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kaixv's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was good in the beginning with the set up but it felt very rushed and it included parts that didn’t seem necessary where I wish they had gone in and focused more on the side characters as well. Was almost a DNF but I decided to finish it anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Pedophilia, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Bullying, and Self harm
samstillreading's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Hotel 21 is a unique novel that combines friendship, childhood abuse and a lonely main character who enjoys the rush of stealing in the setting of hotel cleaning. It was a bit patchy for me, with some great moments and others that dragged.
Hotel 21 refers to the Magnolia Hotel, a five star hotel in London and also Noelle’s twenty-first hotel that she’s worked at. She’s moved around a lot of hotels despite being in her twenties. You see, Noelle likes the adrenaline rush of stealing small things from hotel guests, such as tweezers, travel size creams and lip balms. She creates a particular persona to ensure that it will be unbelievable that she could even be suspected of stealing and then departs soon after with a family emergency she’s being called out. As the story goes on, the reader finds out that Noelle’s family consisted of an abusive, alcoholic mother who would physically assault her. Noelle leaves her home after she makes some money and then travels around, working and putting her trophies (i.e. stolen items) in a trunk to look back on. But the Magnolia is different. The cleaners are a fun team of women who actively engage Noelle and include her in nights out. She even falls in love. And strangely enough, Noelle starts losing the desire to steal. But then her past catches up with her, and sends her into a spin. Will she let her new friends help her out?
The book starts with Noelle’s first day at the Magnolia, and then goes back in time to discuss some of the problems Noelle had at other hotels with co-workers, managers and slipping up when stealing. It did get repetitive for me. As Noelle is making friends with her colleagues, the reader gains insight into her childhood and why she acts in this way (and why she is so incredibly naïve). When Noelle strikes difficulties with her past, it’s more about her friends coming to help her and Noelle realising she doesn’t have to be alone. It all felt quite separate to me, as if some things could only be discussed in certain parts of the book and detracted away from the storyline. Noelle is fascinating in her uniqueness as a character, but her lack of knowledge of friends, going out etc did grate after a while. She’s been on her own for years, but she seemed barely able to function outside of work at times. Her friends were fun and engaging, but had only a quirk or relationship to make them distinguishable from the others. The big finale, while predictable, was heartwarming.
Overall, it’s an odd book with strong writing that works at times for its differences but also felt rushed or formulaic at times.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Hotel 21 refers to the Magnolia Hotel, a five star hotel in London and also Noelle’s twenty-first hotel that she’s worked at. She’s moved around a lot of hotels despite being in her twenties. You see, Noelle likes the adrenaline rush of stealing small things from hotel guests, such as tweezers, travel size creams and lip balms. She creates a particular persona to ensure that it will be unbelievable that she could even be suspected of stealing and then departs soon after with a family emergency she’s being called out. As the story goes on, the reader finds out that Noelle’s family consisted of an abusive, alcoholic mother who would physically assault her. Noelle leaves her home after she makes some money and then travels around, working and putting her trophies (i.e. stolen items) in a trunk to look back on. But the Magnolia is different. The cleaners are a fun team of women who actively engage Noelle and include her in nights out. She even falls in love. And strangely enough, Noelle starts losing the desire to steal. But then her past catches up with her, and sends her into a spin. Will she let her new friends help her out?
The book starts with Noelle’s first day at the Magnolia, and then goes back in time to discuss some of the problems Noelle had at other hotels with co-workers, managers and slipping up when stealing. It did get repetitive for me. As Noelle is making friends with her colleagues, the reader gains insight into her childhood and why she acts in this way (and why she is so incredibly naïve). When Noelle strikes difficulties with her past, it’s more about her friends coming to help her and Noelle realising she doesn’t have to be alone. It all felt quite separate to me, as if some things could only be discussed in certain parts of the book and detracted away from the storyline. Noelle is fascinating in her uniqueness as a character, but her lack of knowledge of friends, going out etc did grate after a while. She’s been on her own for years, but she seemed barely able to function outside of work at times. Her friends were fun and engaging, but had only a quirk or relationship to make them distinguishable from the others. The big finale, while predictable, was heartwarming.
Overall, it’s an odd book with strong writing that works at times for its differences but also felt rushed or formulaic at times.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
shells1965's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
jenn_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Addiction, and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
keepingitread's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book wasn't bad, I just hadn't read the back description in a while. I knew it had to do with building friendship forgot that it had a romance element to it. I don't think the book really need it and it of course pissed me off due to Phill not being up front with main character. The book does have some difficult topics in it that I wasn't expecting so do please check for trigger warnings before reading!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
chetakwa's review
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Addiction, and Death of parent
Minor: Pedophilia
morgan_leopold's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Drug abuse
stefpo's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Child abuse
carolynlovesbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Mental illness
nebulous07's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Senta Rich's "Hotel 21" is a refreshing, uplifting and unputdownable read! At first, it took time for me to warm up to the pacing and the writing style, but I couldn't help but root for the growth of Noelle, our endearing yet troubled protagonist.
Noelle has a PhD in doing things by herself and leaving a mark by presenting different versions depending on the type of managers and supervisors across her employment in 20 Hotels. It is evident that Noelle is a kleptomaniac, but there's a lot of discover and unpack between the lines. The crossroads between old habits, healing, secrets and acceptance comes into the fold when Noelle is employed at the Magnolia (Hotel 21), and her paths cross with Gabi, Rose, Mali and Phil. Noelle is pushed out of her comfort zone as she explores her instant yet complicated connection with Phil and witnesses the camaraderie between Gabi and Mali and the perseverance of Rose.
Senta Rich delivers a simple plot with complex characters with grace and excellence. The humaneness of all the characters shines brightly throughout the book. The testament to friendships, support, and humour is well presented, and the ending tugged at my heartstrings. Please be warned that elements of child abuse are briefly mentioned. I recommend this book if you're a fan of "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman.
Thank you, Union Square & Co and NetGalley, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.
Noelle has a PhD in doing things by herself and leaving a mark by presenting different versions depending on the type of managers and supervisors across her employment in 20 Hotels. It is evident that Noelle is a kleptomaniac, but there's a lot of discover and unpack between the lines. The crossroads between old habits, healing, secrets and acceptance comes into the fold when Noelle is employed at the Magnolia (Hotel 21), and her paths cross with Gabi, Rose, Mali and Phil. Noelle is pushed out of her comfort zone as she explores her instant yet complicated connection with Phil and witnesses the camaraderie between Gabi and Mali and the perseverance of Rose.
Senta Rich delivers a simple plot with complex characters with grace and excellence. The humaneness of all the characters shines brightly throughout the book. The testament to friendships, support, and humour is well presented, and the ending tugged at my heartstrings. Please be warned that elements of child abuse are briefly mentioned. I recommend this book if you're a fan of "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman.
Thank you, Union Square & Co and NetGalley, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse