I’m a total sucker for coming-of-age stories, especially ones set in the 1980s: there is just something about the nostalgia that gets me every time! THE SATURDAY NIGHT GHOST CLUB by Craig Davidson follows Jake in the magical time in a boy’s life: he is twelve, its summer break and everything feels possible. Led by Jake’s eccentric uncle who runs an occult store, Jake and new kids in town Billy and Dove form the Ghost Club to explore local legends. What starts out as summer fun ultimately uncovers more serious issues than anyone imagined.

Davidson did a beautiful job capturing the pivotal time when a person transitions from child to adult. By the end of the book, Jake’s understanding and interactions with the world have forever changed and there is no going back to the carefree nature of childhood. As well, there are also some very thoughtful discussion of memory and trauma that I did not expect from this story. I will say that from the start the book was building up to a climax that was as a little predictable but overall still impactful.

THE SATURDAY NIGHT GHOST CLUB is a quick read and a unique coming-of-age story. Though the title implies some supernatural horror elements, I found it more heart-warming than scary!

***Penguin Books sent the copy for honest review

• Title: The Saturday Night Ghost Club
• Author: Craig Davidson
• Published: July 9, 2019 (Penguin Books)
• Genre: Fiction, Mystery
• Booky Nooky Rating: * * * 1/2