xo-cozychapters

[xo-cozychapters]

Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton

Everyone and their moms (literally) have been talking about this book lately. The (elder) girlies in my local community book club on Facebook are saying they need to sleep with their nightlights on after reading it. Now, is that a valid reaction to the book’s, um, “unique” take on spicy scenes—or is my city’s population just a little too fragile?

WARNING: my reviews can (and will) contain spoilers

Before starting, I thought I knew what I was getting into:

• Someone does something to someone… with a gun

• Love interest is literal Death—yup, fantasy style

But plot twist! Just a few pages in, I find out that “Death” is not a spooky, brooding grim reaper—no, it’s just some random human dude stalking our main girl. And Adeline? She’s giving “damsel in permanent confusion.” Like, if a guy breaks into your house ten times, maybe don’t keep reacting like it’s the first time?

Character development? MIA. The author crammed a buffet of subplots into one book but didn’t really serve any of them properly:

• Stalker dude who kills, hacks, and still has time to stalk 24/7—superhuman, apparently

• Adeline is a writer? Blink and you’ll miss it

• Some vague parent drama that fizzles out immediately

• Grandma also had a stalker and wrote it down in a diary… and that’s it

• A ghost pops in once for vibes and then is never heard from again

By the time I hit 35%, I was already peeking at Goodreads 1-star reviews like they were therapy. Pushed through to 65% out of sheer hope, but it was a no from me. Couldn’t connect with the characters or the chaos masquerading as a plot.

The only scene that genuinely shocked me? The one with the gun and the s*x. The rest of the spicy stuff was actually kind of good —unique enough that it didn’t feel like recycled content from Wattpad’s Greatest Hits.

I’m curious—did you like it? Was it giving dark romance or just… red flags with extra steps? Drop your thoughts below or shoot me a message! 💌

Yours,

XO, A 💋