October 2022 Standalone BOTM - The Dead Romantics, by Ashley Poston

[Alaina]

Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead.

When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.

For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it.

Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is.

Romance is most certainly dead... but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.

A disillusioned millennial ghostwriter who, quite literally, has some ghosts of her own, has to find her way back home in this sparkling adult debut from national bestselling author Ashley Poston.

**This BOTM thread will be open until November 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Ashley]

I'm in to read this book! Just waiting on it from the library!

[Ashley]

What's the structure for the BOTM? Are there questions? Do we just post updates? How does it work here? :)

[Ashley]

Update (read through Chapter 6, 18%)
(view spoiler)[
I feel sad for her losing her father and angry that her BF "stole" her life to write a book. I think it was underhanded as hell!

So far I'm not loving this book. I'm hoping the storyline will pick up a bit soon!
(hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

Update (read through Chapter 13, 34%)
(view spoiler)[
Well, I didn't see THAT coming! (Maybe I should have?) Benji!

I'm interested to see what all of the odd funeral arrangements are for! And I'm hoping she will come to terms with her gift.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

Update (read through Chapter 21, 54%)
(view spoiler)[
I love that she just keeps talking to "herself" in front of people and people just accept it... like she's just a quirky weirdo.
I really like Benji... I'm sad she's going to lose him (again).
(hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

Update (read through Chapter 32, 82%)
(view spoiler)[
Well HELLO, Chapter 30! That was steamy.
Chapter 32 was hard. I love how her father went to so much trouble to make sure that his family understood how much he loved and cherished (and knew) them.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

Update (read through Chapter 34, 87%)
(view spoiler)[
WHHHAAATTT! He's ALIVE! WOOO!
(hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

Update (finished)
(view spoiler)[
I liked this. It took a bit to really get going, and TBH the first half was kind of depressing, but the second half did redeem the book.

I am not often surprised, and I just didn't see a lot of the plot twists coming!
(hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ashley wrote: "What's the structure for the BOTM? Are there questions? Do we just post updates? How does it work here? :)"

Sorry Ashley! I just saw this.
There aren't questions, it's just a buddy read for all the members to participate in

[Ashley]

Aly wrote: "Ashley wrote: "What's the structure for the BOTM? Are there questions? Do we just post updates? How does it work here? :)"

Sorry Ashley! I just saw this.
There aren't questions, it's just a buddy..."

I think I did it right! I just posted updates!

[Aly]

Ashley wrote: "Aly wrote: "Ashley wrote: "What's the structure for the BOTM? Are there questions? Do we just post updates? How does it work here? :)"

Sorry Ashley! I just saw this.
There aren't questions, it's ..."

Yep, your posts are great!

[Jenn]

Chapter 2: im really enjoying the inside look at publishing.

[Jenn]

Chapter 10: (view spoiler)[ ok but how did her bew editor die?? I qas expecting some sort of romance between them but now with him dead i dont know what to expect!

Also loved the name drop from the geekerella series (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Ashley wrote: "Update (read through Chapter 6, 18%).."

(view spoiler)[ her ex is piece of work! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[ so predictions: her book is what made Ben want to help unknown authors. And her dad knew 100% what she wrote. Also, the letter her dad wants read at the funeral is probably going to break me (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 30; (view spoiler)[ ok im saying it here. Ben isnt dead. I went back and reread what her friend said to her and she only said he was hit by a car. Florence just assumed dead because she can see him. I bet hes in a coma (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ i was right! Sad we never really got to see her dad as a ghost but as florence said, he had no unfinished business (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 1-11 (view spoiler)[I was not expecting Ben to be dead. I wonder if it was a car accident. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

54% (view spoiler)[Pretty sure Ben is coming back and thats why he can hear voices. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapter 29 (view spoiler)[He is probably just in a coma. And i would cheat at a card game too if i had a ghost to help me. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Finished (view spoiler)[Didn't love this one. I knew he wasn't actually dead, so that wasn't a shock to find out. The ending did drag on a bit and I didn't care for the book that she wrote. (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Hi, joining late as ever lol! And going in completely blind - I haven't even read the blurb!

Prologue (view spoiler)[ Okay, so I loved this character literally this first page because they're into FANFIC!! Who else is/was into fanfic? I read and wrote so much as a teenager, I love fanfic type stories lol. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 1-5
(view spoiler)[
Okay, I didn't realise this was going to be a bit paranormal - as in she can see ghosts! That's the fun of going in blind lol.
Tons of good stuff I'm already enjoying - good banter, look at the inside of publishing etc. This is going to be a quick fun read I hope :) (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

22% (view spoiler)[

okay, i really wasn't expecting this!! I thought out was going to be a chick flick kind of book, but then i was judging by the cover, happy to confess. It's fun to go in totally blind! It's
Two deaths already? Is he really dead? Is this where the romance comes in - with her newly dead babe boss?? I don't even know if this is a spoiler lol. Just enjoying the ride. (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 10: ok but how did her bew editor die?? I qas expecting some sort of romance between them but now with him dead i dont know what to expect!

Also loved the name drop from the geekerella se..."

OMG, I didn't notice the name drop from Geekerella - I'm such an idiot, I love that series (this is why I'm reading this one!)

[Jenn]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 10: ok but how did her bew editor die?? I qas expecting some sort of romance between them but now with him dead i dont know what to expect!

Also loved the name drop from the g..."

It took me a moment and I had to go back and reread the line but it finally clicked! Haha. I love when authors do little things like that

[Ellen-Arwen]

Ashley wrote: "Update (read through Chapter 21, 54%)

I love that she just keeps talking to "herself" in front of people and people just accept it... like she's just a quirky weirdo.
I really like Benji... I'm sa..."
Chapter 21
Aha, I have a THEORY!

(view spoiler)[ I reckon Benji isn't dead. Right?? Otherwise why all the idiosyncrasies with him as a ghost, different to all the others she's met before? And she can't find any info about his funeral? He in a COMA, right?? And that's where there will be the romance aspect for Florence - when he wakes up! I feel like a detective lol.

Side note, chapter 16 "I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding' - I FRICKING HATE this phrase. Just really reeeeally annoys me. Gah. So overused - and it isn't even a real thing! (at least I've never experienced it) (hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Ch 1-7
(view spoiler)[
Her ex was so incredibly annoying to me! What kind of person writes a book about her life like that. It was so manipulative and evil. Those two deaths were so shocking to me! How dare they do that to Ben! (hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Ch 8-14
(view spoiler)[
All of her interactions with Benji are so cute and adorable! Why does he have to be dead?! This would be such a cute relationship.

I'm not the biggest fan of the parts of the book that aren't involving Benji, they are a little slow to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Ch 15-21

(view spoiler)[

I like how Ben reacts to her talking about her special gift. He is so respectful and caring!
All of the scenes with her dad are so depressing and I don't like these parts at all! (hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Ch 22-28
(view spoiler)[
Ben is such a good listener. He would be the cutest partner for our MC if only he was alive! She is really able to open up to him and be honest. She is falling in love with him, but is in deniable about that. (hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Ch 29- end

(view spoiler)[
The funeral scenes were so depressing and sad! The goodbyes were tearjerkers!

The ending was amazing!! SO cute!!! It was such a relief that Ben is alive! (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Ashlyn wrote: "Chapter 29 [spoilers removed]"

You thought the same as me!!!

[Ellen-Arwen]

Chapter 33 (view spoiler)[

Well. I am SUPER annoyed that my prediction wasn't right because it makes PERFECT SENSE. Otherwise why was he different to all the other ghosts, huh? I suppose we could still have a second twist - although it did say 'forever.' Didn't figure he was Ann's grandson though. (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Ashlyn wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

Finished too (view spoiler)[

I enjoyed it mostly - but I agree it dragged, since we'd already seen the ending coming (although I was briefly sidetracked; I should never doubt myself lol).

The actual happily ever after was just too corny.

Oh yeah, I'd kind of forgotten about the book she was writing - yeah, that did nothing for me.

It was an easy read, good for when you're busy with other stuff. Much preferred the Geekerella series! (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Meg wrote: "Ch 29- end (view spoiler)[


The funeral scenes were so depressing and sad! The goodbyes were tearjerkers!

The ending was amazing!! SO cute!!! It was such a relief that Ben is alive!" (hide spoiler)]

How come you only gave it two stars out of interest?

[Ellen-Arwen]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 30; [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[

Okay, so we ALL guessed this pretty early on - I think maybe it was a tad too obvious? What do you think? (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 1 - 6 : (view spoiler)[I am enjoying it so far although I am bit apprehensive about what’s gonna happen further in the book having read the blurb. Ben and Florence do have some chemistry between them as is apparent from the scene outside the bar but I just don’t know how much of it I’d like when he’s a ghost.In hindsight, i really should not have read anything about this book before picking it up lol bc now I am expecting him to drop dead (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 7 - 15 : (view spoiler)[This book is some lighthearted fun. I am liking it but I am also not absolutely loving it. The whole ghosts and supernatural stuff just puts me off a bit since I am not a believer. The siblings refusing to handle their dad’s funeral came off as a bit absurd to me ngl. Also, poor Ben!!!! I would have LOVED this romance if it had been between two living people lol (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 16 - 23 : (view spoiler)[The book is fizzling out for me at this point. Alice’s frustration with everything seems reasonable to me, it does feel like their dad had favored what Florence wanted above everything else and that’s just unfair. Even Ben and Florence’s interactions are not as pleasing as they were during the first few chapters of the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 24 - 31 : (view spoiler)[Ummmmm the whole sequence with Ben and Florence sharing how much they wanted each other was way too corny for me and NOT in a good way. I am now wondering where could all of this even lead to because Ben is a ghost??? He surely can’t be around forever. Why would he make Florence believe in love again only to have her heart broken again (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Finished : (view spoiler)[Nope, not happening. This all got so unbelievable and fantasy like that I just can't wrap my head around it plus there was no proper explanation given as to how come he just woke up again! It's ridiculous imo and I would have really liked a sad tragic ending to this story for once. Everything cannot and SHOULD NOT be made into a happy ending, I am furious (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Today is the LAST day this thread will be open for BOTM points!