Happy Medium

January 1, 2024

Gretchen Acorn is a fake spirit medium. When she's asked to conduct an exorcism on a struggling goat farm so it can be sold, she decides the high pay and vacation in the country are worth pulling off a new con. But when she arrives at Gilded Creek Goat Farm, owner Charlie Waybill calls her a fraud (and more). For once, Gretchen isn't lying. Everett Waybill, who's been haunting the farm since 1924, is right by her side with alarming news: there's a curse on Gilded Creek that will kill Charlie if he leaves. Charlie doesn't believe the warning, but he gives Gretchen a month to convince him. As the days go by, Gretchen finds herself falling for Charlie. She's determined to find a way to save his life and dreams, even if doing so destroys her. This slightly supernatural romance is alternately hilarious and heartbreaking, with well-developed, realistic characters. VERDICT Adler's (Mrs. Nash's Ashes) unique plot and excellent writing will draw readers in and keep them up late into the night. Highly recommended for all collections.--Heather Miller Cover

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Starred review from February 12, 2024
Adler solidifies her status as a rising star of the rom-com genre with her wonderfully escapist sophomore romance (after Mrs. Nash’s Ashes). Gretchen Acorn comes from a long line of “bullshit artists.” In fact, Acorn isn’t even her real name. She makes a living as a fake spirit medium, justifying her deception by always trying to leave her marks’ lives better off than when she found them. When her highest-paying client calls her with concerns about a friend’s property, Gretchen heads to a country farm thinking she’ll spend a few days convincing an old man she’s exorcized his problem ghost. She’s not prepared to face Charlie Waybill, who is far too young, handsome, and skeptical for Gretchen’s comfort. Charlie sees right through her con and doesn’t plan on falling for it—or her, for that matter, no matter how attractive he finds her. Things get more complicated when Gretchen discovers she’s a better medium than she thought: there really is a ghost on Charlie’s property, and he urgently needs Gretchen’s help to break the curse that killed him and trapped him there—before it comes for Charlie. The witty one-liners, quirky characters, hint of magic, and idyllic setting make this a winner. Readers will be swept away. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary.