The Most Unusual Haunting of Edgar Lovejoy

by Roan Parrish

Overview

Jamie Wendon-Dale may design haunted houses, but they don't actually believe in ghosts—until they meet Edgar Lovejoy, who is tall, clever, beautiful…and 100% haunted.

A COZY, GHOSTLY LGBTQIA+ ROMANCE

Jamie Wendon-Dale (transmasc they/them) creates haunted houses for a living. Haunting is their life—but nobody working New Orleans' spooky circuit actually believes in ghosts.

Edgar Lovejoy (cis he/him) is 100% haunted. No, really. Ghosts have tormented him since childhood and he's organized his life around attempts to avoid them.

Opposites? Get ready to attract. But while Jamie's biggest concern is that Edgar sometimes seems a bit distracted, Edgar's fears are much greater. Not only is he scared of encountering the dearly departed whenever he leaves the house, but he's terrified of making himself vulnerable to Jamie. After all, how do you tell someone who believes ghosts only exist as smoke and mirrors that you see them everywhere you go? And how can you trust in a happy future when you can't even believe in yourself?

A little spooky, a little magical, and a whole lot cozy: The (Most Unusual) Haunting of Edgar Lovejoy will leave you feeling like you've found a brand new bookish family of your own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781464238741
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	09/09/2025
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

Editorial Reviews

"There’s as much hurt and comfort passing between Parrish’s two very likable love interests as there is scorching chemistry and hot sex. The supporting characters are well-written and nuanced enough to have their own spinoffs, and the book is every bit as cozy as it is steamy. Somehow both adorably wholesome and unbelievably hot." — Kirkus

"This sweet, sizzling romance has paranormal elements, but they take second place to the character development. Edgar, a cis man, and Jamie, who is nonbinary transmasculine, are wonderfully realistic and delightfully perfect for each other. Readers will clamor for this unique opposites-attract novel from Parrish" — Library Journal, Starred Review

"Parrish develops a satisfying slow-burn romance and skillfully balances humor with poignant moments and thoughtful discussions of mental health struggles. The result is a delightful romance celebrating the courage required to fully embrace one’s true self." — Publishers Weekly

"Spooky, sexy, and oh so sweet, The (Most Unusual) Haunting of Edgar Lovejoy has everything I love in a Roan Parrish story: a host of beautiful souls, a hint of otherworldliness, and a love story for the ages. Jamie and Edgar are perfect for each other. More, please!" — Xio Axelrod, USA Today bestselling author of Girls with Bad Reputations

From the Publisher

★ 2025-07-17
Can a professional haunter and someone who’s been haunted all his life escape the ghosts of their pasts?

Edgar Lovejoy sees ghosts. He’s been tormented by the grotesque faces of dead people lingering on Earth since he was a little boy. He works part time for a cocktail business and a cat café, and then he goes home. It’s safer and less scary that way. When he meets Jamie Wendon-Dale, a genderqueer burlesque performer and haunted-house designer, they challenge him to step outside his comfort zone. Jamie loves their life and the pockets of comfort they have found in queer and spooky communities. Predictably, their choices cause their traditional family—their mother is a politician—to bristle. Their sister, Emma, asks Jamie to be her maid of honor (despite the very gendered term), and to step up and help out with wedding plans that coincide with Halloween—Jamie’s busiest time of year, professionally. After Edgar opens up to Jamie about seeing ghosts, he’s able to let Jamie coax him out of his comfort zone and back into the world. And when he has a panic attack at Emma’s rehearsal dinner, it emboldens Jamie to stand up for themself for the first time with their family. Edgar’s own family is only marginally less complicated. His parents aren’t really in the picture anymore, and no one really talks to the crazy aunt who sees ghosts, but his sister’s impending pregnancy might just be enough to bring their absentee brother back into Edgar and his sister’s lives. There’s as much hurt and comfort passing between Parrish’s two very likable love interests as there is scorching chemistry and hot sex. The supporting characters are well-written and nuanced enough to have their own spinoffs, and the book is every bit as cozy as it is steamy.

Somehow both adorably wholesome and unbelievably hot.

Kirkus Reviews