e-ARC, 224 pages
Release Date: January 2, 2024
Published by: Versify
Read from: December 26, 2023- January 2, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: underage drinking, smoking, recount of a murder, recount of racism, slavery, racism, war, bullying, violence, medical content, grief
For Readers Interested In: Graphic Novels, Paranormal Romance, Racial Ethnic Diversity, Ghostbusters, Mysteries, YAGhost Roast delivers a paranormal adventure full of first crushes, lost histories, and the impossible task of fitting in when your dad is a professional ghosthunter. A stand-alone YA graphic novel from authors Shawneé and Shawnelle Gibbs and artist Emily Cannon!
For as long as she can remember, Chelsea Grant has tried everything she can think of to distance herself from the disastrous damage her father does to her social life. It’s not easy to shake her reputation as Ghost Girl when Dad keeps advertising his business as a “paranormal removal expert” in big, bold, loud letters all over New Orleans!
This year, Chelsea’s all grown up, attending one of the most prestigious high schools in the city, and she’s finally made friends with the popular crowd. Things are looking up—until a night on the town backfires spectacularly, landing her in hot water at home. Her punishment? Working for her dad at Paranormal Removal Services. All. Summer.
Worst of all, her new job reveals an unexpected secret she has to keep: While Dad hunts ghosts with his own DIY tech, Chelsea can actually see them. And when she meets Oliver, a friendly spirit, at the fancy mansion her dad is getting a handsome fee to exorcize, she realizes she has to save his after-life, even if it risks everything her father’s worked for.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I don’t know the last time I read a graphic novel that I was this sucked into. Yes I added it to my TBR because of the cover, but the rest of the book didn’t disappoint either. I really enjoyed reading this. It even got me interested in history, which is something that is a hard feat usually lol Y’all know how I am with historical fiction.
Ok so first things first, I LOVED the art. Emily Cannon is a bad ass! I don’t read many graphic novels unless they’re like highly recommended because I don’t have much time to read with my eyes anymore and even though some have audiobooks, I don’t want to read those because of the art. But with this one, the cover caught my eye and I knew I needed to get my hands on this. I liked the art so much I ended up reading it and then going back to look at the art only. Emily did her thing with this one. It was a little cutesy, but personally that was my favorite thing about it. It was creepy enough when it needed to be, but for the most part the mostly purple coloring and the way she drew everything was very, very cute. (And let me just say I was impressed by the way the hair was drawn in this too lol)
The story itself was actually incredible. I did not read the synopsis (I never do) so the storyline came out of nowhere. I was shooketh. It was way more serious and way deeper than I thought it was. I ended up adding this book to my Tournament of Books 2025 suggestions shelf. This may be a graphic novel, but there’s so many twists and so many messages. I hope y’all pick this up.
This was a surprise for me. The story was incredible and the art was as well. I liked it enough for me to want more ghosts to roast with Chelsea and her dad. I really want this to now be a series. I want to know what happens to Oliver and what happens to Chelsea and Oliver and just all the things. At the very least I need a book from her dad’s POV with some of his most favorite jobs. Where some are those raccoons and some are like those at the mansion. I just need more!
I enjoyed this so much that I bought it immediately after I finished the Netgalley version. It came in today and I immediately did another flip-through. This book made me change my entire reading schedule. And I would do it all again.
Overall, I give this
