Book Review: ‘Good Spirits’ by B.K. Borison
Good Spirits is a cozy, sexy holiday romance with just the right touch of magical realism. It blends ghosts, souls, and second chances into a love story that feels whimsical without losing its emotional grounding. Think real-life romance but lightly dusted with magic and Christmas lights, making it the most wonderful time of the year to read this novel from B.K. Borison.
[Warning: Spoilers and impressions of Good Spirits by B. K. Borison are below!]
Good Spirits gives you that warm and fuzzy holiday feeling
There are certain books that feel like they arrive exactly when you need them, and Good Spirits did that for me. I picked it up wanting something festive and fun, and what I got was a romance that felt warm, emotionally satisfying, and surprisingly thoughtful. This is the kind of holiday read that puts you in the mood to light a candle, make a peppermint mocha, and lean fully into the season.
What I appreciated right away is that this is not a “will they, won’t they” romance. From the beginning, it’s obvious that Harriet and Nolan are headed toward each other. The tension isn’t about whether it will happen, but when and how. That choice makes the story feel more mature and more confident. The slow build of attraction, longing, and intimacy is deliberate, and when the payoff finally comes, it is absolutely worth the wait. The sexual tension simmers instead of screaming, and the eventual release feels earned rather than rushed.
The magical realism in this book is done really well, taking inspiration and a playful twist from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Ghosts, reapers, and memory play an important role, but they never overpower the story. The magic exists alongside real emotional growth rather than replacing it. The memories that surface through magical means help the reader understand the characters more deeply, but they aren’t the catalyst for self-realization. Harriet and Nolan would have eventually reached these emotional truths on their own, which makes their growth feel believable. The magic enhances the story without doing the emotional work for the characters.
A touching message within B.K. Borison’s novel
At its heart, Good Spirits is a story about being seen, both literally and figuratively. Harriet’s journey really resonated with me. She’s quirky, colorful, a little chaotic, and unapologetically herself. Her bright clothes, unruly hair, exaggerated love of candy, and big emotions aren’t treated as flaws to be corrected. They’re treated as character traits that draw the right people toward her when she stops trying to shrink herself. I saw myself in Harriet in that way, in the learning that authenticity is not something to tone down, but something that attracts the life and love you’re meant for.
The book also explores the idea that our biological family doesn’t have to be our chosen family, and it does so with warmth rather than bitterness. There’s a quiet validation in the way Borison shows that belonging doesn’t always come from where you expect it. Sometimes it comes from the people who see you clearly and choose you anyway.
Nolan is such a compelling counterpart to Harriet. After a hundred years of living quietly, unfeeling, and largely unseen, his presence in Harriet’s life feels almost like a gentle awakening. What I love about him is that he doesn’t swoop in to fix her or define her worth. Instead, he gives her space. He sees her, truly sees her, and in doing so allows her to discover her own value. His love feels patient and reverent, like someone who understands how rare it is to really connect after so much time spent alone.
There’s also a lot of joy in this book. A real-life romance mixed with ghosts and “haunting” could have leaned heavily toward melancholy, but instead it feels playful and light. The whimsy is intentional. The humor lands. The magic feels cozy rather than spooky. It’s exactly the right tone for a holiday romance.
By the time I finished Good Spirits, I felt softer. More open. More in the holiday spirit. It reminded me that love doesn’t always have to be dramatic to be meaningful, and that sometimes the most magical stories are the ones rooted in emotional truth.
If you’re looking for a witty, sexy, quirky romance to curl up with by the fire right before Christmas, this one is an easy recommendation. Pour yourself something warm, lean into the glow of the season, and let this book do what it does best: remind you that being fully yourself is where the magic actually lives.
My Rating: 8/10
Good Spirits by B. K. Borison is available now from HarperCollins! Have you read this novel before? What is your favorite A Christmas Carol adaptation? Let us know @BoxSeatBabes on all social media platforms!
Book Review: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
