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.

I liked the writing in this one a lot and was excited for it, but the story didn't grip me unfortunately.

I finished this book within a day. The author did not disappoint. I wish I can meet her one day. I might be binge reading her books from now on. Thank you for letting me borrow this title.

Abby and Mark own a B&B in Maine and when the Rowe family books the B&B for multiple weeks, we very quickly learn that the blizzard that snows them in isn’t the only challenge they’ll be facing. The past comes back to haunt Mark, or stay in his B&B, and things will never be the same.

The interesting thing about this book is that I thought I had Abby figured out until I realized I was completely wrong about her! There were definitely some twists and unexpected revelations!

Oh my gosh, talk about a thriller! This is the best book I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I was literally holding my breath as I got closer to the end, because it was so intense. I would give this book 100 stars if I could! I hadn't read anything from this author before this ARC, but I will ABSOLUTELY be reading everything she writes now!

Atmospheric, claustrophobic, and a bit aggravating. The Hotel’s twists were not at all surprising, making the story less exciting as it continued on. The characters Shiner were cruel, and unlikable, aside from Abby and Henry. I am left with some questions at the conclusion of the story as well. How does Mark just accept Chelsea after hating her so much? In the end, the hardest part about reading The Hotel is that I’m such a mood reader… if I were to read this in the winter, as snow falls, I might’ve given it 4 stars.

I appreciate NetGalley and Bookoutoure for the ARC copy!

this was my first emily shiner book and i liked it. the only issue i have is that the plot twist is extremely predictable from the first couple of chapters and i can help but feel it had all the ingredients for a good thriller but just didn't pay off - that being said, the pace of this book was ideal and i finished it within a couple of hours. it kept me hooked from the first chapters and i didn't mind the plot twist being predictable as i was intrigued to see where the story would end.

When the Rowe family arrives at Saltside Inn they stretch the hospitality of the Hardy family really thin. As the get-away kicks off, readers soon realize that everyone has ulterior motives which are slowly revealed as the snowstorm wreaks havoc on Oyster, Maine.

It isn’t a stretch to imagine how unsafe it is to have sketchy strangers in your home during a snowstorm….Shiner plays on this!

What I loved:
✔️isolated setting; B&B on a cliff in Maine during a snowstorm
✔️locked ‘room’; 2 families trapped in B&B during storm
✔️limited cast of characters
✔️multiple POV
✔️tension
✔️unreliable narrators
✔️secrets/hidden agendas; not knowing who to trust
✔️mystery to solve

My takeaway? (1) Things aren’t always as they seem and (2) be careful not to put yourself in a position where you need to risk your safety to earn a dollar.

Looking back, I shudder to think of what could have happened when my parents operated a B&B in the mid-80s when our city had Expo. We met wonderful people from all over the world, but the outcome could have been so very different….

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Hotel
By Emily Shiner
Pub Date: 07 Sep 2023
Bookouture
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4.25/5

Emily Shiner's The Hotel is a compelling and effective domestic novel with shocking twists. Since thrillers are my favorite genre, I usually have the ending figured out long before I turn the last page. I enjoyed reading The Hotel because Emily Shiner completely fooled me. This story is a fun read for fans of the suspense genre, with an unpredictable plot line and well-crafted characters. And, I couldn't put it down; I read the entire book in one sitting!

The Hotel's cast of characters has a creepy and unnerving quality. As the story unfolds in an old B&B in Oyster, Maine, a coastal town, an eerie and mysterious adventure emerges. Several perspectives are told in this story, and the writing is tight and engaging. Initially, the pace is slow, but quickly picks up, and by the end I was completely absorbed. This is my first book by Emily Shiner, and I found her to be an extremely creative author. I look forward to reading more from her.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this thriller with me. Your kindness is appreciated.

Abby and Mark are struggling financially with the B&B. When a family offers to book the entire place for three weeks it seems to good to be true…

This was a really slow start for me. None of the characters were likable either, so while there were many twists I just never felt invested in this story. Disappointing since I loved You Can’t Hide Here.

A great read! The atmosphere was beautifully done. The story was full of twists and turns and kept you guessing. It moved at a good pace. There was a good level of suspense. A plot that kept a good pace. Overall a great read.

This book was WILD.

Abby and Mark own a bed and breakfast where they rent to a couple and their daughter for 3 weeks. Mark is keeping secrets and once the family comes to stay, Abby’s world starts crumbling down. Her husband has a lot of secrets and the other family is crazy.

I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick, enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.



I received this book for free from netgalley and publishers for my honest opinion.

The Hotel by Emily Shiner has all the right elements for a thriller. A B&B on an isolated cliff over the ocean in a small town in Maine, a terrible snowstorm, and two families trapped inside. Abby and her husband Mark own the place and live there with their toddler, however they are beginning to struggle financially. Abby entices the Rowe family to come, and surprisingly they reserve the entire B&B for three weeks. Abby’s family will live on the second floor which can be locked for privacy. Soon there are strange occurrences, the couples seem to know each other, and Abby feels frightened for her child’s safety. The story is told from four POVs, with each one ending with a hope that no one spoils their “plan.” I figured out the twist very early on, and I finished the book in one day. I wanted to feel more surprised by the characters and their actions, although the author does increase the tension. The ending was fairly predictable. Still it was an enjoyable, fast moving read. With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this ARC! I would give The Hotel 3/5 stars. It was a very quick and easy read, and it adhered to the characteristics of the genre. However, some parts of the plot were far fetched and at times, predictable. The chapters are supposed to be in different character’s points of view, but the narrative voice pretty much sounded the same. There was almost little to no character development throughout the book, which left me wanting something else other than this unsatisfying ending. Without giving away any spoilers, I liked Abby’s triumphant end, but disliked how Mark’s character turned from a loving husband to that of a cynical one; Mark’s change of character seemed outlandish and did not make sense from what I read in previous chapters. Overall, a decent novel, but it left me wanting more.

Emily Shriner is a common thriller author that I enjoy reading, so I was super pumped to read her latest book, The Hotel, out September 7th! Set in a secluded b&b, the Rowe family has decided to rent for a whole month in the snow. The Rowe family is full of secrets that lead to serious consequences for all parties involved. Overall, the start was very slow to me and the overall plot was very predictable. Once the drama started, it picked up for me and I finished quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Wow! An edge of your seat and unable to stop reading thriller! Loved this book from the first chapter. Great characters and plenty of twists-many that I did not expect. A really great book- definitely recommend! Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Shiner and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. Thoroughly enjoyed it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Get yourself set up with a nice brew and a duvet day as this is a devour in one book!
Set in the really remote setting of Oyster, Maine, with a storm brewing that will see them cut off from civilisation the Hardy family run the Saltside Inn b&b in their large home. With no bookings coming in, Abby decides to offer a deal and sets about advertising it across social media.
To her surprise and delight the offer is snapped up by one family who want to take advantage of the offer, but not for just a few nights and a few rooms. They want to rent out the entire place for the whole three weeks.
Abby is over the moon as it will go a long way towards helping their dwindling finances but for some reason when her husband Mark hears the name of the family seems less than delighted!
The Rowe family arrive in the beginning of the snow storm and it isn’t long before both families become snowed inside the house.
If you have never read one of Emily’s books before, then you should know she is a master at plot twists, and this book well and truly lives up to that.
As the snow falls and the atmosphere in the book both increase in depth secrets begin to come to the surface and collimates in a mind bending final plot twist!
If you are are either a fan of Emily Shiner or a fan of psychological thrillers than this is the perfect book for you!
The Hotel will be published on the 7 Sept. 2023 and is available to preorder now from your local bookshop

Get yourself set up with a nice brew and a duvet day as this is a devour in one book!
Set in the really remote setting of Oyster, Maine, with a storm brewing that will see them cut off from civilisation the Hardy family run the Saltside Inn b&b in their large home. With no bookings coming in, Abby decides to offer a deal and sets about advertising it across social media.
To her surprise and delight the offer is snapped up by one family who want to take advantage of the offer, but not for just a few nights and a few rooms. They want to rent out the entire place for the whole three weeks.
Abby is over the moon as it will go a long way towards helping their dwindling finances but for some reason when her husband Mark hears the name of the family seems less than delighted!
The Rowe family arrive in the beginning of the snow storm and it isn’t long before both families become snowed inside the house.
If you have never read one of Emily’s books before, then you should know she is a master at plot twists, and this book well and truly lives up to that.
As the snow falls and the atmosphere in the book both increase in depth secrets begin to come to the surface and collimates in a mind bending final plot twist!
If you are are either a fan of Emily Shiner or a fan of psychological thrillers than this is the perfect book for you!
The Hotel will be published on the 7 Sept. 2023 and is available to preorder now from your local bookshop

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. This quote couldn’t describe this book any more perfectly, and I love it. Twist after twist - you just don’t know what is coming next!