The Ghost of Buxton Manor

Buxton Manor #1

by Jonathan L. Ferrara

“Michael, don’t forget our Neverland.”

For nearly a century, the ghost of 17 year-old Rupert Buxton has been trapped in his childhood home. He spends his days reading, roaming, and trying desperately to recall his former life. Hope is restored when a boy his own age moves into the manor—a boy he quickly becomes fascinated by. This peculiar, modern boy is the first person that Rupert has been able to reveal himself to, and just might be the key to help him discover his mysterious past.

The Ghost of Buxton Manor is a young adult, LGBT paranormal fiction centered around historical figures Rupert Buxton and Michael Davies—the inspiration behind the real Peter Pan.

Genres: LGBT, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2016

About the author

Hello there! My name is Jonathan L. Ferrara, author of THE GHOST OF BUXTON MANOR, a YA LGBT Paranormal romance based off of the real life inspiration of Peter Pan. I live in Los Angeles with my husband, a cartoonist and creator of our comic "Husband & Husband", updating weekly at http://www.tapastic.com/series/husban.... I love making new friends and spreading positivity within the community, so put a smile on! :)

BRAND NEW, YA LGBT Paranormal book releases 10/12/2016!

Reviews

[Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”It was only for a second, a mere moment, but I swear, in that time, though it seemed still, a thousand sunsets could have come and go.”

I was looking for a nice Halloween read when this FINE LADY recommended “The Ghost of Buxton Manor” to me and I can’t say how happy I am that I actually followed her advice. This book was amazing and such a perfect read for me! You all know that I’m a scaredy cat so it’s not easy to find a book that doesn’t creep me out too much (so far only “Lockwood & Co” was able to balance that thin line) and because of this fact it’s even more remarkable that I ended up loving this book! *lol*

But then again, what’s not to love? We have a lovely, respectful m/m human/ghost relationship, a few creepy ghosts, a mystery that needs to be solved and two amazing parents who care deeply for their son!

”Life is tough, but our dreams are gifts that help us drive through the hardships. They’re what make life just a little bit more bearable.”

I really thought Caroline would be one of those egoistic snobbish stay-at-home mums, but dang was I wrong! She was amazing and I could understand why it was no big deal for Aaron to come out to her. In Rupert’s time however couples of the same sex weren’t even able to acknowledge their sexuality and to find out what happened to him made me so sad. T_T Seriously, it’s wonderful that times are changing and that some members of the LGBTQ+ community (mind you, still not all!!) are finally able to come out to their families and friends. You should be allowed to be who you truly are and people should accept you for it!

”What did we do that was so awful to deserve this? How is loving another person, regardless of sex, profane?”

This said, I could understand why some part of Rupert refused to remember his past, but I could also relate to his need and wish to find out what truly happened. It was obvious he was torn and his inner conflict was more than just comprehensible.

”Maybe that’s why people don’t remember their past lives, because if they did, they would be stuck remembering something they can never get back.”

Aww how those two boys broke my already soft heart! >_< Gosh, I just loved their intensity and that they hit it off immediately. *lol* They were so sweet together and most importantly they were MEANT to be together! No matter the circumstances, no matter the many years that had passed, their souls were just meant to be together!! That’s what happens when you find your true soulmate, you never let it go and once you die; your souls will make sure that you’ll always find each other again. <333

”I’m here,” I whispered.
His breath became unsteady, “I know.”

”I don’t think I could have dealt with the grief had Michael never entered my life. He was my rock, my friend, and my lover. He was my whole world.”

He whispered, “What are we doing?”
“I’m not sure, but I don’t want to stop.”
“Me neither.”
“Then let’s not.”

”Rupert,” he looked up at me with puppy dog eyes. “Can I keep you … for the rest of my life?”
I closed the book, placing it down on the grass, and then I gently stroked his cheek. “A lifetime is too short. How about for an eternity?”
“Longer, if possible.”

And those are just a few quotes that made me go all “AWWWWW!!!” and mushy! Also if I’m already talking about the characters it’s high time to mention the three creepy ghosts that try to help Rupert to find his way into heaven. We have The Bride, The Horse-boy and Bloody Mary and boy were they creepy! Haha! I swear if I’d have been Aaron I would have screamed my lungs out! *lol* He’s way cooler than I am though so he was brave and dealt with them like a man! XD

Well and then the grand finale came and I was up until midnight just because I desperately needed to know how this book would end! I swear I basically sobbed and wiped away tears in the last half hour of this amazing reading experience! Gosh, I swear that ending… that ending was everything! *cries again* I don’t want to spoil you so I’ll leave it at that and won’t say more except of that it was perfect! I swear there was only one ending that moved me as much as this one did and it was the end of “Clockwork Princess”…

If you enjoy lovely m/m romances and like ghost stories that aren’t all too creepy, this is exactly your kind of book! I can really recommend it!!! <333

”Rupert, do you see it, do you see our Neverland?”

*continues to sob in the distance*

Such a beautiful book! T_T
___________________________________

My second October/Halloween read, because this FINE LADY recommended it to me.

You had me at ghost and gay! *lol*
Ever since I read “Anna Dressed in Blood” I’ve become a sucker for human/ghost relationships and the fact that this is m/m makes it even more appealing.

Oh wait, I think “Ghost” with Patrick Swayze was actually my first dabble at that genre but I was a child back then so the memories are a little hazy and don’t count. ;-P

I’m sure I’ll enjoy this… A LOT! =))

[Chesca (thecrownedpages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOW LIVE ON AMAZON!
I am very excited for you guys to read it! CLICK HERE to purchase from/leave a review on Amazon.

----

“Always in our Neverland.”

Release Date: October 12, 2016
ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review


We all know that story: a ghost haunting a mansion; a lost soul seeking revenge for his death. This kind of tale has been handed down to us from one generation to the next. It is has been very familiar to each one of us like our very own reflection in the mirror. But no matter how cliché it may be, this mystery has been something we usually can’t resist to unearth.

Jonathan L. Ferrara has created an unforgettable and fascinating masterpiece loosely based on the short lives of Michael Llewelyn Davies, adopted son of novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie, and his close companion and supposed-lover Rupert Errol Victor Buxton. Told in Rupert’s narrative, through a heartfelt story of love, life, and death, The Ghost of Buxton Manor will take you back in time, reintroducing you to some of the people who inspired one of our favorite childhood classics - Peter Pan.

“It was only for a second, a mere moment, but I swear, in that time, though it seemed still, a thousand sunsets could have come and go.”

Rupert has been haunting his home, Buxton Manor, for a hundred years since his death. He has no memory of his previous life and of his death. All he remembers is his name, which he would not know of if not for the headstone on his grave, located within the grounds of the manor. After nearly a century of being abandoned, a new family purchases Rupert’s grand home. Since then, he seemed to be drawn to Aaron, George and Caroline’s only son.

THIS IS ONE BRILLIANT AND UTTERLY FASCINATING READ YOU SHOULD NEVER MISS! I honestly was not expecting much from this book when I started reading it due to its concept that I have been familiar with since I was very young. Guess what? IT BLEW ME AWAY! I didn’t expect that I would feel so much as I went through Rupert and Aaron’s journey. I was sobbing hard as I reached around ninety percent of it. I assure you that I am an emotional mess right now, and a book-hangover is up ahead.

First of all, let me tell you how intense and good the author is! The words he used were gorgeously arranged like a sonata that will leave chills running down your spine. The book was written in first-person and second-person narratives, with Rupert telling his tragic tale to the readers. It was absolutely stunning.

Rupert and Aaron touched my heart immensely as they tried to lift the veil of life and death that separated them. I have to warn you though that their relationship was a bit insta-love or insta-attraction. I usually don’t approve of that, but by the way the author weaved it into the story, it became irresistible to me. I got so hooked that I just had to read through it as fast as I can.

The two of them existed in two different eras. It was very entertaining and adorable of Rupert to act like a true gentleman of his time whenever he was around Aaron. It was fun to see a person from the early 1900s move around the present day, trying to adjust to today’s more liberated culture when they were used to a conservative one. It saddened me as well to get a glimpse of how the gay individuals during the early times had to sneak around just to be able to express themselves and their love for each other.

The other characters piqued my curiosity as well. Indeed, they were personas worth following through the events. They added a little bit more amusement to the protagonists’ situation.

The development and progress of the plot was very curious and thrilling. It felt to me like I was digging up some long-lost treasure, leading to the conclusion that would haunt my heart for a very long time. It was very pleasing and excellent, and I think there was no better way of ending this novel.

I have always found history very alluring, and so I greatly enjoyed reading this. I will put this straight to my favorites’ shelf. I highly recommend this! If you’re a fan of historical fiction, paranormal, Young Adult, or all three of these genres, then you definitely have to grab a copy of this piece of gold!

“’Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.’”

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All the best fiction, they all stem from somewhere. Some might say they’re just the outcome of a wild imagination, but what is imagination? Does it not come from somewhere? Perhaps from somewhere in our souls….who knows?"

Every once in a while, you read a book that just sticks out from the crowd. This was that book. Thanks to Chesca for the recommendation. :)

I ordered this book a few days before I finally got to read it, and I'm not going to lie and say I didn't stare at it every time I walked past it and wonder whether it was going to be as amazing as I hoped. Thanks to the glowing reviews I saw from the friends I had who had indeed read it, I had crazy high expectations going in.

It was even better (and more unique) than I had hoped.

I went in thinking I was getting a creepy, eerie ghost tale, with a forbidden, pinning romance. Was there some of these things? Yes. But not in the way you're expecting.

Let me start of with our main ghost, Rupert. In short, he is a cinnamon roll. A more lively (bad pun, I know) and fun loving edition of Noah Czerny from The Raven Boys. He loves to read, write, and generally just be. For someone who was murdered, he's got quite the sunny disposition. Well, that's the thing. He doesn't remember anything from his old life. All he knows, is one day he woke up a ghost.

After a hundred years as a ghost, with nothing eventful occuring, suddenly a family buys the mansion he's tethered to. Cue the YA romance bells, the family that moves in has a son, Aaron, the age Rupert was when he died and of course, Rupert develops a thing for him.

Before I give you the wrong idea, let me clarify; this novel definitely has a strong romantic element, but the plot of this novel is not just Rupert and Aaron finding a way to be together. Rupert doesn't remember how he died, and that plays a big role in this book. As do Aaron and Rupert's professional dreams. (To be an artist in Aaron's case, and to write a children's book, in Rupert's.)

Another thing I wasn't expecting from this novel was it's mood. Despite having many darker and very deep elements (murder, clinical depression, suicide), this book balanced it well with humor and Rupert's childlike joyful nature.

This whole book was beautiful. I loved Jonathan Ferrara's style so much, and really hope he continues writing YA. He's such a fresh and unique voice, and I love how he tied real historical figures and events into a fictional tale so flawlessly. The ending especially was something straight out of one of those Tumblr prompts we all promise we'll write some time, but never do. I have nothing but love for this book.

If you like romance, paranormal stories, happy go lucky books with deeper undertones, or just a quality YA read, please give this book a shot. You won't regret it.

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ghost of Buxton Manor
By Jonathan L. Ferrara
Self-published, 2016
Cover by Aaron Ferrara
400 pages
Three stars

What if you met the love of your life – but you were already dead?

Inspired by the true story of the tragic (and mysterious) death of two young lovers in 1917, “The Ghost of Buxton Manor” forges a fantastic new path in the world of YA/LGBT fiction with an epic love story written through the eyes of a century-old ghost – Rupert Buxton.

I’ve never read a ghost story written in the first person through the eyes of the ghost. It is a clever strategy, because by his very nature, and in spite of his limitations, Rupert Buxton can become the omniscient narrator, overhearing and witnessing the family living at Buxton Manor without himself being seen. That is, of course, until he intervenes and becomes visible to Aaron, which changes the game rather dramatically.

The best feature of this long, passionate novel, is the complex world of ghosts it unveils to us. Having been unaccountably alone for nearly a century, Rupert knows nothing of his own life story, other than the fact that he’s dead. With the arrival of Aaron’s family at Buxton Manor, suddenly there is a whole world of ghosts vying for his attention, even as Rupert struggles to remember his own short life and come to grips with the reason he’s been trapped on this abandoned estate for so long. As innocent in death as he was in life, Rupert doesn’t immediately see the connection between the new inhabitants of his ancestral home and the appearance of a rather eclectic range of spirits, all of whom seem to have their own agendas.

Ferrara picks up on much of the traditional ghost lore of past literary traditions, and spins it according to the popular culture of the world in which he has grown up – the world of Harry Potter and other youth and young adult paranormal literature. It is refreshing and exciting, and both the characters of Rupert and Aaron are affectionately portrayed and vividly drawn to capture our hearts and imaginations. It is an intensely romantic story about love and fate and memory.

All that said, there are some failings to this book that need to be noted, because Ferrara is a young man and exhibits the hubris of young artist-entrepreneurs of his generation. While the story of “The Ghost of Buxton Manor” is both interesting and compelling, Ferrara desperately needs a strong editor who will crack a whip over his head and get him to rein in his hugely inconsistent writing. Bad grammar, misused vocabulary and needless verbosity riddle Ferrara’s solid prose and dialogue. This weakness undermines the imaginative appeal of the narrative. The story is constantly fighting with the prose. Both his British ghost and geographical setting feel entirely American as Ferrara writes them. In what I suspect was an effort to make Rupert sound old-fashioned (although the 1917 date of Rupert’s death, to my generation, is in fact post-Victorian and largely modern linguistically), the author only manages to make Rupert sound semi-literate.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of charming and affecting moments in this book. I loved Rupert and Aaron, and I enjoyed the cast of characters, from Aaron’s sloppily supportive parents to the bizarre trio of ghostly cheerleaders who both encourage and confuse Rupert on his journey into his own past.

With a good editor, this could have been a five-star book, a work with real literary merit as well as strong emotional appeal. Even the greatest authors always work with editors who slash their writing and fill their manuscripts with red ink. There is the potential for brilliance here, and in spite of its flaws I encourage people to read “The Ghost of Buxton Manor.” I’ll be watching Ferrara to see what comes next.

[Katrina♡•• · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf 60%. Incredibly boring and a tad bit uneventful. I was not a fan of the writing style. It took place from the ghost's perspective and it was very conversational, similar to the writing style in far far away. The plot was non existent. A ghost lived in a house for hundreds of years with no memory and then a family moves in and there is insta love with the boy and the ghost. At 60% nothing was happening. I did not feel attached to any of the characters. Such a disappointment and utter failure. Also while reading no images came to my head like how well written books do. For instance when I read Heartless I could picture everything.

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

YA paranormal with an m/m love story. I loved the tie-in to Peter Pan, the eerie feel of Buxton Hall and the love stories that wind their way through. This was a full-on paranormal with a number of ghosts and some reincarnation too. I read mostly for the romance and the main love story was very sweet, but beware there may be some tears along the way.

This was not quite a 5 star read mainly because I felt it may have needed a little more editing/beta-reading There were a few inaccuracies/oddities that pulled me out of the story. One example is when they went to Oxford. They talked about stepping through the University gates. This and other discussions and things that happen in Oxford don't completely make sense since Oxford is made up of many different colleges all spread out through the town. The other thing I thought was odd was that no one occupied Buxton Manor for 100 years yet it seems that the family was just able to move in and start living there/cooking there immediately without any extra work being done. How does the plumbing work after 100 years? Stoves? Electricity? Do they even have the same type of electrical outlets?

***I do highly recommend you check out the author's husbandandhusband vlog. These guys are so freaking cute! I also love the parallel between their lives and those of the characters in this book. Jonathan and Aaron are living the dream of writing and creating art together (e.g. the lovely cover to this book was created by Aaron). So perfect!

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars ...

It had its moments ...
but mostly forgettable.
Meh ... 🤷‍♂️

[luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's time, isn't it?"
"For what?" he wondered.
"For our story to come to an end. I feel it drawing near"
He looked heartbroken, near tears. "I think so, but Rupert, like our souls, our story doesn't have and ending"

this book has touched my soul in a way i was never expecting a book would.
it touched a subject i never thought i would find myself related to in a book, and it's a very deep, personal subject to me and i'm so heartbroken right now.
this is a story about love, life and death, and it's so beautifully portrayed i can't think about a better way to tell this story based on true facts and real life people.
i'm really touched and moved by this and i have discovered some things about myself i wasn't aware i needed to know this bad. i relate to aaron so deeply it's supernatural.
wow, i'm speechless, you should read this, really.
i loved it so much.

"So go on love, find a new direction
Hold my heart, keep it for protection
And don't get stuck on your way
The other side's a scary place
Do your best not to be afraid
Loose it all when we run away
Letting go of the little thingsyou know I do
There's a ghost in my bedroom
And he's dying to meet you
God knows he's heard all about you
I guess he's friendly enough, though
I'll see him more
There's a ghost in my bedroom
There's a ghost in my bedroom
There's a ghost in my bedroom..." Mayday Parade

REREAD THOUGHTS!

I said i wasn't going to cry the second time and I failed epically, well I cried twice as hard as the first it's just amazing wow

3rd read thoughts: honestly, the third time around was the charm, in reverse. I didn't feel the same way I did the previous times but the rating remains the same for respect to that version of me who bawled his eyes out reading this twice before, I really remember that time and enjoy my own suffering ahahaahahahahahaha I have pictures of that moment somewhere lol
it's still heartbreaking

[Bárbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


I'm fairly certain many of you will just be thoroughly confused if I start the review by saying that this story is "something else". Unfortunately, that's the most accurate description I can conjure to make it justice.
The Ghost of Buxton Manor is, for me, a story about life. Let me explain myself before people start thinking I've gone mad, or that I seriously lack reading comp skills. Okay, maybe not about life itself, but about many issues from the deepest corners of the human heart and mind that give life a certain meaning; I was pleasantly surprised, when I started going deep into the reading, to discover such a story, with such an approach, within a YA context: the characters, although teenagers, are really mature (while still appearing realistic). All this is what made the approach of the topics this story touches, all the more interesting. In truth, it's a very rich story: it deals with very loaded issues like grief, regrets, loss (and that crippling emotional suffering that often comes along with it), the burden of solitude; but also with the opportunity to start anew, with the vital importance of second chances, and the difficult journey of personal growth.
However, dark clouds aren't all there is to this story: just as it is a very hard story to read, it has also very sweet, and really, really hard to put down.
All the elements in the mix, perfectly balanced to make this story just as much as a paranormal as it is a mystery kind of tale, but also a contemporary YA kind of novel. It's very complete, very complex, very hard to just fit into just one box.
I really loved the style, I really loved Rupert's voice and his point of view. It was one of the elements I appreciated the most, because it made the story just so fresh. I also loved all the connections to literature and even to some urban legends, which I'm more familiar with (sadly, although I've been meaning to for some time, I have yet to read Peter Pan- and to investigate further into the story of J.M. Barrie&Co.- although I did watch Finding Neverland *hides head* don't judge me).
What else? Oh, well, there were some errors I could find, but I don't think it was enough to lower my rating. Although if you're reading this and you're picky enough you can always pretend my actual rating is about 4.8, or whatever, I guess. It won't change much ;) I truly loved this, and I'm so greatful to have been given the chance to read it when I did. I highly recomment it to everyone who wants to be swept off their feet.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally do book reviews but I loved this book so much that I felt I had too. I know the author from his youtube channel and bought the book the support him. Not really a huge fan of paranormal books I wasn't sure what to expect. But from the first chapter this book had me hooked and I read the whole thing in a few days. I know I'm reading something special when I can't stop thinking about the characters and even now, a few days later, I am still thinking about them. I am very partial to books/characters that are based on real people, so I loved this aspect of the book.. I mainly read romance and this book fit the bill and is one I'd consider to be the ultimate romance. I highly recommend this book to everyone who like a good paranormal, mystery or romance.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I recieved an e-copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

An amnesic ghost is stuck in a gigantic villa with no idea how he died, why he died or what he is trying to achieve by staying on earth. All he can do to deal with his boredom is read the libraries books as they are the only thing he can touch. That isn't that big of a problem until a family moves into the house. Now Rupert, the ghost, has to figure all these questions out to finally remember his life.

He feels immediately interested by Aaron, a young artist. The boy reminds him of someone from his past life and slowly with the help of his ghostly After-Life therapist he starts to remember. It won't be an easy journey.

Rupert also meets three other ghosts, send by the Necromancer, who offers to help him get his revenge.Our Horror Trio is always a source of amusement, but they fit well within the novel.
The book is based on unsolved mysteries connected to JM Barrie and the Davies family, who served as an inspiration for Peter Pan. The story is made even more moving as it is also based on Jonathan, his husband Aaron and their relationship, which makes this book incredible personal and makes it feel very real.

I absolutely adored the choice of POV even though I'm not always a fan of First Person. But in this case it felt realistic and was nice to read, probably due to it being #ownvoices. The sometimes odd choice of words felt very realistic as well considering it was about a ghost who died in 1917.

The lore based around the ghostey after-life was nice thought out and i liked the world building as well.

One thing I didn't quite enjoy was (once again) the Insta-Love. They met and already they are kissing. It does however make sense considering they fact that Rupert and Aaron are soulmates, though I would have loved to hear if they already lived a former past life together.

There are some amazing plot twists but they all make sense in the book and the book is long enough to truly explain what happens, nothing feels rushed. At first it was kind of hard to get into the book and it felt a bit drawn out but after the first 30 pages or so I wasn't able to put the book down anymore.

I also absolutely enjoyed all the Peter Pan references.

This book broke my heart but in a good way! I laughed, I cried, I had such an amazing time reading this book. It's just lovely! All in all i guess you could say this book truly lifted my spirits ;D

Why I read it: a paranormal gay romance!! written by #ownvoices!!! Do i honestly need to say more?

Do I recommend it: Did you read the above?! Yes!!! It's also wonderfully written and an amazing YA, a nice mix of historical fiction, murder mystery and paranormal soulmate romance!!

Review crossposted to my blog here

[Zarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was privileged enough to receive an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was INSANE.

From the moment I read the description of this creation I was sold. I mean, a paranormal romance about two boys (of which one is ghost) uncovering some wicked mystery? You got me there. You can say I was excited about this book before I’d even seen the cover (and the cover looks stunning). So excited that I put down the novel I was currently reading, dove right in and finished it one go. Which is something that doesn’t happen very often. And I’ll tell you one thing: it sure was one hell of a ride.

Finally, after having read a string of books that just didn’t hit the spot, this gem came along and swept me off my feet. The story was just so thrilling. Plot twists were raining downing on me (plot twists that tempted me into flinging my phone across the room) and my emotions were put on a roller coaster. It has everything I desire in a novel: adventure, right amount of romance, a good mystery, amazing (and most amusing) dynamic between the main characters and an unpredictable and clever plot, which is by the way inspired by historic events that actually happened. Yes, I did my research.

The book kicked off with a relatively slow start, but slow in a way that was necessary for the story to be able to develop just right. It soon picked up a pace that got me to keep reading and stay glued to the pages. I don’t think I can put into words how much I loved loved this story.

I highly recommend this book for everyone out there looking for that one YA LGBT novel that tugs at your heartstrings and hits the spot just right. I am definitely planning a reread after getting my hands on the physical novel which is, I believe, being released pretty soon.

[S.R. Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. This book will pull at your heartstrings.

I adored Rupert and Aaron/Michael so much. The Peter Pan tie in just made the story line that more interesting.

I will say that the villain was a little easy to spot and I am glad that Rupert was able to see past him and follow his heart so he could fulfill his unfinished business so that he could be reborn.

I am glad that they got their happily ever after.

[Andrea Valeska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit #2

*Thanks to Jonathan for providing an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

4.5 Stars

When I first heard about this book, I was excited by the fact that it was based on the lives of Rupert Buxton and Michael Davies, the historical figures who are the inspiration behind Peter Pan, and that it was also an LGBT book at the same time. So I started looking for reviews that in the end just increased my curiosity. But then a few months ago I had the opportunity to receive a copy from the author.

A book that touched my soul in an inexplicable way.

The Ghost of Buxton Manor by Jonathan L. Ferrara is a stand-alone, YA LGTB Paranormal book. Basically it narrates the story of Rupert Errol Victor Buxton, a ghost that has been haunting the Buxton Manor for almost a century. Rupert has no memories of his former life and spends his days alone, wandering around, reading or writing in his diary. Apart from his name, all he knows is that he died at 17 year-old just because his tombstone is on the property. But, against all odds, things change when a new family moves into the Buxton Manor, causing Rupert to question everything he knows so far. And that's when a new character comes on the scene, the son of the new family; A 17 year-old boy named Aaron. Strangely, Rupert feels an instant fascination with him. It will not be long before Rupert realizes he is able to reveal himself to Aaron and that perhaps he is the key to unraveling his mysterious past.



This book. THIS BOOK was certainly a roller coaster of emotions. Although the beginning is a little slow, really curious and interesting things begin to happen that will make you do not want to stop reading ever. Something I liked a lot is that every page and every paragraph Jonathan wrote was necessary to the development of the story and its characters; nothing was "out of place".

Let's start talking about the characters:

Rupert: As I said before, he's a 17 year-old boy who has been haunting the Buxton Manor for the last century. He is a very well-built character, full of innocence and kindness. It is very interesting to see how he begin to discover things about his past, with the help of other characters. One thing I loved about Rupert is that he never loses his temper in the face of difficult situations and always treats others with respect. Without any doubt he is an excellent protagonist.

Aaron: I can assure you that Aaron is a very complex character. He is a witty, stubborn, intelligent and a kind boy who helps us to understand the story better. He is also an artist, although he does not trust his talent very much. Many of his scenes made me smile.

There are many more characters; One of them is my favorite, in fact. But I will not mention them to avoid spoilers. I will only tell you that each and every one of them is realistic, memorable and make reading enjoyable.

Something very remarkable in the story is the mystery that is presented to us from the very first page. It is that same mystery and intrigue that make you cannot stop reading. And the things that Aaron and Rupert were discovering touched my heart deeply. But it was not all sadness; I REALLY loved the way Rupert acted and spoke when he was around Aaron, it was as if two different eras collided. Each sentence, every detail was like a work of art. I tell you, after reading this great novel I think I will never see Peter Pan in the same way again.

However, the reason I gave it 4.5 stars was because the book got a little slow beginning, and the real villain of the story was predictable for me. But I guess those are minimal details that do not make reading difficult.

To conclude, The Ghost of Buxton Manor was a wonderful, intriguing, moving, brilliant and deeply heartbreaking tale that took my breath away with each one of its pages. It's an intensely romantic story about death, life, memory and soulmates. A story that will have forever a place in my heart. I highly recommend The Ghost of Buxton Manor to everyone. Seriously, give this incredible novel a chance.

***Again, thanks to the author for giving me the opportunity to read his book. I will be waiting to read more of his stories in the future.

PD: You can purchase this wonderful book here: The Ghost of Buxton Manor.


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Edit #1

Well, I just received an e-copy of this book by the author and I AM SO EXCITED.
I going to be reading it very soon, and then I'll post an honest review.
It's all so wonderful!!!

[Aleksandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Ghost of Buxton Manor is YA paranormal standalone novel with a central romance plot line and a dash of mystery. The main character is Rupert, who’s a ghost of seventeen year old gay English man. Rupert died in 1917 and since then he was stuck in his family manor - some unfinished business of his preventing him to ascend. An American family moves in the manor in our modern time and things escalate from there.

I enjoyed reading the book, the story is easy to follow, the POV character’s voice is distinct. It’s ownvoices story for gay representation.

The book features two gay characters - protagonist ghost Rupert and his love interest living boy Aaron. The romance was rather on an instalovey side, but the paranormal reasoning smoothed it and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I liked the jumps between present time and the old time via Rupert’s memories. I am fond of this narrative device, however, I wished for the past to be more fleshed-out. The present setting seemed rather flat as well.
I had a feeling that characters were actors on stage: they are fully human while the setting and backdrop are carton and decorative.

There were several creepy scenes involving ghosts and these scenes were really really creepy and cool, if only the overall story were creeped up more.

Full disclosure, I haven’t been in the best reading mood over the past months, which might led me to be harsher on the book than I would have usually been.

The undertones about romance healing depression made me uncomfortable. I don’t believe the idea was presented well. There is a difference between having a partner to ease your struggles and love heals trope. I don’t think the author pulled it off.

The mystery plot line was sewed with white thread (as the Russian saying goes) aka obvious and clear from a mile away. The narrative was trying to present it as a suspense, as high-stake challenge to uncover secrets, but it was rather obvious for the reader, which made it unexciting to read.

The accent of non-English-native speaker was written phonetically and it made my head hurt. It shouldn’t be written phonetically so overwhelmingly as it hinders reading. Both academia and readers seem to agree that you don’t spell the accents, you either use grammatical or stylistic or syntactic techniques. Or say “she said with French accent.” I wouldn’t be going on and on about it, if I didn’t have to read dozen of pages of dialogue, which hurt my brain because of “zat all around zee world, zerr are ...”

I appreciated the message and the concept of the novel, I felt the care put into the story, the care about those who were wronged by oppressive morals and conservative society of that time.

It’s a entertaining book with good ideas and lovable characters.

All in all, I’m happy I’ve read the book. It’s not the type of stories I’ve read before.

CW: homophobic violence in historical setting; suicide ideation

[Tex Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 of 5 stars – Sweet YA Romance With a Good Dose of Paranormal.
[Thanks to the author for a free copy via Goodreads' YA LGBT group in exchange for an honest review]

I love various gay genres, including YA romance, paranormal and historical, and this turned out to be a refreshing mix of all that as well as one of the better YAs I’ve read in a while.

This was a sweet story, definitely a feel-good romance. It was effectively told in the first-person POV of the ghost, Rupert, which made it enjoyable discovering as he did what and how things worked as a ghost. I was further drawn in by both teens as they tried to figure things out, worked together on their unfinished business, and ultimately connected and fell in love.

Jonathan L. Ferrara’s style was descriptive, flowing, and imaginative, starting with the creative world building, which he developed each step of the way, unraveling a layer at a time. Despite however unrealistic paranormality might be, it seemed realistic, as did the depictions of teens, parents and the action. The plot developed in a mostly plausible way, some I didn’t anticipate (particularly the rather unexpected turn near the end), a lot I did, but even then Ferrara still kept it interesting. There were a number of twists and turns in the mystery part of this story – the mystery of what was their unfinished business, and within that mysteries as well. And action and pace was fairly good all along, slow in spots but picking up nicely in the last part.

The two MCs also came alive for me. Ferrara did a nice job of describing the angst and other emotions, and in fact he even had me crying several times near the end. He was even able to depict the sexual urges of teenage boys, while at the same time not being graphic about it, to keep it YA appropriate. And he appealed to the romantic in me – I liked the idea of soul mates and how that played out over the years and different generations (and perhaps that could explain a bit of their instantly falling in love without as much as a “boo”).

But that was also all part of what made this a sweet gay romance / mystery / paranormal mix.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best books I've read in awhile!!

Such a wonderfully original book! Initially I was intrigued with the book’s connection with Peter Pan, but then the characters hooked me and the story drew me in.

The story centers around Rupert, who’s 17 and has been haunting his family home for 100 years. Rupert has no memory of his life and only knows this much from his tombstone, which he has found on the property. With the help of his therapist, another ghost who begins visiting him regularly, he starts the process of remembering. Hoping this will help him discover his unfinished business, so he can move on. It’s at this time that a new family finally moves into his home and he’s no longer alone. Those are big changes, considering he’s been completely alone for 100 years.

Each piece of uncovered information adds to this beautiful story. And I have to say that at no point did I know what was coming. The author has woven such a unique tale. Part mystery, part love story, part supernatural, there is so much going on in this story. And each of the characters are so well developed and original. Whether living or dead, the characters are complex and original.

I highly recommend this book!

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just Wow

Normally ghost stories are not really my thing. But this YA LGBT story is extraordinary. It has everything. Suspense, fantasy, history, and most of all LOVE. The story held me in its clutches from beginning to end. Its warmth, sometimes funny, always endearing. Just READ it for yourself :)

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

« Rupert, he was a boy, the epitome of the lost…and Michael, he found him. »

Ce livre était juste magnifique, purement et simplement magnifique. Unique et incroyable. Et j'ai quelque part le sentiment que ce livre est précieux, que sa profondeur et sa justesse sont quelque chose qu'il faut préserver à tout prix.

Je ne m'attendais pas à grand chose en commençant ce livre, certes le résumé paraissait vraiment intriguant et offrait la promesse d'un livre unique, mais j'étais assez réticence quant à l'exécution.

« No matter where I was, how far I was from home, it didn’t matter at all. Anywhere with Aaron was home. »

The Ghost of Buxton Manor retrace l'histoire de Michael Barrie et de Rupert Baxton, deux personnes qui ont réellement existé. On suit Rupert qui au début du livre, est un fantôme qui ère depuis un siècle sans aucun souvenir de sa vie passé, et on le suit à travers le livre dans son chemin vers la vérité, sur sa vie passée.

« Remember our Neverland, and hold onto it. We’ll always be together there. »

On rencontre donc Rupert, qui est un personnage terriblement attachant et on rencontre également Aaron qui est juste tout aussi adorable et tout aussi attachant. Je me suis attachée plus que de raison à ces personnages et à leur histoire, je me sentais pleinement investie dans ce livre, et cela c'est grâce à eux mais pas qu'eux.
C'est aussi grâce à l'histoire qui est juste fascinante. L'auteur a su réécrire l'histoire de Rupert et Michael d'une façon véritablement singulière et très juste. Il a totalement chamboulé ce qui s'était passé pour eux tout en leur donnant une seconde vie.
Dans ce livre, ils revivent, et on leur donne une voix particulière et une profondeur incroyable. On suit ces personnages, leur amour, sous un fonds de Peter Pan (je n'ai pas lu ce livre mais sérieusement, ce livre m'a donné envie de le faire) et sous un fond de paranormal.

« But Rupert, like our souls, our story doesn’t have an ending. »

The Ghost of Buxton Manor réussit pour moi l'exploit d'être à la fois un livre terriblement adorable mais aussi terriblement flippant. A certains moment mon coeur fondait comme neige au soleil, et à d'autre, j'étais sérieusement flippé. Et c'est définitivement lié à la plume de l'auteur qui est véritablement immersive et prenante. Il nous happe dans son histoire dès les premières pages et ne nous lachent pas avant de nous avoir brisé soigneusement puis recollé avec tout autant de soin.

« Whenever you feel lonely or lost, or are missing me dearly, just close your eyes and we’ll be together again…always in our Neverland. »

Je pense que je vais finir cette rewiew en disant une chose : Je suis reconnaissante à l'auteur d'avoir écrit ce livre, et je lui suis reconnaissante pour toutes les émotions qu'il m'a fait passé. Ce livre m'a juste brisé le coeur, mais c'était la meilleur chose qui aurait pu m'arriver en lisant ce livre, et franchement, je le conseille à tout le monde. Est-ce que c'est mal de déjà avoir envie de le relire?

« Neverland.” He looked deep into my eyes and reminded me, “You’re my Neverland. »

Ps : J'ai en parti lu ce livre en écoutant Night of the Hunter de 30 seconds to Mars et quelque part, j'ai trouvé que c'était la chanson parfaite pour lire ce livre.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving this only 3 stars hurts a bit, because this book had a lot of things I liked, but here is the thing: Your idea can be great, your characters can be charming and your love story can be sweet, but if there are too many logic holes (easily fixed ones!) and your characters start to become really dumb because they're clearly not at the point of the plot where they're supposed to find things out, maybe you should go over your story again. Cause I think this one had way more potential than it showed in the end.

There might be mild spoilers in this review. I'll try to be vague in my descriptions of scenes, but be careful still, if you're sensitive to them! Blatant spoilers will be under a cut.

Let's start with the GOOD things first:

- Usually in paranormal love stories, we open the book to the human's POV. Now imagine how delighted I was that this whole book was narrated by the supernatural person aka the ghost! I thought that was pretty refreshing and I enjoyed Rupert's description of what it's like to be a ghost.

- Yes, this book had insta-love, but there was a believeable explanation for a change. Well, okay it was sort of two cases of insta-love and one didn't get one (except a flimsy 'soulmate' excuse), BUT it was still a nice change! Makes rooting for a couple so much easier.

- The secondary characters were, while not completely fleshed out and sometimes a bit one-note, pretty nice. I cared for them all. Especially the parents of Aaron. At first I was afraid that his mother would be one of those shrill, bleached blonde housewive caricatures (small sweater wearing dog inclusive), but she turned out to be a great mother and general human being.

The love story was sweet with a hint of tragic for the most part. I was perfectly fine rooting for them and I actually cried a bit in the end. I kind of knew how this book would end, because I accidently spoiled myself some time ago, but I still wasn't prepared to be so sad about Rupert and Aaron not getting a happy end in this life. Sure, they got it in the next but I still felt really awful for Aaron.

I liked certain elements of the ghost stuff. It was cool to see the difference between the living and the dead, not just look-wise, but also in how they couldn't taste food or really feel anything, even while sort of touching things for example.

And now to the BAD or at least eyerollworthy stuff:

- Here is the thing. If you have to dumb your characters down, you need to re-write some stuff. There were quite a few moments, where I said "Wait. What?" out loud. For example when the boys decided that they can't possibly get to Oxford (where they needed to go for plot reasons), because it's an one hour ride away and Aaron can't drive. It's freaking Oxford. Lots of tourists go there. One can assume it's easy to reach with various means of public transportation. But no, let's make a deal with some supernatural creature with a creepy name instead!?
Or when later they DO have to drive somewhere, Aaron reveals that he 'can't drive' because he failed his driver's license. I don't know about you, but where I live, you usually have plenty of lessons before you take the test, so what I'm saying is TECHNICALLY he should be totally able to drive! But no, let's have the dude who has been dead for 100 years drive, because he didn't fail his test. What the hell?
Or when they look up necromancy and it conviniently doesn't mention anything about raising the dead aka the one thing everyone who has ever heard that word knows, just so they can be surprised later.
OR when they get told that the evil being must be the one WHO WANTS ONE VERY SPECIFIC THING and none of the boys goes: "Wait. That sounds like a character we know!"
Things like that happened more often the further I got into this book and it made me so upset, cause all these things could have been so easily fixed/rewritten!

Not to mention general logic holes like several characters going: "Oh, it has taken us soooo long to find you, Rupert!" when the dude had been haunting his own freaking home all this time. You know, where he was buried. No one bothered to look there? But the plot said that no one had to tell/teach him anything before the story started I guess. Or as these stories always say: "He was just not ready yet, okay?"
Or some logic holes for the reason of reader manipulation like one character being all "REVENGE! YOU NEED REVENGE TO MOVE ON! REVEEEEENGE!" when Rupert first met them, to make them more creepy and 'obviously evil' just to do a 180 later when the plot needed them to. "Oh, revenge? Yeah, that was kind of sorta nice I guess. But didn't really help. My soul longs for something else. Woe me."

- While the description of HOW it feels to be a ghost were interesting, I never really got a grasp on how ghost society actually works.

- I said above that I liked the love story and I really do, BUT it also did the thing. Somewhere around 3/4 of the book, Aaron started to not care about his friends (who vanished from the story completely at some point) and barely about his family anymore. He even did the ultimate eyerollworthy thing of actually saying that he didn't care about anything but Rupert. Oh, please. (I sort of excuse Rupert for the same thoughts, because after being completely alone for 100 years, you get some leeway in my opinion)
Also there was a serious case of insta-love in the past. Gay kissing right after their first meeting in the early 1900s? Uh-hu. Being "soulmates" is not an excuse!

- Sadly the epilogue was completely rushed. It was supposed to heal the wounds the main story left, but it was like the author was in a hurry. For example, Rupert's reincarnation meets the three ghosts from before and is not bothered by them in the slightest. "Oh ghosts? Whatever. Where is that hot boy I saw in class?" He believed everything so damn fast, I got whiplash.

- This one thing is just a pet peeve of mine, so feel free to disregard it: I dislike it when a character in the story is supposed to be writing the actual book while we're reading it, because it never works unless it's really strictly written diary style. And even then it reads awkward more often than not. It's just not believable. Worse when the book is even title dropped at some point. It's cringeworthy. Don't do that.


All in all I think it was a really cute book, though. I actually think it would work nicely as a mini-series or even movie. I could feel that the author loved writing this story and I don't regret reading it at all. I might even go back to some scenes occasionally in the future.

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so there are several reasons I should have really disliked this book:

- There is an insta-love element to it
- Soulmates is a thing, and I usually dislike soulmate stories because it feels cheep, like it's less real between these two people in love because ah, well, it's destined so no matter what they do, they really have no choice in the matter, they're meant to be whether they choose to be or not
- Ghost stories usually aren't my thing, because it's like...one of these two in love is already dead, how can they possible have a happy ending? That's how it feels most of the time.
- Reincarnation, which I'm not a fan of either. Too much of a cop out to me, it's like "don't worry, we don't truly have to cherish the time we have now because we will meet in another life" which isn't usually the case, but still kinda of feels like that to me? Anyway, just not my thing.

But oh boy, did I LOVE this book. I could NOT put it down. Despite all these things I'm not a fan of, it all worked in this story. It was a well told story and it didn't fall short and actually kept me heavily invested.

The insta-love thing? Yeah, I usually hate that because after one second they're all lovey dovey and they don't even kNOW each other, like??? Ugh, and most of the times I've read something and it had insta-love it did NOT work out well. But man, Rupert and Michael/Aaron had instant chemistry, in all the times they met each other, and we were given enough interactions for me to feel the love.

That ties into the whole soulmate thing, which...it still bothered me, a lot, because like...what so they're permanently tied together without a choice in it? *sigh* bUT I loved these two together so much I ultimately didn't care. Like, if you can make me love the characters and their relationship, then I can get past the ridiculousness of soulmates. And the author did it with these two. They were just so...sweet together, so adorable, so wonderful. They had an intense, wonderful, heartbreaking romance. And in the end I was so happy that Rupert didn't let Aaron kill himself to be with Rupert. That would have been selfish of Rupert to let that happen. I mean, as heartbreaking as it was for Aaron to have live out the rest of his life without the love of his life, it was better for them. Because neither was a ghost, only ever able to feel the imprint of a touch, a kiss, and confined in a way you aren't when alive. And eventually Rupert reincarnated with Michael and they were able to start to fall in love all over again, this time alive at the same time and most likely getting to have a full life together this time

And okay, it was a ghost story, but this worked for me. Because it wasn't a sad ending (at first it was, getting ready to reach for the tissues!) and it was so hopeful and happy and wonderful and I was imagining Rupert/Jonathan and Michael/Aaron's life together and how wonderful it would be. I love my happy endings, and this didn't disappoint.

As for the reincarnation, I rolled with it. I mean, how else were these two - who were maliciously robbed of a happy life together - going to get a happy ending? I looked passed it. And I thought it sweet that the author made their reincarnations of himself and his actual husband, almost as if the book was a love letter to his husband. Adorable? Absolutely.

And I was well past 50% in this book when I thought to actually look up J.M. Barrie and see if Michael was actually real - I had thought he was just a made up character in the book tied to a real-life person, because people do that in fiction, but the guy was actually real, and I was like woahhh dude! and then I found out that Rupert Buxton was real too and I was just like oMGGG. And they might have actually been lovers! I was shocked lol.

Although in real life it seems like it really was either an accident or a suicide pact, but the murder mystery of this book gave an interesting element to this story, and I was flipping (or well, pressing the next on my kindle) from page to page wanting to know who dun' it. (And my suspicions from fairly early on were confirmed, as I thought!)

I thought it interesting that the author changed the year the boys died to 1917 instead of 1921 and their age being 17, but for me it felt like he made it that way so that Michael/Aaron would be forced to go the place Rupert was (because ya know, he's not 18 yet and he has to go with his parents, and I doubt that would work if he were 20 as he was in real life).

It also made it all the more sad because Rupert and Michael's romance in the book was so short lived. It broke my heart how little time these two had together. I was like, having to force myself not to cry at the end, but then it all worked out in the end and I could breath normally and not cry my heart out.

And I choose to believe in this imaginary, fictional world that it was real, that ghosts were real, the what happened with Rupert and Michael/Aaron was real and they really were reincarnated, and the book, in the story, was written by Rupert. I hate when stories go the "none of it was real" route, so that is what I'm believing about it.

I wouldn't believe this in real life, but that's what's so wonderful about fiction - you can believe anything, you can make up anything, you can make your own world, which unfortunately you can't do in real life.

But oh boy is it fun reading about two boys in love finding each other and working to find their happiness.

Would I scoff at this in real life, if someone told me they believed something like this actually happened? Yes. But can I revel in it in fiction, in the words on the page? HELL YEAH.

I loved this, and I definitely recommend this <3

[Asia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I forgot I wanted to read this book and didn't even know what it's about but can't say I'm mad about it. I liked it, it wasn't something I'm dying to re-read but it was nice.

[Thérèse · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I'm scared to look away, because you might not be there when I look back."

3.5 stars.

Trust me, I'm quite sad due to the fact that I am unable to award this book five stars. I wish that I loved it- I really do. Not to say that I disliked it; I enjoyed this book, but it just was not what I thought that it'd be.

I bought this book because, for some reason, I have an odd fascination with the story behind Peter Pan and just J.M. Barrie's life in general. It's to be expected that I stumbled upon Michael Llewelyn Davies, then Rupert Buxton, and subsequently the two boy's relationship. I've spent countless hours reading about them and their families. I cannot really tell you why I'm so interested in their stories... I'm a huge history buff, and I suppose I just am unable to resist a good, true story. I, along with most people, firmly believe that the real Michael and Rupert were lovers. There is a play written about them in which I must read, but other than that Rupert is scarcely mentioned in media. Therefore, when I discovered this book, I was elated. Finally, their love story told! I expected it to be haunting, especially considering that Rupert is tethered to the spirit world whilst Michael is not. Instead I got... I'm not sure.

The writing in this book is what bothers me most, I think. To begin, it is incredibly mediocre. There were a few lines of dialogue between Rupert and the love interest Aaron that got to me, but other than that this book is just not quotable. This disappoints me, because one of my favorite things about reading is discovering beautiful prose. Furthermore, the author uses way too many parenthesis- even when characters are speaking! This is one of my pet peeves. It is definitely okay to include some parenthesis every once in a while (read: every 150 pages- at least in my opinion), but the amount in which the author utilized them was just excessive, and I found myself growing increasingly annoyed. I also saw over three typos, which really took me out of the reading experience.
Oh, and take a shot every time Rupert says, "I tell you". Or maybe don't, as you'd most likely become black-out drunk.

Obviously, I am a fan of Michael and Rupert's story (it kind of irks me that their death dates were changed, but I suppose I can understand, as the author wished for them to be teenagers). We get to see some of their time together via flashbacks in this novel. I found their moments to be very cute, however, they were plagued with what many readers would call "insta-love". I get that they're soulmates or whatever, but come on...Kissing within the first hour they've known each other? In the early 1900s? I think not.
I did also enjoy Rupert/Aaron, and think they're extremely cute. However, even thought Aaron is Michael, I still think their love was pretty instantaneous as well. I'll cut Rupert a break, as I get where his love is coming from, but Aaron? He moves really quickly, I suppose.

Now, while this book is mostly a romance, it also hinges on the mystery surrounding Rupert's death. There are two 'big' plot-twists.
I guessed both of them right off the bat. The first one I even jotted down before I started reading. The second I came up with within the first 100 pages. To get to the point: the author is not subtle. Everything essentially dances around right in front of your eyes, but the main characters are too dumb to figure it out simply because if they were smart, the book would not be half as long.

This review is fairly negative, but I swear I don't hate this book. I love how it's from the ghost's POV versus the human's, and I love the whole tragic aspect to Rupert and Michael's romance. I just wish that it had been executed a bit differently. The story was cute, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but never breathtaking. Jonathan Ferrara did a fine job, and quite obviously was very passionate about this book. However; I believe that, if written by a different author, this book could truly be a mind-blowing masterpiece.

Michael Llewelyn Davies (16 June 1900 – 19 May 1921)
Rupert Erroll Victor Buxton (May 10, 1900 – May 19, 1921)

[Jennifer Oliveira · Rating 5 out of 5]

*review of a received advanced copy*

I’m going to start off by saying that The Ghost of Buxton Manor is the perfect example of how to take a Young Adult ghost story to the next level.

The Ghost of Buxton Manor starts off by being the story of a teenager boy who has been dead for quite some time, stuck inside a big, big house without being able to remember how and why he died. This ghost can’t do much of anything, really, can’t touch most things, can’t smell, can’t even see everything outside, can’t leave the gates of the manor… He’s stuck, and has been for quite a while. Oddly enough, though, he can read (and pssst, he likes Peter Pan) and he can write, he loves to write. Nothing exciting happens to this ghostly boy for basically a century, up until a couple buys the house and moves in, a couple with a son whose name is Aaron, also a teenager, an artist to whom our ghost immediately feels a connection. But why? And why does he suddenly start to remember? What is it with this boy? What’s happening? Why now?

The story is the perfect mixture between the paranormal and what’s real. It speaks of unfinished business, of the after life, of past lives, tons and tons of things you’ve read about, even introducing some urban legends you’re probably familiar with and yet… It’s very, very unique. Only halfway through the book did I find out (more like, stumbled upon and then went and researched and now am completely obsessed cough) how truly out of the ordinary this story is, and with the permission of the author, I’m going to tell you that this is not just fiction. Yes, you’ve heard correctly. Some characters in this book, some situations, some mysteries were inspired by things that really did happen, people that really did live a long, long time ago. Namely, people that had to do with the author and story of Peter Pan way back when (wink wink)… So yes, ghosts, artists, mysteries, peter pan vibe, inspired by real people and true events and lgbt+ with a cute angsty-ish relationship, what more could you want?(is that an amazon page I see you opening? is that this book I see you pre-ordering right away? that’s alright, i’m not judging you, i’d totally be doing that too if i were you…)

The style of writing is a perfect fit for YA literature, not overly descriptive in a way that makes you want to skip paragraphs and yawn but descriptive enough that makes you feel attached to the characters and to the story. It is a bit slow to start, but in a way that I understand and you will, too, how the author could not have got on with it any faster. It’s the perfect, balanced tale. Magical, paranormal, action packed, but with a twist of reality always tugging at your mind and making it even more mysterious. Jonathan Ferrara did an amazing job and I truly appareciate it. This is one of those books I have no trouble recommending to everyone, it doesn’t have any MAJOR trigger warnings it does mention suicide , and it will leave you wanting more.

And to this story, this is all I have to “say”:

“Never say goodbye, because saying goodbye means going away, and going away means forgetting.” - Peter Pan

I won’t be forgetting this wonderful book so soon, wink wink!

[Pedro Lobo · Rating 5 out of 5]

*If you're hoping for an accurate and historical portray of Michael Davies and Rupert Buxton this is def not for you. The same applies even if you're looking into diving to a solid historical fiction novel, since most of the plot unfolds during present time and in a fantastical realm. You should go into this book expecting the same historical treatment that a Disney animated movie would be given to*.

Putting that aside, here are some of my thoughts about it:

FIRRRRST OF ALL I F LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH THAT I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM IT

Although far from being a perfect book, or among the greatest literary works I've read (underline that twice), I could not stop falling into its magical spell from the moment I started reading it.

I mean, you put a boy falling in love with another boy and that pretty much catches my attention aldready, HOWEVER, when you put one of them as a ghost, trapped in an old mansion, then my expections are mf raised up to the moon!

I absolutely LOVE horror movies, but I also LOVE fairytales, and this book was a really cool mixture of both. I could tell there were some homages to The Little Mermaid, Casper (1995), Sixth Sense (1999) and more! (all amaze)

Then there's mentions of past lives, possessions, haunted houses, witches, soulmates, spells, murder, puzzles, ouija boards....I mean:

the mixture of references and influences this book has and was able to present captived as much as watching a Disney animated fairytale film for the first time. That's mainly what it felt like, and I LOVED IT SO MUCH FOR THAT.

THIS is the love story I've been wainting to read since I first watched Casper at five years old and fell in love with him. This is that story!

The plot of the story was so strong and the characters so endearing, that I honestly think this would even work as strong (if not stronger) had he not used actual historical events and people as references. However, given that some other celebrated pieces of fiction were given the same treatment and ended up being so beloved (e.g. ANASTASIA), I don't really see why this lovely book would be deemed terrible just solely for that reason.

The side characters were ALSO absolutely fantastic! And I found myself caring for them almost as much as I cared for Rupert and Aaron.

My only critics to this book would be on the use of the vocabulary and the writing style, which at times was a bit too cringey for me. I didn't mind the cliches in the story because I NEEDED THIS STORY SINCE I WAS FIVE AND I AM OKAY WITH ALL OF THEM, but yeah...

SO ANYWAYS, NOW I AM FORCING MY BOYFRIEND TO READ IT BECAUSE IT IS THE CUTEST LOVE STORY I'VE EVER READ!

[- ̗̀ DANY ̖́- (danyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

. : ☾⋆ — 5 ★

beautiful.

i can’t think of a different word to describe this book. magical, perhaps. i don’t know, but this book is definitely Something Else. it left me feeling hopeful and happy and satisfied, and i can’t stop thinking about it.

the fact that it’s based around two historical figures who actually existed and were actually lovers and that the author, Jonathan L. Ferrara, introduced parts of himself and his real life husband in these characters takes this book to an entire different level. it makes it feel insanely real. i don’t know how to explain it. and also, this book being self-published? unbelievable. the narrative and characters are genuinely so on a different plane of existence and i am LIVING for it.

i can’t begin to explain how happy i am that i found this book. or that it found me. regardless, it’s by far one of my favorite books i’ve read this year, and it will have a special place in my heart forever. i am in love.

[Darina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ghost of Buxton Manor - история двух родственных душ, которые не смогла разлучить даже смерть, рассказанная от лица приведения. Очень понравилось
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Я уже два дня зависаю на youtube канале автора и его мужа, чувствую себя поехавшей фанаткой, но, блин, они такие лапочки!

[puchi likes to read · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok, ill go all out about this book right here, right now. i wont use the spoiler tag bc it hides my review totally T_T but ill mention the words *SPOILER AHEAD* in all caps when i discuss the scenes. aight, so here goes-

ive never heard the name of the book before, one of my friends were reading it and they posted it online, and i was like "hey man whatchu reading" and they sent me the epub version. (also, that friend is the sweetest ever, bless their heart). hence, this book has been sitting in my tbr list since then. cut to 2 weeks ago, when i was thinking "god what should i read, theres soo many books in my list, and yet i cant choose" i closed my eyes and randomly tapped on a book and this appeared and i thought welp, guess were reading this now 😁.

the book didnt turn out to be bad uk, infact i liked it quite a lot. but there were certain scenes where i felt "are yall fr rn?" (yes ive been trying to be more critical of stuff that i read/ watch, instead of going "fantastic piece of media xx"). but other than those slightly cheesy and ehh parts, it was a good read!

now,, *SPOILER WARNING1!!1!!*
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the scenes which i found a bit ehh were the cheesy ones. now, i feel this is on me. im not a very big fan of romance and the downright "oh you're so beautiful!" "no, youreee so beautiful" *blush blush* kind of thing is Not for me (then why did i pick it?? yeah well now eheh). when aaron and rupert were just getting lost in eachothers eyes for hours, and that's the only thing that is happening for pages, it felt a tad bit boring im sorry. this brings to my next grievance that, the plot felt slow at times. for eg- halfway through the book, it felt that we are going round and round with nothing new happening. we were stuck, just like rupert in his silly little house heheh. and sometimes some instances felt unrealistic (yes, i Will bring up realism in a book which is about a ghost falling in love with a human, absolutely). like Aaron's parents were so quick to believe his tales, and decided to leave the manor, and how... bro how tf did rupert manage to drive a car that fast im crying, that too navigating heavy traffic, and he drived such a long way too?"!! the author did mention that he was struggling but bro😭😭😭 struggle doesn't even begin to describe what must have been going on but whatever. i have never been behind a wheel in my life so honestly i have no idea.

and now, the things i thought were really nice abt this book-
its a gay book😁😁 gay And ghosts! that's so cool! and the setting was quite chilling, and... welcoming... yeah. very contrasting words but yeah idk how else to describe it. soulmates were shown beautifully, the portrayal of afterlife, and souls who passed on to the pearly gates of heaven, still coming down to visit their loved ones.. yea its.. im.. yes i cried ok?? 😭 and the most dramatic scene imo, where rupert remembers that he had actually killed himself in his past life bc he did not know how to live without his soulmate, trust me when i say i was hiccuping and crying at 1am. and when he realises that his unfinished business was to say goodbye to his soulmate??? and that he /has/ to not respond to aaron when Aaron is calling for him??? TEARS IN MY EYES BRO SHAKING CRYING THROWING UP AND AND AND THEN, THE EPILOGUE OH MY GOD THEY REUNITED AND OMG THEY FOUND THE DIARY AND HDJSKDJ yea yes, i liked the book normal amount, totally didnt violently shake while reading abt how michael asked jonathan out for a date. to see their favourite play. yep. im fine. im sane.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me 3 years to finish this book, all the while refusing to let it become the dreaded second on my short DNF list.
I succeeded but daaaaamn son, this needs some heavy editing.
Cut a 100 pages to begin with it. Take care of the wrong writing techniques. Giving someone a French accent simply by turning all the 'th's into 'Z's and dropping apostrophes in place of every H does NOT cover the accent. In fact, it makes the whole thing a chore to read through it. Then there were text symbols such as parentheses in the middle of dialogue which just struck me as odd. Maybe there was nothing wrong with it, putting the blame on my crappy knowledge of English, but it was very distracting to me.

Furthermore, the whole writing was incredibly tame. At first, I was okay with that, it being YA appropriate and such, but at around 60% I realised this stuff needs some spicing up! I'm not saying profanity needs to be added, just a gust of liveliness. Everyone is being way too polite and/or innocent for me to invest in emotionally. Bring on the drama!

All things considered, it wasn't a bad book. It had its charms and I never saw the twist coming *dun dun duuun*. It also went perfectly with my Halloween reading spree. But boy oh boy, am I glad I finally finished it.

P.S. I won an e-copy of this book in 2016 @Kim's blog over at https://cadburypom.wordpress.com/
(I apparently forgot how to use HTML code, sorry)

[Paloma Villasenor · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 STARS*

THIS WAS AMAZING!!!! Honestly I read this so fast and I'm a lil sad about it :-(
Anyway, everything in this book was so great, the characters, the story, how it was inspired by Peter Pan and the story behind it. It was amazing. The romance was so cutee and refreshing. The story which is paranormal, bc we have ghosts was super interesting and cool! I need another book like this.