#WhatHappensatNightfall #NetGalley
380 pages
Fiction
Pub date: 06 October 2026
Four stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
My thoughts:
Lauren Willig has written many excellent novels. Here, she creates a contemporary romance with a number of supernatural elements. Parts of the story take place at the well known Green-Wood Cemetery which is located in Brooklyn, New York. Many famous people are buried there, similar to Pere Lachaise in Paris. In addition to the many burials, Green-Wood is known for its beautiful grounds. I would say that the cemetery is a character in its own right in this story.
Readers meet Jess, who was recently laid off (lost?) her job. She is a bit at loose ends. When a close friend, Kimmy, invites her to a nighttime tour at Green-Wood, Jess goes along. She gets separated from her group and the spookiness immediately kicks in.
Jess meets a young boy and escorts him home. It turns out that his father, Adam, is the arborist at the cemetery. Adam has this son and also a daughter. His wife died not long ago. Her family has a large crypt/mausoleum on Green-Woods grounds.
What is happening at the cemetery? Why? Will things end in tragedy? Those who enjoy a spooky story will be eager to find out.
Note: I have never read supernatural, scary stories so that aspect of the book was not a favorite for me. What I did love were the characters. They are sparky, at times funny, and enjoyable to be with. I also was happy to follow the relationship between Jess and Adam, rooting for then all the way.
Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Post first published on 11 October 2026.
Description:
from the publisher
New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig returns with What Happens at Nightfall, a delightfully Gothic romantic adventure, complete with a little bit of demon-hunting.
In the sprawling Gothic expanse of Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, some secrets refuse to stay buried.
Recently laid off and searching for purpose, Jess reluctantly joins her best friend on a supposedly fun nighttime cemetery tour. Separated from her group by accident, she discovers a bunch of terrified boys and a strange, ancient key. Both lead to Green-Wood’s surprisingly handsome resident arborist, Adam Chervinsky.
Recently widowed, Adam has more to protect than the leafy residents of Green-Wood. His children, still dealing with the loss of their mother, are acting strangely. A haunting is afoot, and Jess seems to know more than she’s letting on. Sparks fly between Jess and Adam—and the unquiet spirits of Green-Wood rise from their century-long slumber.
As Jess and Adam delve deeper into the cemetery’s haunted history, they uncover a Gilded Age curse, a ghostly socialite, and a demonic pact that stretches across generations. What lies hidden in the Green-Wood’s splendid Vanderwilt mausoleum? As the line between the living and the dead blurs, and the shadows of Green-Wood begin to stir with malevolent intent, Jess must confront not only the supernatural forces but a shocking connection to the past if she and Adam truly want to live happily ever after.
Editorial reviews:
A great read for those who like paranormal, second-chance romance, historical details, and humorous moments. It could be the most entertainingly romantic walk in a cemetery readers will ever take.-Library Journal
Rich with historical detail, Willig’s rendering of Green-Wood brims with secrets, spookiness, and sparks. It’s an undeniably fun ride.-Publishers Weekly
From the Publisher:
