If 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 Harriett into her past memories they quickly discover that she’s no where near naughty enough to land on his list of people to haunt. Forced to work together to uncover the true reason why Nolan was assigned to haunt Harriett and racing against the clock to resolve it before Christmas Eve when Nolan is sent back. The two become close risking their heart as they get lost in the passion of the present.
Craft & Style
This being my second book by B.K. Borison I’m quickly coming to the realization 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 novel was paced perfectly and was easy to read with the plot ticking the usual boxes for a holiday romance. Delivering a captivating and propulsive read that you can easily finish reading over the holiday break.
Emotional Impact
Don’t let the cozy vibes fool you. There’s depth to this story as we explore themes regarding Harriett’s toxic relationship with her mother and how its damaged her self-esteem, and led to her becoming a people pleaser that easily 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 with 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 or challenges with family or feeling the pressure and mental strain of the holiday blues or even Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Notable Strengths
This novel shines in its ability to balance depth with the carefree fun of a holiday rom-com. Characters are likable and you can’t help but root for them and desire a satisfactory resolution where they confront their issues and end up together.
Potential Hurdles
Harriett and Nolan’s romance is very much insta-love. While it does take time for the couple to become intimate their attraction and interest into each other is immediate. This could draw the ire from those that prefer longing, angst, and tension with their romances.
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 grounding in reality.
Deeper Reflections
This novel made me consider our perception regarding our familial relationships. We see through Harriett’s character that when it comes to broken familial relationships it’s not one-side. Blame can be easily spread. 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, contribute to dissatisfaction and identity issues.
Taking ownership of your behaviors that contribute to these issues and properly asserting and individuating yourself from your family by setting boundaries is a great place 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.
Join the Conversation!
It’s your turn to chime in! Did you read this book? What were your thoughts?
