Merry Spooky Love by Josie Silver Review

What is Merry Spooky Love about?

Josie Silver returns to the world of the Bittersweet books with Melody Bittersweet, a woman whose ability to see ghosts makes an already unusual life even less straightforward. This time, a historic department store called Libertines faces the threat of closure after its owner dies. Melody is asked to help, and the assignment puts her back in the orbit of Fletcher Gunn, her ex, who is more skeptical of the supernatural than she is.

That setup gives the novel two intertwined rescue missions: the attempt to save a much-loved store and Melody’s effort to understand what she still feels for Fletcher. The store’s ghostly history supplies the seasonal mystery, while the former couple’s reunion offers the romance. Readers looking for a cozy Christmas book with a supernatural premise should find the combination immediately legible.

The story and its appeal

The premise makes good use of the department store as a setting. A store at Christmas is already a place of display, memory and carefully staged wonder; add a ghost who refuses to leave and a business facing an uncertain future, and the setting can carry both atmosphere and plot. Libertines is more than a backdrop: its threatened survival gives Melody and Fletcher a shared problem that can bring them together without making the romance feel detached from the rest of the story.

The ex-lovers structure is also promising because it begins with history already between the leads. The book does not need to spend its opening establishing why Melody and Fletcher notice one another. The more interesting question is whether the people they have become can meet again honestly. Fletcher’s skepticism also provides a natural point of friction: Melody is working with the supernatural as a fact of her daily life, while he is reluctant to accept that the dead may be part of the explanation.

What sounds strongest

Silver’s central tonal balancing act is the book’s clearest selling point. Paranormal romance can turn eerie, comic or sentimental; Christmas romance often leans toward warmth and comfort. Combining the two lets the story shift between a mysterious presence and the familiar pleasures of a winter reunion. If the supernatural thread is treated as part of Melody’s emotional world rather than a gimmick, it can make the romance feel distinctive.

The setting has strong visual and emotional potential too. A threatened independent department store invites questions about what communities choose to preserve, what is lost when a place closes, and how memory attaches itself to buildings. Those ideas can deepen a festive romance without requiring the novel to become solemn. The premise also allows a satisfying contrast between the practical problem of saving a business and the less measurable work of repairing trust.

What readers should keep in mind

This is the third Bittersweet novel, so newcomers may want to start with the earlier books if they prefer to meet recurring characters in sequence. The basic premise is clear enough to welcome new readers, but a series romance can carry emotional callbacks that land more strongly with previous context. A reader who only wants a standalone Christmas love story should check the publisher’s series information before buying.

The early review picture is limited at release week, and the book’s publication timing differs by territory. That matters for anyone searching “where to buy Merry Spooky Love” or “is Merry Spooky Love out yet”: the UK digital edition is already available, while the US publication date is October 13. This is a useful distinction because bookstore listings may show different dates depending on format and market.

Themes, mood and ideal reader

The story’s setup naturally brings together second chances, grief, memory, belonging and the question of what makes a place worth saving. The romance may appeal most to readers who like an old relationship tested by new circumstances, rather than a meet-cute that begins from zero. The ghostly element gives those themes a literal afterlife, while the Christmas setting promises warmth around the more melancholy ideas.

Try this if your seasonal reading list needs something beyond a straightforward holiday rom-com: an exes-to-lovers relationship, a haunted setting, a heroine with a paranormal gift, and a community-facing plot. If you want a tightly plotted horror novel or a fully standalone romance with no supernatural elements, this may be a less obvious fit.

Is Merry Spooky Love worth reading?

The premise is an appealing match for readers who want romance with a little shiver in it. The strongest reasons to pick it up are the unusual combination of a haunted department store, a ghost-seeing heroine, and an emotionally complicated reunion. Those elements give the book a clear identity among Christmas romance releases.

A final recommendation should wait for the reading experience itself, especially pacing, character development and how convincingly the mystery and relationship resolve. On the information available at release week, this is best described as a promising seasonal pick for fans of Josie Silver’s Bittersweet series and paranormal Christmas fiction—not as a confirmed must-read. Read a sample first if you are new to the series.

Where to get Merry Spooky Love

The US publisher lists a publication date of October 13, 2026, and the UK digital release was October 8. Check your regional retailer for the format available in your country. The official publisher listing is here: Merry Spooky Love by Josie Silver.

About the author

Josie Silver is the author of contemporary romance novels including One Day in December and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird. Merry Spooky Love continues her Bittersweet series with paranormal and holiday elements. This article is prepared by the That Love Podcast editorial team using publisher information and available early reader discussion; it does not present an invented personal reading experience or quote a consensus that is not yet established.

You may also enjoy

For more seasonal romance, browse our romance book recommendations, holiday rom-com books, Christmas love stories, October romance releases, and second-chance romance novels.

Frequently asked questions

Is Merry Spooky Love by Josie Silver out yet?

The UK e-book and audiobook editions were released October 8, 2026. The US publisher lists October 13, 2026, so availability depends on country and format.

What is Merry Spooky Love about?

Melody Bittersweet, who can see ghosts, is asked to help save the department store Libertines. The work brings her back together with her ex, Fletcher Gunn, while a ghostly presence complicates the job.

Is Merry Spooky Love part of a series?

Yes. It is the third novel in Josie Silver’s Bittersweet series. New readers can follow the central premise, though earlier books may provide context for returning characters.

Who wrote Merry Spooky Love?

Josie Silver wrote the novel. It was incorrectly attributed to Kayla Grosse in the earlier information supplied; the publisher confirms Silver as the author.

Is Merry Spooky Love a Christmas romance?

Yes. The story is set around a threatened department store at Christmas and combines a romantic reunion with paranormal elements.

Is there a ghost in Merry Spooky Love?

The premise centers on Melody’s ability to see ghosts and a ghostly presence connected to the Libertines department store. The novel’s supernatural strand is part of its romance and seasonal mystery.

Who are the main characters?

Melody Bittersweet and her ex, Fletcher Gunn, are central to the story. Melody is tasked with helping the store, while Fletcher’s skepticism creates a point of tension.

Do I need to read the first two Bittersweet books?

The book’s setup can be understood on its own, but readers who enjoy character continuity may prefer to start with the earlier installments.

What genre is Merry Spooky Love?

It is a contemporary romance with paranormal, ghost-story and Christmas-fiction elements.

Where can I buy Merry Spooky Love?

The publisher’s official US page lists the book and its formats. Availability differs by region; use the publisher listing or a local retailer to confirm the edition date.

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