B.K. Borison’s Good Spirits is a holiday-flavored paranormal romance that wears its heart on its sleeve and sprinkles just enough magic on top to make the whole thing feel delightfully buoyant. At its core it’s about second chances, the odd practicality of grief, and the quiet courage of a woman who has spent years putting everyone else first. The novel has drawn consistent praise for its voicey characters and cozy seasonal setting — and for good reason: Borison balances humor, tenderness, and a touch of mischief so the story lands like a warm sweater on a snowy night.
Plot snapshot
Harriet York runs an antique shop and has built a life around being accommodating and small — a people-pleaser who hides bigger dreams under the quotidian. When Nolan Callahan, the Ghost of Christmas Past, appears with the standard spectral assignment (visit the past, point out where change is needed), he expects a routine haunting. Instead, Harriet challenges him in ways his previous assignments never did. As Nolan escorts her through key memories that explain who she is and how she got there, an unexpected connection blooms between the living woman and the tired, grumpy-but-charming ghost. With Christmas Eve as the deadline, the book asks whether an afterlife can show someone how to move forward — and whether a living person and a ghost might find a future together.
What works — characters and chemistry
The emotional engine of Good Spirits is the push-and-pull between Harriet’s softness and Nolan’s world-weary bluntness. Readers and reviewers consistently praise how Borison crafts dialogue that feels immediate and believable, making the romantic tension earn its keep instead of simply demanding the reader to suspend disbelief. Harriet is written with a tenderness that avoids making her a cardboard “good girl”; she’s messy, relatable, and stubborn in ways that make her growth satisfying. Nolan’s impatient ghostliness—equal parts grumpy custodian of the past and secretly tender man—creates a delightful contrast that fuels both humor and poignancy. Multiple reviewers have noted this chemistry as the book’s highlight.
Pacing, tone, and holiday atmosphere
If you’re looking for a book that feels like a Hallmark movie without the syrup, this is it — cozy but with emotional stakes. Borison paces the reveal of Harriet’s past in a way that lets empathy grow organically. The Christmas setting isn’t just window dressing; the holiday rhythms (decorating, small local rituals, the pull of family history) inform characters’ decisions and propel several scenes that feel genuinely seasonal. The tone is warm, frequently funny, and never overly sentimental; the novel lands its tender moments because Borison earns them with small truths, not melodrama. Critics and readers alike have called it a perfect curl-up-with-cocoa read.
Magic, rules, and worldbuilding
Borison sidesteps heavy, complicated supernatural mechanics in favor of a light, rule-of-thumb approach: ghosts do their job, they have boundaries, and the emotional labor of revisiting the past matters more than metaphysical explanation. That choice keeps the story focused on character work rather than on building a rigid paranormal system. The book flirts with the “A Christmas Carol” template (ghostly visits, past/present/future framing) but makes the pattern feel fresh by centering a woman whose choices were shaped by small, repeated compromises rather than one large sin. Reviewers have pointed out this refreshing tilt — a retelling-ish premise used to explore modern emotional labor.
Strengths and small stumbles
Strengths: The voice (witty, tender), the leads’ chemistry, and the cozy setting are consistently praised. Borison’s skill with dialogue and character beats gives the romance real warmth and avoids cheap sentimentality. Reviewers also highlight moments of vulnerability that feel earned rather than manipulative.
Minor stumbles: A few readers mention that the plot occasionally leans on familiar romance beats, and some secondary characters could have been sketched more sharply. A couple of reviewers wanted deeper exploration of certain emotional threads (for instance, more pages spent unpacking a specific family conflict), but those same readers also noted that the book’s lighter touch is part of its charm — it never becomes heavy-handed. If you prefer bleak, wrenching emotional realism, this isn’t that book; if you want a hopeful, character-forward holiday romance, it fits the bill.
The audiobook and narration
For listeners: audiobook editions have gotten positive attention, with narrators capturing the banter and the quieter emotional beats well. One audio-specific review praised the narrator for balancing Nolan’s dry delivery and Harriet’s expressive warmth, enhancing the story’s mood and timing. If you enjoy vocal interpretations that lift a rom-com’s comedic and tender notes, the audiobook is a solid option.
Who should read Good Spirits?
This novel is ideal for readers who love cozy holiday romances with a touch of the supernatural, for fans of character-driven contemporary romance, and for anyone who enjoys a book that prioritizes emotional warmth and witty banter over grim dark-edges. It’s also a good pick if you like modern retellings or riffs on classic ghostly Christmas tales, because Borison retools those bones into a story that privileges kindness and personal growth.
Final take
Good Spirits is a sincere, well-paced holiday romance that leans into comfort without becoming saccharine. Borison’s characters are the novel’s heart: Harriet’s steady, likable humanity and Nolan’s weary charm make their growing bond feel earned. The book won’t necessarily be the groundbreaker of the year, but it will make you laugh, maybe sniffle once or twice, and close its cover with a satisfied, cozy glow. If your bookshelf needs a gentle, spirited romance to brighten a winter evening, Good Spirits is a dependable pick.
