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Love At First Fright

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Love At First Fright

By: Nadia El-Fassi
Narrated by: Naomi Wood, Thomas Frost
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Can they write themselves a happily-ever-after before it's a wrap?

In this cosy and spicy paranormal romance from the author of Best Hex Ever, a successful horror writer whose novel is being adapted into a movie clashes with the lead actor on set in a haunted mansion.

Rosemary is a successful horror author with a secret: she can see ghosts. So when the set of her hit novel’s film adaptation turns out to be a haunted countryside manor, she’s unfazed. What she’s less prepared for is the maddeningly handsome, completely miscast actor playing her leading man.

Ellis is a Hollywood heartthrob tired of his action-hero persona. Instead, he dreams of being a serious actor, and having free time to spend gardening with his dog. Landing the lead in a historical horror movie is his chance to start fresh… until he discovers the author tried to have him replaced.

But as filming progresses, and the manor's ghosts make their presence known, the chemistry between Rosemary and Ellis becomes undeniable. With secrets being spilled, sparks flying, and spirits stirring up trouble, can they face their demons and write themselves a happily-ever-after before it's a wrap?


'El-Fassi is the master of cosy spice! Brigitte Knightley, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for your Enemy
'Addictive and adorable, sweet and sexy’ Sarah Beth Durst, The Spellshop
‘Delightfully spooky and heartstoppingly sensual' Thea Guanzon, The Hurricane Wars
‘Wonderfully warm, deliciously sexy and beautifully inclusive’ Sangu Mandanna, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

© Nadia El-Fassi 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Contemporary Fantasy Ghosts Horror Paranormal Scary Haunted Heartfelt Magic Users

Critic Reviews

Best Hex Ever is a hard act to follow, but Love at First Fright does it so well! Wonderfully warm, deliciously sexy and beautifully inclusive, I loved this every bit as much as the first.
Love At First Fright is the perfect mix of sweet, sexy, soft, and spooky - horny in all the best ways without losing its tenderness, honesty, or sensitivity to the messy realities of grief, shame, anxiety, and show business. Rosemary is a dream of a protagonist, Ellis’ determination to make her happy is a delight, and the full cast (and crew) of minor and supporting characters add a richness to an already brilliant story. A must-read for anyone who delights in the potential of queer allegories in horror, believes every old building deserves at least one dramatic ghost situation, and isn’t afraid to acknowledge that there’s strength - and power - in submission.
Charming, witty, and bingeable! Love At First Fright is my newest 5-star read.
By turns absolutely sizzling and surprisingly tender, Love at First Fright offers a delightful escape into a world full of movie stars, best-selling writers, sapphic ghosts, old haunted British mansions, and much delicious kink. I adored it!
Addicting and adorable, sweet and sexy, Love At First Fright is a delicious treat!
El-Fassi is a master of cosy spice! Love At First Fright strikes a perfect balance between wholesome and smutty, featuring El-Fassi's trademark chemistry (the tension!), magic, and delightful friendships. The back-and-forth antagonism between Rosemary and Ellis is delicious. El-Fassi's exploration of D/s play is thoughtful, emotional, and erotic. A low stakes, high spice read for fans of enemies-to-lovers ft. a Stern Brunch Daddy.
From the first ghost to the final page, this paranormal romance between a haunted horror author and her way-too-hot leading man had me smiling, and often blushing. Such spooky, swoony, and warmhearted fun.
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