Ghostgirl by J.B. Salsbury is live!

“Ghostgirl is so unbelievably unique. I was captivated through each and every page. I can’t wait for more!”
– Harper Sloan, NYT Bestselling Author

“Milo and Mercy took my heart! Such a unique and refreshing story from JB Salsbury!  Ghostgirl is now my favorite from her and one of my favorites of all time!”
-Tijan, NYT Bestselling Author

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Blurb

She was brainwashed into believing she could save mankind.
Now, she’s the one who needs saving.

Abandoned with his two younger brothers, Milo Vega was placed in foster care. Now a twenty-year-old high-school senior covered in gang tattoos and working as the school’s janitor, he is living a life vastly different from the one he was destined for.

When another foster joins the family, this one from the psychiatric facility, Milo’s skeptical. A rare genetic condition makes her unlike any girl he’s ever seen, and he wants nothing to do with the one he calls Ghostgirl.

Despite his reluctance, his protective instincts flare when she enrolls in school, and eventually, an unlikely friendship grows between them. When a tragic event snaps her fragile psyche, Milo is faced with the possibility of never seeing her again.

Unless he risks it all to save her.

Review

4 stars

A unique and heartfelt YA romance with the story of two unique foster kids from very different lives coming together and finding something unexpected. I’m a huge J.B. Salsbury fan and, as I have come to expect, this story is beautifully written, and I was captivated from start to finish by the honest and emotive storytelling. I loved this one.

Milo Vega and his brothers were born into a dangerous life. Their father was the leader of a Mexican gang, and it wasn’t until the disappearance (assumed death) of their mother that they were taken from that life and placed somewhere safe. Milo is now 20 and has aged out of the foster system, but the couple that took him and his brothers in invited him to stay and be a part of their family, so he is settled and working hard to finish his senior year in high school, while working as the school janitor at nights. He is still covered with the gang tattoos that he got as a teenager, but he has no contact with his father and wants nothing to do with the life, and is committed to graduating, getting a job and providing a home for his brothers.

And then Mercy arrives. His new foster sister is different – with a genetic abnormality that makes her look just as unique as she is. She has lived her life as a brainwashed captive and is closed off, inexperienced with pretty much everything, and has strange beliefs about who she is and what she is capable of. But there is something about the mysterious beauty that draws Milo in. Though their backgrounds couldn’t be further apart, Milo and Mercy develop a friendship which gradually becomes something more, and I was captivated as it all played out.

She tilts her head so slightly that I am pulled deeper into her gaze, as though she’s trying to tell me something or maybe trying to pull something out of me, and in doing so, she’s drawing me in. her glare probes deep, and I’m incapable of looking away. Her pale eyes search mine and hold me hostage.
Not until she changes her focus to my neck do I blow out a breath from the freedom of her release. “Holy shit,” I whisper.

I loved Milo! Salsbury has written him perfectly, and I love that the book is written mostly in his POV so we get to explore so much about him. He is strong, smart, funny and brave with a huge heart. He’s matter-of-fact and incredibly self-aware, completely owning his flaws and making no apologies for himself or his life, and he, and his narrative, make this book. Seriously.

Mercy is a mystery whose story unfolds slowly as the story progresses, and her innocence and naivety are wonderfully written. And together they are so beautiful! Milo’s sweet heart and protectiveness is a big part of why I love him so much, and the care he takes with Mercy is gorgeous! However, and I hate to say this, but I did have some issues with their relationship…

“Be with me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Be my…” Girlfriend? Fuck, why is this so awkward? Probably because you’ve never done it before, shitface. “I want you to be mine. Only mine.”

But when danger arrives on their doorstep, everything will change for them. They have a battle ahead. What will they be prepared to risk to save the ones that they love?

This book was unexpected in a lot of ways, and Milo and Mercy’s journey is beautifully written with lots of heart and intensity, with twists and turns and an ending that I was in no way expecting! I was panicking as I read, knowing that there wasn’t enough time left in the book for everything to happen that needed to happen, only to discover that this book is merely part 1 of Milo and Mercy’s story. Honestly, I was initially annoyed because I was expecting this one to be a standalone, but the next book, Saint, will be released later this year, and I’m really excited to see where it all goes from here.

4 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Mercy Duet

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