Book Review: Ghost Business

By Melissa Amster

Boneyard Key, Florida, is the only home Sophie has ever known. Her love for its supernatural history has flourished into a career, as she guides the one and only ghost tour through the town’s can’t-miss haunted spots. And while her bank account isn’t full by any means, her heart is. Or at least, it was.

But there's a newcomer in town. The son of a Fortune 500 businessman, former theater kid Tristan has grown his tours from a fraternity fundraiser to a multicity ghost tour conglomerate. It’s doing well, but not well enough—if he can’t prove that he’s solidly in the black by the fall, Dad’s going to pull his funding, spelling the end of his career. Boneyard Key, with its haunted reputation, seems like the perfect place to boost his bottom line.

When the two ghost tours clash, Sophie’s expletive-filled rant goes viral, and the rivals strike up a deal. Whoever has the most successful business by summer’s end stays, while the loser must ghost. But the more Tristan comes to appreciate Boneyard Key, the more Sophie comes to appreciate Tristan, and what starts as begrudging respect becomes something spicier. Can they put their feuding businesses aside to make room for a chance at love, or is Boneyard Key too small for two ghost tours? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Last year, I read Haunted Ever After (reviewed here) because I was a big fan of Jen DeLuca's previous novels and wanted to see what she could do with a different type of story. I wasn't really into ghost stories at the time, but this one not only sold me on this new series, but also convinced me to watch Ghosts, which I am in love with now. So I was really excited for the chance to read an advanced copy of the second Boneyard Key novel, Ghost Business!

This novel is just as delightful as the previous one. While it can be read on its own, there are spoilers for Haunted Ever After and you really should read that one first anyway. Also the dedication, which made me laugh out loud, only makes sense if you read the first book. 

I adored Sophie and Tristan and had fun reconnecting with the Boneyard Key locals. It's an enemies-to-lovers rom-com that could have gone the You've Got Mail route, but it didn't. I liked where the story went and found myself laughing and smiling a lot. There's even a nice amount of steam! The business and marketing aspect of the novel was really interesting to me, as well. I hope there will be a third book in this series, as Libby needs her own story. 

Be sure to add this one to your fall TBR for a spooky, swoony, and sexy time!

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)

Movie casting suggestions (most are from HEA):

Sophie: Laura Marano

Tristan: Finn Cole

Cassie: Kayla Wallace

Nick: Sam Corlett

Libby: Hayley Erin

Nan: Lin Shaye

Theo: Chris Mason

Aura: Jillian Rose Reed

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Also by Jen DeLuca: Well Met series

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TW: Hurricane. Death of close relative (off page). Potential loss of business/finances.