Good Spirits: A Novel

Rating: 4.5 stars.Oh my God, I genuinely don’t even know where to start with this book because I did not expect it to be this good. I went in with very low expectations, fully convinced this would be a solid three-star read at best, and imagine my shock when it ended up being a four-star for me.I picked it up thinking I’d just read it for fun. Lately, I’ve been extremely harsh with romance books, especially this kind, so I wasn’t planning to get attached at all. But wow… this completely surprised me. Maybe it’s because it’s written by B.K. Borison, maybe it’s the adorable cover and cozy premise, or maybe it’s just the magic of everything coming together perfectly, but this book worked.The story pulled me in, the characters felt warm and real, the pacing was smooth, and the romance and tension were done so well. The relationship buildup felt natural and satisfying, and before I knew it, I was fully invested. It was charming, engaging, and genuinely fascinating in a way I wasn’t prepared for. Safe to say, this book proved me very, very wrong, and I loved every second of it.── .✦This might honestly be the warmest, most comforting romance I’ve ever experienced. From the very beginning, it wrapped itself around me in the softest way and never let go. The feeling it gave me wasn’t loud or overwhelming, just constant and gentle, like that quiet excitement that settles deep in your chest and refuses to fade. Even after turning the final page, the emotions lingered, as if the story never really ended but instead carved out a permanent little space in my head and heart.It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’re done, replaying moments, lines, and emotions when you least expect it. I caught myself smiling for no reason, thinking about the characters and the atmosphere, feeling that same fluttery excitement over and over again. This story didn’t just pass through my reading life, it settled in, made itself comfortable, and now I don’t think it plans on leaving anytime soon.── .✦The characters completely caught me off guard in the best way possible. I went in expecting something simple, maybe even forgettable, and instead I got depth, warmth, and personalities that felt so real it honestly made me giddy. I’m genuinely so happy about it because when does a low-expectations read ever deliver characters this well written? I loved them both so much that I could easily ramble about them for days and still not feel done.°˖➴ Harriet:“ If he’s a ghost, he’s a handsome one.”Let’s start with her, the sweetest woman to ever exist, and yes, she is absolutely me in every way that matters. Watching her find someone who could reach her so effortlessly, someone who could make her smile without trying or warning, was incredibly comforting and emotional. It felt soft, genuine, and deeply healing in a way that made my heart ache in the best possible sense. Seeing her finally feel seen and cherished was everything, and I adored every second of it.And oh Harriet. Sweet, kind, endlessly giving Harriet. A chronic people-pleaser who has spent her whole life doing what’s expected of her, even when it costs her pieces of herself. She isn’t bitter or hardened, she’s soft, hopeful, and quietly exhausted, and that made her so painfully relatable. I loved how her kindness wasn’t portrayed as weakness, but as something beautiful that still deserved protection. Watching her confront her past, slowly realizing she’s allowed to want more than survival, more than approval, more than just “being good”? That hit me right in the chest.°˖➴ Nolan:“You’re the first thing in a hundred years to make me feel anything at all, Harriet York, and I don’t think that’s an accident.”On the other hand, we have Nolan Callahan, because oh my god. A Ghost of Christmas Past who’s tired, aimless, and emotionally worn down by eternity? Yes. Please. Immediately obsessed. He’s not cold or cruel, he’s quiet, observant, and carrying this soft ache of someone who’s existed too long without really living. Watching him slowly want more, want her, want a future he was never meant to have, absolutely wrecked me. The yearning here? Insane. The way he tries to stay detached while clearly falling apart inside every time Harriet smiles or hurts? Criminal. I adored how gentle he was with her, how careful, how he never pushed but was always there. He felt like a sigh you didn’t know you were holding in.── .✦Together, they were soft magic. No loud drama, no over-the-top chaos, just two souls gently orbiting each other, healing in the quiet spaces. Their connection felt tender, emotional, and deeply earned. It wasn’t rushed, it wasn’t flashy, it was the kind of bond that sneaks up on you and suddenly you’re in love without realizing when it happened.And before I wrap this up, I have to give the biggest, warmest thank you to the sweetest girl karyn for buddy reading this with me. Reading this book together made it ten times more special, between the constant yapping, the giggling over our favorite moments, and the shared emotional damage, I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better reading experience. Some books are already special on their own, but buddy reading this one turned it into a core memory, and I’ll treasure that forever. Check her cute review