Ghosts: A Novel is not actually about ghosts. Not one little bit.
Yes, I was disappointed at first. I do love my supernatural horror. However, this book ended up being so darn fantastic that I ended up not missing the “ghosts” at all.
What’s Ghosts: A Novel about?
Ghosts is a bittersweet, funny, sarcastic, hopeful, and honest portrayal of navigating single life in your 30s and all that it brings. Like, pressure to find a partner. Having friends with kids. Or, friends who want kids but can’t have them. Friends with spouses you don’t particularly like.
Dating apps. Dating, in general.
The freedom that you mostly enjoy but still desperately would trade for being in a secure, happy relationship with a loving partner. Y’know, little things like that.
Okay, but where do the “ghosts” come in?
A large portion of Ghosts is about Nina meeting a guy, dating said guy, then suddenly being ghosted. (Ghosting seems to a hot topic for books this year.)
The guy that Nina’s been in a legit relationship with has stopped seeing her, speaking to her, texting her, calling her, etc. He’s basically fallen off the face of the earth with no explanation, leaving poor Nina to wonder what the eff went wrong.
The second part of Ghosts is Nina dealing with the soul-crushing aftermath.
Amongst all the romantic drama, Nina’s also bombarded with career problems, unraveling friendships as people marry off and have kids, and aging parents who aren’t taking very good care of themselves. Basically, Nina’s life just implodes. All she’s left with are the “ghosts” of the life she thought she was going to have.
What I loved about Ghosts
As you read this book review, you might be thinking, Come on, that’s a bit much. All of that happening at once? But the way it unfolds in Ghosts is totally believable. Sometimes in life — often in your mid-to-late thirties, I’m finding — shit just repeatedly hits the fan.
So much of Ghosts made me laugh out loud. Author Dolly Alderton is a brilliant writer, and main character Nina (who I suspect is semi-autobiographical) is someone I’d love to know in real life.
I had a very visceral reaction to Ghosts. There were so many times when I wanted to reach through the pages and hug Nina so damn badly. I was angry, devastated, and distraught. Alderton’s thoughtful, poignant writing made me feel all these emotions for Nina, but also for the “ghosts” of my past, present, and future self in similar experiences.
Should you read Ghosts?
Ghosts was hard to read sometimes, but it’s one of the best books I’ve encountered this year. Amidst all the emotions are tons of laugh and nostalgic moments that make this book unforgettable and totally relatable.
Think of Ghosts: A Novel as Bridget Jones Diary meets No One Tells You This. You’ll feel this book if:
- you’re a single woman in your 30s+
- you’re a married woman without children who’s surrounded by a lot of women with children
- you’re an only child
- you’ve ever been ghosted and it’s wrecked your heart
What’s the book-inspired recipe?
Be sure to check back in for my book-inspired recipe: Super Simple Mac and Cheese.
