The Ghost of Us BY James L Sutter

In The Ghost of Us, a swoony YA romance by James L. Sutter, seventeen-year-old ghost hunter Cara is on a quest to escape her high school outcast status by uncovering the supernatural. When she encounters the spirit of Aiden, a popular upperclassman who died the previous year, she learns that even ghosts have their own unresolved issues. Aiden’s primary concern is his younger sister, Meredith, who has become a recluse in the wake of his death. Aiden strikes a deal with Cara: if she can coax Meredith out of her shell and take her to prom, he will provide Cara with the proof of the paranormal she needs to gain fame.

Cara’s mission to woo the standoffish Meredith proves challenging. Under Aiden’s guidance, she slowly earns Meredith’s trust and affection, only to find herself falling for Meredith in the process. As Meredith starts to open up and find happiness again, Aiden’s ghost begins to fade, signaling the impending completion of his mission. Cara faces a heart-wrenching dilemma: should she continue to date Meredith under false pretenses to ensure Aiden’s spirit finds peace, or should she come clean and risk losing both Meredith and her chance at proving ghosts are real?

The Ghost of Us blends romance and supernatural elements in a poignant exploration of love, honesty, and the price of pursuing one’s dreams. As Cara navigates her tangled emotions and moral quandaries, she must confront the difficult choices that could impact her future and those she cares about.