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Hotel Ruby
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 life in a place that is so much more than it seems…
Welcome to the Ruby.
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 life in a place that is so much more than it seems…
Welcome to the Ruby.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2015
About the author
Suzanne Young
61 books4,811 followersSuzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling author of The Program, The Treatment, and several other novels. She currently lives in Tempe, Arizona where she teaches high school English and obsesses about books. Learn more about Suzanne at www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 760 reviews
December 28, 2015
I wanted so much to love this book as much as I did Suzanne's others, but ended up being one of the biggest disappointments of the year thus far for me.
Characterization and relationships are what Suzanne Young does best--unfortunately, I feel like those two aspects failed in Hotel Ruby. I wasn't really engaged in anyone's character, and was actually pretty annoyed at the romance.
Don't get me wrong--Audrey's a pretty decent character. She's likable enough, in a way that she loves her family so much and is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for their sake, but I can't really name any other memorable qualities of hers other than that.
The other characters didn't have very strong enough personalities. Majority of them were nice and friendly, but again, not memorable. There were a few that were more prominent than others, although honestly, a week after reading, I can't even remember their names anymore.
The romance was the thing I was most looking forward to, knowing how Suzanne can always make me cry with her angsty couples. The love interest in Hotel Ruby was sweet and all, but the romance progressed way too quickly, making it impossible for me to ship. Most of the time, I even wanted to rip them apart from each other.
I couldn't connect with anything, either. As usual, Suzanne's writing was very easy to read, with its conversational tone, but for some strange reason--maybe because I read this book when I wasn't fully in the mood for it--I didn't feel anything while I read the book.
Characterization and relationships are what Suzanne Young does best--unfortunately, I feel like those two aspects failed in Hotel Ruby. I wasn't really engaged in anyone's character, and was actually pretty annoyed at the romance.
Don't get me wrong--Audrey's a pretty decent character. She's likable enough, in a way that she loves her family so much and is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for their sake, but I can't really name any other memorable qualities of hers other than that.
The other characters didn't have very strong enough personalities. Majority of them were nice and friendly, but again, not memorable. There were a few that were more prominent than others, although honestly, a week after reading, I can't even remember their names anymore.
The romance was the thing I was most looking forward to, knowing how Suzanne can always make me cry with her angsty couples. The love interest in Hotel Ruby was sweet and all, but the romance progressed way too quickly, making it impossible for me to ship. Most of the time, I even wanted to rip them apart from each other.
I couldn't connect with anything, either. As usual, Suzanne's writing was very easy to read, with its conversational tone, but for some strange reason--maybe because I read this book when I wasn't fully in the mood for it--I didn't feel anything while I read the book.
If there's anything I did like about the book though, it's definitely the atmosphere of the Hotel Ruby. The hotel was eerie, creepy and was described amazingly. The twists about the hotel itself were shocking to me, and I was just, "Whoa," as things started revealing themselves.
Overall, this isn't a book I'd recommend to everyone, but if you like gorgeous descriptions and quick mysteries, maybe consider giving Hotel Ruby a shot. If disconnection ruins a book for you, maybe not.
Deadly Darlings | The Social Potato | The Book Geek | Twitter | Instagram
November 28, 2015
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (Any time of year)
You can find it here
Let me tell you something about my childhood. Back when I was a kid, I would fly to the Sultanate of Oman (a very peaceful Middle Eastern country) to spend time with my father. He worked there as the head Quality Surveyor of a pretty kick-ass construction company, and the times I spent there were one of the very few times I could be with him (the rest of the year would be spent in the Philippines, away from his loving arms). Every time we were in the car, he would put on some of those oldie bands on full blast - Eagles, Carpenters, Bread, Aerosmith - the works, basically (this is pretty much why I know all of their songs by heart until now!). There was always this one song that stood out to me - Hotel California by the Eagles. Even though I was still 5 years old at that time, I already knew it was made of creepy. The lyrics, the way it was sung, the melody - everything about them exuded, "Yo, here's a hotel in the middle of nowhere that would lure you into its nest and never allow you to leave - EVEEER!"
That's why Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young called out to me. The moment I saw its cover, the moment I read its premise, I immediately knew it was Hotel California in YA book form. I was so looking forward to the creepy atmosphere that would no doubt be the foundation of the book! I expected to read about weird, evasive staff that would keep manipulating our heroes and heroines from leaving their clutches!
Unfortunately, however... before I could read 25%, I decided to throw this book to my mental trash bin, never to be opened, entertained, or considered, ever again.
Guys. Guuuuuys. This book was such an epic disappointment.
Why? Because of our heroine's awful priorities and her awful, sudden romance with "sexy, suspicious stranger" that made me want to hurl the book to a fire, that's fucking why.
I wanted to like Audrey. I wanted to like her and her brother, Daniel. Their mother just died and according to her, all of them were affected by this, to the point that their dad was dropping them off at their grandmother's because looking at his two young ones made him feel too sad(because, obviously, if your children remind you too much of your dead wife, you need to pass on your parental responsibilities to your older parents T_T). At first, I saw the potential in the heroine's voice - there were times that it felt raw and intimate, and when she did talk about the hotel, you could feel the strangeness and offness of the place. The way the staff would be evasive and weird with their answers, the way they would stare at you if you stare at them a minute too long, the way they would drop hints like, "Stay a night, stay forever". Trust me, the first few pages of their staying at the hotel had enough creepiness to make you shiver from head to toe.
Except that the heroine had to fall in love with the stranger... in the most infuriating way possible.
Many, many times throughout pages I've read, the heroine tells us that she feels sad her family is affected by her mother's death, that she's grieving and mourning for the emptiness that she left behind. I could totally relate to that, except for the fact that she would oftentimes blush and feel butterflies in her stomach when she is with this hot, sexy stranger she met at the hotel who seemingly lives there (does she not find that strange?). It was so irritating to watch her go, "Oh, woe is me! I lost my mother and my dad is leaving us off to grandma!" and then the next minute, she would be saying things like, "I want him." to this guy she just fucking met.
WHAT THE FUCK, DUDE?! PRIORITIES, EVER HEARD OF THAT!? AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE GRIEVING?!
It's just hard for me to take shit like that seriously. All the creepiness? Gone. All the intimacy I felt with her? Gone. All the mystery and suspense I felt? Gone. All because of this stupid romance that didn't feel realistic at all. It ended up being a flat book for me and by 20% I couldn't take it anymore. I had to put it down. It was giving me too much of a headache.
Mirrors on the ceiling,
The pink champagne on ice
And she said "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device"
And in the master's chambers,
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives,
But they just can't kill the beast
Take a look at that lyric over there. Isn't it nice and creepy? That's what I was looking forward to in this book, but I don't think I'll ever know now considering how the stupid romance put me off. Thanks, but no thanks! :/
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December 22, 2015
"Go on," I whisper as I unfold my hands towards the open sky. A single fuck escapes from my fingers, soaring gracefully into the cool air.
"You're free now."
My last fuck has gone. I have nothing left to give.
-Tumblr.
If you think I'm not going to lose my shit with the Hotel California song, then you're dead wrong mate.
Hotel Ruby's blurb is intriguing. I mean, come on, a hotel that trap's guests is pretty scary. It reminds me of the Lotus Hotel from the Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief book. I waited months to have a copy of this book and I prioritized this over some of my books because of the reason that I just told you.
Was I satisfied and happy?
Hell no.
The first few chapters were okay. It didn't start with a bang or something.It was actually quite morose. Characters losing their mom and that. I'm still okay with that.
They saw a hotel and checked in and I'm still okay with that.
Then of course, our heroine meet a handsome boy and she was in luuuuuurve. Like 2 days after staying in a hotel, she joins a good looking boy exploring the creepy hotel because her common sense is not common to her. Like oh sure, the boy is probably not a serial killer who preys on innocent stupid girls because he's so handsome.
Are you stupid or are you stupid?
I would have tolerated the stupidity because she's a teenage girl and we all have our not so stellar moments in our life (who am I to judge?), but after that premature romance thingy, the story became boring as fuck.
A secret party by the hotel staffs?
A secret party by the hotel guests?
An ominous floor solely reserved for idiot girls?
A handsome guest that's downright creepy and a bitchy girl (of course there will be a bitch) who is trying to pass as the next Mother Teresa to the heroine's brother?
Read
June 28, 2015Ooooooh!!! Expect the unexpected with this one!
I'm usually a big chicken-scaredy-cat, so this was just spooky enough to put me on edge, but not horrifying enough to turn me off. It was a definite mystery and I loved trying to figure it out. I did not expect what was really going on or how it would end, but the twists were awesome.
Audrey was an excellent MC. And Elias? *swoons*
Fully enjoyed this one. :)
I'm usually a big chicken-scaredy-cat, so this was just spooky enough to put me on edge, but not horrifying enough to turn me off. It was a definite mystery and I loved trying to figure it out. I did not expect what was really going on or how it would end, but the twists were awesome.
Audrey was an excellent MC. And Elias? *swoons*
Fully enjoyed this one. :)
October 8, 2015
I love Suzanne and her words, so when I got my greedy hands on a copy of Hotel Ruby, I couldn't wait to devour it.
The setting is instantly intriguing and the characters suck you in even further. I loved Audrey. She's got so much grief in her, but she's trying to make it work. Her relationship with her brother, Daniel, is one of the best. Their banter was fabulous and the absolute devotion to each other was a great facet.
Which brings me to Elias. Oh man, this boy is good. He's always well dressed and well mannered, but you see that hint of something...a spark that I could not wait to see exposed. {Not *that* way, get your mind out of the gutter...okay maybe. *cough*}
I'll be vague on purpose because I don't want ruin it. Just know that the twists are delicious and I was so happy with the ending.
The setting is instantly intriguing and the characters suck you in even further. I loved Audrey. She's got so much grief in her, but she's trying to make it work. Her relationship with her brother, Daniel, is one of the best. Their banter was fabulous and the absolute devotion to each other was a great facet.
Which brings me to Elias. Oh man, this boy is good. He's always well dressed and well mannered, but you see that hint of something...a spark that I could not wait to see exposed. {Not *that* way, get your mind out of the gutter...okay maybe. *cough*}
I'll be vague on purpose because I don't want ruin it. Just know that the twists are delicious and I was so happy with the ending.
February 27, 2016
"In real life it's hard to tell someone you don't love them anymore. It's harder to tell your father you don't know how to live another day. My grief has stolen my voice"
DNF circa 60%.
*Sighs*
Sometimes authors mistake the word "thrilling" with the word "confusing". They aren't synonymous, not knowing what the fuck happened doesn't equate to a plot twist.
Also YA= Young Adult. Not to be confused with "naive" or "immature".
Young Adult (to me) is a genre about teens grappling with adult problems and themes. Don't tell me. I want to feel, think, breathe, -even gasp- as I tumble over words that swirl through my mind.
This was insta love. This was zero build up. This was a cool premise with a crappy story.
The first chapter was promising, then "Oh wait, a cute boy!" *headdesk*
For shame, I like the name Elias...
DNF circa 60%.
*Sighs*
Sometimes authors mistake the word "thrilling" with the word "confusing". They aren't synonymous, not knowing what the fuck happened doesn't equate to a plot twist.
Also YA= Young Adult. Not to be confused with "naive" or "immature".
Young Adult (to me) is a genre about teens grappling with adult problems and themes. Don't tell me. I want to feel, think, breathe, -even gasp- as I tumble over words that swirl through my mind.
This was insta love. This was zero build up. This was a cool premise with a crappy story.
The first chapter was promising, then "Oh wait, a cute boy!" *headdesk*
For shame, I like the name Elias...
December 12, 2015
I was very curious about this book because the synopsis sounded exactly like Hotel California by the Eagles.
And it pretty much is just like the song. However, I ended up wishing I could just read a book about Hotel California instead of Hotel Ruby.
I wasn't into the characters. More often than not, I was annoyed with Audrey. She could have been a lot nicer and more supportive for Daniel and Daniel was just a messy character so at the end of the day, I didn't really care how Audrey treated him. I wanted to be blown away by the characters, I really did. But they weren't different from dozens of other YA characters. I wasn't expecting them to be great but I really hoped.
I wasn't into the romance. If you could call it that. It was just teenage puppy love, which I'm personally not a fan of.
I didn't find this book to be creepy or scary. I didn't think it was a thriller or horror. I can see why this book is put into those genres but if you want to call Hotel Ruby a horror novel, it's the weakest horror book I've ever read. It was kinda spooky but not really.
It was predictable in every way possible. I personally found it dull and only somewhat entertaining. Maybe because I've heard Hotel California so many times and I've become immune to what actually would make Hotel Ruby interesting. When a book follows a song so closely, the book loses it's power.
Overall, I thought this book was okay. I didn't like it a whole lot but I didn't hate it. I think a lot
of it could have been better written and maybe if it had been a little bit more to be dark and full of horror, I would have liked it. I guess I was just wanting more from this book. I didn't have really high
expectations but I still expected a little bit more. However, I think if you're not a very critical
reader, I think this book would be really great.
And it pretty much is just like the song. However, I ended up wishing I could just read a book about Hotel California instead of Hotel Ruby.
I wasn't into the characters. More often than not, I was annoyed with Audrey. She could have been a lot nicer and more supportive for Daniel and Daniel was just a messy character so at the end of the day, I didn't really care how Audrey treated him. I wanted to be blown away by the characters, I really did. But they weren't different from dozens of other YA characters. I wasn't expecting them to be great but I really hoped.
I wasn't into the romance. If you could call it that. It was just teenage puppy love, which I'm personally not a fan of.
I didn't find this book to be creepy or scary. I didn't think it was a thriller or horror. I can see why this book is put into those genres but if you want to call Hotel Ruby a horror novel, it's the weakest horror book I've ever read. It was kinda spooky but not really.
It was predictable in every way possible. I personally found it dull and only somewhat entertaining. Maybe because I've heard Hotel California so many times and I've become immune to what actually would make Hotel Ruby interesting. When a book follows a song so closely, the book loses it's power.
Overall, I thought this book was okay. I didn't like it a whole lot but I didn't hate it. I think a lot
of it could have been better written and maybe if it had been a little bit more to be dark and full of horror, I would have liked it. I guess I was just wanting more from this book. I didn't have really high
expectations but I still expected a little bit more. However, I think if you're not a very critical
reader, I think this book would be really great.
March 8, 2016
Review found at: www.awesomebooknut.com
This was a book I was so looking forward to! It immediately captured my attention, when I read the synopsis.
I LOVED the overall story of this book, I really enjoyed the mystery and the twist and turns the author took to make this a really fun read.
This story focuses on Audrey as our main character. Her family has just suffered a devastating loss when her mother passes away. Torn by grief, her father decides to take them to their grandmother’s house to live. On the way there they stop at a hotel for the night. Hotel Ruby. Which turns into two nights and three nights…. Every night however there is a ball that is only gained entrance to by an invite which Audrey never gets.
I liked Audrey but found her to be a bit-a lot-annoying in the romance department. I liked her strength and snarky-ness.
I liked the hotel and everything about it. I loved the side characters that made it more intriguing and the horror behind it all. I pictured an old, hauntingly beautiful hotel that had it’s modern updates but stayed very old fashion.
The romance….annoyed me. Sorry but it was insta-love and it moved too quickly for my tastes. Plus I was really sick and tired of hearing Audrey go on and on about Elias and it just…bothered me.
Overall I LOVED the plot, but got annoyed with some of the content.
Sexual Content: moderate
Language: moderate/heavy
Violence: moderate (some creepy scenes that aren’t too horrible graphic)
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate (some underage drinking with some drunk characters)
This was a book I was so looking forward to! It immediately captured my attention, when I read the synopsis.
I LOVED the overall story of this book, I really enjoyed the mystery and the twist and turns the author took to make this a really fun read.
This story focuses on Audrey as our main character. Her family has just suffered a devastating loss when her mother passes away. Torn by grief, her father decides to take them to their grandmother’s house to live. On the way there they stop at a hotel for the night. Hotel Ruby. Which turns into two nights and three nights…. Every night however there is a ball that is only gained entrance to by an invite which Audrey never gets.
I liked Audrey but found her to be a bit-a lot-annoying in the romance department. I liked her strength and snarky-ness.
I liked the hotel and everything about it. I loved the side characters that made it more intriguing and the horror behind it all. I pictured an old, hauntingly beautiful hotel that had it’s modern updates but stayed very old fashion.
The romance….annoyed me. Sorry but it was insta-love and it moved too quickly for my tastes. Plus I was really sick and tired of hearing Audrey go on and on about Elias and it just…bothered me.
Overall I LOVED the plot, but got annoyed with some of the content.
Sexual Content: moderate
Language: moderate/heavy
Violence: moderate (some creepy scenes that aren’t too horrible graphic)
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate (some underage drinking with some drunk characters)
December 26, 2016
3-3.5 stars
For the most part, I stay away from horror books. I'll watch a good scary flick (when there is one), but I don't have much desire to read one. This book, though, set in a strange, beautiful hotel with decades-old history and whispered ghost stories, was something I couldn't resist. Hotel Ruby isn't perfect, but it's twisty and creepy and a definite page turner.
Audrey Casella arrives at the Hotel Ruby late at night with her father and her brother, Daniel, all of them grieving over the loss of her mother. Audrey sees this as one last detour before their father abandons them for good at their grandmother's doorstep. At first, she's fascinated by the grandeur of the hotel and its idiosyncratic employees. But all is not as it seems, and when one night at the hotel turns into another into another, Audrey must decide if this place is truly safe for her and her family.
What this book does so well is the setting and the atmosphere. The hotel is like its own character, ancient and foreboding and with its own twisted personality. I love that it's seeped in history, that there's a story behind its creation. The descriptions, too, add another layer to give the book a very haunted feel. I felt like I was walking down the endless hallways right alongside Audrey, not trusting anyone yet becoming oddly attached to the new people she meets. There is one twist I guessed pretty early on, but it didn't pull me out of the story. If anything I wanted to see what else I was missing and what pieces hadn't yet fallen into place.
Audrey is just the sort of character you'd expect in this type of story - likeable, curious, big-hearted, and easy to sympathize with over the pain she's feeling. I thought she could be too naïve at times, not asking enough questions or demanding more answers, but her personality moves the story along effortlessly. It's mentioned that she was unhappy with her life and romantic relationship before the death of her mother, but it's very vague and I would have liked to know more about who she was previously. The same could be said of her love interest, Elias, who is an employee of the hotel. He's got this old school charm and confidence, and the two are smitten with each other immediately. I liked their easygoing banter and light flirtation, though as a character we don't know much about him. And, yes, the romance is insta-lovey - the story takes place over a period of just a few days - and it could have been more developed, but I have to say that Suzanne Young sure knows her way around a delicious kiss or two. There are some seriously hot make out sessions between Audrey and Elias. I also really liked Audrey's relationships with her father and brother. They change and grow over the course of the story, but she cares about them so much, beyond the hurts they have caused each other.
Overall Hotel Ruby has an eerie, entertaining premise that will surely keep you reading until the very last page. The ending, especially, is not what I was expecting, but it fits the tone of the story perfectly. I'd call my first Suzanne Young book a success!
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review can also be found at Love at First Page.
For the most part, I stay away from horror books. I'll watch a good scary flick (when there is one), but I don't have much desire to read one. This book, though, set in a strange, beautiful hotel with decades-old history and whispered ghost stories, was something I couldn't resist. Hotel Ruby isn't perfect, but it's twisty and creepy and a definite page turner.
Audrey Casella arrives at the Hotel Ruby late at night with her father and her brother, Daniel, all of them grieving over the loss of her mother. Audrey sees this as one last detour before their father abandons them for good at their grandmother's doorstep. At first, she's fascinated by the grandeur of the hotel and its idiosyncratic employees. But all is not as it seems, and when one night at the hotel turns into another into another, Audrey must decide if this place is truly safe for her and her family.
What this book does so well is the setting and the atmosphere. The hotel is like its own character, ancient and foreboding and with its own twisted personality. I love that it's seeped in history, that there's a story behind its creation. The descriptions, too, add another layer to give the book a very haunted feel. I felt like I was walking down the endless hallways right alongside Audrey, not trusting anyone yet becoming oddly attached to the new people she meets. There is one twist I guessed pretty early on, but it didn't pull me out of the story. If anything I wanted to see what else I was missing and what pieces hadn't yet fallen into place.
Audrey is just the sort of character you'd expect in this type of story - likeable, curious, big-hearted, and easy to sympathize with over the pain she's feeling. I thought she could be too naïve at times, not asking enough questions or demanding more answers, but her personality moves the story along effortlessly. It's mentioned that she was unhappy with her life and romantic relationship before the death of her mother, but it's very vague and I would have liked to know more about who she was previously. The same could be said of her love interest, Elias, who is an employee of the hotel. He's got this old school charm and confidence, and the two are smitten with each other immediately. I liked their easygoing banter and light flirtation, though as a character we don't know much about him. And, yes, the romance is insta-lovey - the story takes place over a period of just a few days - and it could have been more developed, but I have to say that Suzanne Young sure knows her way around a delicious kiss or two. There are some seriously hot make out sessions between Audrey and Elias. I also really liked Audrey's relationships with her father and brother. They change and grow over the course of the story, but she cares about them so much, beyond the hurts they have caused each other.
Overall Hotel Ruby has an eerie, entertaining premise that will surely keep you reading until the very last page. The ending, especially, is not what I was expecting, but it fits the tone of the story perfectly. I'd call my first Suzanne Young book a success!
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review can also be found at Love at First Page.
April 12, 2020
‘Stay tonight. Stay forever.’
No, thank you.
Man, the blurb is so misleading! It promises something creepy and mysterious, but in reality, this
book couldn’t scare a toddler.
The first three-fourth of this book was so boring that I kept wondering why I was still reading it. Audrey Casella, the protagonist, is such a dreary and one-dimensional character. Her internal monologue kept me yawning away and I honestly couldn’t be bothered by any of her feelings of guilt, sorrow, or whatever. The love interest, Elias was so dull. The romance was half-hearted and their chemistry? What chemistry? Practically non-existent. The secondary characters, too, didn’t evoke an ounce of interest in me whatsoever. The only character I genuinely liked was Audrey’s brother, Daniel. He was the only one who seemed a little more ‘normal’ than the rest of the cardboard cut-outs.
However, I liked the way Suzanne Young described the atmosphere of Hotel Ruby. It had this strange, suspenseful, dream-like aura about it, as though the air was buzzing with an electric charge. The evasiveness of the staff, the unseeing guests, the haunting music; it was kind of unique. The descriptions, the easy writing flow and the ending saved this book from a 1-star rating.
Want to read
April 17, 2016You know what the blurb reminds me of?
1.
THE SHINING
2.
Yeah, I know. CREEEEEPY.
1.
THE SHINING
2.
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise
Bring your alibis
(.....)
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
"Relax, " said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
BUT YOU CAN NEVER LEEEEEAAAVE! "
Yeah, I know. CREEEEEPY.
November 5, 2015
This review was originally posted on [Between My Lines]Books with hotel settings always call out to me as I love going to stay in hotels. And a book with a hotel setting feels like the next best thing to me actually going to one for little luxury in my life! So Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young was must read for me.
First Line of Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young:
My Thoughts on Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young:
There was a lot to really enjoy in this book. Audrey, her brother and her father check into the Hotel Ruby on a trip to their grandmother’s house. Her father is unable to cope with life after the untimely and sudden death of his wife and is leaving Audrey and Daniel in the care of their grandmother for the summer. I laughed out loud when I saw Audrey’s reaction to the attic bedroom that her grandmother was giving her:
I always love when books reference other books that I’ve loved in the past and it immediately makes me connect with the character as we’ve obviously read the same books! The book focuses a lot on the relationships between the brother and sister and their father and I enjoyed that a lot.
My favourite part though was the Hotel Ruby who felt just like another character in the book. The setting is opulent, the descriptions of the hotel are great and I could picture the grandness of the dazzling interior. But it was also spooky as hell! Things are far from normal in the Ruby and I felt a little creeped out at times
From the language used, you get a pretty good idea what direction this book will take. The foreshadowing through the words used was clever but it does take some of the guess-work out of the plot as it wasn’t at all subtle. I didn’t one hundred percent guess what was happening until it was revealed however I was fairly close.
I liked Audrey a lot especially for her loyalty to her family. There is a lot of unresolved tension between them all but Audrey is willing to make allowances and tries to glue them all back together again into a new unit. I also love how brave she is at times during the book. Despite quivering with fear, she stands up for the underdog. And there are a lot of underdogs as Kenneth (the concierge) terrorises the staff which is pretty horrible to read about so I was delighted when Audrey challenged him time after time.
There was something that I didn’t love though. There is a huge case of insta-love in the book between Audrey and Elias and I was a bit indifferent to the whole romance element. It didn’t overly bother me as I was more interested in the creepy happenings anyway. I thought they were cute together but they never wowed me and or made me fully believe that they were kindred spirits.
Overall this though was more win than fail. Suzanne Young has a great way with words and the plot felt both spine-chilling and tragic which I really enjoyed.
Who should read Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young?
I’d recommend this to those who like creepy atmospheric reads, family focused storylines and hotel settings. Haters of insta-love need not apply! Fans of Suzanne’s previous books such as The Program should also enjoy. If you liked Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout or When by Victoria Laurie then you might also appreciate this one.
Thanks to Edelweis and Simon Pulse for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
First Line of Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young:
"The treetops curve about the road like an archway, blotting out the moon and the stars.”
My Thoughts on Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young:
There was a lot to really enjoy in this book. Audrey, her brother and her father check into the Hotel Ruby on a trip to their grandmother’s house. Her father is unable to cope with life after the untimely and sudden death of his wife and is leaving Audrey and Daniel in the care of their grandmother for the summer. I laughed out loud when I saw Audrey’s reaction to the attic bedroom that her grandmother was giving her:
“Locking me in an attic like a character from a V.C. Andrews novel.”
I always love when books reference other books that I’ve loved in the past and it immediately makes me connect with the character as we’ve obviously read the same books! The book focuses a lot on the relationships between the brother and sister and their father and I enjoyed that a lot.
My favourite part though was the Hotel Ruby who felt just like another character in the book. The setting is opulent, the descriptions of the hotel are great and I could picture the grandness of the dazzling interior. But it was also spooky as hell! Things are far from normal in the Ruby and I felt a little creeped out at times
From the language used, you get a pretty good idea what direction this book will take. The foreshadowing through the words used was clever but it does take some of the guess-work out of the plot as it wasn’t at all subtle. I didn’t one hundred percent guess what was happening until it was revealed however I was fairly close.
I liked Audrey a lot especially for her loyalty to her family. There is a lot of unresolved tension between them all but Audrey is willing to make allowances and tries to glue them all back together again into a new unit. I also love how brave she is at times during the book. Despite quivering with fear, she stands up for the underdog. And there are a lot of underdogs as Kenneth (the concierge) terrorises the staff which is pretty horrible to read about so I was delighted when Audrey challenged him time after time.
There was something that I didn’t love though. There is a huge case of insta-love in the book between Audrey and Elias and I was a bit indifferent to the whole romance element. It didn’t overly bother me as I was more interested in the creepy happenings anyway. I thought they were cute together but they never wowed me and or made me fully believe that they were kindred spirits.
Overall this though was more win than fail. Suzanne Young has a great way with words and the plot felt both spine-chilling and tragic which I really enjoyed.
Who should read Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young?
I’d recommend this to those who like creepy atmospheric reads, family focused storylines and hotel settings. Haters of insta-love need not apply! Fans of Suzanne’s previous books such as The Program should also enjoy. If you liked Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout or When by Victoria Laurie then you might also appreciate this one.
Thanks to Edelweis and Simon Pulse for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
September 28, 2015
Stay tonight. Stay forever...
Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young was one of the novels I picked up at my last ALA visit in June 2015. I was looking forward to this book that I anticipated would be a great Halloween read. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite what I expected. I was hoping for a more quick paced novel where the characters would suck me into their sinister surroundings and have me explore their story at the edge of my seat. That didn’t quite happen…
In this novel, we meet Audrey Casella, who is being carted off to live with her grandmother after the sudden death of her mother. She and her family, including her father and brother Daniel, are struggling after this loss, so when they stop off at Hotel Ruby for a brief detour, they suddenly find themselves enjoying the hotel and attempting to reconnect in small ways. However, Audrey quickly realizes that the hotel is not all that it seems. She’s left off of the invitation list for the evening ballroom events, where her brother and father are welcomed to attend.
Audrey ends up hanging out with the hotel staff and learning about the history of Hotel Ruby, including the devastating fire that occurred back in 1937 where sixty seven hotel guests were killed. The ghost stories and mysterious concierge are all fun and games until Audrey begins to experience hallucinations and visions. Staying on the thirteenth floor away from her father and brother, she begins to wonder what is real and what is not.
Overall, I found the story was a bit too slow paced for me for more than half the book. There seemed to be endless wondering around the hotel, conversations with people that didn’t go anywhere and just a cloudy, nebulous experience that if you’re anticipating the twist, which I did, you find it to be somewhat laborious. I think if I connected a bit more with the main character Audrey, I would have invested in her plight more than I did.
Also, I was anticipating something a bit more creepy, but it never really got there for me. I figured out the twist well before the half and just coasted to the ending for the sake of just finishing the book.
Interesting fact… the advanced readers copy of Hotel Ruby does not have a chapter thirteen… It doesn’t exist… I won’t say more than that because I’m sure it’s intentional and ties into the story. At least that’s how I interpreted it.
Regardless... I think others will find Hotel Ruby more entertaining than I did. Just didn't quite get there for me...
Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young was one of the novels I picked up at my last ALA visit in June 2015. I was looking forward to this book that I anticipated would be a great Halloween read. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite what I expected. I was hoping for a more quick paced novel where the characters would suck me into their sinister surroundings and have me explore their story at the edge of my seat. That didn’t quite happen…
In this novel, we meet Audrey Casella, who is being carted off to live with her grandmother after the sudden death of her mother. She and her family, including her father and brother Daniel, are struggling after this loss, so when they stop off at Hotel Ruby for a brief detour, they suddenly find themselves enjoying the hotel and attempting to reconnect in small ways. However, Audrey quickly realizes that the hotel is not all that it seems. She’s left off of the invitation list for the evening ballroom events, where her brother and father are welcomed to attend.
Audrey ends up hanging out with the hotel staff and learning about the history of Hotel Ruby, including the devastating fire that occurred back in 1937 where sixty seven hotel guests were killed. The ghost stories and mysterious concierge are all fun and games until Audrey begins to experience hallucinations and visions. Staying on the thirteenth floor away from her father and brother, she begins to wonder what is real and what is not.
Overall, I found the story was a bit too slow paced for me for more than half the book. There seemed to be endless wondering around the hotel, conversations with people that didn’t go anywhere and just a cloudy, nebulous experience that if you’re anticipating the twist, which I did, you find it to be somewhat laborious. I think if I connected a bit more with the main character Audrey, I would have invested in her plight more than I did.
Also, I was anticipating something a bit more creepy, but it never really got there for me. I figured out the twist well before the half and just coasted to the ending for the sake of just finishing the book.
Interesting fact… the advanced readers copy of Hotel Ruby does not have a chapter thirteen… It doesn’t exist… I won’t say more than that because I’m sure it’s intentional and ties into the story. At least that’s how I interpreted it.
Regardless... I think others will find Hotel Ruby more entertaining than I did. Just didn't quite get there for me...
April 20, 2016
Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster Australia for an honest review.
It's been two day since I finished Hotel Ruby, and I honestly have no idea how to phrase what I want to say about this book. I need to emphasis that this is seriously the softest one star rating I have ever given. I harbor no hard feelings towards this book, I honestly just cannot muster the energy to care about it all. I should feel outraged or at least intensely disappointed at how dull, predictable and just silly this story was, but *shrugs* for some reason I'm just ready to leave this book in my past and move on. It was dull, all of it - the writing, the characters, the plot - and my feelings about it are too.
I guess if I had to elaborate I would point out that I've read four or five stories with this exact plot trope (I won't spoil exactly what it it, but as soon as you start this book you'll know what I mean), and it's not interesting. It's overdone now, and has become predictable - I knew exactly how this story would end as soon as Audrey feel asleep in the car. Being right isn't fun. Predictability in mysteries/thrillers is one of my all-time biggest pet peeves so it lost my interest pretty early on.
If that still wasn't enough, I guess I could tell you how little I cared about Audrey and the other characters. Audrey's one distinguishing feature was her grief for her dead mother. She seemed to have little more personality other than this intense grief - which could have been interesting to explore if this story focused on that (and they way it effected her family) rather than the mystery of Hotel Ruby. The romance between her and the mysterious, hot, suit-wearing boy was yawn-inducing - predicable, dull, cliched and lacking any form of chemistry or connection. I don't even care to elaborate about it, it's every reader's worst instalove nightmare manifested.
I honestly cannot think of what else to say about Hotel Ruby - this book was the epitome of dull. I didn't enjoy any aspect of the story - especially the insanely predictable, our MC's lack of personality and the failed attempt at romance. I wish I could have something positive to say, but apart from the gorgeous cover, I'm not sure there is anything to say. I'm not sure I even want to check out the author's other series. I seemed interesting but if this is any indication of her writing style, I'm hesitant and dubious.
It's been two day since I finished Hotel Ruby, and I honestly have no idea how to phrase what I want to say about this book. I need to emphasis that this is seriously the softest one star rating I have ever given. I harbor no hard feelings towards this book, I honestly just cannot muster the energy to care about it all. I should feel outraged or at least intensely disappointed at how dull, predictable and just silly this story was, but *shrugs* for some reason I'm just ready to leave this book in my past and move on. It was dull, all of it - the writing, the characters, the plot - and my feelings about it are too.
I guess if I had to elaborate I would point out that I've read four or five stories with this exact plot trope (I won't spoil exactly what it it, but as soon as you start this book you'll know what I mean), and it's not interesting. It's overdone now, and has become predictable - I knew exactly how this story would end as soon as Audrey feel asleep in the car. Being right isn't fun. Predictability in mysteries/thrillers is one of my all-time biggest pet peeves so it lost my interest pretty early on.
If that still wasn't enough, I guess I could tell you how little I cared about Audrey and the other characters. Audrey's one distinguishing feature was her grief for her dead mother. She seemed to have little more personality other than this intense grief - which could have been interesting to explore if this story focused on that (and they way it effected her family) rather than the mystery of Hotel Ruby. The romance between her and the mysterious, hot, suit-wearing boy was yawn-inducing - predicable, dull, cliched and lacking any form of chemistry or connection. I don't even care to elaborate about it, it's every reader's worst instalove nightmare manifested.
I honestly cannot think of what else to say about Hotel Ruby - this book was the epitome of dull. I didn't enjoy any aspect of the story - especially the insanely predictable, our MC's lack of personality and the failed attempt at romance. I wish I could have something positive to say, but apart from the gorgeous cover, I'm not sure there is anything to say. I'm not sure I even want to check out the author's other series. I seemed interesting but if this is any indication of her writing style, I'm hesitant and dubious.
January 31, 2016
+3,5
Только-только дочитав другую серию Янг, у меня ручки уже чесались взять в руки ее новую книгу и погрузиться в историю. Аннотация интересная. Клишистая, кажется что где-то такую же историю ты видел или может быть читал. Но даже некое ощущение Deja Vu все равно не оттолкнуло меня от книги.
Собственно, коротко о сюжете. Героиня потеряв мать уходит в загулы. Отец не зная как бороться с бунтаркой, решает отвезти ее к бабке к черту на куличики. И вот едут они - героиня, ее отец и брат, и на пути им попадается отель "Руби". Уставшие путники решаются переночевать одну ночку и сразу двинуть дальше. Но фигушки там, никуда они оттуда не уедет сразу. И, конечно, там героиня встречает красивого, умного, милого и т.д. и т.п по списку парня, к которому сразу проникается симпатией. Вроде бы все ничего, подумаешь задержались на пару ночей, но героиня начинает замечать всякие странности, от которых бросает в холодный пот и возникает желание бежать оттуда сломя голову с криками "аааааааа".
Мне нравится как пишет Янг. Мне понравилась история, хотя конец меня чуток разочаровал, как-то просто развернулась тайна. Не понравился мне ни один герой. Главная героиня уже на середине книги просто раздражала меня, то ее бросала в настроение "я спасу всех", то она ныла, то у нее появлялись какие то совершенно неуместные мысли по отношению к парню, которого она встретила в отели. Да там чистейшей воды insta-love, но именно отношение героини больше вымораживало меня. Хотя сама любовная линия мне показалась милой. Злодей получился такой то бледный. Вроде бы он есть, но такой то он не страшный. Очень мне понравилось мрачная атмосфера самого отеля, тут автору жму руку!
Только-только дочитав другую серию Янг, у меня ручки уже чесались взять в руки ее новую книгу и погрузиться в историю. Аннотация интересная. Клишистая, кажется что где-то такую же историю ты видел или может быть читал. Но даже некое ощущение Deja Vu все равно не оттолкнуло меня от книги.
Собственно, коротко о сюжете. Героиня потеряв мать уходит в загулы. Отец не зная как бороться с бунтаркой, решает отвезти ее к бабке к черту на куличики. И вот едут они - героиня, ее отец и брат, и на пути им попадается отель "Руби". Уставшие путники решаются переночевать одну ночку и сразу двинуть дальше. Но фигушки там, никуда они оттуда не уедет сразу. И, конечно, там героиня встречает красивого, умного, милого и т.д. и т.п по списку парня, к которому сразу проникается симпатией. Вроде бы все ничего, подумаешь задержались на пару ночей, но героиня начинает замечать всякие странности, от которых бросает в холодный пот и возникает желание бежать оттуда сломя голову с криками "аааааааа".
Мне нравится как пишет Янг. Мне понравилась история, хотя конец меня чуток разочаровал, как-то просто развернулась тайна. Не понравился мне ни один герой. Главная героиня уже на середине книги просто раздражала меня, то ее бросала в настроение "я спасу всех", то она ныла, то у нее появлялись какие то совершенно неуместные мысли по отношению к парню, которого она встретила в отели. Да там чистейшей воды insta-love, но именно отношение героини больше вымораживало меня. Хотя сама любовная линия мне показалась милой. Злодей получился такой то бледный. Вроде бы он есть, но такой то он не страшный. Очень мне понравилось мрачная атмосфера самого отеля, тут автору жму руку!
January 2, 2016
3.5 (also it's 2016 now how does goodreads still not have .5 ratings?!?!)
Well, this was a wierd one. It was a rocky start, but the mystery definitely found its groove in there. My problem was I didn't think the big reveal was as powerful as it should have been, and the explanation was all kinds of wonky, and I wish it had ended differently, but it was still a fun time.
Well, this was a wierd one. It was a rocky start, but the mystery definitely found its groove in there. My problem was I didn't think the big reveal was as powerful as it should have been, and the explanation was all kinds of wonky, and I wish it had ended differently, but it was still a fun time.
March 28, 2016
Quick review for a somewhat quick read. "Hotel Ruby" sounded like a book that was right up my alley, so I decided to pick this up despite this book having a very wide reaction on Goodreads. My end reaction is that this was just an okay read, but largely forgettable. I'm glad I took the time to read it, but I honestly wouldn't read it again. It's a shame because I was hit by cover and premise-lust just picking it up. I think it was trying too hard for the theme it was going for. I loved the concept of the novel, and I actually liked where it ended up going, especially with the somewhat twisty, though predictable ending. But the presentation really wasn't there for me. Far too often, I felt frustrated.
I was initially drawn into "Hotel Ruby" with Audrey and her family's circumstances and the allure of the hotel backdrop. I can't resist creepy hotel novels -something about the atmosphere always pulls me in (that and creepy carnivals. Don't ask.) Quickly, I realized this book seemed to be playing out as a junior version of "666 Park Avenue" - very focused on the romantic inclinations with some interspersing of creepy, supernatural factors. But the problem is that the cast was largely forgettable, the romance far too unrealistic to work (it progressed way too problematic and too fast, even for instalust), the creepy factors were pretty basic, and it kept throwing the emotional curves in such a telling way - I don't think it clicked with me because it was so spelled out. I could certainly identify with this broken family considering the loss of Audrey's mother and how it changed the relationship she had with her brother and father - especially with her father's emotional distancing. However, I didn't like that it wasn't shown as much as it was told.
I also felt very underwhelmed by the horror/supernatural elements, because much of them were really awkwardly shown interspersed between moments where Audrey's pettiness (i.e. her jealousy over Catherine potentially stealing her LI) came front and center. Some moments had potential, but others failed because of the very familiar "OMG, am I going crazy?" part of it. I told myself if this book ended up with someone in a mental institution or it was a scenario where the character was crazy this whole time, I would start hurling the book against the wall. Fortunately, that's not what happened. (But you could say this book has some stuff in common with "The Sixth Sense." I won't say more than that.) The ending of the book was more emotional than I was expecting, but it fit with the overarching themes in the book. The problem was the execution of it - the writing didn't carry it nor did the characters because they weren't strongly asserted enough on their own to be able to sell it.
It was worth reading once through, but I can't say that it's one that I would remember long term or come back to as a favorite story. Shame, because the premise and intention were on point. It just didn't convince me or pull me in. I've a feeling that people who aren't as patient wouldn't be able to see past the sluggish beginning and YA derivative cliches (instalove, MC's petty jealousy of other female characters over the love interest, etc.) wouldn't make the slog through to the end.
Overall score: 2.5/5 stars.
I was initially drawn into "Hotel Ruby" with Audrey and her family's circumstances and the allure of the hotel backdrop. I can't resist creepy hotel novels -something about the atmosphere always pulls me in (that and creepy carnivals. Don't ask.) Quickly, I realized this book seemed to be playing out as a junior version of "666 Park Avenue" - very focused on the romantic inclinations with some interspersing of creepy, supernatural factors. But the problem is that the cast was largely forgettable, the romance far too unrealistic to work (it progressed way too problematic and too fast, even for instalust), the creepy factors were pretty basic, and it kept throwing the emotional curves in such a telling way - I don't think it clicked with me because it was so spelled out. I could certainly identify with this broken family considering the loss of Audrey's mother and how it changed the relationship she had with her brother and father - especially with her father's emotional distancing. However, I didn't like that it wasn't shown as much as it was told.
I also felt very underwhelmed by the horror/supernatural elements, because much of them were really awkwardly shown interspersed between moments where Audrey's pettiness (i.e. her jealousy over Catherine potentially stealing her LI) came front and center. Some moments had potential, but others failed because of the very familiar "OMG, am I going crazy?" part of it. I told myself if this book ended up with someone in a mental institution or it was a scenario where the character was crazy this whole time, I would start hurling the book against the wall. Fortunately, that's not what happened. (But you could say this book has some stuff in common with "The Sixth Sense." I won't say more than that.) The ending of the book was more emotional than I was expecting, but it fit with the overarching themes in the book. The problem was the execution of it - the writing didn't carry it nor did the characters because they weren't strongly asserted enough on their own to be able to sell it.
It was worth reading once through, but I can't say that it's one that I would remember long term or come back to as a favorite story. Shame, because the premise and intention were on point. It just didn't convince me or pull me in. I've a feeling that people who aren't as patient wouldn't be able to see past the sluggish beginning and YA derivative cliches (instalove, MC's petty jealousy of other female characters over the love interest, etc.) wouldn't make the slog through to the end.
Overall score: 2.5/5 stars.
September 3, 2015
Interesting story, however rather predictable. I guessed rather early the whole secret and was quite disappointed with the way the mystery was unraveled in the end. It could be executed much better and cause the reader to have stronger feelings. All in all the ending wasn't shocking. The story reminded of the film "The Others" and that's why it didn't feel original enough. Also the villain à la Freddy Krueger felt like a borrowed idea. To summarize, it really should be a short story instead of a novel. From my point of view the story could benefit from getting to the point quicker.
March 15, 2017
"Here in the Ruby, we can all start our lives again."
This one was such an adventure. Even though I knew some of the twists early on, the adventure of the story and fast pace was so fun to go through! I liked Audrey because she wasn't all perfect or all rebellious. She had an attitude sometimes but not always and she made some unhealthy decisions... but...she's a kid! That's what they do! I loved the dynamics of the family because it all felt so real. Great story.
This one was such an adventure. Even though I knew some of the twists early on, the adventure of the story and fast pace was so fun to go through! I liked Audrey because she wasn't all perfect or all rebellious. She had an attitude sometimes but not always and she made some unhealthy decisions... but...she's a kid! That's what they do! I loved the dynamics of the family because it all felt so real. Great story.
August 26, 2015
Slow the first half but then some unexpected twists and a surprising ending. It was kind of the ending that I wanted but didn't think would happen but then it did! LOL I feel like I shouldn't speak much about this book because I think you just have to discover the Ruby on your own.
October 3, 2016
Finished reading: August 20th 2016
“It's funny how seeing another person hurt can break you down faster than your own emotions.”
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
March 29, 2020
4.5
"Stay tonight. Stay forever."
Wow, I loved this! It was so good! I've been wanting to read this for such a long time now, but it was totally worth the wait! It was so romantic, and sad, and funny, and down right creepy.
Originally, the synopsis made me think of The Lotus Hotel from Percy Jackson, which I have always loved and been very fascinated with. But it ended up being rather different than I expected, but in a good way! I really, really, really enjoyed this book!
The characters were fantastic, especially Elias, who I absolutely adored. He was very sweet, handsome, and swoon-worthy.
Our protagonist Audrey was a great character too. It was good to see her trying to heal and move on from the grief of losing her mother.
The romance was a little bit of an insta-love, but I think it was done very well. I think the love at first sight kind of thing can be cute and romantic when done right, and this was one was. I really enjoyed reading about them being together.
I also really liked Lourdes and Audrey's brother Daniel. I thought that he and Audrey had such a great relationship, and it was amazing to see how much they cared for each other.
The plot, oh gosh, it was just amazing! I loved it! It was insanely mysterious and suspenseful, and at times it had me terrified! Especially towards the end of the book! I was seriously not expecting a lot of that stuff. But my goodness, was it ever good!
I also really liked the mystery aspect of the story line and enjoyed trying to piece together and figure out everything that was happening.
This book had me laughing, and then crying, and then gushing over the amazing characters, and then frantically turning the pages in fear. I love when a book does that.
And of course the setting of the book was interesting and fun. The hotel sounded absolutely gorgeous and I would love to stay there if it was a normal hotel, that is. And if it, you know, actually existed.
I loved the ending, it was the perfect way to end the story!
In conclusion I definitely recommend this book! It has just the right mix of everything and makes for a very enjoyable read. So what are you waiting for? Go get yourself a copy and read away!
"Stay tonight. Stay forever."
Wow, I loved this! It was so good! I've been wanting to read this for such a long time now, but it was totally worth the wait! It was so romantic, and sad, and funny, and down right creepy.
Originally, the synopsis made me think of The Lotus Hotel from Percy Jackson, which I have always loved and been very fascinated with. But it ended up being rather different than I expected, but in a good way! I really, really, really enjoyed this book!
The characters were fantastic, especially Elias, who I absolutely adored. He was very sweet, handsome, and swoon-worthy.
Our protagonist Audrey was a great character too. It was good to see her trying to heal and move on from the grief of losing her mother.
The romance was a little bit of an insta-love, but I think it was done very well. I think the love at first sight kind of thing can be cute and romantic when done right, and this was one was. I really enjoyed reading about them being together.
I also really liked Lourdes and Audrey's brother Daniel. I thought that he and Audrey had such a great relationship, and it was amazing to see how much they cared for each other.
The plot, oh gosh, it was just amazing! I loved it! It was insanely mysterious and suspenseful, and at times it had me terrified! Especially towards the end of the book! I was seriously not expecting a lot of that stuff. But my goodness, was it ever good!
I also really liked the mystery aspect of the story line and enjoyed trying to piece together and figure out everything that was happening.
This book had me laughing, and then crying, and then gushing over the amazing characters, and then frantically turning the pages in fear. I love when a book does that.
And of course the setting of the book was interesting and fun. The hotel sounded absolutely gorgeous and I would love to stay there if it was a normal hotel, that is. And if it, you know, actually existed.
I loved the ending, it was the perfect way to end the story!
In conclusion I definitely recommend this book! It has just the right mix of everything and makes for a very enjoyable read. So what are you waiting for? Go get yourself a copy and read away!
November 5, 2015
Stayed up too late last night to finish this. While I kind of had an inkling about what was happening based on them being put on separate floors in the hotel among other things, I still liked the way this story went. Review to come on my blog, probably next week!
May 4, 2016
Completely predictable haunted hotel romp, but still kept me speeding through the pages. Some unnecessary instalove and kissing. It's a mashup of "Hotel California", 1408, and The Shining.
February 25, 2016
I'M FINALLY DONE!
0 stars if I could.
This one was pretty bad and it sucks because I was really looking forward to this one. This was like a baby version of The Shining. To me TS wasn't that scary, so this one was a bit dry for me. The whole idea is interesting if it was done right. I could have lived without the whole insta love bs. How could you have feelings for a guy you just met?! You don't know nothing about him, but you just know you have to be with him. UGH.
Even though this was a bust for me, I'm still going to give her dystopian books a try.
0 stars if I could.
This one was pretty bad and it sucks because I was really looking forward to this one. This was like a baby version of The Shining. To me TS wasn't that scary, so this one was a bit dry for me. The whole idea is interesting if it was done right. I could have lived without the whole insta love bs. How could you have feelings for a guy you just met?! You don't know nothing about him, but you just know you have to be with him. UGH.
Even though this was a bust for me, I'm still going to give her dystopian books a try.
September 4, 2015
1.5 stars. This one reminded me of The Twilight Zone, but not the classic one, the more recent mediocre reboot. This book is messy with the real grit of the story all happening in the third act and the rest is just dull and lacks momentum. The characters are dimensionless, the romance is sappy and uninteresting and the big twists are overdone at best.
Read
May 21, 2020If you're into the creepy hotel vibe you need to check out this one. On the plus side, there's also sweet romancy type stuff too so don't think it's just redrum and evil twins. I really liked the hotel characters. They were all sorts of interesting. Fun read!
November 6, 2015
Three and a half stars: An interesting story, with a terrific, eerie setting, but it ended up being predictable.
Audrey is impressed by the glamour of the Hotel Ruby, which is in the middle of nowhere. She is happy to finally be able to stop and rest after the long trip. After her first night, she is even more excited that her father is allowing them to stay a couple of extra days, putting off the day when her dad dumps Audrey and her brother, Daniel, off at her grandmother's. However, Audrey begins to quickly sense that things aren't quite what they seem, and that something is off at the hotel. What is the deal with the ongoing party, and why didn't she get an invitation? Is there something sinister at the Hotel Ruby?
What I Liked:
*If you like a good ghost story with exciting twists and an eerie atmospheric setting, you should try the Hotel Ruby. Even though I was able to guess the big twist early on, I still enjoyed the fantastic setting and the story.
What makes this book shine is the setting. The Hotel Ruby is a glittering gem with its glitz and glamour and timeless elegance, but the longer you stay in the Ruby, the more it seems to take on a life of its own. I loved how Hotel was always changing. Ms. Young does an excellent job with the descriptions and the detail, and I loved how she brought the hotel to life. I thought it was the perfect backdrop for the story.
*I liked the strange, dreamlike quality of the story. From the get go, the reader gets the sense that something isn't quite right with the hotel and its inhabitants. Time doesn't exist in the hotel, and the longer Audrey is there, the more dreamlike and foggy things become. The unease continues to build as little unsettling details continue to drop, leading up to the big shocking reveal at the end. I enjoyed the overall mystery, even if I was able to guess the twist early on.
*Audrey is an interesting character with complexity and depth. She is still reeling from the sudden death of her mother three months prior. Since then, she has struggled to maintain her sanity and to keep her family together, but unfortunately, she is losing her grip. She has plenty of flaws, and I didn't always like everything about her, but in the end, *I loved her courage, and her fierce determination to keep her family together whatever the cost. She is faced with some difficult choices, and she must make a big sacrifice. In the end, I was pleased with her decisions.
*The ending was a bit of a surprise, but I liked it. I was pleased with the way it all played out and, I liked Audrey's decision. All the questions were answered, and there is no cliffhanger. A nice, solid, ghostly stand alone.
And The Not So Much:
*The romance was a miss. I never felt the chemistry, and even though I liked Elias, I didn't think he and Audrey worked well together, mostly because the romance was an insta love situation. I was also taken a back at how quickly Audrey fell for Elias considering her past.
*Speaking of Audrey's past, there were all these references to Audrey's previous boyfriend, Ryan, and how Audrey mistreated him and took advantage of him. She was horrible to him, and I didn't exactly see what purpose these revelations served to the overall story, if anything, it made me like Audrey a lot less, and it made me question her feelings for Elias.
*The story was too predictable. If you are a seasoned reader, you have likely encountered another book with the same premise. I read one just a couple of months ago. There are many hints dropped throughout, and it was rather evident early on as to what was going on. I thought by clueing the reader in early on, that it took a bit of something away from the story, so when the big dramatic finish happened, it wasn't as impressive.
*There is an interesting cast of secondary characters, but none of them felt well developed. Most of them were flat and stereotypical like Cathy the snobby rich girl, or Josh and Lourdes the friendly help or Elias the tortured rich boy trying to escape his past, and Audrey's dad is the typical disinterested and uninformed parent. I wished that the author had a spent a little more time developing and fleshing out the characters, making the reader care about them. As it was, Lourdes was the only one who drew my attention.
Hotel Ruby was an entertaining and interesting ghost book with a twist. Unfortunately, the reader is able to predict early on what the mystery is, and thus, it the book isn't as impactful. Still I loved the setting, and I liked the story. If you want a ghost story with an excellent setting, I would recommend checking out Hotel Ruby.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Audrey is impressed by the glamour of the Hotel Ruby, which is in the middle of nowhere. She is happy to finally be able to stop and rest after the long trip. After her first night, she is even more excited that her father is allowing them to stay a couple of extra days, putting off the day when her dad dumps Audrey and her brother, Daniel, off at her grandmother's. However, Audrey begins to quickly sense that things aren't quite what they seem, and that something is off at the hotel. What is the deal with the ongoing party, and why didn't she get an invitation? Is there something sinister at the Hotel Ruby?
What I Liked:
*If you like a good ghost story with exciting twists and an eerie atmospheric setting, you should try the Hotel Ruby. Even though I was able to guess the big twist early on, I still enjoyed the fantastic setting and the story.
What makes this book shine is the setting. The Hotel Ruby is a glittering gem with its glitz and glamour and timeless elegance, but the longer you stay in the Ruby, the more it seems to take on a life of its own. I loved how Hotel was always changing. Ms. Young does an excellent job with the descriptions and the detail, and I loved how she brought the hotel to life. I thought it was the perfect backdrop for the story.
*I liked the strange, dreamlike quality of the story. From the get go, the reader gets the sense that something isn't quite right with the hotel and its inhabitants. Time doesn't exist in the hotel, and the longer Audrey is there, the more dreamlike and foggy things become. The unease continues to build as little unsettling details continue to drop, leading up to the big shocking reveal at the end. I enjoyed the overall mystery, even if I was able to guess the twist early on.
*Audrey is an interesting character with complexity and depth. She is still reeling from the sudden death of her mother three months prior. Since then, she has struggled to maintain her sanity and to keep her family together, but unfortunately, she is losing her grip. She has plenty of flaws, and I didn't always like everything about her, but in the end, *I loved her courage, and her fierce determination to keep her family together whatever the cost. She is faced with some difficult choices, and she must make a big sacrifice. In the end, I was pleased with her decisions.
*The ending was a bit of a surprise, but I liked it. I was pleased with the way it all played out and, I liked Audrey's decision. All the questions were answered, and there is no cliffhanger. A nice, solid, ghostly stand alone.
And The Not So Much:
*The romance was a miss. I never felt the chemistry, and even though I liked Elias, I didn't think he and Audrey worked well together, mostly because the romance was an insta love situation. I was also taken a back at how quickly Audrey fell for Elias considering her past.
*Speaking of Audrey's past, there were all these references to Audrey's previous boyfriend, Ryan, and how Audrey mistreated him and took advantage of him. She was horrible to him, and I didn't exactly see what purpose these revelations served to the overall story, if anything, it made me like Audrey a lot less, and it made me question her feelings for Elias.
*The story was too predictable. If you are a seasoned reader, you have likely encountered another book with the same premise. I read one just a couple of months ago. There are many hints dropped throughout, and it was rather evident early on as to what was going on. I thought by clueing the reader in early on, that it took a bit of something away from the story, so when the big dramatic finish happened, it wasn't as impressive.
*There is an interesting cast of secondary characters, but none of them felt well developed. Most of them were flat and stereotypical like Cathy the snobby rich girl, or Josh and Lourdes the friendly help or Elias the tortured rich boy trying to escape his past, and Audrey's dad is the typical disinterested and uninformed parent. I wished that the author had a spent a little more time developing and fleshing out the characters, making the reader care about them. As it was, Lourdes was the only one who drew my attention.
Hotel Ruby was an entertaining and interesting ghost book with a twist. Unfortunately, the reader is able to predict early on what the mystery is, and thus, it the book isn't as impactful. Still I loved the setting, and I liked the story. If you want a ghost story with an excellent setting, I would recommend checking out Hotel Ruby.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
December 9, 2019
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
MY THOUGHTS
I had this on my TBR for a while and going into this book, I had no clue what it was really about. While I had a couple of issues with this book, this was a very addicting read and I could not stop reading it.
Audrey and her brother are on their way to live with their grandmother, just months after the death of their mother. When they stumble upon the Hotel Ruby, Audrey is more than happy to spend a night there before she has to live in the home of someone she barely knows. But when her family keeps extending her stay, and Audrey notices some odd things about the hotel, she realizes that she needs to convince her family to leave.
This was such a great horror story, with horror elements that are less jump scare/thriller, and eerier. I started this book late at night and I found that I did not want to stop reading it. I wanted to know what was up with this hotel! Throughout the book, so many odd things keep piling up, along with so twists and turns. I read some other reviews and others say that the plot twist was predictable, but I was completely thrown. I saw hints of it, but I did not fully guess it until we got close to the twist. I may have been unable to predict it because I am unfamiliar with the song "Hotel California" or because I was reading this while sleep-deprived, but I honestly think Suzanne Young did a great job in putting these mystery elements in the book, of setting up this eerie hotel.
What I did have a problem with was the romance. Audrey meets a boy at the hotel and it is complete insta-love. I hated the parts of the book featuring them because I saw no basis of their relationship, they just make out all the time and I guess we are supposed to believe they love each other, but I did not see it. It just felt cheesy and unnecessary. I wanted to know more about the hotel, get back to the creepiness. He does introduce some aspects of the hotel (he does hang out with some of the hotel staff that Audrey makes friends with), but I wish that his character had more to him besides love interest.
The ending of the book was interesting. Like I said, I did not see the twist coming and I liked how it was integrated, but I did not like the ending-ending. I just have some issues with it.
IN CONCLUSION
I did like this book overall. I really liked the premise, the eerie hotel elements, and the plot twist. I wish there was more focus on the mystery rather than the insta-love, but that is usually the case with books. While I had some issues, I am glad that I picked it up.
MY THOUGHTS
I had this on my TBR for a while and going into this book, I had no clue what it was really about. While I had a couple of issues with this book, this was a very addicting read and I could not stop reading it.
Audrey and her brother are on their way to live with their grandmother, just months after the death of their mother. When they stumble upon the Hotel Ruby, Audrey is more than happy to spend a night there before she has to live in the home of someone she barely knows. But when her family keeps extending her stay, and Audrey notices some odd things about the hotel, she realizes that she needs to convince her family to leave.
This was such a great horror story, with horror elements that are less jump scare/thriller, and eerier. I started this book late at night and I found that I did not want to stop reading it. I wanted to know what was up with this hotel! Throughout the book, so many odd things keep piling up, along with so twists and turns. I read some other reviews and others say that the plot twist was predictable, but I was completely thrown. I saw hints of it, but I did not fully guess it until we got close to the twist. I may have been unable to predict it because I am unfamiliar with the song "Hotel California" or because I was reading this while sleep-deprived, but I honestly think Suzanne Young did a great job in putting these mystery elements in the book, of setting up this eerie hotel.
What I did have a problem with was the romance. Audrey meets a boy at the hotel and it is complete insta-love. I hated the parts of the book featuring them because I saw no basis of their relationship, they just make out all the time and I guess we are supposed to believe they love each other, but I did not see it. It just felt cheesy and unnecessary. I wanted to know more about the hotel, get back to the creepiness. He does introduce some aspects of the hotel (he does hang out with some of the hotel staff that Audrey makes friends with), but I wish that his character had more to him besides love interest.
The ending of the book was interesting. Like I said, I did not see the twist coming and I liked how it was integrated, but I did not like the ending-ending. I just have some issues with it.
IN CONCLUSION
I did like this book overall. I really liked the premise, the eerie hotel elements, and the plot twist. I wish there was more focus on the mystery rather than the insta-love, but that is usually the case with books. While I had some issues, I am glad that I picked it up.
October 9, 2015
Hotel Ruby is a Young Adult book. I am not really sure how to categorize it. I suppose it is part mystery and part horror.
The book is really creepy. At the beginning I really had no idea what was happening or what to make of any of it.
The narrator is 17 year old Audrey. When the book starts her mother has just died. And her father is driving her and her brother Daniel to Nevada to spend the summer with their grandmother.
They decide to stop and spend the night at Hotel Ruby. The hotel is beautiful. But it is very odd. The concierge Kenneth is odd. And there is a fancy party that takes place every night. But you need an invitation.
The hotel is in the middle of nowhere. The place is very mysterious. Haunted. One third of the way into the book we find out the hotel's history. I found this very interesting.
This book is very different from what I normally read. Especially since as I was reading the book I really was not sure what I was reading. Audrey's father had checked out since her mom died. But here at the hotel he thrives. Her older brother Daniel becomes friendly with Catherine. And Audrey becomes friendly with Elias (who lives at the hotel)and Lourdes (who works at the hotel).
Then the book takes a totally different turn. I thought that part was interesting. It brought everything together. This book is a quick read. It is super creepy and unusual. If you like not knowing what is going on then this might be a mystery for you.
MAJOR SPOILER COMMENTS and final thoughts:
Overall, I am a bit torn about this book. It wasn't boring. The characters were interesting. I guess I was just expecting Audrey to go to her grandmother's house. I wasn't really prepared to not really understand what was going on. Hotel Ruby was definitely a creepy and unusual read!
Thanks to edelweiss and Simon Pulse for allowing me to read this book.
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