The Haunting Between Us

De: Paul Michael Winters

Narrado por: Andrew Gibson

Heartstopper meets The Haunting of Hill House in this queer coming-of-age romance and ghost story.

Cameron can’t believe the boy of his dreams just moved into the house of his nightmares.

Sixteen-year-old Cameron Walsh dreads the haunted Victorian mansion across the street, where the ghost of the White Lady roams the halls. When he sees her through the bay window, his ghost-hunting friend Abby wants to investigate. But then the new owners pull up, and Cameron is captivated by the brooding, handsome boy moving in. He longs for a boyfriend, but years of bullying have shattered his self-esteem.

Sixteen-year-old Hugo Cruz and his father flip old houses, moving often, fleeing from the grief at the loss of Hugo’s mother. They unknowingly move into the most haunted house in Port Townsend, Washington. From day one, Hugo encounters shadows that move by themselves, locked doors without keys, and hidden rooms. He hides the mysteries from his superstitious father, not wanting to uproot their lives.

When the White Lady becomes impossible to ignore, Hugo turns to Cameron to help uncover the house’s dark history. They soon form a bond that goes beyond friendship, but as their feelings deepen, the White Lady's wrath intensifies. Entangled in a web of sinister secrets, they risk not only their love but their very existence.

©2024 Paul Michael Winters (P)2024 Paul Michael Winters

Good plot focused book with gay characters

i thoroughly enjoyed this book. i like stories with gay main characters in them that aren't all focused on carnal relations. Good 0laot with a couple of plot twists that kept me interested

Terrifying AND heartwarming - what a heady mix!!

I’ve always loved stories of many kinds, but haunted houses…now, those were my THING as a kid. I was the dork who would sneak off looking for secret passageways in interesting old houses (usually to the embarrassment of my family, if they were with me!) I devoured books about haunted houses, always so fascinated by the stories they told (the books and the houses in the books). But something was always missing. The groups of friends were always completely straight, and for a queer kid trying (and failing) so find just one character like themselves, it was always a subtle rebuke: “You’re not one of us.” Find your own lunch table, because you can’t sit here.

The Haunting Between Us is the first haunted house story where I really felt like the message was “You ARE one of us.” This book is like a warm hug to me—a bit ironic, I know, because it’s a story about a haunted house, and a scary one at that. The story itself gets downright freaking terrifying in several parts. I kid you not that I broke out in severe goosebumps at SEVERAL points during the story. I don’t think that’s ever happened before. Yet despite that—it’s still a warm hug, too. The dynamic of this group of friends, where everyone is accepted and welcome, was something the teenage version of myself was desperately looking for, both in real life and in the stories I read. And the relationship between Cameron and Hugo is such a wonderful journey. Trials and tribulations, of course (no story, or real life, would be complete without them!!) but the way they grow together, express their feelings, and care for and protect each other…wow. It’s a soothing balm after decades of reading stories that either had a lack of representation completely, or sad/bad/negative vibes.

The parental dynamics are also very real and also very emotional for me. I won’t go into details as I don’t want to spoil anything, but this was so well done. Parents are often one-dimensional bookends in YA stories, there out of necessity but kind of in the way. Not so, with the parents in this story.

And all that aside, it’s got amazing adventure and exploration and mystery and horror (and some lines that made me burst out laughing) and an absolute pleasure to read. And yes, the ending made me tear up for sure…another example of how this book hits home on so many emotional levels.

There needs to be a word for the feeling of riding a wave, of coming off a book you absolutely love and that resonates so well, and you know that whatever you read next won’t compare. I’m totally satisfied with the ending yet also so extremely sad that I’ve come to the end of the story, because I am totally going to miss checking in with Cameron and Hugo and their friends. I guess I’ll just have to start rereading again from the beginning.

Hahn Vibes

The sample doesn't do it justice. I took a recommendation from an author I follow. When I listened to the sample I was like "meh". Wasn't sure it was worth the credit, but it sat back in my head for a couple of days until I committed. I really liked it! It reminded me of the Mary Downing Hahn books I read as a kid, so if you're looking for that level of ghost story and a queer romance this is your book! Thanks for story!

Amazing! Awesome! Engaging!

Great horror story with LGBTQ+ characters one doesn’t normally see in the horror genre. Definitely worth the listen and read!

A good read

The book was very interesting and enjoyable to read. It had mystery, adventure, horror and romance. The characters were very interesting and enjoyable to listen to the main characters Perspective of what was going o. Would highly recommend and would be reading again soon.

Loved it!

Great story, very likable MC's and secondary characters. The story gripped me from the beginning & never let up.

I loved the characters so much that I wish this was the beginning of a series.

Great narration makes the story truly come to life. This amazing coming-of-age story was heartfelt, tender & very believable. I highly recommend it to everyone of any age!

So good, more please!

This was so good! Paranormal stories aren't my typical go-to, but when I saw who the author was and who the narrator was, I had to try it out, and am so thankful I did! I immediately was pulling for both main characters, and the cast of friends grew on me pretty quickly as well. I really liked the mystery element to it as well. The narrator has quickly become one of my favorites. He doesn't distinguish the two main character voices very much in this book (he did an impeccable job in 'All That's Left in the World'), but even, still I could listen to him tell stories all day long. This has a bit of everything, the creepy factor, a little romance, and a little mystery. I would gladly listen to another tale of the friends trying to solve a paranormal mystery.

Paranormal Teen Romance

I usually don’t like paranormal romances. They tend to have thin plots around gratuitous sex. This being a YA story I knew there would be no sex. The plot was well thought out.

The haunting of Hugo’s house makes use of the genre perfectly without being wholly derivative. It didn’t need to reinvent the reasons for hauntings, or how to stop them, because the story was primarily built around the cast with the haunting being the thing that binds Hugo and Cameron together.

So why not 5 stars? I felt like anything and everything that could be resolved was resolved. It left no opportunity for growth of some characters should there ever be a second book. I nevertheless highly recommend it.

Hauntingly Beautiful

Hauntingly beautiful. This novel masterfully weaves together a chilling ghost story with an unexpected romance. Two high school boys—seemingly worlds apart—find themselves drawn together by a series of eerie events. As they unravel a mystery filled with ghosts, murders, and betrayal, they also discover something even more surprising: love. The atmosphere is both unsettling and mesmerizing, keeping you hooked until the very last page. A perfect blend of horror, suspense, and tender emotion—what a great story!

A Hauntingly Beautiful Story of Love and Growth

One of my favorite reads in a long time!

The Haunting Between Us by Paul Michael Winters is so much more than a ghost story—it’s a heartfelt journey of first love, queer love, and self-discovery. The supernatural elements drew me in, but it’s the coming-of-age story and the tender, authentic portrayal of young gay love that truly stayed with me.

I especially appreciated how the book tackles issues like body image and discrimination with honesty and care. It’s rare to find a story that feels this relatable and affirming while also being perfect for readers of all ages.

This book is haunting, hopeful, and deeply moving. I couldn’t put it down—and I can’t recommend it enough.