I’m a little irritated, because this means my husband was right: he was the first of us to read Hotel Magnifique. And he encouraged me to request an ARC of The Otherwhere Post so he could live vicariously (without me sharing anything about the book).

I really liked Hotel Magnifique. I LOVED The Otherwhere Post. Maeve was so easy to connect with: not a perfect heroine by any means, she’s an evasive loner who starts out caring about her goals and not much else. She has suffered so much, and she’s driven to get answers — and she doesn’t mind taking the necessary steps to get them.

Tristan was a great counterpart for her. He isn’t perfect either: haunted and stubborn and secretive. It was such fun to watch them interact.

And the magic system! It felt unique and fun, developed but not overwrought. Emily J. Taylor is staying on my “they write it, I’ll read it” list.

Thank you to Penguin for the ARC; these are my honest opinions. And now I get to hold it over my husband.

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Emily J. Taylor for providing me with this E-ARC in exchange for my review.

The worldbuilding in this book was phenomenal! I never felt lost, which is impressive considering how crucial the backstory is throughout the book. One of my favorite aspects was the magic system, it felt so unique. The idea of a courier service that utilizes magical writing to carry communications between different worlds was such a creative flair on transportation magic. And even with so much detail in the story, the pacing was perfect. I never felt overwhelmed, and the author does a fantastic job of making you care about each character’s story arc.

This is easily one of my favorite standalones I’ve read recently and that’s saying a lot. One of the biggest issues I run into when reading standalones is when unrelated conflicts are thrown in at the end, leaving the resolution feeling rushed. This book avoids that entirely but has plenty of twists to keep you intrigued and an engaging enough plot that you have to know how it ends!

The blurb compares this book to Divine Rivals, and I can definitely see the similarities—it has the same rich, atmospheric vibe. That said, it’s not quite as heart-pounding or intense when it comes to romance or conflict. But honestly? That didn’t detract from the story at all. It holds its own beautifully, keeping you hooked and eager to see how everything unfolds.

If you’re looking for a fun, engaging read without committing to a new series, I highly recommend this book!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review will be posted to Goodreads on 1/26/25
My Instagram review will be posted on 2/10/25.

From the first page on I couldn’t put this book down. First, I loved the magic system. The mix of writing and the academic setting for their magic to work. I also loved the characters. The found family and the growth that all the characters go through was wonderful to read. I loved the glasses wearing male protagonist. Please pick this book up.

So this was a little YA for me, but not terrible. Definitely did remind me of Divine Rivals a lot. I would definitely recommend this to someone who is less into the smutty side of fantasy for sure.

Maeve, for the past seven years, has been living in the shadows, never staying in one place for too long. Fake identity after fake identity, she hasn’t let herself get too close to anyone, and more importantly, told anyone who she really is. Daughter to the man who is known as a murderer, Maeve wants nobody to connect her to him. Better they think her dead. But now, she must risk her identity when she receives a note telling her that her father is innocent. A spark of hope ignites, and Maeve disguises her way into the otherwhere post apprenticeship to uncover the truth.

The Otherwhere Post features an intricate magic system when it comes to scribing letters that was fascinating to read about — though it did take some time understanding it. The author does a nice job with the vivid descriptions when it comes to the world and the magic system in it! There were some highs and lows for me when it came to the pacing, though the compelling mystery kept me hooked!

I love the slow burn that was in this book with the delightful banter between Maeve and her mentor Tristan. We get to see Maeve slowly letting her guard down to trust and let people in. The relationships she built with people and their interactions was sweet.

If you’re looking for a book that has fake identity and book vibes like: sorcery of thorns, the spellshop, and divine rivals, then you should definitely check this book out!

Thank you @penguinteen #penguinteenpartner , NetGalley, and the author for the eARC!

This is a beautifully written story that begins with an intriguing mystery surrounding Maeve, the brave and quick-witted FMC. The layers of suspense, from Maeve sneaking into the Otherwhere Post program to her daring escapades across campus, kept me hooked. I loved her boldness and determination, especially when paired with the thrilling twists and turns of her investigations.

Tristan, her mentor in the program and a charming outcast rebel, makes for a sweet slow-burn love interest. Their dynamic is wonderful to watch unfold, with Tristan’s understanding of Maeve’s trust issues making him all the more endearing. Together, they form a duo you can’t help but root for.

While I loved the twists and action packed final stretch, I did find myself wishing for a stronger connection between Maeve’s father’s journal and Tristan’s previous apprentice. A few more details could have made that thread more impactful.

Overall, The Otherwhere Post is a sweet YA fantasy filled with suspense, heart, and just the right dash of magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The world and magic system were interesting to me, but I felt the development was a bit clunky. I was somewhat interested in the main characters and their romance, but I eventually ended up deciding not to finish this book at the 50% mark as it was beginning to feel like too much of a chore to read with its pacing being incredibly slow.

PHENOMENAL! 5 stars!!!

This book is a true work of art in my opinion. I loved every moment of it and the world-building was just so good. I loved the setting and how it all started to come along after being thrown into the concept of "scriptomancy." The main characters were spectacular and the development of the FMC, Maeve, as well as the MMC, Tristan, was such a joy to experience. I found both of the personas to be so interesting and their backgrounds pulled me in even more.

This book is high in the magical concept but the fantasy aspect was not too confusing or overwhelming to me which I enjoyed. It reminded me of the magical and romantic aspects of the book Divine Rivals, so if you were a fan of that I HIGHLY recommend you read this too! The romance was top tier, however, it did not overtake the plot but was just right; banter, forced proximity, he falls first, and more.

Overall, this book blew me away and I can not wait to get my hands on a physical copy of the book when it is released on February 25th. The Otherwhere Post is the perfect romantasy to add to your TBR! Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in return for my honest review, it did not disappoint!

You don’t really find out anything about what the fantasy setting of this is like from the synopsis, but THE WORLDBUILDING IN THIS IS SO GOOD. The synopsis doesn’t even begin to touch on how cool this is. In this fantasy world, there are 3 known worlds, Leyland, Iverly, and Barrow. Travel between the worlds used to be common via Blackcaster Station through the Written Doors, until the day of the accident. Our mc Maeve happened to be in Iverly on that dreaded day too, but was close enough to Blackcaster Station that she managed to escape home to Leyland just minutes before the Written Door between the two worlds was burned, trapping everyone where they were. They later learned that all of Iverly was destroyed and everyone remaining in that world who couldn’t escape was gone. On top of that, the doors connecting Leyland and Barrow were burned and destroyed as well, stranding thousands on either side, so everyone was stuck wherever they happened to be.

Communication between the worlds is possible, but only through couriers trained in scriptomancy who could cross worlds and deliver letters to loved ones stuck in a different world. This book starts when one of these otherwhere couriers approaches Maeve and gives her a letter from after the doors burned, seven years after it was written. She opens it to find a letter from her father’s childhood friend saying that her father told him a secret that changed everything, and that he was innocent.

IS THIS NOT THE MOST IMAGINATIVE CONCEPT? In a world of fantasy novels that all are more or less the same, FINALLY this book does something unique and different! We are at the point where it’s essentially impossible to be original because everything has been done before in some way or another. Fantasy books especially feel like a reiteration of what’s already been done. But this concept? This is unique. I can’t recall any other fantasy book with a concept like this.

The vibes of this are magical whimsy and light academia, so this is the type of fantasy that gives more of a Harry Potter or Narnia type vibe. It’s playful and unique, but does take some getting into. It starts super strong and interesting with setting up the story but after that, the beginning lags. This book is really imaginative, it’s just not as exciting as I thought it would be until the last 70%. But, the concept is so intriguing and the worldbuilding is some of the best I’ve read. 3.5/5!

Thank you to Netgalley GP Putnam for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review!

This one sucked me right in. I was so intrigued with the magic, world building and characters.
✒️Dark Academia
✒️Slow Burn Romance
✒️Magical Letters
✒️Secrets
This magical world is so unique and like nothing I have read before. The characters are fascinating and I absolutely love the development.
You are going to want to enter this world! I highly recommend it.

This was a well-crafted book. I loved the magic and the way it had to do with writing and words. The little romance it had in it was a bonus for me. I didn’t even figure out who had done it until the end. Great read!

The Otherwhere post is a dark academia story that takes place inside a school of sorts, but expands far beyond the hallways. It was packed full to bursting with story and I loved it.

It had everything; a rich and robust fantasy world, a plot complete with twists, turns, a mystery and little side quests along the way and a little romance, but not the kind that takes over the story. Nothing felt too easy or instantaneous. There was obviously a lot of thought put into how the mystery would play out and how the story arcs would come together. I truly love that this didn't become a romantasy. There was obviously some attraction between the characters and that develops into something more. Yet, the entire book didn't become about that love story. The plot stayed on track and tried to answer the great mystery we started from: Is Jonathan Abenthy a murderer or was he framed?

We get an answer to that question, because there is a proper plot arc that gets resolved at the end of the book without a cliff hanger. The answer isn't so simple and draws in so many of the threads in the story. This is the kind of storytelling I enjoy. It's brilliant because it doesn't rely on cheap tricks. There's a question and the twisting path to the answer that lights up the whole forest.

I wish this was a series because I want to read about this world again and again, but I am also thankful that this is a standalone. Everything I seem to read now is the beginning of a story and not just one story. This was one story with a world so richly textured I want more.

The characters were wonderful. There isn't so much information that gets dumped on the reader that we learn everything there is to know about them. That suggests that they weren’t as well-drawn out and alive as the world, but they were. They were wonderfully realistic. They were just a little less well rounded than they would be if they were real people. I liked that they didn't lose themselves in their romance though. There was also no Mary Sue where everything falls into his/her lap. Each character had its own trials and tribulations. Even the love story felt well drawn out. No insta love. The characters were at times annoying and they made stupid choices and errors. Yet those things felt normal because of who they were and how old they were. We don’t learn a lot about anyone except Maeve and Tristan. Even then we mostly learn what is necessary to the plot and the romance. Everything had a purpose. There were stakes but the entirety of the world wasn’t on one person’s ill-prepared shoulders. This is what I really enjoyed about the novel; it was character forward but it had a well-built plot in a developed fantasy world where the magic system isn't too complicated.

I really, really loved this. I couldn’t put it down and I highly recommend it if you like dark academia, mystery, fantasy or just a well plotted novel.

i remember reading "a door at the end of the world" by caroline carlson and desperately wishing for a ya/adult fantasy book with that atmosphere, and this is everything i ever wanted from that.

everything about the english/scottish setting and the worldbuilding hooked me in. scriptomancy is an intriguing, unique magic system, and i like how it's written into the story—maeve is attending an apprentice program, and new information is slowly slipped in as she learns it. it's kind of annoying at first because nothing makes sense, but in this way, the fantasy is more immersive, and new magical theories pull you in every chapter. taylor's prose does an excellent job of making the fantasy academia atmosphere come alive.

maeve abenthy is an incredibly well-crafted character, both likable and relatable from the first page. she's intelligent, capable, and highly motivated, but slow to trust. her vulnerabilities, when depicted, will claw into your heart and stay there. her slowly opening up to tristan and then nan and shea was adorable.

the tortured, mysterious male lead trope can be dull at times with how often it's been written, but tristan is a refreshing character. he's sweet and funny and he loves maeve very much, so i love him. his background isn't corny and overwritten to gain sympathy (like certain other mls of his breed)—it's sad, but it's unique, and it makes you appreciate him for who is even more. and importantly, he doesn't make his trauma his only personality trait and use it to terrorize everyone, which i love, love, love.

i also love how their relationship was written. their first meeting was hilarious, and every conversation after was giggle-worthy as well. it's also very slowburn and quiet, which i love.

and maeve and nan's relationship was everything to me. definitely one of my top three favorite parts of the book. love platonic grumpy-sunshine. maeve's gruffness vs nan's stubborn friendliness was a dopamine rush.

as for the plot/mystery, i enjoyed it. i did, however, feel that some hints earlier on in the book, instead of one big reveal at the end, would make the culprit more believable/interesting. maybe i just wasn't paying attention, but who even is [redacted]? i think that's just a me thing, though, as other people might have found that to be too predictable? idk.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.

I really expected this book to lean more cozy fantasy/romantasy based on the title and cover, but it gave so much more than that. Otherwhere Post is compelling, hopeful, and greatly entertaining. The romance is not the main focus, but it so fun. The story is unique in concept in a way that is hard to find these days with so many similar elements being thrown around. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book and find myself recommending it to friends already in advance!

I was VERY excited to get this because the authors other work is one of my favorite books. The world building was descriptive and able to transport you to the setting. Reminds me of a magic Harry potter. Did find Tristan description to come a bit later in the book which was difficult for me because it was not what I imagined. I like the wild ride that the story took me on in regards to her father and the mysterious letter then the letters that kept coming. Had a dark sinister side just like Emily's hotel book. I really enjoyed this book and think it is great for any fantasy lover. Can't wait for more of her work.

Emily J. Taylor delivers another enchanting fantasy with The Otherwhere Post, weaving together mystery, magic, and a slow-burn romance in a world where letters hold power. Maeve’s journey as an apprentice scriptomancer—harnessing dangerous magic to send messages across worlds—was gripping from start to finish. The premise alone had me hooked, but the layered intrigue surrounding her father’s past made it impossible to put down.

The magic system, centered around enchanted letters and hidden truths, was both fascinating and immersive, though I wanted a bit more detail at times. Maeve is a determined and compelling protagonist, and her dynamic with her skeptical yet undeniably intriguing mentor added just the right amount of tension. The pacing kept me engaged, with enough twists to keep the mystery unfolding in unexpected ways.

While I wished for a deeper dive into some aspects of the worldbuilding, this was still a beautifully crafted story that left me eager for more. If you loved Hotel Magnifique, this book will absolutely sweep you away. A must-read for YA fantasy fans!

A magical Post Office, a girl with secrets trying to clear her family's name, and the nerdy, spoiled, insomniac with his own skeletons in the closet.

Maeve Abenthy is living a lie. Her dad is the most hated man in the three worlds, her mentor is the most hated in the Post, and her real name is known to no one but her...well, and the nameless, faceless sender of the threatening notes she's been receiving. She thinks she knows the truth, but someone is dead set on keeping her from finding it.

Paired up with the broody boy that everyone else at the Post seems to hate, a roommate dead set on being Maeve's friend whether she likes it or not, and the anonymous sender of the letters she keeps receiving claiming to be an old friend, Maeve decides it's high time to find out the truth about her father - before it kills her.

I loved this book! Maeve is headstrong and Tristan is drool-worthy, and I loved any and all of their interactions. If anything, I wished the book had been longer and spent more time building up the history of the three worlds, but I felt like it wrapped up the story well come the end. Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book immediately lured me in with its notes of dark academia, English-influenced charm, literary magic, mystery, and slow-burn romance. I loved the magic system created by Emily J. Taylor with the scriptomancy - the magical ability to enchant letters. It felt wholly original and intriguing. Although it was a little difficult to follow sometimes, my literary heart adored it. The setting of this book is not in England (it was in a fictional world), but it was very obvious that the world of The Otherwhere Post was meant to feel like an alternate Britain as the characters had that special British charm and way of speaking. Each character was very well written out, specifically Maeve and Tristyn. Their backstories are incredibly complex, and dang I just adore when the love interest's backstory is shown in depth. Although the blurb doesn't really hint at romance - trust me. It's there. And it is really, really swoon-worthy. Tristyn is an incredible character who thankfully added so much depth to this story besides being a love interest. Maeve is also an amazing female protagonist - strong, independent, intelligent, but also knows when to lean on others for help. Maeve and Tristyn's dynamic is basically what I search for in every book. I was so surprised by this story and a large part of me is disappointed that this is just a stand-alone book. I liked this world Emily created, and the lore connected to it. I would love to see more in this universe, if possible!

3.25⭐️s

Thank you to NetGallery and Penguin Young Readers Group
For allowing me the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I will start off this review by saying this is not a bad book, it was quite enjoyable. But it wasn’t perfect for me. I do think a lot of people will really love this book though. For a few reasons the book didn’t work for me. One I just didn’t buy all the plot points and how this story wrapped up. I wouldn’t call it too easy, but it was abrupt in a sense. Some parts were a bit too out of the realm of possibilities for this world. Then honestly a few parts of the storyline were a bit confusing for me and didn’t add up, and granted I can get confused and it may be a me problem but it happened enough to affect my overall opinion. As for the romance in this book, if you’re a slow burn fan you’ll enjoy this, but for me it wasn’t slow burn enough if that makes sense? They kinda got together quick for the relationship they’d had prior to it progressing. As well as the friendships, while they were necessary, they didn’t stand out and honestly with Nan and Maeve I wanted to see more scenes of them together and growing that relationship. All in all this was enjoyable but just didn’t hit the mark for me <3

"I told you already; I'm nobody interesting."

"I think it's the opposite," he said. "I think you're somebody very interesting who has a lot to lose by revealing yourself to others. Most of all, I think you're scared of who you are.”

First, thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a lovely book. I loved watching Maeve grow as a character and her sweet romance with Tristan was to die for. 😩

Tristan was so freaking sweet. We need more characters like him. So gentle and kind. He never did anything to hurt Maeve either even if it meant he couldn’t help her like he wanted. And he did it all to show her she could trust him.

The magic system here was really interesting as well. Words having true power and the overall vibes of the world was so cool!

I think the world building could’ve been slightly tighter. I did get confused a bit since we’re kind of plopped into everything. So it did take me out of the story a tad when I had to stop and make sure I understood what I was being told.

But overall, this was such a lovely whimsical book. I definitely need to read Hotel Maqnifique! It’s been sitting on my shelf for ages. If you liked Divine Rivals and love Studio Ghibli films, I highly recommend picking this up!

4 stars!