My first thought when I read through The Dead Romantic was "this book is very Emily Henry-coded!", and I mean it as a compliment. I think that Ashley Poston have a way with words as shown with how many sticky notes that I put into the book when I discover meaningful quote or romantic scene. Florence Day might think that romance is already dead for her, but her ghostly new editor, Benji Andor will prove otherwise.

The Dead Romantics story is actually very simple and straightforward. While its very light in paranormal aspect

like I can already guess why Benji become a ghost in the first place, although the connection between Benji, Florence and Ann Nichols, the writer whom Florence become a ghostwriter for her books was little bit surprising

,  the book tackle a very heavy topic. The death of your loved ones. Florence herself already in the low places in the beginning of the book. Her writing block and her bitterness toward romance make Florence can't finish writing Ann Nichols's new book while the deadline already approaching. While she make a pretty bad impression toward Benji as her new executive editor, Florence find out that her Dad already gone before she has a chance to meet him for the last time. This part is pretty much hard to read and I will lie if I'm almost not shed a tears or two because the grief that Florence feels still pretty fresh. Her regrets was apparent.

With the story unfold, we get why Florence leave Mairmont in the first place and only comeback to prepare her Dad's funeral. While Florence's parents are supportive parent to Florence, her relationship with her little sister, Alice was pretty much strained while her middle brother, Carver try to play as peacemaker. I think one of the spotlight of this book is the interaction between Day siblings. Alice might act hostile and unfriendly, but Florence know that some of its because of her leaving the home. The remaining Day members might hide one or two things from Florence but in the end they become solid. I feel like I can understand the way Florence feels because we both firstborn and like Florence, I also move out from my parents home although the reason was different. But the feel of alienated from your family that Florence feel was real and I kinda resonated with that. 

For a book with "death" as its main topic, Poshton sure can balance between gloomy and hopeful vibes. There are some scenes that can bring tears to your eyes but there also some banter between Florence and Benji that will make you smile. The "dead" pun are pretty much hilarious. Benji himself at first seems like stern man but who knows that he has a golden heart inside? He is also a hopeless romantic and reading romance novel??? Yeah, I know this is a romance and the way Benji written pretty much an example of man character written by woman, but eh, I used to know my male friend who also read romance and I know some male author that also write romance. As for the sex scene, the scene pretty much fade to black (lel) and full of metaphors so maybe perfect if you feel uncomfortable reading detailed and explicit sex scenes. I don't mind with the vanilla sex, since I think that The Dead Romantics was more about Florence's journey to find herself after her ex-boyfriend betrayal who make her not believe in love and grief over her Dad's death. The romance is more like a bonus. Maybe some things that still bugged me is

why Florence didn't know about Ann Nichols's fate before she start writing as her ghostwriter? Is it weird if you ghostwrite for a famous author but never see her/him face to face and only connected toward their agent? This is the part that kinda left me dumbfounded.

If you like your romance light and tend toward the heroine's journey to find herself, with some of ghostly elements and meaningful discussion about life and death, then The Dead Romantics is pretty much your forte.

PS: I feel like this book maybe start as Reylo fanfic? I mean the name "Benji Andor" is pretty much a dead giveaway, har har.