Scan barcode
robinkristinareads's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a fun romance to read. The main character’s journey of strengthening herself and learning to love was beautiful. Although the book was about a haunted house it wasn’t by any means scary. It was captivating from the start. The banter was both fun and intelligent with all the characters. This book was beautiful and different than most romance reads because it wasn’t just about a girl falling in love with someone but also falling more in love with herself and her strength. READ THIS!!!
cassielaj's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was very cute. Definitely seemed like the author was trying to do a few too many things for a while there — a romance between complex characters with complex histories, a haunted house with more characters, a side quest or two… it made the book feel kind of disjointed a bit, but overall I had a really fun time reading this. I will always love a book with an asexual protagonist, and this one approached asexuality really well. Plus, Rebel steals the show — I love a book with a funny kid!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Grief
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia
This book contains some minorly spooky elements and depictions of anxiety.bibliokayla's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was intrigued by the concept of this book and was quickly hooked on the mystery of Hennessee House.
What kept it from being a 4 or 5 star read for me was that the book was doing so much that I felt it could have been a bit longer to flesh out the backstories of all three main characters (Lucky, Maverick, and, yes, House). I had several questions that I felt were unanswered. That said, Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places was fast-paced and clearly full of compassion and care for said characters and their struggles.
Recommended to:
- fans of The Haunting of Hill House, Monster House, and HGTV viewers
- people who scream "no" when someone goes in the basement in a horror movie
- folks seeking thoughtful asexuality representation in a romance novel
This book will be a great spooky season RomCom for anyone who can wait that long. Perhaps don't read this in the dark by yourself... Or do. 👻
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for the eARC!
What kept it from being a 4 or 5 star read for me was that the book was doing so much that I felt it could have been a bit longer to flesh out the backstories of all three main characters (Lucky, Maverick, and, yes, House). I had several questions that I felt were unanswered. That said, Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places was fast-paced and clearly full of compassion and care for said characters and their struggles.
Recommended to:
- fans of The Haunting of Hill House, Monster House, and HGTV viewers
- people who scream "no" when someone goes in the basement in a horror movie
- folks seeking thoughtful asexuality representation in a romance novel
This book will be a great spooky season RomCom for anyone who can wait that long. Perhaps don't read this in the dark by yourself... Or do. 👻
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley for the eARC!
ssejig's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Lucky Hart is auditioning to be on a reality show. But not just any reality show, one that involves a haunted house. See, she has powers and thinks that she may be able to connect to the house. If chosen, she'll become the caretaker of Hennessee House.
Through her explorations, there's also the people she meets along the way including a man named Maverick and his daughter, Rebel.
The first two-thirds of this book were really great. I enjoyed the character building and the world building. We get to see some characters that really communicate with each other. However, then there's too much going on and Lucky and Maverick stop talking for... reasons (?) in the third act and the whole story just sort of fell apart from there.
queenknight34's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
4.0
I picked this up because the cover was pretty.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The asexual rep was a nice surprise. You could feel the understanding and care with which the characters approached each other. More than a paranormal romance, it felt like a book about finding your place/people and that was definitely worth reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The asexual rep was a nice surprise. You could feel the understanding and care with which the characters approached each other. More than a paranormal romance, it felt like a book about finding your place/people and that was definitely worth reading.
maggersann's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
A cozy haunted house rom-com with fantastic Ace representation!
lberestecki's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
klb77's review
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It was a book. and I finished it.
Unfortunately the primary main character was charming and fun for the first few chapters and immediately stayed VERY one note and became a stagnent insufferable drone.arguably the house itself is the main character, and I thought that was intriguing but I felt myself crafting the house’s story waaaayyyyyy more than the author ever bothered to flesh out
This is not a romance. This also is not a haunted house story. This is not a scary story. This isn’t even a remorseful or reflection centered story. I don’t understand what it actually is… There is insta-attraction and insta-love but then asexuality is used as a cop out to allow the characters a chance to talk about ~relations~ with each other but absolutely nothing else occurs. There wasn’t even clear flirting? or a will-they-won’t-they? I found it all really stupid to be SO honest. Deeply cringey on alllllllll levels and somehow blatantly disregarded consent? what the fuck ????
The tertiary characters were entirely not necessary and exclusively existed to show details of the fmc’s powers that never became relevant to the plot. The side quests that broke the rules of the plot also didn’t add anything to the story- one specificallythe haunted theme park fetch quest would’ve made a great spooky short story but it felt disjointed and awkward in the middle of the story flailing and begging to be developed.
The kid was precious- she had a full grown adult’s vocabulary and sense of humor and was written by someone that doesn’t spend time with that age group- but I enjoyed each scene she was in.
Around 70% I found myself questioning the intentions and morals and trustworthiness of MANY characters because they were so flat and straight up in-characterized. The fmc claims to intuitively understand people yet exclusively ascribes flat emotions and motivations to them without ever bothering to ask or even give a shit about what they envision within themselves. Okay sure that’s “her powers” but it’s also *a lazy plot device* that doesn’t even gain results or characterization payoffs. She might as well have been surrounded by mannequins and been monologuing at them…
The way this book started I was convinced it was a 5 star read and by the end I was forcing myself to get through it. I’m even on a halloween and spooky vibe wavelength rn and I felt the story shoving me out of it with each chapter.
Fundamentally I don’t understand how several scenes were constructed- people move locations without explanation often and chapters/scenes end mid-crucial-conversation. It felt like the audiobook was glitching out. When I could fool myself into believing it was part of the plot and part of the house’s obfuscation I thought it was super cool but that’s a device I made up to cover for the reality of how desperately this needs several more editing passes. This felt like too many stories melded into one yet none of them held any depth at all.
Unfortunately the primary main character was charming and fun for the first few chapters and immediately stayed VERY one note and became a stagnent insufferable drone.
This is not a romance. This also is not a haunted house story. This is not a scary story. This isn’t even a remorseful or reflection centered story. I don’t understand what it actually is… There is insta-attraction and insta-love but then asexuality is used as a cop out to allow the characters a chance to talk about ~relations~ with each other but absolutely nothing else occurs. There wasn’t even clear flirting? or a will-they-won’t-they? I found it all really stupid to be SO honest. Deeply cringey on alllllllll levels and somehow blatantly disregarded consent? what the fuck ????
The tertiary characters were entirely not necessary and exclusively existed to show details of the fmc’s powers that never became relevant to the plot. The side quests that broke the rules of the plot also didn’t add anything to the story- one specifically
The kid was precious- she had a full grown adult’s vocabulary and sense of humor and was written by someone that doesn’t spend time with that age group- but I enjoyed each scene she was in.
Around 70% I found myself questioning the intentions and morals and trustworthiness of MANY characters because they were so flat and straight up in-characterized. The fmc claims to intuitively understand people yet exclusively ascribes flat emotions and motivations to them without ever bothering to ask or even give a shit about what they envision within themselves. Okay sure that’s “her powers” but it’s also *a lazy plot device* that doesn’t even gain results or characterization payoffs. She might as well have been surrounded by mannequins and been monologuing at them…
The way this book started I was convinced it was a 5 star read and by the end I was forcing myself to get through it. I’m even on a halloween and spooky vibe wavelength rn and I felt the story shoving me out of it with each chapter.
Fundamentally I don’t understand how several scenes were constructed- people move locations without explanation often and chapters/scenes end mid-crucial-conversation. It felt like the audiobook was glitching out. When I could fool myself into believing it was part of the plot and part of the house’s obfuscation I thought it was super cool but that’s a device I made up to cover for the reality of how desperately this needs several more editing passes. This felt like too many stories melded into one yet none of them held any depth at all.
radusreads's review
3.75
This is another beautiful cover! This was one where I didn't read the synopsis at all and went on a fun ride. Lucky, a woman with ESP gets hired for a show at a haunted house. It's not haunted by ghosts per se but more sentient. There's a romance between Lucky and Maverick who is a part of the show. It's interesting how the story with the house progressed. The specters were interesting. Loved the whole idea of this. Also appreciated the ace rep. The side characters were entertaining as well.
Thank you berkleyromance for the gifted copies.
Thank you berkleyromance for the gifted copies.
utopiastateofmind's review
3.75
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places delivers haunted houses lite. As the biggest scaredy cat I know, the haunted vibes are there - and definitely eerie - but not "I can't sleep tonight". There's very much the house is alive, but we're approaching it more like misunderstood than actively trying to destroy us. That being said, Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places, it's a story which balances mystery, personal growth and love.
Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places delivers haunted houses lite. As the biggest scaredy cat I know, the haunted vibes are there - and definitely eerie - but not "I can't sleep tonight". There's very much the house is alive, but we're approaching it more like misunderstood than actively trying to destroy us. That being said, Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places, it's a story which balances mystery, personal growth and love.