Good Spirits (Ghosted, #1) by B.K. Borison

Synopsis (via Goodreads): He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.

With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?

Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm.

"Do not mistake me for a good man. I am not here out of some misplaced sense of honor or duty. I demand your attention and I desire your affection."

I am absolutely smitten with Good Spirits! It's definitely my new favorite holiday read, and I plan on re-reading it every Christmas for the foreseeable future. I fell in love with Harriet and Nolan, and I adored watching their friendship bloom into something more. They're both good-hearted people who truly deserve happiness, and I thought Borison navigated their emotions and circumstances really well. 

Harriet is always putting everyone else before herself — whether that’s her family or her friendly neighborhood mailman who can’t seem to deliver packages to the correct address. She constantly makes herself smaller to keep the people around her comfortable. She doesn’t think she deserves love, yet she’s always striving for acceptance. It takes Nolan bulldozing into her life for her to finally begin seeing the value she offers to the people — and the world — around her.

Nolan is my new favorite Irishman. I adored his personality and the way he couldn’t help but be drawn to Harriet and her ever-present enthusiasm. At first, I was convinced her clutter and over-the-top Christmas attire were going to give him a stroke — but they eventually grew on him, as did the girl they belonged to. When he started carrying candy canes on his person just in case she needed a “fix,” I completely melted. His stoicism was no match for Harriet’s unrelenting positivity.

This was my first book by B.K. Borison, but it definitely won’t be my last. The second book in the series, Grim Tidings, releases in September, and I already can’t wait to get my hands on it. (★★★★★)