If I Have to Be Haunted by Miranda Sun
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Author: Miranda Sun
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year of Publication: 2023
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an egalley of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
Main Character: Cara—(5/5)—I connected with Cara on a different level than I do with most main characters. She wasn’t a typical impulsive, naïve YA heroine. She was realistic.
Secondary Characters: Brittany—I was suspicious of her at first, but she surprised me in a good way. I find that’s so rare in books. Zach—I was impressed by his strength of character and determination. These were some powerful characters. The only one I was on the fence about was Laolao. She disappeared when Cara and Zach needed her, but never explained where she went.
Pacing: There were small lulls in the action, but they didn’t last too long. And it helped balance the intensity of many of the other scenes to have some calmer moments.
Accuracy of Publisher’s Synopsis: Refreshingly accurate
Resolution: I was satisfied with the ending. All of the important things were resolved and it didn’t drag on. There were even some surprises! And…do I smell a sequel? There were some loose ends left undone, and that epilogue was deliciously ripe with secrets to be unleashed.
The Good: An enemies-to-lovers romance is one of my favorite tropes, and this one was fulfilling. They also had a lifelong rivalry, which just made it better, and I loved seeing flashbacks from their childhood together. The relationship unfolded very naturally, but I also appreciated seeing Cara’s doubt. These characters had a strong sense of purpose, knew what they stood for, and showed initiative and a sense of responsibility most adults don’t.
This novel had such picturesque descriptions, especially of nature. The visuals were gorgeous. It seems outrageous to be saying that about a novel, but I want to see these places! Every time I thought the surprises were over, a new one popped up, but not to the point of it being excessive or predictable. With each new world they stepped into, I was worried that the final one with the snake would be anticlimactic. While that particular scene wasn’t action-packed, it was still intense and satisfying.
The Not-So-Good: Beyond Cara, Zach, and Brittany, I was disappointed by the rest of the characters. Cara’s friends don’t add to the narrative at all. While they weren’t harmful to the plotline, it could have been more concise without them. I also wish there had been more background on each family. I still have so many questions about the rest of Cara’s family, like who her dad was, if she has other relatives who are ghost speakers, etc. To be honest, I didn’t feel like either Cara or Zach had a good support system. Cara’s mother was cold and distant, and it didn’t seem like she cared about Cara’s wellbeing so much as having control over her. I am a bit suspicious of Laolao. I think her heart is in the right place and I know she loves Cara, but she’s hiding something—or maybe multiple somethings.
Overall Impression: This novel was more fun than I expected, and it tugged at my heartstrings with every challenge the characters faced.
Would I recommend it?: Definitely! This book was one I was dying to read, and it lived up to my expectations. If you like ghosts, adventure, enemies-to-lovers romance, a bit of magic, and whole lot of close brushes with death, you’ll enjoy this book.
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