Review of "Hotel Ruby"

“The Ruby will try to stop you.”

    Suzanne Young’s Hotel Ruby throws a family in the process of breaking into a world too good to be true. Audrey Casella’s life has been nothing but bad in the three months since her mom passed away. Her brother refuses to grieve, her dad is shutting everyone out, and she’s quickly falling out of love with her boyfriend of two years. When a party gone wrong lands Audrey and Daniel a summer visit to a grandmother they barely know, they are fully aware that coming home may not be an option. Then the trio find the Ruby, a glamorous hotel in the middle of the woods. Though they only intend to stay one night, it isn’t long before their improved family dynamics extend their vacation. But when the locals say the Ruby is haunted, they mean it—and the Casellas may not make it out alive.

     This work is unique in that it takes its time. The plotline unfolds naturally, from a tension-filled car ride to a black tie party only Audrey is not invited to and an impossibly charming boy offering to show her around. Although this often leads to long, slow stretches, a good deal of the time it keeps the pacing appropriately even. We get to explore the history of the hotel, learn about a mysterious boy who seems to live there, and take a good look at the true impact of Mrs. Casella’s passing. With each page of worldbuilding, the Hotel Ruby becomes that much more alive. And when it comes to ghost stories, that’s not always a reassuring thing to hear.

     The characters, too, are a diverse flock. Not a one is the same as another, and each is interesting in their own way. Audrey, being the protagonist, is curious and stubborn in her quest for answers. Her brother, Daniel, is strong yet heartbreakingly vulnerable. Their dad is a whirlwind of change, transforming from one man to the next over the course of a single novel. And then there is Ezra, Hotel Ruby’s handsome and apparently permanent resident. Not all of the characters change from beginning to end, but there is enough evolution to keep personalities from becoming unduly static. Even without drastic internal arcs, the figures populating this story are more than enough to draw readers in, regardless of the somewhat predictable twists and turns.

     Given the haunted locale, one might expect terrible monsters and ghouls to lurk around every corner of the Hotel Ruby. Though this isn’t exactly the case, there are still a couple of things to watch out for. Violence, for example, is fairly rare for the majority of this tale. Near the end, though, it makes a greater appearance, and a couple of the descriptions may be considered gruesome by some. Mr. Casella is constantly scolding his children for their use of profanity, which is usually pretty mild. The romance is practically insta-love, and turns passionate very quickly. Though it never progresses beyond kissing, this is not for lack of trying.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a somewhat spooky haunting tale. Audrey and her family are great characters, their unexpected pit stop easy to believe. Although some of the plot twists are a tad transparent, there is still a great deal of mystique that makes Hotel Ruby worth exploring. Add in a splash of steamy romance, sibling drama, and an inaccessible black tie party, and you’ve got Suzanne Young’s Hotel Ruby. Readers are sure to enjoy this pseudo-ghost story of love, grief, and acceptance, easily worth four shining stars.