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This is exactly the kind of Halloween-themed novella I’ve been wanting to read this month. A small town setting that isn’t on the East Coast combined with a second chance vibe as the MMC Mike returns home to help his sister is the perfect fall vibe.

The dynamic between Mike and Belle, particularly in who loves and who doesn’t love Halloween, is so fun. As someone who is a huge Halloween stan and married to someone that doesn’t quite have the same enthusiasm, it’s nice to see that in a story. It was also great to see two people who had a miscommunication in high school work things out now that they’re adults who can maturely reflect on the situation. It isn’t some huge blowout or tangled web to get there, which I appreciate. The story is paced well and by the time it comes to a close, I feel like I’ve lived the last few weeks with them.