I received this book from the Tour Host/publisher in exchange of an honest review.

I was already hyped when I saw this book and got even more hyped when I got the chance to read this one. It just sounded like a book I would love. It had ghosts, spooky going-ons, mystery, and more.

Welcome in a world a lot like our own, but with one big exception, there are ghosts. Ghosts can appear in people’s homes, and you just have to hope it isn’t a vengeful one because that means you are screwed (like the one at Alice’s house of birth). Just hope it is a friendly one or one that is unaware (like the ghost at Eleanor’s house). People have ghost lamps at home and other things. There are people who will come when there is a ghost in your house. And many other things. In that way it reminded me a lot of Lockwood. You had good and bad ghosts there, you have to have preparations around just in case things go wrong. But unlike in Lockwood, these kids won’t go exorcising ghosts, not for a living and not for fun. The book also captured the atmosphere I loved in Lockwood & Co.

Meet Eleanor, an orphan who lives with her very strict and old-fashioned grandma. She isn’t having the happiest of lives, but she tries to make something out of it. It helps that she has a big family who love her and her aunt lives near her so she can visit her often. She is a smart girl and hopes to go to school someday and is trying to convince her grandma to let her go. But she quickly has some other things on her head when her Aunt Bye’s house gets haunted, her niece Alice appears, and they both try to find out all about the ghost, but also about Alice’s past and what happened when she just was born. Eleanor was such a fun and wonderful character and at times I just wanted to hug her and tell her that things would change for her. Eventually. She is smart and has some great skills of finding things out.

Then there is Alice, a girl who is quite stubborn and at times I found her a tad too annoying for me. Her attitude, especially towards other people was just a big meh for me. Later on she does get a bit kinder and friendlier, but it does take a while. I can imagine that she is acting up, her father doesn’t care about her, her stepmom is not really that friendly (at least going by Alice’s descriptions). I found her quite brave at times. When she went back to her birth house when she learned her brother and one of her nieces went to it and finds out they went inside she doesn’t hesitate, instead dives in. Maybe not the smartest decision, but many people would just have run away or gave up. She just went for it. I also loved what she did later on, that is so sweet that she did that for Eleanor.

I loved both hauntings. I quickly knew that the ghost at Aunt Bye’s couldn’t be that friendly due to the things he does, but for most he did seem indeed quite harmless and more of a prankster. Though there are hints. But it takes to the end before things really get spooky and hairy and OMG will everyone be all right? I loved finding more about the ghost and what happened to the kid before he died. I was curious why he popped up now, which apparently is quite late for a ghost to pop up. Most of the ghosts pop up within a few years of dying.
I was a bit worried at first that the two hauntings would mean one may get less attention, or it may become confusing. But, in the end I can tell you that it was all done great and that both got enough attention and were finished wonderfully.
The haunting at Alice’s birth house was one that brought a lot of goosebumps to me from the start. There is a big spooky story surrounding it and it definitely broke my heart. Poor Alice, poor family. I can somehow understand that the father hid it from his child.. however, you can expect her to get curious especially given how the adults talk about it.

I loved the time period as well.

Plus, there are, at least in the beginning, extra bits and pieces that made the story even more interesting. News articles, what the ghost lamp is, and some other stuff. I would have liked some more of that.

Franklin x Eleanor. I got mixed feelings on that. On the one hand, YAS and ship ship ship. On the other hand… they are family in a way, and it just didn’t sit well with me.

The ending was a great one and I am so happy for all the characters. Plus, we also get some extra information about the characters at the end and I loved that this was added by the author.

This was a book I just flew through and that I would recommend to all.