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Haunting Joy #1
Haunting Joy
A soft, sliding kind of sigh wakes me up. It's hardly a noise at all.
I blink to clear my sticky, early-morning vision. I know I heard a sound, an almost human-sounding sigh, coming from the corner of my room. As I slide my gaze that way, a chill slithers over me. My room feels creepy and strange.
I peer into the corner and the white dress is no longer heaped in a haphazard pile on my armchair. It's laid out nice and neat, with the straps up over the back cushion and the skirt spread over the seat. The flip-flops are sitting side by side in front of the chair, toes pointed toward me.
Like there's an empty girl, in an empty dress, looking right at me.
The ghost of Beth sweeps seventeen-year-old Joy into an extraordinary journey to complete some unfinished business...and challenges her to make some dangerous choices. Like calling Joy's high-school crush, Nick, for help.
The Haunting Joy Series
Haunting Joy: Book 1
Haunting Joy: Book 2
Chain Reaction: A Short Story (Prequel to Haunting Joy)
"A sweet and charming ghost story that completely won me over." Lena Coakley, Witchlanders
"Lena Goldfinch has penned a sweet, creative, mystical journey of self-discovery..." MARLEY GIBSON, bestselling author of the Ghost Huntress series
I blink to clear my sticky, early-morning vision. I know I heard a sound, an almost human-sounding sigh, coming from the corner of my room. As I slide my gaze that way, a chill slithers over me. My room feels creepy and strange.
I peer into the corner and the white dress is no longer heaped in a haphazard pile on my armchair. It's laid out nice and neat, with the straps up over the back cushion and the skirt spread over the seat. The flip-flops are sitting side by side in front of the chair, toes pointed toward me.
Like there's an empty girl, in an empty dress, looking right at me.
The ghost of Beth sweeps seventeen-year-old Joy into an extraordinary journey to complete some unfinished business...and challenges her to make some dangerous choices. Like calling Joy's high-school crush, Nick, for help.
The Haunting Joy Series
Haunting Joy: Book 1
Haunting Joy: Book 2
Chain Reaction: A Short Story (Prequel to Haunting Joy)
"A sweet and charming ghost story that completely won me over." Lena Coakley, Witchlanders
"Lena Goldfinch has penned a sweet, creative, mystical journey of self-discovery..." MARLEY GIBSON, bestselling author of the Ghost Huntress series
156 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2013
4 people are currently reading
551 people want to read
About the author
Lena Goldfinch
16 books174 followersLENA GOLDFINCH writes sweet historical Western romance, inspirational romance, and books for teens, books with a taste of "sigh-worthy romance." Lena has been a finalist in several national writing contests, including the RWA Golden Heart and ACFW Genesis contests.
Latest Releases:
CHRISTMAS CAKE KISSES
SWEET BRIAR ROSE
THE BRIDES SERIES:
* THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE
... "This old-fashioned mountain romance is an unexpected treat!"
* SLEIGH BELLS & MISTLETOE
* THE BARTERED BRIDE
* ONLY THE HEART KNOWS
"With unexpectedly fresh characters and twists, the imagination is kept on its toes, even while feeling entirely comfortable with the familiarity of the mail-order bride storyline... A great curl-up-on-a-cold-night read, so go grab a copy for yourself!" (USA TODAY on THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE)
"Danger, magic, romance, and royal intrigue, AIRE is a must read!" (NYT Bestselling Author JESSICA ANDERSEN)
"Looking for something fresh and new to read? Try Lena Goldfinch's AIRE." (USA TODAY)
"SONGSTONE sings with characters who come to life, a story full of magic, heart and adventure, and a world that lets you smell the sea air and feel the tropical sun on your back." (LISA GAIL GREEN, author of THE BINDING STONE)
"SONGSTONE is an original fantasy world inhabited by superstitious tribal nations and intriguingly developed characters." (USA TODAY)
"THE LANGUAGE OF SOULS is the perfect tiny romantic escape." (Tales of Whimsy)
Latest Releases:
CHRISTMAS CAKE KISSES
SWEET BRIAR ROSE
THE BRIDES SERIES:
* THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE
... "This old-fashioned mountain romance is an unexpected treat!"
* SLEIGH BELLS & MISTLETOE
* THE BARTERED BRIDE
* ONLY THE HEART KNOWS
"With unexpectedly fresh characters and twists, the imagination is kept on its toes, even while feeling entirely comfortable with the familiarity of the mail-order bride storyline... A great curl-up-on-a-cold-night read, so go grab a copy for yourself!" (USA TODAY on THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE)
"Danger, magic, romance, and royal intrigue, AIRE is a must read!" (NYT Bestselling Author JESSICA ANDERSEN)
"Looking for something fresh and new to read? Try Lena Goldfinch's AIRE." (USA TODAY)
"SONGSTONE sings with characters who come to life, a story full of magic, heart and adventure, and a world that lets you smell the sea air and feel the tropical sun on your back." (LISA GAIL GREEN, author of THE BINDING STONE)
"SONGSTONE is an original fantasy world inhabited by superstitious tribal nations and intriguingly developed characters." (USA TODAY)
"THE LANGUAGE OF SOULS is the perfect tiny romantic escape." (Tales of Whimsy)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 17, 2018
Haunting Joy (part one) was very good. The ghost story was written well and I found it a fascinating tale. I enjoyed unraveling the mystery of what was going on and the ending was satisfying...although I am eager to read part two and see what will happen next for Nick and Joy. :)
All in all, a great read and I liked how it was clean (no cursing). I recommend this book if you like YA novels and ghost stories.
*I was able to borrow a friend's Kindle copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own, as always.
All in all, a great read and I liked how it was clean (no cursing). I recommend this book if you like YA novels and ghost stories.
*I was able to borrow a friend's Kindle copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own, as always.
July 23, 2014
Thank you to We Love YA Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'll make this short and sweet. I really liked this book. It had elements of mystery and romance to it that made every moment a good reading experience. Yes, it seems like it is a book for a more younger audience considering the voice of the protagonist but anyone can read it and still enjoyed it.
I adored Joy's loyalty and kind personality. I thought she was a bit of a pushover when it came to her best friend but I still liked her. I also liked her romance with Nick :)
I felt sad about the way that Beth died. I actually liked her. But at least she was at peace in the end.
Overall, it was a good book. I will read Haunting Melody in the near future.
I'll make this short and sweet. I really liked this book. It had elements of mystery and romance to it that made every moment a good reading experience. Yes, it seems like it is a book for a more younger audience considering the voice of the protagonist but anyone can read it and still enjoyed it.
I adored Joy's loyalty and kind personality. I thought she was a bit of a pushover when it came to her best friend but I still liked her. I also liked her romance with Nick :)
I felt sad about the way that Beth died. I actually liked her. But at least she was at peace in the end.
Overall, it was a good book. I will read Haunting Melody in the near future.
October 19, 2013
Haunting Joy is a charming paranormal novella that casts a spell on a reader. It seems once you start reading, you can’t seem to stop! In this beautifully written story, Joy discovers that her thrift shop dress is haunted by the spirit of a girl killed in a car accident. In the ensuing journey to find answers, Joy discovers more about herself than she bargained for, and is forever changed by the experience. Even though this is a novella, the characters, story, and world building are very well developed and utterly captivating. I highly recommend this bewitching story.
July 20, 2016
Joy’s new dress has a secret – one with a little supernatural history, one that’s a little more than she expected.
It all starts one ordinary afternoon, as seventeen-year-old Joy tries on some thrift-store clothes her grandmother gave her. The little white dress fits perfectly. Trouble is, now it won’t leave her alone. Soon Joy is swept up in an extraordinary journey to help a ghost complete some unfinished business.
If only that didn’t involve Joy driving through dangerous intersections...
Or calling up her high-school crush, Nick...
Or getting stuck at a cemetery after dark.
Will Joy accept this ghostly challenge to be "more"? And just how far will she go to uncover the truth?
[Summary, as taken from Goodreads.]
---------
Losing someone, feeling loss and feeling lost, and caring - about others, about the world, about yourself. These are just small tidbits you can pick up from Lena Goldfinch's novella, Haunting Joy. The thing is, you're not really looking for these little life lessons as you read the book - any book, for that matter - yet they hit you just the same. You feel them, and you realise their truth. I really like that.
The reason such feelings are so strongly evoked in you is probably because the Goldfinch's book reads almost like a diary. The first person POV, while most people don't think much of it, can be effective when used well. It definitely worked well here. Through Joy, the main character, it's fairly easy to relate to life as a normal teen girl. And really, in her thoughts, feelings and actions, that's exactly what she is - what she exemplifies - a normal girl. The POV used throughout the story just emphasises this, in the best way it knows how.
However, while the story really highlights Joy as a character - showing her thought process and her nuggets of wisdom - it failed to really expound on the relationships in her life - between her mom, her best friend Emily, and her crush Nick. Admittedly, there was a bit more interaction between Joy and her resident haunter to make for a believable relationship to form, albeit a short one. For everyone else though? It seemed as if they just popped up in her life with a set list of personality characteristics - Emily, the ever-supportive best friend; her mom, with a knack for knowing when her daughter's done something not quite right and of boy/s in her daughter's life; and Nick, the popular crush who has a crush on her. How they all got there to play those specific roles, is a mystery we don't quite know. I can't say I like that very much.
On the whole though, it's a quick and light read, perfect for those in their early teens (or those reminiscing them).
---------
Note: Free eBook copy received, courtesy of David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! Group on Goodreads, and the author, Lena Goldfinch, in exchange for this review.
It all starts one ordinary afternoon, as seventeen-year-old Joy tries on some thrift-store clothes her grandmother gave her. The little white dress fits perfectly. Trouble is, now it won’t leave her alone. Soon Joy is swept up in an extraordinary journey to help a ghost complete some unfinished business.
If only that didn’t involve Joy driving through dangerous intersections...
Or calling up her high-school crush, Nick...
Or getting stuck at a cemetery after dark.
Will Joy accept this ghostly challenge to be "more"? And just how far will she go to uncover the truth?
[Summary, as taken from Goodreads.]
---------
Losing someone, feeling loss and feeling lost, and caring - about others, about the world, about yourself. These are just small tidbits you can pick up from Lena Goldfinch's novella, Haunting Joy. The thing is, you're not really looking for these little life lessons as you read the book - any book, for that matter - yet they hit you just the same. You feel them, and you realise their truth. I really like that.
The reason such feelings are so strongly evoked in you is probably because the Goldfinch's book reads almost like a diary. The first person POV, while most people don't think much of it, can be effective when used well. It definitely worked well here. Through Joy, the main character, it's fairly easy to relate to life as a normal teen girl. And really, in her thoughts, feelings and actions, that's exactly what she is - what she exemplifies - a normal girl. The POV used throughout the story just emphasises this, in the best way it knows how.
However, while the story really highlights Joy as a character - showing her thought process and her nuggets of wisdom - it failed to really expound on the relationships in her life - between her mom, her best friend Emily, and her crush Nick. Admittedly, there was a bit more interaction between Joy and her resident haunter to make for a believable relationship to form, albeit a short one. For everyone else though? It seemed as if they just popped up in her life with a set list of personality characteristics - Emily, the ever-supportive best friend; her mom, with a knack for knowing when her daughter's done something not quite right and of boy/s in her daughter's life; and Nick, the popular crush who has a crush on her. How they all got there to play those specific roles, is a mystery we don't quite know. I can't say I like that very much.
On the whole though, it's a quick and light read, perfect for those in their early teens (or those reminiscing them).
---------
Note: Free eBook copy received, courtesy of David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! Group on Goodreads, and the author, Lena Goldfinch, in exchange for this review.
October 16, 2013
Haunting Joy by Lena Goldfinch is a touchingly high-spirited and thoroughly entertaining journey of discovering who we really are in a very unconventional way. We all inwardly desire in one way or another to be more than what we currently are. We long to feel more alive, more valuable, and more significant in order to measure up to those around us who seem to have what we don’t. In our pursuit to become more, we must be careful not to lose ourselves. For in losing our own identity, we lose the very things that we hoped to find – our passion, our heart, and our uniqueness.
Our heroine is taken on a rather unusual journey to learn just how unique she truly is and how alive she can really feel. Her life is turned upside down in the span of one summer, but surprisingly she wouldn’t have it any other way. These extraordinary events bring about some surprisingly good results that she comes to deeply cherish and eagerly embrace. They make her stronger, more confident, and more aware of the world around her. They are transforming her into the person she was always meant to become.
The lessons she learns and the bonds that are forged are ones that are not easily forgotten or ones that she would ever dream of reversing. Her life is much different now, and she is happier and better off as a result. She is growing more comfortable in her own skin, and starting to appreciate the things in her life that she never took notice of before. She is finally discovering who she really is, and just how beautiful and valuable and cherished she always was.
Lena Goldfinch has once again created a story that not only entertains but also touches my heart. She is immensely talented at taking our deepest desires and weaving them into a delightfully bewitching story filled with a promise of hope and fueled by an enduring passion. As always I look forward to reading more from this amazing author.
Our heroine is taken on a rather unusual journey to learn just how unique she truly is and how alive she can really feel. Her life is turned upside down in the span of one summer, but surprisingly she wouldn’t have it any other way. These extraordinary events bring about some surprisingly good results that she comes to deeply cherish and eagerly embrace. They make her stronger, more confident, and more aware of the world around her. They are transforming her into the person she was always meant to become.
The lessons she learns and the bonds that are forged are ones that are not easily forgotten or ones that she would ever dream of reversing. Her life is much different now, and she is happier and better off as a result. She is growing more comfortable in her own skin, and starting to appreciate the things in her life that she never took notice of before. She is finally discovering who she really is, and just how beautiful and valuable and cherished she always was.
Lena Goldfinch has once again created a story that not only entertains but also touches my heart. She is immensely talented at taking our deepest desires and weaving them into a delightfully bewitching story filled with a promise of hope and fueled by an enduring passion. As always I look forward to reading more from this amazing author.
March 18, 2014
Joy was an ordinary teenage girl whose grandmother loved to go to the thrift store for clothes. Joy was going through the latest pile with her best friend, Emily, when one of the dress held her attention. despite not being a girl who was crazy over dresses, she felt an unexplained obsession over the white dress with matching flip-flops and necklace. the next morning, she started to detect a presence in her room, demanding her attention. as eerie as the situation was, curiosity got the better of her and before she knew it, she was driving to places, uncovering the mystery of the ghost haunting her.
i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. i found myself reading more and more books from Lena Goldfinch even since The Language of Souls (2012), which was surprising since there were so many authors out there, it was rare to go back to the same author if it wasn't for some sequels. Haunting Joy (2013) was an absolutely easy read. Joy was such a spontaneous character that made her so much fun to watch, where she stumbled into one thing than another awkwardly yet at the same time, landed her in the perfect spot that favored her. her friendship with Beth, the ghost, was something so eerie yet unexpectedly heartwarming. even her romance with Nick, a guy that she had a crush on that happened to also had a crush on her, was fun to watch. i couldn't help wondering how the second installment would play out after skipping the except for book 2 attached to the end of book 1, knowing that i would be so frustrated with just a tease.
my review: here
i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. i found myself reading more and more books from Lena Goldfinch even since The Language of Souls (2012), which was surprising since there were so many authors out there, it was rare to go back to the same author if it wasn't for some sequels. Haunting Joy (2013) was an absolutely easy read. Joy was such a spontaneous character that made her so much fun to watch, where she stumbled into one thing than another awkwardly yet at the same time, landed her in the perfect spot that favored her. her friendship with Beth, the ghost, was something so eerie yet unexpectedly heartwarming. even her romance with Nick, a guy that she had a crush on that happened to also had a crush on her, was fun to watch. i couldn't help wondering how the second installment would play out after skipping the except for book 2 attached to the end of book 1, knowing that i would be so frustrated with just a tease.
my review: here
January 3, 2014
Great fun read for teens and adults alike!
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
Joy is just your average teenage girl, until the day she receives a bag of thrift store clothes from her grandmother. In the bag she discovers a bag containing a dress, flip flops and a necklace. Suddenly she finds herself a bit obsessed with the dress and feels like it may be haunted. She feels like she needs to discover the story of the dress and see if she can help with whatever unfinished business the ghost may have. Soon her friends and family become concerned for her because she had changed so much and can't get her mind off the ghostly girl. No matter how crazy things become in her life, Joy knows that she must see her quest through to the end.
This was a pretty good story. I liked the characters, especially Joy. She was very tenacious and loving, which you can see with all of her hard work to help a dead girl she never even knew. I was a bit disappointed in how short the story was. I am not a big fan of shorter books/stories. I like my stories with a bit more depth. That being said, for a shorter book this one was very good and completely appropriate for anyone 12 or over.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
Joy is just your average teenage girl, until the day she receives a bag of thrift store clothes from her grandmother. In the bag she discovers a bag containing a dress, flip flops and a necklace. Suddenly she finds herself a bit obsessed with the dress and feels like it may be haunted. She feels like she needs to discover the story of the dress and see if she can help with whatever unfinished business the ghost may have. Soon her friends and family become concerned for her because she had changed so much and can't get her mind off the ghostly girl. No matter how crazy things become in her life, Joy knows that she must see her quest through to the end.
This was a pretty good story. I liked the characters, especially Joy. She was very tenacious and loving, which you can see with all of her hard work to help a dead girl she never even knew. I was a bit disappointed in how short the story was. I am not a big fan of shorter books/stories. I like my stories with a bit more depth. That being said, for a shorter book this one was very good and completely appropriate for anyone 12 or over.
January 2, 2014
You can also find my review on my blog: The Little Book Pixie
*I received this book for free in exchange for a honest review*
Haunting Joy is a paranormal YA book that tells us the story of a young girl that is given a beautiful white dress but she starts to be haunted by the previous owner of the dress.
Pros:
-The concept: I love when stories have haunted personal items.
-The romance: It was not rushed; Nick and Joy are taking their time no need to say I love you in the first book.
-How the author portrayed the characters feelings especially the negative ones was very realistic.
Cons:
-The Haunting: it didn’t feel real; one second Joy had on the dress felt something strange and she just decided the dress was haunted.
-Many characters were useless to the story.
-The Novel lost my interest several times
Overall
This book felt more like a novella than an actual novel; it dragged for me most of the time. Not my favorite book but I would recommended to people who are looking for a fast and easy read
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
*I received this book for free in exchange for a honest review*
Haunting Joy is a paranormal YA book that tells us the story of a young girl that is given a beautiful white dress but she starts to be haunted by the previous owner of the dress.
Pros:
-The concept: I love when stories have haunted personal items.
-The romance: It was not rushed; Nick and Joy are taking their time no need to say I love you in the first book.
-How the author portrayed the characters feelings especially the negative ones was very realistic.
Cons:
-The Haunting: it didn’t feel real; one second Joy had on the dress felt something strange and she just decided the dress was haunted.
-Many characters were useless to the story.
-The Novel lost my interest several times
Overall
This book felt more like a novella than an actual novel; it dragged for me most of the time. Not my favorite book but I would recommended to people who are looking for a fast and easy read
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
July 17, 2014
Firstly I'd like to thank Lena Goldfinch for giving me this book in exchange for a honest review
I will be the first to admit I'm not normally a fan of ghost stories but since I have read most of Lena's other books and enjoyed them I thought why not?.
I am very glad I wasn't deterred from past experiences because Lena has written a lovely fun story and if more ghost books were like this one id be inclined to read them more often.
Can't wait to read haunting melody (book 2) to see more of the blossoming romance of Joy and Nick.
We first meet Joy while she and her friend Emily are going through some thrift store items Joy's grandma has sent her. For some reason she is drawn to the lovely white dress with matching shoes and necklace she finds amongst the clothes, even though she doesn't usually wear dresses. Unknown to Joy at first this dress isn't just a great thrift shop find but is also haunted by its previous owner Beth.
Once Joy realizes this, she is determined to help Beth with whatever it is that's keeping her here even if that means letting the boy she has a crush on think she is crazy.
I will be the first to admit I'm not normally a fan of ghost stories but since I have read most of Lena's other books and enjoyed them I thought why not?.
I am very glad I wasn't deterred from past experiences because Lena has written a lovely fun story and if more ghost books were like this one id be inclined to read them more often.
Can't wait to read haunting melody (book 2) to see more of the blossoming romance of Joy and Nick.
We first meet Joy while she and her friend Emily are going through some thrift store items Joy's grandma has sent her. For some reason she is drawn to the lovely white dress with matching shoes and necklace she finds amongst the clothes, even though she doesn't usually wear dresses. Unknown to Joy at first this dress isn't just a great thrift shop find but is also haunted by its previous owner Beth.
Once Joy realizes this, she is determined to help Beth with whatever it is that's keeping her here even if that means letting the boy she has a crush on think she is crazy.
January 7, 2014
*I was given a free copy of this book in order for an honest review*
This story just was not for me. It was well written but I could not find myself to care about much of what was going on. Certain things, like Joy's reaction to the white dress considering she never believed in ghosts in the first place did not seem credible to me. She accepted the fact that this dress was haunted far too quickly for my liking. I also found that there were scenes, details and characters introduced that did not seem necessary to the plot. It made me struggle even more to get through the story.
However I did like how this story incorporated family and friendship. Also, the perspective as a teenager was written very well. One of my favorite things was the development of the romance aka Nick & Joy's relationship. I found it to be paced perfectly and enjoyed that it developed over time and was not rushed.
Even though this story did not work for me I would recommend it as I do really enjoy Lena Goldfinch's writing style and believe more people should be introduced to her works as well.
This story just was not for me. It was well written but I could not find myself to care about much of what was going on. Certain things, like Joy's reaction to the white dress considering she never believed in ghosts in the first place did not seem credible to me. She accepted the fact that this dress was haunted far too quickly for my liking. I also found that there were scenes, details and characters introduced that did not seem necessary to the plot. It made me struggle even more to get through the story.
However I did like how this story incorporated family and friendship. Also, the perspective as a teenager was written very well. One of my favorite things was the development of the romance aka Nick & Joy's relationship. I found it to be paced perfectly and enjoyed that it developed over time and was not rushed.
Even though this story did not work for me I would recommend it as I do really enjoy Lena Goldfinch's writing style and believe more people should be introduced to her works as well.
October 15, 2013
Haunting Joy is a short paranormal novella by Lena Goldfinch that features one haunted dress. Said dress is haunted by the spirit of a young girl killed in a car crash. Joy must help this spirit by finding out the truth of what happened and helping her family heal. I won’t say any more because I don’t want to spoil the story.
I found this to be a quick and enjoyable read. Joy has the typical teenage issues and also a little bit of romance with a local boy. She must walk a fine line with getting help with her quest and not appearing to be crazy to those around her. Even though this is a novella, the character development and world building were superb and there wasn’t any major slow down in the plot. The writing was (as always with Lena Goldfinch), excellent and easy to follow.
If you’re looking for a quick little story this Halloween with a little bit of YA romance thrown in, give this a try!
Reviewed at http://www.michaelscifan.us
I found this to be a quick and enjoyable read. Joy has the typical teenage issues and also a little bit of romance with a local boy. She must walk a fine line with getting help with her quest and not appearing to be crazy to those around her. Even though this is a novella, the character development and world building were superb and there wasn’t any major slow down in the plot. The writing was (as always with Lena Goldfinch), excellent and easy to follow.
If you’re looking for a quick little story this Halloween with a little bit of YA romance thrown in, give this a try!
Reviewed at http://www.michaelscifan.us
July 18, 2014
Synopsis
Joy often receives clothes from her grandmother. One day she receives a beautiful white dress. Usually Joy doesn't like dresses, but for a reason she doesn't understand she really feels pulled to this one. She just needs to try it on. And whenever she wears it, she has this warm, tingly sensation. And then she finds out why. Her dress used to belong to a girl named Beth. A girl that was in a car accident. A girl that is now dead. And for one reason or another, Beth's ghost is attached to the dress.
I liked this story. I liked the whole there is this dead girl that can't rest in peace until someone finishes an uncomplete task for her thing. But I don't really understand Joy's actions. If I found out one of my dresses was haunted, I would run away screaming and throw the dress away. But no, Joy decides to help the dead girl. That was very brave of her. I think she deserves a gold star. And I liked Nick too :)
Joy often receives clothes from her grandmother. One day she receives a beautiful white dress. Usually Joy doesn't like dresses, but for a reason she doesn't understand she really feels pulled to this one. She just needs to try it on. And whenever she wears it, she has this warm, tingly sensation. And then she finds out why. Her dress used to belong to a girl named Beth. A girl that was in a car accident. A girl that is now dead. And for one reason or another, Beth's ghost is attached to the dress.
I liked this story. I liked the whole there is this dead girl that can't rest in peace until someone finishes an uncomplete task for her thing. But I don't really understand Joy's actions. If I found out one of my dresses was haunted, I would run away screaming and throw the dress away. But no, Joy decides to help the dead girl. That was very brave of her. I think she deserves a gold star. And I liked Nick too :)
November 12, 2013
Joy's gran loves to buy her clothes from thrift stores. From a seemingly innocuous Target bag her gran picks up on an outing, a newish outfit brings the outset of a haunting to Joy's life. Now Joy is determined to help the ghost.
This is a fun and cute tale of a young girl finding her way not only in helping a ghost but in life as well.
The lead characters, Joy and Beth, are the ones with the most definition; however, even the supporting characters have depth and flair adding enjoyment to the story.
Plot and narrative are well focused and defined throughout the tale making it easy to follow.
Overall, a fun read!
This is a fun and cute tale of a young girl finding her way not only in helping a ghost but in life as well.
The lead characters, Joy and Beth, are the ones with the most definition; however, even the supporting characters have depth and flair adding enjoyment to the story.
Plot and narrative are well focused and defined throughout the tale making it easy to follow.
Overall, a fun read!
October 29, 2013
I loved it!! It was a fun little story, nicely balanced and well written.
July 13, 2014
A charming and entertaining novella!! I read it really quickly and particularly enjoyed the developing relationship between Nick and Joy.
December 24, 2013
I loved the concept of this book and I thought it would be interesting to read. And while it was interesting, it left something to be desired. This book was entertaining, although I do with that it was... more. It was super short (about 135 pages) and I feel like there wasn't many details included in the story.
The more I thought about what I wanted to include in the review, the more I realized I was stewing about all the things that I wished would have happened and needed to take a different approach. So here it is!
Characters
Joy - A typical teenager, although I'm not sure what her deal is about constantly freaking out about driving. Or the fact that she's perfectly a-ok with being haunted. Wants it even.
Nick - Joy's boy crush. He seems like a filler character. And Joy's chauffer. Although he seems nice (from the little that we get) he isn't strictly necessary.
Emily - Joy's BFF. I really didn't see a point in having her in the story at all. She constantly babysits and the little glimpses that we get aren't really substantial in any way.
Although the characters were endearing in some ways, I really don't think they were that believable. Also, with the driving freak outs! Although the characters are supposed to be 17-ish, they seem more like middle schoolers to me.
Story
The concept of the story was great and really unusual. I don't think I've seen any books that resemble this one. I really like the concept but the execution leaves something to be desired. There are practically no descriptions of any surroundings besides vague snippets of what's around.
I do like that the author gave places a "feeling." Joy mentions that a place felt homey or that it felt clinical. That I really liked because it gave the feeling of the place and the reader could understand more about where they were.
All in all
Basically it's a sort enjoyable story if you don't get your hopes up too high. It's something you can pick up and put back down and pick up again without any problems. Maybe even something that you can read quickly on a rainy afternoon.
Also, a quick note about the impeccable editing. I'm a little obsessive about that sort of thing and this book (aside from some of the things Joy says in her own voice and grammatically incorrect on purpose) is really well put together. The story flows, is easy to read and follow. And no spelling/grammar mistakes! :)
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and I think I will continue with the series out of pure curiosity.
The more I thought about what I wanted to include in the review, the more I realized I was stewing about all the things that I wished would have happened and needed to take a different approach. So here it is!
Characters
Joy - A typical teenager, although I'm not sure what her deal is about constantly freaking out about driving. Or the fact that she's perfectly a-ok with being haunted. Wants it even.
Nick - Joy's boy crush. He seems like a filler character. And Joy's chauffer. Although he seems nice (from the little that we get) he isn't strictly necessary.
Emily - Joy's BFF. I really didn't see a point in having her in the story at all. She constantly babysits and the little glimpses that we get aren't really substantial in any way.
Although the characters were endearing in some ways, I really don't think they were that believable. Also, with the driving freak outs! Although the characters are supposed to be 17-ish, they seem more like middle schoolers to me.
Story
The concept of the story was great and really unusual. I don't think I've seen any books that resemble this one. I really like the concept but the execution leaves something to be desired. There are practically no descriptions of any surroundings besides vague snippets of what's around.
I do like that the author gave places a "feeling." Joy mentions that a place felt homey or that it felt clinical. That I really liked because it gave the feeling of the place and the reader could understand more about where they were.
All in all
Basically it's a sort enjoyable story if you don't get your hopes up too high. It's something you can pick up and put back down and pick up again without any problems. Maybe even something that you can read quickly on a rainy afternoon.
Also, a quick note about the impeccable editing. I'm a little obsessive about that sort of thing and this book (aside from some of the things Joy says in her own voice and grammatically incorrect on purpose) is really well put together. The story flows, is easy to read and follow. And no spelling/grammar mistakes! :)
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and I think I will continue with the series out of pure curiosity.
December 27, 2013
Haunting Joy by Lena Goldfinch is a touchingly high-spirited and thoroughly entertaining journey of discovering who we really are in a very unconventional way. We all inwardly desire in one way or another to be more than what we currently are. We long to feel more alive, more valuable, and more significant in order to measure up to those around us who seem to have what we don’t. In our pursuit to become more, we must be careful not to lose ourselves. For in losing our own identity, we lose the very things that we hoped to find – our passion, our heart, and our uniqueness.
Our heroine is taken on a rather unusual journey to learn just how unique she truly is and how alive she can really feel. Her life is turned upside down in the span of one summer, but surprisingly she wouldn’t have it any other way. These extraordinary events bring about some surprisingly good results that she comes to deeply cherish and eagerly embrace. They make her stronger, more confident, and more aware of the world around her. They are transforming her into the person she was always meant to become.
The lessons she learns and the bonds that are forged are ones that are not easily forgotten or ones that she would ever dream of reversing. Her life is much different now, and she is happier and better off as a result. She is growing more comfortable in her own skin, and starting to appreciate the things in her life that she never took notice of before. She is finally discovering who she really is, and just how beautiful and valuable and cherished she always was.
Lena Goldfinch has once again created a story that not only entertains but also touches my heart. She is immensely talented at taking our deepest desires and weaving them into a delightfully bewitching story filled with a promise of hope and fueled by an enduring passion. As always I look forward to reading more from this amazing author.
Our heroine is taken on a rather unusual journey to learn just how unique she truly is and how alive she can really feel. Her life is turned upside down in the span of one summer, but surprisingly she wouldn’t have it any other way. These extraordinary events bring about some surprisingly good results that she comes to deeply cherish and eagerly embrace. They make her stronger, more confident, and more aware of the world around her. They are transforming her into the person she was always meant to become.
The lessons she learns and the bonds that are forged are ones that are not easily forgotten or ones that she would ever dream of reversing. Her life is much different now, and she is happier and better off as a result. She is growing more comfortable in her own skin, and starting to appreciate the things in her life that she never took notice of before. She is finally discovering who she really is, and just how beautiful and valuable and cherished she always was.
Lena Goldfinch has once again created a story that not only entertains but also touches my heart. She is immensely talented at taking our deepest desires and weaving them into a delightfully bewitching story filled with a promise of hope and fueled by an enduring passion. As always I look forward to reading more from this amazing author.
November 8, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl. Click on the link to be taken to my blog where you can read about my favorite Halloween memory! :D
I really enjoyed Haunting Joy. Joy is a character who seems like she'd be fun to hang out and get you involved in some shenanigans. :) Once she tries on the white dress she finds in the box of clothes her grandma gave her from various thrift stores, the dress starts to haunt her, causing her to want to find out what happened to the girl it once belonged to. So Joy starts out on what seems to be a wild goose chase.
I couldn't help but cringe at some of the decisions she made because I knew she wasn't thinking clearly and that she was going to get into trouble with her mom. And get herself stuck in a cemetery at night. In the rain. Eep!
I really admired Joy's determination to find out what happened to the girl. She believes that the girl's ghost has "unfinished business" and wants to help her move on. Joy has a good heart with good intentions. Plus she's just so darn funny! Some of the thoughts she has made me laugh out loud.
Overall, Haunting Joy is a novella perfect to read any time of year but especially this time around Halloween. I love Joy and the story, and I recommend this to anyone looking for a light and fun paranormal read with a very likable main character.
I really enjoyed Haunting Joy. Joy is a character who seems like she'd be fun to hang out and get you involved in some shenanigans. :) Once she tries on the white dress she finds in the box of clothes her grandma gave her from various thrift stores, the dress starts to haunt her, causing her to want to find out what happened to the girl it once belonged to. So Joy starts out on what seems to be a wild goose chase.
I couldn't help but cringe at some of the decisions she made because I knew she wasn't thinking clearly and that she was going to get into trouble with her mom. And get herself stuck in a cemetery at night. In the rain. Eep!
I really admired Joy's determination to find out what happened to the girl. She believes that the girl's ghost has "unfinished business" and wants to help her move on. Joy has a good heart with good intentions. Plus she's just so darn funny! Some of the thoughts she has made me laugh out loud.
Overall, Haunting Joy is a novella perfect to read any time of year but especially this time around Halloween. I love Joy and the story, and I recommend this to anyone looking for a light and fun paranormal read with a very likable main character.
March 14, 2014
Haunting Joy is a nice story about a young lady that discovers she is being haunted from the second she makes contact with a dress from an area thrift store. I will admit I had some difficulty getting into the story at the beginning, I think it came down to the fact that Goldfinch was having difficulty developing a voice for Joy, her main character. Initially the character is not dynamic, but once the character does develop everything changes. The story comes to life as Joy embraces the changes that the dress and her ghost bring into her life. Sweet is a perfect description of the characters that Goldfinch has created, almost unrealistically so, I fear. I would love to read more from her, such as the other books spotlighted on the tour, to better connect with her writing style.
The decision to write from the first person perspective is essentially what made the beginning difficult to connect with, this is a perspective that requires a level of skill that not many have. Authors from the greatest to the worst have struggled with the first person point of view, but Goldfinch does connect with it and by the tenth chapter has a solid foundation for Joy and the story line. I am happy to know that she plans to continue the Haunting series and has another book in the works, which I am happy to add to my reading queue.
Actual ranking = 3.5 Crowns
The decision to write from the first person perspective is essentially what made the beginning difficult to connect with, this is a perspective that requires a level of skill that not many have. Authors from the greatest to the worst have struggled with the first person point of view, but Goldfinch does connect with it and by the tenth chapter has a solid foundation for Joy and the story line. I am happy to know that she plans to continue the Haunting series and has another book in the works, which I am happy to add to my reading queue.
Actual ranking = 3.5 Crowns
December 30, 2013
Haunting Joy was a fun read and one which I have to say I really enjoyed. I really liked the premise of the book and I was very interested in the mystery aspect of the story. I knew that I had to read this book, and the story did not disappoint.
Joy was a great character and I felt that the author portrayed very well the voice of a teenager, complete with the worries, insecurities and sense of adventure that come with her age. The romantic aspect of this book was also quite good. There was a very light and humorous feel to this story which really made me enjoy the book even more. The story really had me interested and I was very curious to see how the mystery would unravel.
The only thing that was slightly lacking in this story was the character development and I really did not feel that we got a lot of time to connect with the characters. This is probably due to the fact that this is a very short book.
Overall, I think that this was a well-written and a very entertaining read which I would definitely recommend. I will surely be looking for any future books by this author.
Joy was a great character and I felt that the author portrayed very well the voice of a teenager, complete with the worries, insecurities and sense of adventure that come with her age. The romantic aspect of this book was also quite good. There was a very light and humorous feel to this story which really made me enjoy the book even more. The story really had me interested and I was very curious to see how the mystery would unravel.
The only thing that was slightly lacking in this story was the character development and I really did not feel that we got a lot of time to connect with the characters. This is probably due to the fact that this is a very short book.
Overall, I think that this was a well-written and a very entertaining read which I would definitely recommend. I will surely be looking for any future books by this author.
July 26, 2016
For the most part I'm not usually very interested in ghost stories, but this one sounded intriguing and having enjoyed other books by this author I decided to give it a shot when I was offered the opportunity to review the audiobook version. I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this story! I really liked the main character Joy, even though she was a number of years younger than me I found myself relating to her quite a lot! I also found the whole story very neat, and while yes some parts did seem predictable to me but that did not lessen my enjoyment of the story, I also loved all the random moments of humor scattered throughout! I also loved that even though this was a fun story there was still a real depth and seriousness beneath the surface!
In closing, I really enjoyed this book, highly recommend it and look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series as well as other works by this author!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary audiobook copy in exchange for honest review, which I have done.
All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
In closing, I really enjoyed this book, highly recommend it and look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series as well as other works by this author!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary audiobook copy in exchange for honest review, which I have done.
All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
December 21, 2013
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My Rating
-3.5/5-
A free copy was received in exchange for an honest review.
It's a really good book, It isn't very long less then 150 pages so it was pretty fast to read too. Joy feels like she is being haunted when she gets a new dress. She is and she helps a girl Beth -the girl who is haunting joy and the dress used to belong to- to tie up some loose ends and let everyone know what really happened to her. It was a good little book I liked it.
Even if the characters weren't really in depth and it just focus on this one little point.
Also Joy seems to go a little back and forth with her feelings like she wants to do something but then doesn't. Its not much but its there. Also Joy just excepts that she is being haunted right away. Which I found weird. But honestly other then those few little things it was a really good book I liked it.
I also see that there is a second book coming out next year and I hope to read that and see what that's about!!
My Rating
-3.5/5-
A free copy was received in exchange for an honest review.
It's a really good book, It isn't very long less then 150 pages so it was pretty fast to read too. Joy feels like she is being haunted when she gets a new dress. She is and she helps a girl Beth -the girl who is haunting joy and the dress used to belong to- to tie up some loose ends and let everyone know what really happened to her. It was a good little book I liked it.
Even if the characters weren't really in depth and it just focus on this one little point.
Also Joy seems to go a little back and forth with her feelings like she wants to do something but then doesn't. Its not much but its there. Also Joy just excepts that she is being haunted right away. Which I found weird. But honestly other then those few little things it was a really good book I liked it.
I also see that there is a second book coming out next year and I hope to read that and see what that's about!!
December 17, 2013
Note: I received a free copy of Haunting Joy by Lena Goldfinch in exchange for an honest review.
Well-written and thoughtful ghost story. Joy gets a dress, necklace, and pair of flip flops from a thrift store and it turns out the previous young owner died in a car crash. Joy can feel Beth, the previous owner, haunting the dress and wanting her help. Eerie at points, but not scary. There is also some romance between Joy and Nick, the good looking guy she's had a crush on for so long, as he helps her through her mission. A good deal of the tension comes from Joy not wanting to look to crazy in front of Nick or her other friends as she can't logically explain what's going on. Definitely reminded me of that tv show Ghost Whisperer - kind of sappy and a little weepy.
Thanks very much for the free copy! I enjoyed getting to know the characters.
Well-written and thoughtful ghost story. Joy gets a dress, necklace, and pair of flip flops from a thrift store and it turns out the previous young owner died in a car crash. Joy can feel Beth, the previous owner, haunting the dress and wanting her help. Eerie at points, but not scary. There is also some romance between Joy and Nick, the good looking guy she's had a crush on for so long, as he helps her through her mission. A good deal of the tension comes from Joy not wanting to look to crazy in front of Nick or her other friends as she can't logically explain what's going on. Definitely reminded me of that tv show Ghost Whisperer - kind of sappy and a little weepy.
Thanks very much for the free copy! I enjoyed getting to know the characters.
September 3, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Haunting Joy tells the story of Joy, a high school girl who receives a dress, which is haunted by its previous owner. Joy connects with the spirit and works to figure out why she is tied to the dress.
This is a very fast read and was surprisingly enjoyable. I am a bit older than the target age of this book but it brought me back to my high school days. Joy actually sounded like a teenager, a nice departure from many of the young adult novels out there. The romance is appropriate for the age of the characters and was sweet and innocent.
My main problem with the book was explained to my liking in an appendix in the end.
Very cute novella!
Haunting Joy tells the story of Joy, a high school girl who receives a dress, which is haunted by its previous owner. Joy connects with the spirit and works to figure out why she is tied to the dress.
This is a very fast read and was surprisingly enjoyable. I am a bit older than the target age of this book but it brought me back to my high school days. Joy actually sounded like a teenager, a nice departure from many of the young adult novels out there. The romance is appropriate for the age of the characters and was sweet and innocent.
My main problem with the book was explained to my liking in an appendix in the end.
Very cute novella!
November 1, 2014
This book was a fun read. I liked the overall concept of the story. It’s easy to follow and it’s very interesting.
I liked Joy’s character. She’s easy to relate to. Nick’s character is also likeable. I like the guy and the fact that he and Joy got to hang out made me really happy, because from reading the prequel, Chain Reaction, I knew that there’s definitely something to anticipate regarding their relationship.
I wished I’d seen more of Em’s character though, I think she could have been a great character.
I’ve read the sneak peek of the sequel and I think I’m going to have a great time reading it!
Review also posted on The Bibliophile Confessions
*Copy received from the Author/Publisher in exchange of reviews*
I liked Joy’s character. She’s easy to relate to. Nick’s character is also likeable. I like the guy and the fact that he and Joy got to hang out made me really happy, because from reading the prequel, Chain Reaction, I knew that there’s definitely something to anticipate regarding their relationship.
I wished I’d seen more of Em’s character though, I think she could have been a great character.
I’ve read the sneak peek of the sequel and I think I’m going to have a great time reading it!
Review also posted on The Bibliophile Confessions
*Copy received from the Author/Publisher in exchange of reviews*
August 14, 2016
* I received a free eCopy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review *
I really liked this book. It was a fast read and it kept my attention throughout.
Joy is a normal, average teenager but she wants to be more. Her best friend Emily is always more. Thanks to Beth and her dress she finally gets her opportunity to know what that's like.
I was impressed with the author's ability to capture the personality and attitude of a teenager so accurately. Joy's actions and inner thoughts were believable and well written making her character that much more likeable. The storyline and plot twists were interesting and enjoyable and the characters were great.
Haunting Joy was a hauntingly good read and I look forward to reading the net book in this series.
I really liked this book. It was a fast read and it kept my attention throughout.
Joy is a normal, average teenager but she wants to be more. Her best friend Emily is always more. Thanks to Beth and her dress she finally gets her opportunity to know what that's like.
I was impressed with the author's ability to capture the personality and attitude of a teenager so accurately. Joy's actions and inner thoughts were believable and well written making her character that much more likeable. The storyline and plot twists were interesting and enjoyable and the characters were great.
Haunting Joy was a hauntingly good read and I look forward to reading the net book in this series.
December 19, 2013
This is not normally a book I would read. But decided to give it a shot. it was such a cute book. it is not a page turner, but definitely original and easy to read. it is meant for a young audience. even though it was young and innocent compared to a lot of YA books I read, it was still enjoyable. I just wonder how the storyline of books to come can be more interesting and grab my attention. is every sequel to the book going to be the same?? Joy gets haunted because of a thrift store purchase?? how will this lead to more??? I am willing to read them to find out. if you want an enjoyable quick light hearted read, then this is perfect for you!!
July 20, 2014
Haunting Joy is a sweet paranormal novella that deals with loss & grief. I don't want to spoil it so I will refrain from talking about the plot. While well-written, Haunting Joy could have used more character development, especially since I had met some of the characters from Chain Reaction : A Short Story. Overall, it was a quick enjoyable read.
Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and the We Love YA Books group for giving me the opportunity to read this work
Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and the We Love YA Books group for giving me the opportunity to read this work
November 4, 2013
Haunting Joy is an enchanting story of a young girl, a haunted thrift store dress, and a journey of discovery. Joy is immediately drawn to a white dress she finds in a sack of thrift stores finds given to her by her grandmother. Intrigued by the connection she feels to the dress, she sets out to find out more about the previous owner. Not only does Joy find out more about the dress and its owner, she also makes some interesting discoveries about herself.
I thoroughly enjoyed this YA Light Paranormal story and look forward to reading the next book in this series!
I thoroughly enjoyed this YA Light Paranormal story and look forward to reading the next book in this series!
August 5, 2014
I don't normally go for paranormal fiction... but the premise intrigued me, so I read it. It just was not for me. I was underwhelmed by the ending. There was also a preview for the next book in the series, Haunting Melody
*disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
*disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
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