About the Book
"I was in a slump where I hated everything I read, and The Ghost of Us lifted me right out of it. Absolutely fantastic." --Dan Wells, bestselling author of I Am Not a Serial Killer
One Last Stop meets Cemetery Boys in this swoony YA romance from beloved author James L. Sutter.
Eighteen-year-old ghost hunter Cara is determined to escape life as a high school outcast by finding proof of the supernatural. Yet when she stumbles upon the spirit of Aiden, a popular upperclassman who died the previous year, she learns that ghosts have goals of their own. In the wake of his death, Aiden's little sister, Meredith, has become a depressed recluse, and Aiden can't pass on into the afterlife until he knows she'll be okay. Believing that nothing pulls someone out of a slump like romance, he makes Cara a deal: seduce Meredith out of her shell and take her to prom, and Aiden will give Cara all the evidence she needs for fame. If not, well--no dates, no ghost.
Wooing the standoffish Meredith isn't going to be easy, however. With Aiden's coaching, Cara slowly manages to win Meredith over--but finds herself accidentally falling for her in the process. Worse yet: as Meredith gets happier and Aiden's mission nears completion, his ghost begins to fade. Can Cara continue to date Meredith under false pretenses, especially if it means Aiden will vanish forever? Or should she tell Meredith the truth, and risk both of them hating her? And either way, will she lose her only shot at proving ghosts are real?
About the Author :
JAMES L. SUTTER is a co-creator of the best-selling Pathfinder and Starfinder roleplaying games. He's the author of the young adult romance novel Darkhearts, as well as the fantasy novels Death's Heretic and The Redemption Engine. His short stories have appeared in Nightmare, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, the #1 Amazon best-seller Machine of Death, and more. James lives in Seattle, where he's performed with bands ranging from metalcore to musical theater.
Review :
Praise for The Ghost of Us:
Autostraddle, "46 Most Anticipated Queer Books Coming Out In June 2024"
Book Riot, "Ultimate Guide to Spring 2024 YA Book Releases"
Owlcrate, "10 LGBTQIA+ Authors You Should Be Reading"
"Sutter continues to establish his brand of emotionally honest romances." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A light paranormal story centering on a sweet queer romance and teens navigating big changes." -Kirkus Reviews
"Quirky and fun." --School Library Journal
"The Ghost of Us is an intriguing story that goes beyond supernatural existence and will have you yelling at the characters because you love them and only want the best. This is a story that teenagers ages 13-18 will enjoy but is one that adults can engage with as they see a younger version of themselves reflected." - YA Books Central
"Sweet, acerbic, heartfelt, and witty, The Ghost of Us is like a long, languid hangout with the best people you know on a warm summer afternoon--with a ghost along with the ride. A warm, wonderful story of first loves and last moments." --Robert Jackson Bennett, award-winning author of The Tainted Cup and Foundryside
"Smart, addictive, and romantic as hell, THE GHOST OF US is the paranormal rom-com of my dreams! It's a perfect blend of heart and humor, and the way it gives romantic comedy tropes a supernatural twist is truly marvellous. It's a must-read that'll have you swooning, laughing out loud and wishing you had your own ghostly wingman. I loved this book!" --Cale Dietrich, author of The Rules of Royalty and co-author of If This Gets Out
"I was in a slump where I hated everything I read, and The Ghost of Us lifted me right out of it. Absolutely fantastic." --Dan Wells, bestselling author of I Am Not a Serial Killer
"Darkhearts author Sutter brings the romance with his new novel about a teen ghost hunter who actually finds a ghost." - The Southern Bookseller Review
Praise for Darkhearts:
"Sutter does an excellent job of building both character and compelling plot, turning his novel into more than a simple summer romance as he brings David and Chance to vivid life on the page." - Booklist (starred review)
"Sutter's swoony YA debut...is romance at its absolute best." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Tenderly written and exceptionally sweet... A funny romp with a lot of heart." - Kirkus Reviews
"[An] ebullient romance...humorous dialogue and steamy romance, vibrant supporting characters, sex-positive messaging, and complex ruminations on sexuality propel this heartfelt read." - Publishers Weekly
"I stayed up until almost 2 AM reading this book and had absolutely no regrets...Sutter masterfully deals with topics of grief, sexuality, jealousy, parents, insecurity, and friendship." - GeekMom
"An achingly real tale of first queer romance and a brutal cut at the lies we tell ourselves all in one hilarious package. Hard emotional truths lead to a satisfying, healing payoff in this love story filled with music, woodworking, missed opportunities, and nuanced queer representation. Seeing someone push through their bs to find love and real emotional growth? We love to see it."- M. K. England, author of The Disasters and The One True Me and You
"Sutter's breezy, warm-hearted prose feels almost like a trick: blink and you'll catch yourself surprised by the more emotional moments in the book. A fantastic, slow-burn romance both sweet and poignant, hilarious and brilliant." - Cassandra Khaw, USA Today bestselling author of The Salt Grows Heavy
"Laugh-out-loud and tearful at the same time, Sutter's Darkhearts combines real characters, smart prose, and an emotional journey into one fantastically relatable read." - Charlie N. Holmberg, bestselling author of The Paper Magician series and You're My I.T.
"A messy, joyful story about what happens when rockstars meet reality, and about finding the part of yourself that makes you whole. These boys and their love story filled up my heart--I couldn't stop reading, and I didn't want to." - Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of Illuminae
"Darkhearts is a delightful, boy-centric YA that doesn't shy away from Romance with a capital R. Chance is a soulful, ethereal mystery to the reader, and David a down-to-earth, weighty mystery to himself, but wherever your tastes lie, you'll find it in Darkhearts. Sutter has created a world that will feel starkly familiar to teens, layered with exploration and an unflinchingly real glimpse into the sometimes elusive world of the teen boy. Top everything off with an insta-fave quirky best friend, and a setting steeped with musicians' culture--Sutter is an author to watch." - Aprilynne Pike, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wings series
"Characters so well-drawn you feel like you know them--and so compelling you wish that you did. Darkhearts is rad as hell." - Dan Wells, bestselling author of Partials and I Am Not A Serial Killer
