Book Review: Ghostly by Samantha Combs

Title: Ghostly

Author: Samantha Combs

Release Date: September 21st 2011

Publisher: Astraea Press

Source: Received from the author for an honest review

High school has never been effortless for social misfit Juice Zander and her sophomore year is proving to be no exception.  Having a new boy in homeroom actually pay attention to her might be a start to all that changing.  But there are some big issues brewing.  That fact that Shane Elliot has revealed himself to be a ghost isn’t her biggest problem.  Neither is the fact that he wants her to help him find a “host body” so he can be a real teenager again.  It’s not even that when she does find a possible donor for her super cute ghost, it’s another so-not-ugly guy who for some unprecedented reason likes her.  No, her real problem is that after years of platonic friendship, she discovers one of her best buddies has feelings for her, and she’s afraid those feelings might be mutual.

Enlisting the help of her tight group of best friends, Juice sets out to 1) find the perfect host for her ghost, 2) figure out her surprising new relationship with her longtime friend and 3) maybe discover she’s not such a social misfit after all.

My Thoughts

This is the first book by author Samantha Combs that I have had the pleasure to read. 

Her earlier book Spellbound, which was released in June this year received great reviews and I will be sure to check it out after reading Ghostly.

It was a delight to read an achingly sweet story about a diverse group of teenagers that did NOT smoke, drink or do drugs, have sex, or have unrealistic 'normal' lives.

There is a supernatural element to this story but for the most part it centers around Juice and her metamorphosis from average girl to desirable average girl, all the while fighting her way through the pitfalls and traps of growing up.

I really enjoyed the honesty of this story, and the lead characters ability to stay true to herself. 

The fact that Juice surrounds herself with true friends that build her up rather than pull her down was great too. 

Many teenage books that I have come across have the obligatory 'downer' or 'whiney' friend, but not here-how refreshing.

Samantha Combs should be extremely proud of herself, this truly is a beautifully written coming of age story that I think all teenage girls could learn from.

An outstanding 4 Star read.