A pretty librarian inherits a library and falls for the sexy architect who believes he should be the rightful owner in this enemies-to-lovers romcom.
Librarian Callie Jameson is floored when she learns she’s to inherit the historic library on Petite Bois Island. All she knows about the barrier island off the coast of Louisiana is what her benefactor and beloved patron, Khaki Boudreaux, has told her about it and the beautiful life—and love—she once had there.
Seeing this opportunity as a chance to start over, Callie packs up her tortoiseshell cat, Stella, and heads south. But the moment she sets foot in the beautiful old building, she encounters an all-too-handsome tenant who claims the library belongs to him. So much for southern hospitality . . .
Trey LeBlanc spent his happiest summers with his Aunt Khaki on Petit Bois Island and has been living at the library while he renovates the old building. After all the effort he’s put into this place, he can’t understand why his aunt cut him out of the will. Now he’ll have to convince Callie and her very opinionated cat to sell him the cherished property.
But then strange things start to happen around the library, and Trey hopes Callie will just get scared off by the “ghosts” haunting the place. When he realizes these aren’t just neighborhood kids pulling pranks, however, but rather a dangerous scheme to get rid of the woman he’s beginning to fall for, he’ll do anything to keep her safe in his arms forever . . .
Tropes enemies to lovers, forced proximity, matchmaking, and woman in jeopardy.
Manda Collins grew up on a combination of Nancy Drew books and Jane Austen novels, and her own brand of Regency romantic suspense is the result. A former academic librarian, she holds advanced degrees in English Lit and Librarianship. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Entertainment Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, Bookpage, and USA Today. A native of Alabama, she lives on the Gulf Coast with a very stubborn cat and more books than are strictly necessary.
Ghost Me, Maybe by Manda Colls is a blend of wit with heartfelt layers of love, loss and second chances by serving up an enemies-to-lovers romcom with just enough mystery to keep your pulse ticking a little faster. Set on the coast of Louisiana, Petite Cote Island gives readers a warm invitation to laugh, swoon, and maybe just believe a library can hold more than old stories – it can hold healing, too.
Callie Jameson, a Cincinnati librarian whose never had a chance to really set down roots, never planned to leave Ohio once she got there. But plans change when she learns that her beloved library patron, and friend, Mrs. Katherine “Khaki" Boudreaux, has left her a surprising legacy. But there are conditions: in exchange for Khaki's library in PCI and one million dollars, Callie must move to PCI and live in the library for one year.
Khaki's life, and love story with her husband Remy, was steeped in the history of the St. Inatius college grounds being where they met. So after hurricane Rita destroyed the college campus, Remy purchased the library as an anniversary gift for Khaki. It's more than just wood and stone; it's a time capsule of a once golden age, and in Khaki's eyes, the perfect refuge for someone who's forgotten how to dream.
So Callie packs up her stuff, rents out her home, grabs her cat Stella, and heads to Petite Cote Island chasing more than inheritance - she's chasing a life reset button. What she finds instead is Trey LeBlanc, Khaki's great-nephew. A gruff and brooding architect knee-deep in renovations and resentment, Trey is convinced Khaki made a mistake in her will leaving his library to an outsider. The two clash instantly, and their bickering sparks a friction that neither can deny.
But love is rarely simple – especially when the creaks in an old Louisiana library aren't just settling wood and stone. Strange noises, flickering lights, and uninvited guests have Callie and Trey thinking the haunting might be more than just a silly superstition. When the ghost grows bolder, threatening their safety, they decide to put their differences aside and team up. Between mystery-solving, late-night paint touch-ups, and accidental heart-to-hearts, Callie and Trey start to realize the ghosts haunting them might not live in the walls, but within themselves.
Collins builds her cast with warmth and whimsy, grounding southern charm with emotional authenticity. Callie is easy to root for, carrying both wanderlust and weariness, she longs for roots after a lifetime of motion. She is pragmatic and emotionally honest making her the kind of character readers latch onto the moment they meet her. Trey is the prototypical grumpy-sunshine character, a wounded romantic disguised by irritation and hammer in hand. His bitterness is understandable, his gradual softening is believable, and his unspoken longing is downright swoon-worthy. Khaki may have passed before the story begins, but her presence threads through every page. A benevolent spirit of sorts, whose affection shapes both the setting and the people in it. The supporting cast give the island a cozy, lived-in quality and remind readers that community, more than romance, is often where we find our footing when we feel lost. The story is textured by loss, misunderstanding, and redemption. The perfect mix of heartbreak and hearwarming.
There is something irresistible about Petite Cote Island – the salt air, the humidity that curls secrets out of hiding, the hint of magic that seems to cling to every porch light. You feel the island come alive, feel the sand under Callie's feet and taste the coffee shared over morning tension and late-night confessions.
Ghost Me, Maybe moves with steady confidence – not rushed, but never dull. Transitioning is smooth and seamless. The blend of romcom banter, and cozy suspense gives this story its soul. It's cinematic, comforting, and full of moments you'll wish you could dog-ear and live inside for awhile.
Now, there is one small thing that didn't quite land for me (and I won't spoil it) but it wasn't enough to dull the glow of what this story achieves. At its core, readers are faced with grief, finding magic in unlikely places, and realizing sometimes what feels like loss is just life rerouting you home.
Ghost Me, Maybe is fueled on atmosphere and emotions. Collins brings PCI to life with cinematic descriptions from walks on the boardwalk to a boat outing with friends. Do not go into this looking for a fast-pace, crime thriller. It's more of a slow-burn, romcom, mystery that readers can immerse themselves in, envisioning being right there within the story.
If you are looking for a light-hearted, meet-cute type read for fall that you won't be able to put down, Ghost Me, Maybe should be added to your TBR for release on 9/22/26.
Thank you to NetGalley and Manda Collins for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC on Ghost Me, Maybe. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.
Ghost Me, Maybe is an adorable cozy romance set in a possibly haunted college library that was converted to a home. A haunted library is my dream living situation so obviously I was drawn to this book.
Callie was living a quiet, if somewhat dissatisfying life as a librarian at the Cincinnati Public Library when she receives a surprise inheritance from Ms. Khaki, one of her favorite patrons. At first Callie refuses the large sum of money and beachfront home that used to be St Ignacius College’s library but after some convincing from Ms. Khaki’s daughter Callie accepts. Cue Callie quitting her stable job, and moving to Petite Cote Island near New Orleans. Trey, Ms Khakis estranged nephew, has been living in the house and fixing it up since the hurricane that wrecked it. Trey was hoping he would have been left the library and is upset when Callie walks through the door.
The book is marketed as enemies to lovers however, Trey and Callie are just so polite together it’s more like reluctantly tolerate room mates to lovers. Trey is immediately attracted to Callie, and instead of contesting the will (which would have made them actual enemies) he is hoping he can get Callie to sell him the library at an affordable price. What Trey doesn’t tell Callie is that for the last few months someone has been faking a haunting in the library by playing Halloween noises over a Bluetooth speaker. Trey hopes that if he lets these “hauntings” continue Callie will get freaked out and leave. On one of the first nights Callie stays at the library the haunting begins however, it seems the pranksters have escalated things and involved Callie’s cat Stella (don’t worry Stella is unharmed). This is when Trey decides it has gone to far and contacts the police. From that point on Trey and Callie read more like allies then enemies.
While I did enjoy the cozy atmosphere of Petite Cote Island, and the library I found the writing during a lot of the exciting events was more tell then show. I also thought the time jumps throughout took away from the urgency of the haunting, and the romantic buildup. I acknowledge that this could be a me problem as I went into the book expecting higher stakes or more action then was delivered. I believe this book is a good fit for someone who wants a cozy fall rom com that gives spooky vibes without any actual scares.
Thank you Podium Entertainment for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Callie Jameson is a librarian who unexpectedly inherits a historic library off the coast of Louisiana from a former patron. At first, it all feels a bit too good to be true… and it doesn’t take long for her to realise that it probably is.
Also living in the library is her patron Khaki’s great-nephew, Trey, who is completely convinced that Callie somehow conned his relative into leaving her both the library and a one million dollar inheritance. He makes it very clear from the start that he does not trust her and is not happy about the situation.
On top of that, there are the strange goings on in the famously haunted library, and Callie starts to question whether this inheritance is actually the fresh start she thought it would be.
This one was a bit disappointing for me. I think part of that is on me though, because I went into it expecting something with more of a spooky, slightly paranormal edge, and that is not really what this book delivers.
I did like the growing tension between Trey and Callie, and there were moments where their dynamic worked well, but I never felt fully invested in their relationship. I’m not entirely sure if that’s because of my expectations going in or something else, but I just didn’t find myself as engaged with them as I wanted to be. That said, I don’t think the writing itself was the issue.
I did really enjoy the setting. The small coastal town had a great atmosphere, and I liked the side characters and the friendships Callie builds along the way. Those elements added a lot of charm to the story and kept me reading even when other parts didn’t fully land for me.
The twist towards the end felt a bit more dramatic than it needed to be, especially compared to the overall tone of the book. I think this ties back into my expectations again. I was hoping for something genuinely paranormal, not something that could be explained away so easily, and that reveal is probably the main reason this didn’t quite work for me.
Overall, while this one didn’t fully hit for me, I can see what it was trying to do and I did enjoy parts of it. I would still read from this author again because the story itself was delivered well, even if it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.
Tropes: Forced proximity Enemies to lovers Light suspense
From the instant Callie steps onto Petite Bois Island, the atmosphere wraps around you with its mix of warmth, mystery, and that deliciously unsettling small-town charm. The old library feels like the kind of place you’d happily get lost in for hours, even with whispers of ghosts lingering in the background. Every corner of the island carries a sense of history, making the setting just as captivating as the story itself.
Callie is impossible not to love. She’s capable, determined, and refuses to let anyone intimidate her, especially Trey. And Trey definitely makes a terrible first impression. His suspicion toward Callie after Khaki leaves her the house and inheritance creates immediate tension, and their constant back-and-forth is endlessly entertaining. What starts as resentment slowly transforms into understanding, and the progression of their relationship feels natural, heartfelt, and incredibly satisfying.
After inheriting Khaki’s home, Callie moves in knowing she must stay there for a full year before receiving the rest of the inheritance. Trey, still bitter that his great-aunt left the property to someone outside the family, believes Callie manipulated Khaki in some way. Despite their rocky start, Callie allows him to remain at the house while he continues repairs, forcing them into close quarters whether they like it or not.
As strange incidents around the house begin piling up, the story takes on a fun paranormal edge. The supposed haunting adds suspense without overshadowing the romance, and the mystery keeps the pages turning with unexpected twists and clever reveals. Watching Callie and Trey join forces to uncover who is behind the eerie events makes their growing connection even more engaging.
The small-town cast adds so much personality, and Stella the cat absolutely steals every scene she appears in. Her presence gives the story an extra layer of charm that perfectly matches the cozy atmosphere.
Overall, this is a quick, entertaining read filled with sharp banter, emotional growth, and a mystery that keeps things lively from beginning to end. The blend of romance, humor, and intrigue makes it the perfect pick for anyone wanting something light, immersive, and thoroughly enjoyable.
I picked up Ghost Me, Maybe expecting a cute romcom with a fun paranormal twist, and honestly, it delivered exactly the kind of entertaining, cozy chaos I was in the mood for. This book blends romance, mystery, humor, and just a touch of spooky energy in a way that feels light, fun, and super easy to get lost in.
The story tollows Callie a librarian who unexpectedly inherits a historic library off the coast of Louisiana from a former patron. After inheriting Khaki's home, Callie moves in knowing she must stay there tor a tull year betore receiving the rest of the inheritance. Trey, (Khaki's nephew) still bitter that his great-aunt left the property to someone outside the family, and believes Callie manipulated Khaki in some way.
As she tries to make sense of what's happening, she ends up working alongside Trey who's just as skeptical (and intriguing) as she is, and together they start peeling back layers of a mystery that's been left unresolved for far too long. The ghost element isn't just there for atmosphere, it actually pushes her into places she wouldn't normally go, forcing her to confront both external danger and her own hesitation about trusting people again.
What I really enjoyed was how easy this book was to sink into. The vibe felt cozy and funny, but there were still moments that genuinely made me invested in the characters. The paranormal element added something playful without completely taking over the romance, which I appreciated because it still telt grounded in relationships and personal growth.
The banter felt natural, the chemistry was cute, and the whole thing had that "just one more chapter" energy. It's quirky in the best way, a little spooky without actually being scary, and honestly just such a good palate cleanser if you want something fun and light.
Overall, this felt like the kind of book you pick up when you want something cozy, funny, and slightly whimsical with romcom energy and a ghostly little twist 👻🫶🏻
Reviewing an Advanced Reader’s Copy/Uncorrected Proof from Net Galley
Thank you to NetGalley, Podium Publishing, and the author - Ms. Manda Collins for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of Ghost Me, Maybe in exchange for an honest review.
Ghost Me, Maybe is a light, easy-to-read romance with cozy coastal-town vibes, a lovable cat, charming banter, and a touch of mystery. The story follows Callie, a librarian from Cincinnati who unexpectedly inherits a library in a small coastal town. However, there’s a condition attached to the inheritance: she must move there and stay a year, and only then will she receive the one million dollars left to her by one of her favorite library patrons.
When Callie arrives, she meets Trey, the patron’s great-nephew, who is staying at the library while renovating it. Sparks immediately fly between them, though both are initially skeptical of the other’s intentions. Callie believes that if Trey had truly cared for his great-aunt, he would have visited her more often and perhaps inherited the library himself. Meanwhile, Trey suspects Callie may have grown close to his elderly great-aunt simply to secure the inheritance.
As strange “haunting” incidents begin occurring around the library, the two initially assume local teenagers are behind the pranks. But as the mystery deepens, so does their connection. Through working together, they gradually lower their defenses and realize how much they genuinely care for one another.
The romance itself is sweet and wholesome rather than intense or spicy. There are no explicit scenes, violent scenes or heavy language, making this a very family-friendly and cozy romantic read. While the story may not bring anything particularly groundbreaking or unique to the genre, it succeeds in being warm, comforting, and entertaining.
Overall, Ghost Me Maybe is a cute, breezy one-day read perfect for readers who enjoy small coastal towns, cozy mysteries, light paranormal touches, and gentle romance.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Manda Collins for this ARC!
3.5 stars- This is a light, cozy, easy, closed door romance read that takes place in a small island town in Louisiana. The setting of this story was my favorite. A close knit community in a town that gave a bit of those spooky vibes known to that area in the south.
We get to meet Callie, a librarian from Cincinnati, that was left an old library and an inheritance by Khaki, who frequented the library she worked at and became close friends. the catch is, Callie has to live at the library for an entire year before getting all of the money Khaki left her. When Callie and her cat, Stella, arrive at her new home, she meets Trey, Khaki's great nephew who was angry the library wasn't left to him like he thought it would be. Trey spent the last year renovating the space and Callie agrees to allow him to continue living there and finishing the renovations. While their relationship was off to a rocky start, the 2 became close as creepy things started happening around the library.
I absolutely loved the old historic aspect of the library. It gave it the perfect creepy feeling most old buildings give which helped the narrative of the story.
With this story being in third person dual POV I do feel like we miss some of the connection between the main characters. It would have been nice to get that inner monologue and feelings that come with a first person POV. There are some time jumps which make the romance feel like it goes from mild dislike to instant love quickly. I would have liked to see their relationship flesh out a bit more.
Overall, this was a fun story that had likable characters and was true to the wonderful personality of the south and those that live there. The mystery aspect was fun and kept me engulfed in the story from beginning to end.
📚 Book Review Ghost Me, Maybe – Manda Collins Pub Date: 22 September 2026 If you love a romcom with sass, tension, and a touch of mystery, Ghost Me, Maybe is such a fun, addictive read 👻💕 From the moment Callie arrives on Petite Bois Island, the story pulls you straight into its charming, slightly eerie small-town setting. The historic library gives off all the cozy-but-haunted vibes, and honestly? I wanted to move in immediately (ghosts and all 👀). Callie is an absolute gem—strong, independent, and not afraid to stand her ground. And Trey? The audacity of this man at the start 😅🔥 but that just makes the enemies-to-lovers tension even better. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry builds beautifully, and watching that shift from frustration to something deeper is so satisfying. What really elevates this story is the mystery element woven through the romance. The “ghostly” happenings keep things interesting, adding just enough suspense to balance out the humour and heart. It’s not just cute—it’s engaging, with real stakes that pull you in. And let’s not forget Stella the cat 🐾—stealing scenes and adding that extra bit of personality that makes the story feel even more alive. ✨ Expect: Enemies to lovers with real tension Forced proximity that delivers 👀 Small-town charm with a spooky twist 👻 A protective MMC moment we LOVE 🔥 Overall, this is a fun, feel-good romcom with a hint of danger and a lot of heart. Perfect for when you want something light, flirty, but still with a bit of intrigue. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Charming, witty, and just the right amount of spooky romance magic 💕
3.5 stars rounded up, to this spooky little small town romance (with a cute cat).
I’ve been on a Halloween reading streak recently, so I’m pleased to add this to the list.
Here we get: - Enemies to lovers - Grumpy MMC - Small town Vibes - Louisiana setting (I LOVE!)
I think this is a pretty standard book of its kind, but in a good way. If you enjoy romance novels, and you’re looking for something autumnal with just a little bit of creepy pizzaz, you’ll probably enjoy it. It reminds me quite a bit of Jen DeLuca’s paranormal romances- so it’ll also be great if you’re a fan of those!
Callie is a super-sweet main character, and I liked her instantly! Trey on the other hand, isn’t a character that I was able to really get behind. (Im never super fond of grumpiness, but especially when said grumpiness comes from a sense of entitlement). So, he definitely wasn’t my favorite! But I think Callie was definitely the star of the show anyway.
The setting is perfect! Louisiana has a special place in my heart, so I will never pass up the opportunity to picture it in a story. Bonus points for the crawfish boil scene. Talk about spreading culture.
Overall, it’s cute and it’s fun, while also being simple and a super quick read. So it checks a lot of boxes!
Thank you to Netgalley, podium entertainment and author Manda Collins, for providing me with the eARC of “Ghost Me, Maybe”, in exchange for my honest review! Publication date: September 22, 2026
Ghost Me, Maybe is a lovely and cute cosy romance with a sprinkle of mystery. Honestly, this is the perfect book to read, curled up in your favourite chair with a hot cup of tea (or coffee), ignoring everything and losing yourself in the story. And that's exactly what I did. I read it in one day (it helped that it's not THAT long and the story definitely held my interest, too), and I enjoyed every moment. I loved that the two main characters are not 20-somethings, but are more mature people in their late 30s, plus their banter was cute, leading to a closed-door romance. And I kid you not, I never expected the simple line of "Hold that thought" to make my heart misbehave! The background mystery was interesting, I couldn't quite guess where it was leading. Based on the blurb I expected a bit more of spookiness, but I'm not mad at what I got. Oh, and I really appreciated the small references and winks at the outside world, but my most favourite moment must be the A Streetcar Named Desire reference. It's subtle and clever and fun! I have only one question: What do I need to do to inherit a library (and one million dollars)? Or I would be happy with simply the chance to move to Petite Cote Island, too, if anyone's looking!
Manda Collins is definitely an author I'm going to be reading more from!
📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026 📝 Thank you to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Podium for approving me for this e-ARC via NetGalley!
Ghost Me, Maybe is a charming, cosy romance with a fun mystery at its heart. The story follows Callie, a librarian from Ohio who unexpectedly inherits a former library on a small island town in Louisiana from a recently deceased patron. When she moves to Petite Côte Island with her cat, Stella, she discovers the patron’s nephew, Trey, already living in, and refurbishing, the library. Unsurprisingly, he is far from thrilled about the terms of his aunt’s will. When suspicious “hauntings” begin to plague the library, Callie and Trey must team up to uncover what’s really going on.
This was a really enjoyable and easy read, and I especially loved the mystery and the twists and turns along the way. The cosy small town setting was delightful, and the central premise was a lot of fun. While the spooky elements weren’t as strong as I would have liked, and the enemies-to-lovers romance felt more like they were mildly inconvenienced by one another than true animosity, I still found the character dynamic engaging. The story was a little clunky in places due to some time jumps, but it never stopped me from enjoying it.
Overall, Ghost Me, Maybe was a cute, comforting read with a solid mystery and plenty of charm, and I’m glad I picked it up.
Thank you, Net Galley, for this ARC. Callie inherits a house and money from, Khaki. Khaki was her friend and a guest at the library where Callie worked. Callie decides to move to the house as per the will she has to live there a year prior to getting the money. When she arrives at the house she meets Trey, Khaki's great nephew. He is not thrilled that his great Aunt left the house to Callie as he thinks Callie swindled her. Callie begrudgingly lets Trey stay at the house to continue working on it. As they get to know each other, they realize that someone is haunting/pranking the house. They then work together to find out who is behind this. Callie and Trey start to become friends, realize they misjudged each other, and eventually start falling for each other. As they continue on their investigation, more twist and turns ensue until the culprit is finally revealed. This was a fast and fun read. I really liked the banter between Callie and Trey, seeing them fall in love, and the small-town characters and vibes. If you are looking for a lighthearted and quick read, this is a great book to pick up,
3.5⭐️ This was a cozy haunted mystery story. It is a great end of summer/beginning of Fall vibes story. It starts with Callie the FMC inheriting an old college library on an island near New Orleans. She meets the MMC, Trey, who is renovating the library for his aunt who just passed away. When they first meet, he dislikes Callie because he was told he would inherit the library so he thinks Callie manipulated his Aunt. They eventually start getting to know each other by banding together to figure out the mystery of the haunting of the library. I really was intrigued and invested in solving the mystery. The ending was cute and we find out the Aunt was conspiring to get Trey and Callie to fall for each other. I loved all the Cajun references especially the food. I love a good crawfish boil. What I didn’t like was that it’s 3rd person pov and I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the characters. I would have liked more banter and sizzle between them. Overall a cute haunting romance story.
Callie nunca pensó que un cambio tan grande llegaría de la nada. Dejar su vida atrás para mudarse a una isla y hacerse cargo de una biblioteca antigua suena bonito en teoría, pero en la práctica todo es un desastre. Nada sale como esperaba y para colmo no está sola, porque el lugar ya tiene a alguien viviendo ahí que no está dispuesto a irse.
Trey siente que ese sitio es suyo y no confía en la razón por la que Callie terminó ahí. La convivencia se vuelve tensa, llena de discusiones y miradas incómodas, mientras ambos intentan defender su lugar. Con una casa llena de historia, ruidos raros y emociones que ninguno quiere admitir, lo que parecía un año pasajero empieza a complicarse más de lo que Callie imaginaba.
__________
Al inicio me cayó mal Trey y no entendía porque se sentía con el derecho poder decir quien podría quedarse con la casa de su tia.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
📚 Rom-Com 📚 Spooky mystery 📚 Adventurous kitty! 📚 Closed door 📚 Forced proximity 📚 Dislike to lovers
This book is a perfect short read for the end of summer. It’s got cozy, beachy, spooky, and sassy vibes. The book is well written and the plot is well thought out. It also gave me some nostalgic moments and reminded me of when I was a kid helping Scooby-Doo solve a mystery.
What didn’t work for me: This book is 3rd person POV and personally I prefer 1st person POVs. I felt like I wasn’t able to fully dive in to the story and the characters. I also feel like we miss a lot of the relationship building between Callie and Trey and go from dislike to insta love pretty quickly.
I think the right audience will LOVE this book and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for this kind of story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early!
Out of all the things I expected to find in this book, none came close to what it actually is. I binged it, and in my mind the whole thing was playing Scooby-Doo style (yes, as in seeing the characters in full cartoon style bending over to obnoxiously look at the newest clue), with the intro song included. So, while I wasn't expecting to read what may as well be a rom-com Scooby-Doo episode, I am delighted I did. It was so absolutely cozy, with this aura of Clue mystery that's not quite spooky, but rather engaging, and most of all? It is a book where characters are important. The background characters aren't just there; they engage with the characters, with the story, and, honestly? Here, they didn't feel like the background but rather like they were part of the ambience, as in, they weren't just here like the kids playing TREE#2 but rather like the voices in a choir you cannot see but the song cannot play without.
Just fine. Short and sweet closed door romance with a little mystery plot. Tropes include forced proximity, small town, animal sidekick, dual POV.
Overall I found this to be an easy read to get through. I was vacationing in a small coastal town while reading this, and I was easily transported to the Louisiana island this story takes place on. It was easy to relate to both MCs and root for them with their shared goal of restoring the old library.
This might be the one and only time I would say this; this could have been single POV. I almost always prefer a dual POV in romance novels, but I think the tension of the forced proximity romance would have come through a lot better if it was just Callie’s POV. The book is so short that with the dual POV, everything moves so quickly and the tension was kind of lost.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Callie deja atrás su vida para mudarse a una isla que promete calma y un nuevo comienzo, todo gracias a una herencia inesperada. Lo que parecía una oportunidad perfecta se complica desde el primer momento, cuando se queda sin lugar donde dormir y termina en una antigua biblioteca que ahora es suya, aunque alguien no está de acuerdo.
Dentro vive Trey, alguien que tiene sus propias razones para no quererla ahí y que no confía nada en ella. Los dos empiezan con el pie izquierdo, con discusiones y tensión constante, pero el lugar también tiene sus rarezas, ruidos extraños y momentos que no encajan del todo. Mientras intentan soportarse y entender qué hacer con la biblioteca, la convivencia se vuelve cada vez más intensa y difícil de ignorar.
This was an easy read. It wasn’t spooky per se, but there was enough mystery woven throughout the story to keep me interested and wanting to know what would happen next.
I do wish there had been a little more backstory between the main female character and the woman who sets her on this new journey. Their connection felt important, and I would have loved to learn more about their history together.
The plot itself was entertaining, the romance element was solid, and I really enjoyed uncovering the truth behind the mystery alongside the characters. Overall, this was a fun read that balanced mystery, romance, and light paranormal elements well.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ghost Me, Maybe is a cozy fade-to-black romcom mystery set in Petite Côte Island, a fictional barrier island town off the coast of Louisiana (likely modeled after Grand Isle).
The story provides light Cajun fare with the food, place, and language with MMC Trey and the rest of the community along with a love for books through Callie, the FMC librarian and the vintage library setting. Not a ton of suspense or mystery in the hauntings. My first Manda Collins story but likely not my last with the easy, fast read.
Thanks to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy!
A special thank you to Netgalley, Podium Entertainment and Manda Collins for this ARC copy!
This was a super cute small town romance that even had a bit of thriller/suspense in it. The overall story was very enjoyable and the suspense made it very entertaining and kept me hooked until the end. I do feel like parts of the story were rushed, specifically the relationship between the 2 main characters. They started as enemies and I do think it had a nice slow burn but I think the tension and yearning between them could have been dragged out just a little. Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel
I really enjoyed this charming romcom! The combination of a spooky old library, small-town mystery, and enemies-to-lovers romance made this such a fun read. Callie and Trey had great chemistry from the start, and I loved the tension between them as they fought over the inheritance while slowly falling for each other. Stella the cat absolutely stole scenes whenever she appeared. The mix of humor, heart, and suspense kept me turning pages, and the story felt warm and comforting while still having enough twists to stay engaging.
If you enjoy cozy paranormal romances with lovable characters, forced proximity, and a touch of danger, this is definitely worth picking up.
It was like 2.3 stars It was a cozy suspense with paranormal vibes. I loved the idea of the book but unfortunately the execution was not as good. The story was short which itself was wrong because I didn't get much details on the ghostly encounters. And like 80% of the book they were making very minimal effort solve the abnormal things going on in the library. And the first clue came at 90%. Yes, 90%. Seriously! Not to lie but it was boring. The MMC hugged her ex wife when she was crying to take her back!? Even though he said no, but kind of felt weird, you know? The romance and suspense both were lacking at its part.
Callie inherits a Louisiana house from a library patron, but the will requires her to live there for a year. The problem? Trey, the great-nephew, is already living there and not happy about it. They clash at first, but when strange things start happening, they team up to uncover the mystery.
I loved the mix of light romance, mystery, and paranormal vibes, plus the forced-proximity tension between Callie and Trey.
Thanks to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for the ARC—I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
I received an ARC copy from Podium Entertainment via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Another great read! A surprise inheritance, a cat with opinions, and top-tier banter? Immediate yes from me. This was such a cozy, feel-good romance that had me grinning the whole time. I recently visited New Orleans, so all the descriptions of beignets and sausage had me ready to book another trip immediately. Honestly, this book should come with snacks. Cute, cozy, funny, and enjoyable — definitely give this one a chance!
This was definitely more of a cozy mystery romance than a paranormal romance. At just under 200 pages, it’s low angst and a quick read. And it still ended up having a decent amount of relationship building.
The ending was a bit silly and cheesy. But still cute!
✨ What to Expect • Enemies to lovers • Librarian FMC • Architect MMC • Inherited library • Small island • Ghostly pranks _ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026 📝 Thank you to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
I enjoyed this book - I loved the ending and storyline in general. However, It felt a bit too fast paced and for me there wasn't enough tension between Callie and Trey. But, this book was still an enjoyable read and I would recommend to romance readers who like reading about the supernatural (but not too much).
Thank you to net galley, Manda Colling and Podium Entertainment for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this book! It was a light and fun read with a healthy dose of mystery thrown in. Callie and Trey were great characters (personally, my favorite character was Stella) and their relationship developed progressively from enemies to lovers very believably.
I would also love to inherit a library and find a hot grump renovating it for free, so if anyone can help a girl out, please lmk!
Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for the eARC!
What a cute cozy little novel to take you away from life for a bit. Honestly this was exactly what I expected from this book and more. We love a soft enemies to lovers and a character that is never alive in the book but alive through the other characters as well as the place they reside. Khaki was such a beautiful way to join all of the characters together and the epilogue made me giggle and kick my feet. What a perfect day read.