Happily Haunted Afters

Happily Haunted Afters #1

by Brittany Kelley

Nothing is spookier than a second chance at love.

I’m done juggling dead-end jobs and deadbeat boyfriends. It’s time to nail down my goal of owning a hotel — and fix my friendship with my ex-best friend, Jack Colson. He's a big shot investor, and I’m going to need one. Nailing him barely crosses my mind.

I might actually get my life in order, especially if I snag the deep (and deeply weird) discount for staying an entire weekend at my dream property. It’s hard not to fall in love with the place. Though I could do without the creepy doll that lives there, the noises Jack insists are raccoons, and the eerie AF abandoned hotel I’d need an even spookier amount of money to renovate.

The worst part is, I’m falling for Jack… again. He'll never invest if he finds out I have feelings for him. But as we work through the phantoms of problems past, we’ll have to figure out if the property is infested with rodents — or something else that goes bump in the night.

Happily Haunted Afters is a spooky, spicy standalone small-town romantic comedy with a happily ever after guaranteed. 

Genres: Romance, Halloween, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Paranormal, Holiday, Second Chance

Unknown Binding

Published September 7, 2022

Reviews

[Karlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun story but go really messy towards the end. Like the author had forgotten what they had already written - characters switching gender in the same paragraph, events taking place (like someone being pulled out of a hole) and a few paragraphs later it was another character and then a chapter later no one had been pulled out. There was a whole chapter that felt VERY out of character for both our leads. It had a lot of potential and I was willing to overlook some of the editing weirdness, but it became so bad in the last 25% that it actively kept pulling me out of the story.

All that said - the premise was great, the characters lovable, and it was genuinely spooky at times. I just wish it had been read over a little more carefully before hitting publish.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great romantic comedy for the upcoming spooky season!

Emma Cross is ready for change. With plans to purchase and restore a dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere, she is in search of an investor. Although they haven't spoken in five years, she knows the perfect man: longtime friend Jack Colson. Little does she know, Jack has other plans for the property ...

A bit of a mess with a lot to prove, Emma was a fun heroine. Along with the fabulous banter between her and Jack, the internal dialogue had me giggling and hooked to the story!

As they pull into the small town, I loved the eerie vibe mixed with humour. And even more so when mysterious noises, creepy objects, and unexplainable events disrupt their stay at the investment property. It was so fun!

I wouldn't go into this expecting a riveting mystery. It was predictable, at least for me. But I loved the way it propelled the romance and conflict. It was lighthearted, funny, and overall really entertaining!

(heat level: open door, mild to moderate details)

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happily Haunted Afters is the perfect Fall book. Grab a pumpkin spice latte and pick up a copy! I love the mysterious and spooky vibes of the book.

It was easy to relate to and fall in love with the main character Emma. She is imperfect and a little messy but more importantly, she is strong. Emma believes in herself and her future.

On the other hand, Jack seems to have his life and future figured out. But to me, he doesn’t believe in himself the way Emma does. And he deals with that in Happily Haunted Afters.

They are a great match though. The chemistry between Emma and Jack is intense and it sizzles. I was rooting for them early on. They have become one of my favorite book couples.

I love Brittany Kelley’s writing and the world she created.

Happily Haunted Afters has it all: fun, friends to lovers romance, adventure, mystery, second chance romance, angst and of course some spice.

My only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed. BUT the book is still absolutely worth your time.

I hope you enjoy Happily Haunted Afters as much as I did!

**I received an ARC of Happily Haunted Afters in exchange for an honest review**

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another "romance" where every character says awful things to the female protagonist over and over again. Her sister, her love interest they say literally the worst, most hurtful things and turn around and go "you know I love you right 🤪". The main love interest lies to her the majority of the books. Not romance just a book where a woman is trying to follow her dream and everyone shits on it.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance full of heart, humor and some supernatural fun.

I enjoyed how the two main characters Jack and Emma end up forced to spend the weekend together in a haunted inn as they investigate the property and decide if it's worth investing in (creepy dolls and all).

While I wasn't a huge fan of the miscommunications between the two at the end, I absolutely LOVED the Scooby Doo vibes throughout and the way Emma works hard to make her dream of owning an Inn happen even when it means asking for help from her estranged best friend.

Overall I was really impressed with this debut that truly has the most PERFECT #SpookySeason Fall cover! Highly recommended for fans of Christina Lauren or Erin Branscom. I can’t wait to see what's next from this new Indie Romance author!

Steam level: 🌶🌶🌶 (open door)

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. A huuuuuge let down. There are NO encounters with ghosts in this book. She does NOT see or talk to any ghosts. There is a criminally underutilized demon doll that was not given her due!!!!!

[mariana ୨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

if someone was able to understand the messy events and the most confusing plots, i’m congratulating you.
how do you write something so confusing? i couldn’t catch up with the countless new plots
PICK ONE AND STICK TO THAT

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were inconsistencies in the book and poor editing, the author changed the gender of one of the characters at one point, but left in paragraphs when they referred to them as the previous gender which made it confusing.

[Ashley Polo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute read. It was light hearted and made me laugh. It was the perfect spooky season rom com. The ups and downs of Em and Jack’s relationship got annoying at parts and I was just screaming at them to just talk to one another. It made me laugh. It made me scream. It made me scared. I loved it. Sometimes a nice lighthearted rom com is just what you need to make you smile and that’s what this book did for me.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack ain’t shit.

[Ari💕 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall it was fun, but the amount of miscommunication and lying was really frustrating, all of it being from the MMC.

[Mae Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: brief threat of gun violence, parents divorce emotionally impacts a MC

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-estranged best friends to lovers
-mutual pining
-forced proximity
-a haunted(?) hotel
-a bit of a mystery

I really enjoyed this one. Brittany Kelley's writing was light, fluffy and voicey. Emma was such a fun MC. Chaotic, figuring out her life, driven, and struggling to share her feelings. She knows what she wants but she's figuring out the best way to get it. She wants this hotel and she wants Jack.

I loved how it was so clear that Jack and Emma have this rich backstory, their friendship, what drove them apart, how they're both pining away for each other. They had a great banter with each other. this wasn't full of angst, but there was a tension there, an almost, of what could happen, if they let it, what they would be risking if they could finally take that step. I enjoyed the added twist of the haunted hotel as they figured it out while also figuring out their feeling for each other.

Jack was a lot more straight-laced and a lot less of a risk taker for a lot of reasons. With him holding so much back I think for me to understand why he held so much back from Emma I would have appreciated seeing his POV more to understand him more. There was a lot of miscommunication and withholding.

Overall a great and fun read and I'll definitely be checking out this author again.

Steam: 3

[Halen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit of spookiness, mystery, and a lot of Romance. I enjoyed following both perspectives of Jack and Emma’s story. The spookiness was a little cheesy at first, but it kept me reading until the end. Although, I didn’t really care for the handful of smut that was in it. But I’m glad I received it as an ARC and am looking forward to reading Emma’s bonus epilogue on the hotel’s soft opening on Halloween night!

[Shaquanda Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good romcom! The main characters Em.amd Jack were so good. This is an ex best friends to lovers trope and it was well executed. Their banter back and forth was hilarious. It is dual pov so it goes back and forth between Jack and Em with each chapter. I laughed throughout this whole book and the haunting aspects were perfect heading into spooky season. Highly recommend. ✨Thank you Hidden Gems Books for this arc in exchange for my honest review✨

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pumpkin spice is here and it’s officially spooky season. If you’re looking for a romcom to go with your latte, let me direct your attention here.

The voice of this book immediately drew me in, and I was hooked, waiting to see how everything would end up. This is a perfect read for the fall!

[Kally Lavoie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reallyyyyy wanted to love this book but it left me wanting. The central conflict was one sided, characterization was also one sided. I loved the haunted aspect but the mystery was like a Scooby Doo villain reveal.

[Jillian Reynolds (Jillian Loves Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Woof.

[samyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

"𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘄𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲."

3.5/5 ⭐️

add to your tbr if you love:

🎃 friends to lovers
🎃 second chance
🎃 dual pov
🎃 a tiny splash of horror

emma has always been this carefree, kind spirit with her head over the clouds. she has trouble following through with her plans and sometimes will dip on the people that love her the most but deep down she means the best.

jack is this serious, got it all figured out, successful kind of person who has always had something for his best friend but has been afraid to admit it since they were young. it was too much to bear if she left him, and he didn't want to ruin their friendship after all.

when it comes to ideas, emma has got it, and once she has her heart set on her dreams nothing can stop her; that is precisely what happens when she spots a location that makes her heart ignite. she has had dreams of making her own resort, a place where people could go to both relax and have a good time. but that dream can't come true unless she gives her good old buddy a call, jack colson.

it would be a lie to say emma had never realized who her endgame would be, she knew from the start. but just like every good love story, right person wrong time has definitely ticked these two apart. in a sign from the universe, they embark on this journey together in order to find the perfect place and the perfect pitch for this dream to come true.

don't get it twisted, things will come to haunt them. whether it is their past, or the people in a small town that don't want this new hotel to open up; but together, and with each other, they are more than unstoppable. there is a lot to unfold between them, so many unspoken feelings and words from the past but again, once emma has set her heart onto something, she does not back down.

how spooky is it to actually show the deepest and truest part of yourself to someone, and not know what their reaction is going to be?

[Lindsay♫SingerOfStories♫ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, really wish that Goodreads had 1/2 stars. Ugh.
Ok so this book is a prime definition of romantic comedy. The FMC definitely uses humor as a coping and deflecting mechanism, and there is lots of banter with the MMC. Its mostly cute, but at times it gets quite lengthy.
Then there is the haunted hotel. I loved that there is a bit of a mystery wrapped up in the hotel (those pesky kids, Scoob!) but then ultimately the ghost problem is answered so fast I almost missed it. I literally had to backtrack and read it twice. I wouldn't have minded a little bit more backstory on that and a little less oogly eyes at the guy/girl you've been in love with since high school anyway. *sigh*
But it was a fun read for early fall so take that as you will.

[Cait Ireen | caitireenreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️
2/5🌶️

This was a cute spooky season read! Brittany's writing style is so fun and 'real'... goofy, genuine and like you're hearing a story from a friend. I really liked the premise of the story and there were moments when I generally was scared and spooked! I had to put the book down! I was surprised it creeped me out that much hehe. Overall very cute second chance story with some fun spice!

[emsbooklife · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

i loved the characters and the storyline but the execution was lacking something. the writing was kinda all over the place and i was getting confused here and there but overall a super cutesy n spooky read & a sprinkle of spice!

[Allie Bakotich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly loved how cheesy this was. It was a fun read for spooky season!

[Laura VanZant]

This is a PAUSE not a DNF. I was in a reading slump when I started this and now don't have the motivation to finish it. I will pick it up again next spooky season!

[Rae Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so cute and the actual story of the book was so good i couldn’t put it down and the ending had me all teary eyed and smiley 🥹🩷👻🍻

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happily Haunted Afters is like an old episode of Scooby Doo, funny, spooky... but spicy. A quick and fun read for a rainy autumn day.
3.75 ⭐️ 2 🌶

🥰 Childhood best friends to strangers to lovers (the best!)
🎃 Horror vibes
👀 The MCs are flawed (who want perfection anyway? not me)
📍 Small town, Texas
🪄 So many pop culture references (Steve Rogers! Supernatural! And more!)

Emma and Jack grew up together, they were the best of friends, then ✨something something✨ happened and they haven't talked in five years. Jack is a finance bro and Emma is living with her parents and working for them. She wants to open her own hotel and knows just the perfect place but, she is b r o k e. So she calls Jack and asks him to be her business partner although the last time they saw each other was a mess... Nothing a long weekend in a haunted house wouldn't solve, right?

Listen, when i heard about this book on bookstagram, i HAD to read it. I mean a romance! with ghost! I'M IN! I was lucky enough to get an ARC and absolutely loved reading it. It was funny and scary. The spicy scenes were good, classic open-door sexy time.

[some light spoilers below]
The story deserved a few more chapters to tie everything correctly. The ghost plot line was half resolved, we know nothing about the hotel and the accident, Charlotte and her family, the doll... Then, there's the conclusion of the romance part. Emma blamed herself too much; Jack not enough. The secrets and lies between them were a lot and yet they forgive each other so quickly. They don't communicate, like, at all. The end felt rushed, the issues quickly resolved without much explanation. At least the bonus epilogue was cute.

[Marcella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a light, delightful autumn read for romance-horror fans :)

Horror side of the story, I always love haunted houses especially with demon doll on the side of this is my kind of book exactly! That, and HHA had this cozy autumn vibes somehow (despite the looming ghosts and strange things happening haha).

About characters and romances. I love to see how Emma and Jack growing in those pages, although yes there were moments I wish I could knock some senses to their head (lol). Emma has too much insecurities, which understandable given her past experiences. But, sometimes it was just a little too much because she snapped at the smallest thing and being around her was like walking on a mine field. But she has a good heart and it was satisfying to see her coming out of her shell. Jack is cute, but oh dear that "calling sis for backup" move was... I mean he should deal with it on his own haha but that resulted in Emma and her sis's relationship getting better so yeah.
Second chance romances always hit different and I love the angsty parts in this book.

Overall, it was a nice cozy read!

[Kimberly Mallek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to get an ARC of Brittany Kelley's fun RomCom, Happily Haunted Afters. This book was the perfect weekend read. Chock full of flirty, voicy banter, I gobbled it up over my school's mid-term break.

Emma Cross might be a bit messy, but she’s equally lovable. When she meets up with ex, Jack Colson they are plunged into a mysterious and spooky sequence of events while staying at a potential investment property.

This book does not disappoint and is super fun for the Halloween season!

[Stacie ||readingbetweenthevines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, this was super cute and a super quick read! It made me laugh, and had me genuinely wondering who or what was haunting the old hotel!
I wish we had have gotten more about what happened between Emma and Jack in the past, but their present story was adorable.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bad that I did not finish it. Terribly written and I just could not get excited about the story. Note to self: Never try to give this book a second chance.

[Kerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

The most likeable character is the haunted doll