandmother and all of the Polish representation. I wished there was even more of Libby and her grandmother.
I think if you feel more of a connection to the romance, then you might really enjoy this book.
You will probably like this book if you like:
⭐ Speculative, magical realism romcoms
⭐ Love triangles
⭐ He falls first
⭐ Slutty little earring
⭐ Mystery
Thank you Viking Penguin | Penguin Books and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: September 22, 2026
⋆ ೀ ⋆ Follow me on Instagram @book.recs.by.lina for book recommendations and general fun times ⋆ ೀ ⋆
June 10, 2026
Release Day! 🤩
Super cute, with good writing and a smoking ghost romance 🥰. Ya, I was definitely entertained!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️
This was super enjoyable and easy to read. The FMC had a great, entertaining personality which made her inner monologue really fun to read though out the story. I loved the storyline dynamic between the best friend she has secretly been in love with her whole life and the unexpected slow growing friendship our FMC built with his fiancé. It felt really wholehearted and genuine. I fell like you get a lot of pitting women agent each other in these situations, so it was nice to see that was not the case in this book! 😊We got a nice Allies to Lovers romance in this. I would have liked a little more tension, but it all felt really laid back which made for a fun cozy read. It felt really balanced between romance and storyline. This had a good mystery plot going on so that really kept you hooked all the way though.
For this being a debut I am really impressed and will be keeping an eye out on what Katie brings us next! 💞 Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.
Super cute, with good writing and a smoking ghost romance 🥰. Ya, I was definitely entertained!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️
This was super enjoyable and easy to read. The FMC had a great, entertaining personality which made her inner monologue really fun to read though out the story. I loved the storyline dynamic between the best friend she has secretly been in love with her whole life and the unexpected slow growing friendship our FMC built with his fiancé. It felt really wholehearted and genuine. I fell like you get a lot of pitting women agent each other in these situations, so it was nice to see that was not the case in this book! 😊We got a nice Allies to Lovers romance in this. I would have liked a little more tension, but it all felt really laid back which made for a fun cozy read. It felt really balanced between romance and storyline. This had a good mystery plot going on so that really kept you hooked all the way though.
For this being a debut I am really impressed and will be keeping an eye out on what Katie brings us next! 💞 Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.
October 3, 2026
this was so cute. like genuinely such a fun little spooky season romance. 👻🖤
i was mostly excited about the whole curse situation, and while that part was definitely fun and chaotic, i ended up being way more obsessed with the romance.
the supernatural side gives the story such a cute spooky vibe, especially once the curse starts causing problems and they have to figure out exactly how the heck they’re supposed to fix it. the magical realism of it all actually gave me the dead romantics vibes, which i absolutely loved. not necessarily because the stories are super similar (even though they do have them), but they both have that slightly whimsical, supernatural romance feeling where the magical elements somehow make the emotional parts hit even better.
but the romance? yeah, that was the real reason i was turning the pages.
the chemistry was so good and i loved all the banter and how elz was literally falling in love with this man's spirit (literally and figuratively). but i just wanted them to hurry up and find a way to break the curse so trip would wake up and they could be together.
i also loved that this never felt like it was trying too hard to be spooky. it was more fun halloween vibes, romantic tension, a little magic, a little chaos, and two people making me kick my feet over fictional flirting. basically exactly what i want from a seasonal romance.
the curse was fun, but the romance absolutely stole the book for me. i came for the haunting and stayed because apparently my favourite paranormal activity is yearning.
such a cute october read.
i was mostly excited about the whole curse situation, and while that part was definitely fun and chaotic, i ended up being way more obsessed with the romance.
the supernatural side gives the story such a cute spooky vibe, especially once the curse starts causing problems and they have to figure out exactly how the heck they’re supposed to fix it. the magical realism of it all actually gave me the dead romantics vibes, which i absolutely loved. not necessarily because the stories are super similar (even though they do have them), but they both have that slightly whimsical, supernatural romance feeling where the magical elements somehow make the emotional parts hit even better.
but the romance? yeah, that was the real reason i was turning the pages.
the chemistry was so good and i loved all the banter and how elz was literally falling in love with this man's spirit (literally and figuratively). but i just wanted them to hurry up and find a way to break the curse so trip would wake up and they could be together.
i also loved that this never felt like it was trying too hard to be spooky. it was more fun halloween vibes, romantic tension, a little magic, a little chaos, and two people making me kick my feet over fictional flirting. basically exactly what i want from a seasonal romance.
the curse was fun, but the romance absolutely stole the book for me. i came for the haunting and stayed because apparently my favourite paranormal activity is yearning.
such a cute october read.
September 27, 2026
2.5
i (PERSONALLY) did not find this book well paced. the romance hadn’t been built up enough to be believable, so i wasn’t very invested. the fmc, who is seeing the “ghost” mmc, tells her grandmother that she has never seen spirits before, despite their family’s history of communicating with the dead, and the response was “well we live in new york, you might not have noticed” which, while true(?), felt like a dropped ball by the author. also, her name and what she calls her nana and pet and other things are distinctly eastern european but we never talk about her cultural background… Idk !! I just wasn’t vibing i guess, which is a bummer because it started great and the cover is so gorg
Carter SUCKS xo
i (PERSONALLY) did not find this book well paced. the romance hadn’t been built up enough to be believable, so i wasn’t very invested. the fmc, who is seeing the “ghost” mmc, tells her grandmother that she has never seen spirits before, despite their family’s history of communicating with the dead, and the response was “well we live in new york, you might not have noticed” which, while true(?), felt like a dropped ball by the author. also, her name and what she calls her nana and pet and other things are distinctly eastern european but we never talk about her cultural background… Idk !! I just wasn’t vibing i guess, which is a bummer because it started great and the cover is so gorg
Carter SUCKS xo
August 16, 2026
I was completely smitten with this one. If you love 90’s rom coms, especially My Best Friend's Wedding, and an incredibly teasing slow burn with a ghostly twist, this one is definitely for you. I loved not only the story but the characters so much so that I honestly never wanted to the book to end. The fact that I ran to the authors page after finishing this to see what else I could read by Katie, and of course it was bittersweet to see that not only was this her debut novel, but now I have to wait because I just want to devour more of her work after reading this one.
This is set-in modern-day NYC and our girl Libby is completely, irrevocably in love with her best friend of 15 years. The downside? Carter is literally set to be married in a matter of months. While wallowing in self-pity over the fact that the love of her life is getting married, she decides that she is going to do anything she can to ruin this wedding and show that her and Carter are so meant to be. The only problem? Carters' cousin Trip hears the whole thing and tells her she has to let the wedding go through to break the family curse. And you may be asking, how does he know the family is actually cursed? He’s actually a ghost, she’s the only one that cannot only see him, but save him and Carter as well.
This really did hit all of the rom com notes. You want banter? Lifting the family curse? Double check. Angst, jealousy, drama and a delicious slow burn? Check, check, check and CHECK. While there wasn’t a lot of spice per se, the tension, angst and slow burn most definitely made up for it. This is definitely going to be one of the best reads for spooky season.
*Thank you so much to Viking Penguin/ Penguin books, NetGalley and the author Katie Jung, for the ARC!*
This is set-in modern-day NYC and our girl Libby is completely, irrevocably in love with her best friend of 15 years. The downside? Carter is literally set to be married in a matter of months. While wallowing in self-pity over the fact that the love of her life is getting married, she decides that she is going to do anything she can to ruin this wedding and show that her and Carter are so meant to be. The only problem? Carters' cousin Trip hears the whole thing and tells her she has to let the wedding go through to break the family curse. And you may be asking, how does he know the family is actually cursed? He’s actually a ghost, she’s the only one that cannot only see him, but save him and Carter as well.
This really did hit all of the rom com notes. You want banter? Lifting the family curse? Double check. Angst, jealousy, drama and a delicious slow burn? Check, check, check and CHECK. While there wasn’t a lot of spice per se, the tension, angst and slow burn most definitely made up for it. This is definitely going to be one of the best reads for spooky season.
*Thank you so much to Viking Penguin/ Penguin books, NetGalley and the author Katie Jung, for the ARC!*
September 22, 2026
A sweet romance with a dash of prophecy and haunting ✨
I was intrigued by the synopsis, and while I really liked the romance aspect of the plot, the magical side was a bit underwhelming in my opinion.
The romance was very sweet, I really liked both Libby and Trip and their respective character arcs. I loved to see Libby trying to fight her people-pleasing tendencies, and not always succeeding. When she’s with Carter, who she's loved since they were teens, she falls into familiar patterns, but she’ll eventually need to decide for herself if that’s the person she wants to be.
While Carter was my least favorite character, it’s clear he's this way because he’s grown used to the demands of his family.
I also loved Libby's relationship with Sabrina. Every romance cliché indicated they should’ve been rivals, but instead they instantly become friends and I found that very refreshing.
On the other hand, the curse and the supernatural aspect were a bit underwhelming. The whole investigation was messy and the final explanation made no sense to me, I admit after a while I decided not to think too deep about it in order to enjoy the parts of the book I did like.
Overall I had a good time reading this, and I'd read this author’s future works.
Thanks to Penguin via NetGalley for providing an eARC
I was intrigued by the synopsis, and while I really liked the romance aspect of the plot, the magical side was a bit underwhelming in my opinion.
The romance was very sweet, I really liked both Libby and Trip and their respective character arcs. I loved to see Libby trying to fight her people-pleasing tendencies, and not always succeeding. When she’s with Carter, who she's loved since they were teens, she falls into familiar patterns, but she’ll eventually need to decide for herself if that’s the person she wants to be.
While Carter was my least favorite character, it’s clear he's this way because he’s grown used to the demands of his family.
I also loved Libby's relationship with Sabrina. Every romance cliché indicated they should’ve been rivals, but instead they instantly become friends and I found that very refreshing.
On the other hand, the curse and the supernatural aspect were a bit underwhelming. The whole investigation was messy and the final explanation made no sense to me, I admit after a while I decided not to think too deep about it in order to enjoy the parts of the book I did like.
Overall I had a good time reading this, and I'd read this author’s future works.
Thanks to Penguin via NetGalley for providing an eARC
September 23, 2026
Omgggg this book was so so cute! This book had so many layers from the romance and the mystery around the family curse! I’ve absolutely been loving romances with a bit of a mystery aspect and this was perfect!
This is an all star magical realism! Trip and Elz are such amazing MCs and the book does such an incredible job of incorporating magical elements into the real world. The romance is also so sweet and I loved the constant reassurance that Trip gave Elz that he did truly want her!
The friend group in this book is also really sweet! I feel like they all added to the story and made it that much better!
I highly recommend this! I think it would be such a good spooky season read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is an all star magical realism! Trip and Elz are such amazing MCs and the book does such an incredible job of incorporating magical elements into the real world. The romance is also so sweet and I loved the constant reassurance that Trip gave Elz that he did truly want her!
The friend group in this book is also really sweet! I feel like they all added to the story and made it that much better!
I highly recommend this! I think it would be such a good spooky season read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 10, 2026
This book was SO CUTE! 🥹😭 It’s truly the perfect time of the year to read it, too, if the title doesn’t already clue you in! I really loved that even though I’ve read a good bit of paranormal romance, this story had its own unique take on things and kept me on my toes the whole time. I wasn’t really sure which direction things were going to go.
And while this does technically classify as a love triangle, it is—strangely—more complicated than that. I will not be explaining further: read the book! 😉 The relationships are all messy, for sure, but I LOVED the focus on friendship throughout; it almost was as central of a theme as the romance itself, and it plays out in multiple ways with multiple characters. There’s also a heavy focus on family and legacy, which was woven in very well.
But the romance for sure had me swooning. Because these two couldn’t touch for like…most of the book, the tension and yearning was PALPABLE. Even I was sweating for a completely fictional couple. I also liked that this forced a lot of their relationship to be focused on laying a foundation of getting to know each other, trusting each other, and becoming friends. But also, Katie Jung is a genius because she gets REAL creative with the spice in here…that’s all I’m going to say. 🥵 I liked most of the characters in the book, but Trip was just on ANOTHER LEVEL for me!! Top tier book boyfriend right there.
I felt like this was an extremely well planned and written book with so much depth even beyond the romance—even a good bit of mystery! It’s also set in New York which gives it a very atmospheric vibe. Highly recommend!
And while this does technically classify as a love triangle, it is—strangely—more complicated than that. I will not be explaining further: read the book! 😉 The relationships are all messy, for sure, but I LOVED the focus on friendship throughout; it almost was as central of a theme as the romance itself, and it plays out in multiple ways with multiple characters. There’s also a heavy focus on family and legacy, which was woven in very well.
But the romance for sure had me swooning. Because these two couldn’t touch for like…most of the book, the tension and yearning was PALPABLE. Even I was sweating for a completely fictional couple. I also liked that this forced a lot of their relationship to be focused on laying a foundation of getting to know each other, trusting each other, and becoming friends. But also, Katie Jung is a genius because she gets REAL creative with the spice in here…that’s all I’m going to say. 🥵 I liked most of the characters in the book, but Trip was just on ANOTHER LEVEL for me!! Top tier book boyfriend right there.
I felt like this was an extremely well planned and written book with so much depth even beyond the romance—even a good bit of mystery! It’s also set in New York which gives it a very atmospheric vibe. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unfortunately for me, this book as felt rushed in the emotional development and pacing. This would be a “Maybe” in “Woud I Recommend?” But please also read rave reviews to get a balanced perspective.
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. This book comes out September 22.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC: Elzbieta “Libby” Lakoski (aka “Elz”). Nearing 30. An attorney in juvenile law. Doesn’t understand why she can see him, but no one else can...
– MMC 1: Carter Coldwell. Libby’s best friend. Is trying to avoid death by taxi due to a family curse. Comes from a rich NYC family.
– MMC 2: Trip Coldwell. Carter’s cousin. Has some hurdles to overcome. Wears earrings. Dog person.
– Location: NYC
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: 2 open-door spicy scenes (but not overly explicit)
– Tropes: love triangle, paranormal romance, generational family curse, mystery, they can’t touch, he falls first, yearning, he’s rich/she’s not
– Content warning: being raised by a grandparent, parent with addiction struggles, forced marriage situation, unrequited love
– Representation: LGBTQIA+ minor side characters
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
This was a difficult book for me to rate because there was so much heart behind it. For a debut, the author created a unique premise that blended romance, mystery, and magical realism in a way that immediately drew me in, and I appreciated the themes of self-worth and personal growth woven throughout Libby’s journey.
One of my favorite aspects was watching Libby begin to recognize her value. The paranormal elements also kept me engaged and gave the story an intriguing atmosphere.
That said, I struggled with the pacing and emotional progression of the romance. The premise suggested more of a slow burn, but the shift in Libby’s feelings felt much more immediate than I expected. Because so much emphasis was placed on her long-standing feelings for one of the MMCs early on, I wanted more gradual development and emotional buildup between Libby and the other MMC to fully invest in their connection.
I also found some of the emotional and paranormal storylines underdeveloped by the end. Certain resolutions felt rushed, and I would have loved more depth surrounding the family curse and character dynamics to strengthen the emotional payoff.
Overall, while this didn’t completely work for me as a romance, I still think it showed a lot of promise. The premise felt fresh, the story was engaging, and I’d definitely be interested in reading what this author writes next.
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Haunted House by Mackenna Grace
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven————✧———————Plot Driven
Fast Burn—————✧——————Slow Burn
Sweet—————✧——————Spicy
Light/Fluffy————✧———————Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. This book comes out September 22.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC: Elzbieta “Libby” Lakoski (aka “Elz”). Nearing 30. An attorney in juvenile law. Doesn’t understand why she can see him, but no one else can...
– MMC 1: Carter Coldwell. Libby’s best friend. Is trying to avoid death by taxi due to a family curse. Comes from a rich NYC family.
– MMC 2: Trip Coldwell. Carter’s cousin. Has some hurdles to overcome. Wears earrings. Dog person.
– Location: NYC
– POV: Single first-person
– Spice: 2 open-door spicy scenes (but not overly explicit)
– Tropes: love triangle, paranormal romance, generational family curse, mystery, they can’t touch, he falls first, yearning, he’s rich/she’s not
– Content warning: being raised by a grandparent, parent with addiction struggles, forced marriage situation, unrequited love
– Representation: LGBTQIA+ minor side characters
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
This was a difficult book for me to rate because there was so much heart behind it. For a debut, the author created a unique premise that blended romance, mystery, and magical realism in a way that immediately drew me in, and I appreciated the themes of self-worth and personal growth woven throughout Libby’s journey.
One of my favorite aspects was watching Libby begin to recognize her value. The paranormal elements also kept me engaged and gave the story an intriguing atmosphere.
That said, I struggled with the pacing and emotional progression of the romance. The premise suggested more of a slow burn, but the shift in Libby’s feelings felt much more immediate than I expected. Because so much emphasis was placed on her long-standing feelings for one of the MMCs early on, I wanted more gradual development and emotional buildup between Libby and the other MMC to fully invest in their connection.
I also found some of the emotional and paranormal storylines underdeveloped by the end. Certain resolutions felt rushed, and I would have loved more depth surrounding the family curse and character dynamics to strengthen the emotional payoff.
Overall, while this didn’t completely work for me as a romance, I still think it showed a lot of promise. The premise felt fresh, the story was engaging, and I’d definitely be interested in reading what this author writes next.
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Haunted House by Mackenna Grace
╰┈➤ ❝You weren’t there when I needed you to be, hopin’ you’re right where you wanna be, even if it’s not with me...’Cause a ghost never leaves a haunted house.❞
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven————✧———————Plot Driven
Fast Burn—————✧——————Slow Burn
Sweet—————✧——————Spicy
Light/Fluffy————✧———————Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
October 29, 2026
I kept waiting for the fall vibes to kick in, only for the calendar to keep moving forward until suddenly we're in May??? 😭
September 12, 2026
Thanks to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts 💌
A beautiful debut from Katie Jung! Ashley Poston fans will definitely want to tune in for this one!
When I say I like messy books with drama and family legacy chaos, You're the One That I Haunt will be one I fondly call to mind. Katie Jung's storytelling is clear, full of wit and a tender poignancy befitting the complexity that comes with navigating grief and hardship.
Trip (and his slutty little gold hoop earring) was such a charming love interest for our leading girl! I loved their banter and the constant push & pull of their attempts to deny their attraction despite the clear prohibitors that made this ache and burn so well.
This also had a bit of a mystery element to it, making it a deliciously cozy book to curl up with this fall, warm drink in hand and an image of a Theo James face with a Jess Mariano attitude....you're welcome.
(This really does read like Rory + Jess fanficton, pleaseeeee do with that what you will!)
A beautiful debut from Katie Jung! Ashley Poston fans will definitely want to tune in for this one!
When I say I like messy books with drama and family legacy chaos, You're the One That I Haunt will be one I fondly call to mind. Katie Jung's storytelling is clear, full of wit and a tender poignancy befitting the complexity that comes with navigating grief and hardship.
Trip (and his slutty little gold hoop earring) was such a charming love interest for our leading girl! I loved their banter and the constant push & pull of their attempts to deny their attraction despite the clear prohibitors that made this ache and burn so well.
This also had a bit of a mystery element to it, making it a deliciously cozy book to curl up with this fall, warm drink in hand and an image of a Theo James face with a Jess Mariano attitude....you're welcome.
(This really does read like Rory + Jess fanficton, pleaseeeee do with that what you will!)
September 22, 2026
I don't think there's anything better than reading a debut and knowing you just found another auto-read/buy author. This was SO insanely good, and I am obsessed with everything about Libby and Trip. I finished it (in mere hours... I mean I FLEW through this) and immediately wanted to shove it into the hands of every person I know and say "no you don't understand, I need you to read this now!!!!" And luckily for me, it's finally out in the world today, so you CAN go and read this right now! Please!!
How am I supposed to be normal after reading a paranormal romance about a hot ghost/not actually a ghost with a gold hoop earring, a centuries-old family curse, a 15-year unrequited crush, a wedding countdown, New York City, and the most delicious yearning I have experienced in such a long time because THEY CAN'T EVEN TOUCH?!? Katie Jung really put every single thing I love about romance into one book.
Libby absolutely stole my heart. I loved her from the very beginning, even when I wanted to shake her a little and yell “GIRL. PLEASE. LET HIM GOOOOO.” Watching her slowly realize how much of her life had been shaped around being chosen (or NOT chosen) by other people (especially Carter) and how often she made herself smaller to keep the peace was so beautifully done. Her journey felt just as important as the romance, and I loved that the story never made her self-worth dependent on which man she ended up with.
Then there’s Trip. TRIP MF COLDWELL!!!! I have never met a Trip I liked until this book, and this man changed the game. I have literally zero notes. He was perfect. The banter?? The flirting?? The teasing?? The way he sees Libby so clearly from the very beginning?! The way he pushes her to want more for herself?? The yearning and desire and want when they literally CAN’T TOUCH EACH OTHER?! Katie Jung somehow made two people standing several feet apart have more chemistry than couples who spend an entire book making out. I was giggling, I was kicking my feet, I was staring at the page like an absolute idiot. And honestly, the fact that their relationship has to develop without physical touch for so much of the story made it even better. They actually have to talk. They have to learn each other. They become friends. They build trust. They learn each other's little habits and insecurities and dreams. And somewhere in all of that, the attraction becomes completely undeniable. The payoff was PERFECT.
But what surprised me most was how much I loved everything happening OUTSIDE the romance. The curse kept me invested, the family dynamics were fascinating, and I loved the friendships woven throughout the story. And SABRINA?! I am so grateful this book did not take the lazy route of turning the best friend's fiancée into some awful obstacle standing between the main characters. I loved watching Libby get to know her and realizing that sometimes the person you thought was standing in the way of your happiness is actually someone who can become important to you in an entirely different way. There is so much heart here, too. Grief, family, friendship, feeling overlooked, learning to take up space, figuring out who you are when you stop living according to what everyone else expects from you. It all works alongside the romance without ever making the book feel heavy. Somehow this is simultaneously a ridiculous, swoony ghost romcom and a genuinely emotional story about choosing the life you actually want and choosing yourself before anything and anyone else. Yes, I am absolutely here for the romance. I LOVED the romance. I wanted Libby and Trip together with every fiber of my being. But what I loved even more that, in the end, was that Libby chose herself.
She gets her HEA, but she doesn't lose the part of herself that she fought so hard to find along the way. She doesn't go from “I need to be chosen” to “yay, now a man has chosen me and everything is perfect!” Her journey is about realizing that she gets a say in her own life. She gets to choose what she wants. She gets to take up space. She gets to stop shrinking herself. I absolutely ADORED that. I love that Libby's happiness isn't reduced to finding a man who completes her. She already learned how to choose herself. Her relationship with Trip becomes part of the life she wants not the thing that gives her a life worth wanting.
This was magical and funny and romantic and mysterious and just a little bit chaotic. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me swoon, and yes, it absolutely made me yell at the book more than once. And for a DEBUT?! Perfection. I loved Libby, Trip, the friendships, the mystery, the family drama, the magic, the yearning, the ending, even Carter (by the end)... basically everything. I cannot wait to see what Katie Jung writes next.
The biggest thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for this ARC!
How am I supposed to be normal after reading a paranormal romance about a hot ghost/not actually a ghost with a gold hoop earring, a centuries-old family curse, a 15-year unrequited crush, a wedding countdown, New York City, and the most delicious yearning I have experienced in such a long time because THEY CAN'T EVEN TOUCH?!? Katie Jung really put every single thing I love about romance into one book.
Libby absolutely stole my heart. I loved her from the very beginning, even when I wanted to shake her a little and yell “GIRL. PLEASE. LET HIM GOOOOO.” Watching her slowly realize how much of her life had been shaped around being chosen (or NOT chosen) by other people (especially Carter) and how often she made herself smaller to keep the peace was so beautifully done. Her journey felt just as important as the romance, and I loved that the story never made her self-worth dependent on which man she ended up with.
Then there’s Trip. TRIP MF COLDWELL!!!! I have never met a Trip I liked until this book, and this man changed the game. I have literally zero notes. He was perfect. The banter?? The flirting?? The teasing?? The way he sees Libby so clearly from the very beginning?! The way he pushes her to want more for herself?? The yearning and desire and want when they literally CAN’T TOUCH EACH OTHER?! Katie Jung somehow made two people standing several feet apart have more chemistry than couples who spend an entire book making out. I was giggling, I was kicking my feet, I was staring at the page like an absolute idiot. And honestly, the fact that their relationship has to develop without physical touch for so much of the story made it even better. They actually have to talk. They have to learn each other. They become friends. They build trust. They learn each other's little habits and insecurities and dreams. And somewhere in all of that, the attraction becomes completely undeniable. The payoff was PERFECT.
But what surprised me most was how much I loved everything happening OUTSIDE the romance. The curse kept me invested, the family dynamics were fascinating, and I loved the friendships woven throughout the story. And SABRINA?! I am so grateful this book did not take the lazy route of turning the best friend's fiancée into some awful obstacle standing between the main characters. I loved watching Libby get to know her and realizing that sometimes the person you thought was standing in the way of your happiness is actually someone who can become important to you in an entirely different way. There is so much heart here, too. Grief, family, friendship, feeling overlooked, learning to take up space, figuring out who you are when you stop living according to what everyone else expects from you. It all works alongside the romance without ever making the book feel heavy. Somehow this is simultaneously a ridiculous, swoony ghost romcom and a genuinely emotional story about choosing the life you actually want and choosing yourself before anything and anyone else. Yes, I am absolutely here for the romance. I LOVED the romance. I wanted Libby and Trip together with every fiber of my being. But what I loved even more that, in the end, was that Libby chose herself.
She gets her HEA, but she doesn't lose the part of herself that she fought so hard to find along the way. She doesn't go from “I need to be chosen” to “yay, now a man has chosen me and everything is perfect!” Her journey is about realizing that she gets a say in her own life. She gets to choose what she wants. She gets to take up space. She gets to stop shrinking herself. I absolutely ADORED that. I love that Libby's happiness isn't reduced to finding a man who completes her. She already learned how to choose herself. Her relationship with Trip becomes part of the life she wants not the thing that gives her a life worth wanting.
This was magical and funny and romantic and mysterious and just a little bit chaotic. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me swoon, and yes, it absolutely made me yell at the book more than once. And for a DEBUT?! Perfection. I loved Libby, Trip, the friendships, the mystery, the family drama, the magic, the yearning, the ending, even Carter (by the end)... basically everything. I cannot wait to see what Katie Jung writes next.
The biggest thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for this ARC!
October 20, 2026
Oh what a beautiful debut!! A speculative romcom, my favorite type of paranormal romance that includes ghosts, lots of emotions, and a heartbreakingly beautiful love story. If you liked The Dead Romantics and/or Good Spirits I feel like you will really like this one!! Thanks to @katiejungwrites @litgirl @penguinbooks for the free book and goodies 🫶🏻
You’re The One That I Haunt follows Libby, who has been in love with her best friend Carter for YEARS. When she finds out that Carter is suddenly getting married, her whole world turns upside down. And to make matters worse, she is being haunted by Carter’s cousin, Trip, who is a coma, and is determined to get her to help him solve his family’s curse so he can get a second chances at life, and she can stop Carter’s wedding.
I heard such great things about this book from besties @annasbookstacks and @bookswithbecks__ and I’m so glad I listened to them and picked up this book! Truly the perfect book to read during spooky season, I loved the paranormal aspect to this romance book. The vibes were perfect 🥰
I really loved Libby as a character and really related to her unrequited love and inability to stand up for herself and her feelings. Throughout the book, Trip really uplifts and empowers her to realize that her feelings are valid and she needs to stop letting Carter walk all over her. I thought her story was so powerful for so many young woman!
The romance was full of YEARNING, like I wanted to solve the curse myself so Trip could come back to life and get together with Libby!! The no touching and little wisps of contact made the yearning next level.
I am so impressed that this is a debut book and think it is the perfect fall romance to read!!
You’re The One That I Haunt follows Libby, who has been in love with her best friend Carter for YEARS. When she finds out that Carter is suddenly getting married, her whole world turns upside down. And to make matters worse, she is being haunted by Carter’s cousin, Trip, who is a coma, and is determined to get her to help him solve his family’s curse so he can get a second chances at life, and she can stop Carter’s wedding.
I heard such great things about this book from besties @annasbookstacks and @bookswithbecks__ and I’m so glad I listened to them and picked up this book! Truly the perfect book to read during spooky season, I loved the paranormal aspect to this romance book. The vibes were perfect 🥰
I really loved Libby as a character and really related to her unrequited love and inability to stand up for herself and her feelings. Throughout the book, Trip really uplifts and empowers her to realize that her feelings are valid and she needs to stop letting Carter walk all over her. I thought her story was so powerful for so many young woman!
The romance was full of YEARNING, like I wanted to solve the curse myself so Trip could come back to life and get together with Libby!! The no touching and little wisps of contact made the yearning next level.
I am so impressed that this is a debut book and think it is the perfect fall romance to read!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“This is beginning to feel more like a ghost story.” You’re the One That I Haunt is a cute debut contemporary romance with a speculative/paranormal-lite vibe to it. She’s been crushing (for years) on her best friend who is engaged and now she’s getting haunted by his cousin (who might just be falling for her)!
Libby has had a crush on her best friend Carter since they were teens. Now he’s back from London with a fiancée and Libby is counting down the days until his wedding and trying to think of ways to derail it. She ends up wandering around at one of the pre-wedding parties and runs into Trip, Carter’s (very hot) cousin. But things get weird when Libby is apparently the only one able to see and talk to Trip…because Trip is actually in a coma! It turns out Carter and Trip’s family is cursed, with every male relative since 1900 being killed in a cab accident. Trip and Libby team up to break the curse, save Trip, and possibly (if Libby has any say over it) stop the wedding!
This was a fast book to read and for a debut it was solid! There were some parts I needed a bit more from/changes: thought we’d get backstory on how the curse came to be originally, Carter and Libby’s situationship, I would have loved if she had met Trip before everything to (would have made sense with how close she was w/ Carter and his fam and would have helped even more with Trip being into her so quickly). Overall though very solid and fun, especially for a debut! I’d definitely be excited to see what this author writes next.
Libby has had a crush on her best friend Carter since they were teens. Now he’s back from London with a fiancée and Libby is counting down the days until his wedding and trying to think of ways to derail it. She ends up wandering around at one of the pre-wedding parties and runs into Trip, Carter’s (very hot) cousin. But things get weird when Libby is apparently the only one able to see and talk to Trip…because Trip is actually in a coma! It turns out Carter and Trip’s family is cursed, with every male relative since 1900 being killed in a cab accident. Trip and Libby team up to break the curse, save Trip, and possibly (if Libby has any say over it) stop the wedding!
This was a fast book to read and for a debut it was solid! There were some parts I needed a bit more from/changes: thought we’d get backstory on how the curse came to be originally, Carter and Libby’s situationship, I would have loved if she had met Trip before everything to (would have made sense with how close she was w/ Carter and his fam and would have helped even more with Trip being into her so quickly). Overall though very solid and fun, especially for a debut! I’d definitely be excited to see what this author writes next.
November 9, 2025
I was so lucky to be an early reader for this book and YOU WANT THIS ONE ON YOUR SHELF! Trip and Libby have a permanent place in my heart. Katie is a debut author to watch!
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