The Official Nothing Haunts Like a Heart Playlist
Every book I write eventually develops a soundtrack of its own.
Sometimes it starts with a single song looping in the background while I write a particular scene. Other times, it’s a lyric that perfectly captures a character’s emotional state before I even fully understand them myself. Nothing Haunts Like a Heart has become one of those stories that practically demands music.
Between the haunted atmosphere of the Moore House, the emotional tension simmering between Miranda, Mack, and Grier, and the overwhelming sense that the past never truly stays buried, this book has inspired one of my favorite playlists I’ve ever made.
So, for everyone asking what songs inspired the mood and emotional energy of the book so far — here’s the current playlist.
1. “Work Song” — Hozier
The haunting devotion in this song feels woven directly into the DNA of the story. Love that survives grief, distance, even death itself? Absolutely this book.
2. “Dark Paradise” — Lana Del Rey
This one captures Miranda’s emotional ghosts perfectly — the feeling of carrying heartbreak with you long after it should’ve faded.
3. “I Put a Spell on You” — Annie Lennox
The Moore House practically breathes this song. Seductive, eerie, dramatic, and impossible to ignore.
4. “Cherry Wine” — Hozier
Soft vulnerability hidden beneath tension and sharp words. Very Miranda and Mack.
5. “Bury a Friend” — Billie Eilish
If the house itself had a soundtrack, this would probably be playing somewhere in the walls.
6. “House of the Rising Sun” — The Animals
The history of the Moore House — especially its past life before becoming a bed-and-breakfast — makes this one feel inevitable.
7. “Take Me to Church” — Hozier
Mack’s growing conflict between logic and belief fits this song painfully well.
8. “Devil’s Backbone” — The Civil Wars
Moody, Southern Gothic energy with just enough emotional danger to feel right at home in Hooverville.
9. “I Wanna Be Yours” — Arctic Monkeys
The chemistry between Miranda and Mack is awkward, intense, funny, and undeniably magnetic — which makes this song a perfect fit.
10. “Cosmic Love” — Florence + the Machine
This song feels like the emotional heartbeat of the story: longing, fate, ghosts, desire, and overwhelming connection.
As I continue writing Nothing Haunts Like a Heart, I’m sure more songs will find their way onto this playlist. Honestly, the book itself feels like a strange mix of haunted house story, slow-burn romance, emotional healing journey, and paranormal mystery — and the music reflects that perfectly.
If you have songs you think belong on the playlist, let me know. I’m always looking for more music to haunt my writing sessions.
— Olive Spencer
