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14 Ghost Romance Books & Rom Coms
By: Angela & Melissa
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.The romantic relationships in paranormal romance novels can include vampires or shapeshifters, but rather than including these darker paranormal romance titles, we’ve curated a list that highlights the rom-coms and lighter ghost love story books that we most enjoy.
If romance books set during the spooky season are your jam, you’ll also want to check out our longer list of Halloween Rom Coms that also includes witches, vampires, and werewolves.
We also invite you to join our Halloween Mini-Reading Challenge! The challenge includes three Halloween-themed reading prompts with book recommendation lists for each. Click here to read the challenge details and to download your printable reading tracker and coloring page (or join the challenge using the opt-in box at the bottom of this post).
Romance Books with Ghosts
The Dead Romantics
Book Summary
Florence Day is a romance writer who no longer believes in romance. She has spent her career as the ghostwriter for one of the most well-known romance writers in the industry. But after a recent breakup with a man who took advantage of her trust and destroyed her self-esteem, she no longer believes in love and can’t seem to write about it either.
With a major deadline looming, her career is in serious danger. Then she gets a call from home that shifts her priorities.
She had an unusual, but very happy childhood growing up in a funeral home in a small South Carolina town. However, a controversy when she was a teen caused her to flee for college and never turn back. However, after the phone call, she has no choice but to return home for the first time in a decade.
On her first night back, she finds a ghost standing on the front porch of her family’s funeral home. Florence was already convinced that romance is dead… but this complicates things further.
The Book Girls Say…
Angela downloaded this audiobook on a whim last October because she saw a few recommendations for it right before boarding a cross-country flight. She knew nothing about the plot, and thank goodness, because terms like ‘paranormal romance’ and ‘ghost love story’ would have scared her away. And then she would have missed out on one of her favorite books of the year! She binged the entire book in two days, and couldn’t stop smiling the whole time.
This story is unique and will keep you on your toes. Despite the romance genre getting a bad rap for being predictable, this book is anything but that.
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Happy Medium
Book Summary
Gretchen is a fake spirit medium always happy to provide her services to anyone willing to pay. When her wealthiest client hires her to investigate the unexplained phenomena preventing the sale of a goat farm, she agrees to “cleanse” the property.
She’s under the impression that the farm owner is a kindly old man, but he turns out to be young, attractive, and very skeptical. Charlie is unconvinced that Gretchen can communicate with the dead. In fairness, she’s not convinced of it either… That is until she comes face to face with the very real, very chatty ghost who’s be wreaking havoc at every open house.
The ghost of Everett wants Gretchen to help Charlie avoid the same family curse that’s had him haunting the farm since the 1920s. She has one month to convince Charlie not to sell, but her typical con-woman schtick won’t work on him. She’s going to have to earn his trust.
The Book Girls Say…
We’re looking forward to this funny Halloween romance is from the author of Mrs. Nash’s Ashes.
The Love of My Afterlife
Book Summary
Delphie is recently deceased, having choked on a microwavable burger. Finding herself in the afterlife waiting room wearing her “sparkle and shine” nightie is embarrassing enough to start with, but to make matters worse, she comes face to face with the hottest man she’s ever seen.
He smiles… they chat… there seems to be a spark… But then someone runs in shouting about a huge mistake and sends the dreamy man back down to Earth.
When Delphie is offered an opportunity to return to Earth for 10 days to reconnect with her mystery man, she jumps at the chance to find her possible soulmate. But finding him in a city of millions won’t be easy.
The Book Girls Say…
Some readers find Delphie had to like at first, but her growth throughout the novel is an important part of the story.
The Book of Silver Linings
Book Summary
Constance is a yes-woman. She loans her best friend money, takes on extra responsibilities at work without a raise, and then says yes again when her boyfriend, Hayden, proposes. Outside of work and her relationship, Constance is an active volunteer at the local animal shelter. When she was younger, she planned to be a veterinarian but then switched gears to become a paralegal after her father was convicted of murder.
As Constance plans her wedding, she’s filled with anxiety about the future. She finds a great distraction when she begins researching the history of her antique engagement ring. When she finds the name of a WW1 soldier connected to the ring, she hopes to discover his story. At the library, she uncovers letters written by the long-dead man. She’s so touched that she journals a note back to him confessing her doubts.
When she returns to the library to continue reading, she’s shocked to find a note back from the long-dead man. The letters continue, and soon she’s falling in love with a ghost at the potential expense of her current relationship.
The Book Girls Say…
This is a great pick if you gravitate towards contemporary fiction more than romance. While the romance is important to the story, it’s also a slow-building relationship. Overall, it’s a touching novel with plenty of non-romance themes, including friendship, animal rescue, found friendship, mystery and a historical aspect.
Inheritance
Book Summary
In 1806, a young bride was murdered on her wedding night. As her gold wedding is torn from Astrid’s finger, her last words are a vow to Collin that she’ll never leave him.
In present day, graphic designer Sonya is surprised to learn that her late father had a twin brother that he never knew about. And now the uncle she never knew has left her his grand Victorian home on the coast of Maine. The will, however, stipulates that she must live there for three years.Fresh off of a broken engagement, Sonya decides to seek answers as to why her father and uncle were seperated at birth.
When she arrives at the clifftop home in Maine, the lawyer in charge of executing the will acknowledges that house is haunted… but just a little. Objects move on their own and music plays out of no where, but even more mysterious is a painting by her father that hangs in her uncle’s office. There’s also a portrait of Astrid, whom the lawyer explains is “the first lost bride.”
Sonya has inherited more than a house… she’s also inherited a centuries old curse and a puzzle to solve if she hopes to break it.
The Book Girls Say…
Before picking up this highly-rated book, be warned that it ends with a major cliffhanger. Book 2 in the trilogy, The Mirror, will be released on November 19, 2023, will pick up exactly where book 1 leaves off.
Shake Off The Ghosts
Book Summary
In the Scottish Highlands, the heir of Cavendish House, a medieval Scottish castle, is looking for a house sitter. Corrine thinks taking the job is the perfect opportunity to not only stay on an amazing estate but to be close to her Scottish Skype buddy, Christopher.
However, when she arrives, the castle is a mess. Ivy has taken over the outside. The inside is still filled with the contents of the deceased owner…and he was a hoarder. The mess isn’t the only surprise waiting for Corrine. The house is already inhabited by the handsome, but stubborn, heir named Branson.
Branson doesn’t want Corrine in the house, but he also needs help making the house inhabitable before it’s auctioned off to the highest bidder. He’s desperate to save the castle and keep it in the family. This will be even harder than they expect as it turns out the house is a bit haunted.
The Kindred Spirits Supper Club
Book Summary
Sabrina is not happy to be returning home to the Wisconsin Dells, otherwise known as the Waterpark Capital of the World. But it’s not the town she’s been avoiding. It’s the Monroe family curse. The women in her family can see spirits who need help with unfinished business. The only ghost Sabrina doesn’t mind is Molly, who is bubbly, loves rom coms, and was a great friend to Sabrina throughout her childhood.
Ray is a charming restauranteur who invites Sabrina to his supper club. While it’s not terrible that he’s flirting with her over Brandy Old Fashioneds, she is much more concerned with getting a job than a boyfriend. Although, Ray’s kindness toward rescue dogs and talent in the kitchen are nice bonuses on top of his handsomeness.
Sabrina is still worried about the spirits that follow her, but maybe with Ray, she could find joy.
The Book Girls Say…
Foodie fiction lovers will enjoy the delicious descriptions of food throughout this romance.
Haunted Ever After
Book Summary
In a fight for visitor dollars, Boneyard Key decided long ago to lean into ghost tourism. Nick, the owner of Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, for example, embraces his ghostly roommate.
When all of Cassie’s friends in Orlando started marrying and having kids, she flees the city in search of her own adventure. She buys a flipped historic cottage in Boneyard Key, but quickly discovers taht things aren’t quite right. The outlets don’t work and the magnetic poetry on her fridge spells out unwelcoming messages. Despite all this, she’s charmed by the town and by the grumpy coffee shop owner who slips her free banana bread.
Nick takes her on a ghost tour of town and begins sharing gossip that they don’t tell the tourists. Soon he’s helping her research the former owners of her haunted cottage. Will she be scared away for good?
Ghosted
Book Summary
Hattie’s mom is the stern headmaster at Northanger Abbey High School, which is said to be the most haunted school in the United States. The school leans into the reputation, even offering ghost-hunting scholarships. Hattie used to enjoy ghost hunting with her father, but since he passed away, she no longer believes in ghosts and instead is focused on being an overachiever to get her busy mom’s attention, all while keeping her little brother in line.
When Hattie is partnered with a new student, Kit, to investigate the school’s paranormal activity, she’s ready to prove that ghosts aren’t real. But the more time she spends with Kit, the more she feels like she’s ready to believe in life again.
The Book Girls Say…
Jane Austen fans might recognize the story as a modern, gender-reversed retelling of the classic, Northanger Abbey. While reviewers say this is the cute rom com they expected, it also digs a bit deeper at times and deals with the character’s ongoing grief after the loss of her father.
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Trouble in Mudbug
Book Summary
Scientist Maryse had a rude and manipulative mother-in-law who used her wealth to rule the small town of Mudbug. Maryse thought when Helena passed away, her life would get easier, and she could finally divorce the husband she had been estranged from. Unfortunately, death didn’t slow down Helena, and she’s still now she’s haunting Maryse in a new way.
DEA agent Luc has been sent to investigate why someone would want to kill a sexy scientist named Maryse. As he tries to protect her from harm, keeping his own secrets gets harder as he gets to know the brainy beauty.
The Book Girls Say…
Readers say this cozy mystery kept them entertained, especially the ghost of Helena. But don’t worry, we know this is a rom-com list, and you’ll get romance too! Reviewers range from saying it has light romance all the way to calling it steamy. If you enjoy the town of Mudbug, there are five more books after this one.
Rules for Ghosting
Book Summary
Ezra sees ghosts. And growing up in a funeral home, there were lots of ghosts to see. Ezra is also transgendered, and the ghosts of his judging, disapproving relatives cause him to run as far from the family business as possible.
After his mother announces at Passover seder that she’s running away with the rabbi’s wife, Ezra feels he has no choice but to return home and help save the struggling Friedman Family Memorial Chapel. Even if it means spending his days surrounded by ghosts.
When Ezra develops a crush on Jonathan, a handsome new funeral home volunteer, Ezra is also faced with the ghost of Jonathan’s gone-too-soon husband, Ben.
The Book Girls Say…
This debut novel is not as fluffy as some of the other romances on the list. Readers say it’s a lovely balance of humorous and heartfelt.
Book Summary
Tara is the town psychic – except she’s not really psychic at all. In fact she doesn’t believe in the supernatural at all. But when her elderly aunt had a “ghost problem,” she moved into the guest house to “help.” It would be a good arrangement if not for the grumpy (but hot) guy next door. Ward’s family has been feuding with Tara’s family for centuries over land.
But suddenly, Ward needs a favor. He shows up at Tara’s fortunate-telling book at the town’s fall festival begging her to fake date him until Halloween. In exchange, he agrees to give her aunt the land she wants.
Tara agrees, and soon it seems there’s a force trying to push them together… Spooky calls, phantom cold spots that have her seeking Ward’s warmth, and visions of people who aren’t there that scare her straight into his arms.
She surprised to realize that she might just be falling for Ward… and that her aunt might have a ghost problem after all.
The Book Girls Say…
This 150-page novella is by the author of the 2022 book, Happily Haunted Afters. It’s the perfect quick Halloween rom com read!
The Shop on Royal Street
Book Summary
Fans of mysteries and southern romance will love this ghost story set in New Orleans. Nola has purchased her first fixer-upper, but she has an unexpected problem when the former owners don’t seem ready to leave. Nola didn’t understand her stepmother’s ability to communicate with ghosts, but she knows someone else in town who can.
But she hoped to never see Beau Ryan again. He has a dark past, including the disappearance of his parents and sister during Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, Nola believes he is the only one who can help her solve the mystery of the restless spirits in her house.
The Book Girls Say…
Readers say that while some of the mysteries are tied up in this book, others will make you want to reach for the sequel, The House on Prytania, right away.
The Royal Street series is a spin-off of Karen White’s New York Times bestselling Tradd Street novels.
The Afterlife of Holly Chase
Book Summary
Like Charles Dicken’s Scrooge, seventeen-year-old Holly received a Christmas Eve visit from three ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she’d become. Unlike Scrooge, she was unconvinced, and she did not change her ways. Then, she died.
She’s now stuck working for the top-secret company called Project Scrooge, where she serves as the new Ghost of Christmas Past. Each year she helps the company as they attempt to save another miserly grouch. Despite helping many people, she remains miserable – watching as her family and friends go on living while she stays frozen at seventeen, unable to interact with them. But the Scrooge she’s been assigned to help reform this year may change everything.
The Book Girls Say…
The Afterlife of Holly Chase is the perfect ghost love story to pick up between Halloween and Christmas!
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Join the Halloween Reading Mini Challenge
Calling all Halloween-lovers! We have a free self-paced reading challenge just for you. To make it easy and fun, we include highly-rated book recommendations for each of the Halloween reading prompts.
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