Published by Pamela Dorman Books on Sept 22, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A debut speculative romcom for fans of MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING and THE DEAD ROMANTICS, in which a woman must team up with a distractingly handsome ghost to save her childhood crush (and love of her life) from a generational curse.
Libby Lakoski has two major problems. First, she’s secretly in love with her best friend, Carter Coldwell, and second, he’s marrying someone else. For fifteen years, Carter’s affluent life on the Upper East Side has been the definition of “home” for Libby, a stark contrast to her shoebox apartment and absent mother. Carter’s the only person who has ever made Libby feel chosen, and she’s not ready to give up on him. Sure, his fiancée is a British diamond heiress, but Carter and Libby have years of history filled with runs in Central Park and late-night pizza. Not to mention, she’s the only one who knows his family is cursed.
But then a third problem presents itself—or, himself. Trip Coldwell is Carter’s handsome, smart, flirtatious cousin who also happens to be a ghost. Trip’s “unfinished business” is to break the Coldwell curse, but the solution hinges on Carter getting married. Unfortunately, Libby is the only living person who can see him, and her objective is the exact opposite.
Appealing to Libby’s unrequited crush, Trip enlists her help to break the curse before Carter is affected. As they follow a trail of clues across New York City, Libby learns more about Trip and the complicated dynamics of the Coldwell family. She finds herself questioning just how much Carter reciprocated her friendship, feeling perplexed by a growing attraction to Trip, and worse, fantasizing about actually touching him. With the countdown to the wedding in full swing, Libby must choose between breaking the curse and holding tight to her best friend forever.
In an effort to save her best friend (and long time crush) from a generational curse, Libby must partner with his "spirited" cousin to break the curse before it claims both Carter and his cousin's lives.
This book surprised me in the best ways! The men in Carter's family were all fated to die by taxi due to an curse, but his family believed Carter marrying Sabrina would break said curse. Libby was already invested in saving Carter, but then she met his cousin Tripp, who was currently lying in a coma due to being struck by a taxi and was even MORE motivated to crack this curse. With two lives in the balance, the stakes were high.
I love to laugh, and this story was packed with humor. I had so much fun with Tripp and Libby as they attempted to figure things out. They had a fantastic rapport and their banter was spectacular. I also really loved seeing Libby see things from a different perspective. The more she reflected on her past with Carter, the more she grew. She experienced a lot of moments of clarity as she sought to resolve the curse, and this was largely due to Tripp. I found them to be perfect for each other, and hate me, but I didn't want Libby to succeed in her plans to stop the wedding.
Overall: LOVED IT!!! I adored the dynamic between Libby and Trip and was waiting with bated breath for them to break the curse. You're the One The I Haunt was fun and sweet, and it was a treat seeing Libby grow so much.
Published by Dell on October 6, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Enchanted Realism, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A woman reunites with her first love to the solve the mystery of the strange occurrences plaguing her family’s pear orchard—only to discover the land holds more magic than she thought—in this enchanting and cozy romance from the author of Racing Hearts.
Ali Reid has luck so bad she might actually be cursed. The pear orchard she inherited from her late uncle is drowning in debt, her fiancé and best friend have left her, and now, with picking season looming, she has no way to harvest all her fruit before it rots on the branch.
Desperate, Ali turns to Logan Wright—the town’s stoic carpenter, her first kiss, and the one she left behind. Now, fourteen years later, Logan agrees to move into her farmhouse to help, wearing plaid and a steady gaze, even though the land holds memories he's not keen to revisit.
As they work side by side, Ali’s feelings for Logan come rushing back, and the orchard’s troubles turn increasingly bizarre. Unnatural storms rage overhead. Jewel-toned rabbits take shelter in the barn. And, worst of all, the pears are crystallizing on their branches, like some kind of fairytale gone wrong.
The deeper they dig into these mysteries, the more Ali and Logan begin to suspect the land actually does carry a curse, one that's persisted over generations and touches any visitor who lingers too long. And now, with the magic stirring once again, Ali must uncover the orchard’s secrets before she loses the one she loves all over again.
Ali inherits the family pear orchard as well as its debt and a generational curse. Reunited with her first love, Logan, she attempts to break the curse and save the farm.
I sang the praised of Adams' debut and JUMPED at the chance to read her follow up. Though this was very different from Racing Hearts, Under the Orchard's Spell was just as delightful.
I loved rooting for Ali as she struggled with the orchard. As if the debt wasn't enough, she found herself short on help with the harvest which was quickly diminishing due to a curse she was unaware of. This magical touch was an interesting one. The ways in which the land and its inhabitants were affected ran the gamut from whimsical to devastating for a farmer, but I loved that it pushed Ali forward on her personal journey which was way past due. It forced Ali to face some of her demons, acknowledge some hard truths, and reconcile with her past.
It's that last one I enjoyed the most because I am always here for some love and forgiveness. There were several story arcs that were wonderful, others that were necessary, but none quite as welcomed as Ali reuniting with Logan. It may have been 14 years since their romance was cut short, but the fires still burned. The years changed these two, but time didn't change the way they felt about one another. They were each other's home.
There were so many elements that added to my reading enjoyment. Among them was the setting. I have a penchant for farms, and Adams did an incredible job pulling me into this magical place. I could hear the rustle of the leaves and feel the crisp, fall breeze. The found family vibe was strong as well, and supporting characters, like Val and Mason, won my heart.
Overall: I adored cheering for Ali as she embarked on a journey to save the farm, break the curse, and fall in love.
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
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