GHOST ME, MAYBE

In Collins’ novel, a surprise inheritance brings a weary librarian to a coastal island, where she finds unexpected romance.

Cincinnati librarian Callie Jameson learns that a longtime library patron, “Khaki” Boudreaux, has left her a historic building and a million-dollar inheritance—and that she must spend a year on Louisiana’s Petite Côte Island to claim it. What begins as an unexpected fresh start quickly becomes complicated by Khaki’s great-nephew Trey LeBlanc, a brooding local who’s been living in the library bequeathed to Calli and believes the property should have remained in his family. Things continue to go downhill after their tense first meeting with a series of unsettling incidents, including the echoes of cats howling throughout the building, Khaki’s perfume lingering in Callie’s room, and mysteriously personal messages sent to Trey. As Callie investigates the building’s history and Trey reluctantly joins her search for answers, the pair uncover secrets connected to the library, the island, and the woman who brought them together. As they realize Khaki may have had reasons for choosing Callie that extend beyond simple generosity, mutual suspicion gradually gives way to warmer feelings. “Maybe that was part of what Khaki had left to her. Not only the library and the money, but the lore as well. The kind of home she’d been looking for her whole life.” Collins keeps the plot moving with an engaging blend of mild thrills, romance, and small-town eccentricity; the island setting and library backdrop provide plenty of charm. The novel rarely strays far from familiar genre conventions, and some romantic developments feel predictable. Even so, Callie’s likability, the easy chemistry between the protagonists, and the cozy atmosphere make the story difficult to resist. Readers looking for literary innovation may not find it here, but those up for an entertaining tale of new love, old secrets, and community will be won over.

A cozy, satisfying read.