Member Reviews
WOW!! Amazing, what a book. I could not put it down. The Hotel has so much supense, it holds the reader in a tight grip. The supense was aptly built up, and I couldnt decide who was the villain or which character to hate.
A solid 5 star read.
I am incredibly grateful to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC.
This thriller starts out like many in this locked door genre. A group of couples are stranded in a blizzard in a hilltop house when the power goes out. Secrets abound, and not everyone is who they seem. The characters are not likeable, and their motives are questionable. Abby and Mark run an AirBnB in Oyster, Maine. They have a toddler, Henry, and things have not been going that well financially for them. In an attempt to drum up business, Abby offers a special discount to repeat guests, hoping that someone will take the bait. And the Rowes do, Tim and Lottie, and their daughter Chelsea. But these folks are familiar to Mark, and Abbey knows why, as she's been planning this encounter for months.
It's a race for survival as Abby makes sure her plan plays out to fruition.
There were a few things that bothered me about this book. If Mark loved Abby so much, why the ending? If Abby is so unhappy in the marriage, why not get a divorce? She explains why in the book but it still doesn't ring true. It's highly unbelievable that she'd set into motion what she does just for revenge. But then again, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
I've seen these plots better executed and this had a good premise, but ultimately fell flat for me.
Mark and Abby run a B&B on the cliffs of Maine, they are struggling with money issues so Abby comes up with a discounted stay. The Rowe family take them upon the offer, they arrive and there’s a storm so they are all locked inside. But who are these people and what do they have planned.
This was a great thriller, read it in a day. The twists are great and enjoyed reading about the different sides of the story from each character. The location was brilliant for this book.
Thriller you can’t put down.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
Absolutely gripping psychological thriller from start to finish. I could not put this book down .The twists the turns got to be one of the best ones I’ve read so far. You must read this book or you will be missing out The highs, the lows they’re coming from everywhere just brilliant
"The Hotel" by Emily Shiner is an absolute page-turner, and I've just discovered my new auto-buy author. From the very first page, I was hooked by the intriguing storyline and the author's skillful storytelling.
The book starts with the arrival of the Rowe family at a clifftop hotel in Maine. Right away, there's an eerie feeling that something isn't quite right. The husband and wife seem overly familiar, and it's clear they have a connection to the hotel that the main character, whose husband owns the hotel, can't remember. This sets the stage for a suspenseful and chilling tale.
As the story unfolds, the tension keeps building. Emily Shiner does an excellent job of creating a sense of unease and mistrust. The main character's paranoia and fear are palpable, and I found myself on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next.
The setting of the hotel on the rugged Maine cliffs adds to the atmosphere of isolation and danger. The impending blizzard only heightens the sense of dread, trapping the main character and her baby in a precarious situation. The author's vivid descriptions make you feel like you're right there with them, battling the elements and the mysterious Rowe family.
What I loved most about "The Hotel" is the way it explores the theme of trust and betrayal. The main character's desperation to protect her child and uncover the truth about the Rowes leads her to make some difficult choices. It's a story that keeps you guessing until the very end, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
Overall, "The Hotel" is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you up late into the night. Emily Shiner's writing is sharp and engaging, and her ability to create a sense of foreboding is masterful. If you're a fan of suspenseful, atmospheric thrillers, this book is a must-read. I can't wait to see what Emily Shiner writes next.
This was a DNF for me.
What worked : The setting sounded interesting, and had the potential for a good thriller.
What didn’t: I didn’t care for the writing style. I found it to be repetitive and slow. Also, I found the characters to be flat, and unlikeable. There was too much time spent doting on the kid, and needless details, all of which made it a slog to read.
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC.
Two stars out of five.
Abby‘s dream has always been to have a B&B and now she does it’s on a beautiful cliff in Maine where she lives with her husband Mark and her little boy Henry. Sadly however the business isn’t doing so well so she decides to run a promo in 20 minutes after posting it someone rinse the whole B&B for the month of December. She cannot wait to tell Mark that a family called the roe’s made such a huge booking. It’s a good thing she told Mark over text because then she didn’t see how his face completely fell when reading her message. It seems Mark knows the Ro family The Roe family consist of Tim Lottie and their teen-age daughter Chelsea who seems to be strangely excited about staying at a end on the Cliffon Maine in the middle of winter. Abby and Mark have been married for over 20 years and it took them a very long time to conceive baby Henry who Abby is completely gaga over when the royal family shows up she is excited to welcome her gas but soon after they arrive strange and dangerous things start happening including Henry going missing in the middle of a snowstorm and Abby being locked in her room and even though she can clearly see someone under the door no one answers when she calls. What does this family want with Abby and why does it seem this triple only end in a horrible way? I usually love Emily Shriner books but The Hotel in my opinion was not her best and it wasn’t even about a hotel but a bed-and-breakfast in Maine. That is neither here nor there but that is the misleading I believed when going into this book I found it hard to get into and somethings in the book we’re hard to believe something I’m not used to with Miss Shreiner and her stellar thrillers. I want to thank Bookoucher end NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
Abby and Mark, a happily married couple who run a bed and breakfast in a secluded area of Oyster, Maine, with their 2-year-old son, Henry. When Abby decided to promote their B&B to attract customers, she didn’t expect that a single family would rent the whole building for three weeks. She was pleased when the Rowes, consisting of Lottie, Tim, and their 16-year-old daughter Chelsea, decided to spend their vacation there to bond and escape their household problems. However, with the snowstorm raging, trapping the two families under one roof, a series of unexpected events is about to unfold.
I love Abby's strong character as a caring mother and loving wife. She would do anything to ensure the safety of her family, especially Henry. The love she has for him is genuine and pure, which is understandable given the difficulty they had conceiving a baby. It took almost 20 years for them to finally be blessed with one. Another thing I admire about Abby is her resilience. Despite discovering secrets, she stands her ground and does what she believes is best for her baby.
This was my first book with Emily Shiner, and it actually didn’t disappoint. The novel was well-written and captivating. Although it has multiple points of view, from Abby, Mark, Lottie, and Chelsea, I didn’t find it hard to follow the flow of the story. In fact, it helped me to understand these characters better, to see directly into their thoughts, and discover their deepest secrets and motives throughout the story. The plot was slow at first, with a focus mostly on character development. Eventually, it was rushed from the climax until the end, which honestly was a bit disappointing. Additionally, the twists are a bit predictable. However, I did love the ending, as I didn’t expect the last card Abby drew to keep her and Henry safe until the end.
Still, I found this book enjoyable and would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. It has all the necessary elements for a thriller, making it a good choice for fans of the mystery/thriller genre. I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this book for review purposes. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Thank you NetGally for this ARC. This book started off really slow and felt as some of the writing was very repetitive. I did like the multiple POV's but did guess the big twist about 25% into the book, which I felt was very obvious. The second half of the book is where it pick up at bit and did have me 2nd guess my original theory. Rating this 3 stars due to some plot holes and how the story suddenly jumps 18 months later. Overall, it was intriguing and a fun read.
Jesus!! I need a sequel! I need to know what is going to happen next!! What an end!! Eek!!
Emily is and always will be a go-to author for me. Her tales are twisty, her writing is inclusive, and she always gives you a wide ride!! Although I don’t know that I have any words right now that are new and fresh to say about her and her books!
This was a thrill for a minute, as everyone was playing a game of cat and mouse and I mean EVERYONE! There are overarching agendas everywhere, and your mind is filled with trying to figure out who is going to come on top! If anyone!
With the pretext of a hotel and a trip away, things go dark quickly as we see the past unfold, not told. I had my theories and it all kept changing with every flick on the Kindle. My mind was boggled as to whom I should trust, especially when you are in the heads of all the different characters…apart from Tim! So glad we didn’t stray there!
I thoroughly enjoyed this vindictive little tale, and I defo need that sequel! I felt the cold of the hotel as the building had its own persona as it aided the different characters. And that final twist, with that final truck! Jeez!
Aaahhhh I have no words, the author sucked me in and spat me out. Mind blown!
A well-crafted mystery. Writing style was not my jam, but it's a breezy beach read that many will like.
Owning a B&B sounds idyllic; you get to meet new people, show off the community, and make money. However, what if your guests have other motivations? Abby and her husband Mark have been having trouble attracting customers to their B&B in Maine, leading Abby to launch a social media post on a 10-year anniversary sale. She is surprised when one family books for 3 full weeks; although they desperately need this income, Abby isn't sure why they would want to stay for 3 weeks in the middle of winter. Things at the B&B quickly escalate and soon everything Abby loves is in danger. Abby must resort to desperate measures to ensure her future is safe. The Hotel will make you question whether or not you should welcome strangers into your home.
I usually LOVE Emily Shiner's books, and this one was starting to head in that direction. However, toward the end when all of the twists were starting to appear, I found myself disliking where the plot was going. The first 65% of the book kept me on my toes, wanting to know what was going on behind the scenes and if Emily and her family would rid themselves of their awful guests. I was so excited for the twists and to see how it all came together, but the ending just...flopped. I was left with so many questions - and not in a good way. I really enjoyed the premise of the book, but I was just a little let down by how everything wrapped up. If you like books like Don't Let Her Stay, this one is for you! Although the ending wasn't what I was hoping for, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something to keep them guessing.
So... what did i just read? My head feels like it was on a rollercoaster filled lots of emotions, twists,turns and suspense
I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes reading psychological thrillers.
Thanks Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are my own and aren't influenced by anyone else
This story is set up nicely at the beginning. The B&B is located in a beautiful place but is impossible to reach when it snows. You feel the main characters anxiety immediately about money, about her son. The intrusive thoughts she has are a little vivid for my comfort but only because I can really relate. That may need a trigger warning for some people. It makes sense when you read that Abby and Mark had trouble getting pregnant. The different pov is interesting but it starts to bounce around a bit. The author explained some things so much that it took me out of the story and the writing started to get rambling and repetitive. I believe the author was going for an unreliable narrator but it felt more like the character's personalities weren't all figured out. The premise of the story was good, standard thriller formula, and around 75% it picked up. Unfortunately by then, it wasn't enough for me. The very ending felt a bit unnecessary and didn't really seem to fit. I think overall, this could have been better. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC!
A slow start, a dragging middle, a wtf ending. I didn’t love this, I may need to give up on this author. Their stories all feel rather pedestrian, like they haven’t thought the ending through when they began writing it. Secluded airbnb on a cliff trope.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Abby and Mark Hardy are the proud owners of the Saltside Inn, a B&B in Maine. After some financial struggles, they are excited when the Rowe family rents out their inn for three weeks. When the Rowe’s arrive, they mention their previous stay, only problem is, Abby does not remember them at all. Something seems off to Abby, but Mark on the other hand seems a little nervous. What happens when a blizzard strands them in one place? Everyone has a secret, and thins aren’t always what they seem.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Actual rating: 3,5 stars
The Hotel by Emily Shiner is the perfect thriller to read if you’re looking for an addictive read with a wonderful winter atmosphere.
The pacing of the book was perfect. I was hooked from the first pages and very intrigued to see where everything was going to take us despite a fairly predictable plot. However, I wasn't a fan of the ending of the book. After everything that happened, the resolution seemed only half-finished and unbelievable in its outrageousness as well as very out of character for one of them.
As is often the case in thrillers, the characters were very unlikeable. And while I don’t mind it, I was still bothered by the fact that a lot of scenes were very unrealistic because of the character’s behaviour and for the sake of tension. It was quite frustrating to read at times.
The Hotel was my first Emily Shiner book and despite its average rating, her writing style still kept me engaged and I can easily see myself reading more from this author in the future.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed this book ,Well written and the story flowed well. My only critism is too much baby stuff. I know because I have been there, but readers dont appreciate the blow by blow detail of baby life. The characters worked well together although I didnt like all the characters, some were just plain nasty. Enjoyable
The Hotel was a gripping read and kept me wanting to know more the whole way through. Full of twists and turns, I never really knew what direction the book was going to take. However, I found all of the characters really unlikeable and couldn't relate to them at all.
I think I'm definitely the outlier here after seeing a lot of really good reviews, but I did not like this at all. I felt like the writing was repetitive and disjointed. The character arcs made zero sense. The storyline was not interesting enough to hold up for the whole book, which made it pretty boring. But also, the storyline was extremely farfetched. I understand having to suspend your beliefs when reading fiction sometimes, but this was too over the top unrealistic. I guessed the big twist really early on, which left next to no suspense for me.
I did like the short chapters from multiple POV's, but overall, this one just didn't do it for me. But, based on other really good reviews, I think it's a me thing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.