When sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives at her great-aunt’s B&B in rural Vermont for the summer, she’s shocked to find a rundown inn rather than the cozy bed-and-breakfast she was expecting. Grumpy and eccentric, Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn . . . even though she clearly needs the help.

To convince her great-aunt to keep her around, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundskeeper’s (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the surer she is that there’s something strange about the B&B—and its guests. Something almost . . . otherworldly.

The inn is keeping a magical secret—but to protect the place she’s come to love, Calisa must unravel the truth before it’s too late.

My Review

Calisa convinces herself she needs an escape in the forest for the summer. Heartbroken and used to her big-city life, rural Vermont is a very different experience. The damp, moisture-filled landscape and rugged setting are outside her comfort zone, and her welcome at her aunt’s inn isn’t quite what she expected. She definitely doesn’t expect a potential meet-cute with the groundskeeper while she’s stuck on the porch!

The inn is suspicious in the best way. The guests seem to have something special about them, but Calisa can’t quite put her finger on what. Every interaction and discovery fills her with more curiosity as she slowly realizes her world is much bigger than she ever imagined. And the food descriptions? From homemade hot cocoa to cakes and more, my stomach was definitely swooning.

Auntie Zee is brusque and doesn’t exactly appreciate her grandniece interrupting life at the inn with all her questions. But Auntie Zee has secrets of her own, leaving both Calisa and the reader guessing. Then there is Jack, the groundskeeper’s son and someone Calisa’s age, who becomes a friendly source of information.

I loved discovering that the inn has many doors, not just one. It almost feels like the inn is an entry to Neverland. When we learn that Auntie Zee is the caretaker of the Nexus of Realms, everything gets even more interesting. Doors to other worlds? Yes, please! The mystery and intrigue surrounding the portals gave this story its own unique magic.

The story gave me Alice in Wonderland vibes, with Calisa as the curious Alice and Auntie Zee reminding me a little of the Queen of Hearts. The imagination behind creating this magical world and all of its portals is amazing.

The story is very focused on the young adult characters and the drama surrounding them. Between failing portals, unhappy guests, a broken inn, and a missing aunt, everything starts becoming a bit of a hot mess. I enjoyed the portal travel and the descriptions of the different worlds, along with watching Calisa return to real life having grown and matured.

Things also get juicier toward the end as secrets and unexpected powers are revealed. I loved the hidden witch factor, the magical revelations, and the way magic is used to travel between worlds. At its heart, this story is about finding yourself and recognizing your own value.

The ending wraps up Calisa’s story in a cute way, although the family drama begins just as Calisa is starting to realize that being a young adult doesn’t necessarily mean everyone will let her make her own decisions.

Overall, I enjoyed the unique portal magic, magical inn, cozy moments, and imaginative world-building. While I personally prefer this author’s older characters and more fantasy-adventure-focused stories, this one is clearly geared toward a younger audience than me.

If you would like to read The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Cozy Fantasy, Young Adult , and Portals.