ARC Review: Hotel Ruby - Suzanne Young

Title: Hotel Ruby
Author: Suzanne Young
Pub Date: November 3rd, 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Page Count: 288

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.

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The best way to describe this book would be an interesting twist that combines Psycho with Monster House. - Nova @ Out of Time

Suzanne Young is one of my favorite authors so when I heard about this book's release, I was ecstatic! The premise sounds really interesting and after reading it, I can confirm that thought. I really enjoyed the idea because I and the main character were left in the dark for a long time. I was slightly frustrated but really on the edge of my seat and when things were revealed - I loved it!

The main character, Audrey seemed kind of... stupid to me. I didn't mind her and even liked her intentions. This book has a lot to do with family and how far people would go for family love [not romantic love - which is interesting!] However, Audrey kept seeing suspicious things; characters would say things like "you're never leaving" and she would brush it aside. It was almost like she was in her bubble of happiness. I wanted her to realize how creepy Hotel Ruby was and do some investigation of her own rather than keep screaming "I don't know what's going on!" like she did.

I wasn't sure about the romance. It didn't really seem necessary. There was SO MUCH family love in this book. Audrey and her family have lost their mom so all of them are suffering. When they go to the Ruby, Audrey meets a boy and they hit it off. I do admit, Elias is charming. However, he isn't as charming as some I've seen and I felt like his shadiness was kind of a dealbreaker [for me.] Their romance went real fast so I kind of went unsure. However, in the end, Audrey's last decision was like the end of the Frozen movie [and equally cheesy but sometimes - that's what we need] and I was overall satisfied.

Something I really did like that I always do like is Suzanne's writing. I felt connected to her world and very immersed in the story. Some of the descriptions made me feel like I was in this creeptastic hotel myself. Because of that, I really couldn't stop reading this one and it only took me an hour and a half. I blazed through this one because it was awesome!

The actual Hotel Ruby has really interesting history. I like that there was an origin story and not just, "this is a creepy hotel and no one knows where it came from." What was really interesting to me was that some of the characters were descendants of the original Ruby and they always seemed to know more than they'd let on. I wonder why... hmm?

Overall, this book, while it did feel juvenile towards the end, had a pretty good message and combined two movies [for two different age groups] to create a fantastic young adult novel.

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Originally from New York, Suzanne Young moved to Arizona to pursue her dream of not freezing to death. She currently resides in Tempe, where she teaches high school English. When not writing obsessively, Suzanne can be found searching her own tragic memories for inspiration.

Suzanne is the author of several books for teens, including THE PROGRAM, A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, and A WANT SO WICKED. Friend her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @suzanne_young.