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The Ghostwriters

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She's ghostwriting a book for a famous author--a recently deceased one. A struggling writer living in Manhattan, Jacy McMasters is the first to admit she's a terrific liar and a screw-up. Then the ghost of the famous novelist JD Balinger asks her to "channel" a follow-up to his classic coming of age book, The Watcher in the Sky. Along with her new boyfriend, a bear of a man who has no patience for mind games, the ghost in Jacy's head forces her to confront a lifetime of secrets—dark secrets. Secrets she's been keeping from herself.

194 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2016

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303 people want to read

About the author

Mickey J. Corrigan

38 books203 followers
Originally from Boston, Mickey J. Corrigan lives and writes and gets into trouble in South Florida, where the men run guns and the women run after them.

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5 stars
17 (35%)
4 stars
20 (41%)
3 stars
8 (16%)
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1 (2%)
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2 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Berit☀️✨ .
2,096 reviews15.7k followers
December 12, 2017
4 weirdly interesting stars🌟🌟🌟🌟

you are an interesting chick. Weird, but very, very interesting.


Perfect quote from this book... you could substitute the word chick with book and that would describe this book perfectly.....

Let me start this off by saying this is not a ghost story.... please do not let the blurb turn you off from this book.... this also is not a romance.... although there is a love interest (and he really is quite divine) that part of the book really takes a backseat to the true story.... The dark character study of Jacy...

Jacy is really a hot mess.... your first impression of the girl is that she is a spoiled brat who can’t seem to figure her life out so she is still living on mommy and daddy‘s dime.... but as the book goes on you find out that her life has been one epic tragedy.... and truth be told if I had lived her life I’d be a hot mess too!

Jacy is a likable, interesting, weird, and sarcastic character.... I truly liked her from the get go and as I learned her story I liked her even more and I definitely understood her better.....

Yes, she is ghostwriting a book for a ghost... yes, she makes some poor decisions when it comes to her personal life... yes, she has the mother from hell.... but sometimes things aren’t quite as they seem....

This was a really good book, kind of took me by surprise.... makes you wonder why some books are better received than others... this book is definitely as good if not better than some pretty high profile books I have read this year....

then why not five stars? Because this book took a little turn in the middle and it really took a lot away from the momentum of this book for me.....

I would definitely recommend this to people who enjoy character driven stories with quirky dark characters and a little bit of a slower pace.....

*** thank you to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
Profile Image for Laurie  (barksbooks).
1,958 reviews806 followers
February 10, 2017
This review and the rest of the crap I write can be seen @ my blog Bark's Book Nonsense . Stop by and say hey.

Jacy is a writer who isn’t writing. Instead she spends her time tending bar, drinking too much and hanging out with guys who are bad for her well-being. Jacy is a bit of a mess.

One night she meets a handsome older fellow who, as it turns out, is a famous author. He’s also very much dead and wants her to ghostwrite his next novel. If she succeeds, she could be famous too.

 photo chillghost_zps9kfcwcha.gif


WTF is going on here? Far more than it first seems. I hesitate to say much at all here because I fear I’ll give away too much of the plot. I’ll just say that it’s much more than a ghost story and though it is nicely sarcastic, at its core this is not at all light-hearted. It’s actually quite dark and in the end it all makes sense.

Though Jacy was a mess and haunted in more ways than one, she was a character I enjoyed reading about, sharp edges and all. She’s dealing with a huge burden by not dealing and sabotaging her life but I understood her choices and wanted her to find happiness and stability. Her love interest was perfect. The man even brings her a cat on their first date because:

“You’re a writer, so… Don’t all writers have cats sitting in their laps while they’re working on their novels?”

That man is what you call a keeper. Note: This is NOT a romance though there is a romantic element.

And some of the descriptions just made me smile.

“His head was like a new penny, and I wanted to rub his bright scalp for luck.”

This book is hard to classify but I think if you enjoy character studies featuring complicated characters you’ll enjoy this story. I sure did.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,509 reviews206 followers
August 24, 2016
The Ghostwriters

Mickey J Corrigan

Copy received from author from an honest review.


Jacy is one hot mess. She is totally trashed in a bar when she gets a visit from a man who seems to know her thoughts and it's freaking her out. His name is JD and her favorite book written by him is The Watcher in the Sky. Do you know who this famous and dead author is?
Very clever Mickey!! Jacy has a whole head full of secrets and JD is forcing her to face them head on. JD wants Jacy to write a book for him. Do you think she will do it? You have to read THE GHOSTWRITERS to find out. You won't be sorry.


I have read almost everything that Mickey J Corrigan has written and have loved them all. She loves screwing with my head. Every time I think I have the story line figured out, she throws a monkey wrench into my theory and totally freaks me out. Mickey is a one of a kind author who loves twisted and bizarre stories. This is why I love her and will keep reading every story that comes out of that dark mind of hers. Once again, Mickey pulled me in, had me invested in THE GHOSTWRITERS and never let me go!!

Profile Image for Melinda Falgoust.
Author 4 books42 followers
September 5, 2016
Every once in a while, a novel invites you to pull up a bar stool, grab a handful of beer nuts, and settle in for a nicotine-soaked tale of mystery and suspense. Author Mickey J. Corrigan bellies up to the bar with her new novel "The Ghostwriters", and takes readers down a rabbit hole with a story about Jacy McMasters, a has-been writer that never was. Like Alice, we soon learn that Jacy has her own Mad Hatters and Queen of Hearts, and "drink me" is a part of her everyday vocabulary.

Corrigan plants us square in the middle of Jacy's life. I mean flat. On our face. In the middle of a bender and the start of a less-than-normal relationship with her hero, author J.D. Balinger. The best-selling novelist enlists Jacy to ghostwrite his next great American novel. Since her witty waitress repartee at Big Brewdha Microbrewery isn't likely to earn her a Pulitzer any time soon, Jacy accepts the job, but soon learns that the tougher assignment will be to accept herself.

Corrigan leaves a trail of breadcrumbs scattered throughout the novel that hint at a greater story, the mystery of Jacy's past, that keeps the reader turning page after page.

Fair warning - the frank dialogue and come-as-they-are characters in Corrigan's novel pull no punches. Some readers may feel the "self-cutting edge" and grit of Bret Easton Ellis in Corrigan's work. Her characters aren't shiny. They don't wave magic wands. They don't live forever...they are brutally mortal and heart-wrenchingly human. The novel holds up a mirror and poses some rather poignant questions with how we interact with each other as a society.

Fans of Bret Easton Ellis and Joy Williams will appreciate the graphic reality of Corrigan's work.

(Rec'd a copy from author in exchange for a fair and honest review)

Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,441 reviews35 followers
September 21, 2016
The Ghostwriters is an intriguing psychological tale that follows Jacy McMaster's journey of self-discovery and recovery.

Written in the first person narrative, Jacy takes the reader along for the ride on her gritty and raw journey as she unravels the complicated layers of her past, and confronts the reality behind the toxic family dysfunction that has haunted her life.

Set in New York City, the author weaves an intricate and tragic story that will provide the reader with much food for thought. Jacy is a struggling writer and part-time waitress at a microbrewery, who has been haunted by her troubled past, and avoids the reality of her toxic and dysfunctional family dynamic and history of mental illness. Her life has been in a downward spiral and on a dangerous and self-destructive path of dark depression, drinking, substance abuse, numerous one-night stands, hallucinations, and black outs. When Jacy channels the ghost of recently deceased author JD Balinger, who requests her assistance in writing a sequel to his novel, The Watcher in the Sky, little does Jacy know that she is embarking on a journey of self-discovery that will save her from the vicious cycle of wanton and destructive behavior and lifestyle choices. And along the way Jacy will finally find a good man in Firth, a NYC Social Worker, who will be her rock and help her to put the past behind her and move forward with her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this riveting story. Jacy is a straight-talking, street smart girl who easily draws the reader into her story with an edgy dark sense of humor. I loved the gritty and realistic spin that author Mickey J. Corrigan weaves, there is a sense of reality to the issues of mental illness and the dysfunctional family dynamic of Jacy's life that was slowly revealed, it kept me captivated and provided much sobering food for thought. I loved the balance of dark humor, gritty drama, and suspenseful mystery that is interwoven in the story, it keeps you engaged, and the unexpected twists and turns makes this story that much more thrilling a read that will leave you wanting more. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I enjoyed the rich description of the familiar landmarks of my favorite city, New York City, it made me want to hop on the train and visit the city that never sleeps.

The Ghostwriters is an edgy psychological thriller that is a must read!

RATING: 5 STARS


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book review tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

Profile Image for Diane.
952 reviews49 followers
December 2, 2017
The Ghostwriters by Mickey J. Corrigan is surprising. This is the first of Mickey Corrigan's books I have read and I found myself very intrigued.
Jacy McMasters is a struggling writer and part-time waitress with a lot of personal issues. She will admit it and tell you upfront that life has dealt her some doozies! She often wakes up in a strangers bed and can not remember what happened the night before. Jacy has a bitter relationship with her mother, sympathy for her father, and respect for her younger brother. But she also has a lot of resentment and feelings of low self esteem to deal with in her life.
I will not post spoilers ..... the book is fascinating! Because of the use of the "F" word on almost each page, I was not expecting to like the story. BUT... I put my prim feelings aside and delved into this story. The author has written an awesome and heart-rending twist. I actually was listening to the book as I was on an outdoor-nature-photography-hike and as some of Jacy's life events were revealed, I had to stop my hike. I grabbed my coffee, sat on a boat dock, and sobbed...no joke!

NOW, get this book and read it all the way through! (I'm channeling my Bossy Grandma and she is telling you to do this)
97 reviews
August 19, 2016
The Ghostwriters by Mickey J Corrigan is a realistic, down to earth story about the idiosyncrasies of the human psyche. Jacy McMaster is a struggling writer, she is exceptional at procrastinating and self-destructive behaviour but she manages to pull herself out of the quagmire to become her own successful person. She meets (finally) a decent guy that is good for her and who wants to become a permanent part of her life.

Life isn’t perfect and people don’t live fantasy lives so why pretend we do? This story is something everybody can relate to, it is extremely easy to read and it touched me emotionally. The characters are normal, crazy people trying to deal with their pasts the best they can and to make something of their lives.

I recommend this book to everyone who knows life is no fairy-tale but who dreams anyway. Mickey J Corrigan is a brilliant writer, I love her easy way with words and the fact that her characters aren’t politically correct sheeples. Well worth the read!
Profile Image for Samantha March.
1,102 reviews326 followers
September 19, 2016
I received a review copy
I have read from Mickey J Corrigan in the past and her books have not disappointed! Same held true with The Ghostwriters. I was pretty curious about this book because I felt like the synopsis pulled me in, yet didn’t give too much away and kept me guessing even before I read the first page. This quick read had so much depth to it and really didn’t play around. It was straight to the point, a little messy and gritty, and quite the thought-provoking read.
Profile Image for Kayla.
957 reviews35 followers
September 21, 2016
I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading this story. There were 'ah-ha' moments as well as 'for real' moments in this story. It was very interesting to be in the head of Jacy and experiencing her inner thoughts and issues. Tantalizing tale that has you reading to the end for the answer!

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Linda Zagon.
1,709 reviews217 followers
April 27, 2017


LINDA'S BOOK OBSESSION

Book Reviewer and lover of books



My Review of “The Ghostwriters” by Mickey J. Corrigan

I would like to thank the author and The Wild Rose Press for a copy of The Ghostwriters by Mickey J. Corrigan for my honest review.

The genre of this book is Fiction. There is also suspense, an essence of paranormal and fantasy and romance. This is an unusual book with some challenging points of view.

I like the way Mickey J. Corrigan uses the element of surprise and change in genres in this story. I also like the way that the author describes her characters. They are complex and complicated.

Jacy McMasters is described as quirky, conflicted, flighty, unstable has addictions and secrets. She often finds herself in bars getting drunk, and choosing toxic and superficial relationships. One night she meets the famous novelist JD Balinger, who asks if she could do a sequel to his popular first book. Speaking of ghostwriters and writing, it seems that JD is really a ghost, who claims that Jacy can clean up her act and be a successful writer. As they work together, the words just seem to appear on the page as Jacy starts writing.

Jacy meets Firth in a bar, and in a drunken stupor reveals much about her life. Firth seems to be a responsible, no-nonsense guy, who is looking for a real relationship based on honesty and truthfulness. Firth is intrigued by what Jacy has revealed about herself, and would like them to be in a relationship. Is it possible for Jacy to have a relationship?

I appreciate the way the author shows us the growth of the character, as a person and a writer. Jacy has to travel a hard path to realize if there is a way for her to find her true self. Through fantasy can we find happiness?

I also like the way the author brings up the topic of mental illness with topics such as depression and suicide. In society today with pressures and expectations, there are many people who are afraid to ask for help. I really feel that this is relevant in our world today.

I enjoyed this unusual novel and would recommend it. I look forward to reading more of this authors books.


1,035 reviews27 followers
December 20, 2017
I bought this on a whim because a GoodReads friend liked it and I love the cover.

I agree with her - it was weirdly interesting. Unfortunately, I guessed the major plot "twist" immediately and saw where it was going, so no surprises for me.

This was well-written, except for the ghostwriter's name, JD Balinger. Seriously? Better off using a made-up name rather than a riff off Salinger.

But, it was a short, cute, predictable read, with a too-happy, predictably perfect ending.
Profile Image for Gayle Pace.
1,110 reviews22 followers
September 12, 2016
MY THOUGHTS:

I was blown away by the story. I love books t hat I can relate to the stories and the characters but this one was at the top of the list. The author doesn't dodge the real life side but faces it head on. Sure life has it's good side but it also has struggles and is far from easy. The author doesn't put too much frosting on the cake, instead dives in. I think that's why I found this book so realistic. Told as is, not as we may like it to be. The author tells her tale with a well written story and good believable characters. These characters could easily be someone you know or have known. They're that real. When this book delved into a romance, I thought, here we go again. same old romance and oh, so tiresome. Well I was wrong. This romance had some zing to it and it was far from the ordinary. The writer gave you something new as you turned each page. Twists and turns that you never thought of. The author gives descriptions that you can visualize to a "T". We have a woman, Jacy, who is a writer or shall we say, trying to be. She's been encouraged by the ghost of JD Balligner, famous writer, to do a follow up of his book. She has so much going on in her life and it isn't all good. She is suffering mentally, her life is going badly and her way of dealing isn't ignoring and making things totally different than they really are. Nothing wrong with that except sometimes you have to face up. This wasn't her only problem, she was on the road to destroying herself. She is of the opinion, it's her against the world and she will find her happiness where she can. It's up to her. It's like Jacy has as her only confidante, a ghost, and she is listening. The ghost in fact, is her. It's her escape from reality. How many times have you escaped, if just for a few moments. To get away from the stress and fast pace of today's life? Are the words Jacy writes, the ghost writing in the form of deceased JD Ballinger with Jacy's ghost putting in her two cents worth? Will Jacy's book make it? Will Jacy make it through her madness and set aside some of the dark aspects of her life? This is one book you won't want to miss. I'd like to see some more of Jacy in a follow up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, Mickey J. Corrigan and PUYB Virtual Book Tours in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.


4 reviews
September 2, 2016
Mickey Corrigan is my favorite contemporary author and with good reason. Her literary style is so vivid I can see rooms I’ve never been in, cities I am not familiar with and people I have never met. In The Ghostwriters, her latest novel, Corrigan shows us mental illness from the point of view of a woman who is functioning badly in life and coping in the only was she knows how, denial and illusion. I think these are fine coping mechanisms and have used them myself many times. They help you to get through life until you can face an overwhelming reality. However, when you add heavy drinking and other self-destructive behaviors as our protagonist does, then as one would say, “you need help”.

Jacy, one of our ghostwriters, decidedly does not get the help that she needs. She shows us that yes we are all alone, we can exist in a variety of alternate worlds, reality is not all it is cracked up to be, and that in the end you are the only one who can take a stand in your life, break the patterns and find your bliss. One has to wonder about the author’s own reality. She knows her characters so intimately, that they stand before us fully fleshed individuals. Their inner voices and dialogues never show inconsistencies.

I read the book in two sittings – I began late one evening and at 2:00 am with forty pages left, I had to save the rest until the next morning, which was difficult to do. I suggest you begin reading early in the day, because you will not be able to put it down.

I wish I could listen to ghosts the way Jacy does, but in truth what I really wish for is to hear and let myself be open to my own inner voice.

I would love to see this novel as a full length movie, not because I think that it would be better as a movie, (I’ve already seen it in my mind), but because it will bring this innovative look at the madness that is us to a wider audience. We have become a society of non-readers. Some still read, but even they might have trouble finding this gem among all of the words that are thrown their way everyday. JD wrote a classic, Jacy wrote a best seller and Mickey Corrigan has written a novel that reflects a way out of madness for us all and a must read.
Profile Image for Melissa Ann.
76 reviews5 followers
October 11, 2016
I enjoyed reading "The Ghost Writers" by Mickey J. Corrigan. The story ended up going in a different path and not being what i thought it would be about, but I did like the direction it took. There were different themes woven together to create a multi-leveled story in less than 200 pages, and I found that impressive.

I'll be honest - it took me a few chapters to get into the book and really become engaged. When we first see our main character Jacy, she's a total train-wreck - an alcoholic with no real direction in life and a bad attitude. It was hard to sympathize with her at first, and since the book is written in first person, it was difficult to be fully interested for awhile. But thankfully the tone changed a bit as more events, problems, and questions were introduced, and it became a very enjoyable read.

The book is called "The Ghost Writers" as in plural. I thought this was a fun play on words since Jacy is ghostwriting a book for a dead author, a "ghost writer". It was little clever tidbits like this that made me really enjoy Corrigan's writing.

There was also some great overall themes, commentary, and quotes sprinkled in. For instance, I immediately highlighted and copied something that JD says to Jacy early on, "Let go of the chokehold on your subconscious mind. Set free what's in there - unknown worlds, uncensored words, the excitement of uncontrolled writing. Stop strangling the voice inside you. Let it become your own without beating it senseless and rolling it up in a rug." I found it to be some good and profound advice.

This is definitely a book I would recommend.
Profile Image for Jessica Bronder.
2,015 reviews32 followers
September 9, 2016
Jacy is an author that never got far. She has a lot of baggage and copes by denial, drinking and sleeping with guys she picks up in the bars. One day she is approached by a man that wants her to channel him and write a follow up to his book, The Watcher in the Sky. The man is JD Balinger, recently deceased author and once of Jacy’s favorites. Besides writing the story, JD is also helping Jacy deal with her past. But her present boyfriend can’t understand the idea of the ghost in her head and doesn’t want to play her games, even if she is trying to have a fresh start.

This is my first book of Mickey Corrigan’s that I have read and I just loved it. There is so much detail that you can’t help but feeling right there in the scene. Jacy clearly has some serious issues along with horrible coping skills. It was easy to get drawn into Jacy’s story with the little bread crumbs sprinkled about that come together nicely.

This is a dark contemporary romance with a gritty look at lives we don’t normally think about. It is a great story. I will definitely be reading other books by Mickey Corrigan.

I received The Ghostwriter for free from Sage’s Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Reeca Elliott.
2,056 reviews25 followers
September 10, 2016
Jacy is a struggling, self-destructive, author/beer girl. She happens to have a ghost in her head! A ghostwriter that is. He helps her write an amazing book...where this takes the reader is so creative!

I love Jacy. She is smart witted and very much a pain in the behind. Mainly because she has issues she has not dealt with. I delighted in figuring out what these issues were and where they were leading Jacy.

This is a novel which surprised me. I am notorious for not reading a blurb. I just gather enough information to figure out that it is not a fantasy or sci-fi and I start reading. So, I had no idea where this novel was headed. I thought at the beginning it was sort of a chick-lit but it twisted in the middle and took a serious turn. I really do not want to give anything away. I think this is what made the book for me. I didn't know what was going on with Jacy so I didn't expect what happened.

This is a very clever read. I enjoyed the twists this novel takes. Very original and unique!

I received this novel for a honest review from Sage Adderley.
Profile Image for Misty.
498 reviews241 followers
October 1, 2016
The Ghostwriters is a title that is a very interesting a funny play on words because not only does main character Jacy McMasters act as a ghost writer in the novel, but she is in fact a ghost writer for a ghost. This is a brand new concept that I have never seen before and it interested me as soon as I read the description of the book. I was very happy to get the opportunity to review this book and boy was I NOT disappointed. The book is a mix of supernatural ,mystery, and humor that are all blended together perfectly. My favorite aspect of the book was the main character Jacy McMasters. I really liked how Jacy McMasters devolved as a character throughout the book as she came in to herself more and more with each page turn.

I was sent this book for free for only my honest and unbiased review. I welcome both positive and negative feedback.
710 reviews12 followers
September 6, 2016
Jacy McMasters spends her days drinking too much taking home men of which one becomes her boyfriend. She has parents that seem to favor her brother and so she is better off living alone and talking to her mom occasionally. She writes with the help of a mysterious ghost that lives in her head so needless to say her boyfriend finds it difficult to deal with her strange behavior or watching and dealing with whatever emotional problem she has that she can't seem to fix. The book includes her mysterious ghost , her dealing with emotional problems. Not too much romance but an interesting plot and as usual Ms. Corrigan keeps you involved in the story. 4 1/2 stars
Profile Image for Cheryl.
6,625 reviews238 followers
November 20, 2016
Here is another book that I seem to be in the minority group. I could barely make myself get to chapter 5. Jacy gave off this angry vibe. However, her interactions with JD were entertaining. Yet, my issues with this book were that it seemed that there was many pages spent talking about topics that didn't really add anything to the story. Yeah, ok so Jacy has a rocky relationship with her parents but I did not see where this had anything to do with the story. Then there was the language. I am fine with language when it has a purpose, but, in this case I found no reason for the language. I put this book down and could go no further.
Profile Image for Cathy Brockman.
Author 5 books95 followers
September 3, 2016
The Ghostwriters is a fun story with some surprising twists and lots of humor. I loved the unique characters and how Jacy wasn't a perfect, happy go lucky girl, but depressed, down on her luck and a lush. She felt realistic. As I was reading, there were things that slightly confused me, but as the story went on it explained itself.

If you are looking for something different, likes the mysterious, ghosts, a touch of romance, girls down on their luck, lots of twists and turns you will love this.
Profile Image for Amanda.
620 reviews
September 21, 2016

Wow, The Ghostwriters is the third book I’ve read by Mickey J. Corrigan and I must say she has a way with words! The story is compelling, absorbing and a roller-coaster ride of a book. You are dragged into Jacy’s world where her every trait and interaction have you in a lockdown from start to finish. Grab your copy because it’s so good. I really enjoyed it.

Recommended
4 Stars
Profile Image for Annarella.
14.2k reviews167 followers
December 27, 2017
Even if I am more a "cozy mystery" type I was fascinated by this book with all the complexities and twist.
Highly recommended if you want a well written book
1,383 reviews22 followers
December 1, 2017
Jacy McMasters is a struggling writer in Manhattan. She has had no luck so far with her writing, but she nevertheless keeps at it. She works part-time as a waitress and gets help from her trust fund baby mother with her expenses. When she is not writing, Jacy is drinking heavily in bars or looking for and taking part in one-night-stands. No, she does not think these are god hobbies, but it seems she cannot stop herself. In addition, her former boyfriend keeps hanging around Jacy for guess what, when his current love won’t put out. This is the crazy life to which the author introduces the reader. One night, Jacy meets up with the ghost of a popular author, who wants her to write a sequel to his now famous book, helping Jacy break into the publishing/author world. Jacy agrees and the work begins in earnest. After about one hundred pages, the writer ghost leaves, letting Jacy review and edit what has so far been written and then finish the rest of the book. About this time, Jacy meets up with a nice guy at a bar, and, for a change, he is interested in her, so they pursue a relationship. In the middle of all thin is Jacy’s wealthy mother, who, quite plainly, comes across as a real nutcase b***. Jacy barely gets along with her, but needs to stay friendly for the financial support her mother provides. The book continues in a haphazard way, with lots of strange events and occurrences that sometimes have a lot to do with the story or are, at other times, just there. Does the book Jacy is working on get written and published? If it does, is it a success? Can Jacy straighten her life out?

This was a rather strange book, with a rather strange story. I personally cannot understand why some reviewers thought it was so great, as I did not. I disliked Jacy’s character as well as that of her mother almost from the get-go. Jacy came across as a spoiled girl, who was irresponsible and not particularly mature. The two characters I did like were the author ghost and the great guy Jacy met. I am glad the book was short, since staying with it became harder and harder. The author’s writing style is okay, so, at least, I could stay with it easily. I found some confusion during the time in the story when Jacy went to visit her family for her brother’s birthday, and I thought that event could have been done better. The ending was predictable, though, in my opinion, not as realistic as I expected. I think this book will appeal to a particular type reader, but I am not sure how to explain which type. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Profile Image for Sarah G.
682 reviews10 followers
May 29, 2018
So our girl Jacy has kind of hit rock bottom in a drunken wasteland of despair. While on another drunken night out she gets a helping hand by a friendly older guy called JD. It seems he has a proposition for her. A way to get her out of the rut she has found herself in and try to make something of her life. He wants her to help him write the sequel to his first worldwide hit. He just so happens to be the author of her all time favourite book. She is to ghostwrite the book for JD, as he can’t do it himself. You see well, he’s dead, so is contacting her through his spirit self. Seems her drunken stupor opened a way for her to connect with those on the other side. Now Jacy is either going to have to believe the ghost in front of her or she’s got to think of herself as crazy and having a mental break. It wouldn’t be the first time but this feels different and she really does want help. Wanting it and getting it are two different things and at the beginning it doesn’t take long before she falls back on old habits. Namely getting drunk and letting her ex Austin use her for only one thing. Talk about being an utter dick! You are glad when she sees the light but not everything is rosy for her.

To create the story she needs to fully embrace JD and let him write through her. They might clash on lots of things but he is trying to get her to see that she does have something to say. She has a lot of material to work with – the crazy antics of her family being top of the list. He just needs her to embrace it to see it.

Not quite over her drunken ways though she ends up meeting a nice guy while out, Firth. I say when out but she remembers nothing of the night, just the morning after at his place. He seems to think he knows her somehow and whenever they meet again suggests that he wants her to open up like she did before. He doesn’t want games, he wants the real thing and he thinks that might be her. Only problem is she holds too much back for fear the pain will take over. Everyone has always tried to control her so she pushes back and rebels – drinking and sleeping around being the main players. But with Firth it’s different. He’s nice and that’s something she isn’t used to. He understands she is writing a book with someone but doesn’t know the whole ghost part. Trust me its not going to go down well when she starts talking about it. I liked that when he had a cat that needed help he thought of her, as every writer should have a cat by their side – or you know on their laps, over their arms so they can’t write – when typing away at a computer. The story is coming along but her life seems to take a turn. Family troubles are key but what are they really? A health spa retreat to help or could it hinder when you need some alone time? Can she find her way back to who she was or try to be a better version of herself? The self those close to her saw in her potential.

Loved the back and forth antics between JD and Jacy. They seemed to click in a weird way, which was fun. The twist can be seen fairly soon but its still interesting to see how everything comes full circle. Connection with Firth was real and only when she let him in did she get what she truly wanted. Does grip you quite quickly with the style of writing and story itself. Once I started I couldn’t seem to put it down so it’s well worth a look. A ghost writer helping her ghostwrite a masterpiece to help her move on. Helps others too.

I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.
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Profile Image for Sandra Lopez.
Author 3 books347 followers
October 31, 2016
Jacy’s life was going into the crap hole…until she met him that one drunken night.

“Jacy McMaster. J.C. McMaster. Author of no books, McMaster of none. Of course I know your name.” (10) How could this strange, old man know she was struggling to publish a novel?

“If JD actually knew everything about me, well then, he already knew I was a terrific liar. A pathological liar and a thief. A cheat and a failure. A cheap date with a bad attitude and too much school debt. He knew I was desperate. That was probably what drew him to me. He could smell it on me.” (10)

“You don’t get a visit from a dead celebrity every day, kiddo. Famous author bearing gifts? Free pass to a future of fame and fortune? This is a once in a lifetime, my girl.” (12)

An offer she can’t refuse? Writing a guaranteed bestseller?

“I get you, see. I do. I totally get it. You have an active mind. You love to escape reality. You’re inventive, a dreamer. You may even toy with the idea that you, too, could be a writer. You’re pretty sure that, if you were to take up the novelist’s pen, it wouldn’t take too long until you were invited for a live chat with Oprah. Or NPR. Charlie Rose. After all, you have amazing ideas. The journey from here to bestseller, how far can it be? All you need, really, is a good computer program with editing software and a couple of vacation weeks. You’d sit right down and just do it. Hack out the whole damn thing. Instant bestseller. Right?” (13) But what the hell, right?

Jacy’s life suddenly makes a 180 as she writes the sequel to a beloved novel with the help of a famous ghost. The character literally speaks to you and knows exactly how you feel. Dialogue was refreshingly candid and relatable. Jacy is a flawed and cynical character—you can practically call her a grungy curmudgeon. But she still has a soft spot for the written word, which rooks into this book project. Readers will want to root for her and slap her silly at the same time. You’ll love her!

The goal: writing the book. Of course, the two clash constantly, kicking and squalling like baby animals, but with no bloodshed. How could there be bloodshed? We’re dealing with a dead guy here. In fact, one might actually consider if the ghostwriters will, indeed, finish this great novel. And will it be everything it was promised? One must find out!

Story is full of mystery, humor, and irony! A must-read for fans of Catcher and the Rye. An enthralling read from beginning to end!

*I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Nancy (The Avid Reader).
3,089 reviews131 followers
November 21, 2016
Jacy McMasters is a struggling writer who is stuck in the in between. She dropped out of school and now works at a brewery on the weekends struggling to stay afloat with all her bills which include student loans. Jacy is just trying to survive the day to day hustle of life when she has a visitor. Her new friend is the famous author J.D. Balinger who just happens to have passed away a few days ago. J.D. comes to Jacy wanting her to write his next bestseller. With Jacy being down on her luck and needing the money she decides to take the job and so begins her writing secessions with J.D.

Not only is Jacy struggling to become a writer she is also going through a dark time in her life where she spends most of her nights drinking trying to make herself numb to the point where she can’t feel anything and can block out a lot of stuff that she wishes to forget. Jacy is headed down a deep dark hole one that she may not be able to come out of on her own.

But Jacy is lucky when she meets a guy Firth who she likes lot and wants to be friends with but she is not sure if she can be friends with anyone. It has been a long time since Jacy has been able to trust anyone not since her boyfriend dumped her.

I will have to say The Ghostwriter was not quite what I was expecting. Mickey J. Corrigan had me guessing from the first page. Mickey will take you down these long corridors that just go on and on not knowing where you are going to end up next. One minute you think you have Jacy’s life figured out and then the next minute you are like whoa wait a minute I didn’t see that one coming. I love a book where the author can keep you guessing through the whole book. When you can’t figure out what is going then that makes one fantastic book that will stay with you for days and years to come.

I would highly recommended The Ghostwriter to anyone who loves a good story and great mystery not to mention a great writer.
Profile Image for Ally Swanson.
289 reviews96 followers
November 28, 2016
This book takes place in NYC and is about a writer, Jacy who is struggling and battling a troubled past, a dysfunctional family, and mental illness. Jacy channels the ghost of recently deceased writer JD Balinger who requests she help him write the sequel to his book, “The Watcher in the Sky.”

There is no glitz and glamour in this book. The author, Mickey J. Corrigan, tells it like it is and doesn’t hold back. Jacy’s life is not pretty; but with each page we delve deeper into her issues and leave with a better understanding of these complicated layers.

I loved how descriptive this book was written. There was such detail that it was easy to picture the scenes and locations. I have never been to NYC, but after reading this book it was hard not to feel like you were actually there watching the story unfold.

I loved the mystery and suspense of this book and found myself sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened. This book was very engaging and filled with so many different dynamics that it kept you fully entertained the whole way through.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in an exciting, intriguing, edgy, psychological book filled with grit, mystery, humor, suspense, and so much more!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
Profile Image for Hina Tabassum Khatri.
677 reviews116 followers
February 6, 2017
A 3.75 for me.

Originally published on Hina Loves To Read

Jacy is a very real character and the story in first person from her POV is thoroughly interesting as to keep me turning pages and want to know what happens next.

The language goes adult in places but then I believe the target audience was never intended to be kids anyway.

Coming back to the story, it depicts the stress of many a people and all that combined in one person's life is enough to make them run towards a cliff to jump over. Seeing that Jacy did not do that reflects the resilience a human mind is capable of.

A struggling author and depression caused by family circumstances, Jacy is living in denial - a very high degree of that too.

A fast paced story that shows that human beings are not perfect and have their demons to fight, this story also shows how not to go about dealing with someone who suffers from mental health issues. How love and understanding is what one needs to be anchored in reality rather than constant nagging and being made to feel a failure.

A light read with a premise that has a depth for a pondering mind.
Profile Image for Cheryl Malandrinos.
Author 4 books72 followers
November 22, 2016
The Ghostwriters delves deep into the mind of a young woman being destroyed by a lifetime of secrets she has done her best to shut out. It's rough ground that she treads, and the reader treads it right along with Jacy in all its ugliness. The psychology of childhood relationships, parent/child relationships, and true hardship is in the forefront of this novel.

Corrigan's strength lies in her ability to create complex characters. Even Firth, who is a real sweetheart, has his horrible temper to deal with. No one is perfect.

This is stated to be a thriller--which if judging by the sheer pace of the novel, it qualifies--but I truly see it as a drama because of the depth into which we explore Jacy's mind and how these secrets have nearly destroyed her. For the reader, there is a mystery about Jacy's reality.

Despite the fact that I figured out where the plot was headed before it was revealed, I still needed to know all the gritty details. I hung in and found a satisfying ending. I would definitely read more of this author's work.
Profile Image for Margaret Tidwell.
610 reviews9 followers
November 13, 2016
FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Pump Up Your Book in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

The Ghostwriters by Mickey J. Corrigan was a different book for me. That being said I did end up smiling throughout the book because of the author’s style of writing. I loved that the main character Jacy would start “talking” to the reader during the book. I liked that because it made me feel like I was having a conversation with her and that made the book even more real to me. This was a shorter book, so I was able to get through it pretty quickly and this is one of the few books that I wish was longer because I fell in love with Jacy from the start and I was sad when the book ended. I am sure that this is a book that most people would enjoy even if this isn’t your favorite genre of book. If you have read it what did you think of it?
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