Book Review: Hotel for the Lost by Suzanne Young

Hotel for the Lost by Suzanne Young

Pages: 304
Publish date: October 4th, 2016
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1481423010
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

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…

And the 13th chapter will only add to the mystery behind the 13th floor of Hotel Ruby…and ultimately, what it means for Audrey.

Welcome to the Ruby.

Hotel for the Lost:

I received a review copy of Hotel for the Lost by Suzanne Young from Simon and Shuster in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I hadn’t heard much about Hotel for the Lost before I picked it up. The synopsis intrigued me and it sounded like something that I was going to like – and I did.

Hotel for the Lost follows protagonist Audrey, her brother Daniel and their father when they come to rest at Hotel Ruby as they make their way to their grandmothers. The past couple of months has been hard on their trio. Audrey’s and Daniel’s mother has passed and the whole family is grieving. So when they arrive at Hotel Ruby, Audrey is relieved and wanting to take some time.

I wasn’t a massive fan of Audrey as a protagonist. I wasn’t able to connect with her or feel her raw emotions from losing her mothers. It was like this barrier between Audrey and the reader. Her grief was evident throughout the book, however, I just wasn’t able to feel it. Audrey was also dealing with a recent breakup that she kept on going back to throughout the book. She keeps on referring to the breakup, even though she is adamant that she wasn’t in love with him. It became a drag after a while.

I did, however, love how much she cared for her family. Even though there was a lot of tension with her father. The reader is able to see that she still cares for him. However, I wanted to see a good father/daughter relationship as we don’t see it much in YA. Though, I did understand his grief and the way that he acts is somewhat understandable.

Daniel and Audrey’s relationship was a classic brother/sister one. I loved the banter between the two and even though Daniel acted like a moody teenager, so did Audrey. They both had their differences, but the reader is able to see that they love each other.

I like the friendships that Audrey builds in Hotel for the Lost. Even though most are the staff of Hotel Ruby, they find a connection and bond easily. Though I did feel they bonded a little too quickly. In saying that, Hotel for the Lost is set over a couple of days.

That was one of the reasons the romance in Hotel for the Lost was hard to love. Though I did find both Audrey and Elias adorable. Elias is a charmer, he was an interesting character that did take the spotlight at times.

The storyline of Hotel for the Lost was predictable. I knew what was going to happen before it did, and I wasn’t entirely surprised by the ending. It was like I was having deja vu throughout the whole book, but I didn’t hate it. I wanted to keep on reading and find out if I was right or not.

The writing style of Suzanne Young in Hotel for the Lost was simple, but I also enjoyed it. I didn’t have to stress over what I was reading. It flowed easy and the dialogue was realistic.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Hotel for the Lost. It was a fast-paced, thrilling read that did keep me on the edge of my seat. Hotel for the Lost explores the notion of family, death, grief, friendship and standing up for yourself. If you are in the mood for a thrilling, entertain and emotional read then Hotel for the Lost is for you.

Have you read Hotel for the Lost? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Have you read anything else by Suzanne Young? Let’s Chat!