Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi
If you want your romance to have a hint of haunting, a dash of Hollywood chaos, and a lot of heart, Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi is an absolute treat. This paranormal rom-com brings together a confident, ghost-seeing heroine and a jaded movie star in a story that’s equal parts spooky, swoony, and deeply emotional.
Rosemary Shaw is a bestselling horror author whose life is anything but ordinary.
Her secret? She can see ghosts—and rather than fear them, she embraces them. That confidence and compassion make her a refreshing paranormal heroine. I loved that Rosemary doesn’t treat her ability as a burden. She uses it as a gift, helping spirits find peace while keeping her feet firmly planted in both the living and spectral worlds.
When the movie adaptation of her hit novel begins filming in an old English manor (complete with its own ghostly residents), Rosemary meets Ellis Finch, the film’s leading man. Ellis is a longtime Hollywood heartthrob who’s tired of pretending to be the perfect action hero. Behind the charm and easy smile is a man weighed down by shame and self-doubt, much of it inflicted by someone else’s cruelty.
From their very first meeting, Rosemary and Ellis create an exciting dynamic… and it isn’t the best of first meetings.
Their banter crackles with energy, but what really makes this story shine is the emotional vulnerability beneath it all. When Ellis’s secrets start to surface, Rosemary meets him with empathy and strength, proving that love can be both redemptive and freeing.
Beyond the central romance, Love at First Fright offers a fantastic ensemble cast—from an adorable ghostly dog to Regency-era spirits with their own tender storylines. El-Fassi layers these threads beautifully, weaving humor, healing, and a touch of melancholy into every chapter. The result is a world that feels alive (and undead) in the best possible way.
The multiple romances (none take away from our main couple), unexpected connections, and underlying message of self-acceptance make this book so much more than a simple enemies-to-lovers tale. It’s about finding peace—with your identity and the people who see you for who you truly are.
Nadia El-Fassi delivers a paranormal romance that’s both heartwarming and haunting. With its clever blend of ghostly charm, emotional depth, and romantic tension, Love at First Fright is perfect for readers who want their fall reads with a side of supernatural sparkle.
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