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Funeral Girl
Sixteen-year-old Georgia Richter feels conflicted about the funeral home her parents run--especially because she has the ability to summon ghosts. With one touch of any body that passes through Richter Funeral Home, she can awaken the spirit of the departed. With one more touch, she makes the spirit disappear, to a fate that remains mysterious to Georgia. To cope with her deep anxiety about death, she does her best to fulfill the final wishes of the deceased whose ghosts she briefly revives.
Then her classmate Milo's body arrives at Richter--and his spirit wants help with unfinished business, forcing Georgia to reckon with her relationship to grief and mortality.
Then her classmate Milo's body arrives at Richter--and his spirit wants help with unfinished business, forcing Georgia to reckon with her relationship to grief and mortality.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2022
32 people are currently reading
9504 people want to read
About the author
Emma K. Ohland
3 books74 followersEmma K. Ohland is a 20-something author who has been telling stories since before she knew how to write them down. She grew up in the middle of a cornfield in Indiana, but her imagination often carried her away to other worlds. When she’s not writing, reading, or smelling books, she enjoys traveling, crocheting, and daydreaming in coffee shops. She graduated with a B.A. in English literature and currently lives with her partner, their energetic cat, and their dog who thinks she’s a cat. Her first short story will appear in the YA anthology Out There spring 2022 and her debut YA novel Funeral Girl will be published by Carolrhoda Lab fall 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews
August 19, 2022
Sixteen-year-old Georgia Richter lives with her family over their funeral home. Enter Six Feet Under vibes! She has the ability to summon the dead, wake them up so to speak, to talk to them and release them to what comes next. She has tremendous anxiety about death, and it doesn't help that her schoolmates call her Funeral Girl after a horrible rumor was started about her at school. High School is not always the easiest place to be, especially when other kids label you and poke fun.
Then one of her classmates dies, and his family has chosen her family's business for his funeral. This kicks her anxiety into overdrive. As Georgia deals with the shock of his death, the anxiety about death, and her foundering friendships, things get interesting. Georgia must face grief, anxiety, her self-esteem, her relationships with her family members, and her feelings about death.
In helping her classmate say goodbye, will Georgia be saying hello to herself?
This book touches on so many subjects: anxiety, friendship, sexuality, loss, grief, saying goodbye, and communication. I thought these were all nicely done.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job! This is a book that I wanted to keep listening to and rooted for Georgia the whole way. Many are afraid of death and poor Georgia is surrounded by death as she lives and helps at her family's funeral home. What a double whammy for her! But she grows and learns to cope, to communicate and face her fear.
For me, this was a book about growth, and I appreciated how the author approached mental health and friendship. Speaking of friends, Amy was the best! I found this book to be heartfelt, moving, and thought provoking. This was a well done YA book that all ages can enjoy!
#FuneralGirl #NetGalley
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Then one of her classmates dies, and his family has chosen her family's business for his funeral. This kicks her anxiety into overdrive. As Georgia deals with the shock of his death, the anxiety about death, and her foundering friendships, things get interesting. Georgia must face grief, anxiety, her self-esteem, her relationships with her family members, and her feelings about death.
In helping her classmate say goodbye, will Georgia be saying hello to herself?
This book touches on so many subjects: anxiety, friendship, sexuality, loss, grief, saying goodbye, and communication. I thought these were all nicely done.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job! This is a book that I wanted to keep listening to and rooted for Georgia the whole way. Many are afraid of death and poor Georgia is surrounded by death as she lives and helps at her family's funeral home. What a double whammy for her! But she grows and learns to cope, to communicate and face her fear.
For me, this was a book about growth, and I appreciated how the author approached mental health and friendship. Speaking of friends, Amy was the best! I found this book to be heartfelt, moving, and thought provoking. This was a well done YA book that all ages can enjoy!
#FuneralGirl #NetGalley
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
October 10, 2022
Georgia attends Somerton High School in Indiana and also helps with the family business at Richter Funeral Home since she was twelve. Twelve!! In the future, the business will be passed down to her and her twin brother Peter who wants to be a mortician. Georgia isn't as sure but she does have a gift of waking the dead and does what she can if they have a final wish.
I thought I would love this story. Something about a funeral home intrigues me. A family living there. And ghosts! Unfortunately, I thought the characters are just okay. I didn't love or care for anyone except maybe for Milo, a boy from the same class who ends up at Richter. ⚰️
Funeral Girl is not what I expected. This is a story about Georgia finding herself and not a horror story. Okay, the basement and the embalming process did creep me out a little bit. 😬
I thought I would love this story. Something about a funeral home intrigues me. A family living there. And ghosts! Unfortunately, I thought the characters are just okay. I didn't love or care for anyone except maybe for Milo, a boy from the same class who ends up at Richter. ⚰️
Funeral Girl is not what I expected. This is a story about Georgia finding herself and not a horror story. Okay, the basement and the embalming process did creep me out a little bit. 😬
August 29, 2022
I am going against the ratings tide on this one.
At first I suspected that Georgia was deeply depressed, but the ending of this story - no spoilers here - deconstructed that theory for me and just made me believe that non-binary, asexual Georgia was just a melodramatic, self-absorbed teen-aged person.
I listened to the seemingly interminable audiobook of this story about a young person who could wake the dead. You would think that all kinds of interesting revelations would be triggered by each "awakening" - but no, much of the narrative went nowhere and often spun in its sandy tracks.
There was so much that COULD have happened - that COULD have held my interest. Instead, the story devolved into a "touchy feely" soap opera. The last few chapters were excruciatingly slow and repetitive for me. The "big reveal" behind the estrangement between Georgia and her twin brother Peter fell flatter than an over-cooked pancake for me.
The author can certainly write a decent sentence, but molasses dripped faster than the action - what little of it that there was! - in this histrionic funeral parlour soap opera. I'm rating this a 2.9 out of 5, rounded up to a 3.
My thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
At first I suspected that Georgia was deeply depressed, but the ending of this story - no spoilers here - deconstructed that theory for me and just made me believe that non-binary, asexual Georgia was just a melodramatic, self-absorbed teen-aged person.
I listened to the seemingly interminable audiobook of this story about a young person who could wake the dead. You would think that all kinds of interesting revelations would be triggered by each "awakening" - but no, much of the narrative went nowhere and often spun in its sandy tracks.
There was so much that COULD have happened - that COULD have held my interest. Instead, the story devolved into a "touchy feely" soap opera. The last few chapters were excruciatingly slow and repetitive for me. The "big reveal" behind the estrangement between Georgia and her twin brother Peter fell flatter than an over-cooked pancake for me.
The author can certainly write a decent sentence, but molasses dripped faster than the action - what little of it that there was! - in this histrionic funeral parlour soap opera. I'm rating this a 2.9 out of 5, rounded up to a 3.
My thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2022
It’s got ghosts and funerals and coffins and inner turmoil and existential dread and ace and nonbinary rep and complicated family dynamics and powerful friendships at the heart of it all. Can’t wait for you all to be able to read it <3
January 12, 2023
4.25⭐ for the audiobook.
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, debut, death, ghosts
I really hope I get to be a ghost so my nosiness doesn't end with my death. There's definitely some people I wouldn't mind haunting.
Georgia's family owns the town funeral home and has a gift, or maybe not, of being able to 'wake' the dead while they lay in wait of their funeral. When her classmate, Milo, is killed Georgia develops a connection with him and he hangs around for longer than the other ghosts she's dealt with. They help each other see the light so to speak.
Told by Georgia in the 1st person as she deals with being known as the funeral girl at school and how she copes with her ability to help ghosts move on after their death. Death is not an easy topic for some, but it was written in such a way that made me believe someone might be there to help guide the way into the unknown.
Narrated by Jess Nahikian for 8 hours and 14 minutes, easy to follow at 2x. She did a lovely job and sounded just like a sixteen year old.
Overall, a solid debut novel and I'd be very interested in seeing what Emma writes next.
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media, Emma_K_Ohland and NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, debut, death, ghosts
I really hope I get to be a ghost so my nosiness doesn't end with my death. There's definitely some people I wouldn't mind haunting.
Georgia's family owns the town funeral home and has a gift, or maybe not, of being able to 'wake' the dead while they lay in wait of their funeral. When her classmate, Milo, is killed Georgia develops a connection with him and he hangs around for longer than the other ghosts she's dealt with. They help each other see the light so to speak.
Told by Georgia in the 1st person as she deals with being known as the funeral girl at school and how she copes with her ability to help ghosts move on after their death. Death is not an easy topic for some, but it was written in such a way that made me believe someone might be there to help guide the way into the unknown.
Narrated by Jess Nahikian for 8 hours and 14 minutes, easy to follow at 2x. She did a lovely job and sounded just like a sixteen year old.
Overall, a solid debut novel and I'd be very interested in seeing what Emma writes next.
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media, Emma_K_Ohland and NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
August 18, 2022
4.5 Funeral Girl is a book about grief, understanding of death and hope.
Georgia is a young 16 year old who lives with her family at a funeral home. She is acutely aware of death and dying, and with that knowledge, brings her more anxiety than peace. Also, with each death Georgia can summon the spirits/ghosts and help them go to the unknown.
Meanwhile, Georgia is also grieving her grandma and it becomes harder and harder to understand death and where we go afterwards. That's when she meets Milo.
Milo is a classmate who unfortunately dies from a car accident, with his death looming over his family, and community, Georgia finds herself connecting with Milo and learning about his struggles and helps him reconnect with his family one last time.
I enjoyed this book, as I too have struggled with the idea of death, and I too, had death in my life that left a huge impact on me.
This book is good for anyone who struggles with the idea of death and who have had grief hit them like a hurricane.
Georgia is a young 16 year old who lives with her family at a funeral home. She is acutely aware of death and dying, and with that knowledge, brings her more anxiety than peace. Also, with each death Georgia can summon the spirits/ghosts and help them go to the unknown.
Meanwhile, Georgia is also grieving her grandma and it becomes harder and harder to understand death and where we go afterwards. That's when she meets Milo.
Milo is a classmate who unfortunately dies from a car accident, with his death looming over his family, and community, Georgia finds herself connecting with Milo and learning about his struggles and helps him reconnect with his family one last time.
I enjoyed this book, as I too have struggled with the idea of death, and I too, had death in my life that left a huge impact on me.
This book is good for anyone who struggles with the idea of death and who have had grief hit them like a hurricane.
January 13, 2023
I spent the last 40% of this book bawling
August 27, 2022
2.75 Rounded up to 3 stars. An interesting beginning and great finale with alot of blah blah and whining in the middle. Not an accurate portrayal of panic attacks(in my opinion and experience)
Georgia can wake the spirits of the dead with her touch. She uses this ability to try to bring closure to the spirits and their families by fulfilling last requests. When one of her classmates is killed by a hit and run Georgia is moved to get to know Milo and what made this outsider who they were. Can Georgia help Milo into the great unknown? Or will Milo end up stuck in our world where he can't find peace?
The first 20% of this is pretty good, pulling in the reader and getting some investment in the goings on. However the middle and up to the last 15% falls terribly flat. Georgia is an awful person. She wakes the dead to try and conquer her fear of it rather than truly help others move on. She selfishly wakes Milo and acts like she knew him well to his parents throughout the novel, while treating her friend Amy like utter dog doody. Amy is a much better person than me, they continuously are there for Georgia and just want confirmation (THROUGH TEXT) that Georgia is alright/home safe....to which Georgia continuously ignores. Georgia is selfish and very self centered for someone trying to help others move on. Granted, she's only a Sophomore so she's still very young and lord knows what a selfish terror I was at that age. The final act does redeem Georgia a bit, but I enjoyed it more for Milo's sake. Thankfully I was blessed with an AudioARC, I'm not sure I would have finished this otherwise.
This one wasn't really my jam, even though the premise is promising. 2.75 stars rounded to three. This is definitely geared more towards the young adult crowd, so I would put the age range at 12-20 as those older might find they share my judgement of Georgia and may not finish. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.
Georgia can wake the spirits of the dead with her touch. She uses this ability to try to bring closure to the spirits and their families by fulfilling last requests. When one of her classmates is killed by a hit and run Georgia is moved to get to know Milo and what made this outsider who they were. Can Georgia help Milo into the great unknown? Or will Milo end up stuck in our world where he can't find peace?
The first 20% of this is pretty good, pulling in the reader and getting some investment in the goings on. However the middle and up to the last 15% falls terribly flat. Georgia is an awful person. She wakes the dead to try and conquer her fear of it rather than truly help others move on. She selfishly wakes Milo and acts like she knew him well to his parents throughout the novel, while treating her friend Amy like utter dog doody. Amy is a much better person than me, they continuously are there for Georgia and just want confirmation (THROUGH TEXT) that Georgia is alright/home safe....to which Georgia continuously ignores. Georgia is selfish and very self centered for someone trying to help others move on. Granted, she's only a Sophomore so she's still very young and lord knows what a selfish terror I was at that age. The final act does redeem Georgia a bit, but I enjoyed it more for Milo's sake. Thankfully I was blessed with an AudioARC, I'm not sure I would have finished this otherwise.
This one wasn't really my jam, even though the premise is promising. 2.75 stars rounded to three. This is definitely geared more towards the young adult crowd, so I would put the age range at 12-20 as those older might find they share my judgement of Georgia and may not finish. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2022
This was hella depressing, but in a good way?
I adored how raw Georgia's emotions were.
This felt like the author took two tv shows, Six Feet Under & The Ghost Whisperer, threw them in a blender and this book popped out.
It was amazing!
I did the audio and I thought Jess Nahikian's narration was perfect!
She nailed the mood of this book and her soft cadences ushering me along felt right.
Much love to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my DRC.
I adored how raw Georgia's emotions were.
This felt like the author took two tv shows, Six Feet Under & The Ghost Whisperer, threw them in a blender and this book popped out.
It was amazing!
I did the audio and I thought Jess Nahikian's narration was perfect!
She nailed the mood of this book and her soft cadences ushering me along felt right.
Much love to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for my DRC.
June 6, 2022
This review will be published on The Wellesley News in the next few weeks! I will come back and add the link to the review on NetGalley once it's up.
Content warning: discussions of death, particularly anxiety about death.
I was a teenager when I first really thought about the fact that I am going to die someday. I know that’s a little late to have that realization, but I had been fortunate enough to not have any deaths in my family, which is usually what sparks this awareness for kids.
My grandparents are all still alive, actually, but the concept of death caught up to me anyway. I’d lie awake at night petrified by the thought of never waking up, the idea that I and everyone around me would just be gone. It only got worse during the pandemic, escalating to full panic attacks whenever I pondered the idea.
So it’s safe to say that the whole concept of Emma K. Ohland’s “Funeral Girl” — an asexual girl who speaks to ghosts and learns to cope with the inevitability of death — really spoke to me.
16-year-old Georgia Richter has grown up in the Richter family funeral home with her parents and twin brother. She is surrounded by death pretty much every day, and it gives her a great deal of anxiety to consider that one day, she and everyone she knows will have their turn on the embalming table.
Since she was young, she has had the ability to summon and talk to ghosts, as well as to send them off into the ether. (And no, that does not ease her anxiety whatsoever, because where do they go?) So one day, when her classmate unexpectedly dies, she does what she always does and summons his ghost so he can have one last word. Except he wants to stay around for a bit, so she lets him.
I don’t have many panic attacks about death right now, but those thoughts never totally went away, so reading this book was intensely relatable. I felt at times that Ohland had somehow accessed all of my thoughts and spit them out onto paper. “Funeral Girl” is the kind of book that makes me feel like it was written specifically for an audience of me — even though that is obviously not the case.
Georgia’s friendship with Milo (the ghost) is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Milo absolutely did not deserve to die, and I cried my way through the process that it takes for Georgia and Milo to accept his death. (Seriously, I think that I was just full-on sobbing while reading the entire last quarter of this book.)
What really got me was that Georgia’s asexuality actually contributed to her worries, which just really felt like a personal attack. Life is scary, and having That Person to do it with you is a major source of comfort for many people. But if you don’t desire that type of companionship, then what are you supposed to do? Terrifying to think about, right?
One of my favorite things about this novel is that Ohland allows Georgia to be the messy teenager we all once were. The main scary thing that occupies your mind, whether that’s friend drama, an impending exam or massive existential dread, is incredibly consuming when you’re young. This can cause you to make some pretty poor decisions, and Georgia makes a lot of those. Her relationships with her friends, her family and even total strangers are in flux, but what I love is that all those around Georgia are incredibly supportive and forgiving when she does open up to them.
Above all, I think “Funeral Girl” is a story about learning to cope. This is a very real worry for a lot of us, and what Georgia learns (spoiler alert, I guess) is that there’s not one way to manage your fears. That’s a very powerful message that I definitely needed to hear, and I think a lot of teens and young adults do too. I have a feeling this book is going to be really important for a lot of kids.
“Funeral Girl” comes out on Sep. 6, 2022. I received an early copy from the publisher, Carolrhoda Lab (an imprint of Lerner Books), in exchange for an honest review. Also, not to brag, but I will be meeting Emma at a book talk in June for an anthology in which she is a contributor, and I think that’s pretty cool.
Content warning: discussions of death, particularly anxiety about death.
I was a teenager when I first really thought about the fact that I am going to die someday. I know that’s a little late to have that realization, but I had been fortunate enough to not have any deaths in my family, which is usually what sparks this awareness for kids.
My grandparents are all still alive, actually, but the concept of death caught up to me anyway. I’d lie awake at night petrified by the thought of never waking up, the idea that I and everyone around me would just be gone. It only got worse during the pandemic, escalating to full panic attacks whenever I pondered the idea.
So it’s safe to say that the whole concept of Emma K. Ohland’s “Funeral Girl” — an asexual girl who speaks to ghosts and learns to cope with the inevitability of death — really spoke to me.
16-year-old Georgia Richter has grown up in the Richter family funeral home with her parents and twin brother. She is surrounded by death pretty much every day, and it gives her a great deal of anxiety to consider that one day, she and everyone she knows will have their turn on the embalming table.
Since she was young, she has had the ability to summon and talk to ghosts, as well as to send them off into the ether. (And no, that does not ease her anxiety whatsoever, because where do they go?) So one day, when her classmate unexpectedly dies, she does what she always does and summons his ghost so he can have one last word. Except he wants to stay around for a bit, so she lets him.
I don’t have many panic attacks about death right now, but those thoughts never totally went away, so reading this book was intensely relatable. I felt at times that Ohland had somehow accessed all of my thoughts and spit them out onto paper. “Funeral Girl” is the kind of book that makes me feel like it was written specifically for an audience of me — even though that is obviously not the case.
Georgia’s friendship with Milo (the ghost) is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Milo absolutely did not deserve to die, and I cried my way through the process that it takes for Georgia and Milo to accept his death. (Seriously, I think that I was just full-on sobbing while reading the entire last quarter of this book.)
What really got me was that Georgia’s asexuality actually contributed to her worries, which just really felt like a personal attack. Life is scary, and having That Person to do it with you is a major source of comfort for many people. But if you don’t desire that type of companionship, then what are you supposed to do? Terrifying to think about, right?
One of my favorite things about this novel is that Ohland allows Georgia to be the messy teenager we all once were. The main scary thing that occupies your mind, whether that’s friend drama, an impending exam or massive existential dread, is incredibly consuming when you’re young. This can cause you to make some pretty poor decisions, and Georgia makes a lot of those. Her relationships with her friends, her family and even total strangers are in flux, but what I love is that all those around Georgia are incredibly supportive and forgiving when she does open up to them.
Above all, I think “Funeral Girl” is a story about learning to cope. This is a very real worry for a lot of us, and what Georgia learns (spoiler alert, I guess) is that there’s not one way to manage your fears. That’s a very powerful message that I definitely needed to hear, and I think a lot of teens and young adults do too. I have a feeling this book is going to be really important for a lot of kids.
“Funeral Girl” comes out on Sep. 6, 2022. I received an early copy from the publisher, Carolrhoda Lab (an imprint of Lerner Books), in exchange for an honest review. Also, not to brag, but I will be meeting Emma at a book talk in June for an anthology in which she is a contributor, and I think that’s pretty cool.
October 3, 2022
FUNERAL GIRL
Emma K. Ohland
Georgia Richter and her family live in the local funeral home. Her talent is that she has the ability to summon ghosts, and once done she asks them their last request. She is morbidly obsessed with death and as the book continues, she is frightened of it. After schoolmate, Milo is killed Georgia summons him but can't seem to get him to leave.
Georgia has to deal with her grief over her Grandmother's death and learn to deal with life in general.
To be honest I found Georgia a narcissistic child with little regard for others who are living. But to her defense, she was surrounded by enablers who allowed this behavior. In the end, she did seem to grow but for me, it was just a bit too late I didn't care much for her.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
Emma K. Ohland
Georgia Richter and her family live in the local funeral home. Her talent is that she has the ability to summon ghosts, and once done she asks them their last request. She is morbidly obsessed with death and as the book continues, she is frightened of it. After schoolmate, Milo is killed Georgia summons him but can't seem to get him to leave.
Georgia has to deal with her grief over her Grandmother's death and learn to deal with life in general.
To be honest I found Georgia a narcissistic child with little regard for others who are living. But to her defense, she was surrounded by enablers who allowed this behavior. In the end, she did seem to grow but for me, it was just a bit too late I didn't care much for her.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
June 2, 2022
“Do you think it’s the unknown about death that scares people so much, or is it that we all secretly know and we’re too scared to admit it?”
First, thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this book! Parts of it were hard to read for me, especially the description of the funeral home and funerals. My mom died in 2018 and it just brought me right back there. But from my experience, the descriptions were really accurate.
At times, Georgia of reminded me of Evan from Dear Evan Hansen. They both had this huge secret they felt they couldn't tell anyone about and had to lie to people because of it.
I enjoyed seeing Georgia's growth and her relationship with Milo. While her reasons for waking him up may have been a little selfish, she truly gets to know Milo for Milo. Not the perfect picture of him everyone wants. In the end, she really starts to understand herself, Milo, her family, and how everyone truly grieves differently.
All in all a solid debut novel and I can't wait to read more from Ohland in the future!
First, thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this book! Parts of it were hard to read for me, especially the description of the funeral home and funerals. My mom died in 2018 and it just brought me right back there. But from my experience, the descriptions were really accurate.
At times, Georgia of reminded me of Evan from Dear Evan Hansen. They both had this huge secret they felt they couldn't tell anyone about and had to lie to people because of it.
I enjoyed seeing Georgia's growth and her relationship with Milo. While her reasons for waking him up may have been a little selfish, she truly gets to know Milo for Milo. Not the perfect picture of him everyone wants. In the end, she really starts to understand herself, Milo, her family, and how everyone truly grieves differently.
All in all a solid debut novel and I can't wait to read more from Ohland in the future!
October 29, 2022
A Hoopla Book Club Read...tried and failed...too slow, thought it would be dark, but not the gloomy kind! Just not my cup of coffee!
October 3, 2022
If you mixed Julie and the Phantoms, Dear Evan Hansen and Ghost Whisper, you’d get Funeral Girl and it was such a good time! 👻
Georgia’s family runs a funeral home and, unbeknownst to her parents and twin brother, she sees the ghosts of all the deceased people that comes to them and has the job of sending the souls to the other side. This part of the story was SO unique and interesting, then you add in the rest of the plot - Georgia’s friendships, familial relationships, and personal life - we got a fully cooked story about being a quirky, confused teen. This book also had wonderful sexuality/gender rep so that was a great plus.
I think anyone would like this book. It’s a super easy read with some feelings but also some solid comedic moments. Buy this for yourself or for a teen in your life - just make sure at the end of the day you read it!
Georgia’s family runs a funeral home and, unbeknownst to her parents and twin brother, she sees the ghosts of all the deceased people that comes to them and has the job of sending the souls to the other side. This part of the story was SO unique and interesting, then you add in the rest of the plot - Georgia’s friendships, familial relationships, and personal life - we got a fully cooked story about being a quirky, confused teen. This book also had wonderful sexuality/gender rep so that was a great plus.
I think anyone would like this book. It’s a super easy read with some feelings but also some solid comedic moments. Buy this for yourself or for a teen in your life - just make sure at the end of the day you read it!
August 10, 2022
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this novel from my local library. This, of course, grants my opinions greater authority. Any deviation from the opinions mentioned in this post will be considered “incorrect” and the slanderers will thereafter be referred to only as “dum-dums.”
Firstly, the title: Funeral Girl. Two words. Eleven letters. Implies the presence of dead people and at least one girl. I’m into it. However, the ink from the cover rubbed off on my hand, leaving black smudges on my palms and fingertips. Bad form. Totally uncool. D-
Now for the book itself.
The book follows a girl whose name I’ve already forgotten, and who everyone refers to as “G,” despite the fact that she is the least gangster character in the whole book. Super annoying. Anyway, it was impossible not to hate her because she, quite frankly, was an obnoxious twat.
The rest of the book could have been saved from this alleged-gangster, but the story lacked cohesion. Poor G can see un-alived people but continually draws our attention away from this fact by focusing on totally banal bullshit. I expected to delve into some super-cereal-pseudo-philosophical thinkings, but was instead repeatedly reminded that Amy is non-binary. Which, by the way, is literally the only thing we get to know about them, other than the fact that they agree that G is a total twat.
The story attempts to ruminate on the unknowable-unknowingness of death after G’s classmate gets un-alived by a car. But the book fails to delve much deeper than, “OMG! What if I died?” Which, honestly, feels like a question poor, naive G could have asked herself much earlier in life. You know, what with her literally living in a funeral home and being surrounded by death and all. But, alas, G has a moment of existential crisis.
So, like I said, G can see un-alived people. Sort of. Anyway, it doesn’t matter because by the end of the book all that we’ve learned is that, once upon a time, people made fun of G for being weird and she never got over it. Not for three years.
I want to devote more time to reviewing this book, but I don’t have the energy. So, I’ll leave you with this: the end of the book may suggest that asexuality (did I mention G is ace? also not important to the story or the character development.) is best handled by “professionals.” The end also may suggest that G may have created the delusion of ghosts as a way to cope with her grandmother’s death. Which is fine, I guess, but also feels cheap.
The book fails to deliver a meaningful depiction of any of its many threads, and attempts to elicit an emotional reaction out of readers through death imagery.
Overall rating: D+
Firstly, the title: Funeral Girl. Two words. Eleven letters. Implies the presence of dead people and at least one girl. I’m into it. However, the ink from the cover rubbed off on my hand, leaving black smudges on my palms and fingertips. Bad form. Totally uncool. D-
Now for the book itself.
The book follows a girl whose name I’ve already forgotten, and who everyone refers to as “G,” despite the fact that she is the least gangster character in the whole book. Super annoying. Anyway, it was impossible not to hate her because she, quite frankly, was an obnoxious twat.
The rest of the book could have been saved from this alleged-gangster, but the story lacked cohesion. Poor G can see un-alived people but continually draws our attention away from this fact by focusing on totally banal bullshit. I expected to delve into some super-cereal-pseudo-philosophical thinkings, but was instead repeatedly reminded that Amy is non-binary. Which, by the way, is literally the only thing we get to know about them, other than the fact that they agree that G is a total twat.
The story attempts to ruminate on the unknowable-unknowingness of death after G’s classmate gets un-alived by a car. But the book fails to delve much deeper than, “OMG! What if I died?” Which, honestly, feels like a question poor, naive G could have asked herself much earlier in life. You know, what with her literally living in a funeral home and being surrounded by death and all. But, alas, G has a moment of existential crisis.
So, like I said, G can see un-alived people. Sort of. Anyway, it doesn’t matter because by the end of the book all that we’ve learned is that, once upon a time, people made fun of G for being weird and she never got over it. Not for three years.
I want to devote more time to reviewing this book, but I don’t have the energy. So, I’ll leave you with this: the end of the book may suggest that asexuality (did I mention G is ace? also not important to the story or the character development.) is best handled by “professionals.” The end also may suggest that G may have created the delusion of ghosts as a way to cope with her grandmother’s death. Which is fine, I guess, but also feels cheap.
The book fails to deliver a meaningful depiction of any of its many threads, and attempts to elicit an emotional reaction out of readers through death imagery.
Overall rating: D+
March 2, 2024
September 6, 2022 Update: Funeral Girl is OUT NOW!!!!!
Full disclosure: I know the author and she gave me an ARC to review for all you fine folks (also go follow her on tiktok and twitter please and thank you).
HOWEVER, I am being entirely truthful when I tell you that I really really enjoyed this book. It is not my normal type of book; there is no romance, there is no action. It's quiet and subdued and explores grief in a really sophisticated way. Georgia has a debilitating fear of death, and she has to be around it all the time due to her family owning the local funeral home. She also has the ability to summon ghosts by touching the body of the recently deceased, then touching them again to send the ghost to whatever lies beyond. A boy from her school dies in an accident, and Georgia strikes up a friendship with him after he dies. Funeral Girl looks at grief from all angles: friends, family, the loss of youth, and even grieving yourself and your own Eventual death someday. Reading this book made me realize I am also afraid of death, but I just Refuse To Think About It. Someday I will think about it, and I will have a healthier response to it because of this book. Georgia also has a moment of reckoning with a lot of important people in her life, leading to some wonderful character growth.
There are some things I didn't absolutely love, but they can be overlooked. The writing style is a little simplistic for my taste and I honestly wish it was a little longer so the side characters could be more fleshed out. But overall, I really enjoyed this and it did make me cry at work! So I call that a win.
Full disclosure: I know the author and she gave me an ARC to review for all you fine folks (also go follow her on tiktok and twitter please and thank you).
HOWEVER, I am being entirely truthful when I tell you that I really really enjoyed this book. It is not my normal type of book; there is no romance, there is no action. It's quiet and subdued and explores grief in a really sophisticated way. Georgia has a debilitating fear of death, and she has to be around it all the time due to her family owning the local funeral home. She also has the ability to summon ghosts by touching the body of the recently deceased, then touching them again to send the ghost to whatever lies beyond. A boy from her school dies in an accident, and Georgia strikes up a friendship with him after he dies. Funeral Girl looks at grief from all angles: friends, family, the loss of youth, and even grieving yourself and your own Eventual death someday. Reading this book made me realize I am also afraid of death, but I just Refuse To Think About It. Someday I will think about it, and I will have a healthier response to it because of this book. Georgia also has a moment of reckoning with a lot of important people in her life, leading to some wonderful character growth.
There are some things I didn't absolutely love, but they can be overlooked. The writing style is a little simplistic for my taste and I honestly wish it was a little longer so the side characters could be more fleshed out. But overall, I really enjoyed this and it did make me cry at work! So I call that a win.
September 3, 2022
Writing reviews used to come easy for me. By the time I finished reading a book, I had so many thoughts written down that the review was practically written already. Lately, however, with my poor health declining even more, my brain just doesn’t seem to have much to offer the review world.
This is especially true with this book. I enjoyed it . I feel like I should have some valuable feedback to offer. But all I can really think to say is that this was a meaningful examination of death, grief, and anxiety.
Actually, I do have one other thing to say: I saw some reviews complaining that the characters (besides Georgia) were rather one dimensional. I agree that they were, but not as a complaint. When an author uses a first person narrative, I think it leaves little room for character development beyond the narrator. It’s a tricky thing. But I do actually feel, despite the lack of nuance throughout most of the story, the author did a very good job giving the other characters emotional depth in the end, forcing Georgia to see beyond herself in a way she’d been incapable of for most of the story. So there’s character growth, as well. I think Ohland did just fine with the narration style she chose to use.
I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my audio review copy. All opinions are my own.
This is especially true with this book. I enjoyed it . I feel like I should have some valuable feedback to offer. But all I can really think to say is that this was a meaningful examination of death, grief, and anxiety.
Actually, I do have one other thing to say: I saw some reviews complaining that the characters (besides Georgia) were rather one dimensional. I agree that they were, but not as a complaint. When an author uses a first person narrative, I think it leaves little room for character development beyond the narrator. It’s a tricky thing. But I do actually feel, despite the lack of nuance throughout most of the story, the author did a very good job giving the other characters emotional depth in the end, forcing Georgia to see beyond herself in a way she’d been incapable of for most of the story. So there’s character growth, as well. I think Ohland did just fine with the narration style she chose to use.
I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my audio review copy. All opinions are my own.
November 9, 2022
This book was very nostalgic for me. It reminded me of the ghost stories I would read growing up, stories about ghosts and the afterlife, It brings up questions about life and death, what happens after you die, what are the limitations of ghosts, and what happens to spirits after death. but still keeping it light, and I would still categorize it as a YA. The MC was relatable, dark and quirky and I really liked her back story and progression arc. I loved the setting, and the writing was well done. I really enjoyed the story, and thought it was the perfect ghost story for spooky season!
March 2, 2023
Well I cried not one, not twice, but three damn times.
After looking at some other reviews, I'm convinced this book has fallen into the wrong hands and I need it to get to queer bookstagram to really be appreciated for the nuanced and complicated reality that it is.
Georgia is a teenage girl, a sophomore in high school, the daughter of a mortician, lives in a funeral home, has a twin brother who is part of the popular crowd, and yeah, she talks to dead people.
When her grandma died, Georgia figured out she could talk to the dead. With one touch, their ghosts would appear and Georgia would enact any last wishes for them. This entire thing falls apart when a classmate dies in an accident and he ends up at the funeral home. Georgia is tormented by her fear of death and having someone so young die has really catapulted her anxiety and fear. When Milo wants to stick around, it also makes her confront if what she's doing for the dead is actually helpful or just selfish.
Georgia is a teenager; therefore, she is flawed. She is selfish and often forgets about her friend while getting lost in her own world. She shuts out her family because they don't understand her and allows past hurts to rule her everyday. But y'all, SHE'S A TEENAGER. People in these reviews are acting like she should have this very adult mature view of death and grief are forgetting that she's fucking 16 years old. Like you're really gonna tell me you weren't a little bit of a selfish asshole at 16?
Anyway, I loved this. It felt very raw and emotional for me. It doesn't have a ton of plot and it takes place over a week, but I loved how visceral I felt all of Georgia's emotions. While I wish we had a bit of resolution with her brother and family regarding both her sexuality and "I can talk to dead people" thing, I still am throwing this on my favorites list. Any book that can make me cry three times needs to go on.
Regarding sexuality, I actually found this book through aromantic awareness week but Georgia doesn't talk about being aro at all. That being said, I totally get the aro vibe and think that she will/could identify as aro in the future. She does talk multiple times about being ace and also how she doesn't foresee a future with a partner (where the aro vibes come in) I actually kinda enjoy this open ended idea about identity here. Like she's a teenager and doesn't need to have it all figured out. I can imagine a conversation in a few years with her best friend where they dissect the differences between ace and aro and if Georgia fits both or parts of both etc.
Georgia's best friend is also nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns.
After looking at some other reviews, I'm convinced this book has fallen into the wrong hands and I need it to get to queer bookstagram to really be appreciated for the nuanced and complicated reality that it is.
Georgia is a teenage girl, a sophomore in high school, the daughter of a mortician, lives in a funeral home, has a twin brother who is part of the popular crowd, and yeah, she talks to dead people.
When her grandma died, Georgia figured out she could talk to the dead. With one touch, their ghosts would appear and Georgia would enact any last wishes for them. This entire thing falls apart when a classmate dies in an accident and he ends up at the funeral home. Georgia is tormented by her fear of death and having someone so young die has really catapulted her anxiety and fear. When Milo wants to stick around, it also makes her confront if what she's doing for the dead is actually helpful or just selfish.
Georgia is a teenager; therefore, she is flawed. She is selfish and often forgets about her friend while getting lost in her own world. She shuts out her family because they don't understand her and allows past hurts to rule her everyday. But y'all, SHE'S A TEENAGER. People in these reviews are acting like she should have this very adult mature view of death and grief are forgetting that she's fucking 16 years old. Like you're really gonna tell me you weren't a little bit of a selfish asshole at 16?
Anyway, I loved this. It felt very raw and emotional for me. It doesn't have a ton of plot and it takes place over a week, but I loved how visceral I felt all of Georgia's emotions. While I wish we had a bit of resolution with her brother and family regarding both her sexuality and "I can talk to dead people" thing, I still am throwing this on my favorites list. Any book that can make me cry three times needs to go on.
Regarding sexuality, I actually found this book through aromantic awareness week but Georgia doesn't talk about being aro at all. That being said, I totally get the aro vibe and think that she will/could identify as aro in the future. She does talk multiple times about being ace and also how she doesn't foresee a future with a partner (where the aro vibes come in) I actually kinda enjoy this open ended idea about identity here. Like she's a teenager and doesn't need to have it all figured out. I can imagine a conversation in a few years with her best friend where they dissect the differences between ace and aro and if Georgia fits both or parts of both etc.
Georgia's best friend is also nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns.
October 19, 2022
This book wasn't really what I expected it to be, but maybe I didn't read the synopsis closely enough. I had thought it would've been spookier, that it would include more ghosts. In reality, it was an average contemporary YA book about a girl struggling with her fear of death and mortality, with the minor inconvenience of living near (and occasionally working at) the funeral home that her parents run. Other subjects touched on in the book are grief and loss (she has lost her grandmother recently), anxiety, and friendship.
As someone who is interested in the funeral industry and the death-positivity movement (check out Caitlin Doughty's books if you're intrigued!), I was really excited when I saw that this audiobook was available on Storytel and didn't expect to be so disappointed by it, to only find it okay.
Even so, I think it's great that the YA audience now has a book that talks about death so openly. I hope others will enjoy it more than I did.
I think this is one of those books where the idea is great, but the execution falls short. I could think of many interesting, exciting things that could happen to a character in these circumstances, but what I got was a boring, slow novel where not much really happens.
Even the character development was so subtle that I barely noticed that there was any. I felt little to no connection to any of the characters, I thought they were all rather bland.
There was casual representation of asexuality (main character) and non-binary (MC's best friend), but it wasn't a part of the story in a big way, which I really appreciated. We need more of those kinds of books.
You might like this book if you like character-based stories where most of the action is inside the main character's head (lots of inner turmoil if you're into that kind of thing). You might also be interested if you have a difficult relationship with accepting the reality of death — the main character's journey may inspire you.
If you're going to pick this up, definitely consider listening to the audiobook if you're able. The narration by Jess Nahikian is was very pleasant to listen to! 🎧
As someone who is interested in the funeral industry and the death-positivity movement (check out Caitlin Doughty's books if you're intrigued!), I was really excited when I saw that this audiobook was available on Storytel and didn't expect to be so disappointed by it, to only find it okay.
Even so, I think it's great that the YA audience now has a book that talks about death so openly. I hope others will enjoy it more than I did.
I think this is one of those books where the idea is great, but the execution falls short. I could think of many interesting, exciting things that could happen to a character in these circumstances, but what I got was a boring, slow novel where not much really happens.
Even the character development was so subtle that I barely noticed that there was any. I felt little to no connection to any of the characters, I thought they were all rather bland.
There was casual representation of asexuality (main character) and non-binary (MC's best friend), but it wasn't a part of the story in a big way, which I really appreciated. We need more of those kinds of books.
You might like this book if you like character-based stories where most of the action is inside the main character's head (lots of inner turmoil if you're into that kind of thing). You might also be interested if you have a difficult relationship with accepting the reality of death — the main character's journey may inspire you.
If you're going to pick this up, definitely consider listening to the audiobook if you're able. The narration by Jess Nahikian is was very pleasant to listen to! 🎧
July 10, 2022
“Well, you have to decide how you feel, and you have to decide what you’re going to do with how you feel. You get to decide what you do and whether or not it’s the right thing for you. No one else can.”
I just... wow. I didn't expect this book to scrape all my feelings and left me raw but here we are.
Funeral Girl was not a "fun" or "adventurous ghost story I expected it to be. It was better. It was deep, raw, packed with so many emotions, brutally honest, and filled with so much love. It was about dealing with grief. It was about learning to forgive, and let go.
Maybe Georgia seemed too focused in her own world, and her own grief, it was painful to see at first. But I've been there and it was not easy. I relate to her in more than one way, and so proud to see how her character grow throughout the story.
Wow I have so many emotions right now, I couldn't put it all into words exactly BUT this book touched my heart in a way I would never forget. I love it.
I just... wow. I didn't expect this book to scrape all my feelings and left me raw but here we are.
Funeral Girl was not a "fun" or "adventurous ghost story I expected it to be. It was better. It was deep, raw, packed with so many emotions, brutally honest, and filled with so much love. It was about dealing with grief. It was about learning to forgive, and let go.
Maybe Georgia seemed too focused in her own world, and her own grief, it was painful to see at first. But I've been there and it was not easy. I relate to her in more than one way, and so proud to see how her character grow throughout the story.
Wow I have so many emotions right now, I couldn't put it all into words exactly BUT this book touched my heart in a way I would never forget. I love it.
July 10, 2022
Strong start by giving us basic character descriptions and showing rather than telling us what makes the main character unique. However as the story went on it became clear that the idea of the story was better than the story itself. Found myself getting bored and struggling to pick the book up. I don’t recommend this book for people who easily fall into book slumps because it’ll likely push you into one.
June 10, 2022
a quick and straightforward read that dealt with death and anxiety in an interesting way- plus ace and nonbinary rep! happy there was trigger warnings in the beginning of the book because i definitely learned more about the embalming process than i imagined i would D:
October 9, 2022
I had trouble connecting with the main character - I understood some of her struggles but felt frustrated about some of her choices. Not as creepy as the plot summary implies. Mostly just sad. Recommended for teens.
Thank you to Libro.fm and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook.
Thank you to Libro.fm and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook.
March 8, 2023
I’m confused by this book. It’s so up my alley and I love the premise of the book but I felt like the plot was flat and much more could’ve been done with the story and where it went. I’ve actually thought about being a mortician myself so this book about a family running a funeral home was really exciting for me. And as someone who has struggled with anxiety about the afterlife and what happens after we die, I could relate to some themes in the book.
The main character Georgia, however, was just very unlikable to me. The only thing I could really get behind was her fear of death (I know really ironic considering I love true crime and would rather work with the dead than the living), despite being in a family of pretty much all morticians and funeral directors. I thought the story was going in one direction but it just went in a boring direction where not a whole lot happened.
I wanted to love this book, but for me it’s just a neutral read. Definitely don’t regret reading it but can’t say it’s a favourite.
The main character Georgia, however, was just very unlikable to me. The only thing I could really get behind was her fear of death (I know really ironic considering I love true crime and would rather work with the dead than the living), despite being in a family of pretty much all morticians and funeral directors. I thought the story was going in one direction but it just went in a boring direction where not a whole lot happened.
I wanted to love this book, but for me it’s just a neutral read. Definitely don’t regret reading it but can’t say it’s a favourite.
August 17, 2022
4 stars
In _Funeral Girl_, Ohland brings forth a fresh concept and great representation.
Georgia, the m.c., is a high schooler who lives in a funeral home and who has a special secret; the dead are not exactly dead to her! There's a little bit of (the actual best show in the history of shows) a _Six Feet Under_ vibe with Georgia's quirky family in this somewhat stigmatized profession and especially living arrangement, but Georgia's brother encounters a more accepting crowd than she does. The family dynamics are an unexpectedly engaging part of this novel and worth the read on their own.
What's even more compelling is Georgia's paranormal experiences and how they both enhance her consuming fear of death and offer her opportunities to better appreciate her own life and relationships. Though readers witness Georgia interacting with several ghosts of the bodies in her family's care, a couple are especially compelling. Her memories of her grandmother offer intriguing insight into how Georgia is processing loss and understanding death, and though she obviously has a pretty untraditional experience here, her takeaways may provide great support for readers dealing with more expected instances of loss. While I was a bit skeptical about the paranormal aspect at first, I am surprised by how meaningful I found these interactions.
My favorite part of this novel is the representation: nonbinary and ace. Georgia's best pal, Amy, is nonbinary, and this is woven in seamlessly throughout the novel. There are realistic conversations around Amy's pronouns with various audiences, minor interjections about how folks misgender and generally misidentify them, and so on. This never feels didactic; it just feels as it should: like a part of this character's identity. Though there is less conversation around the ace identity, this is handled in a similar fashion. I expected that the main reason I'd want to recommend this book to students is for the paranormal/grief connection, but the longer I sit with it, the more I appreciate this representation. It's so frequently done in the clunkiest ways, and Ohland really nails that here.
I was fortunate to absorb the audio version of this book, and the narrator brings these characters to life (and yes, I absolutely intended that one). This is a great read that may seem a little niche on the surface but actually encompasses themes, identities, and situations that nearly any reader will connect with, learn from, and find entertaining. Recommended with a note that Ohland is going on my instant to-read list.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
In _Funeral Girl_, Ohland brings forth a fresh concept and great representation.
Georgia, the m.c., is a high schooler who lives in a funeral home and who has a special secret; the dead are not exactly dead to her! There's a little bit of (the actual best show in the history of shows) a _Six Feet Under_ vibe with Georgia's quirky family in this somewhat stigmatized profession and especially living arrangement, but Georgia's brother encounters a more accepting crowd than she does. The family dynamics are an unexpectedly engaging part of this novel and worth the read on their own.
What's even more compelling is Georgia's paranormal experiences and how they both enhance her consuming fear of death and offer her opportunities to better appreciate her own life and relationships. Though readers witness Georgia interacting with several ghosts of the bodies in her family's care, a couple are especially compelling. Her memories of her grandmother offer intriguing insight into how Georgia is processing loss and understanding death, and though she obviously has a pretty untraditional experience here, her takeaways may provide great support for readers dealing with more expected instances of loss. While I was a bit skeptical about the paranormal aspect at first, I am surprised by how meaningful I found these interactions.
My favorite part of this novel is the representation: nonbinary and ace. Georgia's best pal, Amy, is nonbinary, and this is woven in seamlessly throughout the novel. There are realistic conversations around Amy's pronouns with various audiences, minor interjections about how folks misgender and generally misidentify them, and so on. This never feels didactic; it just feels as it should: like a part of this character's identity. Though there is less conversation around the ace identity, this is handled in a similar fashion. I expected that the main reason I'd want to recommend this book to students is for the paranormal/grief connection, but the longer I sit with it, the more I appreciate this representation. It's so frequently done in the clunkiest ways, and Ohland really nails that here.
I was fortunate to absorb the audio version of this book, and the narrator brings these characters to life (and yes, I absolutely intended that one). This is a great read that may seem a little niche on the surface but actually encompasses themes, identities, and situations that nearly any reader will connect with, learn from, and find entertaining. Recommended with a note that Ohland is going on my instant to-read list.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
August 28, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
If you do not want to hear about the process of preparing bodies for burial be warned this may not be a good book for you or you may want to gloss over some parts.
Georgia is a sophomore in high school and known best around school for being the funeral girl as her family owns,operates and lives above the local funeral home. She is obsessed with death/afraid of death and has a unique gift whereupon touching a dead body can speak with their spirit. She tries to use this to help them with their final wishes.
When the body arrives of a boy from school her fear ramps up. His wish is for her to make sure his parents are okay and she gets pulled into pretending they were friends and trying to help them through some of the grief process. As he wasn't ready to let go Georgia finds herself connecting with him and learning more about him in days than the last several years.
Georgia is not a very likeable character, she is very self-involved and even when her best (and only friend) tries to make sure she's okay she continually ignores them. She holds a grudge against her parents for the life she leads in the funeral home and her twin brother for many things including that he enjoys the family business. I suppose much of this can be attributed to her age and maturity, she isn't yet able to feel okay about directly addressing her feelings.
I appreciated the ACE and NB representation in the book. I appreciated Georgia's evolution throughout the book. The story overall kept me engaged and listening. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes a little ya ghost story that doesn't revolve around a mystery.
If you do not want to hear about the process of preparing bodies for burial be warned this may not be a good book for you or you may want to gloss over some parts.
Georgia is a sophomore in high school and known best around school for being the funeral girl as her family owns,operates and lives above the local funeral home. She is obsessed with death/afraid of death and has a unique gift whereupon touching a dead body can speak with their spirit. She tries to use this to help them with their final wishes.
When the body arrives of a boy from school her fear ramps up. His wish is for her to make sure his parents are okay and she gets pulled into pretending they were friends and trying to help them through some of the grief process. As he wasn't ready to let go Georgia finds herself connecting with him and learning more about him in days than the last several years.
Georgia is not a very likeable character, she is very self-involved and even when her best (and only friend) tries to make sure she's okay she continually ignores them. She holds a grudge against her parents for the life she leads in the funeral home and her twin brother for many things including that he enjoys the family business. I suppose much of this can be attributed to her age and maturity, she isn't yet able to feel okay about directly addressing her feelings.
I appreciated the ACE and NB representation in the book. I appreciated Georgia's evolution throughout the book. The story overall kept me engaged and listening. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes a little ya ghost story that doesn't revolve around a mystery.
September 2, 2022
Funeral Girl is short enough that you can read it in an evening, but the weight of it will stick with you for awhile. It’s about a 16 year old girl (Georgia) who is terrified of death, yet lives in a funeral home with her family and also has the ability to “wake up” ghosts when their bodies pass through the funeral home’s doors. Throughout the majority of the book I felt kinda bad for Georgia. It just seemed like no one noticed how badly she was struggling except for Amy. What would Georgia’s life be like if Milo hadn’t died? This book has kind of made me question the workings of the universe and the “why” and “how” of it all… and I’m struggling to find the right words to write this review. I guess you’ll have to read it to understand what I’m trying to say.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2023
3.5
I really liked the last third of this book, and I found Georgia relatable in a lot of ways (even though my anxiety isn't centred around death) but I didn't like the first two thirds as much and they felt a bit too slow to me. However, extra points for being a No Romo book lol, it's pretty rare to not have any kind of romantic plotline, even with an ace MC, and I liked the focus on family and friendships.
I really liked the last third of this book, and I found Georgia relatable in a lot of ways (even though my anxiety isn't centred around death) but I didn't like the first two thirds as much and they felt a bit too slow to me. However, extra points for being a No Romo book lol, it's pretty rare to not have any kind of romantic plotline, even with an ace MC, and I liked the focus on family and friendships.
March 10, 2023
The death anxiety girlies need a yolo now and then ❤️
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