Emily Shine knows how to write characters I hate, for sure! I pictured Chelsea like my dad's wife when she was 16. The most irritating teenager I ever met!
And why doesn't Mark just get a job? He is such a loser.
And Abby needs to stop leaving her literal toddler alone in her three story cliffside house.

Everyone in this story is little lying loser.
I like the twists though.

On your toes good! Couldn't wait to finish the page to keep going! Husband and wife concerns, a hotel, and a great plot that keeps the reader questioning themselves and the characters!

Kept my attention and was an entertaining read but it wasn't too difficult to figure out the "secrets" and see the ending coming. Had dejavu reading this as it was similar to another book I recently read.

i needed a book that kept me up reading all night, this definitely did! i kept reading and being shook by the twst

this had so many twists and turns, which made it a really fast-paced read - i felt like it was over so quickly, i was left wanting more!! every time i thought i had an inkling as to where the story was headed, i turned out to be wrong, and the inclusion of several (somewhat) unreliable narrators just added to this even more. huge props to emily shiner too for setting a whole book in just one place (primarily) and still keeping me engaged.

thank you to netgalley and bookouture for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Hotel by Emily Shiner was a mystery filled, pulse pounding thriller perfect to curl up with on a cold winter day and get your blood pumping. As the characters contend with being snowed in, the reader can take comfort in their own warmth and comfortable surroundings while trying to get to the bottom of all the lies and nefarious things hinted at throughout the course of this novel. It certainly had me captivated, winter weather being nowhere in sight and all, and I found myself flying through the pages, literally unable to stop one I got started.

The atmosphere of this novel was just perfection. I felt like I was in this cold little bed and breakfast trying to stay warm by the fire even amidst the middle of summer weather in reality. When creepy events started taking place, I was spooked, imagining them perfectly and feeling Abby’s terror and unsettled emotions for her son.

I enjoyed the multiple different POVs, and never felt like any one of them seemed entirely unnecessary or like there were too many to switch between which for me isn’t always the case when it comes to thrillers and having more than a couple different viewpoints being told, particularly when it’s a shorter book. Admittedly I didn’t always find the characters likeable, particularly when it came to the secrets they were keeping and the morally questionable things they would do in pursuit of accomplishing their goals, but I was able to get passed this and not focus on it too strongly.

There were a lot of secrets. Which was super intriguing and what kept me flipping through the pages, just wanting to know what everyone was hiding from one another. In my impatience it was also frustrating how well the characters inner monologue skirted away from actually revealing what they knew.

The second half of the book is where things get TENSE. I was stressed out reading it just waiting to see what would happen next. It also has me wondering what the heck was happening, a la so many unanswered questions. In other words, in a good way because my mind was boggled about what was going on and why it would possibly be going the way it was. This is in part, I feel because these characters make for some very unreliable narrators. With all the secrets, with the contrasting events that took place, I felt like I couldn’t trust anything they were saying or doing at times, which made it so difficult to know who and what to believe. This completely made the story. Not knowing who to believe made it fascinating and impossible to turn away from and it sucked me in to the story.

I devoured this book in a day I was so engrossed in it, and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised with how much The Hotel sucked me in to its story. I feel like locked room mysteries can go one of two ways, either deeply immersive, or unfortunately boring and lack depth, and The Hotel was definitely the former, knocking the genre out of the park. I highly recommend this read for those looking for a thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, while questioning everything the narrators tell you and turning things completely on their head.

I loved the premise of this book and how it all unfolded. Enjoyable read that will have your heart going that's for sure. I thought I had it figured out towards the end but not quite. Will definitely read more by this author in the future
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was absolutely thrilling and kept me glued to the edge of my seat! What a crazy and wild ride!

Suspenseful and a good story. I enjoyed this! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. First time reading Shiner. I'm curious about what else she has written or plans for her next.

The Hotel is a story about Abby and Mark who own a bed and breakfast with their young son Henry. They love welcoming strangers into their home, but when the Rowes visit the cliffside home, strange things begin to happen. As a terrible blizzard traps the two families in the house together, Abby decides she will do anything to keep her son safe.

I was really excited to dive into this book; unfortunately, this one fell short for me. The story had an incredibly slow start and really didn't pick up until the last few chapters. Even then, I felt everything was just a little too convenient. The characters were unlikable, especially Abby. I thought she was overprotective and obnioxious (not that any of the other characters were any better). I did enjoy the story being told from multiple character perspectives. Overall, the plot held much promise, but it just wasn't executed as well as it could have been. It was a struggle to finish and its only redeeming quality was the twists at the end. For that reason, I am giving it 2 stars.

Thank you bookouture, Netgalley, and Emily Shiner for the free ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. The Hotel by Emily Shiner is set to release on September 7, 2023.

Abby knew her husband lied to her but she never knew what he was hiding. Or did she?

When guests arrive and Mark’s expression seems scared or shocked, Abby wonders what’s going on.

Something is definitely going on, and then the electricity goes out from the raging storm.

What will happen now, and what’s up with the guests at the isolated B&B?

They are acting odd and odd things are happening.

You won’t be able to stop reading because you HAVE to find out what plans the guests have and what the secret that not only Mark is keeping but others as well.

Oh the tension in this book, and the characters are ones that you won’t be able to decide which one is the most cunning.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Not a bad read at all. I picked up on what was going on fairly quick but there were still a few things that were surprising in the storyline.
The white out descending upon the B&B, trapping them all within the confines only heightened the sense of drama were it might have lacked otherwise. I feel like this ploy always tends to add to the thrill and suspense part of it...clearly I'm a fan.
The characters weren't very likeable as the story progresses but there are three who you deeply unlike in the story. Or I did.

It wraps up fairly well. Although I sense more could've been written because one specific character isn't going to just let what happens go, I'm sure of it. But it's not enough to read a sequel.

'The Hotel' by Emily Shiner started off really strong for me and I couldn't put it down. I was intrigued to see where the story was going especially with lots of hints to a plot twist you knew was coming later on. I enjoyed the POV jumping between characters as this allowed me to understand them better. It also worked well with them all carrying their own secrets.

However once everything started kicking off, the pacing felt rushed and the story was hard to follow. Whilst the start of the book kept me gripped, I found it really confusing the more I read. I felt there were lots of inconsistencies in character's actions which further added to the confusion. I almost didn't finish it but I saw the potential and hoped it would pick up again.

I loved the idea of the book, although it personally didn't pay off for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc!
♡

When the Rowe family arrives at the Hardy’s hotel in oyster Maine, something is off. The family has secrets and the hotel is about to become isolated by a blizzard. This twisty locked room thriller will keep you guessing. Told from multiple POVs, the plot unravels as the secrets are exposed. Nothing is what it seems. I love a good book with unreliable narration and this didn’t disappoint! Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy

This book twisted in on itself like a pretzel. I love a mystery and this book has all the ingredients to make it a strong 4+ star rating contender. However I felt like some of the plot twists had it trying a little too hard. And some of the chapters droned on a bit long.

That said, the writing was really good and easy to read. I did enjoy it and give it a solid 3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but it looked good so I gave it a try.
I can honestly say, it did not disappoint! There were plot twists, excitement, adventure, murder...everything you need in a book!
I really enjoyed it and read most of it in a day! It was an easy book to read and hooked you in almost immediately.
The characters and plot are easily relatable and it is definitely something I would recommend.

Read if you like:

*Domestic Thrillers
*Mystery
*Fast-Paced Plot
*Multiple POVs
*Forced Proximity
*Secrets + Lies


I started this book before I went to sleep and accidently read 35% of it before I knocked out! Needless to say, it's very entertaining and sucks you right into the story. I really enjoy multiple POVs because I love to read what is going on in the character's heads and why they are acting the way they are. This book gave just about every character their own POV chapters which was fun because they are all so shady and untrustworthy! LOL. I would recommend this if you want a quick read this fall season.

This was my first book by Emily Shiner and it will most definitely not be my last. I was hooked from the start and couldn’t put this book down. Her writing style kept me intrigued and needing to know more. The twists were wonderful and the final line left me wanting more. I highly recommend this book for a twisted, fast read!

2.5 Stars

"The Hotel" by Emily Shiner was my first experience with NetGalley, and though it initially caught my interest, the overall outcome left me with mixed feelings. The story revolves around a suspenseful idea – a group of people snowbound at a B&B. While it had elements I usually enjoy, such as secrets and intrigue, the storytelling had its hitches, particularly with pacing and unanswered questions.

The pacing felt uneven. The story moved quickly, but key details and explanations were often missing. This created a sense of both rapid progress and a lack of significant events, which left me teetering between engagement and boredom.

The core concept of the story is intriguing – a small group of characters stranded in a B&B due to a snowstorm. However, even this promising setup didn't fully come to life. The characters, including B&B owners Abby and Mark, as well as the enigmatic Row family, didn't manage to grab my attention or make me invested in their secrets.

The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of Abby, Mark, Lottie, and sometimes Chelsea. The events take place over a few days in December, amid a snowstorm. Although this structure should have generated suspense, certain character actions towards the end felt inconsistent with their earlier behavior, leaving me somewhat puzzled.

Numerous loose ends and unanswered questions permeated the book.

In summary, "The Hotel" failed to fully deliver on its promising premise. Despite its brisk pace, it left me with mixed impressions. I would rate it 2.5 out of 5 stars. While the writing style may appeal to some, it didn't quite resonate with me.

I extend my appreciation to NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for granting me access to an ARC of this book for review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A scenic hotel on the ocean shores in Maine during the winter made for a stellar setting. The bed & breakfast style hotel is run by married couple Abby & Mark who have a 2 year old son Henry. When bookings at the hotel are low and money is tight, Abby comes up with an idea to have a booking incentive and emails previous guests. Right away, a family books the entire hotel for three weeks. Abby is thrilled at the quick booking but Mark, not so much.

Lottie, Tim and their 16 year old daughter arrive at the hotel and immediately, there is tension. Very soon after they arrive, we find out the connection between the two families. Strange things start happening, people are acting suspicious and Abby does not trust Chelsea at all.

The beginning of the book was a bit slow setting the stage and building on character development. There was not a lot of background information on the characters which I think was a miss. Having some intel on the past could have had me invested more into what was presently going on.

I did not care for any of the character so was not really caring what happened to any of them....except Henry. No one wants to see a child harmed. However, Henry's character was a little strange. He is 2 years old, potty trained and speaks in full sentences sometimes. I could not understand a thing my son said until he was 3 years old so had a hard time relating.

I found myself engaged in the novel and interested in finding out what was going on. It was suspenseful and had me invested. The ending though,,,,I could not digest it. It was too over the top. I love a book with a good twist but this twist just was way out of character for one of them and too unbelievable.

Overall, not bad. I did read it within 24 hours. I just wish the ending was written different.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced reader copy to read and review.