I’ve really struggled with how to review I Haunt it That Way because I enjoyed it so much but it is a weird book. A weird book I loved, but difficult to describe. I Haunt it That Way is a ghost story and a romance. Like Popp’s debut, Let’s Give ’em Pumpkin to Talk About (which I also loved), it’s about shifting how we see. It’s about grief, not only for someone we lost but for versions of ourself that we couldn’t be earlier. In Haunt, the past is important and Thora must see it clearly in order to move forward. Late in the book, on of Thora’s friends asks her to repeat a sentence, and I think that sentence is Popp’s central theme.
Burning everything down did not bring peace.
Thora is three raccoons who are doing their best to be adults in a trench coat. She is breaking toxic family patterns and learning to accept the love that’s always been there. Thora’s family, except for her cousin Mack and her late uncle George, is a nightmare of self centeredness and responsibility avoidance. It makes sense to me that Thora spent her early adult years submerging herself in people with big personalities and now she’s learning how to be her own person. Thora is on a rollercoaster from page one and when she reaches her breaking point she has a reaction as big as the stress she’s been under.
As a book, I enjoyed Haunt enormously. As a romance, I think it has a Lee shaped problem. Lee is a lovely character, but he’s not dynamic. He doesn’t change much from beginning to end. He does become more willing to challenge Thora, but he’s a steady, stable character who already loves Thora. I believe in their happily ever after because he’s a solid foundation who can handle whatever drama Thora throws at him.
I want to read more books by Isabelle Popp. I love her brain and I want more stories from it. I hope you’ll take a chance on her too.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Harlequin and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
