HOW (NOT) TO RENOVATE A HAUNTED HOUSE by Jenny L. Howe
Fiction, Paranormal, YA, Ghosts, Romance
4****

Blurb: In this spooky, small-town YA romance, an amateur ghost hunter and a supernatural skeptic team up for a haunted home renovation project. But is their relationship the real fixer upper? Amity Callaway is sick of being known as the weird girl. As annoyed as she is that her recently divorced mom just moved them across the country to the tiny, quirky town of Harlow’s Rest, Massachusetts, it could be the fresh start she needs. Until Amity discovers their absolute disaster of a new house is supposedly haunted. Theo Hargrave, amateur ghost hunter and son of the local general contractor, is a true believer. When he shows up on their property with his EMF reader in hand, Amity is ready to debunk all his theories. She’s definitely not staring at the small scar through his eyebrow or his ridiculously soft lips. But even Amity can admit their home renovation is doomed. Nothing is going right, from the paint that refuses to dry to the fixtures that keep coming loose. So Amity and Theo strike a deal—his family’s construction expertise for her help investigating the house’s supernatural secrets. Even scarier than ghosts, though? Amity’s growing feelings for Theo.

THOUGHTS: What a perfect story for this time of year! Ghosts, haunted houses, fall… all the right elements. And good characters that aren’t cutouts of standard teens. This one would be perfect for older teens getting ready to head off to college.

Amity and her mother move to a new town and into a new-to-them house…that turns out to be haunted. Amity already has enough issues with insecurity thanks to bullying, divorce, and more, and now she’s facing living in a haunted house. But it also brings her new friends, especially Theo who accepts her for herself and their friendship turns to romance. One thing I did find a bit hard to accept was Amity’s age – 17. At times, she seemed much younger than that. The side characters – including the squirrel! – were well-crafted and perfect for the story. Overall, an adorable paranormal (ghost-hunting) story with sweet romance, self-acceptance, and more.

Recommended.