The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst
The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst
This was a lighthearted, cozy YA book that I read quickly and overall enjoyed. I happened to be reading this book at the same time that I was listening to “The Spellshop” by Sarah Beth Durst, so it was hard not to compare and I found myself liking “The Spellshop” more.
There were a few things I wish had happened in “The Faraway Inn” for me to enjoy this book more. First, I wish that the magic happened a bit earlier in the story and was expanded upon more at times. One of the best parts about this story was the magical elements and yet they don’t start until about a third into the book and certain moments happen very quickly and are glossed over. Second, part of Calisa’s growth is centered around her relationship with Jack which seemed unnecessary and also a bit silly since she is a teenager and just came out of what is described as a horrible break-up.
Overall, I do enjoy Sarah Beth Durst’s magical worlds and cozy reads and will be giving more of her books a try. And I would recommend this book, though not as the best one she has written.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Calisa is desperate for a change of scenery after her lying ex ruins her perfect Brooklyn summer. When her parents suggest she head to rural Vermont to help her great-aunt run her cozy bed and breakfast for a few months, she jumps at the chance.
But when Calisa arrives at the B&B, she's shocked to find a rundown inn with only a handful of guests. And to make matters worse, upon meeting with her great-aunt it quickly becomes clear that Calisa was not invited. Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn…even if it is clear she needs the help.
To earn her keep, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundskeeper's (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the more it becomes evident that there is something strange about the B&B—and its residents. Something almost…otherworldly.