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Northanger Abbey #1
Ghosted
Never Have I Ever meets The X-Files in Amanda Quain's Ghosted, a gender-bent contemporary retelling of the Jane Austen classic, Northanger Abbey.
Hattie Tilney isn’t a believer. Yes, she’s a senior at America’s most (allegedly) haunted high school, Northanger Abbey. But ever since her paranormal-loving dad passed away, she’s hung up her Ghostbusters suit, put away the EMF detectors and thermal cameras, and moved on. She has enough to worry about in the land of the living--like taking care of her younger brother, Liam, while their older sister spirals out and their mother, Northanger’s formidable headmistress, buries herself in her work. If Hattie just works hard enough and keeps that overachiever mask on tight through graduation, maybe her mom will finally notice her.
But the mask starts slipping when Hattie’s assigned to be an ambassador to Kit Morland, a golden retriever of a boy who’s transferred to Northanger on—what else—a ghost-hunting scholarship. The two are partnered up for an investigative project on the school’s paranormal activity, and Hattie quickly strikes a deal: Kit will present whatever ghostly evidence he can find to prove that campus is haunted, and Hattie will prove that it’s not. But as they explore the abandoned tunnels and foggy graveyards of Northanger, Hattie starts to realize that Kit might be the kind of person that makes her want to believe in something—and someone—for the first time.
With her signature wit and slow burn romance, Amanda Quain turns another Austen classic on its head in this sparkling retelling that proves sometimes the ghosts are just a metaphor after all.
Hattie Tilney isn’t a believer. Yes, she’s a senior at America’s most (allegedly) haunted high school, Northanger Abbey. But ever since her paranormal-loving dad passed away, she’s hung up her Ghostbusters suit, put away the EMF detectors and thermal cameras, and moved on. She has enough to worry about in the land of the living--like taking care of her younger brother, Liam, while their older sister spirals out and their mother, Northanger’s formidable headmistress, buries herself in her work. If Hattie just works hard enough and keeps that overachiever mask on tight through graduation, maybe her mom will finally notice her.
But the mask starts slipping when Hattie’s assigned to be an ambassador to Kit Morland, a golden retriever of a boy who’s transferred to Northanger on—what else—a ghost-hunting scholarship. The two are partnered up for an investigative project on the school’s paranormal activity, and Hattie quickly strikes a deal: Kit will present whatever ghostly evidence he can find to prove that campus is haunted, and Hattie will prove that it’s not. But as they explore the abandoned tunnels and foggy graveyards of Northanger, Hattie starts to realize that Kit might be the kind of person that makes her want to believe in something—and someone—for the first time.
With her signature wit and slow burn romance, Amanda Quain turns another Austen classic on its head in this sparkling retelling that proves sometimes the ghosts are just a metaphor after all.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published July 25, 2023
47 people are currently reading
9100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 425 reviews
December 31, 2022
Wow, gender reversed version of underrated gothic masterpiece of Jane Austen couldn’t be so good!
The quirky Henry Tiley turned into Hattie Tiley and the despotic general of three kids retold as headmistress Tiley: the mother of Hattie, Freddie, Liam.
Catherine Morland at the original manuscript who was naive, 17 years old girl changed as Kit Morland, a member of National Paranormal Society of Investigators, earned his scholarship to become new student at Northanger Abbey!
The headmistress’ overachiever, reserved, responsible daughter Hattie becomes his ambassador to introduce him to the school activities. They also become project partners for digging out the history of Northanger Abbey’s paranormal activity.
After losing her father to cancer, Hattie stopped believing in ghosts. Ghosts were their common interest. They read the history of the town and search for the best ghost stories by visiting the monuments and attractions they have been pressured to live. Losing her father meant losing her cheery, quirky self! She boxed everything that reminded her father and made over herself as ambitious, career oriented, regular high schooler by befriending popular girls, burying her quirky side.
She’s not the only one who is crumbling apart. Her big sister Freddie dropped out from college, lurking in the house without proper future plan and her 15 years old brother is hiding inside his shell at each day, spending his hours in front of computer to play games. And their strict mother headmistress Tiley becomes even more workaholic, barely stopping by at her house, burying herself into more school works.
Hattie’s interaction with Kit help her to pull down her barriers, embracing her old happy self at risk of losing her popular friend circle, her detailedly planned future college application.
This is sweet, genuine, absolutely enjoyable YA novel about grief, dysfunctional family, the ghosts of our pasts, friendship, self growth. Especially I enjoyed the last third which made me give extra half stars more to round up 4.5 to 5 amazing Jane Austen retelling stars!
I loved the previous book of the author which was also another great gender reversed Austen retelling. But I loved Ghosted so much more! Kit Morland is absolutely dreamy book boyfriend and ghostbuster!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
The quirky Henry Tiley turned into Hattie Tiley and the despotic general of three kids retold as headmistress Tiley: the mother of Hattie, Freddie, Liam.
Catherine Morland at the original manuscript who was naive, 17 years old girl changed as Kit Morland, a member of National Paranormal Society of Investigators, earned his scholarship to become new student at Northanger Abbey!
The headmistress’ overachiever, reserved, responsible daughter Hattie becomes his ambassador to introduce him to the school activities. They also become project partners for digging out the history of Northanger Abbey’s paranormal activity.
After losing her father to cancer, Hattie stopped believing in ghosts. Ghosts were their common interest. They read the history of the town and search for the best ghost stories by visiting the monuments and attractions they have been pressured to live. Losing her father meant losing her cheery, quirky self! She boxed everything that reminded her father and made over herself as ambitious, career oriented, regular high schooler by befriending popular girls, burying her quirky side.
She’s not the only one who is crumbling apart. Her big sister Freddie dropped out from college, lurking in the house without proper future plan and her 15 years old brother is hiding inside his shell at each day, spending his hours in front of computer to play games. And their strict mother headmistress Tiley becomes even more workaholic, barely stopping by at her house, burying herself into more school works.
Hattie’s interaction with Kit help her to pull down her barriers, embracing her old happy self at risk of losing her popular friend circle, her detailedly planned future college application.
This is sweet, genuine, absolutely enjoyable YA novel about grief, dysfunctional family, the ghosts of our pasts, friendship, self growth. Especially I enjoyed the last third which made me give extra half stars more to round up 4.5 to 5 amazing Jane Austen retelling stars!
I loved the previous book of the author which was also another great gender reversed Austen retelling. But I loved Ghosted so much more! Kit Morland is absolutely dreamy book boyfriend and ghostbuster!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
July 26, 2025
4 solid stars. I rather enjoyed this Y.A. paranormal “Austen-inspired” story about two teens at a haunted high school. It was a lot less Austen than I expected though - not very much in common with “Northanger Abby” save mostly names and the gothic setting, and it was a bit slower than I care for. Still, it was pretty cute and I liked what it said about the “ghosts” 👻 that we carry with us and how this was also about the FMC & her family struggling with crushing grief after the loss of a parent (TW). I’m really glad I took it off my TBR after two years, LOL!💃🏻
August 1, 2023
I have to say that this book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. I thought it would be a sweet, cute, rom-com, and it was, but it was also a super realistic view on grief. I’ll admit this one was hard for me to read as I, like the narrator, lost my father and while I was older than her it was no less painful. I will say it was done well and I enjoyed the story, but be ready for the emotional punch. I did have a hard time connecting with the narrator, but since in her grief she cut herself off from everyone that made sense. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded up for how well emotions were depicted, particularly the grief.
July 29, 2023
I'm quickly becoming a HUGE fan of Amanda Quain and her creative reimagining of classics in relatable YA romances with a great deal of emotional depth. While I really enjoyed her last Jane Austen retelling, this latest Northanger Abbey remake raised the bar even higher. Perfect for fans of Emma Lord or Kara McDowell and good on audio narrated by Laura Knight Keating. Many thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
July 17, 2023
3.5 stars. Hattie Tilney doesn't believe in ghosts. She used to: they were her father's passion, and so they were her passion as well. But grief changes things, and over the past three years Hattie has molded herself into someone who not only doesn't believe in ghosts but has actively sought out as normal and conventional a life as possible. Her high school's campus is a hotbed for ghost hunters, though, and when Kit Morland enrolls in her school—on a scholarship funded by the National Paranormal Society of Investigators, no less—it's harder than ever to pretend that everything is normal.
Ghosted is inspired by Northanger Abbey, and while part of me wishes I'd reread Northanger Abbey before tackling this (it's not one of Austen's works that I know particularly well!), there's no need to be conversant in Austen to read this. As with Quain's Accomplished, Ghosted cheerfully sidesteps the desire to retell a story that's been retold many times before—though, admittedly, I've seen many more retellings of Pride and Prejudice than of Northanger Abbey—in favor of taking the original as inspiration and then running with it. It's been one of my favorite things about Quain's books, because I've read enough Austen retellings to know that a lot of the exact details of her books don't translate well to the modern day, and I prefer versions that get creative with it.
Hattie hasn't let herself show much personality over the past three years, preferring to blend in as quietly as possible...but that doesn't mean she (and, crucially, the author) doesn't have a sense of humor. It's mostly snarky asides to the reader—"in case you were wondering, the proper term for a group of paranormal enthusiasts was 'an annoyance'" (loc. 63*)—but given that the book carries some fairly heavy themes of grief and feelings of abandonment, the levity made for some nice balance.
The one thing I wanted more of: more ghost hunting! There's a bit of it, but oh man. At one point (staying vague to avoid spoilers) a character mentions a ghost-hunting podcast, and there's another point involving a chain saw when Hattie thinks that "if one of the campus tour groups spotted us now, we'd spawn an entirely new Northanger legend" (loc. 2736), and given that Northanger Abbey was a bit of a spoof itself (Ghosted is much less satirical), I can't tell you how entertained I'd be to see something that took one of those things and, you know, ran with it.
Recommended for readers of Austen retellings and light ghost stories—I'll happily keep reading Quain's retellings.
*I read an advance copy, so quotes and location numbers may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Ghosted is inspired by Northanger Abbey, and while part of me wishes I'd reread Northanger Abbey before tackling this (it's not one of Austen's works that I know particularly well!), there's no need to be conversant in Austen to read this. As with Quain's Accomplished, Ghosted cheerfully sidesteps the desire to retell a story that's been retold many times before—though, admittedly, I've seen many more retellings of Pride and Prejudice than of Northanger Abbey—in favor of taking the original as inspiration and then running with it. It's been one of my favorite things about Quain's books, because I've read enough Austen retellings to know that a lot of the exact details of her books don't translate well to the modern day, and I prefer versions that get creative with it.
Hattie hasn't let herself show much personality over the past three years, preferring to blend in as quietly as possible...but that doesn't mean she (and, crucially, the author) doesn't have a sense of humor. It's mostly snarky asides to the reader—"in case you were wondering, the proper term for a group of paranormal enthusiasts was 'an annoyance'" (loc. 63*)—but given that the book carries some fairly heavy themes of grief and feelings of abandonment, the levity made for some nice balance.
The one thing I wanted more of: more ghost hunting! There's a bit of it, but oh man. At one point (staying vague to avoid spoilers) a character mentions a ghost-hunting podcast, and there's another point involving a chain saw when Hattie thinks that "if one of the campus tour groups spotted us now, we'd spawn an entirely new Northanger legend" (loc. 2736), and given that Northanger Abbey was a bit of a spoof itself (Ghosted is much less satirical), I can't tell you how entertained I'd be to see something that took one of those things and, you know, ran with it.
Recommended for readers of Austen retellings and light ghost stories—I'll happily keep reading Quain's retellings.
*I read an advance copy, so quotes and location numbers may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
October 14, 2025
Enjoyable, paced well, written well, with good character development. The characters were relatable. The cover doesn't do the story justice.
Read
July 25, 2023The characters in this book really are haunted, but not by ghosts except in the metaphorical sense. The Tilney family is still caught in grief mode after the death of their much-loved father.
Hattie, our stand-in for Henry Tilney, is responding by being a perfect preppy, as smooth and superficial as possible, a complete turnaround from her days following her ghost-loving dad around. Her mother is the stern, no-nonsense headmaster of Northanger Abbey high school, and as such is far more interesting than the obnoxious General Tilney of Austen's book.
Most of all I loved Kit Morland, who is a sweet guy, eager and enthusiastic--a perfect version of the eager and enthusiastic and kind Catherine Morland of the book. I loved what Quain did with the characters of Austen's story. However, I do wish that there had been more tongue in cheek ghostly action, even a little. Instead, what we get is a very well-written teen problem novel. Which kind of misses the fun of Austen's tale, even if it does well by the emotional complexities.
Hattie, our stand-in for Henry Tilney, is responding by being a perfect preppy, as smooth and superficial as possible, a complete turnaround from her days following her ghost-loving dad around. Her mother is the stern, no-nonsense headmaster of Northanger Abbey high school, and as such is far more interesting than the obnoxious General Tilney of Austen's book.
Most of all I loved Kit Morland, who is a sweet guy, eager and enthusiastic--a perfect version of the eager and enthusiastic and kind Catherine Morland of the book. I loved what Quain did with the characters of Austen's story. However, I do wish that there had been more tongue in cheek ghostly action, even a little. Instead, what we get is a very well-written teen problem novel. Which kind of misses the fun of Austen's tale, even if it does well by the emotional complexities.
July 24, 2023
4.5 stars - Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey gets a contemporary, gender-bent take in Ghosted . Amanda Quain has taken some of the best things from the beloved classic novel and turned it into something heartwarming and new.
Since the death of her father, Hattie Tilney has tried to be the perfect student, the perfect daughter, the perfect older sister…the perfect everything. It’s her senior year at Northanger Abbey, a high school that’s also a hot spot for ghost hunters everywhere. Hattie just has to focus on making it through the year and hopefully winning her mother’s approval. Then she’s assigned to be an ambassador to Kit Morland, a junior who has transferred to Northanger on a ghost-hunting scholarship. Kit’s sunny disposition and passion for the paranormal digs up ghosts in Hattie’s past she’d rather leave behind. But somehow Kit gets under her skin and Hattie starts believing that maybe the lonely, haunted parts of her she tries to ignore have a shot at healing.
I adored Hattie. She’s trying so hard to be perfect, to not let anyone see the haunted, sometimes lost girl that she doesn’t let anyone in. Her family has been broken since the death of her father; her mother is the headmistress of Northanger and would prefer to bury herself in her work than acknowledge her children, her older sister is wild and out of control, and her younger brother is withdrawn. I wanted to see Hattie let down her walls, to let people in. And though she tries to resist his charm, Kit gets past her guard. Kit is a breath of sunshine; he’s lively, passionate, and so open and honest you can’t resist his charm. His personality is infectious and with him Hattie starts to change, to open herself up and confront the wounds of her past. The two of them are such a delight together and their worlds open up together. I adored watching them go from friends to more and they absolutely made me smile.
Ghosted isn’t a straight retelling of Northanger Abbey, but rather inspired by it. You can see the familiar characters and plot points of Austen’s novel in this work, which I absolutely loved. But if you haven’t read Northanger Abbey, never fear: this book stands on its own. All in all, I adored Ghosted . Hattie’s journey tugged on my heartstrings and Kit was so full of sunshine I couldn’t resist him. Quain balances love, loss, grief, and growing in a coming of age story that’s engaging and sweet.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey gets a contemporary, gender-bent take in Ghosted . Amanda Quain has taken some of the best things from the beloved classic novel and turned it into something heartwarming and new.
Since the death of her father, Hattie Tilney has tried to be the perfect student, the perfect daughter, the perfect older sister…the perfect everything. It’s her senior year at Northanger Abbey, a high school that’s also a hot spot for ghost hunters everywhere. Hattie just has to focus on making it through the year and hopefully winning her mother’s approval. Then she’s assigned to be an ambassador to Kit Morland, a junior who has transferred to Northanger on a ghost-hunting scholarship. Kit’s sunny disposition and passion for the paranormal digs up ghosts in Hattie’s past she’d rather leave behind. But somehow Kit gets under her skin and Hattie starts believing that maybe the lonely, haunted parts of her she tries to ignore have a shot at healing.
I adored Hattie. She’s trying so hard to be perfect, to not let anyone see the haunted, sometimes lost girl that she doesn’t let anyone in. Her family has been broken since the death of her father; her mother is the headmistress of Northanger and would prefer to bury herself in her work than acknowledge her children, her older sister is wild and out of control, and her younger brother is withdrawn. I wanted to see Hattie let down her walls, to let people in. And though she tries to resist his charm, Kit gets past her guard. Kit is a breath of sunshine; he’s lively, passionate, and so open and honest you can’t resist his charm. His personality is infectious and with him Hattie starts to change, to open herself up and confront the wounds of her past. The two of them are such a delight together and their worlds open up together. I adored watching them go from friends to more and they absolutely made me smile.
Ghosted isn’t a straight retelling of Northanger Abbey, but rather inspired by it. You can see the familiar characters and plot points of Austen’s novel in this work, which I absolutely loved. But if you haven’t read Northanger Abbey, never fear: this book stands on its own. All in all, I adored Ghosted . Hattie’s journey tugged on my heartstrings and Kit was so full of sunshine I couldn’t resist him. Quain balances love, loss, grief, and growing in a coming of age story that’s engaging and sweet.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
October 9, 2023
girl so where were the ghosts
August 12, 2023
𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
Thank you #partners @wednesdaybooks and @quainiac for my #gifted #signed copy and stickers!😍
𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟭: 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗯𝗯𝗲𝘆
𝗕𝘆 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗶𝗻
𝟳/𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 A reformed ghost-hunter and the cute new kid (there on none other than a ghost-hunting scholarship) pair up to investigate paranormal activity at the prestigious Northanger Abbey highschool - also known as the most haunted school in America. 👻
💭 If you'd asked me a few years ago if I was into YA, I'd have said "I'm too old for YA." Well, me-from-now wishes I could tell me-from-then what I was missing! Because though I'm a bit picky with my YA, I have read and enjoyed many these last couple years... including this one!
Quain's sophomore novel 𝙂𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 is a gender-bent retelling of Austen's Northanger Abbey. It's a fun, entertaining, YA contemporary fiction / romance. And though it's a fairly light read, and served as a good pallette cleanser between some heavier reads, don't let the cute illustrated cover fool you. This one goes deep at times by tackling some heavier topics like grief, loss, and navigating difficult friend and family relationships. Overall this was a great read and I'm already looking forward to book two!
📌 Out now!
.
.
.
.
Thank you #partners @wednesdaybooks and @quainiac for my #gifted #signed copy and stickers!😍
𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟭: 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗯𝗯𝗲𝘆
𝗕𝘆 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗶𝗻
𝟳/𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 A reformed ghost-hunter and the cute new kid (there on none other than a ghost-hunting scholarship) pair up to investigate paranormal activity at the prestigious Northanger Abbey highschool - also known as the most haunted school in America. 👻
💭 If you'd asked me a few years ago if I was into YA, I'd have said "I'm too old for YA." Well, me-from-now wishes I could tell me-from-then what I was missing! Because though I'm a bit picky with my YA, I have read and enjoyed many these last couple years... including this one!
Quain's sophomore novel 𝙂𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 is a gender-bent retelling of Austen's Northanger Abbey. It's a fun, entertaining, YA contemporary fiction / romance. And though it's a fairly light read, and served as a good pallette cleanser between some heavier reads, don't let the cute illustrated cover fool you. This one goes deep at times by tackling some heavier topics like grief, loss, and navigating difficult friend and family relationships. Overall this was a great read and I'm already looking forward to book two!
📌 Out now!
.
.
.
.
January 22, 2023
love any Jane Austen retelling
February 6, 2023
"Never Have I Ever meets The X-Files in Amanda Quain's Ghosted, a gender-bent contemporary retelling of the Jane Austen classic, Northanger Abbey. "
^^Yes. Yes to all of that.
One of my favorite Jane Austen novels and heroes is Northanger Abbey/Henry Tilney. There's something about that golden retriever man that I loved so much when I read NA for the first time. SO this book definitely hit the mark for me.
It took me like 15% through this to really get into it, but it think I was also in a reading slump because once I was in I was hooked.
I honestly think Hattie's mother (comparable to Henry's shitass father in NA) was comparably worse throughout the majority of this book. She's so cold and haltable and although you learn it's because she's still grieving her husband's death, COME ON. You have 3 children who are also grieving and you straight up ignore them for 3 years? No way.
I love that this is a genderbent retelling. Kit is still as golden retrievery as Henry though. Although you can still see the inspiration behind both characters from Katherine and Henry to Hattie and Kit, respectively. I loved watching the relationship blossom between these two.
I kind of appreciate Izzy's (aka Isabella's) redemption arc in this compared to her horibleness in NA, but honestly it's still kind of hard to say she deserves it. Hattie talks about how transactional their relationship is the whole book so it's very hard to see Izzy's side of things. She was very quick to forgive also which seemed rushed. Overall not a favorite character in either story so I didn't dwell on that too much.
Hattie's story was so sad, but well developed. I didn't cry, but she almost had me! You get a taste of the beginning of her grief identification and recovery and I think it's done well.
Overall, really liked this and will absolutely be reading Amanda's other Austen retellings!
Thanks to the publisher and author for an eARC via NetGalley.
^^Yes. Yes to all of that.
One of my favorite Jane Austen novels and heroes is Northanger Abbey/Henry Tilney. There's something about that golden retriever man that I loved so much when I read NA for the first time. SO this book definitely hit the mark for me.
It took me like 15% through this to really get into it, but it think I was also in a reading slump because once I was in I was hooked.
I honestly think Hattie's mother (comparable to Henry's shitass father in NA) was comparably worse throughout the majority of this book. She's so cold and haltable and although you learn it's because she's still grieving her husband's death, COME ON. You have 3 children who are also grieving and you straight up ignore them for 3 years? No way.
I love that this is a genderbent retelling. Kit is still as golden retrievery as Henry though. Although you can still see the inspiration behind both characters from Katherine and Henry to Hattie and Kit, respectively. I loved watching the relationship blossom between these two.
I kind of appreciate Izzy's (aka Isabella's) redemption arc in this compared to her horibleness in NA, but honestly it's still kind of hard to say she deserves it. Hattie talks about how transactional their relationship is the whole book so it's very hard to see Izzy's side of things. She was very quick to forgive also which seemed rushed. Overall not a favorite character in either story so I didn't dwell on that too much.
Hattie's story was so sad, but well developed. I didn't cry, but she almost had me! You get a taste of the beginning of her grief identification and recovery and I think it's done well.
Overall, really liked this and will absolutely be reading Amanda's other Austen retellings!
Thanks to the publisher and author for an eARC via NetGalley.
August 11, 2023
I read Quain’s first book Accomplished a little bit ago and really enjoyed it. But this one, I loved even more.
You can definitely see that Quain’s writing has gotten better just over these two books. I didn’t include it in my review, but I remember being a little frustrated with Quain’s writing in Accomplished. This one is much stronger in the writing, which drew me into the story even more.
I admit I don’t really know Northanger Abbey since I haven’t read everything Jane Austen writes. I have tried to at least watch most of the adaptations, and I’ve watched most of a lecture course on Austen from Wondrium (formerly The Great Courses). But with Quain’s books, you don’t really need to know the story her books are based on. The author definitely makes these stories her own, and she’s doing an excellent job.
This novel also feels a lot more realistic than Accomplished did. Both are centered on teens attending a boarding school, but in Accomplished, Georgie is ostracized because Wickham was dealing drugs out of her dorm room, and he was caught. I found it difficult to believe that an entire school would be angry at Georgie when it was Wickham who had been engaging in illegal activity. Here in Ghosted, Hattie Tilney is simply trying to be the best version of herself that she can be at Northanger Abbey, stuffing down any emotions she has, especially those resulting from the grief of losing her father to cancer just before she started high school. This book just felt so *real*, with the real, messy emotions of a family in crisis because they’ve never dealt properly with the huge loss of their father and husband. Hattie’s method of simply ignoring everything difficult, whether it’s hard conversations with her mother or her friends, or figuring out her plans for college if her first choice falls through, seems very normal for an older teen.
I admit that this book makes me want to look into Northanger Abbey a little more so I can pick out where Quain got her ideas for this book. I definitely recommend this one.
You can definitely see that Quain’s writing has gotten better just over these two books. I didn’t include it in my review, but I remember being a little frustrated with Quain’s writing in Accomplished. This one is much stronger in the writing, which drew me into the story even more.
I admit I don’t really know Northanger Abbey since I haven’t read everything Jane Austen writes. I have tried to at least watch most of the adaptations, and I’ve watched most of a lecture course on Austen from Wondrium (formerly The Great Courses). But with Quain’s books, you don’t really need to know the story her books are based on. The author definitely makes these stories her own, and she’s doing an excellent job.
This novel also feels a lot more realistic than Accomplished did. Both are centered on teens attending a boarding school, but in Accomplished, Georgie is ostracized because Wickham was dealing drugs out of her dorm room, and he was caught. I found it difficult to believe that an entire school would be angry at Georgie when it was Wickham who had been engaging in illegal activity. Here in Ghosted, Hattie Tilney is simply trying to be the best version of herself that she can be at Northanger Abbey, stuffing down any emotions she has, especially those resulting from the grief of losing her father to cancer just before she started high school. This book just felt so *real*, with the real, messy emotions of a family in crisis because they’ve never dealt properly with the huge loss of their father and husband. Hattie’s method of simply ignoring everything difficult, whether it’s hard conversations with her mother or her friends, or figuring out her plans for college if her first choice falls through, seems very normal for an older teen.
I admit that this book makes me want to look into Northanger Abbey a little more so I can pick out where Quain got her ideas for this book. I definitely recommend this one.
September 11, 2023
In the before times, before her father died, Hattie Tilney was a ghost-loving geek; it was something they shared. When her dad died, that died too. Hattie replaced her geekness with a need to fit in and be driven, just as she thinks her mother wants. When she’s volunteered by her mother to be Northanger’s ambassador to Kit Morland, a ghost-believing geek whose scholarship was given by a ghost hunting group, Hattie does everything to inform him that she doesn’t believe. And when they are paired for an assignment to look into paranormal activity, her desperation increases. But then a strange thing happens. Kit starts to barge his way through the walls that Hattie has built around her and for the first time in a very long time, she might just be herself again in Ghosted by Amanda Quain.
I really enjoyed this ghost story/YA romance with the almost irrepressible Kit and the uptight Hattie. If there is ever a character who dances like no one is watching, it’s Kit. He embraces his passions. On the other hand, I think Hattie’s uptightness sometimes went just a tad too far. In some ways I did understand her behavior but it also felt like being knocked over the head with it.
Ghosted involves takes on a lot of relationships besides the one between Kit and Hattie. Friends, siblings, parents. Quain does a great job of depicting these relationships and working through them in a believable way. Her depiction of Hattie’s relationship with her siblings is really nice.
The novel opened with a scene three months in the future from the action in most of the book that showed Kit and Hattie on a “stakeout” of sorts with the promise of perhaps ghosts but never seemed to follow through–unless I missed it. Possibly? Perhaps but doubtful since I was actively reading for it. Or maybe I was sleep reading. Oh, well.
Enjoyable and fast paced.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a copy.
I really enjoyed this ghost story/YA romance with the almost irrepressible Kit and the uptight Hattie. If there is ever a character who dances like no one is watching, it’s Kit. He embraces his passions. On the other hand, I think Hattie’s uptightness sometimes went just a tad too far. In some ways I did understand her behavior but it also felt like being knocked over the head with it.
Ghosted involves takes on a lot of relationships besides the one between Kit and Hattie. Friends, siblings, parents. Quain does a great job of depicting these relationships and working through them in a believable way. Her depiction of Hattie’s relationship with her siblings is really nice.
The novel opened with a scene three months in the future from the action in most of the book that showed Kit and Hattie on a “stakeout” of sorts with the promise of perhaps ghosts but never seemed to follow through–unless I missed it. Possibly? Perhaps but doubtful since I was actively reading for it. Or maybe I was sleep reading. Oh, well.
Enjoyable and fast paced.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a copy.
July 19, 2023
This book is supposedly based on Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, but I'd say it's loosely based (character names, location) as this is a modern day version in which Northanger Abbey is a private high school (boarding school) that is supposedly haunted (tons of stories).
Our main character, Hattie, goes to the school and is a senior. Her mother is the head of the school. She and her father were extremely excited when her mother got the job because they both loved ghost stories and looked forward to exploring the building and the history of the school. But Hattie's father unexpectedly died before their move and Hattie has shut off that part of herself as a way to handle (avoid) her grief. She becomes the "perfect" student and daughter, even though it's not really her authentic self.
Enter Kit, who is a new student at the school and who loves the ghost stories. Kit and Hattie are paired together for a class project on the history of the hauntings at the school, and he rocks her "perfect" world (which isn't really all that perfect, of course), causing her to have to come to terms with her loss, her family, her two best friends, and her future.
This is a coming of age story that starts out as a decent YA read but toward the end of the book really digs into Hattie's character and getting over her grief and what that means for her life and her family. There are moments of laughter and moments of deep emotion. I don't think it needed the Jane Austen connection as it's a solid story on its own.
Our main character, Hattie, goes to the school and is a senior. Her mother is the head of the school. She and her father were extremely excited when her mother got the job because they both loved ghost stories and looked forward to exploring the building and the history of the school. But Hattie's father unexpectedly died before their move and Hattie has shut off that part of herself as a way to handle (avoid) her grief. She becomes the "perfect" student and daughter, even though it's not really her authentic self.
Enter Kit, who is a new student at the school and who loves the ghost stories. Kit and Hattie are paired together for a class project on the history of the hauntings at the school, and he rocks her "perfect" world (which isn't really all that perfect, of course), causing her to have to come to terms with her loss, her family, her two best friends, and her future.
This is a coming of age story that starts out as a decent YA read but toward the end of the book really digs into Hattie's character and getting over her grief and what that means for her life and her family. There are moments of laughter and moments of deep emotion. I don't think it needed the Jane Austen connection as it's a solid story on its own.
August 9, 2023
Coming of age story in an academy that is told to be haunted. Since a paranormal movie was shot on site it's a popular spot for ghost hunters and theorists.
Hattie, the daughter of the headmaster is tasked with showing a new student around. Kit has a ghost hunting scholarship and Hattie is a skeptic. She took him on tours and interviewed others and explored the grounds for a class journalism project she started to feel like she might believe.
This book discusses grief since they lost their father and he was the glue that held them together. Loved how they finally were able to communicate and process. Grief takes time and everyone copes differently. Not all are healthy or helpful and some can push people away.
This was a fun slow burn romance set in a gothic setting.
Loosely based of Northanger Abbey but Austen.
Thank you stmartinspress for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
Hattie, the daughter of the headmaster is tasked with showing a new student around. Kit has a ghost hunting scholarship and Hattie is a skeptic. She took him on tours and interviewed others and explored the grounds for a class journalism project she started to feel like she might believe.
This book discusses grief since they lost their father and he was the glue that held them together. Loved how they finally were able to communicate and process. Grief takes time and everyone copes differently. Not all are healthy or helpful and some can push people away.
This was a fun slow burn romance set in a gothic setting.
Loosely based of Northanger Abbey but Austen.
Thank you stmartinspress for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
July 17, 2025
I’m shy as fuck so I’m not sure I’m gonna bring it up at book club but I can say this book made me think a lot about my dad and my own struggles with making friends.
July 1, 2023
“That’s how we keep stories alive, in the telling and retelling.”
————-
Hattie he’s a high school student and also the daughter of the dean of Northanger Abbey. It is an exclusive private school with a storied past. She and her dad used to love talking about ghost stories before he died, and now that she finds her self in this haunted Mecca, she has turned herself off to it. That is until a new, handsome boy is transferred into school and she is assigned to guide him through his first year. He is there on a scholarship from a ghost hunting organization (ok maybe a little far fetched, but go with it!). As he re-exposes her to the world of ghost hunting she is forced to face her grief.
This author’s debut was also a modern homage to Jane Austen and I was so amped for it. But I really struggled with it, the characters were vapid teenagers, and I ended up DNF-ing. So, when this new one popped up, I’m metered my excitement. Of the stories that get a retelling or homage, Northanger Abbey doesn’t often come up. Plus, ghosts, right?
I’m happy to say that the authors writing and character building has come a long way. These were true to form teenagers, but they also had new ones and good character arcs. I expected just to enjoy the spooky ghost plot but ended up, enjoying the story and found the central flirtation fun and cute.
If you love a good coming-of-age tale with a little spookiness, and some fun banter, check this one out. Also, always give authors a second chance!
Thanks to Wednesday books were gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions above are my own.
————-
Hattie he’s a high school student and also the daughter of the dean of Northanger Abbey. It is an exclusive private school with a storied past. She and her dad used to love talking about ghost stories before he died, and now that she finds her self in this haunted Mecca, she has turned herself off to it. That is until a new, handsome boy is transferred into school and she is assigned to guide him through his first year. He is there on a scholarship from a ghost hunting organization (ok maybe a little far fetched, but go with it!). As he re-exposes her to the world of ghost hunting she is forced to face her grief.
This author’s debut was also a modern homage to Jane Austen and I was so amped for it. But I really struggled with it, the characters were vapid teenagers, and I ended up DNF-ing. So, when this new one popped up, I’m metered my excitement. Of the stories that get a retelling or homage, Northanger Abbey doesn’t often come up. Plus, ghosts, right?
I’m happy to say that the authors writing and character building has come a long way. These were true to form teenagers, but they also had new ones and good character arcs. I expected just to enjoy the spooky ghost plot but ended up, enjoying the story and found the central flirtation fun and cute.
If you love a good coming-of-age tale with a little spookiness, and some fun banter, check this one out. Also, always give authors a second chance!
Thanks to Wednesday books were gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions above are my own.
July 25, 2023
This tends not to be my favorite genre of books (high school romance) basically because teen age angst is not really something I like to relive.
This story set in an Abbey maybe haunted or maybe not, is cute, although it is rather predictable, but it is as it should be. I'm not sure if the author only writes this kind of book, but in case she does, I guess we'll say goodbye here.
Tendenzialmente, questo non é il genere di libri che preferisco (high school romance) fondamentalmente perché la teen age angst non é proprio qualcosa che mi piace rivivere.
Questa storia ambientata in un'abbazia forse infestata o forse no, é carina, anche se é piuttosto scontata, ma com'é giusto che sia. Non so bene se l'autrice scrive solo questo genere di libri, ma nel caso cosí fosse, credo che ci saluteremo qui.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
This story set in an Abbey maybe haunted or maybe not, is cute, although it is rather predictable, but it is as it should be. I'm not sure if the author only writes this kind of book, but in case she does, I guess we'll say goodbye here.
Tendenzialmente, questo non é il genere di libri che preferisco (high school romance) fondamentalmente perché la teen age angst non é proprio qualcosa che mi piace rivivere.
Questa storia ambientata in un'abbazia forse infestata o forse no, é carina, anche se é piuttosto scontata, ma com'é giusto che sia. Non so bene se l'autrice scrive solo questo genere di libri, ma nel caso cosí fosse, credo che ci saluteremo qui.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
July 19, 2023
A fantastic YA retelling of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, with gender-bent MCs, the most haunted high school in America, a lovely slow burn romance, and spooky haunted vibes. I loved how the author reframed the classic story -- as she did with Pride and Prejudice in her debut, Accomplished -- with great wit and charm. Perfect for Janeites and teen/YA readers who will cry with me, "More! More!"
September 15, 2023
Easy read, but for a book that has ghost in the title, I expected ghosts?
It is spooky season.
It is spooky season.
July 27, 2023
I love Jane Austen modernizations and I knew I had to have this one. Hattie is struggling. After her dad passed away she is no longer into ghost hunting, but that is what Northanger is known for. It is quite annoying to have all these people around her into it and she just wants out. Enter Kit. He is a ghost hunter that Hattie has been tasked with being an ambassador for. Can he open her back up to the world of ghost hunting and maybe earn her heart or will it all go down in flames just like her college applications?
I really liked the depth of this novel. I feel like it was on the lighter side, but touched so many issues that were near to my heart and I completely understood why she was so shut off to the ghost hunting world. At first I was like, what is the issue!? Then when it all came out, my heart just broke for her. I loved how real the family dynamic was and how navigating tough issues weren't just glossed over.
Thank you to St. Martins, Amanda Quain and Netgalley for an early copy.
I really liked the depth of this novel. I feel like it was on the lighter side, but touched so many issues that were near to my heart and I completely understood why she was so shut off to the ghost hunting world. At first I was like, what is the issue!? Then when it all came out, my heart just broke for her. I loved how real the family dynamic was and how navigating tough issues weren't just glossed over.
Thank you to St. Martins, Amanda Quain and Netgalley for an early copy.
September 13, 2023
This was an emotional book about healing from loss and how grief affects everyone differently. The parts about family really hit me and I enjoyed watching Hattie heal and come into herself and what she wants for the future.
I think it helped to know that this book is not paranormal, just features some characters that like to go ghost hunting and tell stories. I liked hearing the legends and how Hattie and Kit bonded over them, plus Hattie and her brother also connected more in the ghost squad.
Hattie frustrated me a few times by not living for herself and her ambitions and for assuming other people were emotionless and didn't care what she did or said to them. She was selfish at parts, but I liked seeing the growth she went through.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy
I think it helped to know that this book is not paranormal, just features some characters that like to go ghost hunting and tell stories. I liked hearing the legends and how Hattie and Kit bonded over them, plus Hattie and her brother also connected more in the ghost squad.
Hattie frustrated me a few times by not living for herself and her ambitions and for assuming other people were emotionless and didn't care what she did or said to them. She was selfish at parts, but I liked seeing the growth she went through.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy
August 7, 2023
It's been quite awhile since I've read a YA book & this one is a really fun one! But it also covers some hard topics like the grief of losing a parent & how your life changes after that tragic event. I really empathized with Hattie in this area!
I really enjoyed the characterization of Hattie and Kit, especially the way that Kit was able to help Hattie open up almost immediately. It was such a stark contrast to the way she was with the friends she'd had throughout her high school career up until that point.
The book was a lot faster paced and enticing in the beginning but the last quarter of the book was a bit of a struggle for me to get through. I understand why Hattie thought everything was her fault but she didn't seem interested in trying to fix anything at all. This made it really slow going and just not very interesting. There was a lot of growth with her and her relationships with her family during this part, which was really great to see after how much she struggled with her feelings in regards to them for the entire book up to that point.
I haven't read the source material that this book is inspired by (Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen) but now I really feel the need to!
Thank you so much to Net Galley, Amanda Quain, & Wednesday Books for letting me read an early copy of Ghosted!
I really enjoyed the characterization of Hattie and Kit, especially the way that Kit was able to help Hattie open up almost immediately. It was such a stark contrast to the way she was with the friends she'd had throughout her high school career up until that point.
The book was a lot faster paced and enticing in the beginning but the last quarter of the book was a bit of a struggle for me to get through. I understand why Hattie thought everything was her fault but she didn't seem interested in trying to fix anything at all. This made it really slow going and just not very interesting. There was a lot of growth with her and her relationships with her family during this part, which was really great to see after how much she struggled with her feelings in regards to them for the entire book up to that point.
I haven't read the source material that this book is inspired by (Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen) but now I really feel the need to!
Thank you so much to Net Galley, Amanda Quain, & Wednesday Books for letting me read an early copy of Ghosted!
August 16, 2023
This was a contemporary gender-swapped version of Northanger Abbey. I thought the modernizations were pretty clever and it was fun overall. It was surprisingly emotionally heavy though, taking itself a bit more seriously than NA from what I remember. Some of the characters seemed pretty flat until the last few chapters when they were confronted with problems they caused and we finally got to see more of them; so it was nice to see character growth but their static nature during most of the book made it harder to connect with them at the end. The narration by Keating was good.
September 25, 2023
YOU GUYS! I adoredddddd this book. Like so much!
- the banter!
- the emotional maturity between Kit and Hattie
- an alternative depiction of parent-child relationships (that mirrored my own so much it brought me to tears in the best, most therapeutic way)!
- the dysfunctionality and love between siblings
- the beauty behind "ghost" stories
- the intrinsic need to be "part" of something, but also the intrinsic need to be "yourself" (I felt that)
- the book-long conversation with grief
Should I keep going?! Get a copy! Yes, yes yes!
P.S. the audiobook is STELLAR!
- the banter!
- the emotional maturity between Kit and Hattie
- an alternative depiction of parent-child relationships (that mirrored my own so much it brought me to tears in the best, most therapeutic way)!
- the dysfunctionality and love between siblings
- the beauty behind "ghost" stories
- the intrinsic need to be "part" of something, but also the intrinsic need to be "yourself" (I felt that)
- the book-long conversation with grief
Should I keep going?! Get a copy! Yes, yes yes!
P.S. the audiobook is STELLAR!
December 11, 2023
I thought this was going to be a ghost story, but instead it's even more interesting! Our heroine hasn't shown her true self since losing her father. She puts on the face of a super daughter, super student, and super friend. The only person who sees her is her little brother. That is until our hero steps into the picture.
Our hero is a ghost enthusiast. He is thrilled to attend a 'haunted high school.' Will he see a ghost? Or will he help our heroine confront her own ghosts?
Excellent Book!
Our hero is a ghost enthusiast. He is thrilled to attend a 'haunted high school.' Will he see a ghost? Or will he help our heroine confront her own ghosts?
Excellent Book!
January 17, 2023
Thank you for letting me get a copy of this arc. This book was an interesting read. I think it'd be perfect for the fall time. Hattie is a senior in a haunted high school and gets paired on a school project with Kit. After her father passed Hattie has given up the ghost hunting but being with kit has made her want to believe in something. A slow burn with dealing with a family dynamic after a loved one passes. A good YA novel!
May 8, 2023
4-4.5 stars. review to come!
June 23, 2023
Rating: 2.5
I thought that everything about this book was just average, at best. Maybe if I had read Northanger Abbey, I would have had stronger feelings about it.
I thought that everything about this book was just average, at best. Maybe if I had read Northanger Abbey, I would have had stronger feelings about it.
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