Pen Pal

Absolutely loved Pen Pal!! This book completely blew me away! I went in expecting a dark romance, but what I got was so much more: a twisty, addictive thriller with a paranormal edge and a romance that’s anything but ordinary. From the very first page, I was hooked by the mysterious letters and the sense of foreboding that just kept building. I finished it in a day because I literally could not put it down—the suspense and the chemistry between the characters were off the charts. What really stood out to me was how unpredictable the story was. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Geissinger threw in another curveball that left me reeling. The plot was intense and unique, and the emotional rollercoaster had me blinking away sleep just so I could keep turning the pages. The relationship between the main characters was electric—raw, sexy, and at times, deeply unsettling in the best way possible. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, dark romance, or books that keep you guessing until the very end, I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s a story that sticks with you long after you finish, and honestly, I wish I could read it again for the first time. Five stars from me—go in blind and enjoy the ride!

I really enjoyed this book, it was the first book I have read from this author. If you like a little spiritual mystery, you’ll enjoy it.

This book has twists turns, great deep romance. I cried like a baby. The book just pulls you in. It was so well written and the plot was unexpected. Highly recommend

Pen Pal by JT Geissinger completely blew me away! From the very first page, the eerie, unsettling tone had me hooked. The writing creates this haunting atmosphere that kept me on edge, constantly guessing what would happen next. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the plot would take a sharp turn and leave me reeling. The spice was perfectly chefs kiss!!-intense and addictive without ever overshadowing the story. And that ending twist? Absolutely phenomenal. It tied everything together in such a chilling and unexpected way that I was left speechless. JT Geissinger has long been one of my favorite authors, and Pen Pal was the start of why. Since then l've read her other books and became obsessed. If you're looking for a book that's equal parts eerie, twisty, and steamy, this is the one. Def an unforgettable read I'll be thinking about for a long time!

This review puts spoilers at the BOTTOM. TL;DR - It could be really good if the blurb was rewritten and the marketing was honest. I know that might mean making "the big reveal" less big, but the author would be doing a better service to her readership and the book itself. *** I love this author. After reading hundreds of books in the romance genre, JTG's writing is exceptional, her editing is phenomenal, and her plots are juicy. I will always read her books (and re-read), and I appreciate how she gets better at her craft with every novel. She's brilliant with spice and emotional investment. That said, this book is a dirty, stinking bait and switch. I AM SO TICKED OFF. The current blurb and marketing for PEN PAL are cheap tricks. JT Geissinger is a truly good author who shouldn't stoop to these gimmicks just to deliver a zinger at the end of a book. I called the Big Reveal/Plot Twist very early in the book, so all of this misleading marketing was unnecessary and only further detracted from my enjoyment. And I hate all the lip service from other reviewers ("brilliant" "amazing" "jaw dropping" etc etc). This book is Perfectly Fine, but hardly groundbreaking; it's all been done before, kids. Based on the blurb I expected a criminal element, a mystery, maybe home-invasion or abduction. WHAT I GOT: paranormal, anxiety/suspense, "big reveal", and "unconventional HEA". I am fine reading either story. What I hate is going in expecting one thing and getting another. It's like (hypothetically speaking) picking a lighthearted romance movie, but SURPRISE it's actually a drama and someone's mom is going to die from cancer. I an NOT delighted by the switcheroo. The book is on the short side. I was hoping for a heftier tome. I could barely enjoy any of the romance because Kayla was so freaking uncomfortable most of the book. SHE barely relaxed into the romance (forget me, as as the reader). The overall anxiety was a real boner-killer for a romance novel, but super appropriate for a paranormal suspense novel. SO WHY DID I GIVE THIS DIRTY TRICK OF A BOOK 3 STARS? The paranormal part was great. The overall anxious vibe of the story was great. IF I HAD KNOWN I was reading a spooky season novel, I would have been all over the tension, way more invested in figuring out the supernatural bumps and knocks and doorbells. This book would make a great spooky movie. It's not gory at all; it's all about suspense and gothic angst. I'm here for spooky books. I just want to know first. OK - SOME VERY MILD SPOILERS COMING.... Because the blurb is designed to mislead the reader, I spent most of the book wondering why Kayla was fixating on some rando named Aiden, how long was it going to take for Dante to show up, why was I getting horror/spooky vibes from everything, and when was Kayla going to chill out and relax? You aren't supposed to know that the timeline jumps around, that some scenes happened before the funeral and some scenes happened after the funeral. MORE SPOILERS - BUT, LIKE, MAJOR SPOILERS... FOR REAL... MAJOR SPOILERS... The funeral was Kayla's. She's haunting her own house, and her housekeeper sees her because her housekeeper is sensitive to spirit presences. Kayla struggles with coming to terms with her violent death, so her memories of being with Aiden are inter-mixed with her ghost experiences. Her life and her afterlife merge into a story that shows us Aiden and Kayla's courtship during her life, how she struggled to separate herself from her schizophrenic and abusive husband, and how she comes to terms with actually being dead (the experience was so traumatic, she blocked it, and thus prevented her spirit from moving on). The scene with Aiden's friends happens when Kayla and Aiden were alive, although lots of readers wondered afterwards if they were also dead. This was a turning point for Aiden and Kayla's relationship because he ended up giving her an ultimatum: leave Michael in the past if she wants Aiden in her future. This kicked off the few months of happiness they had before the fateful night of their double murder. The woman at grief counseling was able to talk to Kayla because she never came to terms with the abduction/death of her child. The handyman was able to talk to Kayla because he was also "stuck" in the afterlife (although there's no clear explanation given why he would be). Kayla and the handyman were able to use their phones because spirits can manipulate electricity in limited ways (including cells phones, phone lines, radios, doorbells). In the afterlife/present, Aiden knows he's dead, so his spirit exists on a different plane. His only way of connecting with Kayla is through the letters that she finds (which are sweet, but don't actually do much for the story or for Kayla, honestly), hence the pen pal. But, it's such a weak plot devise, the book really needs to be RENAMED and REMARKETED to be any good (imho). I had to get that off my chest. Thanks for reading!

The twist in this story still has me shocked, jaw dropped, and lost in thought!! I have to read it again once Ive calmed my soul! I am recommending this book to everyone I can!! WOW!

PenPal is the perfect combo of thriller, suspense, and romance. The storytelling is amazing, the plot twists kept me surprised, and the spice was spicy! Kayla has so much to deal with! She's lost her husband, her house is falling apart and she's beginning to entertain the idea that she might be haunted. The only thing holding her together for the moment is Aidan, a handyman she calls to help fix her leaking roof. The two have explosive chemistry and fall for each other hard and fast. Her grief (and ghost!) are in the way of the two really being together! When she tries to deal with it things take a turn that I wasn’t ready for!!

This was just a great book that I’m mad It took me this long to come around to read it. It took me 3 days to read this book and I didn’t get bored or had to put it down because it was too much. It was such a smooth read and full of emotion. Sometimes I was happy , other times I was sad and a few times I got annoyed with Kayla but in the end it was worth it. I cried hard at the end and I’m still crying writing this. The end reminded me of parts in another few book I read that I loved too. This book was 10/10

I must be careful with this review because I don’t want to ruin the experience for future readers. So, I’ll be short. Keep an open mind if this book was recommended to you as a dark romance, because you may not get what you're expecting. It’s a strange mix of thriller, romance, and primal play kink . There hasn’t been a book that has affected me so deeply in such a long time. Totally mind-blowing 🤯. A true gem. It is the one I crave, the one that tears my heart apart and leaves me in an emotional mess. It is the kind of book that you should dive into blindly and enjoy the chaotic journey that unfolds. The characters J.T. Geissinger portrays in her story are the ones I love the most: scarred and battered by life, struggling to keep their heads out of the water. Those kind of characters you don't know if they will survive their journey to salvation. There is a strong connection between the two. However, not the kind that will destroy them, because despite their wounds, Kayla and Aidan care for each other and try to find balance. Particularly Aidan, who is a very supportive person to Kayla. He takes great care to be mindful of her feelings and it’s so beautiful to read. Even so, there is a sense that something is looming over them like a reaper. Something you can't exactly pinpoint and every time you think you've got it figured out, you find yourself doubting your intuition on the next few pages. Or maybe you're just trying to find a way out, another possibility because you don't want to acknowledge the truth. It was so nerve-wracking. It ends on a very controversial HEA, so be prepared, because it will bring you to tears! I'd recommend checking the trigger warnings.

I’m obsessed

Good it damaged, so sad.

What a beauty! This was an exceptional book and had my full attention from the first word in the book. Kayla and Aidan are soulmates. Literally figuratively, my heart goes out to them. The mystery was so rich, you keep on trying to guess what's coming next, though I guessed some parts correctly but the way the book is written is just wow! What a talented author! I finished it in a day and loved it. And that ending, perfect!!

El que pensaba que iba ser un libro más de dark romance, se ha convertido en uno realmente especial, que recordaré para siempre. Realmente memorable y hermoso. El comentario final de la autora, sobre el fallecimiento de su padre y cómo eso la influyó en la creación de esta novela lo hace aún más especial, si cabe.