Kristin's Bookshelf

📖 In These Gilded, Ghostly Hearts
✍️ Gwendolyn Kiste
🎙️ Stephanie Németh-Parker
⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved the concept of this novella, and the narration was easily the highlight. I’ve already found myself searching for more books narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker!

For such a short story, there is A LOT going on, and at times, I struggled to keep everything straight. We have our ghosts, including Daisy and Gatsby, and our living FMC, Mel, who is trying to help her mother find peace. She soon discovers moving on isn’t that simple and might not even be what her mother wants.

Where it fell short for me was the horror. There are ghosts, ectoplasm, and even a little murder, but it felt much more paranormal than horror.

And while there is LGBTQIAP+ representation, I would have loved more of Mel and Vera’s relationship and history.

Stephanie Németh-Parker really shined, giving the characters personality and bringing the ghostly world to life. She was easily my favorite part of the experience.

Overall, I enjoyed the premise, but I needed either more room for the story to breathe or a stronger dose of horror.