The story begins in the summer of 1999, at the Bistrot restaurant in New York City's West Village. The staff, which is like a close-knit family, includes hostess Josie Gray, who is mourning the recent loss of her beloved grandmother. When Mia joins as the coat check girl, Josie quickly bonds with her. Josie confides in Mia that she has inherited a special gift from her grandmother, allowing her to communicate with people who have passed on. Her recent grief has awakened this ability, which Mia appears to also have. In addition to her new friendship, Josie is romanced by a suave photographer. As Josie tries to heal, the other staff members and quirky customers add to her interesting journey. As does a troublemaking spirit who is causing mischief in the restaurant.
After deciding to suspend my disbelief, I enjoyed reading Laura Buchwald's debut novel The Coat Check Girl. I'm drawn to stories set in New York City and its nostalgic vibe added to the book's appeal. The parts in New Orleans, with its ghostly ambiance, were well done. Although there is a paranormal theme, this is not a typical ghost story. After reading it, I discovered the book was the first in a series, so I will be sure to check out the next installment. One minor critique I have is that the dialogue was saturated with the term "baby" - "Sure, baby," "Hey, baby," "You're good, baby." Perhaps some of these instances were revised in the final version.
Many thanks to Radiance | Roan & Weatherford for the advance.
Rated 3.75 out of 5 stars.
Adult Fiction | Paranormal.
Publication Date: October 22, 2024.
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