What do you think?
Rate this book
Love at First Fright
In this cosy and spicy paranormal romance, a successful horror author whose novel is being adapted into a movie clashes with the actor cast as the male lead, all in a spooky mansion filled with ghosts, from the author of Best Hex Ever.
Rosemary is a successful horror author with a secret: she can see ghosts. So when the set of her hit novel’s film adaptation turns out to be a haunted countryside manor, she’s unfazed. What she’s less prepared for is the maddeningly handsome, completely miscast actor playing her leading man.
Ellis is a Hollywood heartthrob tired of his action-hero persona. Instead, he dreams of being a serious actor, and having free time to spend gardening with his dog. Landing the lead in a historical horror movie is his chance to start fresh… until he discovers the author tried to have him replaced.
But as filming progresses, and the manor's ghosts make their presence known, the chemistry between Rosemary and Ellis becomes undeniable. With secrets being spilled, sparks flying, and spirits stirring up trouble, can they face their demons and write themselves a happily-ever-after before it's a wrap?
Rosemary is a successful horror author with a secret: she can see ghosts. So when the set of her hit novel’s film adaptation turns out to be a haunted countryside manor, she’s unfazed. What she’s less prepared for is the maddeningly handsome, completely miscast actor playing her leading man.
Ellis is a Hollywood heartthrob tired of his action-hero persona. Instead, he dreams of being a serious actor, and having free time to spend gardening with his dog. Landing the lead in a historical horror movie is his chance to start fresh… until he discovers the author tried to have him replaced.
But as filming progresses, and the manor's ghosts make their presence known, the chemistry between Rosemary and Ellis becomes undeniable. With secrets being spilled, sparks flying, and spirits stirring up trouble, can they face their demons and write themselves a happily-ever-after before it's a wrap?
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2025
166 people are currently reading
24592 people want to read
About the author
Nadia El-Fassi
4 books480 followersNadia El-Fassi is a half-Moroccan, half-Australian author of spicy romance and fantasy. She has an addiction to iced coffee, period dramas, buying D&D dice and watching horror movies. They live in London with their husband and perfectly round cat. Best Hex Ever is her debut novel. You can find them on Instagram @nadiaelfassiauthor
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 794 reviews
July 21, 2025
“I can’t sleep so I'm watching crimson peak” are you trying to romance me?
When you’re a horror author who’s movie is being adapted and the primary actor for the part is just WRONG but also the set is being haunted by a pair of ghosts from the regency wreaking havoc with their unhinged lesbian-yearning-for-what-can-never-be vibes. Guys Nadia El-Fassi simply never misses and her sophomore novel is written for the chaos demons and bisexuals in mind. As a representation and a purveyor of both, Love At First Fright was inherently a Robin classic and a romance sensation from its very first moments. Love At First Fright is the epitome of what a modern romance should be with a healthy dose of the paranormal and hate to love on a gothic horror movie set where the ghosts are real and so are the feelings. Horror writer Rosemary Shaw hates her adaptation's film lead, suave action star Ellis Finch, who is just a little burnt out and hoping playing a sickly Victorian man in a gothic horror film is the cure. Spoiler alert it’s that and romancing a talented horror writer. Love At First Fright finds romance in the unlikeliest of places, like telling someone you watched Crimson Peak when they mentioned it one time, debating Jane Austen’s best work, and helping the two regency lesbian ghosts move past their internalized homophobia and find peace. Nadia El-Fassi’s sophomore novel reasserts her immense talent for grounded, meaningful modern love stories. Call me a ghost lover because I want to be haunted by this novel for all eternity.
Read my review
also there’s something so funny about the regency lesbian ghosts being exposed to bridgerton (i need a oneshot of this please)
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
When you’re a horror author who’s movie is being adapted and the primary actor for the part is just WRONG but also the set is being haunted by a pair of ghosts from the regency wreaking havoc with their unhinged lesbian-yearning-for-what-can-never-be vibes. Guys Nadia El-Fassi simply never misses and her sophomore novel is written for the chaos demons and bisexuals in mind. As a representation and a purveyor of both, Love At First Fright was inherently a Robin classic and a romance sensation from its very first moments. Love At First Fright is the epitome of what a modern romance should be with a healthy dose of the paranormal and hate to love on a gothic horror movie set where the ghosts are real and so are the feelings. Horror writer Rosemary Shaw hates her adaptation's film lead, suave action star Ellis Finch, who is just a little burnt out and hoping playing a sickly Victorian man in a gothic horror film is the cure. Spoiler alert it’s that and romancing a talented horror writer. Love At First Fright finds romance in the unlikeliest of places, like telling someone you watched Crimson Peak when they mentioned it one time, debating Jane Austen’s best work, and helping the two regency lesbian ghosts move past their internalized homophobia and find peace. Nadia El-Fassi’s sophomore novel reasserts her immense talent for grounded, meaningful modern love stories. Call me a ghost lover because I want to be haunted by this novel for all eternity.
Read my review
also there’s something so funny about the regency lesbian ghosts being exposed to bridgerton (i need a oneshot of this please)
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
December 21, 2025
a favorite read of 2025🩵
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
whewwww five steamyyy stars!! i knew i would love this book after loving el-fassi’s debut, but i thought it would be cute and cozy like the first one, not… super sexy but also really emotionally mature?!?!
where do i even start with what i love about this book? because even the multiple subplots (which were so seamlessly written into the plot) were absolutely phenomenal!!
i loved ellis as an mmc — he was a dream mmc; he was respectful towards women, secure in his masculinity, and was a loving pet-dad towards his dog(s). most importantly?? he was emotionally mature. nothing is sexier than an mmc that knows what he wants and knows how to behave.
not to mention, THIS was the age gap romance i wanted from daddy issues… the age gap was over ten years and yet both people in the relationship were on equal footing — no one was more powerful or controlling than the other, expect for where it was explicitly desired and boyyy … it was desired 😏
one of the subplots had me in absolute tears, but i won’t spoil it because despite being a subplot, it’s a pretty big part of the book and character development.
i also listened to the audiobook, and my onlyyy gripe was that ellis’ narrator was so monotonous ):
overall?? infinite stars!
——
my next cutie romcom!🎃💞 i loved the first book in this series so i’m excited to dive into this one!
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
whewwww five steamyyy stars!! i knew i would love this book after loving el-fassi’s debut, but i thought it would be cute and cozy like the first one, not… super sexy but also really emotionally mature?!?!
where do i even start with what i love about this book? because even the multiple subplots (which were so seamlessly written into the plot) were absolutely phenomenal!!
i loved ellis as an mmc — he was a dream mmc; he was respectful towards women, secure in his masculinity, and was a loving pet-dad towards his dog(s). most importantly?? he was emotionally mature. nothing is sexier than an mmc that knows what he wants and knows how to behave.
not to mention, THIS was the age gap romance i wanted from daddy issues… the age gap was over ten years and yet both people in the relationship were on equal footing — no one was more powerful or controlling than the other, expect for where it was explicitly desired and boyyy … it was desired 😏
one of the subplots had me in absolute tears, but i won’t spoil it because despite being a subplot, it’s a pretty big part of the book and character development.
i also listened to the audiobook, and my onlyyy gripe was that ellis’ narrator was so monotonous ):
overall?? infinite stars!
——
my next cutie romcom!🎃💞 i loved the first book in this series so i’m excited to dive into this one!
October 12, 2025
Nadia El-Fassi is proving to be a masterful author of romance that not only has you falling for the main characters, but just about every side plot involved.
Love at First Fright is a story of many layers. While on the surface a story of author-meets-actor, you see Rosemary move through a world containing ghosts and their stories, or Ellis’ inner turmoil about his place in the film industry. You see people struggle with their identities, or a touch on grief that is fleeting but impactful. This story is one that had me kicking my feet giggling one minute, and crying the next.
Invested in Rosemary and Ellis would be an understatement - I NEEDED them to live happily ever after. A whirlwind it may have been, but their romance felt inevitable, and is a story I’ll come back to when I need comfort to guide me.
I knew I would love this book, but it’s easily secured a place as a new favourite of mine.
Love at First Fright is a story of many layers. While on the surface a story of author-meets-actor, you see Rosemary move through a world containing ghosts and their stories, or Ellis’ inner turmoil about his place in the film industry. You see people struggle with their identities, or a touch on grief that is fleeting but impactful. This story is one that had me kicking my feet giggling one minute, and crying the next.
Invested in Rosemary and Ellis would be an understatement - I NEEDED them to live happily ever after. A whirlwind it may have been, but their romance felt inevitable, and is a story I’ll come back to when I need comfort to guide me.
I knew I would love this book, but it’s easily secured a place as a new favourite of mine.
September 11, 2025
4 / 5 Stars
Sometimes I rate books based on how hard it is to put down and I flew through this book because I couldn’t put it down. Did I have some quibbles? Yes. Did I enjoy it nonetheless? Also yes. “Love at First Fright” is the second in a series but can definitely be read as a standalone. Rosemary is a historic horror writer who can see ghosts (very handy for her job) and her book is being turned into a movie (she is also the screenwriter and exec producer - fancy!). Ellis is the older, British movie star who usually acts in big action movies so Rosemary is wondering why is this Jason Statham knockoff in this movie when it should be someone who looks feeble and Victorian? It definitely doesn’t help their dynamic when Ellis finds out that Rosemary tried to get him kicked off of the movie. But first impressions are just that as Rosemary and Ellis realize that there is a deep attraction between them and maybe they also may line up perfectly with their kink preferences. Cue a movie set, some roaming ghosts, and lots of spice.
You will probably like this book if you like:
👻 Paranormal romance
🎬 She sees ghosts
👻 Bisexual rep for MCs and LGBTQ+ rep for other characters
🎬 Age gap (29F/41M)
👻 Dislike to love
🎬 Dom/sub kink (airing on the side of a soft dom)
I really wasn’t sure what I was getting into with a cozy paranormal romance with a BDSM twist and my brain was not sure how those pieces would fit together because I have never really read anything with those tropes together before (have read them separately before though). I was perhaps close-minded and thought they’d be incongruous. That’s on me. Characters can contain multitudes. I think the percentage of each (cozy, paranormal, kink) really shifted depending on how far along in the book you were (way more cozy and paranormal in the beginning, more kink in the middle, less cozy and more paranormal and relationship in the end). And I can see why some folks might find it jarring to go from a verbose, beautiful description of a Victorian manor to exploration of BDSM, but I ended up just going along for the ride and having a good time.
This has an enemies to lovers or dislike to love vibe but it lasted the exact right amount of time for me. I like when they dislike each for a bit to build some tension but then transition early into exploring and building their relationship. If you are looking for a true enemies to lovers, this ain’t it but if you’re like me, you may love it.
I really enjoyed Ellis and Rosemary together and thought that they were well balanced for each other. They were opposites but not in a way that made it hard to believe that they would actually end up together. I thought Ellis had a little bit more of an interesting backstory but they both were well crafted. And they generally communicated well regardless of their insecurities and big feelings! What a treat. The spice was fun too and their communication about their preferences was well done.
I devoured the book because I had to know what would happen to them and what the third act conflict would be. It came up pretty late and was resolved pretty quickly but I think it worked because they had established that Ellis and Rosemary generally had a track record of functioning well as a couple.
I will say that I am not sure that Rosemary’s ghost seeing abilities were necessary. I know. I’m a fun ruiner. BUT, in books like “The Dead Romantics,” seeing ghosts is crucial to the storyline and it just didn’t feel crucial here. I get that it is a series with magical and paranormal aspects but beyond it being cool that she could see ghosts, I feel like the story would have worked perfectly well as a story about a horror writer and actor minus any ghost seeing abilities.
All in all, I ate this up and loved being able to read something that I don’t usually read. It was a nice sampling of a cuisine I had never tried.
Thank you Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: September 16, 2025
__________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I’m just trying to read books that feel new and different to me and this one is a cozy, paranormal romance mixed with some BDSM so why not?
Sometimes I rate books based on how hard it is to put down and I flew through this book because I couldn’t put it down. Did I have some quibbles? Yes. Did I enjoy it nonetheless? Also yes. “Love at First Fright” is the second in a series but can definitely be read as a standalone. Rosemary is a historic horror writer who can see ghosts (very handy for her job) and her book is being turned into a movie (she is also the screenwriter and exec producer - fancy!). Ellis is the older, British movie star who usually acts in big action movies so Rosemary is wondering why is this Jason Statham knockoff in this movie when it should be someone who looks feeble and Victorian? It definitely doesn’t help their dynamic when Ellis finds out that Rosemary tried to get him kicked off of the movie. But first impressions are just that as Rosemary and Ellis realize that there is a deep attraction between them and maybe they also may line up perfectly with their kink preferences. Cue a movie set, some roaming ghosts, and lots of spice.
You will probably like this book if you like:
👻 Paranormal romance
🎬 She sees ghosts
👻 Bisexual rep for MCs and LGBTQ+ rep for other characters
🎬 Age gap (29F/41M)
👻 Dislike to love
🎬 Dom/sub kink (airing on the side of a soft dom)
I really wasn’t sure what I was getting into with a cozy paranormal romance with a BDSM twist and my brain was not sure how those pieces would fit together because I have never really read anything with those tropes together before (have read them separately before though). I was perhaps close-minded and thought they’d be incongruous. That’s on me. Characters can contain multitudes. I think the percentage of each (cozy, paranormal, kink) really shifted depending on how far along in the book you were (way more cozy and paranormal in the beginning, more kink in the middle, less cozy and more paranormal and relationship in the end). And I can see why some folks might find it jarring to go from a verbose, beautiful description of a Victorian manor to exploration of BDSM, but I ended up just going along for the ride and having a good time.
This has an enemies to lovers or dislike to love vibe but it lasted the exact right amount of time for me. I like when they dislike each for a bit to build some tension but then transition early into exploring and building their relationship. If you are looking for a true enemies to lovers, this ain’t it but if you’re like me, you may love it.
I really enjoyed Ellis and Rosemary together and thought that they were well balanced for each other. They were opposites but not in a way that made it hard to believe that they would actually end up together. I thought Ellis had a little bit more of an interesting backstory but they both were well crafted. And they generally communicated well regardless of their insecurities and big feelings! What a treat. The spice was fun too and their communication about their preferences was well done.
I devoured the book because I had to know what would happen to them and what the third act conflict would be. It came up pretty late and was resolved pretty quickly but I think it worked because they had established that Ellis and Rosemary generally had a track record of functioning well as a couple.
I will say that I am not sure that Rosemary’s ghost seeing abilities were necessary. I know. I’m a fun ruiner. BUT, in books like “The Dead Romantics,” seeing ghosts is crucial to the storyline and it just didn’t feel crucial here. I get that it is a series with magical and paranormal aspects but beyond it being cool that she could see ghosts, I feel like the story would have worked perfectly well as a story about a horror writer and actor minus any ghost seeing abilities.
All in all, I ate this up and loved being able to read something that I don’t usually read. It was a nice sampling of a cuisine I had never tried.
Thank you Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: September 16, 2025
__________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I’m just trying to read books that feel new and different to me and this one is a cozy, paranormal romance mixed with some BDSM so why not?
September 10, 2025
Love At First Fright is a sweet and cozy romance following Rosemary, a well known horror author who can see the dead, and Ellis, the lead actor in Rosemary's upcoming book adaption. This was such a unique and swoony romance! I loved Ellis and Rosemary together, the two were so kind and understanding to each other. While their relationship progressed very fast, the whirlwind romance felt right for them and their obvious connection. I loved that they had so much chemistry and got to explore that through intimacy and all the time they spent together while on set. Beyond the romance, I appreciated how Rosemary's mediumship came into play during the story, and we got to explore the different facets of her experiences with ghosts. The magic and paranormal moments were the perfect balance to the otherwise simple plot and emotional topics. If you’re looking for a cozy fall read, this romance has all the whimsical vibes, with just the right touch of steam and paranormal charm!
Read if you like:
👻Age Gap👻
👻Queer Rep👻
👻Forced Proximity👻
👻Dual POV👻
👻Power Play👻
~Many thanks to Dell for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Read if you like:
👻Age Gap👻
👻Queer Rep👻
👻Forced Proximity👻
👻Dual POV👻
👻Power Play👻
~Many thanks to Dell for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
September 8, 2025
3.5★
this was an ok read, definitely a light-ish PNR that handles grief and being closeted.
I was hoping for more of the paranormal elements tbh, and I felt like there was a lot going on.
I would’ve liked to see more tension and conflict between them from the set up of Ellis not being the ideal casting for Rosemary’s book like at all. she gets over it pretty fast and it’s kinda instalove within the first quarter of the story.
I felt like the dom/sub dynamic is a bit overblown as well. it felt basically vanilla except he tells her when to get naked and what position to get in. There was also a bit of Ellis worrying about the fact he’s dominant and thinking it’s so weird when that’s honestly incredibly normalized in straight romance / dating culture. Make the bisexual man a switch!
That being said, my fav part was the pet storyline and got a little teared up from it. And there’s a bunch of casual side LGBTQ rep even besides the mc’s.
Overall, it’s mostly fluffy, fall vibes, I just had some nit picking as a seasoned & particular reader but I think plenty of readers will enjoy this.
an honest arc review ♡
this was an ok read, definitely a light-ish PNR that handles grief and being closeted.
I was hoping for more of the paranormal elements tbh, and I felt like there was a lot going on.
I would’ve liked to see more tension and conflict between them from the set up of Ellis not being the ideal casting for Rosemary’s book like at all. she gets over it pretty fast and it’s kinda instalove within the first quarter of the story.
I felt like the dom/sub dynamic is a bit overblown as well. it felt basically vanilla except he tells her when to get naked and what position to get in. There was also a bit of Ellis worrying about the fact he’s dominant and thinking it’s so weird when that’s honestly incredibly normalized in straight romance / dating culture. Make the bisexual man a switch!
That being said, my fav part was the pet storyline and got a little teared up from it. And there’s a bunch of casual side LGBTQ rep even besides the mc’s.
Overall, it’s mostly fluffy, fall vibes, I just had some nit picking as a seasoned & particular reader but I think plenty of readers will enjoy this.
an honest arc review ♡
August 25, 2025
2 Stars
This one just didn’t work for me. It started off as a cozy, lighthearted romance, which I was enjoying, but then it veered into a dark dom/sub storyline that felt completely out of place with the otherwise fluffy tone. The ghost whisperer element was fun and had a lot of potential, but there wasn’t nearly enough of it to keep me hooked. I also felt the inclusivity angle was pushed a little too hard, with added dialects and details that didn’t feel necessary to the story. Overall, it had some interesting ideas, but the mix of tones didn’t blend well and left me feeling disconnected.
This one just didn’t work for me. It started off as a cozy, lighthearted romance, which I was enjoying, but then it veered into a dark dom/sub storyline that felt completely out of place with the otherwise fluffy tone. The ghost whisperer element was fun and had a lot of potential, but there wasn’t nearly enough of it to keep me hooked. I also felt the inclusivity angle was pushed a little too hard, with added dialects and details that didn’t feel necessary to the story. Overall, it had some interesting ideas, but the mix of tones didn’t blend well and left me feeling disconnected.
October 28, 2025
This book grabbed me by the neck and said TSIDDAHN 🏃🏻♀️💨💨💨
What a pleasant surprise lol 🤭 Love at First Fright is so very romance lover coded so if you love to read romance specifically, I fear this might be a must read! The audiobook?! Mhmm yeah that was fabulous (thank to PRH Audio for my free ALC 🫶🏻)
I loved these characters’ emotional connection. I think theirs is one of the most wholesome (but still hot 🥵) I’ve read and I adored the way they showed their care and intention towards each other. Also, the support towards one another in their respective callings is exactly what every partner deserves and we love to see love across the spectrum celebrated.
The paranormal aspect to this has a vibe that was a pleasant nod to Ashley Poston’s poignant storytelling but with a bit more romcom joviality to it. I genuinely had such a fun time listening to this book and think it’s absolutely perfect for anyone’s spooky tbr 👻
What a pleasant surprise lol 🤭 Love at First Fright is so very romance lover coded so if you love to read romance specifically, I fear this might be a must read! The audiobook?! Mhmm yeah that was fabulous (thank to PRH Audio for my free ALC 🫶🏻)
I loved these characters’ emotional connection. I think theirs is one of the most wholesome (but still hot 🥵) I’ve read and I adored the way they showed their care and intention towards each other. Also, the support towards one another in their respective callings is exactly what every partner deserves and we love to see love across the spectrum celebrated.
The paranormal aspect to this has a vibe that was a pleasant nod to Ashley Poston’s poignant storytelling but with a bit more romcom joviality to it. I genuinely had such a fun time listening to this book and think it’s absolutely perfect for anyone’s spooky tbr 👻
June 3, 2025
The blurb of this book caught my attention and I was really hoping this would be a romance book I would enjoy. A movie adaptation taking place at an old manor with ghosts? Sorry to say this book missed the mark for me.
I was really hoping this book was going to be more of a rom com with relationship buildup, banter and tension especially with the enemies to lovers clearly marketed in the blurb, but the book quickly centers around the d/s sexual dynamic and there was a LOT of spice. I felt like this was more erotica than romance/rom com. The relationship dynamic was really lacking and it’s one of those situations that makes you want to believe that numerous sexual encounters leads to them being in love, but you can’t get behind it because there really was no buildup. I got no warm, fuzzy feelings for these characters and I found them both bland and boring.
I also thought the Fmc was immature for hating Ellis simply for the fact his casting was not what she had in mind as her book character. Like girl you’re thirty, please act your age and be professional.
I loved the sapphic representation in this book with the two female ghosts in this book, but I wanted more ghosts and more of a haunting vibe while they were all on set for the movie filming.
Spice lovers will love this one, more rom com leaning readers may want to skip this one.
2 stars
I was really hoping this book was going to be more of a rom com with relationship buildup, banter and tension especially with the enemies to lovers clearly marketed in the blurb, but the book quickly centers around the d/s sexual dynamic and there was a LOT of spice. I felt like this was more erotica than romance/rom com. The relationship dynamic was really lacking and it’s one of those situations that makes you want to believe that numerous sexual encounters leads to them being in love, but you can’t get behind it because there really was no buildup. I got no warm, fuzzy feelings for these characters and I found them both bland and boring.
I also thought the Fmc was immature for hating Ellis simply for the fact his casting was not what she had in mind as her book character. Like girl you’re thirty, please act your age and be professional.
I loved the sapphic representation in this book with the two female ghosts in this book, but I wanted more ghosts and more of a haunting vibe while they were all on set for the movie filming.
Spice lovers will love this one, more rom com leaning readers may want to skip this one.
2 stars
August 30, 2025
3.25⭐️
First off, thank you to Net Galley, Ballantine and Nadia El-Fassi for the eARC!
Love at First Fright was such a whimsical, fun and cozy romance!
I loved the characters in this, especially the FMC. She was quirky and I loved her ghost whisperer abilities. I wish there was more to this element because it was interesting reading her interactions with ghosts and learning more about it.
The plot was engaging and kept me hooked throughout the book. I loved the author’s writing style and the setting is perfect for fall/Halloween vibes!
The romance between the main characters was decent. I enjoyed the age gap especially since the FMC and MMC are older. The romance did feel rushed and unbelievable at parts. I just didn’t feel connected to the main characters or their emotions/trials that they were going through.
Overall, I did enjoy this read and it would be a fun read close to fall/spooky season!
I will definitely pick up the author’s other book in the series Best Hex Ever.
First off, thank you to Net Galley, Ballantine and Nadia El-Fassi for the eARC!
Love at First Fright was such a whimsical, fun and cozy romance!
I loved the characters in this, especially the FMC. She was quirky and I loved her ghost whisperer abilities. I wish there was more to this element because it was interesting reading her interactions with ghosts and learning more about it.
The plot was engaging and kept me hooked throughout the book. I loved the author’s writing style and the setting is perfect for fall/Halloween vibes!
The romance between the main characters was decent. I enjoyed the age gap especially since the FMC and MMC are older. The romance did feel rushed and unbelievable at parts. I just didn’t feel connected to the main characters or their emotions/trials that they were going through.
Overall, I did enjoy this read and it would be a fun read close to fall/spooky season!
I will definitely pick up the author’s other book in the series Best Hex Ever.
July 14, 2025
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
3.5***
this was such a fun & cozy paranormal(ish) romance!!
the writing was well done, the plot itself was intriguing, & the setting/vibes were executed perfectly. if you’re considering reading this one, i highly recommend doing so in october!
also i cried at one part and was not expecting to do that? hank, my beloved angel, i adore you (iykyk).
though i did enjoy this, a few things didn’t work for me.
first: the romance definitely felt rushed and i didn’t feel a true connection between the two main characters. i wish the tension and banter had built up more - especially considering they’re supposed to be rivals and clashing with each other. it felt as if that lasted for 2 pages before they were lusting after each other & forgetting the dislike they each had.
second: the FMC is supposed to be an american from georgia, but the writing/her mannerism/her vocabulary made it seem as if she were from the UK. while this isn’t the end of the world, it definitely took away from my reading experience at times.
third: i really enjoyed the parts involving ghosts, but i wish we had more of that! i also loved the setting - but, again, wish there were some more descriptions of the manor, hauntings, etc.
overall: this was super cozy, cute, & a decent paranormal romance read! while it wasn’t my favorite, i had a good time reading it and can absolutely understand why others have loved this one.
3.5***
this was such a fun & cozy paranormal(ish) romance!!
the writing was well done, the plot itself was intriguing, & the setting/vibes were executed perfectly. if you’re considering reading this one, i highly recommend doing so in october!
also i cried at one part and was not expecting to do that? hank, my beloved angel, i adore you (iykyk).
though i did enjoy this, a few things didn’t work for me.
first: the romance definitely felt rushed and i didn’t feel a true connection between the two main characters. i wish the tension and banter had built up more - especially considering they’re supposed to be rivals and clashing with each other. it felt as if that lasted for 2 pages before they were lusting after each other & forgetting the dislike they each had.
second: the FMC is supposed to be an american from georgia, but the writing/her mannerism/her vocabulary made it seem as if she were from the UK. while this isn’t the end of the world, it definitely took away from my reading experience at times.
third: i really enjoyed the parts involving ghosts, but i wish we had more of that! i also loved the setting - but, again, wish there were some more descriptions of the manor, hauntings, etc.
overall: this was super cozy, cute, & a decent paranormal romance read! while it wasn’t my favorite, i had a good time reading it and can absolutely understand why others have loved this one.
November 2, 2025
I need to learn to DNF
October 10, 2025
Hot! Spooky! Spicy! Cute ghosts! Steamy! More cute ghosts!
Paranormal spicy romance with an FMC who can see ghosts, set in a haunted manor as she's also a horror writer and her book is getting adapted into a film. And the MMC is the one starring in it. Such a fun premise.
I was tearing up so hard at one of the ghost reunions. No spoilers but it warmed my heart.
Paranormal spicy romance with an FMC who can see ghosts, set in a haunted manor as she's also a horror writer and her book is getting adapted into a film. And the MMC is the one starring in it. Such a fun premise.
I was tearing up so hard at one of the ghost reunions. No spoilers but it warmed my heart.
August 22, 2025
Read This Book If…you love a soft dom!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi
Genre: paranormal romance
Series: Best Hex Ever # 2
Spice Level: 4/5🌶, 3-4 explicit scenes
Setting: London and English manor
POV: dual, 3rd person, past tense
Tropes: celebrity, insta hate, age gap (12 years), phone sex, “good girl”
Kinks: BDSM, breeding
My Thoughts:
I am absolutely loving this cozy and spicy series! The author/actor dynamic was really fun and I loved the film set setting.
These two were SO horny for each other, but there’s a very soft side to their kinks. They move past their initial bad first impressions pretty quickly and the relationship developed really beautifully.
I loved getting another dimension of the magic in this world and the ghosts were so cute! Fair warning - there is a dead pet in this story, but it’s in the past and actually very sweet.
I’m hoping we get another book set in this world - I could read one every year!!
Memorable Quote: “So I’m to blame for your not having a good night’s sleep?” Yes, you keep haunting me, he wanted to say.
Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy! Available everywhere September 16!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi
Genre: paranormal romance
Series: Best Hex Ever # 2
Spice Level: 4/5🌶, 3-4 explicit scenes
Setting: London and English manor
POV: dual, 3rd person, past tense
Tropes: celebrity, insta hate, age gap (12 years), phone sex, “good girl”
Kinks: BDSM, breeding
My Thoughts:
I am absolutely loving this cozy and spicy series! The author/actor dynamic was really fun and I loved the film set setting.
These two were SO horny for each other, but there’s a very soft side to their kinks. They move past their initial bad first impressions pretty quickly and the relationship developed really beautifully.
I loved getting another dimension of the magic in this world and the ghosts were so cute! Fair warning - there is a dead pet in this story, but it’s in the past and actually very sweet.
I’m hoping we get another book set in this world - I could read one every year!!
Memorable Quote: “So I’m to blame for your not having a good night’s sleep?” Yes, you keep haunting me, he wanted to say.
Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy! Available everywhere September 16!
November 20, 2025
I was not expecting the spice in this book! HOLY HELL! 🥵 I was a blushing mess yesterday at Costco while listening to this book. Ellis Finch, you’re getting added to my list of successful dirty talkers. 🙂↕️
- age gap
- forced proximity
- lgbtq rep
- loathe to love
- paranormal romance
FOLLOW ME
Instagram • Pagebound • Cozy Chapters Book Club • Newsletter • Fable • StoryGraph • Romantasy Romantics Book Club
- age gap
- forced proximity
- lgbtq rep
- loathe to love
- paranormal romance
FOLLOW ME
Instagram • Pagebound • Cozy Chapters Book Club • Newsletter • Fable • StoryGraph • Romantasy Romantics Book Club
July 17, 2025
Note: an eARC of this book was acquired via NetGalley.
Main character Rosemary is a successful horror writer with extreme anxiety and almost no friends (literally only two from the semester? year? she lived abroad in college) while love interest Ellis is over 40 (gasp!) and too buff and attractive to play the protagonist of the movie adaptation of Rosemary's novel. The haunted set ghost subplot is actually a matchmaking scheme (wrapped up with the line "And that was that. Rosemary said goodbye.") while the big, absolutely massive disgusting secret torturing Ellis is that , which is just all kinds of fucked up.
Rosemary and Ellis have almost zero chemistry because they don't ever talk to one another, but lucky for us they both find one another attractive and are into bdsm. (How convenient! When a virtual stranger asks me "what I like," I always answer with "I like power play, you know, being submissive.") Because no one has any personality, the sex scenes veered straight into unsexy, and the dirty talk came off as extremely cringy. ("She heard the erotic sound of him spitting on her pussy from behind, making her even wetter for him." 😬) Most of the plot revolves around Ellis having cold feet making his (whirlwind) relationship with Rosemary public because he's fake-dating another actress as a publicity stunt... but he and Rosemary are not subtle about the copious amounts of sex they've been having and also some of it was public and could have been photographed at any point. So literally more than 90% of the way through, El-Fassi equates Rosemary's father's grief at losing her mother to cancer with Ellis making a dumb decision on a talk show and them having their first argument (after about two weeks of dating). After, mind you, they've been living together, defined their relationship, met each other's friends, and separately intuited that they would move to another country to stay together (but... "I don't want to scare him, it's all been so whirlwind" 🙃!)
I should have dnf'd this, but I thought, "surely this book will get better," and then it actively got worse. (Not to mention that El-Fassi uses exclusively non-American syntax for a character born and raised in Georgia!!!) This was honestly one of the worst books I've read this year.
Main character Rosemary is a successful horror writer with extreme anxiety and almost no friends (literally only two from the semester? year? she lived abroad in college) while love interest Ellis is over 40 (gasp!) and too buff and attractive to play the protagonist of the movie adaptation of Rosemary's novel. The haunted set ghost subplot is actually a matchmaking scheme (wrapped up with the line "And that was that. Rosemary said goodbye.") while the big, absolutely massive disgusting secret torturing Ellis is that , which is just all kinds of fucked up.
Rosemary and Ellis have almost zero chemistry because they don't ever talk to one another, but lucky for us they both find one another attractive and are into bdsm. (How convenient! When a virtual stranger asks me "what I like," I always answer with "I like power play, you know, being submissive.") Because no one has any personality, the sex scenes veered straight into unsexy, and the dirty talk came off as extremely cringy. ("She heard the erotic sound of him spitting on her pussy from behind, making her even wetter for him." 😬) Most of the plot revolves around Ellis having cold feet making his (whirlwind) relationship with Rosemary public because he's fake-dating another actress as a publicity stunt... but he and Rosemary are not subtle about the copious amounts of sex they've been having and also some of it was public and could have been photographed at any point. So literally more than 90% of the way through, El-Fassi equates Rosemary's father's grief at losing her mother to cancer with Ellis making a dumb decision on a talk show and them having their first argument (after about two weeks of dating). After, mind you, they've been living together, defined their relationship, met each other's friends, and separately intuited that they would move to another country to stay together (but... "I don't want to scare him, it's all been so whirlwind" 🙃!)
I should have dnf'd this, but I thought, "surely this book will get better," and then it actively got worse. (Not to mention that El-Fassi uses exclusively non-American syntax for a character born and raised in Georgia!!!) This was honestly one of the worst books I've read this year.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 17, 2025
The fact this is rated 3.65 on GR is criminal.
I adored this. It's short (at least it felt short, I needed at least another 50 pages), it's sweet, it's a little insta-lovey, but whatever. Rosemary and Ellis' chemistry was hot as fuck, and the dom/sub relationship? I'm still fanning myself.
There's a lot that goes on with this book (A LOT), and I think it's interesting that I was reading another book that dealt with grief and death and ghosts, albeit in a totally different way (Meet Me at the Crossroads). Like, celebrity romance that wasn't as celebrity as possible. Sure the ultimate conflict is hand-waved off and a happily ever after, but whatever it worked.
Also, it's gay as hell. Both Rosemary and Ellis are bi, and there's a host of LGBTQ+ secondary characters.
Anywho, if you liked Best Hex Ever, you'll like this one.
I adored this. It's short (at least it felt short, I needed at least another 50 pages), it's sweet, it's a little insta-lovey, but whatever. Rosemary and Ellis' chemistry was hot as fuck, and the dom/sub relationship? I'm still fanning myself.
There's a lot that goes on with this book (A LOT), and I think it's interesting that I was reading another book that dealt with grief and death and ghosts, albeit in a totally different way (Meet Me at the Crossroads). Like, celebrity romance that wasn't as celebrity as possible. Sure the ultimate conflict is hand-waved off and a happily ever after, but whatever it worked.
Also, it's gay as hell. Both Rosemary and Ellis are bi, and there's a host of LGBTQ+ secondary characters.
Anywho, if you liked Best Hex Ever, you'll like this one.
October 3, 2025
Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi has a fun premise. A horror author and a Hollywood heartthrob clash on the set of a haunted movie adaptation, but for me the execution fell a little flat. The paranormal element was light, and despite the spooky setting in a ghost-filled manor, I did not really feel much of the “fright” promised in the title.
The romance leaned heavily into Dom/sub dynamics, which may appeal to some readers but felt a bit out of balance with how quickly the characters fell in love. It was interesting that Rosemary and Ellis were hesitant to share their deepest secrets with each other, yet jumped into a relationship that required so much trust. While there were some charming moments and a creative setup, overall this was just an okay read for me. I enjoyed the concept more than the follow-through.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.
The romance leaned heavily into Dom/sub dynamics, which may appeal to some readers but felt a bit out of balance with how quickly the characters fell in love. It was interesting that Rosemary and Ellis were hesitant to share their deepest secrets with each other, yet jumped into a relationship that required so much trust. While there were some charming moments and a creative setup, overall this was just an okay read for me. I enjoyed the concept more than the follow-through.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.
September 25, 2025
3.5 stars. While this book has a great premise and I def enjoyed the direction the plot was going, I wish I’d realized I would need to be in a very specific mood to read this book. I was itching for something more romance and tension forward, while this book focuses more on insta-lust and building a physical relationship eventually backed up by emotions.
Don’t get me wrong — the spicy scenes were delicious. And very kinky. But I didn’t realize they would be such a focal point of this story when I was in the mood for more of a cozy and cute fall romance.
If you need a spicy palette cleanser, this is def a good go to!
Don’t get me wrong — the spicy scenes were delicious. And very kinky. But I didn’t realize they would be such a focal point of this story when I was in the mood for more of a cozy and cute fall romance.
If you need a spicy palette cleanser, this is def a good go to!
December 17, 2025
4.25/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️
Fun and new take on paranormal romance. Loving the lgbtq+ inclusion. Bi for Bi main characters! A slew of representation of side characters. Deals with tough topics like death and mental health in a thoughtful way. Plus size inclusion and older MMC that isn’t a perfect sculpted god, which was a breath of fresh air.
2/5 🌶️
Fun and new take on paranormal romance. Loving the lgbtq+ inclusion. Bi for Bi main characters! A slew of representation of side characters. Deals with tough topics like death and mental health in a thoughtful way. Plus size inclusion and older MMC that isn’t a perfect sculpted god, which was a breath of fresh air.
October 19, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)
i really wanted to enjoy this because the blurb immediately drew me in as the premise sounded so interesting. i liked the idea and the writing, but a few things took me out of the story a bit. i did not feel the chemistry and tension between the two main characters. they are supposed to be a hate to love trope but it felt rushed and it got spicy fast. i needed more angst and tension!!! i also wish we had more time with the ghosts, i was looking for more of the paranormal aspect. it’s cool that rosemary can see and talk to ghosts so i would have loved to see more of that!
a successful horror author rosemary, whose novel is getting adapted into a movie flashes with the actor casted as the lead male. this is set in a spooky mansion filled with ghosts! rosemary has a secret: she can see ghosts so the film being set at a haunted countryside leaves her unfazed. ellis is a hollywood heartthrob tired of his action hero persona and wants to get more serious roles. landing the lead in the movie gives him this opportunity until he finds out rosemary was trying to get him replaced. as soon as filming starts, the manor’s ghosts stir up some trouble.
tropes: paranormal romance, horror author fmc x actor mmc, age gap, forced proximity, hate to love, bi for bi, d/s dynamic, ghostly side characters
👻🎬🌠📖🇬🇧
i really wanted to enjoy this because the blurb immediately drew me in as the premise sounded so interesting. i liked the idea and the writing, but a few things took me out of the story a bit. i did not feel the chemistry and tension between the two main characters. they are supposed to be a hate to love trope but it felt rushed and it got spicy fast. i needed more angst and tension!!! i also wish we had more time with the ghosts, i was looking for more of the paranormal aspect. it’s cool that rosemary can see and talk to ghosts so i would have loved to see more of that!
a successful horror author rosemary, whose novel is getting adapted into a movie flashes with the actor casted as the lead male. this is set in a spooky mansion filled with ghosts! rosemary has a secret: she can see ghosts so the film being set at a haunted countryside leaves her unfazed. ellis is a hollywood heartthrob tired of his action hero persona and wants to get more serious roles. landing the lead in the movie gives him this opportunity until he finds out rosemary was trying to get him replaced. as soon as filming starts, the manor’s ghosts stir up some trouble.
tropes: paranormal romance, horror author fmc x actor mmc, age gap, forced proximity, hate to love, bi for bi, d/s dynamic, ghostly side characters
👻🎬🌠📖🇬🇧
September 23, 2025
2.5⭐️
The overall vibe is cozy (and occasionally heavy) and I genuinely enjoyed the ghost lore sprinkled throughout.
There’s some charming moments but overall it was frightfully average. I came for spooky season vibes with a spicy romance but despite the ghosts, I didn’t get much of a paranormal feeling. I wanted more ghosts, more spooky and well just more oomph. The execution and pacing all fell flat. I also struggled to connect with the characters and their draw to one another. There was spice but it often felt forced and not a natural development. The identify struggles overpowered every other element in the story except the heavier aspects and sadly I’m actually relieved to be finished.
The overall vibe is cozy (and occasionally heavy) and I genuinely enjoyed the ghost lore sprinkled throughout.
There’s some charming moments but overall it was frightfully average. I came for spooky season vibes with a spicy romance but despite the ghosts, I didn’t get much of a paranormal feeling. I wanted more ghosts, more spooky and well just more oomph. The execution and pacing all fell flat. I also struggled to connect with the characters and their draw to one another. There was spice but it often felt forced and not a natural development. The identify struggles overpowered every other element in the story except the heavier aspects and sadly I’m actually relieved to be finished.
September 9, 2025
I could be mean about this but I’m not going to
September 21, 2025
It was a cute, spooky book, but nothing super special for me overall. I loved the ghost side plots, the ghost cat and the gay regency girls! However, the romance was kind of lack luster. It moved at an odd pace and the third act conflict happened when I was 90% done with the story, which was insane and stressful. I think Ellis and Rosemary are a cute couple, but their relationship did feel disjointed at times. I think the main thing I’ll remember from this book is the ghost cat tbh🐈
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for the digital ARC! All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for the digital ARC! All opinions are my own.
September 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advanced copy!
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Tropes: age-gap, writer x actor, sub x dom, praise kink, bisexuality representation
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the representation of bisexuality, a horror author being able to see ghosts, and their relationship blooming. I loved the dual point of view because I am a SUCKER for a man's pov.
I felt like the third act breakup/ come back together felt so rushed. I felt like the issues of the third act breakup weren't fully addressed, and it made me so dang mad!
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Tropes: age-gap, writer x actor, sub x dom, praise kink, bisexuality representation
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the representation of bisexuality, a horror author being able to see ghosts, and their relationship blooming. I loved the dual point of view because I am a SUCKER for a man's pov.
I felt like the third act breakup/ come back together felt so rushed. I felt like the issues of the third act breakup weren't fully addressed, and it made me so dang mad!
October 4, 2025
Paranormal romance with a side dish of spice! Love at First Fright was even better than Best Hex Ever! I love love LOVED Rosemary and Ellis. I’ll never not be obsessed with a FMC who is a writer and and a boss at her job. Her struggles with writing was definitely relatable for me. Getting a dual POV was really a great move for insight in this story and made it more enjoyable.
I love the plot, the visual representation, the diversity in characters, and the pets: specifically Fig but also ghost pets!! Really sweet and a great emotional aspect.
The relationship dynamic between Rosemary and Ellis was great because while they aren’t enemies to lovers, it’s definitely dislike to love. The tension and yearning build up was chef’s kiss. Maybe it was a little instalove but it totally worked for me, I had a hard time putting the book down! The spice here is consensual BDSM and I thought it was very well done. Nothing like 50 Shades but kind of the core vibe - just done significantly better. My bisexual king and queen!!! They also have an age gap, she’s 29 and he’s 41 and I loved it.
Loved all the side characters too, Immy, Dina & their husbands, Rosemary’s dad, and Lyn. Not to mention our ghost girlies, what a unique, whimsical side plot.
I love the plot, the visual representation, the diversity in characters, and the pets: specifically Fig but also ghost pets!! Really sweet and a great emotional aspect.
The relationship dynamic between Rosemary and Ellis was great because while they aren’t enemies to lovers, it’s definitely dislike to love. The tension and yearning build up was chef’s kiss. Maybe it was a little instalove but it totally worked for me, I had a hard time putting the book down! The spice here is consensual BDSM and I thought it was very well done. Nothing like 50 Shades but kind of the core vibe - just done significantly better. My bisexual king and queen!!! They also have an age gap, she’s 29 and he’s 41 and I loved it.
Loved all the side characters too, Immy, Dina & their husbands, Rosemary’s dad, and Lyn. Not to mention our ghost girlies, what a unique, whimsical side plot.
October 24, 2025
Nadia El-Fassi has become an instant-read for me!! They are only getting stronger. I think this is a new favorite 🤩
September 20, 2025
I was so pleasantly surprised by this! It promised a spooky romance with ghosts, horror movies references, and age gap romance, but it doesn't tell you that it's dom/sub and she can see his old dog as a ghost?!! Ughhh this was cute I ate it up.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an arc copy.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an arc copy.
July 7, 2025
The absolutely adorable cover is the first thing about Love at First Fright that caught my attention, and the cute book blurb sealed it, and I just knew that I had to read it!
While I really enjoyed this paranormal romance, I didn't really love it. I had a hard time connecting with the FMC, Rosemary, I definitely thought she had childish behavior at some points, calling herself "bratty," and I just didn't like it. And, I hate to say it but I also didn't love the MMC, Ellis, I felt that he appeared almost weak at points throughout the book.
I did really enjoy the paranormal aspects of this romance, though. I thought the fact that Rosemary could see and speak to ghosts added to the story and liked all the parts of the book that revolved around that.
The romance kind of happened all at once and was a bit rushed, in my opinion, which made it a bit hard to believe in. But I did think that you could clearly see how much Rosemary and Ellis cared for each other and that they were ultimately able to grow from that romance.
I think this is the perfect romance for fall with the paranormal vibes!
Expected Publication Date: September 16th 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dell, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While I really enjoyed this paranormal romance, I didn't really love it. I had a hard time connecting with the FMC, Rosemary, I definitely thought she had childish behavior at some points, calling herself "bratty," and I just didn't like it. And, I hate to say it but I also didn't love the MMC, Ellis, I felt that he appeared almost weak at points throughout the book.
I did really enjoy the paranormal aspects of this romance, though. I thought the fact that Rosemary could see and speak to ghosts added to the story and liked all the parts of the book that revolved around that.
The romance kind of happened all at once and was a bit rushed, in my opinion, which made it a bit hard to believe in. But I did think that you could clearly see how much Rosemary and Ellis cared for each other and that they were ultimately able to grow from that romance.
I think this is the perfect romance for fall with the paranormal vibes!
Expected Publication Date: September 16th 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dell, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 16, 2025
Cute and spooky romance read- perfect for autumn.
Rosemary is an American horror author, who can also see ghosts.
Ellis is a British actor, who has recently been cast to play the lead in a move rendition of one of Rosemary’s novels.
Rosemary does not think he is the right guy for the job, and he hates her for trying to get him removed from the movie.
Through hours on set, to staying in the same home, and nights-out with the cast, the two develop strong desire for each other, which they just cannot seem to ignore.
They also cannot ignore the secrets that they are both hiding, and the fear of what will happen to their relationship once filming has finished.
This story started off a bit slow for me, but things really picked up around the 20% mark! It turned out to be really enjoyable.
The romance:
I thought there was a good connection between both main characters.
It is enemies to lovers, so there is some tension buildup which was nice. There is also quite a bit of yearning, which I think made things more exciting.
It was not super-slow-burn, or super-fast-paced in my opinion, which I appreciate. I think the timing is really good.
This is quite steamy, so if you enjoy that you might like this story.
The writing:
This story is well-written and has a nice flow to it.
I think It would have been a bit more exciting if it were dual-pov, but that isn’t a huge deal.
It.
I love the setting! I think England is the way to go when you’re writing a book like this one. A bit darker and ghostly, but also cozy.
I appreciated reading about Ellis and his struggle with his bisexuality and coming out.
He brings up some really good points about how sexual orientation is sometimes viewed differently when it comes to men, and how it can potentially have a negative impact on how their partners view them.
I don’t see this being discussed that often, so I always think it is nice when people shed light on it.
Notable mentions:
- Sapphic regency ghosts!
- Ghost dog!
Love. Love. Love. Give me more.
The ghosts were the best part.
Pretty great read overall! Very enjoyable, and I think it will appeal to a large audience.
Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine | Dell and author Nadia El-Fassi for providing me with the eARC of “Love at First Fright”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 16th, 2025
Rosemary is an American horror author, who can also see ghosts.
Ellis is a British actor, who has recently been cast to play the lead in a move rendition of one of Rosemary’s novels.
Rosemary does not think he is the right guy for the job, and he hates her for trying to get him removed from the movie.
Through hours on set, to staying in the same home, and nights-out with the cast, the two develop strong desire for each other, which they just cannot seem to ignore.
They also cannot ignore the secrets that they are both hiding, and the fear of what will happen to their relationship once filming has finished.
This story started off a bit slow for me, but things really picked up around the 20% mark! It turned out to be really enjoyable.
The romance:
I thought there was a good connection between both main characters.
It is enemies to lovers, so there is some tension buildup which was nice. There is also quite a bit of yearning, which I think made things more exciting.
It was not super-slow-burn, or super-fast-paced in my opinion, which I appreciate. I think the timing is really good.
This is quite steamy, so if you enjoy that you might like this story.
The writing:
This story is well-written and has a nice flow to it.
I think It would have been a bit more exciting if it were dual-pov, but that isn’t a huge deal.
It.
I love the setting! I think England is the way to go when you’re writing a book like this one. A bit darker and ghostly, but also cozy.
I appreciated reading about Ellis and his struggle with his bisexuality and coming out.
He brings up some really good points about how sexual orientation is sometimes viewed differently when it comes to men, and how it can potentially have a negative impact on how their partners view them.
I don’t see this being discussed that often, so I always think it is nice when people shed light on it.
Notable mentions:
- Sapphic regency ghosts!
- Ghost dog!
Love. Love. Love. Give me more.
The ghosts were the best part.
Pretty great read overall! Very enjoyable, and I think it will appeal to a large audience.
Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine | Dell and author Nadia El-Fassi for providing me with the eARC of “Love at First Fright”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 16th, 2025
Displaying 1 - 30 of 794 reviews