By Carly Smith
Lighthearted yet contemplative, Ghosts should most certainly be bumped higher in your To Be Read stack. Dolly Alderton has created the perfect book to add to your overnight bag for a weekend at the cottage, or pack in your carry-on tote for some downtime during a work trip. In Ghosts, Nina George Dean chronicles a year in her life—from age 32 to 33—touching on family, friends, and romance. There is a lot happening in Nina’s life, but no single event stands out or exhausts her energy more than another. She is settling into her career writing books about food, living in a house-turned-apartment building where she is constantly bothered by her downstairs neighbour, and navigating a stressful and ongoing family situation. Among the ins and outs of these daily circumstances, she also is trying to find romantic love and maintain old and new friendships.
Ghosts takes place in present day London, England. Alderton frequently drops names of neighbourhoods and landmarks to keep local readers feeling a sense of familiarity and not-so-local readers fantasizing about the foreign metropolis. Nina enjoys her London life and cannot see herself elsewhere. She is a loyal friend, introspective and at times petty, and values relationships and quality time with her loved ones. Alderton carefully creates a main character who is not perfect, and it’s a breath of fresh air. Aside from Nina, several other noteworthy characters weave in and out of the smoothly paced chapters including her friend Lola, love interest Max, and Nina’s mom. Lola is a loveable, bright, spirited woman. A good friend and charming acquaintance, Lola complements Nina’s social awkwardness and nonchalance. Max is Nina’s first go at online dating. He is intense and mysterious. Sometimes he seems like exactly what Nina needs in a partner, and other times he comes across as someone she should have immediately swiped left on. Nina’s mom, Mandy—or Nancy—is too preoccupied with her own hobbies to dedicate sufficient attention to her ailing husband. She brings out the pragmatism in Nina, adding a depth to the protagonist that makes her even more relatable.
The themes in Ghosts, including love, friendship, and family, intertwine gracefully to create a narrative which at times ignites nostalgia in readers, and at other times provokes a desire to consider the future. Alderton makes her readers feel a breadth of emotions without delving too deeply into a particular one. This book is suitable for anyone seeking a casual read. It is a fantastic option if you’re between heavier books, or if you are looking for something not too serious or time consuming. Although quite carefree, Ghosts will manage to haunt you in ways you may have forgotten you could be moved.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.