A modern, romantic twist on A Christmas Carol, but instead of ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future in the traditional sense, we get something way more charming and very B.K. Borison-coded. Harriet is our main character, and I loved her. She’s sweet, a little messy, very human, and written with so much charm that I didn’t even care that she wasn’t totally “unique.” I just wanted to hang out with her.

The romance didn’t immediately hook me but it did grow on me, and by the end I was fully invested. And can we talk about the ghost? Because an Irish fisherman ghost was absolutely not something I knew I needed in my life, but I was into it. The chemistry was certainly there but I felt they almost had an instant love connection and I would have liked a bit more development there. , However, I really appreciated the emotional growth both characters went through together. This is an open door romance, and even without the spicy scenes, the tension and development, would have still kept the story interesting.

I listened to this on audiobook, and I truly think that’s what made the story for me. I know some people don’t like the Irish accent, which honestly boggles my mind, but I loved it. I’d definitely recommend giving the audio a shot.

I didn’t completely love the magic system and there are some inconsistencies. But this isn’t fantasy, so I’ll let that slide this time. While this certainly has the ‘holiday’ vibes, if you’re looking for a full-on Christmas book, this isn’t that. This more a romance with a small holiday twist.

Overall, this was cute, cozy, clever, and a really enjoyable winter read. Perfect for sipping wine, curling up, and relaxing.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★★

Good Spirits is out now. Thanks to Libro.fm for my copy in exchange for my honest review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.