GHOSTED by J.M Darhower

written by Aishwarya Chandra

edited by Vanshika

Quiet. Painful. Human.

Ghosted is the kind of book that doesn’t leave immediately once you finish it. It lingers. It doesn’t try to win you over with dramatic moments or big declarations of love. Instead, it stays with the mess, with the silence, with everything that’s uncomfortable. This isn’t a story about falling in love. It’s about what’s left behind after love has already been hurt and neglected. Jonathan and Kennedy’s relationship is fractured long before the story truly begins. Jonathan is a famous actor caught in addiction and self-destruction, fully aware of the damage he’s caused and unable to escape it. The book never makes excuses for him. His struggle is shown as lonely, humiliating, and consuming, the kind that isolates you from everyone who once mattered. Kennedy is where the story feels most grounded. Her pain isn’t loud, but it’s steady. She doesn’t wait to be saved, and she doesn’t soften herself for the sake of anyone else’s comfort. Her distance makes sense. Through her, the book speaks about boundaries, self-respect, and how hard it is to walk away from someone you still care about. What makes it feel so real is how honest the book is. There are no easy fixes here. Healing takes time, forgiveness isn’t guaranteed, and love doesn’t automatically repair what’s been broken.

The story asks difficult questions about growth, accountability, and whether some things can ever truly be undone. Reading feels like watching two people slowly learn how to breathe again after being weighed down for too long. The pain is quiet and lingering rather than loud or dramatic. It reminds you that forgiveness is something you choose, not something you owe, and that sometimes the most compassionate thing you can do is step back and give yourself room to heal. It’s a story that hurts in a gentle, lasting way, and it stays with you because it feels honest.