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The Library of Shadows
Funny, moving, and heart-achingly real, this romantic romp and paranormal romcom debut--through a haunted library with trapdoors, ghosts, and memories--is full of great love that triumphs over even death, perfect for fans of Ninth House and Cemetery Boys.
Radcliffe Prep. The third most haunted school in the country, where a student disappearance isn't uncommon and no one dares stay in the library after dark. And Este Logano enrolls with the hopes of finding her dead father.
Not literally, of course. She doesn't believe in ghosts. Going to her dad's school just seems like her best hope at figuring out who he was.
But then Este meets Mateo, who is maybe--probably--definitely--a real ghost. And an annoying one at that.
When Mateo frames Este for the theft of a rare book from the library's secret spire and then vanishes, Este will have to track him down or risk being expelled and leaving Radcliffe early just like her father did.
Except following her father's footsteps might be more dangerous than Este ever anticipated. As she investigates the library with its secret passageways, hidden tunnels, and haunted halls, she learns that the student disappearances aren't just myth. And if she isn't careful, she'll be next.
Radcliffe Prep. The third most haunted school in the country, where a student disappearance isn't uncommon and no one dares stay in the library after dark. And Este Logano enrolls with the hopes of finding her dead father.
Not literally, of course. She doesn't believe in ghosts. Going to her dad's school just seems like her best hope at figuring out who he was.
But then Este meets Mateo, who is maybe--probably--definitely--a real ghost. And an annoying one at that.
When Mateo frames Este for the theft of a rare book from the library's secret spire and then vanishes, Este will have to track him down or risk being expelled and leaving Radcliffe early just like her father did.
Except following her father's footsteps might be more dangerous than Este ever anticipated. As she investigates the library with its secret passageways, hidden tunnels, and haunted halls, she learns that the student disappearances aren't just myth. And if she isn't careful, she'll be next.
361 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2023
319 people are currently reading
25432 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Moore
3 books518 followersRachel Moore is the author of high-stakes, genre-blending novels. She lives in Tennessee with her husband and two cats she’s violently allergic to. (The cats, not the husband.) On the rare occasion she isn’t writing happy endings, you can find her collecting dictionaries, drinking entirely too much coffee, and drifting through the library stacks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,415 reviews
September 8, 2023
3.5 stars✨
"When you love someone, it's like building a library and filling the shelves. It doesn't matter how many years it's been since Jane Austen wrote Emma or Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise. We can still pull them from the bookcases and dive back into the words, the same as the day they were written. All the years and the memories are still right here, catalogued inside us."
Read this if you're looking for-
✔️ Cozy dark academia vibes
✔️ Paranormal YA romance
✔️ Fast paced and binge worthy (can read it within a day)
✔️ Lighthearted mystery
See, I gotta be honest- I bought this for the cover and am not disappointed. I loved the cozy vibes, it was so relaxing that the plot was not too complex and I could be invested without theorizing every little detail or getting myself confused with complexities. No, everything was pretty much straightforward and simplistic.
The book is incredibly fast paced. So if you want something to up your GR challenge- pick this up. While I appreciate the pacing, I feel like a lot got lost in between the lines. I would have also preferred if it had like 150-200 pages more cause certain things could have used that. For instance, the Fades and the whole mystery- the motives remained unclear; the romance took a long while to build only for them to fall in love within the last 30% and the MMC could have used more time.
I enjoyed the book a lot but the romance surely felt lacking. There was no build up, it was only Este appreciating Mateo's looks in the first 70%. There was no angst and in fact it did not read as a slow burn either. The last 30% was what I was craving for. Their chemistry was so good, I wanted more 😭
I liked the characters, especially Mateo. He's such a hottie and I wanted more of him 😭 That scene where he was completely soaked..I gotta be honest I was having very un-YA thoughts 👀🥵🤭 His ghost arse was so caring towards Este. I wanted more 😭😭 Este was quite reserved and yet bold in some circumstances. I liked her a lot except when she was taking Posy for granted.
The ending was quite predictable but I enjoyed it a lot. I would have appreciated a bit more elaboration. But overall, it was a fun read and a debut well done.
~•~•~
Hot ghost as a boyfriend?? Can't wait to call him boo 👀 Please just laugh, I thought I was being funny.
~•~•~
THIS IS A NEED
"When you love someone, it's like building a library and filling the shelves. It doesn't matter how many years it's been since Jane Austen wrote Emma or Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise. We can still pull them from the bookcases and dive back into the words, the same as the day they were written. All the years and the memories are still right here, catalogued inside us."
Read this if you're looking for-
✔️ Cozy dark academia vibes
✔️ Paranormal YA romance
✔️ Fast paced and binge worthy (can read it within a day)
✔️ Lighthearted mystery
See, I gotta be honest- I bought this for the cover and am not disappointed. I loved the cozy vibes, it was so relaxing that the plot was not too complex and I could be invested without theorizing every little detail or getting myself confused with complexities. No, everything was pretty much straightforward and simplistic.
The book is incredibly fast paced. So if you want something to up your GR challenge- pick this up. While I appreciate the pacing, I feel like a lot got lost in between the lines. I would have also preferred if it had like 150-200 pages more cause certain things could have used that. For instance, the Fades and the whole mystery- the motives remained unclear; the romance took a long while to build only for them to fall in love within the last 30% and the MMC could have used more time.
I enjoyed the book a lot but the romance surely felt lacking. There was no build up, it was only Este appreciating Mateo's looks in the first 70%. There was no angst and in fact it did not read as a slow burn either. The last 30% was what I was craving for. Their chemistry was so good, I wanted more 😭
I liked the characters, especially Mateo. He's such a hottie and I wanted more of him 😭 That scene where he was completely soaked..I gotta be honest I was having very un-YA thoughts 👀🥵🤭 His ghost arse was so caring towards Este. I wanted more 😭😭 Este was quite reserved and yet bold in some circumstances. I liked her a lot except when she was taking Posy for granted.
The ending was quite predictable but I enjoyed it a lot. I would have appreciated a bit more elaboration. But overall, it was a fun read and a debut well done.
~•~•~
Hot ghost as a boyfriend?? Can't wait to call him boo 👀 Please just laugh, I thought I was being funny.
~•~•~
THIS IS A NEED
September 26, 2023
this is like if julie and the phantoms was dark academia ijbol
September 21, 2023
”there is life, there is death, and there is love — the greatest of these is love.”
what a lovely debut. i’m not sure what i was expecting from this book; i just saw the cover and heard “paranormal romance” and decided i wanted to read it. i am so glad to say it delivered.
plot:
following in her dad’s footsteps, este logano is starting her first year at radcliffe prep, one of the most haunted schools in the country. after being framed for stealing a rare and powerful book, her only alternative to expulsion is finding and returning it. but this search leads her to an even bigger mystery, and she soon realizes she is in over her head.
writing:
it’s what you would expect from a young adult novel: easy to read with some modern references thrown in there. but it was so immersive at times — it felt like i was right beside este, fighting off the autumn chill with hot coffee and piecing together her dad’s clues with books piled around us. it was such a cozy atmosphere, and i’m sad to leave it behind.
characters:
este: in every book i read, i tend to find pieces of myself in the characters. this one was no different. reading about este felt like looking into a mirror; she’s a reflection of myself. after losing her dad, her defense mechanism is to push everyone away. because… well, what’s the point of getting close to someone if they’re just going to leave?
“este’s chest tightened. she knew alone a little too well. alone carved out a canyon in her chest, deep grooves of a river run dry. she didn’t know how to fill it back up. she wasn’t sure she even wanted to, just for it to empty again.”
my heart broke for her every time she put up her walls and refused to let anyone in. i was rooting for her from the very first page, and it hurt to see her close herself off from people who cared about her. but i’m so so proud of her for realizing that losing something doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth it. i love that she’s healing and slowly letting herself be more vulnerable.
“she’d assumed that if no one could be hers forever, they didn’t need to be hers at all.”
mateo: me? in love with a century old ghost? yes, that’s right. confident, sarcastic, and a little arrogant with a soft spot for este. i love that he always supported her and stayed by her side. and i’m so glad he got his chance at life because being trapped between life and death for a hundred years does not seem at all appealing. they both deserve the world ❤️🩹
quotes:
“she learned how to say goodbye over and over again. it was so much easier than holding on too long.”
“when you love someone, it’s like building a library and filling the shelves. it doesn’t matter how many years it’s been since austen wrote emma or fitzgerald wrote this side of paradise. we can still pull them from the bookcases and dive back into the words, the same as the day they were written. all the years and memories are still right here, cataloged inside us.”
“i don’t want to know another life without you in it.”
“she kissed him, warm and sweet and soft, and she’d keep kissing him until their hair grayed, until their skin wrinkled, until dust gathered on the bookshelves. eventually, they’d become nothing more than sun-faded ink, a final line in her favorite story, one she was no longer afraid to write.”
what a lovely debut. i’m not sure what i was expecting from this book; i just saw the cover and heard “paranormal romance” and decided i wanted to read it. i am so glad to say it delivered.
plot:
following in her dad’s footsteps, este logano is starting her first year at radcliffe prep, one of the most haunted schools in the country. after being framed for stealing a rare and powerful book, her only alternative to expulsion is finding and returning it. but this search leads her to an even bigger mystery, and she soon realizes she is in over her head.
writing:
it’s what you would expect from a young adult novel: easy to read with some modern references thrown in there. but it was so immersive at times — it felt like i was right beside este, fighting off the autumn chill with hot coffee and piecing together her dad’s clues with books piled around us. it was such a cozy atmosphere, and i’m sad to leave it behind.
characters:
este: in every book i read, i tend to find pieces of myself in the characters. this one was no different. reading about este felt like looking into a mirror; she’s a reflection of myself. after losing her dad, her defense mechanism is to push everyone away. because… well, what’s the point of getting close to someone if they’re just going to leave?
“este’s chest tightened. she knew alone a little too well. alone carved out a canyon in her chest, deep grooves of a river run dry. she didn’t know how to fill it back up. she wasn’t sure she even wanted to, just for it to empty again.”
my heart broke for her every time she put up her walls and refused to let anyone in. i was rooting for her from the very first page, and it hurt to see her close herself off from people who cared about her. but i’m so so proud of her for realizing that losing something doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth it. i love that she’s healing and slowly letting herself be more vulnerable.
“she’d assumed that if no one could be hers forever, they didn’t need to be hers at all.”
mateo: me? in love with a century old ghost? yes, that’s right. confident, sarcastic, and a little arrogant with a soft spot for este. i love that he always supported her and stayed by her side. and i’m so glad he got his chance at life because being trapped between life and death for a hundred years does not seem at all appealing. they both deserve the world ❤️🩹
quotes:
“she learned how to say goodbye over and over again. it was so much easier than holding on too long.”
“when you love someone, it’s like building a library and filling the shelves. it doesn’t matter how many years it’s been since austen wrote emma or fitzgerald wrote this side of paradise. we can still pull them from the bookcases and dive back into the words, the same as the day they were written. all the years and memories are still right here, cataloged inside us.”
“i don’t want to know another life without you in it.”
“she kissed him, warm and sweet and soft, and she’d keep kissing him until their hair grayed, until their skin wrinkled, until dust gathered on the bookshelves. eventually, they’d become nothing more than sun-faded ink, a final line in her favorite story, one she was no longer afraid to write.”
March 16, 2025
✩ 3.75 stars ✩ l
What to Expect:
➼ Boarding School
➼ Haunted Library
➼ Century-Old Mystery
➼ Paranormal
➼ YA Romance
➼ Third Person POV
I thought this had a similar vibe to the show Wednesday except it was a little moodier. I honestly found the plot to be a little predictable, but I still enjoyed the ride as the mystery unfolded. I didn’t initially realize this was a YA novel so I had to recalibrate my expectations a bit in the middle. I’m mostly glad there wasn’t any ghostly intimate scenes included, but I think I might have liked a little spice at the end, and maybe Mateo’s POV?
I also think the plot would have felt a little more realistic if the school had been a college rather than a boarding school and that her dad should have played a larger role in the story. The author could easily have included more clues left by him to give the mystery a bit more complexity. Overall I really enjoyed this, but I think it could have been a bit more compelling.
I originally read this book because I saw someone reading the second book in the series, Us in Ruins, so I’m excited to start that one soon! Her cover artist is killing it!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Currently crushing my reading goals! Staying caught up on reviews? Eh… not so much. 😅
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Boarding School
➼ Haunted Library
➼ Century-Old Mystery
➼ Paranormal
➼ YA Romance
➼ Third Person POV
I thought this had a similar vibe to the show Wednesday except it was a little moodier. I honestly found the plot to be a little predictable, but I still enjoyed the ride as the mystery unfolded. I didn’t initially realize this was a YA novel so I had to recalibrate my expectations a bit in the middle. I’m mostly glad there wasn’t any ghostly intimate scenes included, but I think I might have liked a little spice at the end, and maybe Mateo’s POV?
I also think the plot would have felt a little more realistic if the school had been a college rather than a boarding school and that her dad should have played a larger role in the story. The author could easily have included more clues left by him to give the mystery a bit more complexity. Overall I really enjoyed this, but I think it could have been a bit more compelling.
I originally read this book because I saw someone reading the second book in the series, Us in Ruins, so I’m excited to start that one soon! Her cover artist is killing it!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Currently crushing my reading goals! Staying caught up on reviews? Eh… not so much. 😅
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
May 25, 2025
2.5 stars.
**DNF 50%**
I can’t believe how tedious this book turned out to be. Despite my efforts to push through, it ultimately felt like a chore, and I found myself dozing off while reading. My biggest issue was that the writing style seemed overly simplistic, almost juvenile. I understand this is categorized as young adult fiction, but the characters are in high school, and their behavior felt more fitting for much younger kids.
The protagonist, Este, was particularly frustrating. She came across as stubborn and often made decisions that struck me as foolish, which made it hard to connect with her. Beyond her stubbornness, she didn’t bring anything unique to the table. She blended in with a myriad of other stereotypical female leads that lacked depth or originality.
Also, she found Mateo so beautiful that she could not shut up about it.
Then there was Mateo, the male love interest, who embodied that common trope of the charming jerk with a smirk. He had the potential to be an intriguing character, but sadly, Este's perspective overshadowed any interesting qualities he might have had. It felt like he was designed to fill a role more than to develop as an individual.
As for the supporting characters, they were equally forgettable. None of them left a lasting impression, appearing more like filler than integral parts of the story. In essence, the entire cast felt flat and one-dimensional, reducing the narrative to a dull experience.
The plot itself had a glimmer of potential, but the execution was lackluster. The author’s storytelling choices rendered the events mundane and failed to capture my interest.
The romance in the story was a major disappointment. The couple lacked any semblance of chemistry, which made their connection feel utterly forced and unconvincing. Their interactions were marked by awkward dialogue and shallow exchanges that failed to evoke any real emotion. I wasn't drawn in by their relationship at all; rather, it felt like a series of cliched moments strung together without any depth or substance.
**DNF 50%**
I can’t believe how tedious this book turned out to be. Despite my efforts to push through, it ultimately felt like a chore, and I found myself dozing off while reading. My biggest issue was that the writing style seemed overly simplistic, almost juvenile. I understand this is categorized as young adult fiction, but the characters are in high school, and their behavior felt more fitting for much younger kids.
The protagonist, Este, was particularly frustrating. She came across as stubborn and often made decisions that struck me as foolish, which made it hard to connect with her. Beyond her stubbornness, she didn’t bring anything unique to the table. She blended in with a myriad of other stereotypical female leads that lacked depth or originality.
Also, she found Mateo so beautiful that she could not shut up about it.
Then there was Mateo, the male love interest, who embodied that common trope of the charming jerk with a smirk. He had the potential to be an intriguing character, but sadly, Este's perspective overshadowed any interesting qualities he might have had. It felt like he was designed to fill a role more than to develop as an individual.
As for the supporting characters, they were equally forgettable. None of them left a lasting impression, appearing more like filler than integral parts of the story. In essence, the entire cast felt flat and one-dimensional, reducing the narrative to a dull experience.
The plot itself had a glimmer of potential, but the execution was lackluster. The author’s storytelling choices rendered the events mundane and failed to capture my interest.
The romance in the story was a major disappointment. The couple lacked any semblance of chemistry, which made their connection feel utterly forced and unconvincing. Their interactions were marked by awkward dialogue and shallow exchanges that failed to evoke any real emotion. I wasn't drawn in by their relationship at all; rather, it felt like a series of cliched moments strung together without any depth or substance.
January 4, 2024
･:*:･ﾟ⁀➷ 3.75/5 ★
Ahh I really enjoyed this!! 🤭🤭 Such a fun, atmospheric ya fantasy with an entertaining story- I had a great time 💝💝
“When you love someone, it's like building a library and filling the shelves. It doesn't matter how many years it's been since Austen wrote Emma or Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise. We can still pull them from the bookcases and dive back into the words, the same as they day they were written. All the years and memories are still right there, cataloged inside us.”
The Library of Shadows follows Este Logano, who enrolls at the mysterious Radcliffe Prep to try and connect to her late father. The school is the third most haunted in the country, with student disappearances commonplace and dark secrets lurking in its library. Este may not believe in ghosts, but she can't deny that the mysterious Mateo may actually be one. And when Mateo frames Este for the third of a precious book in the library and they are forced to work together, it looks like her father's past may be catching up to her...
I picked this up with little to no expectations- i decided to read it quite randomly and hadn't seen many people talk about it. But it surprised me by being a really fun read 🫶🫶
There was a lot to like about this! ✨️ One of my fav parts was definitely the vibes of the book- the setting of the haunted library at this fancy prep school gave the book such a spooky atmosphere 👻💗 It was giving dark academia, but in a really fun, cozy way 🥰🥰 And the story itself was very entertaining- i really enjoyed the little mystery aspect of it and some of the reveals actually shocked me. It was such a fast-paced and easy to read book- definitely perfect if you need something to binge on a cold rainy day 💞💞
The characters were also really well done! None of them were crazy well-developed, but i did really like all of them 💕
➵ Este: she was a pretty good mc! 🫶🫶 The way she always pushed people away bc she was scared they'd hurt her hit so hard & i just wanted to give her a hug 🥺🥺🫂🫂 Her development was also done well, and i really liked her 🥰🥰
➵ Mateo: okay, so falling in love with a fictional, centuries-old ghost was not on my 2024 bucket list but... 👀🤭 i honestly thought he was a great love interest- i loved how mysterious he was, but he could also be super sweet. he was definitely my fav character 💞💞
➵ All of the other ghosts: i loved all of their personalities and the hint of found family with them was so sweet!! ❤️🩹❤️🩹
The romance was honestly also really fun! 🫶🫶 Definitely not the most well-written romance, but i still really liked este & mateo as a couple 🤭🤭 Their tension was really good and the kiss scene?! the fact that there was only one was honestly criminal 😩😩 their ending was also so so sweet 🥹🥹❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Alone carved out a canyon in her chest, deep grooves of a river run dry. She didn’t know how to fill it back up. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to, just for it to empty again.”
However, i do think the writing was a little juvenile and it's easy to tell that this is a debut. it's not bad, but it does need some polishing. plus I think the story would've benefited from being a little longer, as some parts were a bit rushed.
“We're a team now, you and me. You can't expect someone to do all the work for you, but you can't do it all alone either.”
Overall, a really fun read! 🫶🫶 Definitely recommend if you're looking for:
✔️ Dark academia vibes ✨️
✔️ Easy to read
✔️ Fun story with a bit of mystery
✔️ Great romance
I'd definitely be interested in picking up more books by this author 💝💝
《 2024 Challenge: Book 2 of 115 》
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was sm fun!! 🤭🤭 spooky vibes, great romance & super fast-paced- it was just such an entertaining read 💘💘
Rtc! 🫶
Ahh I really enjoyed this!! 🤭🤭 Such a fun, atmospheric ya fantasy with an entertaining story- I had a great time 💝💝
“When you love someone, it's like building a library and filling the shelves. It doesn't matter how many years it's been since Austen wrote Emma or Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise. We can still pull them from the bookcases and dive back into the words, the same as they day they were written. All the years and memories are still right there, cataloged inside us.”
The Library of Shadows follows Este Logano, who enrolls at the mysterious Radcliffe Prep to try and connect to her late father. The school is the third most haunted in the country, with student disappearances commonplace and dark secrets lurking in its library. Este may not believe in ghosts, but she can't deny that the mysterious Mateo may actually be one. And when Mateo frames Este for the third of a precious book in the library and they are forced to work together, it looks like her father's past may be catching up to her...
I picked this up with little to no expectations- i decided to read it quite randomly and hadn't seen many people talk about it. But it surprised me by being a really fun read 🫶🫶
There was a lot to like about this! ✨️ One of my fav parts was definitely the vibes of the book- the setting of the haunted library at this fancy prep school gave the book such a spooky atmosphere 👻💗 It was giving dark academia, but in a really fun, cozy way 🥰🥰 And the story itself was very entertaining- i really enjoyed the little mystery aspect of it and some of the reveals actually shocked me. It was such a fast-paced and easy to read book- definitely perfect if you need something to binge on a cold rainy day 💞💞
The characters were also really well done! None of them were crazy well-developed, but i did really like all of them 💕
➵ Este: she was a pretty good mc! 🫶🫶 The way she always pushed people away bc she was scared they'd hurt her hit so hard & i just wanted to give her a hug 🥺🥺🫂🫂 Her development was also done well, and i really liked her 🥰🥰
➵ Mateo: okay, so falling in love with a fictional, centuries-old ghost was not on my 2024 bucket list but... 👀🤭 i honestly thought he was a great love interest- i loved how mysterious he was, but he could also be super sweet. he was definitely my fav character 💞💞
➵ All of the other ghosts: i loved all of their personalities and the hint of found family with them was so sweet!! ❤️🩹❤️🩹
The romance was honestly also really fun! 🫶🫶 Definitely not the most well-written romance, but i still really liked este & mateo as a couple 🤭🤭 Their tension was really good and the kiss scene?! the fact that there was only one was honestly criminal 😩😩 their ending was also so so sweet 🥹🥹❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Alone carved out a canyon in her chest, deep grooves of a river run dry. She didn’t know how to fill it back up. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to, just for it to empty again.”
However, i do think the writing was a little juvenile and it's easy to tell that this is a debut. it's not bad, but it does need some polishing. plus I think the story would've benefited from being a little longer, as some parts were a bit rushed.
“We're a team now, you and me. You can't expect someone to do all the work for you, but you can't do it all alone either.”
Overall, a really fun read! 🫶🫶 Definitely recommend if you're looking for:
✔️ Dark academia vibes ✨️
✔️ Easy to read
✔️ Fun story with a bit of mystery
✔️ Great romance
I'd definitely be interested in picking up more books by this author 💝💝
《 2024 Challenge: Book 2 of 115 》
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was sm fun!! 🤭🤭 spooky vibes, great romance & super fast-paced- it was just such an entertaining read 💘💘
Rtc! 🫶
Currently reading
October 18, 2025haunted library? yes, thank you 👻 buddy read with Ashlyn 🤎
September 21, 2024
.ೃ࿐⁀➷ 5/5 stars 💫✨
➸ "When you love someone, it's like building a library and filling the shelves. It doesn't matter how many years it's been since Jane Austen wrote Emma or Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise. We can still pull them from the bookcases and dive back into the words, the same as the day they were written. All the years and the memories are still right here, catalogued inside us."
Honestly this blew my expectations out of the roof 😄😄 I was expecting something light and fun that I would be able to read quickly and never think about it again, yet here we are, months later and I still think about this book ALL OF THE TIME!! I loved how fast paced it was and the mystery was so fun to follow on 🤭🤭 If you are looking for a quick fast paced romance with ghosts and library's LOOK NO FURTHER!!
.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Read If You Like
🍂 Dark Academia
🍂 Cozy Vibes
🍂 Paranormal romance (ya)
🍂 Fast paced and bingeable
.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Characters
❥ Este: She was a pretty strong main character 🥰🥰 Ngl there were some scenes where I didn't agree with what she was doing or how she acted, but no one is perfect, and it mainly added to her character 😅😅 I felt so bad for her about the reveals about her father and all I wanted to do was give her a huge hug 🫂🫂
➸ “Alone carved out a canyon in her chest, deep grooves of a river run dry. She didn’t know how to fill it back up. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to, just for it to empty again.”
❥ Mateo: Eee how was he so perfect 🤭🤭 I thought I'd fallen for every type of book bf possible, but clearly, I was missing one, as I can now add ghost to the list too 🥰🥰 I loved how he was super mysterious on the outside but was really a big softy 🥹🥹 Overall he was a great love interest and I was blushing every time he was on the page 🫠🫠
➸ “We're a team now, you and me. You can't expect someone to do all the work for you, but you can't do it all alone either.”
❥ Other Characters: Tbh, Posy did annoy me, but then again I felt so bad for her, as all she wanted to do was be friends with Este but she kept lying to her 🥺🥺 I did rly like all of the other ghosts, and I wish we got more time with them 🤭🤭 Also I KNEW WHO IT WAS, I KNEW IT (Ignore me, this is one of the only times I've ever guessed correctly 😅😅)
.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Romance
❥ Este + Mateo: They are so cute 🥰🥰 If you do read The Library Of Shadows pls don't go in expecting an amazing romance with loads of angst and a huge slow burn, but their tension omg 🤭🤭 it was SO SO GOOD 😍😍 It was so sweet, and the ending was so cute too 🥹❤️🩹
✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*
.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Preread
I found this at my local library, and it looks so cute 🥰🥰 Hopefully it cures the mini slump When The Moon Hatched put me in 😔😔
➸ "When you love someone, it's like building a library and filling the shelves. It doesn't matter how many years it's been since Jane Austen wrote Emma or Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise. We can still pull them from the bookcases and dive back into the words, the same as the day they were written. All the years and the memories are still right here, catalogued inside us."
Honestly this blew my expectations out of the roof 😄😄 I was expecting something light and fun that I would be able to read quickly and never think about it again, yet here we are, months later and I still think about this book ALL OF THE TIME!! I loved how fast paced it was and the mystery was so fun to follow on 🤭🤭 If you are looking for a quick fast paced romance with ghosts and library's LOOK NO FURTHER!!
.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Read If You Like
🍂 Dark Academia
🍂 Cozy Vibes
🍂 Paranormal romance (ya)
🍂 Fast paced and bingeable
.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Characters
❥ Este: She was a pretty strong main character 🥰🥰 Ngl there were some scenes where I didn't agree with what she was doing or how she acted, but no one is perfect, and it mainly added to her character 😅😅 I felt so bad for her about the reveals about her father and all I wanted to do was give her a huge hug 🫂🫂
➸ “Alone carved out a canyon in her chest, deep grooves of a river run dry. She didn’t know how to fill it back up. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to, just for it to empty again.”
❥ Mateo: Eee how was he so perfect 🤭🤭 I thought I'd fallen for every type of book bf possible, but clearly, I was missing one, as I can now add ghost to the list too 🥰🥰 I loved how he was super mysterious on the outside but was really a big softy 🥹🥹 Overall he was a great love interest and I was blushing every time he was on the page 🫠🫠
➸ “We're a team now, you and me. You can't expect someone to do all the work for you, but you can't do it all alone either.”
❥ Other Characters: Tbh, Posy did annoy me, but then again I felt so bad for her, as all she wanted to do was be friends with Este but she kept lying to her 🥺🥺 I did rly like all of the other ghosts, and I wish we got more time with them 🤭🤭 Also I KNEW WHO IT WAS, I KNEW IT (Ignore me, this is one of the only times I've ever guessed correctly 😅😅)
.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Romance
❥ Este + Mateo: They are so cute 🥰🥰 If you do read The Library Of Shadows pls don't go in expecting an amazing romance with loads of angst and a huge slow burn, but their tension omg 🤭🤭 it was SO SO GOOD 😍😍 It was so sweet, and the ending was so cute too 🥹❤️🩹
✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*
.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Preread
I found this at my local library, and it looks so cute 🥰🥰 Hopefully it cures the mini slump When The Moon Hatched put me in 😔😔
February 14, 2023
Do you wish a hot ghost was your boyfriend? Of course you do. Rachel Moore's THE LIBRARY OF SHADOWS is everything I adore wrapped up with a shiny little bow. We've got a gorgeously atmospheric setting, loveable characters you can't help but root for, and an intriguing undercurrent of mystery. One chapter in and you'll find yourself binge-reading the rest.
September 4, 2024
1.5 stars
In a way, this book kind of broke me. I wasn't necessarily excited to read this but was hoping it would at least be good. This felt like a book that wasn't fully fleshed out nor did it have a strong plot. None of the characters were likable and all of the twists were obvious. That and some weird inconsistencies plus some cringe moments were a recipe for disaster and I hated this book.
In a way, this book kind of broke me. I wasn't necessarily excited to read this but was hoping it would at least be good. This felt like a book that wasn't fully fleshed out nor did it have a strong plot. None of the characters were likable and all of the twists were obvious. That and some weird inconsistencies plus some cringe moments were a recipe for disaster and I hated this book.
Read
July 20, 2024dnf równiutko w połowie
Nie mogę znieść protagonistki, tego jaka jest "sarkastyczna", a tak naprawdę niemiła właściwie dla każdej napotkanej postaci. Mimo wszystko oczywiście nasz główny bohater nr 2 jest nią zauroczony, on jest piękny i kropka.
Tajemnica fajna, chciałam się dowiedzieć, jak potoczy się dalsza część intrygi, ale jak przeczytałam wstawkę o duolingo, no to już nie dałam rady. Duolingo biedne było moim gwoździem do trumny.
Bohaterka nie była na ani jednych zajęciach (?), a próbuje się nas przekonać, że to dark academia. Jeśli postacie absolutnie niczym się nie interesują, a nauka leży z dala od pola ich zainteresowań, no to nie możemy o tym mówić.
Smutno, ale jestem na nie. Gdybym miała więcej cierpliwości, może doczytałabym do końca.
Nie mogę znieść protagonistki, tego jaka jest "sarkastyczna", a tak naprawdę niemiła właściwie dla każdej napotkanej postaci. Mimo wszystko oczywiście nasz główny bohater nr 2 jest nią zauroczony, on jest piękny i kropka.
Tajemnica fajna, chciałam się dowiedzieć, jak potoczy się dalsza część intrygi, ale jak przeczytałam wstawkę o duolingo, no to już nie dałam rady. Duolingo biedne było moim gwoździem do trumny.
Bohaterka nie była na ani jednych zajęciach (?), a próbuje się nas przekonać, że to dark academia. Jeśli postacie absolutnie niczym się nie interesują, a nauka leży z dala od pola ich zainteresowań, no to nie możemy o tym mówić.
Smutno, ale jestem na nie. Gdybym miała więcej cierpliwości, może doczytałabym do końca.
October 31, 2023
3.90!
This was literally the perfect cozy comfy fall read!
I'd say this was more of a comfort read. Though plot driven it had enjoyable characters and such a comfy atmosphere which was perfect for this time of the year.
I enjoyed to so much the slow burn though was a little too slow but I enjoyed the scenes that we did get! Also how come the ghosts where I live are horrendous and terrifying and the ghosts there are swoon worthy smh 😮💨.
For a debut this book was a really great start, the writing was fast paced and actually enjoyable. I will definitely read more of her books.
World building could've been worked on!!
One thing this author definitely needs to work on are the names because:
1. It was so hard to not read posy as pussy and not even that whenever I read that I pronounced it the way Draco malfoy pronounced POTTAH
2. What kind of a name is Este how do I pronounce it. Essst, estayh, estuh????
3. ( this is a me problem) I cannot read the name mataeo and imagine anyone other than the guy from superstore 😭😭 this one was still bearable because of the cover.
~~~~~~~~~>
Clearing my current read so I can read this tmrw!!!
This was literally the perfect cozy comfy fall read!
I'd say this was more of a comfort read. Though plot driven it had enjoyable characters and such a comfy atmosphere which was perfect for this time of the year.
I enjoyed to so much the slow burn though was a little too slow but I enjoyed the scenes that we did get! Also how come the ghosts where I live are horrendous and terrifying and the ghosts there are swoon worthy smh 😮💨.
For a debut this book was a really great start, the writing was fast paced and actually enjoyable. I will definitely read more of her books.
World building could've been worked on!!
One thing this author definitely needs to work on are the names because:
1. It was so hard to not read posy as pussy and not even that whenever I read that I pronounced it the way Draco malfoy pronounced POTTAH
2. What kind of a name is Este how do I pronounce it. Essst, estayh, estuh????
3. ( this is a me problem) I cannot read the name mataeo and imagine anyone other than the guy from superstore 😭😭 this one was still bearable because of the cover.
~~~~~~~~~>
Clearing my current read so I can read this tmrw!!!
February 22, 2024
3.5 stars
Give me all the paranormal dark academia books!
Give me all the paranormal dark academia books!
July 2, 2023
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Book and NetGalley for this earc
Sadly, this one wasn’t for me.
First, I wasn’t a fan of how we get thrown in the middle of the story and the most important event (stealing of the book) happens in chapter one? We barely knew the name of the main character yet. That basically set up the whole book: very little background, make it up as you go chapters and insta love. And totally random, but chapters themselves felt super cut off.
For someone who’s supposed to be in school, there aren’t ANY scenes were Este is actually in class? NOT one. I honestly can’t get over how she wasn’t kicked out by the end of this.
Este ignores her roommate and her friends the whole time and shocked when they turn their back on her? And after all the time the group who’s obsessed with ghosts just take Este on her word that Mateo is actually read?
And at last, the romance. Even if I could ignore the instalove, the sparks just weren’t there.
Overall, this was less “cool ghost story” and more “let’s rewrite this few more times and hope something better comes out”
Sadly, this one wasn’t for me.
First, I wasn’t a fan of how we get thrown in the middle of the story and the most important event (stealing of the book) happens in chapter one? We barely knew the name of the main character yet. That basically set up the whole book: very little background, make it up as you go chapters and insta love. And totally random, but chapters themselves felt super cut off.
For someone who’s supposed to be in school, there aren’t ANY scenes were Este is actually in class? NOT one. I honestly can’t get over how she wasn’t kicked out by the end of this.
Este ignores her roommate and her friends the whole time and shocked when they turn their back on her? And after all the time the group who’s obsessed with ghosts just take Este on her word that Mateo is actually read?
And at last, the romance. Even if I could ignore the instalove, the sparks just weren’t there.
Overall, this was less “cool ghost story” and more “let’s rewrite this few more times and hope something better comes out”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2023
Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars
What a marvelous, magical, Romantasy read! I enjoyed this SO SO MUCH. It totally brought me back to spooky season as a kid watching Casper with Christina Ricci & loving every second of it. The vibes are for sure there, but it’s more an inspiration for the story than a retelling. A solid, FUN, tame on the spooky scale for YA, incredible spooky season read!!! Def one that all can safely enjoy! I just wish the story wasn’t over yet ! 🥺😭😭
100% recommend!
What a marvelous, magical, Romantasy read! I enjoyed this SO SO MUCH. It totally brought me back to spooky season as a kid watching Casper with Christina Ricci & loving every second of it. The vibes are for sure there, but it’s more an inspiration for the story than a retelling. A solid, FUN, tame on the spooky scale for YA, incredible spooky season read!!! Def one that all can safely enjoy! I just wish the story wasn’t over yet ! 🥺😭😭
100% recommend!
September 11, 2023
RATING: 3.5✨
SPICE: Like 0.25% pepper, basically a small make out session
Trope/Setting Highlights:
✔ Debut author
✔ YA paranormal romance
✔ Set in Vermont
✔ Age-gap in theory, in reality MMC is trapped as a 17yo ghost, hasn’t aged
✔ Human (FMC) x ghost (MMC)
✔ No spice
✔ Less than 300 pages
✔ HEA/Unsure of sequel potential
Review:
I want to start out this review by saying how happy I am that the author, Rachel Moore, is finding success as a writer with a creative writing degree. I remember when I was deciding on my college major, I was spellbound with the idea of going to school for creative writing and making a career out of something I loved to do. I was talked out of it by the elders in my life, and while I understand their reserve, it really does always give me a thrill to see someone accomplishing such a goal.
The Library of Shadows is a debut YA paranormal romance novel by Rachel Moore. Barnes and Nobles shelved this as a paranormal romcom, but after recently finishing My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine, I feel like that one is waaaaay more closely related to romcom territory, so I’m comfortable saying this is paranormal YA romance.
For a debut author, I thought Moore showed a command of tone and pace in her writing. Because being in my late 20s I am undoubtably not the target audience for this story, I won’t comment on the overall tone feeling extraordinarily YA, because it certainly did, but also because I certainly can’t fault it for that. (ie: some dialogue skewed a little cringey, but hey, isn’t young adulthood too?)
This novel was a love letter to libraries everywhere, and I truly felt the author’s passion for this theme. This motif plays a heavy role in the plot itself as well, and I think that made the story all the stronger and more engaging.
A personal gripe: I hate the use of ‘dear’ as a nickname in active dialogue, and it was used waaaaay too many times for my liking.
Definitely give this one a try if you’re looking something light but spooky to kickoff this Fall, although you’ll have to give up the spice for this YA romp!
SPICE: Like 0.25% pepper, basically a small make out session
Trope/Setting Highlights:
✔ Debut author
✔ YA paranormal romance
✔ Set in Vermont
✔ Age-gap in theory, in reality MMC is trapped as a 17yo ghost, hasn’t aged
✔ Human (FMC) x ghost (MMC)
✔ No spice
✔ Less than 300 pages
✔ HEA/Unsure of sequel potential
Review:
I want to start out this review by saying how happy I am that the author, Rachel Moore, is finding success as a writer with a creative writing degree. I remember when I was deciding on my college major, I was spellbound with the idea of going to school for creative writing and making a career out of something I loved to do. I was talked out of it by the elders in my life, and while I understand their reserve, it really does always give me a thrill to see someone accomplishing such a goal.
The Library of Shadows is a debut YA paranormal romance novel by Rachel Moore. Barnes and Nobles shelved this as a paranormal romcom, but after recently finishing My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine, I feel like that one is waaaaay more closely related to romcom territory, so I’m comfortable saying this is paranormal YA romance.
For a debut author, I thought Moore showed a command of tone and pace in her writing. Because being in my late 20s I am undoubtably not the target audience for this story, I won’t comment on the overall tone feeling extraordinarily YA, because it certainly did, but also because I certainly can’t fault it for that. (ie: some dialogue skewed a little cringey, but hey, isn’t young adulthood too?)
This novel was a love letter to libraries everywhere, and I truly felt the author’s passion for this theme. This motif plays a heavy role in the plot itself as well, and I think that made the story all the stronger and more engaging.
A personal gripe: I hate the use of ‘dear’ as a nickname in active dialogue, and it was used waaaaay too many times for my liking.
Definitely give this one a try if you’re looking something light but spooky to kickoff this Fall, although you’ll have to give up the spice for this YA romp!
July 14, 2024
Książka byłaby dla mnie cudowna, gdyby nie wątek romantyczny.
September 28, 2023
imagine having all the answers right in front of you the entire time but you’re too busy being incredibly horny for a ghost to put it together until the very last minute after you’ve let said ghost feel you up
August 22, 2023
Paranormal Rom-Com fans rejoice! Rachel Moore’s gorgeously written, ghost-filled debut was an absolute (spooky) delight, with an intriguing cast of characters and an eerie library shrouded in secrets that dark academia lovers are bound to enjoy.
It follows Este Logano, who is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity (in the form of a scholarship) to attend her late father’s old boarding school, Radcliffe Prep. To finally be able walk the halls, experience the same things and learn all about the person her father was— in an effort to feel closer to his memory.
During orientation however, Este is befriended by the utterly handsome (but definitely a ghost) Mateo and, thanks to his little stunt (stealing a rare and off-limits book) finds herself on the fast track to expulsion—unless she can return the book and finish her sentence as an after hours assistant in the school’s prestigious library.
Except, Este uncovers a chilling mystery involving Radcliffe Prep instead—every ten years a student always disappears. And it seems her father may have stumbled upon this mystery too, leaving clues for Este to discover. But following in her father’s footsteps may just be deadlier than she ever imagined, and if she isn’t careful she’ll be the next to disappear…
I really enjoyed this! I’m a sucker for stories set in libraries (as most book lovers are) so jumped at the chance to read this and, honestly it was soo good.
The writing was utterly engaging and the setting gorgeously atmospheric with secret passageways, ominously shadowy book shelves and a cast of ghostly characters I couldn’t get enough of (Aoife and Mateo being my faves.)
But I loved Este, our protagonist, most of all. Her bookish enthusiasm was really relatable and her guarded, standoffish demeanour really showcased the grief she still feels in the loss of her father (as well being the sole motivation for attending Radcliffe.) Her emotional journey was really satisfying to watch and seeing Este finally build emotional connections and friendships made me feel a little like a proud mum.
I also loved how reminiscent she was of Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday—especially in how stubborn and determined she is in her endeavours. Her initial interactions with perky, ghost obsessed roommate, Poppy also reminded me of Wednesday and Enid’s dynamics which I loved (though Poppy doesn’t have nearly as many scenes as I would’ve liked.)
The romance between Este and her ghostly love interest, Mateo was also surprisingly swoon-worthy considering how rocky some of their initial interactions were —I just wish there was more of a buildup to it as, though their friendship was well paced, their leap into romance felt a teensy bit rushed. That may just be a me problem though, as I’m a huge fan of a slow-burn romance.
There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, though I did sort of guess the identity of the person responsible for the missing students, but the reveal was nevertheless quite shocking.
Overall, a fast paced paranormal YA with autumnal/ dark academia vibes that’s perfect for starting off your spooky reading season in style.
Also, a huge thank you to Harper360YA for the digital arc.
It follows Este Logano, who is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity (in the form of a scholarship) to attend her late father’s old boarding school, Radcliffe Prep. To finally be able walk the halls, experience the same things and learn all about the person her father was— in an effort to feel closer to his memory.
During orientation however, Este is befriended by the utterly handsome (but definitely a ghost) Mateo and, thanks to his little stunt (stealing a rare and off-limits book) finds herself on the fast track to expulsion—unless she can return the book and finish her sentence as an after hours assistant in the school’s prestigious library.
Except, Este uncovers a chilling mystery involving Radcliffe Prep instead—every ten years a student always disappears. And it seems her father may have stumbled upon this mystery too, leaving clues for Este to discover. But following in her father’s footsteps may just be deadlier than she ever imagined, and if she isn’t careful she’ll be the next to disappear…
I really enjoyed this! I’m a sucker for stories set in libraries (as most book lovers are) so jumped at the chance to read this and, honestly it was soo good.
The writing was utterly engaging and the setting gorgeously atmospheric with secret passageways, ominously shadowy book shelves and a cast of ghostly characters I couldn’t get enough of (Aoife and Mateo being my faves.)
But I loved Este, our protagonist, most of all. Her bookish enthusiasm was really relatable and her guarded, standoffish demeanour really showcased the grief she still feels in the loss of her father (as well being the sole motivation for attending Radcliffe.) Her emotional journey was really satisfying to watch and seeing Este finally build emotional connections and friendships made me feel a little like a proud mum.
I also loved how reminiscent she was of Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday—especially in how stubborn and determined she is in her endeavours. Her initial interactions with perky, ghost obsessed roommate, Poppy also reminded me of Wednesday and Enid’s dynamics which I loved (though Poppy doesn’t have nearly as many scenes as I would’ve liked.)
The romance between Este and her ghostly love interest, Mateo was also surprisingly swoon-worthy considering how rocky some of their initial interactions were —I just wish there was more of a buildup to it as, though their friendship was well paced, their leap into romance felt a teensy bit rushed. That may just be a me problem though, as I’m a huge fan of a slow-burn romance.
There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, though I did sort of guess the identity of the person responsible for the missing students, but the reveal was nevertheless quite shocking.
Overall, a fast paced paranormal YA with autumnal/ dark academia vibes that’s perfect for starting off your spooky reading season in style.
Also, a huge thank you to Harper360YA for the digital arc.
September 28, 2023
I’ve been desperate for ghostie romances because it feels like such an under-appreciated genre, so my expectations were admittedly pretty high for “The Library of Shadows”. And, sadly, this book fell short of those expectations for me.
I try to avoid making comparisons between books and other media because I feel like it can be super misleading and is an annoying tactic used by publishers that is definitely misleading, but this is going to be an exception for me. “The Library of Shadows” is literally Netflix’s Wednesday. No, like… seriously. There are so many similarities between that show and this book that it is actually absurd. And, look, I’m not saying this is on purpose, I’m truly, truly not. Books take years to write and develop, and Wednesday still isn’t even a year old. But I would think that maybe the author, the editor, someone would’ve seen the show and been like hmm, this might be a little too close for comfort and make some changes to the book before going to print. I guess not, though😭 At first, the similarities were more fun than anything, but not very far into the book, I feel like if you know how things in Wednesday go down, nothing in this book will be all that surprising in terms of character relationships, plot, or just… anything.
Aside from the Wednesday similarities, I think “The Library of Shadows” just overall suffered from a lack of development, mostly when it comes to the characters. I have to separate these out because I just have so many thoughts…
Este:
Este isn’t a bad main protagonist, but the biggest flaw with her composition is how inconsistent she is, especially in regards to her being fully comfortable being a loner but then suddenly switching to wanting friends/love/family on a moment’s notice throughout the story. I don’t think that this is something that doesn’t entirely make sense, in general, especially when considering Este has reasons for wanting to be on her own, but I think it was kind of just mishandled by the author and came off very stilted. More tell than show, I suppose.
Mateo:
First and foremost, I don’t believe Mateo as a boy from 1917. I guess the supposition could be that this comes from him watching other students throughout the years he’s been a ghost, but Mateo acted and spoke unlike someone you’d expect to act and speak if they were alive in 1917. There was one or two mentions of Este noting how Mateo moves gracefully or something like that, and you could tell this was the author trying to antiquate his character, but it just didn’t work when all his other actions and behavior negated this. Furthermore, the fact that Mateo didn’t act era-appropriate made him calling Este “dear” all the time super awkward and out-of-place. Like Este, Mateo is just kind of inconsistently written, especially when you consider how he starts off in this book as more of a mischievous character and pretty much loses that by not even halfway through with no sense of development to link that change in character.
Everyone else:
Truthfully, I don’t think any of these characters were safe from a lack of development. None of the side characters were that interesting (they were actually kind of annoying) and the circle of Este’s “friends” was a particular waste of time. We definitely needed those characters there to fill the environment given the setting, but I’d rather have seen classroom moments (maybe with Mateo causing havoc while invisible?) to fill that void rather than these awkward attempts at Este having a “friend group” when she was reluctant to even have friends. Again, a sense of development was missing here to make these friendships believable.
Aside from the characters, the romance in this story was also a let-down. I hate, hate, hate to admit when a romance is insta-love, but… yeah, this was insta-love😭 Este was clear from the beginning about how attractive she found Mateo, but then before even halfway through the book, her thoughts suddenly turned to ideas of getting closer to him and shit like that and it was kind of like okay, wait, where is this coming from. Teenage hormones, I guess? But that’s being generous. And, like, yes, we’d been seeing Este and Mateo working together, but this book as a whole was very fast-paced, so their scenes together didn’t really last long and there wasn’t enough of a presence of those key, subtle things happening between them to suggest a reason for them to start falling in love.
Given all this, I suppose the three-star rating should be lower, but honestly, I think this book had a lot of potential and just needed a few more rounds of edits to work out all the development issues. Because other than that, the plot was a good concept, the mechanics of the ghosts and Fades were interesting, and there was some great understated humor throughout! Some more time and attention was just needed to work out the kinks of this book.
I try to avoid making comparisons between books and other media because I feel like it can be super misleading and is an annoying tactic used by publishers that is definitely misleading, but this is going to be an exception for me. “The Library of Shadows” is literally Netflix’s Wednesday. No, like… seriously. There are so many similarities between that show and this book that it is actually absurd. And, look, I’m not saying this is on purpose, I’m truly, truly not. Books take years to write and develop, and Wednesday still isn’t even a year old. But I would think that maybe the author, the editor, someone would’ve seen the show and been like hmm, this might be a little too close for comfort and make some changes to the book before going to print. I guess not, though😭 At first, the similarities were more fun than anything, but not very far into the book, I feel like if you know how things in Wednesday go down, nothing in this book will be all that surprising in terms of character relationships, plot, or just… anything.
Aside from the Wednesday similarities, I think “The Library of Shadows” just overall suffered from a lack of development, mostly when it comes to the characters. I have to separate these out because I just have so many thoughts…
Este:
Este isn’t a bad main protagonist, but the biggest flaw with her composition is how inconsistent she is, especially in regards to her being fully comfortable being a loner but then suddenly switching to wanting friends/love/family on a moment’s notice throughout the story. I don’t think that this is something that doesn’t entirely make sense, in general, especially when considering Este has reasons for wanting to be on her own, but I think it was kind of just mishandled by the author and came off very stilted. More tell than show, I suppose.
Mateo:
First and foremost, I don’t believe Mateo as a boy from 1917. I guess the supposition could be that this comes from him watching other students throughout the years he’s been a ghost, but Mateo acted and spoke unlike someone you’d expect to act and speak if they were alive in 1917. There was one or two mentions of Este noting how Mateo moves gracefully or something like that, and you could tell this was the author trying to antiquate his character, but it just didn’t work when all his other actions and behavior negated this. Furthermore, the fact that Mateo didn’t act era-appropriate made him calling Este “dear” all the time super awkward and out-of-place. Like Este, Mateo is just kind of inconsistently written, especially when you consider how he starts off in this book as more of a mischievous character and pretty much loses that by not even halfway through with no sense of development to link that change in character.
Everyone else:
Truthfully, I don’t think any of these characters were safe from a lack of development. None of the side characters were that interesting (they were actually kind of annoying) and the circle of Este’s “friends” was a particular waste of time. We definitely needed those characters there to fill the environment given the setting, but I’d rather have seen classroom moments (maybe with Mateo causing havoc while invisible?) to fill that void rather than these awkward attempts at Este having a “friend group” when she was reluctant to even have friends. Again, a sense of development was missing here to make these friendships believable.
Aside from the characters, the romance in this story was also a let-down. I hate, hate, hate to admit when a romance is insta-love, but… yeah, this was insta-love😭 Este was clear from the beginning about how attractive she found Mateo, but then before even halfway through the book, her thoughts suddenly turned to ideas of getting closer to him and shit like that and it was kind of like okay, wait, where is this coming from. Teenage hormones, I guess? But that’s being generous. And, like, yes, we’d been seeing Este and Mateo working together, but this book as a whole was very fast-paced, so their scenes together didn’t really last long and there wasn’t enough of a presence of those key, subtle things happening between them to suggest a reason for them to start falling in love.
Given all this, I suppose the three-star rating should be lower, but honestly, I think this book had a lot of potential and just needed a few more rounds of edits to work out all the development issues. Because other than that, the plot was a good concept, the mechanics of the ghosts and Fades were interesting, and there was some great understated humor throughout! Some more time and attention was just needed to work out the kinks of this book.
September 22, 2023
So Este’s high school experience was running around secret passage ways in a haunted library frolicking and falling in love with a ghost boy from the 1910s… and mine was getting bullied with a north face backpack, PINK flare leggings, and boys being mean wearing skinny jeans. I call tradesies with no takesies backsies.
February 27, 2024
Loved this!
February 13, 2024
“Life, too, wasn't the harsh beam of a fluorescent bulb, on or off. It was a dimmer switch, a candlewick burning down to the quick fading and fading away.”
˚₊ · »-♡→ 3.5 stars☆|paranormal mystery romance|14+|infrequent language|♥︎/♡♡♡♡♡
possible minor spoilers ahead
➳ plot
The Library of Shadows takes place at Radcliff Prep, a school said to be one of the most haunted schools in the country. A school where no one dares stay in the library after dark. The main character, Este, who is hoping to learn something about her mysterious father who also attended the school, then meets Mateo, who is a ghost? But Este doesn't believe in ghosts, right? When Mateo frames her for a theft of a rare book she had no involvement in, she's forced to track him down or get expelled. As Este follows in her fathers footsteps she finds out how truly dangerous it is to do so, over the years students have gone missing without a trace. Other's say it's just a myth, or is it? If it's not, and Este isn't careful she could be next.
➳ writing
The writing was alright for the most part, it wasn't boring or choppy. But it had many pop culture references that I wasn't a fan of, and I didn't like how it explicitly said the year it took place. To be honest it didn't give 2027 to me. If the year wasn't said and there wasn't any pop culture references this would've been 4.5 to 5 stars for me, because honestly the story was good.
➳ romance
Este and Mateo were honestly really really cute together. With Mateo being a ghost it made it unique, and I honestly believed that they loved each other. Again it just goes to show that relationships aren't all about the physical things, it's actions and words that give that deep connection between two people.
➳ characters
» Este
She was a decent main character, I almost think this would've benefitted from a dual POV between her and Mateo. I thought her love of books was great! She and I have a few things in common in that way. Her disbelief in the beginning was interesting and it was fun unfolding the mystery along with her.
» Mateo
He was honestly everything I love in a boy character! He was funny, a bit cocky sometimes, and he showed Este how not to be so straight-laced at times. He and his friends were honestly everything. I loved how he interacted with other characters (especially Este) a lot.
➳ overall
Overall this was a fun read! I read it pretty fast because I wanted to know more about the mystery and how it turned out in the end. I really do enjoy a good mystery sometimes, with twists and turns like this one had. Unfortunately I returned this to the library yesterday so I can't add more quotes, but if you like a little but of paranormal elements and a really sweet romance I recommend this!
➳ notable words
» “We're a team now, you and me. You can't expect someone to do all the work for you, but you can't do it all alone either.”
» “Alone carved out a canyon in her chest, deep grooves of a river run dry. She didn’t know how to fill it back up. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to, just for it to empty again.”
» “What are you doing? Trying to summon the dead with the entire Bath and Body works semi-annual sale?”
» “A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell, Logano.”
And my personal favorite:
» “When you love someone, it's like building a library and filling the shelves. It doesn't matter how many years it's been since Austen wrote Emma or Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise. We can still pull them from the bookcases and dive back into the words, the same as they day they were written. All the years and memories are still right there, cataloged inside us.”
if you got all the way down here, thanks for reading!
- 𝓛𝓲𝓿 <33
˚₊ · »-♡→ 3.5 stars☆|paranormal mystery romance|14+|infrequent language|♥︎/♡♡♡♡♡
possible minor spoilers ahead
➳ plot
The Library of Shadows takes place at Radcliff Prep, a school said to be one of the most haunted schools in the country. A school where no one dares stay in the library after dark. The main character, Este, who is hoping to learn something about her mysterious father who also attended the school, then meets Mateo, who is a ghost? But Este doesn't believe in ghosts, right? When Mateo frames her for a theft of a rare book she had no involvement in, she's forced to track him down or get expelled. As Este follows in her fathers footsteps she finds out how truly dangerous it is to do so, over the years students have gone missing without a trace. Other's say it's just a myth, or is it? If it's not, and Este isn't careful she could be next.
➳ writing
The writing was alright for the most part, it wasn't boring or choppy. But it had many pop culture references that I wasn't a fan of, and I didn't like how it explicitly said the year it took place. To be honest it didn't give 2027 to me. If the year wasn't said and there wasn't any pop culture references this would've been 4.5 to 5 stars for me, because honestly the story was good.
➳ romance
Este and Mateo were honestly really really cute together. With Mateo being a ghost it made it unique, and I honestly believed that they loved each other. Again it just goes to show that relationships aren't all about the physical things, it's actions and words that give that deep connection between two people.
➳ characters
» Este
She was a decent main character, I almost think this would've benefitted from a dual POV between her and Mateo. I thought her love of books was great! She and I have a few things in common in that way. Her disbelief in the beginning was interesting and it was fun unfolding the mystery along with her.
» Mateo
He was honestly everything I love in a boy character! He was funny, a bit cocky sometimes, and he showed Este how not to be so straight-laced at times. He and his friends were honestly everything. I loved how he interacted with other characters (especially Este) a lot.
➳ overall
Overall this was a fun read! I read it pretty fast because I wanted to know more about the mystery and how it turned out in the end. I really do enjoy a good mystery sometimes, with twists and turns like this one had. Unfortunately I returned this to the library yesterday so I can't add more quotes, but if you like a little but of paranormal elements and a really sweet romance I recommend this!
➳ notable words
» “We're a team now, you and me. You can't expect someone to do all the work for you, but you can't do it all alone either.”
» “Alone carved out a canyon in her chest, deep grooves of a river run dry. She didn’t know how to fill it back up. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to, just for it to empty again.”
» “What are you doing? Trying to summon the dead with the entire Bath and Body works semi-annual sale?”
» “A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell, Logano.”
And my personal favorite:
» “When you love someone, it's like building a library and filling the shelves. It doesn't matter how many years it's been since Austen wrote Emma or Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise. We can still pull them from the bookcases and dive back into the words, the same as they day they were written. All the years and memories are still right there, cataloged inside us.”
if you got all the way down here, thanks for reading!
- 𝓛𝓲𝓿 <33
July 6, 2024
3,75⭐️
J’ai beaucoup aimé l’ambiance et l’intrigue était intéressante, tout comme les personnages étaient attachants, mais j’avoue avoir trouvé certains passages un peu « brouillon » ? J’aurais du mal à le définir, mais certaines choses m’ont parues un peu faciles, un peu amenées étrangement… ça m’a un peu fait baisser ma note mais ça reste une chouette lecture dans un univers et une ambiance très intéressants et originaux !
J’ai beaucoup aimé l’ambiance et l’intrigue était intéressante, tout comme les personnages étaient attachants, mais j’avoue avoir trouvé certains passages un peu « brouillon » ? J’aurais du mal à le définir, mais certaines choses m’ont parues un peu faciles, un peu amenées étrangement… ça m’a un peu fait baisser ma note mais ça reste une chouette lecture dans un univers et une ambiance très intéressants et originaux !
September 10, 2023
It was marvelous. In a way that I quite enjoyed being in this world. It had such a lovely romance here that just melts my heart. I also loved the characters of this story they were well written as was the story. The ghostly vibes with a dark academia setting was great, I loved it and would read this for fall season.
September 17, 2023
the last paragraph of this book is cute i ate it up
-
3.9 stars.
recommend: only if you don’t think too hard about literally any plot point at all (ANY. AT ALL.) and are just there for the vibes. in my case, brain was empty!
-
3.9 stars.
recommend: only if you don’t think too hard about literally any plot point at all (ANY. AT ALL.) and are just there for the vibes. in my case, brain was empty!
April 4, 2023
If you love Wednesday Addams and Haunting of Bly Manor, with ghost boyfie x reluctant alliance trope? THIS is your book. Please read and thank me later.
Dark academia with ghosts lurking between library shelves and darkened hallways (yes ofc there is a dark stairwell and secret spire too and they were so good). The atmosphere was DIVINE. I love how Rachel string her words together! TLoS was immersive and beautiful, the urge to be a student at Radcliffe Prep is so real.
Este is a strong lead, with resolve and determination and all the heart. Mateo is a dear, must protect at all cost. LOVE both ghost friend gang and PI gang esp Posy (she reminded me of Enid to Este as Wednesday and I just love them). And ofc Shepherd and his slippers!!
Can't talk more bcs spoilers but I LOVE THIS BOOK.
Dark academia with ghosts lurking between library shelves and darkened hallways (yes ofc there is a dark stairwell and secret spire too and they were so good). The atmosphere was DIVINE. I love how Rachel string her words together! TLoS was immersive and beautiful, the urge to be a student at Radcliffe Prep is so real.
Este is a strong lead, with resolve and determination and all the heart. Mateo is a dear, must protect at all cost. LOVE both ghost friend gang and PI gang esp Posy (she reminded me of Enid to Este as Wednesday and I just love them). And ofc Shepherd and his slippers!!
Can't talk more bcs spoilers but I LOVE THIS BOOK.
February 27, 2024
4.5
Yes, yes, very cute, but how will he get a 21st century ID? Does he have access to his old bank account? Does he understand Reddit?
Yes, yes, very cute, but how will he get a 21st century ID? Does he have access to his old bank account? Does he understand Reddit?
August 21, 2023
If you asked for a dark academia book recommendation based on vibes, I'd give you this one.
Este has one wish: to attend Radcliffe Prep, where her father went as a high schooler. Heartbroken after his death, she feels like it is her last chance to connect with her dad from beyond the grave. She doesn't get quite the experience she is hoping for when she is framed for stealing a priceless book on the first day by a handsome ghost, Mateo. As punishment, she has to work the night shift at Radcliffe's library and convince Mateo to give her the book back or be expelled. When she finds out that Mateo has his own reasons for wanting the book, they work together to solve a century-long mystery, where Este's dad is at the heart of it.
The closest we get to a fantasy world in our ordinary lives is New England in the fall. Rachel Moore brought to life every academia nerd's dream. A haunted library, secret passageways, and the joy of being surrounded by books of all shapes and sizes. Without being overly descriptive, the world came to life in a way that made me forget I'm in the hottest state right now.
The mystery in this book wasn't the worst I've read, but I did want more. I think it will still work well with other readers, but the twists were a tad too obvious for my liking. To its credit, the plot wasn't dragged on for the sake of being longer, but I still wish the reveals could have been more alluded to than outright stated. This is definitely more of a personal opinion, as I read a lot of thrillers and mysteries outside of the fantasy genre, which has really shaped how I view mysteries. It was fun and had a decent number of twists, but there will be readers who will connect the pieces quicker the Este.
The romance was cute, even though it strayed into instant love. Este is very protective of her heart, not wanting to get hurt again after her dad's passing. We see this in how she pushes away those who try to be her friends. Mateo was very charming and sweet, and I liked seeing the connection between the two of them. I was hoping for a little more build-up, but considering how short the novel is, I was still satisfied with how the two came together.
All in all, I think this will be a charming little read for all of my fall girlies, and those who dream of having a hot ghost boyfriend.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Este has one wish: to attend Radcliffe Prep, where her father went as a high schooler. Heartbroken after his death, she feels like it is her last chance to connect with her dad from beyond the grave. She doesn't get quite the experience she is hoping for when she is framed for stealing a priceless book on the first day by a handsome ghost, Mateo. As punishment, she has to work the night shift at Radcliffe's library and convince Mateo to give her the book back or be expelled. When she finds out that Mateo has his own reasons for wanting the book, they work together to solve a century-long mystery, where Este's dad is at the heart of it.
The closest we get to a fantasy world in our ordinary lives is New England in the fall. Rachel Moore brought to life every academia nerd's dream. A haunted library, secret passageways, and the joy of being surrounded by books of all shapes and sizes. Without being overly descriptive, the world came to life in a way that made me forget I'm in the hottest state right now.
The mystery in this book wasn't the worst I've read, but I did want more. I think it will still work well with other readers, but the twists were a tad too obvious for my liking. To its credit, the plot wasn't dragged on for the sake of being longer, but I still wish the reveals could have been more alluded to than outright stated. This is definitely more of a personal opinion, as I read a lot of thrillers and mysteries outside of the fantasy genre, which has really shaped how I view mysteries. It was fun and had a decent number of twists, but there will be readers who will connect the pieces quicker the Este.
The romance was cute, even though it strayed into instant love. Este is very protective of her heart, not wanting to get hurt again after her dad's passing. We see this in how she pushes away those who try to be her friends. Mateo was very charming and sweet, and I liked seeing the connection between the two of them. I was hoping for a little more build-up, but considering how short the novel is, I was still satisfied with how the two came together.
All in all, I think this will be a charming little read for all of my fall girlies, and those who dream of having a hot ghost boyfriend.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
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