Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen

 

Paper Ghosts has just the right combination of magical realism and plausibility to draw the reader in and prompt them to ponder what reality is for the Wester women. Do they see ghosts, or do they have overly active imaginations?

It's 1976, and young Willamena Wester, a popular high school senior, has her future set. While her friends are considering marriage or college, Wills is determined to stay at her ancestral home with her grandmother and carry on the family tradition of being a know-all in a small North Carolina town. Some townspeople call the Wester women witches; others say they use information to their advantage. Either way, the women of Wester House are both revered and feared. All is going according to plan until Wills meets a charismatic musician who charms her and makes her see another possible future. Fate has a heavy hand on the Wester women, however, and Wills' future is unexpectedly sealed.

Fast forward to the present: Bailey Wester is returning to Wester House and to her grandmother, Willamena, under less than ideal circumstances. Bailey's troubled past is again coming to the forefront and threatening to overshadow Bailey and those around her. Trying to make peace with her grandmother while rectifying past wrongs consumes her.

I found the premise interesting and the characters intriguing. Wills and Bailey are at odds because of their similar natures, which makes the reader wish they would overcome their differences and be honest with each other. Wills withholds family secrets from Bailey that would help Bailey understand herself and erase some of the guilt she feels about her past. Theirs is a complicated relationship full of heartbreak and miscues. The writing is excellent and the story compelling.

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is September 1, 2026.

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The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 

Silvia Moreno-Garcia can be counted on to write a moody, noir book that is both rich in characters and has an attention-grabbing plot. Her books Mexican Gothic and The Bewitching are two of my favorites. The Intrigue, while not containing that magical realism touch, looks into the heart of a grifter and makes one root for him to get his big payoff.

Ulises, an aging con artist, needs to make a quick exit from 1940s Mexico City. Usually preying on lonely women through letters, he decides to take the next step and meet Perla, his intended target. Moving into the boardinghouse she runs in Veracruz, Ulises goes to work charming her. Perla isn't a pushover, however, and her niece, Ines, sees through Ulises' scheme and demands to be let in on the scam. As things get more complicated, Ulises begins to question his decisions and wonders if involving himself in Perla's life was a good idea. Seeing no way out, Ulises is caught between Perla and Ines, with few options.

This is a beautifully written and imaginative story. The three main characters are, at times, both sympathetic and conniving. They are well matched in terms of what they want and their determination to get it. Their deceptions--to themselves and to others--make for a good tale. 

4/5 stars.

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