The Haunted Librarian

by Auralee Wallace

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

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

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

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

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

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

Audible Audio

First published October 6, 2026

About the author

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

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

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Ashley Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

[MikaReadsFantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Haunted Librarian by Auralee Wallace was such a cosy read, and I absolutely loved the autumnal library atmosphere!

Newly hired librarian Amelia Bates prefers books to people, living or dead, but her new workplace turns out to be anything but quiet. Between a shy head librarian and a trio of quirky ghosts causing paranormal havoc, Amelia finds herself getting more attached to the place and its inhabitants than she ever expected.

The atmosphere was definitely one of my favourite things about this book. Almost the entire story takes place inside the library, which feels like a warm, welcoming refuge from the storm outside. The people are lovely, the setting is wonderfully cosy, and I especially enjoyed the ghosts. They all have distinct personalities and come from different eras, making their interactions with Amelia a lot of fun. The modern ghost constantly calling her “dude” was particularly entertaining, even if I suspect I’d find that nickname absolutely infuriating myself.

There’s also a little romance sprinkled into the story, but it never overshadows the main focus on the library, the ghosts, and Amelia’s relationships with them. For my personal taste, the balance was just right!

Amelia herself is an interesting protagonist. Her past and her ability to see ghosts left her isolated during her youth, and she has continued to keep people at a distance as an adult. Her insecurity and hesitation in social situations could be frustrating at times, but they felt believable for her character and gave her more depth. I just wish we’d gotten to know her colleagues better, as they seemed interesting beyond their shared love of books.

The central conflict kept me invested because, by that point, I had grown quite attached to the library and its supernatural residents.

The pacing slowed down a little in the final third, and the ending was perhaps a touch too sentimental for my personal taste. And yet, once I finished, I found myself wishing there were more! For all its little flaws, this was a delightful, comforting read that left me wanting to spend more time with these characters. I’m genuinely sad that it’s a standalone.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quaint, small seaside town with a charming library and a haunted library – this had everything needed for a spooky read. This leans heavier towards the paranormal side, which is nice, with Amelia needing to help the ghostly residents of the library, while keeping it all from her new employers. I enjoyed the story, but it did drag in the middle and I found myself when Amelia actually had to be a librarian as both the patrons and her work-related tasks were few and far between. Otherwise, this was cute and the ending was fitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the review copy.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

[gracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and perfect for the spooky season, I really enjoyed this one even with the very slow start. Thank you Berkeley Publishing for the arc!

[Linne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the free book @penguinrandomhouse and @berkleypub #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #BerkleyBookstagram. Thank you for the free audiobook, @prhaudio

This author is really becoming a favorite of mine when it comes to cozy spooky with a heart!

If you love the feel of Halloween but without the full-on scare factor, please try out the cozy spooky genre!!

So the main character (Amelia) just got hired at the local library. With her being a ghostseer, she spotted 3 ghosts in the property on her first day! She doesn’t want anybody to know she can see ghosts so she continuously ignores them. That’s pretty much the plot 😂

I was actually surprised that the ghosts at first gave me the creeps 😂 I like the haunted library setting - perfect for spooky season. There’s also a romance subplot with Amelia and the head librarian. And my favorite part was the mix of paranormal and found family in this book!!

This is definitely another one you should totally add to your TBR for your Halloween reading! It comes out next Tuesday!!

[Sowmya · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️

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

[Tyler Hancsak · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Anna Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

[Melissa]

DNF 60% im so bored I dont even know whats happening

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eeeeppp!!! I ADORED this book! And am so in love with Auralee Wallace's quirky storytelling style. So. Much. Fun. And, honestly, a librarian heroine on a magical quest, albeit reluctantly, makes for the perfect atmospheric autumn read. Especially since there are ghosts...and a kinda sentient library. And a bit of light romance with an adorably befuddled head librarian. Amelia and Simon are endearingly socially awkward which made for some fun interactions. And the ghosts! Three unique spectres with distinctive backstories that hold important keys to Amelia's quest. Such an entertaining read...and a surprisingly emotional one as well. I teared up at the bittersweet ending.

I listened to the audible edition and thoroughly enjoyed Stephanie Cannon's narration. She captured the essence of each character perfectly. I especially loved the soothing tones of the professor! Her performance made the story that much more compelling and my only critique is that it was over all too soon!

[Calamity Ayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

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

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

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

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

Thank you to ACE and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Amanda Ferrante · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have so many questions/complaints. First Amelia was annoying. Who doesn’t like the fall? What kind of person doesn’t like the fall? Second, librarians don’t wear “woolen tights” to look “so librarian”. They wear book merch tshirts, cute dresses, and cardigans. Third, “the genius behind the Dewey decimal system” did the author research the guy? He was a pig and an awful human. And finally, wtf is a resting librarian face and I want to know if I have one.

Overall the story fell flat to me. Amelia was unlikeable in my opinion. It seemed like there was no real librarian storyline, just that she was in the building. As a librarian, that’s why I picked up this book. It felt like the author was trying to make a librarian job look cool without real sustenance to it.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my opinion*

Imagine spending your whole life pretending ghosts don't exist. Now imagine getting your dream job at the library which so happens to be haunted. The kicker? You have to stop pretending ghosts don't exist because if you don't help them, your library could be in peril.

This is my second book by Auralee and I have to say I liked this one much better! It was cute and quirky. I think the ghosts toook the the show. They were fantastic. Braden was hilarious and the Professor was precious. Even scary Minnie was cute. They each brought something special to help Amelia grow in her confidence.

This was the perfect fall read. It was cozy but also had some spooky vibes. The book makes me thing of cold, rainy fall days where you just want to curl up and read a book.

The ending was precious and heartwarming. I laughed. I cried. Those are some of the best things I can ask for in a story. With that being said, I think my biggest issue with the story was the relationship between Simon and Amelia. It just felt... awkward. Okay, so both characters are awkward but I just didn't feel the chemistry between them. They never really seemed to be together. It would have been fun to see the friendship explored more. I think it could have really added to the story.

Overall, it was such a cute cozy paranormal story. I highly recommend it!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

[Elizabeth Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun story. The setting was perfectly cozy and fit the story so well. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Braden. The ghosts and the way they interacted with the world reminded me a bit of Scooby-Doo. Honestly, the whole town kind of had that vibe, and I loved it. Amelia’s story was interesting, and I wish we'd gotten a bit more insight into her past. However, with the main focus being on saving the library and ghosts, and Amelia accepting who she is, it made sense not to spend too much time on her past. Learning each ghost's reason for being trapped was well done, and I loved how the final few scenes played out. I also especially loved Rosalinda’s story. I do wish we got to see more of how Amelia became a part of the community, vs. just hearing about it, but that was also cutely done, so I’m not mad about it. Thank you to the publisher for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Brooke Crosson · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

3.25 🌟 this might be my least favorite from this author but still enjoyable! This is definitely a book for people who love books. The haunted library on Prince Edward Island is such a gloomy but perfect setting. The FMC Amelia had some great character development and I especially liked watching her form connections with the library’s ghosts. Amelia often felt a bit juvenile, which makes sense with her upbringing, but resulted in her having some pretty awkward moments. I do love this author’s humor though which often came out in Braden’s character and had me giggling. The ending was very moving and quite the tear jerker. Overall, I enjoyed this one and do recommend it but I would start with The Evenfall Witches B&B series, The Late Night Witches, and then check this one out if you are still wanting more from this author.

[Nicole Alycia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 🌟

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

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

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

[Scarlet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cozy Halloween read and I'd read it again in a heartbeat. This book starts off with Amelia an orphan who is also a ghosts ghostseer gets a job as a librarian. Amelia has kept her seeing ghosts a secret her whole life till she quickly realizes that her new job not only has one but three needing her help. You'll have to read to find out more. This was such a cozy paranormal book and such a refreshing read from my normal. The ghosts had me giggling throughout and I didnt expect they would bring as much chaos to the table as they did. If you want a cozy read thats has a few suspenseful moments that'll keep you turning pages then this is the read for you. Highly Recommend!

[Caitlin (CMAReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berkley eARC
If you're wanting a ghost story for fall that is not scary, but cozy, add this to your fall TBR immediately. This book was so sweet. It's centered on a haunted library and full of book references and is perfect for readers. Amelia was so easy to root for. She was guarded, and understandably so, and watching her grow through this novel was delightful. I also liked Simon and how he got her to open up more. The ghosts here were fantastic. They were so rich and added fun to the plot. I liked how Amelia could see them and how she finally had to face this 'problem' she had by them always being where she worked. This was delightful.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable story about a librarian who sees ghosts. Amelia gets her dream job at a beautiful library, but there's one snag, there are ghosts living there and she has rules about not interacting with them even though she can see them. She just wants to be normal for once in her lonely life. This is a wonderful story about accepting yourself and not hiding your true self to those who you care for. People that see the real you are the ones who are worth it in the end. I would have liked a little more of the romance, but I get it was more about Amelia growing into herself and accepting herself.

[Sue Em · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Combining many of my favorite elements in a story such as found family, books, librarians and ghosts, this one hit home. Amelia, a former foster child and a ghostseer since childhood, lands her dream job in a library. Only problem, she discovers three ghosts in the library. Ghosts, just like the ones she blatantly ignores and pretends she cannot see. While coming to terms with the resident ghosts, she discovers an imminent and devastating threat to the library. Amelia, at the outset, is beyond shy and painfully lacking in confidence, but comes into her own. Lovely story. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

eekk this was so cute!

i love cozy, autumnal reads and this hit the spot! the haunted librarian had so many fun and quirky characters that made reading this so much fun! i loved amelia as an MC and i loved reading her character development. some of her interactions with the ghosts in the book made giggle. i def recommend this book and i will be reading more from auralee wallace in the future for sure!

overall, thank you to berkley publishing group | ace for the arc <3

[Rainey · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Read in advance via NetGalley, thanks to Berkley.

A paranormal cozy fantasy, full of seasonal vibes and the love of libraries.

I appreciated the emphasis on found family over the romantic possibilities, as well as the setting on Prince Edward Island.

I would have liked to see more of Amelia’s interactions with the community members and her professional practice, but I still really enjoyed the setting.

[Leisa Back Porch Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Madelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but the ghosts were more lively than the breathing characters. I wanted even more of them and less of Amelia.

[Farah Ferreiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved all the characters!!!
This book just made me happy!

[Bree Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobbed my eyes out the whole last 100 pages of this book. Instant five stars.