The Dead Romantics

Florence Day is a ghostwriter for a successful romance novelist who has lost her ability to believe in love. After a failed relationship and missed deadline, she returns to her small hometown in South Carolina when her father, the owner of a funeral home, unexpectedly passes away. At the funeral home, Florence encounters the ghost of her new editor, Ben, who died before they could meet in person. As a woman who can see ghosts, Florence must navigate both her grief and her growing connection to Ben while helping her family manage their funeral business. The story blends supernatural elements with contemporary romance, exploring how a woman who writes about love but no longer believes in it confronts her past and present relationships. Set against the backdrop of a family-run funeral home, the narrative balances humor with deeper themes of loss and healing. This novel examines the intersections between love and death, asking questions about second chances and what it means to truly let go. The funeral industry setting provides an unexpected framework for a story about finding hope and rediscovering the possibility of love.

Readers describe The Dead Romantics as a romance that balances grief and humor. Reviews note the unique combination of ghost stories, funeral homes, and publishing industry details. Readers highlighted: - Authentic portrayal of family relationships and loss - Chemistry between main characters - Inside look at romance publishing - Mix of emotional depth and light moments "Perfect balance of heartbreak and hope" appears in multiple reviews "Made me laugh and cry on the same page" - common reader sentiment Common criticisms: - Predictable plot points - Some found the ghost premise too unrealistic - Pacing issues in middle sections - Romance development felt rushed to some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (106,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (15,000+ ratings) StoryGraph: 4.2/5 Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (2,000+ ratings) The book resonates especially with readers who have experienced recent loss, with many citing its healing perspective on grief.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling A romance between a witch and the man she cursed blends supernatural elements with second chances in a story that pairs emotional depth with paranormal circumstances.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick A widow falls in love with the ghost haunting her seaside house, exploring themes of love transcending death and the connection between the living and dead.

Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson A book editor discovers mysterious notes in her manuscript from an unknown reader, leading to a publishing industry romance that unfolds through written exchanges.

Beach Read by Emily Henry Two writers with opposing genres swap writing styles and fall in love while confronting grief and family secrets.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab A woman who cannot be remembered meets a man who can remember her, weaving immortality and love into a story about leaving marks on the world.

🌟 Author Ashley Poston worked as a barista while writing her early novels, similar to her protagonist Florence's coffee shop experience 📚 The book was partially inspired by Poston's own father's funeral home business in South Carolina ⚰️ The novel combines elements of magical realism with the real-world funeral industry practices, drawing from actual mortuary science protocols 💝 The story's premise was conceived during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people were processing grief and loss 🏆 The Dead Romantics won the 2022 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance Novel, beating out several established romance authors