Happy Medium

4,25⭐️

A charismatic con-woman, a gruff but tender-hearted goat farmer, and a sassy ghost with a TV obsession come together because of a decades long curse.

The story is cute, the farm setting is charming, and the characters are mostly likeable but I found myself wanting just a little bit more.

I think part of that is just the nature of how the plot moves forward. Gretchen is simultaneously building a romantic relationship with Charlie and a friendship with Everett (the ghost), and I think that meant potential romantic development gave way to ghost bonding.

I'd still recommend reading it if the plot interests you. I enjoyed it enough to shed a tear or two towards the end but it's not something I'm going to revisit or think much about now that I'm done with it.

4.5 stars rounded up ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

If you love small-town romances and don't mind some paranormal aspects, this book is perfect for you! It's about a fake spirit medium named Gretchen, who is tasked with helping a friend of a client sell their house by exorcising the ghost who haunts it. However, the owner of the house doesn't believe in the supernatural, and Gretchen finds herself trying to convince him that this time, it's not a con, and there truly is a ghost named Everett haunting the house.

The ghost, Everett, is hilarious and unhinged, and the main couple, Gretchen and Charlie, are both quite relatable. I couldn't help but devour the book in a single day! The spicy parts of the book are very well-written, and I was hooked from the very first chapter. The only reason I didn't give it a 5-star rating was that I felt we could have had a more thorough development of the main couple's relationship. While the book is not short by any means, I felt that the pacing of the relationship was a bit rushed at times.

Happy medium was the perfect mix of funny, heartwarming, and enchanting, all wrapped up with an original plot for the seamless rom-com recipe.
Grenchem was raised to be a con artist and earns her living pretending to speak with ghosts. In an surprising turn of events, she ends up in haunted farm speaking with a real ghost, trying to convince a sceptic tattooed farmed that this time she is telling the true.

I was utterly charmed by Gretchen and Charlie! Their banter was great, and their chemistry was off the charts. I must admit that at some point I was a bit worried with Charlie's behaviour, but he does have a wonderful heart that won me over completely.

Everett was the best character and absolutely steals the show!

I would like to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest an honest review.

P.S: As a former big4 consultant, I feel obliged to defend their honour and tell you that absolutely no one working in Deloitte, PwC, EY or KPMG would ever go to a bar wearing clothes with the company's logo, much less bet $1,000 on whichever... everyone is usually too overworked, and value their hard-earned salary too much.

Happy Medium is a delightful read that I devoured in just one sitting. It blends humour with a touch of the paranormal in a heartwarming and funny way. Author Sarah Adler has created lovable characters in Gretchen Acorn and Charlie Waybill that perfectly fit in the grumpy x sunshine genre.

Gretchen, a fake medium who prefers the ‘harmless' con of speaking with the dead over outright hustles, finds herself in a tricky situation when tasked with cleansing a supposedly haunted goat farm. Meeting the sceptical and brooding (and hot) Charlie puts a spanner in the works. When Gretchen bumps into the real ghost doing the real haunting, her adventure takes a surprising turn, making for a charming and unconventional supernatural rom-com.

The premise of Happy Medium combines humour, romance, and a bit of the paranormal refreshingly well. The chemistry between Gretchen and Charlie is electric. The addition of a handsome (and horny) ghost adds to the chaos and charm of the story. Adler excels at creating relatable characters and placing them in entertaining situations.

I highly recommend Happy Medium with a rating of 4.5 stars. It's a fun read that offers a mix of contemporary and unconventional elements. Whether you enjoy paranormal romances or grumpy x sunshine romances, this book is sure to satisfy you.