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Grave Things Like Love
A contemporary YA romance with a paranormal what happens when in between trying to decide which boy is the right boy, a girl finds out the funeral home her family owns might be haunted?
Elaine's home is a bit . . . different. It's a funeral home that has been in her family since the 1800s—and it's why everyone calls her Funeral Girl. And even though she's lived there her whole life, there are still secrets to be found.
When Xander, a cute new boy with a penchant for ghost hunting, arrives in town, Elaine feels an instant spark. His daring and spontaneous ways help her go from Funeral Girl to Fun Girl. Then there's Miles, Elaine's oldest friend, who she's starting to see in a completely new light.
After Xander convinces her to stage a seance one night, Elaine discovers that her home might be haunted by a kindred spirit—the daughter of the funeral home's original owner. But who wants to be haunted by the dead when there are boys to spend time with? After all, you only live once. . . .
Elaine's home is a bit . . . different. It's a funeral home that has been in her family since the 1800s—and it's why everyone calls her Funeral Girl. And even though she's lived there her whole life, there are still secrets to be found.
When Xander, a cute new boy with a penchant for ghost hunting, arrives in town, Elaine feels an instant spark. His daring and spontaneous ways help her go from Funeral Girl to Fun Girl. Then there's Miles, Elaine's oldest friend, who she's starting to see in a completely new light.
After Xander convinces her to stage a seance one night, Elaine discovers that her home might be haunted by a kindred spirit—the daughter of the funeral home's original owner. But who wants to be haunted by the dead when there are boys to spend time with? After all, you only live once. . . .
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2022
8 people are currently reading
3723 people want to read
About the author
Sara Bennett Wealer
4 books147 followersI grew up in Manhattan, Kansas ("The Little Apple"), where I sang with the show choir and wrote for my high school newspaper. I majored in voice at the University of Kansas before deciding I had no business trying to make a living as an opera singing. I now make my living as an author, producer and copywriter. I'm represented by Holly Root at Root Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 3, 2022
Who doesn’t enjoy a gripping YA paranormal romance story?
Pros: I enjoy reading YA paranormal thriller novels and Six Feet Under theme : all the events take place in a funeral house where our heroine raised by her dysfunctional family is a great plot line. As a plus a ghost is lurking around this place. A haunted place theme is another magical theme made me bury my head in this book.
Cons: I’m not a big fan of love triangles especially both of the guys the main girl cannot choose between are not good enough for her!
Plot line: Elaine a. k. a. “ Funeral Girl” hates to be defined by her family business, ostracized by her peers, looking for a big change. When mysterious bad boy/ ghost Hunter Xander arrives in town and takes interest in her, she thinks this is the right time to fix her Funeral Girl image, changing into a regular Fun Girl. But Xander is not the only boy she lusts for. She realizes she also has unresolved feelings for her old friend Miles. Which one she’s going to choose?
Wait a minute: there is a more thrilling subject she has to address than her complicated love life: a young girl’s ghost starts showing up at the funeral house. The girl is funeral house’s last owner’s daughter is adamant to give poor Elaine nightmares. When will Elaine have a chance to live a regular teenage girl life?
Overall: I loved Elaine’s self discovery storyline more than paranormal theme and love triangle parts. This was definitely fast pacing, interesting, fun read!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Delacorte Press for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Pros: I enjoy reading YA paranormal thriller novels and Six Feet Under theme : all the events take place in a funeral house where our heroine raised by her dysfunctional family is a great plot line. As a plus a ghost is lurking around this place. A haunted place theme is another magical theme made me bury my head in this book.
Cons: I’m not a big fan of love triangles especially both of the guys the main girl cannot choose between are not good enough for her!
Plot line: Elaine a. k. a. “ Funeral Girl” hates to be defined by her family business, ostracized by her peers, looking for a big change. When mysterious bad boy/ ghost Hunter Xander arrives in town and takes interest in her, she thinks this is the right time to fix her Funeral Girl image, changing into a regular Fun Girl. But Xander is not the only boy she lusts for. She realizes she also has unresolved feelings for her old friend Miles. Which one she’s going to choose?
Wait a minute: there is a more thrilling subject she has to address than her complicated love life: a young girl’s ghost starts showing up at the funeral house. The girl is funeral house’s last owner’s daughter is adamant to give poor Elaine nightmares. When will Elaine have a chance to live a regular teenage girl life?
Overall: I loved Elaine’s self discovery storyline more than paranormal theme and love triangle parts. This was definitely fast pacing, interesting, fun read!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Delacorte Press for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
November 24, 2022
Book: GRAVE THINGS LIKE LOVE
Author: Sara Bennet Wealer
Rating: 🪦🪦🪦/5
I enjoyed GRAVE THINGS LIKE LOVE by Sara Bennet Wealer, as it was a sweet coming of ago story about a teenage girl, that was yet believable and rife with conflict. However, I felt that it didn't keep its promise about being a supernatural thriller, or a supernatural romance? Maybe a supernatural domestic romantic coming of age drama.
Wealer introduces early the story element involving ghost-hunting in Elaine, the fmc's, family home, a very old mortuary. This element does its best work as a bone of contention between the fmc and her love interest, Xander. It generates loads of conflict, which helps keep the story moving. But it is no source of scares, at least not for the reader.
The plot shifts away from this storyline often and for long periods. Elaine is a teenager-- she has better things to think about than stale old non-ghosts that probably aren't actually haunting her house... until the ending of the book, which Wealer wraps up with a large and glossy bow, maybe a littke too neatly, considering the character and story development throughout the book.
Thank you NetGalley, Sara Bennet Wealer, and Delacorte Press for letting me read a digital copy of this book.
Rating 3.5🪦
Read this if you like:
🙍♀️ Coming of age tales
👨👩👦 Family drama
👩❤️👨 Young romance
🦸♀️ Cosplay
👫 Best friend drama
🪦 Gothic atmosphere
🏫 Highschool
Author: Sara Bennet Wealer
Rating: 🪦🪦🪦/5
I enjoyed GRAVE THINGS LIKE LOVE by Sara Bennet Wealer, as it was a sweet coming of ago story about a teenage girl, that was yet believable and rife with conflict. However, I felt that it didn't keep its promise about being a supernatural thriller, or a supernatural romance? Maybe a supernatural domestic romantic coming of age drama.
Wealer introduces early the story element involving ghost-hunting in Elaine, the fmc's, family home, a very old mortuary. This element does its best work as a bone of contention between the fmc and her love interest, Xander. It generates loads of conflict, which helps keep the story moving. But it is no source of scares, at least not for the reader.
The plot shifts away from this storyline often and for long periods. Elaine is a teenager-- she has better things to think about than stale old non-ghosts that probably aren't actually haunting her house... until the ending of the book, which Wealer wraps up with a large and glossy bow, maybe a littke too neatly, considering the character and story development throughout the book.
Thank you NetGalley, Sara Bennet Wealer, and Delacorte Press for letting me read a digital copy of this book.
Rating 3.5🪦
Read this if you like:
🙍♀️ Coming of age tales
👨👩👦 Family drama
👩❤️👨 Young romance
🦸♀️ Cosplay
👫 Best friend drama
🪦 Gothic atmosphere
🏫 Highschool
October 22, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!
A fun, angsty, paranormal teen romance? Sign me up.
The setting of this is *chef's kiss*. A family that runs a funeral home (and lives upstairs of the business) with rumors of the house being haunted + a new (bad) boy who takes an interest in our main character, Elaine? But things get complicated when everything seems to fall apart around her each day, from the family business to her own future and friendships.
This was such an enjoyable read, though it has one of my least favorite tropes (love triangle, especially when one of them is literally PERFECT and the other is just ???). It's perfect for this time of year with Halloween and ghosts. However, I wish the ghost story was a bit more fleshed out because we could've done some COOL stuff with it.
I love the emphasis on family and relationships (outside of romantic), and I think Elaine is a really mature teenager who wants to take responsibility for herself and her future. She's also a mega nerd, and I love it.
Elaine was a relatable MC due to her anxiety and inability to speak up for herself. I really enjoyed being in her head because it felt comfortable for me. Her friends, though? Hello? I suppose high school friendships can often be surface-level, but they were downright horrible sometimes.
Honestly, it lost a star for me because I think it was about 60 pages too long, and I wanted a little bit more focus on the paranormal stuff. If I was 16 or 17 I probably would've Eaten. This. Up. and made it my entire personality.
If you read a lot of YA/YA Romance and are looking for something fun for the season, this is definitely a good contender for you!
A fun, angsty, paranormal teen romance? Sign me up.
The setting of this is *chef's kiss*. A family that runs a funeral home (and lives upstairs of the business) with rumors of the house being haunted + a new (bad) boy who takes an interest in our main character, Elaine? But things get complicated when everything seems to fall apart around her each day, from the family business to her own future and friendships.
This was such an enjoyable read, though it has one of my least favorite tropes (love triangle, especially when one of them is literally PERFECT and the other is just ???). It's perfect for this time of year with Halloween and ghosts. However, I wish the ghost story was a bit more fleshed out because we could've done some COOL stuff with it.
I love the emphasis on family and relationships (outside of romantic), and I think Elaine is a really mature teenager who wants to take responsibility for herself and her future. She's also a mega nerd, and I love it.
Elaine was a relatable MC due to her anxiety and inability to speak up for herself. I really enjoyed being in her head because it felt comfortable for me. Her friends, though? Hello? I suppose high school friendships can often be surface-level, but they were downright horrible sometimes.
Honestly, it lost a star for me because I think it was about 60 pages too long, and I wanted a little bit more focus on the paranormal stuff. If I was 16 or 17 I probably would've Eaten. This. Up. and made it my entire personality.
If you read a lot of YA/YA Romance and are looking for something fun for the season, this is definitely a good contender for you!
December 25, 2023
A fun YA read.
October 5, 2023
Cute. And predictable.
February 7, 2023
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overall
I know I’m not really huge into romance, but something about a family of morticians and a potential haunting of their house/business struck me as irresistibly interesting. A funeral home sure does seem like the perfect place for a haunting, right? But it’s not quite what you think.
Grave Things Need Love is a little bit of everything: paranormal, coming of age, romance. It tackles big topics about being a teen and life in general in a very thoughtful way, all with a spooky supernatural vibe.
The blend of paranormal and contemporary in this book was so well done. I’m sure it’ll appeal to many types of readers, giving a little something different to each preference. While I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I didn’t care much for the romance (to me, it was a no-win romance and I didn’t particularly want her to end up with either), I do think young adults, especially, will appreciate Elaine’s romantic struggles. At the very least, they seemed very realistic!
My Thoughts
- Grave Things Like Love focuses on Elaine, a teenager who’s afraid she’s doomed to follow in her parents’ footsteps of running the funeral home, when all she really wants is something bigger than the small-town life she’s been leading . . . and an escape from all the things that are haunting her. Elaine herself was soooo ridiculously relatable, which was the thing I loved most about this story. I related to her both remembering my teen self but even now, as an adult, and I think other readers will likely agree. To some degree, Elaine feels overwhelmed and trapped by her responsibilities. As the older (and more responsible) sister, she feels like she needs to devote all her time to helping her parents keep afloat their slowly failing business, to the detriment of her own well-being and social life. It’s a lot for any teenager to handle. Stack on top of that her parents’ expectations that she will go to mortuary school in preparation to follow in their footsteps, even though that’s about the last thing she wants to do. Between the pressure from her parents, the implication that she’s a bad friend, and the feelings she’s developing for the handsome stranger who just moved to town, it’s no wonder that Elaine is feeling out of her element and like her life is spiraling out of control. Happens to the best of us.
- I picked this up mostly for the hint of a ghost story, and while it certainly takes a back seat to the romance and the contemporary aspect of this book, I found it quite compelling and interesting! For decades, there have been rumors of the Gillies Ghost, which takes up residence in the funeral home Elaine’s family owns. The family knows that of course it’s all just rumor and folktale with no actual truth behind it . . . right? I have always LOVED ghost stories, so I was immediately interested in this situation. The haunting isn’t particularly creepy, so it’s fine for anyone who doesn’t want something scary. If nothing else, the ghost seems almost sad, and the way its story plays out was interesting and not what I expected. But it still lived up to what I wanted from a ghost story!
- As if everything I’ve mentioned already isn’t enough, Elaine is also struggling with her friend group. All her responsibilities and needing to work all the time has made her a less-than-stellar friend, and her group isn’t necessarily understanding of her situation. On the one hand, Elaine’s friends frustrated me to no end. While they accused her of being a poor friend for constantly ditching them and not knowing what’s going on in their life (which, okay, fair), they’re doing the exact same thing to her, cutting her out of outings and ignoring the fact that she’s barely treading water. As frustrating as this was to read, it’s also soooo realistic, isn’t it? Friendship is a never-ending struggle to make sure you’re giving as much as you’re taking, since no one wants to be that friend. And sometimes, despite your best effects, friendships don’t last. Even if it takes a while. There are so many YA books where females are trying to tear each other down that it’s refreshing to find one where female friends support each other, despite misunderstandings.
- Even though it wasn’t quite my style, fans of romance may like the will they/won’t they love triangle and Elaine’s super relatable confusion about trying to choose who she wants to be with. Following your heart definitely isn’t as easy as it sounds. I’m personally not a fan of love triangles. I was also not a fan of either of the boys she had to choose from, and I couldn’t root for her getting with either. Part of me just hoped she’d realize that she didn’t need to date anyone at all, but alas, that’s not a very common YA trope. That being said, I know that love triangles are popular. I also didn’t feel like either of the boys were necessarily bad. They were just . . . teens. Also trying to find themselves and figure out who they want to be. I think romance fans will appreciate the honest, thoughtful exploration of young romance, especially the way it doesn’t always work out the way you plan it. Sometimes that’s a good thing, and sometimes it’s not.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overall
I know I’m not really huge into romance, but something about a family of morticians and a potential haunting of their house/business struck me as irresistibly interesting. A funeral home sure does seem like the perfect place for a haunting, right? But it’s not quite what you think.
Grave Things Need Love is a little bit of everything: paranormal, coming of age, romance. It tackles big topics about being a teen and life in general in a very thoughtful way, all with a spooky supernatural vibe.
The blend of paranormal and contemporary in this book was so well done. I’m sure it’ll appeal to many types of readers, giving a little something different to each preference. While I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I didn’t care much for the romance (to me, it was a no-win romance and I didn’t particularly want her to end up with either), I do think young adults, especially, will appreciate Elaine’s romantic struggles. At the very least, they seemed very realistic!
My Thoughts
- Grave Things Like Love focuses on Elaine, a teenager who’s afraid she’s doomed to follow in her parents’ footsteps of running the funeral home, when all she really wants is something bigger than the small-town life she’s been leading . . . and an escape from all the things that are haunting her. Elaine herself was soooo ridiculously relatable, which was the thing I loved most about this story. I related to her both remembering my teen self but even now, as an adult, and I think other readers will likely agree. To some degree, Elaine feels overwhelmed and trapped by her responsibilities. As the older (and more responsible) sister, she feels like she needs to devote all her time to helping her parents keep afloat their slowly failing business, to the detriment of her own well-being and social life. It’s a lot for any teenager to handle. Stack on top of that her parents’ expectations that she will go to mortuary school in preparation to follow in their footsteps, even though that’s about the last thing she wants to do. Between the pressure from her parents, the implication that she’s a bad friend, and the feelings she’s developing for the handsome stranger who just moved to town, it’s no wonder that Elaine is feeling out of her element and like her life is spiraling out of control. Happens to the best of us.
- I picked this up mostly for the hint of a ghost story, and while it certainly takes a back seat to the romance and the contemporary aspect of this book, I found it quite compelling and interesting! For decades, there have been rumors of the Gillies Ghost, which takes up residence in the funeral home Elaine’s family owns. The family knows that of course it’s all just rumor and folktale with no actual truth behind it . . . right? I have always LOVED ghost stories, so I was immediately interested in this situation. The haunting isn’t particularly creepy, so it’s fine for anyone who doesn’t want something scary. If nothing else, the ghost seems almost sad, and the way its story plays out was interesting and not what I expected. But it still lived up to what I wanted from a ghost story!
- As if everything I’ve mentioned already isn’t enough, Elaine is also struggling with her friend group. All her responsibilities and needing to work all the time has made her a less-than-stellar friend, and her group isn’t necessarily understanding of her situation. On the one hand, Elaine’s friends frustrated me to no end. While they accused her of being a poor friend for constantly ditching them and not knowing what’s going on in their life (which, okay, fair), they’re doing the exact same thing to her, cutting her out of outings and ignoring the fact that she’s barely treading water. As frustrating as this was to read, it’s also soooo realistic, isn’t it? Friendship is a never-ending struggle to make sure you’re giving as much as you’re taking, since no one wants to be that friend. And sometimes, despite your best effects, friendships don’t last. Even if it takes a while. There are so many YA books where females are trying to tear each other down that it’s refreshing to find one where female friends support each other, despite misunderstandings.
- Even though it wasn’t quite my style, fans of romance may like the will they/won’t they love triangle and Elaine’s super relatable confusion about trying to choose who she wants to be with. Following your heart definitely isn’t as easy as it sounds. I’m personally not a fan of love triangles. I was also not a fan of either of the boys she had to choose from, and I couldn’t root for her getting with either. Part of me just hoped she’d realize that she didn’t need to date anyone at all, but alas, that’s not a very common YA trope. That being said, I know that love triangles are popular. I also didn’t feel like either of the boys were necessarily bad. They were just . . . teens. Also trying to find themselves and figure out who they want to be. I think romance fans will appreciate the honest, thoughtful exploration of young romance, especially the way it doesn’t always work out the way you plan it. Sometimes that’s a good thing, and sometimes it’s not.
October 5, 2022
So much teenage angst coupled with living in the family funeral home have Elaine wondering if she is ever going to get out of town.
Elaine and her group of friends are typical teenagers and they have all the typical teenage problems. Although it’s been many years since I was a teenager, the situations and feelings displayed by all the characters had me stuck right back inside the halls of my high school.
Life is hard and sometimes you need to work through the problems alone and sometimes you need your friends to help you make the right decision.
I think of this as a YA Dead Romantics lite, perfect for Middle or High School readers.
This has it all:
teenage first love
life choices
parental pressure
peer pressure
and a ghost
A perfect October read for those who love non-scary stories (that would be me)
Thank you to Booksforwardpr and Sarah Bennet Wealer for my eARC. All thoughts are my own.
Elaine and her group of friends are typical teenagers and they have all the typical teenage problems. Although it’s been many years since I was a teenager, the situations and feelings displayed by all the characters had me stuck right back inside the halls of my high school.
Life is hard and sometimes you need to work through the problems alone and sometimes you need your friends to help you make the right decision.
I think of this as a YA Dead Romantics lite, perfect for Middle or High School readers.
This has it all:
teenage first love
life choices
parental pressure
peer pressure
and a ghost
A perfect October read for those who love non-scary stories (that would be me)
Thank you to Booksforwardpr and Sarah Bennet Wealer for my eARC. All thoughts are my own.
October 25, 2022
This book hit me in some unexpected feels. We follow Elaine, a girl who lives in a funeral home run by her family. She’s expected to help out a lot, and she’s expected to take over the family business one day.
I initially accepted a review copy because of the paranormal aspects, ghost hunting, haunted house, and all the good spooky season stuff. And while all that was fun and campy, I really enjoyed the teen drama and angst.
At its heart, this book is a coming-of-age story. Elaine isn’t sure what she wants, and her parents, friends, and boyfriend are all pushing her in different directions. I really didn’t expect to get so emotional at the end of this book, but I really have to commend the author for her writing abilities. The characters and their emotions felt so genuine, and I was right there with them.
It’s easy to forget the teenage angst sometimes. That “this is the end of my world” kind of feeling passes, but it’s something most of us share and I think this book does an awesome job of portraying it.
I think this book is perfect for teens, and I hope it finds its readers.
I initially accepted a review copy because of the paranormal aspects, ghost hunting, haunted house, and all the good spooky season stuff. And while all that was fun and campy, I really enjoyed the teen drama and angst.
At its heart, this book is a coming-of-age story. Elaine isn’t sure what she wants, and her parents, friends, and boyfriend are all pushing her in different directions. I really didn’t expect to get so emotional at the end of this book, but I really have to commend the author for her writing abilities. The characters and their emotions felt so genuine, and I was right there with them.
It’s easy to forget the teenage angst sometimes. That “this is the end of my world” kind of feeling passes, but it’s something most of us share and I think this book does an awesome job of portraying it.
I think this book is perfect for teens, and I hope it finds its readers.
October 16, 2022
Grave Things Like Love by Sara Bennett Wheeler is a novel you’ll want to add to your spooky season tbr! It is a young adult contemporary romance in a small town high school drama with paranormal elements.
While there is a mysterious ghostly atmosphere and paranormal ghost hunting, I didn’t find the book to be scary. It has eerie, gothic moments, but it’s not scary.
Read this if you enjoy:
🖤Young adult books with a spooky vibe
🖤Are interested in the going-on of small town family funeral homes.
🖤paranormal ghost hunting tv shows
🖤books where the lead can’t decide between two crushes: the bad boy or the child best friend
🖤 books with a little teenage drama between crushes & friends
While there is a mysterious ghostly atmosphere and paranormal ghost hunting, I didn’t find the book to be scary. It has eerie, gothic moments, but it’s not scary.
Read this if you enjoy:
🖤Young adult books with a spooky vibe
🖤Are interested in the going-on of small town family funeral homes.
🖤paranormal ghost hunting tv shows
🖤books where the lead can’t decide between two crushes: the bad boy or the child best friend
🖤 books with a little teenage drama between crushes & friends
October 12, 2022
This book is absolutely *chefs kiss*
p.s. read my mothers book and rate it well or feel my wrath
hi mom
p.s. read my mothers book and rate it well or feel my wrath
hi mom
October 6, 2022
GRAVE THINGS LIKE LOVE is an intriguing paranormal story about family, friendship, and priorities. Elaine lives with her family in the funeral home their family has owned for generations. This means that as needed, she also helps her family with services and other small tasks for funerals. While it seems to be assumed that she will take over the business when she is old enough, Elaine dreams of seeing what else is out there and exploring the world beyond funerals.
Elaine has a close group of friends, particularly her BFF Miles, with whom she shares a deep love of fandom for the show Dragonfly. Then, a new boy arrives in town, Xander. Xander is very attractive and seems interested in Elaine - though maybe it is just because of the rumors that the funeral home is haunted. Xander is making a name for himself online as a ghost hunter. As Elaine spends time with him and lets him investigate her home, she begins to realize that maybe someone is there with her as well - the daughter of the funeral home's original owner who begins to seem like a kindred spirit.
What I loved: This was a unique setting but with themes that YA readers will appreciate. Elaine is really beginning to define herself and differentiate herself from her family, deciding what she wants, even when it does not match up with her parents' expectations for her. She is also deciding who/how she wants to be, and Xander really provides her with motive to step away from what is expected and explore the new. Elaine definitely makes mistakes, but she is learning from them and finding new paths going forward.
Elaine's family were also great characters, who, although they had their flaws, were always there for each other. Her parents are also figuring things out as they go and consider their business, the potential rival that is flashy and taking away customers, and trying to do right by their daughters. In addition to conflicts with family, Elaine also begins to stretch her friendships and really explore what makes a good friend and the ways in which she and friends could do better. She is learning about what her priorities are and balancing what she wants with responsibilities.
What left me wanting more: The romance felt flat in one case and a bit rushed in the other. It did not have quite the pull that was expected based on the premise. Xander also felt really random in a lot of ways, and it was hard to really understand the how/why in terms of how people bent over backwards for him when he was so new as well as the why for some of the rumors. The romance with Miles (as hinted in the synopsis) had a lot of potential, but it would have been great to address the way he threw her away when she did not return the romantic feelings. It was not clear that she was feeling those things, and does not speak well for his friendship if he was so ready to cast her aside, but this felt age-appropriate, although it would have been great if they could have addressed/discussed this together to fully buy into the relationship. It felt like maybe she just wanted her BFF back, and that was her only way to do it, especially as it came at a time when she needed support. The paranormal elements were also very limited and did not have quite clear enough messaging, so they felt a bit superfluous.
Final verdict: Overall, GRAVE THINGS LIKE LOVE was an interesting YA contemporary with a hint of the paranormal about priorities, responsibilities, and relationships.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Elaine has a close group of friends, particularly her BFF Miles, with whom she shares a deep love of fandom for the show Dragonfly. Then, a new boy arrives in town, Xander. Xander is very attractive and seems interested in Elaine - though maybe it is just because of the rumors that the funeral home is haunted. Xander is making a name for himself online as a ghost hunter. As Elaine spends time with him and lets him investigate her home, she begins to realize that maybe someone is there with her as well - the daughter of the funeral home's original owner who begins to seem like a kindred spirit.
What I loved: This was a unique setting but with themes that YA readers will appreciate. Elaine is really beginning to define herself and differentiate herself from her family, deciding what she wants, even when it does not match up with her parents' expectations for her. She is also deciding who/how she wants to be, and Xander really provides her with motive to step away from what is expected and explore the new. Elaine definitely makes mistakes, but she is learning from them and finding new paths going forward.
Elaine's family were also great characters, who, although they had their flaws, were always there for each other. Her parents are also figuring things out as they go and consider their business, the potential rival that is flashy and taking away customers, and trying to do right by their daughters. In addition to conflicts with family, Elaine also begins to stretch her friendships and really explore what makes a good friend and the ways in which she and friends could do better. She is learning about what her priorities are and balancing what she wants with responsibilities.
What left me wanting more: The romance felt flat in one case and a bit rushed in the other. It did not have quite the pull that was expected based on the premise. Xander also felt really random in a lot of ways, and it was hard to really understand the how/why in terms of how people bent over backwards for him when he was so new as well as the why for some of the rumors. The romance with Miles (as hinted in the synopsis) had a lot of potential, but it would have been great to address the way he threw her away when she did not return the romantic feelings. It was not clear that she was feeling those things, and does not speak well for his friendship if he was so ready to cast her aside, but this felt age-appropriate, although it would have been great if they could have addressed/discussed this together to fully buy into the relationship. It felt like maybe she just wanted her BFF back, and that was her only way to do it, especially as it came at a time when she needed support. The paranormal elements were also very limited and did not have quite clear enough messaging, so they felt a bit superfluous.
Final verdict: Overall, GRAVE THINGS LIKE LOVE was an interesting YA contemporary with a hint of the paranormal about priorities, responsibilities, and relationships.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
January 21, 2023
I remember when I read Sara Bennett Wealer's first book, Now and When. It was in the height of COVID and the story of being able to change parts of your life and watch how two people who were academic rivals turn into lovers was truly was one of my favorites and I still remember Truman (even if at points, I wanted to slap him!) Now, as I head into Grave Things like Love with a smile because I know it's bound to be good.
And it definitely does hit some spots. It's more of a spooky read perfect for this month, and if anyone watched HBO's Six Feet Under, which, yes, is a bit of an older show from the 2000's, I get huge vibes from this show (I myself haven't started season 3, but it is GREAT for the morbid humor!).
Short Summary: Lainey, the resident "Funeral girl" deals with the ins and outs of life and death while dealing with high school, two boys that drive her crazy and a ghost that's haunting her house. Nothing weird here, just the usual, right?
Longer Summary? Elaine's parents run a funeral house that's been in the family since the 1800's and while she is used to being called the "funeral girl", is it possible to be seen more as just a title? When new boy in town, Xander arrives, the sparks between them are nearly immediate. But, there's also Miles. Miles, her best friend, the guy that knows her better than anyone and it should be easy to just bury your heart in a grave. But, when there's a ghost that appears to roam her house after doing a seance, is it better to listen to the voices of the past, or to live life in the present?
After all, you only live once.
I enjoyed this one (not just because a funeral home is quite the setting for high school romances to play out, but because the morbid humor makes this all the better) and while the ghost is part of the book, it is not hugely relying on the paranormal. A lot of this book is focused on the love triangle as Elaine goes through her very demanding life.
I understand Elaine, and I like this a lot because I could relate to her a lot more than I did with Wealer's first book Skyler, who did have some annoying things that drove me crazy. Her parents who want her to help with everything, dealing with the chaos of life and with trying to not fit into the stereotypes, it was all beautifully written and while I am not a huge reader of ghost stories, this one was well done.
Overall: 5/5 stars
And it definitely does hit some spots. It's more of a spooky read perfect for this month, and if anyone watched HBO's Six Feet Under, which, yes, is a bit of an older show from the 2000's, I get huge vibes from this show (I myself haven't started season 3, but it is GREAT for the morbid humor!).
Short Summary: Lainey, the resident "Funeral girl" deals with the ins and outs of life and death while dealing with high school, two boys that drive her crazy and a ghost that's haunting her house. Nothing weird here, just the usual, right?
Longer Summary? Elaine's parents run a funeral house that's been in the family since the 1800's and while she is used to being called the "funeral girl", is it possible to be seen more as just a title? When new boy in town, Xander arrives, the sparks between them are nearly immediate. But, there's also Miles. Miles, her best friend, the guy that knows her better than anyone and it should be easy to just bury your heart in a grave. But, when there's a ghost that appears to roam her house after doing a seance, is it better to listen to the voices of the past, or to live life in the present?
After all, you only live once.
I enjoyed this one (not just because a funeral home is quite the setting for high school romances to play out, but because the morbid humor makes this all the better) and while the ghost is part of the book, it is not hugely relying on the paranormal. A lot of this book is focused on the love triangle as Elaine goes through her very demanding life.
I understand Elaine, and I like this a lot because I could relate to her a lot more than I did with Wealer's first book Skyler, who did have some annoying things that drove me crazy. Her parents who want her to help with everything, dealing with the chaos of life and with trying to not fit into the stereotypes, it was all beautifully written and while I am not a huge reader of ghost stories, this one was well done.
Overall: 5/5 stars
August 18, 2022
Teenage love is tough enough, but throw in life at a mortuary, a demanding family, and a ghost with an attitude, and nothing is simple.
Elaine loves her family...she thinks. Actually, she does, but sometimes, being counted on to help out with everything is almost more than she can take. But she understands the problems and reasons. If only she had a bit more breathing space. When a new guy comes to town and has an interest in paranormal investigations, she's sure he's only bugging her due to her family's mortuary. He is cute, though, and soon she finds herself drawn to him, despite the rumors that he's a trouble maker. When a seance gets a bit out of control, a ghost decides to give Elaine a hard time, and that's the last thing she needs.
Teen romance meets a tiny hint of paranormal, and that in the most perfect setting, a morgue. The set-up is very well done as Elaine tries her best to help the family and business, which puts her at odds with her social life...or the one she'd like to have. She's easy to connect with, especially since she does have a giving heart. Even when she makes mistakes, it's understandable and her attitude isn't over the top. In other words, she a wonderful character to follow to the very end.
While there are paranormal aspects in the plot, this read more toward the high school romance side. There is quite a bit of drama, which has absolutely nothing to do with ghosts and spooks in the night. When the ghost does haunt, it's more like a side-dish and adds a nice flair, but the other problems always hold the main focus. On this end, the author keeps up a steady pace, and something is always happening thanks to the array of characters, weaving side plots. There were some moments which dragged a tiny bit, but then, I do tend to be an action fan and lose interest on drama aspects quickly.
Romance is key in these pages, and that includes a love triangle with a dose of insta-attraction. Elaine can't chose between her love interests, which will thrill some readers and bother others. But it's laid out nicely with tension and confusion, and all of those other things which make high school romance so much fun.
Readers, who enjoy romance and high school drama, will enjoy this one, especially when they like a tad bit of ghostly chills with it. I received a DRC and enjoyed the world building and characters quite a bit.
Elaine loves her family...she thinks. Actually, she does, but sometimes, being counted on to help out with everything is almost more than she can take. But she understands the problems and reasons. If only she had a bit more breathing space. When a new guy comes to town and has an interest in paranormal investigations, she's sure he's only bugging her due to her family's mortuary. He is cute, though, and soon she finds herself drawn to him, despite the rumors that he's a trouble maker. When a seance gets a bit out of control, a ghost decides to give Elaine a hard time, and that's the last thing she needs.
Teen romance meets a tiny hint of paranormal, and that in the most perfect setting, a morgue. The set-up is very well done as Elaine tries her best to help the family and business, which puts her at odds with her social life...or the one she'd like to have. She's easy to connect with, especially since she does have a giving heart. Even when she makes mistakes, it's understandable and her attitude isn't over the top. In other words, she a wonderful character to follow to the very end.
While there are paranormal aspects in the plot, this read more toward the high school romance side. There is quite a bit of drama, which has absolutely nothing to do with ghosts and spooks in the night. When the ghost does haunt, it's more like a side-dish and adds a nice flair, but the other problems always hold the main focus. On this end, the author keeps up a steady pace, and something is always happening thanks to the array of characters, weaving side plots. There were some moments which dragged a tiny bit, but then, I do tend to be an action fan and lose interest on drama aspects quickly.
Romance is key in these pages, and that includes a love triangle with a dose of insta-attraction. Elaine can't chose between her love interests, which will thrill some readers and bother others. But it's laid out nicely with tension and confusion, and all of those other things which make high school romance so much fun.
Readers, who enjoy romance and high school drama, will enjoy this one, especially when they like a tad bit of ghostly chills with it. I received a DRC and enjoyed the world building and characters quite a bit.
November 4, 2022
This book’s blurb captured my attention right away: a girl who works at a haunted funeral home and captures the interest of a young ghost hunter? Count me in!
Grave Things Like Love is aYA romance novel with just a touch of the paranormal that follows Elaine (aka “Funeral Girl”), who is expected to take over the family funeral business from her parents. She’s not too keen on the idea but has resigned herself to having her future planned out for her. Things change, however, when a young man named Xander comes into town — an intense and attractive boy who is determined to make a name for himself as a ghost hunter. Elaine attracts his attention, and the two begin spending more and more time together, much to the chagrin of her best friend, Miles, and her parents.
Now, if you’re going into this expecting a straight-up ghost story, you might be disappointed. The actual ghost encounters play only a small part in the plot. Instead, the story mainly explores Elaine as she begins to discover who she is and who she wants to be and, through Xander’s influence, realizes that she does have choices and can make her own life decisions, even if it means stepping away from her family. All of this, combined with Elaine’s dating dilemmas, lead to quite a bit of high drama. In fact, after a series of bad decisions, Elaine ends up in quite a bit of hot water and soon finds herself in over her head.
Let me also mention that there’s also a bit of a love triangle in the story. Now, typically, I’m not a fan of this plot device, but it was handled exceptionally well in the novel, and I didn’t mind it here at all.
All in all, Grave Things Like Love was a cute YA contemporary with just a whisper of the paranormal. I thought the author did a fantastic job weaving through the intricacies of family expectations, leading to a fun, engaging story with a fair amount of angst. I also enjoyed the tantalizing glimpse into the everyday life of funeral directors, which added an extra compelling element to the story. Recommended!
Grave Things Like Love is aYA romance novel with just a touch of the paranormal that follows Elaine (aka “Funeral Girl”), who is expected to take over the family funeral business from her parents. She’s not too keen on the idea but has resigned herself to having her future planned out for her. Things change, however, when a young man named Xander comes into town — an intense and attractive boy who is determined to make a name for himself as a ghost hunter. Elaine attracts his attention, and the two begin spending more and more time together, much to the chagrin of her best friend, Miles, and her parents.
Now, if you’re going into this expecting a straight-up ghost story, you might be disappointed. The actual ghost encounters play only a small part in the plot. Instead, the story mainly explores Elaine as she begins to discover who she is and who she wants to be and, through Xander’s influence, realizes that she does have choices and can make her own life decisions, even if it means stepping away from her family. All of this, combined with Elaine’s dating dilemmas, lead to quite a bit of high drama. In fact, after a series of bad decisions, Elaine ends up in quite a bit of hot water and soon finds herself in over her head.
Let me also mention that there’s also a bit of a love triangle in the story. Now, typically, I’m not a fan of this plot device, but it was handled exceptionally well in the novel, and I didn’t mind it here at all.
All in all, Grave Things Like Love was a cute YA contemporary with just a whisper of the paranormal. I thought the author did a fantastic job weaving through the intricacies of family expectations, leading to a fun, engaging story with a fair amount of angst. I also enjoyed the tantalizing glimpse into the everyday life of funeral directors, which added an extra compelling element to the story. Recommended!
July 12, 2022
I’m still not 100% sure how I actually feel about this book. But Thank You NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
We meet Elaine (Lainey) when she is having to bail on her friends after a parade to help her parents with the family business, a funeral home. In a small town where history matters, Elaine feels the weight of being what everyone needs. Doting daughter, successful big sister, academically sound, and actually present with her friends. That is until the new kid takes notice of her. When they begin to hunt for ghosts her long time best friend begins to get terse and seems apprehensive. But they’re all having fun right?
I really liked how Elaine is a real teenager. You see her wanting to make her parents proud but afraid to tell them that she possibly wants to go a different direction than what they want. But more than that she’s got a growing interest in the new boy in town and thinks he likes her too. Her anxiety about boys, life, and the future and her realistic coping mechanisms felt real and not forced or fake. Her position in her life felt believable.
But ghosts don’t always know the answers. And this slow burn was frustrating to get to, there was so much build up to get into the point where ghosts or any action occurred. Then we get to meet our ghost. I though from the description that the paranormal and romance would be more present than it was which had me struggling to stay interested initially. I can handle a slow burn romance wise but the build up of surface level friendships, and familial relationships was hard to stay invested in.
Overall this was a good read even though it was the slowest burn ever. I wish more of the relationship between her family was fleshed our but honestly overall I did enjoy the last half of this book. This it’s getting a 3.75 for me.
We meet Elaine (Lainey) when she is having to bail on her friends after a parade to help her parents with the family business, a funeral home. In a small town where history matters, Elaine feels the weight of being what everyone needs. Doting daughter, successful big sister, academically sound, and actually present with her friends. That is until the new kid takes notice of her. When they begin to hunt for ghosts her long time best friend begins to get terse and seems apprehensive. But they’re all having fun right?
I really liked how Elaine is a real teenager. You see her wanting to make her parents proud but afraid to tell them that she possibly wants to go a different direction than what they want. But more than that she’s got a growing interest in the new boy in town and thinks he likes her too. Her anxiety about boys, life, and the future and her realistic coping mechanisms felt real and not forced or fake. Her position in her life felt believable.
But ghosts don’t always know the answers. And this slow burn was frustrating to get to, there was so much build up to get into the point where ghosts or any action occurred. Then we get to meet our ghost. I though from the description that the paranormal and romance would be more present than it was which had me struggling to stay interested initially. I can handle a slow burn romance wise but the build up of surface level friendships, and familial relationships was hard to stay invested in.
Overall this was a good read even though it was the slowest burn ever. I wish more of the relationship between her family was fleshed our but honestly overall I did enjoy the last half of this book. This it’s getting a 3.75 for me.
March 2, 2023
“If I could go anywhere I wanted, I’m not sure where I’d go exactly, but I would definitely be moving on to bigger, better things.”
Grave Things Like Love follows a young girl named Elaine. She lives in a funeral home that has been in her family for generations. There’s a local legend that her house is haunted by the Gilles Ghost, but Elaine doesn’t believe in ghosts. When a boy named Xander moves to her town, he seems to be immediately drawn to Elaine—and her house. He convinces Elaine to hold a seance at her house, where they discover the Gilles Ghost might be real after all. However, even though her house might be haunted, Elaine has bigger problems. She has a huge crush on Xander…and it seems like her best friend Miles might be jealous.
This is a romantic novel with spine-chilling moments and a lot of drama. While the horror elements are a minor part of the story, they create an eerie atmosphere that makes this a perfect novel to pick up during the Halloween season. The novel includes a haunted funeral home, seances, and paranormal investigations, to name a few of the spooky moments.
However, Grave Things Like Love is so much more than just a young adult romance that includes some paranormal activity. Readers see Elaine struggle with her Generalized Anxiety Disorder, her crippling fear of the future, her dysfunctional family dynamic, and her friendship group falling apart. All of this mixed with the fact that Elaine might be falling in love for the first time creates a messy, honest, and nuanced exploration of the teenage experience.
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Grave Things Like Love follows a young girl named Elaine. She lives in a funeral home that has been in her family for generations. There’s a local legend that her house is haunted by the Gilles Ghost, but Elaine doesn’t believe in ghosts. When a boy named Xander moves to her town, he seems to be immediately drawn to Elaine—and her house. He convinces Elaine to hold a seance at her house, where they discover the Gilles Ghost might be real after all. However, even though her house might be haunted, Elaine has bigger problems. She has a huge crush on Xander…and it seems like her best friend Miles might be jealous.
This is a romantic novel with spine-chilling moments and a lot of drama. While the horror elements are a minor part of the story, they create an eerie atmosphere that makes this a perfect novel to pick up during the Halloween season. The novel includes a haunted funeral home, seances, and paranormal investigations, to name a few of the spooky moments.
However, Grave Things Like Love is so much more than just a young adult romance that includes some paranormal activity. Readers see Elaine struggle with her Generalized Anxiety Disorder, her crippling fear of the future, her dysfunctional family dynamic, and her friendship group falling apart. All of this mixed with the fact that Elaine might be falling in love for the first time creates a messy, honest, and nuanced exploration of the teenage experience.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
September 26, 2022
Elaine and her best friend Miles were my favorite characters in this book, Elaines other friends were kind of jerks throughout the story, and while I could see the reasoning behind some of their behaviors, overall I didn't really like them.
Xander was an interesting character, at first he seems like someone that was really cool, that I would want to be friends with, then he kind of went off the rails with his paranormal obsession. I mean I love all things spooky, and would love to investigate a genuine haunted house, but Xanders decisions really made me dislike him by the end.
I really liked Elaine, at first she is all about doing everything she possibly can to help her parents and their business, even so far as to leave things shes already doing with her friends. Her father especially seems to have Elaines whole future planned out for her, but Elaine doesn't know what she wants, and the expectations they are putting on her has her questioning who she is.. If she doens't want to take over the funeral home does that mean that it will close? she doesn't want to be responsible for that... I think that most of all is what fuels alot of her decisions. But as we get further into the story Elaine comes to realize it all doesn't have to fall on her shoulders alone, other people do want to be apart of the business, and her parents can do somethings without her. Her mom and little sister definitely won me over towards the end.
My favorite parts were the actual paranormal investigations, when Elaine went to the convention for her favorite show, and the ending. The only thing I would have like more would be if there were more paranormal stuff going on.
Xander was an interesting character, at first he seems like someone that was really cool, that I would want to be friends with, then he kind of went off the rails with his paranormal obsession. I mean I love all things spooky, and would love to investigate a genuine haunted house, but Xanders decisions really made me dislike him by the end.
I really liked Elaine, at first she is all about doing everything she possibly can to help her parents and their business, even so far as to leave things shes already doing with her friends. Her father especially seems to have Elaines whole future planned out for her, but Elaine doesn't know what she wants, and the expectations they are putting on her has her questioning who she is.. If she doens't want to take over the funeral home does that mean that it will close? she doesn't want to be responsible for that... I think that most of all is what fuels alot of her decisions. But as we get further into the story Elaine comes to realize it all doesn't have to fall on her shoulders alone, other people do want to be apart of the business, and her parents can do somethings without her. Her mom and little sister definitely won me over towards the end.
My favorite parts were the actual paranormal investigations, when Elaine went to the convention for her favorite show, and the ending. The only thing I would have like more would be if there were more paranormal stuff going on.
October 4, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Grave Things Like Love centers around Elaine "Lainey" Gillies, highschooler and so-called "funeral-girl". As the eldest child, she's presumed to be the heir to the family funeral home business she's been helping out with her whole life. Between the family pressure, school, friends, and everything else going on in her life, Lainey isn't sure that's what she wants. Oh yeah, and her family's funeral home might be haunted.
I quite enjoyed the portrayal of Elaine in the book, mostly for the accurate characterization of anxiety as well as the realistic actions of a teenager under huge amounts of pressure by her family and coping with outside stressors.
My main complaint is that I wish the book would have leaned a bit more into the paranormal element. There were places where some more suspense could have easily been added with subtle paranormal details. While the paranormal happenings did serve several purposes throughout the book, I feel like it was a bit too light-handed of an approach.
While the book is a paranormal romance, the story centers largely on the everyday interactions of Lainey, her family, and her friends. If you go in expecting just a light touch of some ghostly experiences, you might have a better time with this book.
Also for any horror wimps out there, this book is perfect for you (no huge scares I promise). That said, if you're looking for a horror novel, this might not be a food fit. There is some really scary YA out there, but this isn't it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Grave Things Like Love centers around Elaine "Lainey" Gillies, highschooler and so-called "funeral-girl". As the eldest child, she's presumed to be the heir to the family funeral home business she's been helping out with her whole life. Between the family pressure, school, friends, and everything else going on in her life, Lainey isn't sure that's what she wants. Oh yeah, and her family's funeral home might be haunted.
I quite enjoyed the portrayal of Elaine in the book, mostly for the accurate characterization of anxiety as well as the realistic actions of a teenager under huge amounts of pressure by her family and coping with outside stressors.
My main complaint is that I wish the book would have leaned a bit more into the paranormal element. There were places where some more suspense could have easily been added with subtle paranormal details. While the paranormal happenings did serve several purposes throughout the book, I feel like it was a bit too light-handed of an approach.
While the book is a paranormal romance, the story centers largely on the everyday interactions of Lainey, her family, and her friends. If you go in expecting just a light touch of some ghostly experiences, you might have a better time with this book.
Also for any horror wimps out there, this book is perfect for you (no huge scares I promise). That said, if you're looking for a horror novel, this might not be a food fit. There is some really scary YA out there, but this isn't it.
October 17, 2025
Elaine Gillies is a high schooler whose family owns the funeral home in her small town. As a family-run business, Elaine pitches in by playing piano, greeting guests, and ensuring details are correct, earning her the title of "Funeral Girl." However, Xander, a new student, loves that Elaine lives in a funeral home. Xander is a ghost hunter and is keen to investigate Gillies Funeral Home. Against her better judgment, Elaine allowed for a ghost hunt. Amazingly, a full apparition appears to Elaine. In researching the apparition, Elaine finds that a former proprietor's daughter may have fought similar battles to those she faces now. Meanwhile, Elaine faces challenging decisions regarding her friendships, relationships, and future.
Grave Things Like Love is a young adult paranormal romance that focuses on Elaine's coming of age. Elaine's home, which functions as a funeral home, is an intriguing setting. Elaine dutifully helps her parents run the funeral home, often forgoing friends and her personal life. Elaine finally begins to do things for herself after meeting Xander. Xander's influence makes Elaine push her boundaries, and she allows a paranormal investigation in the funeral home. I enjoyed Flossie's presence and learning about her past. I wish she had reached out to Elaine more. As Elaine's world breaks down around her, she figures out what she wants to do with her life, rather than what her parents expect. Elaine's love triangle with Xander and Miles forced her to examine what she really wanted and come to terms with her long-ignored feelings.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Grave Things Like Love is a young adult paranormal romance that focuses on Elaine's coming of age. Elaine's home, which functions as a funeral home, is an intriguing setting. Elaine dutifully helps her parents run the funeral home, often forgoing friends and her personal life. Elaine finally begins to do things for herself after meeting Xander. Xander's influence makes Elaine push her boundaries, and she allows a paranormal investigation in the funeral home. I enjoyed Flossie's presence and learning about her past. I wish she had reached out to Elaine more. As Elaine's world breaks down around her, she figures out what she wants to do with her life, rather than what her parents expect. Elaine's love triangle with Xander and Miles forced her to examine what she really wanted and come to terms with her long-ignored feelings.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
October 12, 2022
A girl who lives in a funeral home finds out it's haunted. Yes, please!
Let's start with the book cover. I think it's cute, very YA, like, if I was in a bookstore and I saw the cover, I would pick it up. Also, the girl reminds me of Christina Ricci, right?
This is a contemporary YA romance with a paranormal twist, so I am not expecting anything too deep with the story. But I like Elaine's storyline where she just wants to get away from what people perceive her as and the expectations from her to take over the family business while having to deal with a ghost in her home and a little bit of a love triangle to spice it up. The characters are teenagers so they're acting like one, which made me think that if I read this when I was their age, I would've given it 5 stars.
But for now, I am giving it 4 stars. This book is a very interesting read. I like the characters and it is fast paced that I did not have any dull moments while reading this book. But, there are some parts where I did feel like it was rushed. This is a paranormal romance but the love story is a bit lacking. I know they're teenagers, but I think there should be more to their story. I also don't think it has enough paranormal elements to even consider this book spooky.
But all in all, I think this is a really good YA read. It's worth picking up and I would love to read more books from the author.
A big thank you to Books Forward PR and Sara Bennett Wealer for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review.
Let's start with the book cover. I think it's cute, very YA, like, if I was in a bookstore and I saw the cover, I would pick it up. Also, the girl reminds me of Christina Ricci, right?
This is a contemporary YA romance with a paranormal twist, so I am not expecting anything too deep with the story. But I like Elaine's storyline where she just wants to get away from what people perceive her as and the expectations from her to take over the family business while having to deal with a ghost in her home and a little bit of a love triangle to spice it up. The characters are teenagers so they're acting like one, which made me think that if I read this when I was their age, I would've given it 5 stars.
But for now, I am giving it 4 stars. This book is a very interesting read. I like the characters and it is fast paced that I did not have any dull moments while reading this book. But, there are some parts where I did feel like it was rushed. This is a paranormal romance but the love story is a bit lacking. I know they're teenagers, but I think there should be more to their story. I also don't think it has enough paranormal elements to even consider this book spooky.
But all in all, I think this is a really good YA read. It's worth picking up and I would love to read more books from the author.
A big thank you to Books Forward PR and Sara Bennett Wealer for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2022
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https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/sh...
All of her life, Elaine has been the good girl. She has given up many of the things that other juniors in high school get to do because of her parents' business. She is asked to pick up the slack and help out whenever things go wrong, which seems to happen often.
Elaine's parents run the local funeral home and Elaine is being groomed to take over just like her dad did before her and his dad did before him. Their home and their business have been in the family for generations and it's expected that Elaine will continue that tradition.
When new guy, Xander, shows up, it's a breath of fresh air for Elaine and a reminder that she might not want to just always do what's expected of her.
When she and her friends accidentally wake up a ghost in her home, things get even more weird...
Final thoughts: While billed as a ghost story, this really isn't one. The ghost seems to only be there to help move the motivation of the main character along rather than do anything on her own. Xander's entrance to the group is a little confusing since he's only just arrived but some people act like they've known him for years. The love triangle goes through all of the typical trope points, which isn't necessarily bad but doesn't breathe any new life into it all.
Rating: 3/5
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/sh...
All of her life, Elaine has been the good girl. She has given up many of the things that other juniors in high school get to do because of her parents' business. She is asked to pick up the slack and help out whenever things go wrong, which seems to happen often.
Elaine's parents run the local funeral home and Elaine is being groomed to take over just like her dad did before her and his dad did before him. Their home and their business have been in the family for generations and it's expected that Elaine will continue that tradition.
When new guy, Xander, shows up, it's a breath of fresh air for Elaine and a reminder that she might not want to just always do what's expected of her.
When she and her friends accidentally wake up a ghost in her home, things get even more weird...
Final thoughts: While billed as a ghost story, this really isn't one. The ghost seems to only be there to help move the motivation of the main character along rather than do anything on her own. Xander's entrance to the group is a little confusing since he's only just arrived but some people act like they've known him for years. The love triangle goes through all of the typical trope points, which isn't necessarily bad but doesn't breathe any new life into it all.
Rating: 3/5
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
November 12, 2022
Ghosts? Love triangles? And horse drawn buggies? Sign me up!
Grave Things Like Love by Sara Bennett Wealer is a YA contemporary/paranormal, that follows the story of Elaine who doesn't quite want to follow in her mother's and father's footsteps of becoming a mortician. Instead, she seeks her own paranormal adventure with a ghost hunter, Xander, and the supernatural being that haunts the funeral home she dares to call home. Mix that up with a good amount of teen angst and a love triangle, and boom that's where this book resides.
What I liked most about this novel, was the way Wealer was able to weave the two genres of romance and supernatural into one delicious book. Especially with a setting such as a funeral home. Though when going into this, I was getting heavy The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston vibes. And though most people might hate it, but I honestly appreciated the love triangle sprinkled throughout.
As much as I loved the plot, I felt like this book was lacking in the character development. As it felt like they appeared on one page and would disappear ten pages later with nothing to be known about them, save for their name. I wish we got to spend some more time with the characters, as I wanted to know a little more about Dakota.
I feel like anyone needing something a little spooky, but sweet need to read this! Especially for those looking for something not too gory for the Halloween season. I would also recommend it to anyone who dares to like a good love triangle.
Grave Things Like Love by Sara Bennett Wealer is a YA contemporary/paranormal, that follows the story of Elaine who doesn't quite want to follow in her mother's and father's footsteps of becoming a mortician. Instead, she seeks her own paranormal adventure with a ghost hunter, Xander, and the supernatural being that haunts the funeral home she dares to call home. Mix that up with a good amount of teen angst and a love triangle, and boom that's where this book resides.
What I liked most about this novel, was the way Wealer was able to weave the two genres of romance and supernatural into one delicious book. Especially with a setting such as a funeral home. Though when going into this, I was getting heavy The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston vibes. And though most people might hate it, but I honestly appreciated the love triangle sprinkled throughout.
As much as I loved the plot, I felt like this book was lacking in the character development. As it felt like they appeared on one page and would disappear ten pages later with nothing to be known about them, save for their name. I wish we got to spend some more time with the characters, as I wanted to know a little more about Dakota.
I feel like anyone needing something a little spooky, but sweet need to read this! Especially for those looking for something not too gory for the Halloween season. I would also recommend it to anyone who dares to like a good love triangle.
September 16, 2022
Book: Grave Things Like Love
Author: Sara Bennett Wealer
Publisher: Random House Children’s ~ Delacorte Press
Genre: Teen/YA, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance
Pub Date: October 12, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Elaine is a teenager whose family owns the Gillies Funeral Home in a small Midwestern town. Her family is expecting her to take over the family business as Elaine puts it ~ she is on the mortuary school train unless she can find a way of getting off!
She really isn’t sure that is what she wants to do. Currently she is busy being a teenager including being obsessed with a TV show.
Elaine has the believe Flossie is going to help!
WAIT! Who is Flossie? It appears Elaine’s great-great-grandfather had a sister Florence and they called her Flossie. Hmm ~ is she haunting the funeral home?
I know I am not the target audience for this story.
I am a high school guidance counselor and enjoy reading YA books so that
I know what my students are reading.: plus I find it helpful in making recommendations.
This story is a bit slow but I believe most of my students would like it!
Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Children’s ~ Delacorte Press for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 12, 2022
Author: Sara Bennett Wealer
Publisher: Random House Children’s ~ Delacorte Press
Genre: Teen/YA, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance
Pub Date: October 12, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Elaine is a teenager whose family owns the Gillies Funeral Home in a small Midwestern town. Her family is expecting her to take over the family business as Elaine puts it ~ she is on the mortuary school train unless she can find a way of getting off!
She really isn’t sure that is what she wants to do. Currently she is busy being a teenager including being obsessed with a TV show.
Elaine has the believe Flossie is going to help!
WAIT! Who is Flossie? It appears Elaine’s great-great-grandfather had a sister Florence and they called her Flossie. Hmm ~ is she haunting the funeral home?
I know I am not the target audience for this story.
I am a high school guidance counselor and enjoy reading YA books so that
I know what my students are reading.: plus I find it helpful in making recommendations.
This story is a bit slow but I believe most of my students would like it!
Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Children’s ~ Delacorte Press for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 12, 2022
October 12, 2022
I love this book so much! At the risk of gushing all over, here are a few of my favorite elements:
-The main character, Elaine, has a diagnosed anxiety disorder; she’s on medication and has found tactics that help keep her calm. In lots of YA and MG fiction that features a character with anxiety, they’re going through it without these supports. I like that this book shows that there *is* a way out of the spirals and that living with anxiety isn’t something anyone needs to feel ashamed of.
-Elaine is often scared to do the thing, but she does the thing anyway—and we get to see her thought processes leading up to it. Life is full of having to do hard things. Having a window into how someone else conquers this challenge gave me a new perspective on it.
-There’s a scene toward the end of the book where someone close to Elaine validates her experience by acknowledging that there is no easy solution and that what Elaine is going through is very difficult. Elaine’s response to this is a beautiful example of the importance of truly supporting one another without resorting to cliché or platitudes.
-And finally: there’s a ghost story and an excellent exploration of fandom entwined in all of this too! What more can you ask for in a Spooky Season read?
-The main character, Elaine, has a diagnosed anxiety disorder; she’s on medication and has found tactics that help keep her calm. In lots of YA and MG fiction that features a character with anxiety, they’re going through it without these supports. I like that this book shows that there *is* a way out of the spirals and that living with anxiety isn’t something anyone needs to feel ashamed of.
-Elaine is often scared to do the thing, but she does the thing anyway—and we get to see her thought processes leading up to it. Life is full of having to do hard things. Having a window into how someone else conquers this challenge gave me a new perspective on it.
-There’s a scene toward the end of the book where someone close to Elaine validates her experience by acknowledging that there is no easy solution and that what Elaine is going through is very difficult. Elaine’s response to this is a beautiful example of the importance of truly supporting one another without resorting to cliché or platitudes.
-And finally: there’s a ghost story and an excellent exploration of fandom entwined in all of this too! What more can you ask for in a Spooky Season read?
April 11, 2023
In this coming of age novel, Elaine lives in a funeral home that has been in her family for generations. As the older sister, she’s expected to help out at the home when her parents need it. At school, she’s known as funeral girl and doesn’t have many friends. The friends she does have, she clings to. When a new, bad boy moves to town, he shows interest in Elaine. She’s flattered and interested but her friends and family insist he is bad news. When he suggests that there is a ghost in Elaine’s house, she can’t keep herself away from him.
Opinion
This is a typical teenage girl is maturing novel. However, the ghost possibility throws the typical plot for a loop. There are a multitude of subplots that keep the story rolling with fun and interest. All of Elaine’s relationships are suffering and as I read this, I couldn’t help but pity her for her situation. At one point, I couldn’t see a way out for her but Wealer does a great job with the resolution.
This book is perfect for young adult, romance, and paranormal readers.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Children’s for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Opinion
This is a typical teenage girl is maturing novel. However, the ghost possibility throws the typical plot for a loop. There are a multitude of subplots that keep the story rolling with fun and interest. All of Elaine’s relationships are suffering and as I read this, I couldn’t help but pity her for her situation. At one point, I couldn’t see a way out for her but Wealer does a great job with the resolution.
This book is perfect for young adult, romance, and paranormal readers.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Children’s for providing me with an ARC of this book.
October 4, 2022
I loved the description of this book. The book itself did not live up to the description. I was really hoping that there would be more supernatural content in this book, yet the ghost barely exists. If you blink you will miss her. Elaine’s love triangle is uninspiring. You know she is not going to end up with Xander. If she did then this book would have been even worse than it already was. So, thank you for not allowing that to happen. Overall, this book was just boring. Elaine was an okay character. I am glad that she was able to finally find her voice and speak up on what she wants to do with her life. I am also glad that she realized that just because Xander is handsome and mysterious, that doesn’t mean that he is the right person for her. I did enjoy the fact that Elaine took matters in her own hands and started a show embracing her nicknames and showing the community what it really means to be the daughter of a mortician. Yet that small highlight didn’t really make up for the rest of the book. I just wanted more out of this book.
October 31, 2022
I thought this book was cute and a nice simple read. but it had more potential that it didn't quite live up to. The summary seemed really interesting; a girl living in a funeral home juggling boys and ghosts, but the paranormal aspect lacked a bit. The scenes that were ghosty were really interesting but the paranormal storyline felt unfinished and out of place in the grand scheme of things. The overall story seemed interesting, but the ending seemed rushed because all of a sudden Elaine went from having almost no one close to her anymore to having everyone again in almost no time. She had finally started to realize that she wasn't being treated fairly and then all of a sudden everything was fine again and then the book ended. For me, the ending really overshadowed the whole book and messed with my thoughts on it. On the other hand though, while this book wasn't quite for me, I think the book was simple and interesting, and if you're looking for an easy mildly spooky YA book, this might be it for you, so give it a shot!
October 31, 2022
I thought this book was cute and a nice simple read. but it had more potential that it didn't quite live up to. The summary seemed really interesting; a girl living in a funeral home juggling boys and ghosts, but the paranormal aspect lacked a bit. The scenes that were ghosty were really interesting but the paranormal storyline felt unfinished and out of place in the grand scheme of things. The overall story seemed interesting, but the ending seemed rushed because all of a sudden Elaine went from having almost no one close to her anymore to having everyone again in almost no time. She had finally started to realize that she wasn't being treated fairly and then all of a sudden everything was fine again and then the book ended. For me, the ending really overshadowed the whole book and messed with my thoughts on it. On the other hand though, while this book wasn't quite for me, I think the book was simple and interesting, and if you're looking for an easy mildly spooky YA book, this might be it for you, so give it a shot!
September 19, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel! 3.5/5 stars.
I loved the premise of this and the author is a Kansan, so I was double excited to see what this consisted of. Tied in with a morbid curiosity toward the deceased and the urge for spooky reads, I was hooked. Elaine is an anxious character, and I appreciated how anxiety was portrayed in this novel as well but…her choices demonstrated clear spiraling out of control and nobody noticed? I think that was the one aspect of the story I didn’t appreciate, and I didn’t like how much of the plot it was. I also was expecting more ghost hunting, but I’m also glad it didn’t end up as the focus?
Overall, this was still good. The ending had me going AWWWWWW because of how things were resolved and I’m curious what happens next with the characters. It’s a quick read and just enough spooky to start the fall spooky season with. Plus, you know, how often do you read ya books set in funeral homes?
I loved the premise of this and the author is a Kansan, so I was double excited to see what this consisted of. Tied in with a morbid curiosity toward the deceased and the urge for spooky reads, I was hooked. Elaine is an anxious character, and I appreciated how anxiety was portrayed in this novel as well but…her choices demonstrated clear spiraling out of control and nobody noticed? I think that was the one aspect of the story I didn’t appreciate, and I didn’t like how much of the plot it was. I also was expecting more ghost hunting, but I’m also glad it didn’t end up as the focus?
Overall, this was still good. The ending had me going AWWWWWW because of how things were resolved and I’m curious what happens next with the characters. It’s a quick read and just enough spooky to start the fall spooky season with. Plus, you know, how often do you read ya books set in funeral homes?
October 11, 2022
Thank you Books Forward for the copy of GRAVE THINGS LIKE LOVE by Sara Bennett Wealer.
Meet Elaine, whose family’s funeral home has been passed down through generations, with the expectation that Elaine is up next. In the midst of college applications, helping her friends with musical theater auditions, and watching her favorite show with her best friend Miles, Elaine meets a town newcomer, Xander, a teen paranormal investigator determined to sleuth out her home. Will Elaine forge her own path, or will the past dictate her future?
Overall, I would have liked a little more acknowledgment one way or the other about the paranormal elements. It felt ambiguous to me, which wasn’t satisfying. Also not a big fan of love triangles and didn’t find either option appealing, but that could be me. However, I did appreciate the difficulties Elaine faced when it came to crippling family expectations and anxiety.
Meet Elaine, whose family’s funeral home has been passed down through generations, with the expectation that Elaine is up next. In the midst of college applications, helping her friends with musical theater auditions, and watching her favorite show with her best friend Miles, Elaine meets a town newcomer, Xander, a teen paranormal investigator determined to sleuth out her home. Will Elaine forge her own path, or will the past dictate her future?
Overall, I would have liked a little more acknowledgment one way or the other about the paranormal elements. It felt ambiguous to me, which wasn’t satisfying. Also not a big fan of love triangles and didn’t find either option appealing, but that could be me. However, I did appreciate the difficulties Elaine faced when it came to crippling family expectations and anxiety.
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