Does Halloween have you in the mood for some chilling tales but you also need your regular fix of romance? The good news is that there are plenty of books that have both. Whether you prefer your hauntings dark or cozy, you can find a ghostly romance perfect for you.
As an aspiring author with a paranormal romance in the works, I delve into ghost romance books often for research. At least, that's the official reason. It's really just that I love these hauntingly beautiful books! So let's take care of some unfinished business by reading these titles.
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
The Dead Romantics has been at the top of almost every single list of ghost romance books I've come across. Ashley Poston's debut adult novel follows Florence, a ghostwriter who can see ghosts, as she heads back to her hometown for her father's funeral. When the ghost of her new editor appears at the funeral parlor, Florence must manage her grief while helping him with his unresolved business.
The consensus on The Dead Romantics is mostly positive, but there are some readers who were upset with some of Florence's decisions at the end. If you liked the film Just Like Heaven with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo, you will also really enjoy The Dead Romantics.
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Ghosted by Sarah Ready
What happens when you are tired of being single, but can't even talk to a living man? You get yourself a ghost dating coach! Jillian is a successful dating coach for others, but she is hopeless at finding love for herself. Daniel, the ghost haunting Jillian's apartment, believes that if he can help Jillian find love, then he will be able to move on.
Fake dating and practice dates with a ghost are all well and good until Jillian and Daniel start to have real feelings for each other. Can Jillian let Daniel move onto the afterlife when he is her true love? This novel also sounds similar to Just Like Heaven, and it's a great pick for lovers of cozy paranormal romance.
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Ghost Walk by Cassandra Gannon
Ghost Walk is a standalone novel that tells the story of Grace, a forensic investigator, and Jamie, the ghost of a man wrongfully convicted of murder in 1789. Grace does not believe in the supernatural, but she can't deny Jamie's existence. And as her feelings grow, would she want to?
This story has thrills and mystery along with the romance. Grace manages to get into danger while trying to solve the case that got Jamie executed. Even after so many years, there are people who want the dead to stay buried and they don't like Grace poking around. Hopefully, Grace and Jamie can reclaim his innocence before Grace joins him in the afterlife!
The Heidelberg Ghost by Nickie Cochran
Another cozy paranormal romance, The Heidelberg Ghost takes place in an old, German castle. Andrea moves to Germany after getting dumped by her boyfriend, looking for a fresh start. What she finds is an ancient ring that is connected to a ghost.
This ghost believes that whoever finds the ring is meant to be his true love, so Andrea has to try to help him move on while fending off his persistent wooing attempts. But she starts to find that she doesn't want to fight the feelings growing between them. Now she just has to figure out how to manage a relationship with a dead man 400 years older than her.
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Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole (Immortals After Dark #4)
Dark Needs at Night's Edge is part of Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series, but can be read as a standalone. If you want less cozy and more steamy, Gothic vibes, this book is for you. It's a dark romance between a vampire imprisoned in a haunted manor and the phantom ballerina who resides there.
Conrad and Néomi have a paranormal forced proximity romance when Conrad is locked away in Néomi's manor. The good news is that Néomi doesn't have blood, so she's not in physical danger from Conrad. But the lust and overwhelming desire between them could destroy them both.
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Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
If you're looking for an LGBTQ+ romance with ghosts and Latinx representation, Cemetery Boys will leave you completely captivated. Yadriel feels that he must prove himself as a brujo (male witch or sorcerer) and tries to summon the ghost of his cousin. If he can solve his cousin's murder, maybe he will finally receive the love he desperately wants from his family.
Instead of summoning his cousin's spirit, Yadriel summons Julian, the ghost of his former classmate. Julian is not about to let this opportunity go, and convinces Yadriel to help him resolve his unfinished business. But as they spend time together, Yadriel feels the love he was missing from his family and isn't sure he can let Julian go. You will need tissues to accompany the tears that fall as Yadriel and Julian find love that they both thought they didn't deserve.
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Ghostly by Kate Serzenta
Hoping for a contemporary romance where the woman is the ghost? Ghostly is about Gabriel, a lawyer hiding out from a scandal, and Ida the ghost who haunts the house he's hiding out in. Gabriel agrees to help Ida move on so he can have the house to himself, but of course he catches feelings and doesn't want to fulfill his end of the bargain.
Ida is excited that Gabriel can see her, since he's the first in decades to do so. As they work to release her spirit from the house, Ida wonders what it would be like if Gabriel could touch her too. Is there a way to bring Ida back to life?
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Where One Goes by B.N. Toler
Who's up for a love triangle? Where One Goes is a deep, emotional story about Charlotte and twin brothers George and Ike. Charlotte can speak with the dead and has helped many spirits, but it has left her feeling like she has nothing to live for. Ike, a ghost soldier, helps Charlotte off the ledge and toward a better future. In return, Charlotte promises to help Ike cross over to the other side.
Ike's unfinished business is making sure his living twin, George, is able to move forward with his life after grieving Ike's death. Charlotte spends time with both twins and finds herself falling for them both. Should she choose George since he's alive, or is there a way to make it work with Ike?
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Highlander in Her Bed by Allie Mackay
Highlander in Her Bed is a ghost/time travel novel, written by Sue-Ellen Welfonder under the pen name Allie Mackay. Alexander Douglas was not only murdered by the rotten MacDougall clan, but cursed to haunt the bed that was intended to be his marital bed. And, just his luck, but hundreds of years later, Mara McDougall purchases the antique four-poster.
Mara has just inherited a Scottish castle, and works to furnish it with authentic pieces. But she got more than she bargained for when the bed she bought comes with a vengeful ghost. He's sworn vengeance on any who bare the name MacDougall, and the modernization of Mara's surname doesn't seem to be enough difference to change his mind. His heart, however, seems to want to change very easily for the woman who drives him crazy.
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There is enough time before Halloween that you could potentially read all of these ghostly romance novels, if you so choose. And, who knows, maybe one day you'll be reading my paranormal romance for a future Halloween. Until then, let's keep up the research into what makes the perfect ghost love story.