Haunted Beginnings, Tangled Hearts

Morgan Lane's life is a graveyard of failed dates, but her latest romantic misadventure is complicated by a literal haunting: the ghost of Zach, a man she once went rock climbing with, now lingers in her apartment, disrupting her attempts at connection and driving away her roommate. Meanwhile, across Los Angeles, Sawyer Wilson lives in a house haunted by his fiancée, Kennedy, who died five years ago. Both Morgan and Sawyer are stuck—haunted not just by ghosts, but by their own inability to move forward. Their parallel struggles set the stage for a story about love, loss, and the ways the past refuses to let go.

Ghosts in the Closet

Morgan's haunting is more than a nuisance; it's a full-blown crisis. Zach's ghostly antics sabotage her dates, threaten her housing, and leave her isolated. Sawyer, too, is trapped in a cold, unfinished home, clinging to the memory of Kennedy. Both protagonists are forced to confront the reality that their ghosts are not just random spirits, but manifestations of unresolved business—emotional and otherwise. The supernatural becomes a metaphor for the baggage they carry, and the need for resolution grows urgent as their lives unravel.

Support Group Encounters

Desperate for answers, Morgan attends a support group for the haunted, where she meets Sawyer. Their initial interaction is prickly—Sawyer is stoic and resigned to his haunting, while Morgan is desperate for escape. Yet, a shared understanding emerges when they realize their ghosts communicate through songs stuck in their heads. The group is a mix of skeptics and true believers, but Morgan and Sawyer recognize each other as genuinely haunted. This meeting plants the seeds of a partnership, as they begin to suspect their hauntings are connected to unfinished business.

Unfinished Business Revealed

Through awkward conversations and supernatural mishaps, Morgan and Sawyer piece together that their ghosts are tethered by unresolved issues. Zach's memories are fragmented, but a visit to a haunted bar and a support group Ouija session reveal that he's forgotten something crucial—his car keys, left in Morgan's possession. Kennedy's haunting, meanwhile, is tied to the unfinished renovation of the house she and Sawyer shared. The realization dawns: to free their ghosts, Morgan and Sawyer must help them complete what was left undone.

The Haunted House Next Door

Facing eviction and financial ruin, Morgan accepts Sawyer's offer to move into his guesthouse in exchange for landscaping his overgrown yard—the last project Kennedy never finished. Living side by side, Morgan and Sawyer navigate the challenges of cohabitation, haunted by their respective ghosts and their own emotional wounds. Their partnership is uneasy but necessary, as they work together to solve the mysteries of their hauntings and, in the process, begin to heal.

Roommates, Real and Spectral

As Morgan settles into Sawyer's guesthouse, the boundaries between the living and the dead blur. Zach's haunting intensifies, manifesting in poltergeist activity and emotional outbursts. Kennedy's presence grows more elusive, her appearances tied to Sawyer's progress on the house and his ability to let go. The two roommates—one living, one spectral—force Morgan and Sawyer to confront their fears of commitment, loss, and vulnerability. Their growing friendship is tested by the ghosts' unpredictable behavior and the secrets they keep from each other.

Gardening the Past

Morgan's work on Sawyer's yard is more than a job; it's a journey through grief and renewal. Each plant she tends, each weed she pulls, becomes an act of reclaiming life from the ruins of the past. Sawyer, initially resistant to change, is forced to confront his attachment to the dead tree—a symbol of his inability to move on from Kennedy. Together, they uproot the old and make space for the new, learning that growth requires both letting go and holding on.

The Weight of Grief

The process of exorcising their ghosts brings Morgan and Sawyer face to face with their deepest wounds. Sawyer's grief for Kennedy is raw and unresolved, while Morgan's fear of commitment is rooted in past failures and self-doubt. Their arguments are fierce, but so is their empathy. Through shared vulnerability, they begin to see each other not just as haunted, but as survivors—capable of love, worthy of happiness, and deserving of a future unburdened by the past.

Paranormal Interventions

As Zach's haunting escalates—culminating in a terrifying, reality-bending "earthquake"—the urgency to resolve his unfinished business becomes undeniable. Clues point to Zach's van, left at his sister's house, and a long-lost set of keys hidden in Morgan's closet. Meanwhile, Kennedy's haunting reaches a turning point as she reveals to Morgan that her true unfinished business is Sawyer's happiness, not the house. The ghosts' interventions push Morgan and Sawyer to confront the truth about what's holding them back.

Keys, Clues, and Confessions

With Zach's keys finally found, Morgan and Sawyer embark on a quest to uncover his unfinished business. Their journey takes them across Los Angeles, piecing together memories and reconnecting with Zach's family and friends. Along the way, they confront their own feelings for each other, confessing fears, regrets, and hopes. The search for closure becomes a catalyst for personal transformation, as they realize that helping their ghosts move on is also a way to free themselves.

Facing the Living and the Dead

Morgan and Sawyer visit Zach's family, learning about the life he left behind and the love that endures after death. They deliver messages, share memories, and facilitate healing for those still grieving. Kennedy's parents visit Sawyer, offering forgiveness and encouragement to move forward. These encounters with the living deepen the protagonists' understanding of loss, reminding them that grief is a communal experience, and that love persists even when those we cherish are gone.

Letting Go, Moving On

The climax arrives as Morgan and Sawyer help Zach fulfill his final wish: one last Perfect Weekend with his friends at the beach. As Zach's spirit finds peace, Kennedy appears to Sawyer one last time, expressing gratitude and urging him to embrace life with Morgan. The act of letting go is bittersweet, marked by tears, laughter, and the recognition that moving on does not mean forgetting. The ghosts' departures leave Morgan and Sawyer changed—haunted not by regret, but by the memory of love.

The Perfect Weekend

At the beach, surrounded by Zach's friends, Morgan and Sawyer experience the joy of community and the healing power of shared memories. Surfing, bonfires, and heartfelt tributes create a space for closure and new beginnings. Zach's final moments are filled with gratitude and acceptance, his unfinished business resolved not by grand gestures, but by the simple act of being remembered and loved. The Perfect Weekend becomes a metaphor for the beauty of impermanence and the importance of living fully.

Last Goodbyes, New Beginnings

With their ghosts at peace, Morgan and Sawyer face the daunting prospect of building a life together. Their journey has been marked by loss, but also by resilience and hope. They choose to stay in Los Angeles, transforming Sawyer's haunted house into a home filled with light, laughter, and love. The act of planting a garden together symbolizes their commitment to growth, change, and the future they are creating—one rooted in the lessons of the past, but reaching for new horizons.

Love After Loss

Morgan and Sawyer's relationship is tested by the scars of grief and the fear of vulnerability. Yet, through honest communication and mutual support, they learn to forgive themselves and each other. Their love is not a replacement for what was lost, but a testament to the human capacity for renewal. Together, they honor the memories of Kennedy and Zach, carrying their spirits forward in the choices they make and the lives they touch.

Planting Roots Together

The story concludes with Morgan and Sawyer fully embracing their new life. The haunted house is now a sanctuary, its garden a living tribute to the people and experiences that shaped them. Surrounded by friends, family, and the echoes of those they've loved, they find peace—not in the absence of ghosts, but in the acceptance of change. Their journey is a reminder that love endures, that healing is possible, and that every ending is also a beginning.

Characters

Morgan Lane

Morgan is a young woman whose life has been defined by constant movement—both literal and emotional. Raised by parents who moved frequently, she's developed a fear of commitment and a tendency to flee when things get difficult. Her haunting by Zach is both a literal and metaphorical manifestation of her unresolved issues. Morgan is witty, resourceful, and deeply empathetic, but struggles with self-doubt and guilt over past failures. Her journey is one of learning to stay, to face her fears, and to believe she is worthy of love and happiness. Through her relationship with Sawyer, she discovers the strength to put down roots and embrace vulnerability.

Sawyer Wilson

Sawyer is a man frozen in time, unable to move on from the death of his fiancée, Kennedy. His haunted house is a physical representation of his emotional state—unfinished, cold, and filled with memories he cannot let go. Sawyer is introspective, loyal, and deeply caring, but his fear of further loss keeps him isolated. His interactions with Morgan challenge his assumptions about grief and healing, forcing him to confront the possibility of new love. Sawyer's arc is one of transformation—from a man defined by the past to someone willing to risk his heart again.

Zach Harrison

Zach is the ghost of Morgan's one-time date, whose unfinished business keeps him tethered to the world of the living. His haunting is both mischievous and poignant, as he struggles with forgotten memories and a longing for connection. Zach's presence forces Morgan to confront her own avoidance of intimacy and responsibility. As the story unfolds, Zach becomes a true friend to both Morgan and Sawyer, guiding them toward healing even as he seeks his own peace. His journey is a reminder of the importance of being remembered and the power of friendship.

Kennedy Raymond

Kennedy is Sawyer's deceased fiancée, whose ghost lingers in their shared home. Her haunting is gentle but persistent, urging Sawyer to finish the house and, ultimately, to move on with his life. Kennedy's love for Sawyer is evident in her willingness to let him go, even as it means her own departure from the world. She serves as a bridge between the past and the future, embodying the idea that true love is not possessive, but liberating. Kennedy's arc is one of acceptance and release, teaching both Sawyer and Morgan the value of letting go.

Savannah

Savannah is Morgan's longtime roommate and confidante, providing stability and perspective amid the chaos of Morgan's haunted life. Her decision to move out due to Zach's antics is a catalyst for Morgan's journey, forcing her to seek new solutions and confront her problems head-on. Savannah's presence, though often in the background, represents the importance of chosen family and the need for boundaries in relationships.

Bill Harrison

Bill is Zach's father, whose loss is palpable but whose capacity for love endures. His interactions with Morgan and Sawyer provide insight into Zach's life and the impact of grief on those left behind. Bill's willingness to share memories and accept help is a testament to the healing power of community and remembrance.

Ariana "Ari" Harrison

Ari is Zach's older sister, whose relationship with her brother is marked by teasing affection and deep loyalty. Her role in the story is to provide context for Zach's life and to serve as a touchstone for his unfinished business. Ari's acceptance of Morgan and Sawyer into her family's circle highlights the importance of connection and the ways in which love persists after loss.

Layla

Layla is one of Zach's closest friends, embodying the spirit of the Perfect Weekend tradition. Her openness and generosity help Morgan and Sawyer feel welcome, and her role as a storyteller ensures that Zach's memory will live on. Layla represents the enduring bonds of friendship and the comfort found in shared rituals.

Ben

Ben is another member of Zach's friend group, whose stories and presence at the beach underscore the significance of community in the grieving process. His interactions with his own children and with Zach's memory illustrate the ways in which love and loss are passed down through generations.

Otto

Otto's ongoing debate about moving to Boulder becomes a running joke among Zach's friends, symbolizing the difficulty of making life-changing decisions. His storyline provides levity and serves as a reminder that everyone has their own unfinished business, whether they realize it or not.

Plot Devices

Dual Hauntings as Emotional Metaphor

The central plot device is the literal haunting of Morgan and Sawyer by Zach and Kennedy, respectively. These ghosts are not just supernatural elements, but embodiments of the protagonists' emotional baggage—Morgan's fear of commitment and Sawyer's inability to move on from loss. The hauntings force the characters to confront what they've avoided, making the supernatural a vehicle for deep psychological exploration.

Unfinished Business as Catalyst

The idea that ghosts linger due to unfinished business drives the narrative. For Zach, it's a forgotten set of keys and a missed final weekend with friends; for Kennedy, it's Sawyer's happiness and ability to love again. The quest to resolve these issues propels the characters into action, leading to personal transformation and the possibility of new beginnings.

Support Group and Found Family

The support group for the haunted introduces a cast of characters who, while quirky, provide a sense of belonging and understanding. The friendships formed—both with the living and the dead—underscore the importance of connection in overcoming grief and fear. The found family motif recurs throughout, as Morgan and Sawyer build a new home together, surrounded by those who accept and support them.

Gardening and Home Renovation

The act of landscaping Sawyer's yard and finishing the house becomes a metaphor for healing and renewal. As Morgan and Sawyer work together to reclaim the neglected space, they also reclaim parts of themselves lost to pain and regret. The garden, once overgrown and haunted, becomes a symbol of hope, growth, and the future they choose to build.

Parallel Character Arcs

Morgan and Sawyer's stories run in tandem, each confronting their own ghosts—literal and figurative. Their parallel arcs allow for moments of contrast and resonance, highlighting the universality of grief, the challenge of vulnerability, and the courage required to embrace change. Their eventual union is not a simple resolution, but the result of hard-won self-acceptance and mutual support.

Symbolic Objects and Music

Objects like Zach's keys, the dragon mug, and the surfboard serve as tangible links to the past and catalysts for action. Music—specifically the songs that haunt the characters—acts as a bridge between worlds, signaling the presence of ghosts and the emotions they carry. These devices ground the supernatural in the everyday, making the story both magical and relatable.

Analysis

Seeing Other People is a contemporary romance that uses the supernatural as a lens for exploring grief, healing, and the messy, beautiful process of moving on. The ghosts in the story are not just plot devices, but deeply integrated metaphors for the ways we are haunted by our pasts—by lost loves, missed opportunities, and the fear of repeating old mistakes. The novel's modern sensibility lies in its refusal to offer easy answers: love does not erase loss, and healing is not a linear journey. Instead, the story celebrates the courage it takes to stay, to try again, and to build something new from the ruins of what was. Through Morgan and Sawyer's intertwined journeys, the book argues that true connection requires vulnerability, forgiveness, and the willingness to embrace change. The act of planting a garden together—of tending to living things and allowing for growth—becomes a powerful symbol of hope. Ultimately, Seeing Other People is a testament to the enduring power of love, the necessity of letting go, and the possibility of finding home in unexpected places.

Last updated: December 20, 2025