Dear Reader,
Romance is dead. Mostly dead. Very dead. We’re talking six feet under type of dead. You might be wondering what could make us, the lovers of all rom-coms, feel this type of way. That would be Ashley Poston’s The Dead Romantics which made us feel as though romance is (well mostly) dead.
And if you’re thinking to yourself, “Cassie . . . Taylor . . . it’s not October. Why are you reviewing a book about a hot ghost? Well first of all, do not limit yourselves bestie. You can read about hot ghosts 365 days of the year.
This was absolutely Taylor’s favorite read of 2022. She seriously could not stop shoving it into people’s hands.
Our leading lady Florence is standing in the elevator with a very prickly cactus. Hungover from last night’s party–she is visiting her employer's new editor and has a deep–dark–possibly the biggest secret in the publishing world: She’s the ghost writer for Ann Nichols, the great romance novelist of her generation. She may or may not be hoping said cactus can help smooth things over when she tells her new editor that the book due tomorrow. . . hasn’t even been written yet.
Florence Day - Grimoire by Anatole Lebreton
notes: moonlit walks, ghostwriting, and something haunting
try it first: sample
All at once bewitching and spicy, this fragrance smells like sun aged book pages, wandering in cemeteries after dark, and stumbling onto the scent of fresh herbs. With notes of lavender, moss, basil, patchouli, and bergamot, this scent keeps on giving. It also has notes of musk, cumin, and the real star note is olibanum. It smells like second chances, happy haunts, and is perfect for the jaded hopeless romantic.
Enter Benji Andor, a brand new editor at one of the largest romance imprints in the industry. He doesn’t buy that the Ann Nichols can’t finish the book by tomorrow. So there’s no extension to the deadline.
Benji Andor - No.04 Bois de Balincourt by Maison Louis Marie
notes: old paper, ghostly stalking, and unfinished business
try it first: sample
The perfect spicy, woody scent, this fragrance has notes of sandalwood and cedar, and will have you smelling like a mountain of a man (dead or undead). Amberwood, nutmeg, vetiver, and cinnamon give a complexity to this woody perfume.
Florence knows she absolutely will not make the deadline that Benji is unwilling to compromise on, so Florence goes out for the night with her friend. Toasting to the end of her career since she can’t deliver a HEA by morning anyway. When they arrive she finds her ex boyfriend doing a reading… that is definitely about her. So she exits as quickly as possible and locks lips with the closest man she can find… which happens to be her totally hot new editor.
Poetry Readings for Your Ex-Boyfriend - Decomposing Roses for a Decomposing Romance by Death & Floral
notes: betrayal, heady floral, and moving on
With heady notes of rose and honeysuckle, this fragrance opens up floral heavy. It smells like realizing your ex is not the right one for you and getting even by making out with the first man you see in the alley. The scent also has notes of pink peppercorn (a Cassie fave, of course!), vanilla, and white musk. The pink peppercorn plays with the rose in a really intricate way.
After a steamy clandestine kiss, Florence gets a call that no one wants to get, which causes her to immediately fly home to be with her family. And not only does she have to deal with the complicated feelings of being home, she suddenly is haunted by a new ghost with unfinished business, which sends her into another kind of whirlwind. This includes graveyard walks, summer storms, and maybe romance not being as dead as she thought? But yeah her editor is dead… and they are both as confused as ever.
Summer Storms - Petrichor by Marissa Zappas
notes: rain drops, asphalt, and falling in love
try it first: sample
Truly petrichor in a bottle, this fragrance is earthy and fresh in a way that can only be described as the air after a rainstorm. The most photorealistic rendering of that nostalgic, grounding scent, this perfume also has notes of lemon, orris, musk, moss, and vetiver. This scent is perfect for remembering what it’s like to fall in love on a stormy day.
The Dead Romantics was truly one of the hottest books to come out last year. But not only is it hot, it’s hopeful, funny, poignant, and just leaves you feeling warm and glowy after you read it. It’s definitely one to revisit time and time again, and every page is just downright delightful to read. Pick up a copy and see for yourself.
We’re taking a month off in March, but we will see you back her in April with more perfume and romance.
Until next time, find us on Instagram & TikTok.
Scent-cerely,
Cassie & Taylor