Gotcha: What if the real haunting wasn’t the house—but the people trying to heal inside it?
A Heart So Haunted by Hollie Nelson is the kind of book that creeps under your skin and stays there long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s a quiet, aching story about love, grief, and the ghosts we carry—sometimes literally, sometimes not. This isn’t a tale of jump scares or shadowy monsters. It’s about haunted people finding light in the dark corners of their own hearts.
Title: A Heart So Haunted
Author: Hollie Nelson
Genre: Gothic Romance, Paranormal, Emotional Fiction
Publish Date: 2025
Rating: ★★★★ (4/5)
A deeply moving, atmospheric debut that lingers long after the final page. Emotional resonance and haunting beauty outweigh a few pacing lulls.
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Book Description
In this evocative and stunning debut, secrets in the very bones of Harthwait House are disturbed when a new tenant moves in, for fans of Ashley Poston and A House with Good Bones.
Be wary of the beds and the spaces beneath, the cracks in the floors and the furnace teeth. Keep your eyes from the shadows and tongue so still. Because once Harthwait grows dark, the monsters become real.
Landry is ready to clean house—not just Harthwait, but the traumatic memories and family entanglements that haunt her. Left reeling from her aunt’s sudden death, Landry knows she must restore the old house and sell it before autumn arrives. But as renovations begin, peculiarities emerge: motion sensors trigger when no one is present, doors slam shut, and every night at a quarter after midnight, disembodied crying begins.
Then Landry uncovers a hidden door during renovations—and dares to open it.
Behind that door lies a world of nightmares, some her own, some the domain of a monster trapped within and desperate for escape. Haunted by their pasts, Landry and the creature forge a fragile pact. But as feelings grow, she must face a truth: the most monstrous things are not always the things you fear.
This rich and spellbinding tale explores what we call home—and whom we choose to call family.
My Review
Nelson’s writing is gorgeously restrained—every line feels deliberate, every silence heavy with emotion. The story follows Landry and Hadrian, two deeply wounded souls brought together in a decaying house that seems to breathe with memory. What begins as a haunted renovation becomes something more intimate: a story about grief, healing, and choosing to stay when running would be easier.
The relationship between them unfolds with the patience of real recovery. There’s tenderness without easy resolution, affection without the illusion that love alone can fix what’s broken. Nelson writes emotional intimacy with the precision of someone who understands that healing is messy and nonlinear. The result is a love story that’s as painful as it is hopeful.
Some readers may find the pacing or ambiguous ending slower than expected, but that rhythm mirrors grief itself—measured, repetitive, and full of quiet reckonings. That choice gives the story its haunting realism, inviting reflection instead of quick resolution.
The atmosphere here is intoxicating—part Southern Gothic, part emotional reckoning. The house creaks, the shadows hum, but the true haunting is internal. Harthwait House feels less like a setting and more like a living presence—moody, mournful, and protective all at once. Every ghostly flicker feels like a mirror of the characters’ own guilt and longing. It’s eerie without being terrifying, romantic without being saccharine.
Nelson doesn’t just write about haunted houses—she writes about haunted people, crafting a story where love and fear share the same heartbeat. It’s quiet, tender, and deeply human. A Heart So Haunted reminded me why I love literary-leaning romance: it asks you to feel deeply, to sit in discomfort, and to believe that love can coexist with darkness. For readers who loved A House With Good Bones or The Dead Romantics, this one will hit every bittersweet note.
Character Spotlight
Landry: Sensitive, resilient, and marked by loss. Her journey isn’t about becoming “strong”—it’s about coming to live with softness after trauma, learning that love doesn’t erase pain but can help carry it.
Hadrian (the Monster): Mysterious, haunted, part creature and part soul. He’s bound to Harthwait House, but he holds memories—and regret. His connection with Landry is equal parts dangerous and redemptive.
Why You’ll Love It
- Emotionally charged Gothic setting
- Characters who feel broken but beautifully real
- Love story that values healing over perfection
- Subtle, haunting atmosphere that lingers
About the Author
Hollie Nelson loves gothic horror almost as much as she loves coffee. When she’s not talking to the monsters in her closet, you can usually find her writing or at the gym. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and their clowder of cats. Goodreads →
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Join the Conversation
Did you find this story haunting or healing? Share your thoughts in the comments — I’d love to hear how A Heart So Haunted stayed with you.
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