You’re the One I Haunt is a charming paranormal romance. It starts with wanting to stop a wedding, to questioning if we’ve been true to ourselves. I was giggling the whole time! Keep reading this book review of You’re the One I Haunt for my full thoughts.
Summary
Libby Lakoski has two major problems. First, she’s secretly in love with her best friend, Carter Coldwell, and second, he’s marrying someone else. For fifteen years, Carter’s affluent life on the Upper East Side has been the definition of “home” for Libby, a stark contrast to her shoebox apartment and absent mother. Carter’s the only person who has ever made Libby feel chosen, and she’s not ready to give up on him. Sure, his fiancée is a British diamond heiress, but Carter and Libby have years of history filled with runs in Central Park and late-night pizza. Not to mention, she’s the only one who knows his family is cursed.
But then a third problem presents itself—or, himself. Trip Coldwell is Carter’s handsome, smart, flirtatious cousin who also happens to be a ghost. Trip’s “unfinished business” is to break the Coldwell curse, but the solution hinges on Carter getting married. Unfortunately, Libby is the only living person who can see him, and her objective is the exact opposite.
Appealing to Libby’s unrequited crush, Trip enlists her help to break the curse before Carter is affected. As they follow a trail of clues across New York City, Libby learns more about Trip and the complicated dynamics of the Coldwell family. She finds herself questioning just how much Carter reciprocated her friendship, feeling perplexed by a growing attraction to Trip, and worse, fantasizing about actually touching him. With the countdown to the wedding in full swing, Libby must choose between breaking the curse and holding tight to her best friend forever.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
You’re the One I Haunt begins by asking us what we would do to get the person of our dreams, to fight for the one we love. Libby has always been in love with her best friend Carter, so when his wedding looms closer, she has to decide if she’s willing to ruin the friendship. But she ends up getting involved in a ghost and a quest to end their family’s curse to save even the chance of a future for Carter. What I loved about You’re the One I Haunt is that it forces Libby to ask herself who she has been. In long term friendships, we can find ourselves adapting. We can find ourselves becoming the ‘easiest’ person, the one we know they like, but that isn’t who we are. And in You’re the One I Haunt, Libby has to look herself in the mirror and ask herself what version of herself loves Carter.
I had the best time with You’re the One I Haunt. There’s non-stop banter, ghostly shenanigans, and a very “if he wanted to, he would” vibe. It’s my favorite vibe! Mostly because it’s so true and we all need to hear it. You’re the One I Haunt is a story about bravery. About being the person we were afraid to be, the one we were hiding – maybe even from ourselves – and perhaps inspiring others to do the same. There’s plenty of chemistry as Libby explores these side characters who are all there to focus on what someone can extract from us. Only we can set us free and Libby has to figure out if it’s worth it to be ourselves or to live where someone else is influencing who we are.
(Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. For more information you can look at the Policy page. If you’re uncomfortable with that, know you can look up the book on any of the sites below to avoid the link)
Find You’re the One I Haunt on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.