raeanne's review against another edition
2.0
Another YA with a long dull beginning. Needed to be way shorter, making it snappy with tension and suspense. As it is, it's a party girl being emo stuck on repeat while staggering around a luxury hotel for a couple days before things get interesting. For the reader it's so obvious from the beginning something is off, paranormal and ghostly, so it needs to hit the ground running. Instead Audrey drunkenly stumbles around in denial for 150 pages. Do people think teens are that slow-witted to not realize it or did someone just need the extra pennies per word?
Making it this long stretches the content too thin, shows how little substance there is to the background characters and the insta-connections. Audrey can just do the right thing without insta-love, or a friend group, or hell, even a family connection since it's the right goddamn thing. That's kinda the fucking point!
And what is with calling the grandma a DNA matched stranger when it wasn't a hunt to find someone to take them, like sometimes happens to literal orphans. They've met this grandma before, she's a known entity. Maybe a strange stranger one, but calling her a DNA matched stranger gives off different vibes I'm not okay with using in this case
Making it this long stretches the content too thin, shows how little substance there is to the background characters and the insta-connections. Audrey can just do the right thing without insta-love, or a friend group, or hell, even a family connection since it's the right goddamn thing. That's kinda the fucking point!
And what is with calling the grandma a DNA matched stranger when it wasn't a hunt to find someone to take them, like sometimes happens to literal orphans. They've met this grandma before, she's a known entity. Maybe a strange stranger one, but calling her a DNA matched stranger gives off different vibes I'm not okay with using in this case
nicolemhill's review against another edition
3.0
This woulda been a killer episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark?
internationalkris's review against another edition
4.0
I was lucky enough at the last library association conference to get an advance reader copy of Hotel Ruby. This one is sure to be a hit with the MS/HS crowd. The author said that the publisher was describing it as "Hotel California" meets "The Shining." It's not as creepy as King's book but still a dark little puzzle for readers to explore. I gave it 3 stars since it could use a little tightening up, but I am still delighted to be able to share the advance copy with my young adult readers. It's a thrilling read.
justinekorson's review against another edition
4.0
Thought it was about vampires... But it's not which is my baddddd. I saw Hotel Ruby and thought red and thought blood and thought vampires. Really good both otherwise though! I saw the plot twist coming once I realized what was happening.
lissherondale's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not complaining, Suzanne Young can truly work with suspense.
I really liked it. it was a interesting, captivating and creepy read. I loved the characters and the plot, it was kind of sad at the ending but still I liked it.
if this book would have had pictures of the hotel THIS WOULD BE WAY MORE AWESOME AND CREEPIER.
Even though I love Suzanne Young's writing, she's one of my favorite authors ever and I'll always read her books.
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I don't usually like when the protagonists died but in this case I cannot be more happy about it. I really liked the ending.
I really liked it. it was a interesting, captivating and creepy read. I loved the characters and the plot, it was kind of sad at the ending but still I liked it.
if this book would have had pictures of the hotel THIS WOULD BE WAY MORE AWESOME AND CREEPIER.
Even though I love Suzanne Young's writing, she's one of my favorite authors ever and I'll always read her books.
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I don't usually like when the protagonists died but in this case I cannot be more happy about it. I really liked the ending.
burstnwithbooks's review
3.0
This was super weird but interesting, and I have no idea how I feel about it.
wombat_88's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lemongirlandyou's review
2.0
It was a trip and now I’m dizzy. It’s hard for me to get into some YAs now. They fall in “love” so quick that it’s unbelievable. Kinda forgot all their names, cool concept kinda predictable but I think that’s the point so I’m not mad about it.
alifromkc1907's review against another edition
4.0
Gut Instinct Rating: 3.75
Characters: 4.25
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 4
Writing Style: 5
Excitement Factor: 4
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 4.56
Characters: 4.25
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 4
Writing Style: 5
Excitement Factor: 4
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 4.56
becandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoy Young's story-telling but this book fell a little flat for me.
Perhaps it's because I have such high expectations of what I expect out of a horror/haunting story. But I was left a tad bit deflated by this story. Mostly because it was predictable and, while it did have some weaving of atmosphere, it didn't have the really spooky elements I was hoping for from a haunted hotel.
All in all, it was a fun audiobook to pass the day. But it was something of a diluted version of American Horror Story.
Perhaps it's because I have such high expectations of what I expect out of a horror/haunting story. But I was left a tad bit deflated by this story. Mostly because it was predictable and, while it did have some weaving of atmosphere, it didn't have the really spooky elements I was hoping for from a haunted hotel.
All in all, it was a fun audiobook to pass the day. But it was something of a diluted version of American Horror Story.