Ghosts

by Dolly Alderton
Ghosts cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Contemporary Fiction
Technical
  • ID: 4735
  • Added: 2025-10-22
  • Updated: 2025-10-22
  • ISBN: 9780241465332
  • Publisher: Fig Tree
  • Published: 2020-10-15
  • Reviews: 3

Ghosts follows Nina Dean, a successful food writer whose life is unraveling. After experiencing ghosting from a charming man she met on a dating app, she grapples with her father's slow decline into dementia and the societal pressures of aging as a woman. Her mother's mid-life crisis and the shifting dynamics with her friends add to her sense of isolation and uncertainty. Dolly Alderton's debut novel is a poignant and humorous exploration of contemporary relationships, self-discovery, and the challenges of navigating adulthood in today's world. The story is filled with sharp observations about modern life, making it a relatable and engaging read for anyone who has ever felt lost or out of step with the world around them.

Reviews
Well Read Tart · Well Read Tart · 2024-07-31
hopeful 4.50

The novel is a bittersweet and honest portrayal of navigating single life in your 30s, filled with humor and sarcasm. It offers a hopeful yet realistic perspective on modern relationships.

Well Read Tart praises the novel for its bittersweet and honest portrayal of single life in your 30s. They highlight the book's blend of humor and sarcasm, which makes it both entertaining and relatable. The reviewer appreciates the novel's hopeful yet realistic perspective on modern relationships, noting that it effectively captures the highs and lows of dating and self-discovery. They commend the author for her whip-smart observations and the novel's ability to balance humor with deeper emotional insights, making it a compelling and enjoyable read.

Quick quotes

    Ghosts is a bittersweet, funny, sarcastic, hopeful, and honest portrayal of navigating single life in your 30s and all that it brings.

    The novel effectively captures the highs and lows of dating and self-discovery, making it both entertaining and relatable.

    The author's whip-smart observations and the novel's ability to balance humor with deeper emotional insights make it a compelling and enjoyable read.

Best Believe · Anonymous · 2020-11-06
pessimistic 2.50

The novel presents a pessimistic view of modern dating, despite its attempt at a happy ending. The overall message leaves a somewhat bleak impression.

The reviewer found the novel's portrayal of modern dating to be particularly bleak, despite the author's attempt to provide a happy ending. They argue that the overall message of the book is that modern dating is challenging and often unsatisfying, which leaves a pessimistic taste. The reviewer acknowledges the novel's humorous moments but feels that the darker themes overshadow them, making the reading experience less enjoyable. They suggest that while the book has some redeeming qualities, it ultimately falls short of being a truly uplifting or satisfying read.

Quick quotes

    The overall message, and main takeaway, was 'modern dating is shit' – and despite an attempt at a happy ending, this novel left a pessimistic taste in my mouth.

    The darker themes of the novel overshadow its humorous moments, making the reading experience less enjoyable.

    While the book has some redeeming qualities, it ultimately falls short of being a truly uplifting or satisfying read.

The Guardian · Lizzy Kremer · 2020-10-21
insightful 4.00

The novel blends familiar tropes with darker themes, offering a zeitgeisty comic take on life in your thirties. The narrative effectively captures the complexities of modern relationships and personal growth.

Lizzy Kremer highlights how the novel cleverly mixes comfortable tropes with more serious themes, creating a relatable and humorous exploration of life in your thirties. The story's strength lies in its ability to capture the nuances of modern relationships and personal evolution, making it a compelling read. The reviewer praises the author's sharp observations and the novel's ability to balance humor with deeper emotional insights. They note that the book's exploration of relationships and self-discovery is both tender and incisive, making it a standout debut.

Quick quotes

    Comfortable tropes are mixed with darker themes in a zeitgeisty comic novel about thirtysomething life.

    A sharp-eyed debut that captures the complexities of modern relationships and personal growth.

    The narrative effectively blends humor with deeper emotional insights, making it a compelling read.

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