ARC Review: Ghosted (Northanger Abbey #1) by Amanda Quain
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Series: Northanger Abbey #1
Author: Amanda Quain
Published July 25th 2023 by Wednesday Books
Goodreads Synopsis
Never Have I Ever meets The X-Files in Amanda Quain's Ghosted, a gender-bent contemporary retelling of the Jane Austen classic, Northanger Abbey.
Hattie Tilney isn’t a believer. Yes, she’s a senior at America’s most (allegedly) haunted high school, Northanger Abbey. But ever since her paranormal-loving dad passed away, she’s hung up her Ghostbusters suit, put away the EMF detectors and thermal cameras, and moved on. She has enough to worry about in the land of the living--like taking care of her younger brother, Liam, while their older sister spirals out and their mother, Northanger’s formidable headmistress, buries herself in her work. If Hattie just works hard enough and keeps that overachiever mask on tight through graduation, maybe her mom will finally notice her.
But the mask starts slipping when Hattie’s assigned to be an ambassador to Kit Morland, a golden retriever of a boy who’s transferred to Northanger on—what else—a ghost-hunting scholarship. The two are partnered up for an investigative project on the school’s paranormal activity, and Hattie quickly strikes a deal: Kit will present whatever ghostly evidence he can find to prove that campus is haunted, and Hattie will prove that it’s not. But as they explore the abandoned tunnels and foggy graveyards of Northanger, Hattie starts to realize that Kit might be the kind of person that makes her want to believe in something—and someone—for the first time.
With her signature wit and slow burn romance, Amanda Quain turns another Austen classic on its head in this sparkling retelling that proves sometimes the ghosts are just a metaphor after all.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
Hattie Tilney doesn't believe in the supernatural, even if her school is the most haunted in the country - allegedly. Losing her father has made her grow up and be more realistic, especially since she has to care for her younger brother basically singlehandedly. Trying to make her mam, the headmistress happy, Hattie agrees to guide the new starter at school, Kit Morland, around, even if he is there on a ghost hunting scholarship. Being dragged back into that world reignites her past love, bringing her closer to her father's memory, and opening up new oppportunities.
Now, if you've read my reviews before, you probably know I'm a sucker for anything Austen related, especially modern retellings. I'll admit that Northanger Abbey is my least favourite of her works, but Ghosted was such a great take on it, that I didn't mind. In this genderbend modern retelling, the Abbey is the school where our FMC Hattie attends and lives with her family. It's known as the most haunted building in America, and a lot of students attend the school to study the supernatural, there's even scholarships on offer for ghost hunters. This is how the MMC Kit becomes a student. I liked the way that he and Hattie were so similar, but also very different. Hattie had loved ghost hunting, but her father's death took away that joy. Working with Kit really reignited her enjoyment, and the premise of her being a fact checker for Kit was a really ingenious idea.
Dates Read:
October 26-28 2023
Rating
4 Stars
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