Published By: Bedford Square
Pages: 384
Released On: 14/08/2025
Joel Foster is a hapless twenty-something. His girlfriend, Beth Lewis, would likely have been a hapless twenty-something, too, had she not been obliterated by a very large cement truck. Some time after Beth’s tragic death, Joel is still trying to juggle grief with the world of modern dating. And while he still feels like a widower, he has to find a new love before three years is up.
The catch? Just as Joel thinks he’s finally falling for someone, he starts getting haunted by Beth.
It’s not a ghost story, it’s a love story. With ghosts.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Bedford Square for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I love romance novels and I love mystical, ghostly stories, so this sounded right up my street.
The cover really grabbed me. It’s simple but it looked so cute.
It’s an interesting look at death and grief. I will say now that I fully believe in ghosts and spirits and whatnot, and I believe I have seen the ghosts of passed loved ones, and so the idea that you may still be able to see a loved one after death (even if not in the best of circumstances) is very comforting for me.
I liked that our protagonist was a man. Most of the romance books I read involve a lot of female main characters which I have no issue with, but it’s a fresh take on it to see it thorough a male character. I admit, it did mean I struggled to really feel a connection with Joel but I did like him.
It surprisingly manages to be funny and jokey but at the same time be sensitive and tender. It’s the perfect balance.
Whilst I enjoyed it from the off, I found it got even better as it went along. Lucas has really found a strong voice as it gets to the second half. So whilst the beginning was good and enjoyable, it got stronger and became really good as it went on. It was more developed, more layered.
Lucas has created a great sense of place and environment to support the characters’ stories.
I read a lot of romcoms, and whilst I generally enjoy them, they can get a bit samey, but that’s okay because it’s what I want and expect from the genre. But it was refreshing to read a romcom that was unique. It still gave me everything I expected from the genre, but he’s made it fresh and exciting which piqued and held my attention.
I read it one sitting. Even though it has some difficult topics, it doesn’t feel too heavy and is quite easy to fly through.
I believe this is Lucas’ debut and I think it is a promising start and I’ll keep my eye out for what comes next.
Books By Your Bedside 