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Ghosts by Dolly Alderton beautifully captures the complexities of navigating adulthood and the bittersweetness of watching life change around you. It’s clever, acutely observed, and perfectly balances humour with moments of genuine emotion. Dolly Alderton masterfully explores friendship, identity, and the ache of feeling left behind, but she does so with such wit and warmth that the story never feels heavy. It’s full of hopes and dreams, trust and the heartbreaking loss of trust—all the illusions and delusions of life that we quietly carry with us.

I felt deeply connected to Nina Dean. She’s fantastic—layered, vulnerable, and stronger than she realizes. She deserves so much more than the world sometimes offers her, and I couldn’t help but root for her through every page. Her memories of childhood are beautifully written, wrapped in nostalgia and warmth, and her love for her father is so tender and heartfelt. Watching her grapple with his slow decline was gut-wrenching, but Alderton writes it with such care that it never feels bleak—just deeply real.

There’s a haunting quality to this story, a sense of ghosts lingering between memories and reality. The echoes of who Nina once was, of friendships that have faded, of a father who is still there but slowly slipping away—they all add a poignant layer to the narrative, beautifully capturing the ache of time passing and the challenge of letting go.

Yet, for all the sadness woven into its pages, this book is ultimately uplifting. It’s full of humour, hope, and the joy of finding your way, even when life doesn’t go as planned. Alderton writes with such wit and insight that I found myself laughing and crying, often within the same chapter. It’s fun, emotionally rich, and deeply reflective—a story about holding on, letting go, and embracing change with courage and heart. I finished it feeling profoundly moved and grateful for the journey.