The Haunted Librarian
Author: Auralee Wallace
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: B
What I’m Talking About:
Raised in the foster system, Amelia kept to herself and learned early on not to share with others the fact that she can communicate with ghosts. She created rules for herself and stayed away from living humans as not to appear weird and be rejected. It’s a sad existence but Amelia truly believes it is the only way to live. Joining elderly Rosalinda and handsome Simon at the Charlottetown library, Amelia works the “night shift” so she can avoid as many people as possible. But when she realizes there are ghosts in the library, she may need to break her rules in order to get them to leave.
The Haunted Library is a cozy fantasy about a woman who never fit in until she takes a leap of faith and befriends a trio of ghosts stuck in the Charlottetown library. There is a coming-of-age vibe despite the fact that Amelia is an adult. The story is shared via the third person POV of Amelia, who must learn to outgrow the restrictive rules from her youth in order to live as a functioning adult. While the book shares awkward interactions between Amelia and Simon, the bulk of the tale focuses on the surprising connections she makes with the ghosts.
I throughly enjoyed The Haunted Library, despite some weak world building and character development. Because in the end, I became ensnared by Amelia’s fear and passion, and I needed to see her succeed. I came to care about her otherworldly connections, which surprisingly stirred up all sorts of emotions in me.
The Haunted Library is a quick story, but the emotions I experienced are genuine and sincere. If you are in the mood for a cozy fantasy (magic realism) to read with your cup of cocoa by the fire, I strongly recommend The Haunted Library.
My Rating: B Liked It — Recommend
Jen
About the Book:
It’s a dark and stormy night…and Amelia Bates is caught in the rain. Life hasn’t always been kind to her, and being a ghostseer certainly doesn’t make things any easier.
Glowing warmly through the autumnal downpour is her safest the library. Amelia, the newly hired librarian, has always relished the comfort of curling up with a novel, vastly preferring it to the company of humans (alive or ghostly).
But Amelia is shocked to discover the building is full of more than quiet stories and warm cups of tea. There are curious, talkative patrons, a shy, bespectacled head librarian who makes her heart skip a beat, and three quirky spirits causing paranormal havoc that endangers the future of the library.
To help the ghosts and save the building, Amelia will have to gather all her bravery and wits, because learning to trust others might just be the first step to a happily ever after she only thought was possible in books.
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Publisher: Ace
Series: Standalone
Genre: Cozy Fantasy, Magic Realism
Format(s): paperback (368 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Publisher / NetGalley