Benevolent Haunting by Hypnobyl

Fanfiction: Ghostbusters (2016)
Found: http://archiveofourown.org/works/7517804?view_full_work=true

This is a solid book set in the same universe as the 2016 film Ghostbusters. Just as the film starred four women, the book stars those same four women: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Jillian Holtzmann, and Patty Tolan.

The book does have some differences though: I believe that the idea is that this book takes place after the events of the movie, but that the events played out slightly differently - there's still Rowan and his antics that caused massive issues in New York, but the Ghostbusters handled him with just three of the Ghostbusting women involved - Erin, Abby, and Patty (and, just to round things out, Kevin, the very dumb hunky man from the film is also still present in this book).

I'm not sure how long after the events of the film the book is set, but probably not long after. The story opens with Erin noticing a few things 'odd' going on in her apartment, though it takes her a really long time to realize that she actually had a ghost in there. Turns out that Holtzmann, who was always causing things to explode and stuff in the film, killed herself in an explosion ten years before the start of this book. And has been a ghost for the last ten years.

Holtz and Erin connect - develop a relationship - build stuff (Holtzmann died building a 'lifebelt' that would allow a ghost to 'materalize' on the physical plane. Erin completed work on the belt (or, more accurately, since there's no belt now to complete, used the blueprints Holtz drew to make a belt)).

The story focuses on the relationship of Holtz and Erin, Erin's family, Holtz's family; the ghostbusting stuff (which was actually quite well done); and bits and pieces of both Patty and Abby's lives. While the book focused more on Hotlz and Erin, both Patty and Abby got some time to shine, Abby somewhat more than Patty.

I had originally put this book on my lesbian fiction shelf, but no one is actually a lesbian here (with the possible exception of Holtz). All, including Kevin, are apparently some form of bisexual (pansexual, omnisexual, something) - except, as noted, Holtz's exact nature wasn't fixed in stone (she's in a relationship with a woman, the rest is wording). So I have this book on my bisexual/biromantic shelf.

I also have it on my aromantic shelf. I didn't expect this going in, but this story has one of the best, probably the best, aromantic representation I've seen (which isn't really saying anything, I think I've three works on that shelf?). For, you see, Abby is aromantic. But unlike the every other aromantic person I've come across, Abby isn't asexual. But, instead, as noted, some form of bisexual.

Everyone in the book, including the aromantic Abby, has someone in their lives (in Abby's case it's someone who they have a no-strings type relationship with).

Right, so - there's humor, excitement, romance, ghosts, etc. etc. And graphic depictions of a sexual nature.

Rating: 4.44

September 13 2017