Lost Souls

by Paul A. Mendelson

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2026

Reviews

[DevonReader39 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost Souls is an entertaining and enjoyable read that had me laughing and smiling throughout while reading.

The storyline was fast-paced and flowed perfectly from page to page that keeps you invested and interested throughout. The characters were fun and crazy and I was really rooting for Arnie throughout the book, hoping he would change for the better and achieve what he set out for.

Overall, this was a fun and interesting read and I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Lost Souls' by Paul A. Mendelson

Where the heck have you been hiding all my life Paul !!! I absolutely Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely beautiful page turner!! It was just absolutely gorgeous and I was hooked from the very first page to the last!! An absolute must read!!! This may be the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely won't be my last!!

I am shocked I have not read any of your other books before now and am just so glad I have rectified that. I cannot wait to see what your previous and future books bring me!!

This book has absolutely stunning and evocative descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly and I am ABSOLUTELY devastated to come to the end of this book and leave Arnie, Noreen, the Lake District, Las Vegas and LA behind

OMG!!! I cannot wait to get stuck in to all of Paul's previous and future books!! They are just guaranteed to be stunning even if they are only half as gorgeous as this beauty!! I absolutely adored the gorgeous heart-warming and feel good storyline.

This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of the Lake District, the madness of Las Vegas and completely sucking you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you hearing the sheep, smelling the Lake District air, falling in love with the characters and feeling the tears of laughter streaming down your face at the turn of each page. The synopsis and cover suits the storyline perfectly.

AN ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS, UNIQUE, FANTASTIC AND BIZARRE MUST READ WITH A TWIST YOU WILL NEVER SEE COMING!!

THIS IS THE PERFECT BOOK TO TURN ANY FROWN UPSIDE DOWN! ABSOLUTELY BLOOMING BRILLIANT!

As you may be able to work out I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVED this captivating, stunning page turner from the very moment I turned the front cover to the very last word and beyond. What a feel good, heart warming, hilarious, unique, turn a frown upside down escapism! I fell in love with Paul's brilliant writing skills and I am so pleased that I have finally discovered his fantastic imaginative books and cannot wait to see what other books he has written especially if they are even just half as fantastic as this one they are still guaranteed to be utterly brilliant! This gorgeous storyline is just absolutely brilliant, imaginative and hilarious as well as easy to read and heart-warming. It is just one of those absolutely epic books that promises that the reader gets completely lost in the pages for hours. I am so glad that I have finally discovered this extremely talented author and really cannot wait to get stuck in to the rest of his books. If they are only half as addictive and heart warming as this one they are guaranteed to be completely compelling and addictive!! Paul really does transport his readers from their reading spots to the Lake District, Las Vegas and LA where they will discover the chauvinistic pig and scuzzy Arnie and the absolute heart of gold animal loving Noreen. Paul's brilliant descriptions made me feel like I was with them myself from the moment I met them until the very end. really did absolutely fell in love with everything about this brilliant book. It is a fabulous story ram packed with an unreliable narrator, a guy you will love to hate, a woman you will love to love, sheep, a devil, a ferret, a vertically challenged hitman, a malicious wife, the porn industry, fabulous locations, drama, humour, adventure, fun, lies, laughter, secrets, bizarreness and absolutely everything you could ask for and so much more!! It really does tick every single box in everything you could want in an absolutely hilarious MUST READ!! I am not going to go into the storyline as it is one of those books you truly need to read yourself as nothing I say can justify how fantastic it is. The publisher has also done an incredible job of telling you what you need to know in the synopsis. Therefore, if you want to know more then you will just have to grab a copy for yourself! I can promise that you will not regret it and you may even discover a new favourite author just like I have! You can thank me later! I must say I absolutely LOVED the twist at the end which I really was not expecting!! After reading hundreds and hundreds of books it is getting more and more difficult to surprise me, especially when it comes to books like this as they tend to be quite predictable, but Paul managed it hook, line and sinker!! Well done Paul. This truly is a completely brilliant, unique masterpiece that I truly would recommend to absolutely anyone and everyone, especially anyone who needs cheering up! You do need to grab the tissues and clear your schedules as you will NOT be able to put it down and you will end up with tears streaming down your face from laughing so much!! Be warned, do not read this in public nor while drinking anything! I made this very silly mistake and ended up bursting out with laughter, spitting my drink everywhere and getting some very strange looks while waiting down the doctors surgery while reading it! Paul's wonderful, vivid fantastic immersive writing skills and satire imagination will keep you sucked in from beginning to end. I completely devoured the book in one sitting of several hours while sitting in my garden with the sun on my face . It is one of those beauties where regardless if you are reading it in the sun with a cocktail or curled up next to the fire with a hot chocolate Paul will transport you to the Lake District, LA and Las Vegas being warmed by the laughter and bizarreness.

Pack your bags, get comfortable, clear your schedules and get ready to go on a laughter filled break with Arnie and Noreen in this hilarious read!

You need to book the day off whatever you had planned as once you pick up this book and turn the pages I can guarantee you will not want to put it down!! I found myself picking it up every spare second I had and not wanting to put it down!! AN ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS MUST READ!!

The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths, flaws, quirks and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch and I was completely invested in each and every single one of them especially Noreen, maybe not so much Arnie lol! It was absolutely amazing to watch the personalities and friendships between all the characters grow, develop and change. Paul ensures they come to life at every turn of the page and I was sad to leave them when I came to the end and had to say Goodbye. Each and every one of the characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to see this made into a movie!!!

Well done Paul on an absolutely fantastic page turner, I will definitely be looking for your books any time I need a smile on my face!

Overall a unique, brilliant, hilarious and absolute MUST READ!!

#LostSouls #PaulAMendelson #TheBookGuild #ZooLoosBT #ZooloosBookTours

@PaulAMendelson @TheBookGuild @ZooLoosBT @ZooloosBookTours


https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...

https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...

https://www.facebook.com/GoldenOldies...

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...

https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/a...

[Karolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is my review for Lost Souls for Paul A Mendelson

I found this to be intriguing, poignant and quite hilarious read at times as Arnie Garth is totally poles apart from Noreen Milburn. It started off slowly but once fully into the story, everything is described in great detail and the scenes are set well so you can visualise everything really well! Arnie doesn't know the meaning of true love and thinks every woman will fall for his smartiest smile but then he hasn't met Noreen Milburn! Noreen lives in a cottage with no electricity but with a menagerie of animals including Geoffrey who is a young, black-faced Herdwick sheep which she leads around by a piece of rope. She cares for people, animals and charities but her dress sense leaves a lot to be desired. She does have his soul though and to stay alive, they must truly love each other by the end of the week. Can Arnie do it?

The story unfolds with us starting in LA with Arnie suffering and ending up in hospital then we meet Noreen in Cumbria before Arnie is given his ultimatum by his keeper of souls, Ambrose. The story flowed really well and was hilarious in places as I just laughed out loud. The author had thought the story out really well and plotted it superbly. The characters were intriguing, their personality traits so different and poor Arnie couldn't understand some of the Cumbrian language unless it had been said twice to him. His dress sense for Cumbria was totally inappropriate and ruined by the time he had trudged through fields and hedges in the rain. The story kept you guessing and with Noreen out of her comfort zone who knows what happened!

Synopsis :

How could the scuzziest man in the world and the kindest woman alive ever fall in love?
Arnie Garth has it all. An LA porn empire, a gorgeous pornstar mistress and a legendary wife. Unfortunately, he has the morals of a sewer rat. And when he finds himself on his premature deathbed, he receives some unexpected news: he has no soul.
According to the Keeper of Souls, he was born without one. A heavenly clerical error. His was mistakenly given to the baby girl behind him in the queue – a sweet, selfless Englishwoman named Noreen Milburn, who now has two.
To avoid a fate worse than death, Arnie has just one week to find Noreen, fall genuinely in love with her, and make her fall for him too. No explanations. No shortcuts. Just real love. The problem? Noreen is a sheep-loving Lake District shepherdess who prefers charity work to men, while Arnie’s world is full of porn stars, a furious wife and a hired hitman.
The route to true love runs from LA to Cumbria to Las Vegas. But will it find its way home?

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arnie is an erotic film producer based in California who's pretty much hated by everyone around him. After suffering two heart attacks and a stroke he's visited in the hospital by Ambrose, who's there to collect his soul only to find out that Arnie doesn't actually have one. Thanks to a mix up before he was born, the baby behind him in line accidentally ended up with both souls. Now Arnie has to get his soul back, and the only way to do that is to fall in love with the woman who's been carrying it all these years, and somehow get her to fall in love with him too.

This one took me a little while to get into. At first I just wasn't connecting with the story, and while I could tell the writing was really good, the style wasn't working for me. But around chapter four something clicked. I got used to the writing, and the story became a lot more enjoyable.

The characters didn't win me over right away either. Honestly, I found the narrator way more entertaining than the main characters.

Arnie is absolutely awful but that's the whole point. You're not supposed to like him, and the author absolutely nailed that. He's incredibly unpleasant and completely out of step with today's moral standards.

Noreen, on the other hand, felt a little bland to me because she's extremely naive, which I'm guessing was also an intentional choice. That said, she definitely had a couple of moments where she served and slayed.

The narrator ended up being my favorite character. He was easily the funniest and most interesting person in the book, and every time he showed up, he helped move the story along and broke up some of the monotony.

My experience with this book was honestly a bit of a rollercoaster. I wasn't into it at first, then I started having a really good time, but during the last quarter it lost me again. The pacing slowed down quite a bit, and everything started feeling a little too chaotic. There were still some genuinely funny moments though, especially anything involving Ambrose. Those conversations were probably my favorite parts of the book.

Overall, this is a quirky book with some cinematic vibes. I really wanted to love it, but the slow pacing and repetitive sections made me lose interest by the end. I mostly kept reading because I needed to know how Arnie's story would end. And I have to say, that final plot twist completely caught me off guard. It ended on a much stronger note than I expected, and I really liked the way it wrapped everything up.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

American porn empire kingpin Arnie Garth - what a man! Tragically robbed at birth of his soul and given to the next baby in line in a catastrophic clerical error, he’s never realised he’s been living without the one thing he needs to enter heaven. Now, as his life edges toward an untimely end, Arnie is faced with a terrifying revelation. According to the ‘Keeper of Souls’ - Ambrose, a truly brilliant narrator whose satirical commentary is unlike any you’ll ever encounter, Arnie must retrieve his missing soul or be destined for eternal damnation. To avoid this fate worse than death, Arnie has just one week to find the owner of his soul and fall genuinely in love with her. But not just that, he must also make her fall in love with him! When he finally tracks down the baby girl behind him in the queue, she is now a grown woman - Noreen Millburn - living a quiet, unassuming life in the damp Lake District, like a country bumpkin Mother Teresa.

The difficulty of course, is that Noreen doesn’t need saving, doesn’t want anything Arnie is selling and has built a life that runs perfectly well without men like him. Meanwhile, Arnie must navigate a furious wife, avoid telling Noreen about his predicament and the dawning realisation that love, unlike everything else he’s ever acquired, cannot be negotiated or manipulated.

The concept was brilliant. I found myself giggling at so many of the humorous moments, while at the same time really rooting for Arnie and Noreen as these two completely different characters tried to get along. I did find the denouement exciting, although the final reveal felt a little disappointing for me personally. That said, I still understood and appreciated the moral message the book was aiming to convey.

Every now and then, a book comes along that’s so unique and so far removed from your usual genre that you become completely engrossed from start to finish. This was one of those books and given the themes, that genuinely surprised me. All I can say is, don’t judge a book by its cover, literally or metaphorically. You might just discover a hidden gem!

#LostSouls - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Azenay Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of Lost Souls by Paul A. Mendelson through NetGalley.

I have to admit—I requested this book almost entirely because of the cover. I had absolutely no idea what it was about. After reading the synopsis, I was convinced it probably wasn’t my style and honestly expected to dislike it.

I’m really glad I gave it a chance.

This book ended up being surprisingly funny, and I found myself genuinely enjoying the story. The humor was one of its biggest strengths, and the plot kept me interested for most of the book. At times it felt a little all over the place, but not necessarily in a bad way—it somehow fit the quirky tone.

My biggest hesitation was the main character’s profession. I found myself questioning throughout the book whether it was really necessary to tell this story. I couldn’t help but wonder if that aspect might discourage some readers from picking it up, since I think the same themes and overall plot could have worked just as well with a different career.

Overall, I’d rate this around 3.75 stars. It surprised me in the best way, made me laugh, and turned out to be much more enjoyable than I expected. While I wasn’t completely sold on every creative choice, I’m happy I looked past my initial doubts and gave it a chance.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the second I saw this front cover, I was completely intrigued.

Given I don't read blurbs, I wasn't at all sure what to expect from this book, but as the tag was about opposites attract, I was certainly thinking romance?

 

This was indeed a romance read, but one with a difference.

I loved the fact that our two main characters were so completely different in every single way possible.

Not only were they different personalities, but also living on different continents.

Yet, through a near death experience, Arnie learns of his missing soul and has only one week to go and claim it back.

 

I was instantly drawn into this read and loved the idea that this absolute pig of a man was this way because he literally had no soul.

I was completely invested in his mission and despite knowing I really shouldn't like him at all, I couldn't help rooting for him!!

 

This was packed with humour and I spent the whole read with a huge grin on my face and chuckling away to myself.

The writing style was fun and fast paced and I raced through the pages desperate to know how kn earth Arnie was going to achieve his goal.

 

This was my first read by this author and I'd definitely read more books by them in the future - this was just my kind of crazy and I loved every second.

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking at the cover I was expecting a cosy rom-com, what I got was an absolutely mad tale that shows how important it is to look within and see a person's true self packaged in a laugh-out-loud race from the US to the UK and back again.
We meet Arnie, who is really quite an unlikeable man, and when we meet Noreen who we are told is the reason Arnie's particularly vile we see people who are polar opposites, but yet through their adventures find out that they are actually exactly what the other needs.
The action is packed in, and honestly, what a wild ride! The pacing is fast-paced and I read 100 pages without even realising it, finishing the story within 24hours.
I really liked the ending, though I would have loved to see how they got to that point and what became of Arnie's previous life and all those involved in it, particularly Cleo, Melisande and Big Louie.
The style of storytelling is that its often narrated from Ambrose, and that gives a unique perspective. Ambrose and Lyle were quite the tagteam of characters, I wonder if a series could follow with them unleashing their brand of humour on other unsuspecting souls?
The characters are mad, the settings are perfect, watch out for the ferret and settle in to enjoy the ride!

[angela higham · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed this one, although it did take me a little while to settle into the author’s writing style. At first I found it quite unusual and struggled to fully connect with it, but once I found the rhythm, I became much more invested in the story.

This is a heartwarming, character-driven novel about two people from completely different worlds whose lives unexpectedly collide. It’s full of warmth, humour and emotion, while also exploring themes of grief, loneliness, friendship and finding where you truly belong.

The characters were undoubtedly the highlight for me. They were quirky, relatable and wonderfully developed, and I found myself genuinely rooting for them as their journey unfolded. There were plenty of touching moments balanced with light-hearted humour, making it an enjoyable and uplifting read.

Although the writing style wasn’t an immediate fit for me, I’m really glad I persevered because the story itself was rewarding, thoughtful and left me with a smile by the end.

A solid 4-star read that I’d happily recommend to anyone who enjoys character-led contemporary fiction with plenty of heart.

[Kayla Thorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Arnie is an erotic film producer who isn’t exactly known for his kindness or shining personality. After suffering from a major medical event he wakes up in the hospital to Ambrose who is there to collect his soul. Only, small problem, Arnie doesn’t have a soul. Thanks to a mix up when he was born a woman named Noreen has his soul in addition to her own and the only way to get his back is to fall in love with Noreen and for her to love him back.

Read if you like:
-unconventional fiction
-humor/satire
-unique and fresh storylines

My thoughts:
I liked this. I wasn’t sure that I was going to when I started it but I’m glad I pushed through. Arnie was unlikeable but that was the point and I started to root for him as the book progressed -which was also the point. The ending was surprising and wrapped up nicely. The writing itself was easy to read, the characters were well developed. This book was weird -but good weird. This was a 3.75 for me -rounded up to a 4. Thank you to The Book Guild and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost Souls by Paul A. Mendelson is an imaginative and heartfelt novel that blends humor, romance, and the supernatural into a story that's both entertaining and surprisingly thought-provoking. The premise is delightfully original: a ruthless and morally bankrupt man discovers he was born without a soul due to a celestial clerical error. To avoid a terrible fate after death, he must find the woman who unknowingly received his missing soul and convince her to genuinely fall in love with him all within a single week. I really enjoyed how the romance developed in an engaging way, avoiding the predictable path one might expect from such an unconventional setup. Overall, Lost Souls was a fresh, funny, and imaginative novel that combined romance, humor, and fantasy into a memorable tale about redemption, love, and discovering what it truly means to have a soul.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this novel and share my honest review of the novel!

[Pauline Render · Rating 5 out of 5]

Putting it simply, I absolutely loved this book!
When Arnie Garth, boss of an LA porn empire, with a gorgeous mistress and furious wife, finds out on his deathbed that he has no soul, he’s told by the Keeper of Souls that he has one week to find the woman who has two souls, one of them his, and make her fall in love with him. And that’s when Arnie’s problems really start. He’s pretty much a slime ball, while Noreen is a ridiculously good hearted woman from the Lake District. But the more I read, the more I kind of loved Arnie’s character as he’s taken completely out of his comfort zone, landing him in numerous messes. Especially when he and Noreen end up in Las Vegas. This really was a laugh out loud book with some fabulous lines, some really odd and quirky side characters. And in the end I was really rooting for Arnie to win the day and win the lady.
Lost Souls was a very easy quick read, and although I’ve watched a lot of Paul’s work, this is the first book I’ve read by him and boy is it a great one.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two very different worlds collide when an adult film producer meets a shepherdess from the Lake District. Thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the ARC; this review is voluntary. The opening scenes are gritty, with main characters who are equally unsavoury—one morally, the other physically. Stick with it though; this is a highly original and rather brave book, sprinkled with some genuinely funny moments. More could have been developed with Noreen—her innocence makes her a bit bland, and even as she ventures into the wider world, we don’t get enough insight into her thoughts. The writing style is somewhat hectic, perhaps intentionally so. The ending is clever and wraps up the story nicely. This is one for readers in the right mood to embrace a quirky tale starring a cast of oddballs in zany settings.

[Mo Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quirky and Original Tale with Plenty of Humour
Lost Souls is certainly one of the most unusual books I've read in quite some time. With an imaginative premise, plenty of humour and an entertaining cast of characters, it offers a unique take on love, fate and second chances.
Although the humour and pacing meant I never quite connected with the story as much as I'd hoped, I appreciated its originality and enjoyed stepping outside my usual reading preferences. Ambrose was a particular highlight, while Noreen's kindness and compassion made her easy to root for throughout.
While it didn't quite match my personal reading tastes, I can easily imagine fans of quirky, satirical humour and larger-than-life characters finding plenty to enjoy.
To read my full review, visit my blog, MoMoBookDiary.

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to reading I will try just about anything and I will admit reading the blurb I was not sure this would be for me but I had the time of my life reading Lost Souls. It’s funny and unconventional in the best possible way. I adored the humour which made this such a fun read. It was zany in parts and serious in others and there was a story in there that kept me hooked and two characters I ended up rooting for in Arnie and Noreen. I am not sure it will be for everyone but it most certainly was for me. Mendleson has struck the perfect balance between humour and heart with their story telling and they’ve got me hooked.
As always thank you to ZooLoo’s Book Tours, publishers and author for the copy to review. My reviews are always given freely and my honest opinion of the book is given.

[Megan Willmott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t completely sold by this book at first, but the story eventually pulled me in, especially thanks to the humour and some brilliant comedic moments involving Ambrose. The pacing did drag in places and felt a little chaotic towards the end, although perhaps that was intentional on the author’s part.

The ending though!! That plot twist however I did NOT see coming. Fortunately it definitely saved the last part of the book for me.

Overall, I’d say it’s quirky, chaotic at times and definitely a little unhinged, but it was certainly a memorable read! As the plot thickens, the story really comes into its own, making this a book that definitely stands out from the crowd.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the ARC 🤍

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, what can I say about this book? I didn't enjoy the first chapter, but I suppose that was to be expected. Knowing in advance that one of the main characters was morally corrupt and thoroughly unpleasant, the author needed to set the scene.

Thankfully, I was quickly won over by the quirky and highly entertaining narrative. While the plot doesn’t initially seem particularly believable, the author skilfully weaves an engaging, imaginative, and thoroughly enjoyable story. In amongst the unusual style of courting, supernatural themes and revenge, I found myself completely drawn in and had a great time reading it.

Thank you to The Book Guild, NetGalley and Paul Mendelson for this advanced copy.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Arnie Garth is a porn producer in LA who only thinks of himself. Noreen Milburn is a sheep herder in the UK who only thinks of others. When Arnie has a heart attack and told the only way to save his soul is to fall in love with it (it’s in Noreen) within a week, he gets on a plane and then two worlds collide ridiculously.

This was a fun and funny read. An ultimate opposites eventually attract lark, with lots of lying and fish out of water humor.

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the eARC. These opinions are my own.

[Faye Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost Souls by Paul A. Mendelson
🌟🌟🌟💫

Is it right to dislike a character so much?? If so then this is a book for you! Arnie - oh my gosh!

It took me a while to get used to the writing style, but once in i enjoyed it

Laughs a bundle. This book wasn't what i expected but I was pleasantly surprised. Love the cover!!

Many thanks to @zooloosbooktours @thebookguildpublishing for gifting me a copy of this book to review

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a mess at times, and leaned slightly politically incorrect at other times. But honestly it was a kooky fun read that reminded me of dime store novels in the 70s/80s. No deep plot here. Lots of harebrained schemes and weird innuendo. But charming nonetheless. Weird pacing and dialog may make the reader wonder if this was written by a human or ai.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a brilliant and entertaining read. From the very first chapter I knew that I would enjoy it and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. The story was entertaining and easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I loved all the characters different personalities and I enjoyed following their journeys through the story. Overall a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
🩵 Thank you to Zooloobooktours, the author Paul A. Mendelson and The Book Guild for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://sarahreads4.wordpress.com/202...