Review: Ghosted: A Northanger Abbey Story by Amanda Quain

A coming-of-age story that demonstrates the difficulty of sitting with grief and the power of exorcising personal ghosts.  

Henrietta (Hattie) Tilney is the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect friend. Ever since her dad died, she has tried to be perfect, to wear a facade to protect her heart and please her mother, the head of Northanger Abbey School. Northanger is known for its hauntings, due to historical legend and a very popular film. Hattie no longer believes in the unknown or paranormal, not since her dad passed and took that part of her with him. Everything is going perfectly toward graduation until a new student, Kit Morland, is paired with her for a school project, and he is determined to find a ghost. As Kit begins to see through Hattie's mask, they both uncover ghosts, but not the ones they were expecting. 

This book was an interesting retelling of Northanger Abbey. I really liked Kit Morland, his positivity and perspective were a breath of fresh air in the stifling prep school. Hattie’s persona created to hold herself together was relatable, despite being very sad. In the end, the theme of grief and confronting ghosts was explored with gentle precision through this unique retelling. 

If you love: 

📖Jane Austen retellings, 

🪞Coming-of-age stories,

☀️Grumpy-Sunshine trope,

🕗Second Chances,

👻Ghost stories, 

Be sure to check out Ghosted: A Northanger Abbey Story in stores on July 25 or preorder today. 

Thank you to Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the copy of this ARC. This review is my honest opinion.