Suppose you’re looking for a cozy holiday romance to get lost in this holiday season—Good Spirits by B.K. Borison should satisfy your lust for a spicy seasonal treat.
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison Review
Release Date: October 21, 2025
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Magical Realism, Cozy Romance
Romance Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Fated Mates
Themes: Complex Family Dynamics, Grief, Identity, Second Chances
Content Warnings: Explicit Sexual Content
What It’s About
When chronic people pleaser Harriett York becomes haunted by the Ghost of Christmas Past, a surly Irish Fisherman named Nolan, they struggle to get off on the right foot. After Nolan ushers a confused Harriet into her memories, they quickly discover that she’s nowhere near naughty enough to land on his list of people to haunt. Forced to work together to uncover the actual reason why Nolan was assigned to haunt Harriett, and racing against the clock to resolve it before Christmas Eve, when Nolan returns to his life as a ghost. The two grow close, risking their hearts as they get lost in the passion of the moment.
Craft & Style
Good Spirits, being my second book by B.K. Borison, I’m quickly realizing that I appreciate the way she writes her romances. They feel balanced, providing heartfelt, contemporary storylines without sacrificing the cozy rom-com vibes.
With this novel, specifically Borison’s prose, shines with lush atmospheric vibes that oozes the magic and joy of the festive season. The book was perfectly paced and easy to read, with a plot that ticks the usual boxes for a holiday romance and delivers a captivating, propulsive read you can easily finish over the holiday break.
Emotional Impact
Don’t let the cozy vibes fool you. There’s depth to this story as we explore themes of Harriet’s toxic relationship with her mother and how it has damaged her self-esteem and led her to become a people-pleaser who readily acquiesces to make herself smaller in an attempt to gain love and acceptance.
There’s also Nolan’s storyline, with him struggling with finding joy and meaning in his existence and shuffling along lost in the monotony of being a ghost. These themes come across as relatable and apt for this time of year, as many are facing similar struggles with family, feeling the pressure and mental strain of the holiday blues, or experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Notable Strengths
This novel shines in its ability to balance depth with the carefree fun of a holiday rom-com. The characters are likable, and you can’t help but root for them and want a satisfactory resolution in which they confront their issues and end up together.
Potential Hurdles
Harriett and Nolan’s romance is very much insta-love. While it takes time for a couple to become intimate, their attraction and interest in each other are immediate. If you prefer longing, angst, and tension in your romance and despise insta-love, you may cringe at how fast their relationship develops. Another hurdle could be the spice. While enjoyable I can see that it was a little cheesy and awkward and in some ways the characters, particularly Nolan, seemed to have a completely different persona. Lastly, the ending may feel rushed to some and lack believability, especially if you’re not a fan of overly magical endings and prefer something grounded in reality.
Deeper Reflections
This novel made me consider our perceptions of our family relationships. Through Harriet’s character, we see that broken familial relationships aren’t one-sided. Each family member has their share of blame for the continual emotional abuse and neglect. Placing an unfair amount of responsibility for how others perceive and experience you, especially when you’re being yourself and pursuing life as an adult, contributes to dissatisfaction and identity issues.
Taking ownership of your behaviors that contribute to these issues and correctly asserting and individuating yourself from your family by setting boundaries are great places to start the process of healing and learning how to create a healthy relationship with your family built on trust, compromise, reciprocity, and respect.
Should You Read This Novel?
I would recommend this novel to the hopeless romantic who watches every single Hallmark movie over the holidays, can’t resist the Lifetime channel, and doesn’t mind a little cheese but is down for some spice.
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