Books with hotel settings always call out to me as I love going to stay in hotels. And a book with a hotel setting feels like the next best thing to me actually going to one for little luxury in my life! So Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young was must read for me.
Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young Published by Simon and Schuster on November 3rd 2015
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Horror & Ghost Stories, Love & Romance, Social Issues, Young Adult
Pages: 288
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
Goodreads
Stay tonight. Stay forever. When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother’s death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.
Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn’t have an invite.
Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past. The more Audrey learns about the new people she’s met, the more her curiosity grows. She’s torn in different directions—the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between in a place that is so much more than it seems…
Welcome to the Ruby.
First Line of Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young:
“The treetops curve about the road like an archway, blotting out the moon and the stars.”
My Thoughts on Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young:
There was a lot to really enjoy in this book. Audrey, her brother and her father check into the Hotel Ruby on a trip to their grandmother’s house. Her father is unable to cope with life after the untimely and sudden death of his wife and is leaving Audrey and Daniel in the care of their grandmother for the summer. I laughed out loud when I saw Audrey’s reaction to the attic bedroom that her grandmother was giving her:
“Locking me in an attic like a character from a V.C. Andrews novel.”
I always love when books reference other books that I’ve loved in the past and it immediately makes me connect with the character as we’ve obviously read the same books! The book focuses a lot on the relationships between the brother and sister and their father and I enjoyed that a lot.
My favourite part though was the Hotel Ruby who felt just like another character in the book. The setting is opulent, the descriptions of the hotel are great and I could picture the grandness of the dazzling interior. But it was also spooky as hell! Things are far from normal in the Ruby and I felt a little creeped out at times
From the language used, you get a pretty good idea what direction this book will take. The foreshadowing through the words used was clever but it does take some of the guess-work out of the plot as it wasn’t at all subtle. I didn’t one hundred percent guess what was happening until it was revealed however I was fairly close.
I liked Audrey a lot especially for her loyalty to her family. There is a lot of unresolved tension between them all but Audrey is willing to make allowances and tries to glue them all back together again into a new unit. I also love how brave she is at times during the book. Despite quivering with fear, she stands up for the underdog. And there are a lot of underdogs as Kenneth (the concierge) terrorises the staff which is pretty horrible to read about so I was delighted when Audrey challenged him time after time.
There was something that I didn’t love though. There is a huge case of insta-love in the book between Audrey and Elias and I was a bit indifferent to the whole romance element. It didn’t overly bother me as I was more interested in the creepy happenings anyway. I thought they were cute together but they never wowed me and or made me fully believe that they were kindred spirits.
Overall this though was more win than fail. Suzanne Young has a great way with words and the plot felt both spine-chilling and tragic which I really enjoyed.
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Who should read Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young?
I’d recommend this to those who like creepy atmospheric reads, family focused storylines and hotel settings. Haters of insta-love need not apply! Fans of Suzanne’s previous books such as The Program should also enjoy. If you liked Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout or When by Victoria Laurie then you might also appreciate this one.
Thanks to Edelweis and Simon Pulse for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
Despite the flaws this sounds like a fun read. I like the creepy hotel atmosphere and the book reference. I love when a book references another book too! It sounds like the romance aspect was completely unneeded in this one but that it didn’t ruin the book. I’ll have to look for this one when I’m in the mood for something creepy!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library recently posted…Trick or Deceit – Review
trish
I think YA books seem to think a romance is compulsory! If I didn’t hate insta-love so much, it might have worked better but it was just a bit meh for me. Luckily the rest of the story was deliciously creepy though. I’m the same with the book references. I’m reading two books this week that both reference Forever by Judy Blume and now I’m dying to reread that one.
Sarah @ One Curvy Blogger
It’s so much fun when books reference popular pop culture! Yuck about the insta-love though. I hate that!
Sarah @ One Curvy Blogger recently posted…Quote-tastic Review #4: Big Bad Beast
trish
I love when books reference anything in pop culture, it really sucks me into believing that the book is real! Boo for insta-love.
Lily B
noooooooooooo not insta love 🙁 dang it, dang it all cause everything else, sounds kinda good.
Lily B recently posted…Interview with Gayle Callen author of The Wrong Bride (Highland Weddings #1)
trish
I know! But it didn’t take over and the rest of the book was great! So it still worked in spite of the insta-love.
Let's Get Beyond Tolerance
Ugh, I’m not a huge fan of insta-love but it sounds like the rest of the story and the creepy happenings helps make up for that! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
-Lauren
Let’s Get Beyond Tolerance recently posted…More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
trish
It was deliciously creepy! And the hotel setting was fab. Both of those things more than made up for the dreaded insta-love.
Sheri @ Tangled Up In Books
I’m so glad I saw this because I had been 100% sure I wanted to read this before your review and now I’m iffy. I have had such a string of insta-love filled books in the last few months that it’s made me nearly want to pull my hair out. I’m not joking the insta-love has been bad. Every once in a while I can get past it but it’s just been too much lately. Maybe if I know ahead of time it won’t bug me so much because this book really intrigues me. I’m glad to hear there was more good than bad though. At least I’m prepared going in!
Sheri @ Tangled Up In Books recently posted…ARC REVIEW: The Moonshadow’s Daughter (Wolfe Creek #3) by Kaylie Newell
trish
I’m totally burned out on insta-love Sheri and even a hint of it makes me mad! So the fact that I still enjoyed the book despite the insta-love says a lot. It was creepy and a really good read if you can block out that part!
Christy LoveOfBooks
Creepy? Yup, that is indeed for me. Adding this to the wishlist now.
Christy LoveOfBooks recently posted…Missing Dixie by Caisey Quinn
trish
I loved the setting and the atmosphere of the book. And I’m all about creepy too!
Dee @ Dee's Reads
I REALLY REALLY want to read this book! It is the same author as Just Like Fate which I loved 🙂 It sounds so amazing and spooky and just like right up my alley! I am so glad you loved this one Trish. I didn’t even think of looking for it on EW. Lately I have been sticking to my pre-approved stuff, but now I feel like I missed out. I’ll have to buy it then haha 😀
So glad you read this one, reminds me I want to read it ^_^ Hope you have a great week!!
Dee @ Dee’s Reads recently posted…Costume Ideas Based On Books
trish
This was one of my rare clicks on EW as I’m really trying not to request many arcs nowadays. I loved the opulent hotel setting and all the spooky events and I’m a huge fan of Suzanne Young’s writing. She has a smart, snappy and original style that I love.
Karen
I’m excited to read this one! Do you know if it’s a stand alone?
Karen recently posted…Day 2: Crossroads Blog Tour & $50 Amazon gift card giveaway!: Janet Fox & Kelly Hashway
trish
Yes, it’s a standalone. Thanks goodness as I’m already invested in way too many series!
Candace
I love Suzanne Young so I’m excited to read this. I’m so happy to hear that it’s really atmospheric.
Candace recently posted…Review: Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb
trish
I’m a huge fan of Suzanne too. Her writing is smart and refreshingly original. And the creepy atmosphere just oozes out from the pages!
Lola
I really like hotel settings as well, although I haven’t read a book with a hotel setting in quite some time now. So I like the sound of the hotel setting and how this book focusses on the relationships between the characters. The setting sounds really well done if it feels like the hotel is a character as well. Too bad about the insta love though and that the romance didn’t wow you, but at least there were enough interesting elements to keep your attention. Great review!
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