Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel

by Elizabeth Everett

When a magical hotel appears smack-dab in the middle of the most unmagical of worlds, the last thing the residents expect is to fall in love.

Manager of the Number Five Wayside Inn and World Travel Hub, Pax Nomen has one of the easiest jobs in all the known universes, unless you count the occasional plumbing disaster. When Number Five Wayside gets stranded on a non-magical world, even Pax's trusty Wayside Handbook can’t help him. How is he going to “reboot” the hotel and keep it on its magical journey?

Josie LaChusia is a single mom experiencing debt, having parenting doubts, and tipping dangerously toward depression when an ad pops up on her phone that an apartment is available in a building she’s never seen before.

Pax needs a new guest to restart his hotel, and Josie needs a nudge to restart her life. In a building occupied by faeries, gargoyles, and a gnome with a bad attitude, two souls from very different places come together to create a home like no other.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Fiction, Fantasy Romance, Cozy, Cozy Fantasy, Romantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 10, 2026

About the author

Elizabeth Everett is a USA Today Bestselling author of historical romance and lives in upstate New York. Her work is inspired by her admiration for rule breakers and belief in the power of love to change the world.

Head over to Elizabeth's website and subscribe to The Rule Breaker's Report for the latest news, exclusive excerpts from Elizabeth's books, giveaways, and terrible jokes.

Reviews

[Emily Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing romantasy. I received this ARC today and I was about 30% through this book in the first gulp before I even realized I was tucked in. It was like the starving hunger of a little kid at the adult Thanksgiving dinner table for the first time. The part I loved most about this book is how spectacularly relatable the main character was. She doesn't share many of my traits, but she was having my thoughts and reacting the way I wanted to, and having my same values. It was as though I was the one experiencing a magical inn and I couldn't get enough.

We're not supposed to put direct quotes in reviews of ARCs in case the book changes a little. But, without a quotation, when the male romantic interest asked the main character if she could imagine a story where she's happy in the end and then tells her it's ok to imagine herself happy. She deserves it, he tells her. Oh, I just melted.

Plot wise, this book is the same general concept of the magic inn "clean sweep" series by Ilona Andrews. I liked those too. This one did it better, though. However, I thought it was worth pointing out for those that didn't care for that series. (Who even are you? But that's an aside.)

I was really excited about this book and found myself wanting to tell everyone on the street. But I know that wouldn't go over too well. ME: have you read this great book? THEM: my relationship with Jesus is fine, thank you. ME: No, you misunderstand, I meant THIS book. With the hotel. THEM: *backing away from the excentric book lady* ME: Well, that's fair, really. No one to blame but myself, truly.

If I had to write a negative thing about the book it would be the need for at least one more chapter. It's not enough to make a complete resolution of the plot. I want a chapter to bask in the characters' happiness with them.

If you'll excuse me, I have a library date with Elizabeth Everett's other books, because, it turns out, she's not a debut and I have a sudden reading backlog.

[Emily Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book! I read this one slowly, wanting to savor the world-building and cozy vibes. I loved how very different and yet similar Pax's and Josie's journeys were, and rooted for them from the start. And the fun and unique characters that peopled the hotel were fantastic. But I think my favorite aspect of this story was how it brought together such mundane details about life in our world with such magical ones from other worlds—really bringing home how unique the hotel and its inhabitants are. Fingers crossed we get a second book where we see the hotel take everyone off on an adventure!

[Joanna Kissick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!!! I'm gonna call it a cozy paranormal fantasy romance! What could better then reading about a sentient hotel that magically transports multiple beings to different realities? The perfect October read!

This book is one part temperamental magical hotel.
One part retired warrior now hotel manager.
And one part single mom down on her luck.

When the Wayside Hotel breaks down on earth our strange mix of inhabitants decide to rent a room to a mortal in hopes of fixing our weary hotel. The only catch? Josie cant know they aren't human or that the hotel is magical. Of course shenanigans ensue! This book will give you the warm fuzzies with its sweet romance between Pax and Josie, as well as the found family vibes.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining book for sure, but I have a few quibbles with it. Mostly I think there was just a bit too much going on and too many little side things that had to get resolved. Also, the FMC is a bit... eh. I hate to say it because if she were a real person, she'd be lovely, but it's true. I don't feel like we really got to delve into her backstory/motivations and the same for the MMC because there was just so much going on.

That being said, I did enjoy this book. All of the side characters were extremely entertaining and the plot didn't drag. I just wanted a bit more of things.

I have a hard time setting on who I'd recommend this to. Romance readers would probably enjoy it, but they'd have to be ok with a bit of a confusing start because of the fantasy elements right out of the gate that aren't well-explained.

I did receive a copy of this book from NetGalley, however, it did not influence my review in any way.

[Jenna (readinginjennaland) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josie is struggling to find a new apartment near the university where she works. When she tours a surprisingly cheap and perfect option, she’s allowed to move in immediately. The apartment building chose her and her son.

The apartment is actually the Wayside Hotel number five, a magical entity that serves as a floating hotel for various magical creatures between magical realms. Now stuck on Earth, the eccentric inhabitants (including manager Pax) must find a way to recharge its magic and get back on the road. Watching the unique and often hilarious magical residents try to understand human life through library books was a treat!

This was a wonderfully inventive cozy fantasy. I loved the magical creativity and the colorful cast of characters. I was hooked after the opening line and stayed completely vested in the story.

[bookish_consent · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I absolutely adored this book cover, it’s so beautiful and cozy.
This book was like a warm hug and I had the best time reading this lovely fantasy.
The premise is very unique, I’ve never read a book before about a magical hotel that transports brings from other worlds.
I loved that even though you’re immersed in a magical fantastical setting you still get glimpses of reality and see topics like racism, classism, and politics discussed.
The characters were so well written, interesting, and relatable. You really felt like you got to know them and become attached to them early on.
I had such a great time reading this arc, thank you NetGalley!


This is a great fit for anyone who enjoys:
Cosy fantasy
Magic
Romance

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the free ARC!

This was an incredibly unique read. I haven't ever read a book before about a magical hotel that transports beings from other worlds/realities around the universes. It was really interesting, fun, and just very original to me.

The characters were so interesting, their lack of understanding of Earth and human's and their customs was really funny to read. And their insights into what they learned from the internet and observations were really on point and sad at the same time. Our planet is filled with violence and people that are far too attached to their devices. This story had some great reminders of living in the moment and not being completely glued to our screens all the time. The side characters really enhanced this story, and I would have loved even more time with them.

Josie was a really relatable character. In her feelings of not being good enough, but constantly trying to be the best person she can be for everyone around her and her child. Josie was dealt an incredibly tough hand, being a single mother just isn't easy, and not having full support from people in your life just makes it unnecessarily more difficult.

The romance in this book was so sweet and romantic. Pax is such a good being, and the way he cared for and constantly checked in with Josie through every encounter was so endearing. I think everyone could use a Pax in their lives.

The nods to reality, certain political figures, racism, and giant corporations were also incredibly spot on. I loved the nods to our reality and bringing awareness to certain things. This was a really fun read, it was light but also makes you think. I absolutely recommend this for a different than the norm type read!

*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

[Gali · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel" by Elizabeth Everett is a feel-good cozy fantasy revolving around a sentient hotel, an eclectic cast of magical creatures, and a sprinkle of magic. It’s a story about second chances, friendships, and finding a home in the most unexpected places.

Pax Nomen, an ex-soldier, is the manager of the Number Five Wayside Inn and World Travel Hub, the fifth and smallest of six world travel hubs that manage magical travel between worlds. When Number Five Wayside gets stranded on Earth, they need to “reboot” it to keep it going on its magical journey. The guests are non-human, so adding humans to the equation seems like the way to go. However, there’s an ongoing debate about whether to accept them as tenants or use them as a blood sacrifice.

Here enters Josie LaChusia, a single mother dealing with debt, parenting doubts, and nosy in-laws. When she sees an ad offering a flat at a low rate, it seems like it was sent from heaven. Pax needs a new guest to restart his hotel, and Josie needs a new place to restart her life — it seems like the perfect fit. Little did she know she’d be living alongside eccentric tenants, including faeries, gargoyles, a vampire, vegetarian zombies, a gnome with a bad attitude and plumbing problems, and other beings. The guests vow not to kill each other while inside the walls of the Wayside, but it seems trouble is just around the corner.

Shenanigans, romance, and humor make for an entertaining read. The eccentric characters were adorable — well, most of them were. Josie was too polite for her own good, had low self-esteem, and lacked a backbone. I liked the developments she went through, and the way she learned to answer back. Her taste in books may be questionable, but her instincts are good. She is a good mom despite fearing otherwise.

Pax is sweet and a gentleman, and I liked how the tough soldier was soft inside and respectful toward women. I also really appreciated that he told Josie she deserves a happy ending, as she didn’t believe she deserved one and had trust issues. I also liked that he read comic books and researched superheroes to better understand Amos, Josie’s four-year-old son.

The book explores themes of racism, friendship, found family, social commentary, stability and safety, trust, and the power of love. The slow-burn romance was sweet and touching. It was endearing to read how Pax was tongue-tied when talking to Josie. Building a snowman, having snowball fights, and planting a garden were cute moments. I also liked the way the hotel responded to the residents’ emotions.

I really enjoyed the interactions between the characters. Their wonder at Earth’s customs and attempts to understand them were entertaining. While I appreciated that the plot was set in our reality, I didn’t like the negative wink toward a certain political figure, which showed bias and kind of threw me out of the cozy atmosphere. I also found the pace a bit slow at times, and the open ending left me wanting more closure. These issues kept me from giving it five stars.

That said, I did enjoy the tale. What’s not to like?? It’s a whimsical, heartwarming story full of charm, humor, and a touch of wonder — and I recommend it to fans of cozy fantasy, magic, mischief, and feel-good tales.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2025...

[Hannah Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart warming, laugh out loud tale about a sentient hotel that serves as a waypoint for magical realms. But what happens when the magical hotel gets stuck in our not so magical modern day world? Books like this one are a real hit or miss for me. By that I mean a light fantasy novel that takes place in modern day or the “real world.” When I read fantasy I want to forget about the world I’m living in. This story however is one that hit for me. Yes there are a lot of modern references, but I actually didn’t mind it as much as I thought. Sometimes I did cringe at the references, but it did not deter from my enjoyment of the book. In fact, most of the time it made me laugh! Imagine trying to explain Spider-Man to a group of fantastical beings from another world. What a hoot! It was very entertaining reading about fantasy beings adapting to our modern day world. There is a very diverse cast of characters and great representation. I appreciated the commentary made on the hardships of single mothers and also racism. While this book is fun, it still takes on more difficult themes. It does it very gracefully. I really loved the side characters the most of all. The fairy cheerleaders were my favorite and an absolute riot. Such a fascinating and rich cast of characters. The one thing I wish that was expanded on more or explained better was the child’s illness. It’s mentioned a few times but is very vague and brief. I think the reader could benefit on a little more information regarding Amos and his illness.

*Mild spoiler!*
As this is an ARC I will not be providing direct quotes, because much can change between now and publication. However, there was one particular scene that made me uncomfortable. I believe this story is set in New York City but I’m not 100 percent clear on it. A woman yells something about a terrorist attack when an explosion happens in the city. It is followed by a mentioning of the explosion not being as “exciting” as a plane crash. The wording just felt a little odd to me and kind of insensitive. I don’t believe it was the author’s intention for it to sound that way. I think it needs to be reworded if it is kept in the story. Maybe I am being too sensitive, but it just left me unsettled.

Overall, this was such a good time. Very whimsical, witty, and funny. I really enjoyed it. I wouldn’t mind reading more from this world or about more adventures with the hotel!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

[Brittany Steminist Booknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start this by stating that I am not a fantasy or romantasy or paranormal reader. Generally speaking, I don't enjoy the world building and grandiosity of fantasy, and I tend to get bogged down in the details and in not being able to pronounce names and places and it's truly frustrating to me to read that genre. This book was not like that at all, and I think that allowed me to really enjoy it because I wasn't distracted by those things... maybe this will turn some hardcore romantasy readers away, but it was a huge plus for me.
It is set in a magical sentient hotel that is marooned on Earth in New York state (so many Bills references... E^2 definitely put a bit of herself in this!), and she (the hotel) is hellbent on matchmaking the FMC and MMC. The cast of characters is hilarious, and I can't tell you how many times I cracked up at their chaos and shenanigans (and what she decided to name some of these creatures). If you've read any of E^2's previous HR STEM books, you'll recognize that the humor and silliness from her MMCs translated well to the creatures that live in the hotel. This book (especially the beginning and the wide variety of creatures) really reminded me of Hotel Transylvania, which is one of my favorite animated movies: a human falls in love with a non-human at a hotel where humans aren't allowed.
I wanted a bit more after the conflict though: more of their romantic relationship and more insight into their future. I feel like it was left open just a little bit, and I really like my romances tied up tight with a pretty bow... although if this turns into a series and we get to see more of their future in other books, then I'll retract this statement (that is currently not known).
Just like all E^2 books, it is well written, it has a good plot, and it is lightly spicy. Although she switched subgenres from HR STEM to romantasy (?... I'm still not sure if that's the right definition for this book, but I don't know enough to classify it any other way), you can very clearly read her voice in this novel. she is consistent in her writing style and her stance on women's issues.
Thank you for the ARC, E^2!
4.5 stars!

[celestialpixels_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ A Hotel That Travels Worlds and Hearts 🏤

Elizabeth Everett’s "Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel" is a cozy, whimsical fantasy romance brimming with warmth, wonder, and just enough mischief to keep you smiling long after you close the book. It’s the kind of story that feels like stepping into a soft-lit inn on a rainy night full of odd guests, gentle magic, and unexpected hope.

Pax Nomen manages the Number Five Wayside Inn, a hotel that connects magical realms until it gets stranded in the most unmagical world of all - Earth. Desperate to reboot the hotel, Pax meets Josie LaChusia, a single mother trying to rebuild her life. Together, they must restore the inn’s lost magic while rediscovering what it means to belong to a place, to another person, and to oneself.

Everett balances whimsy with emotional sincerity. The fantastical tenants and glowing corridors add delightful color, but the story’s real heart lies in Pax and Josie’s quiet connection; two people learning to let go of fear and open themselves to possibility. Their relationship unfolds tenderly, full of humor, mutual care, and slow-burn intimacy.

With the cozy heart of "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" by Sangu Mandanna, the emotional depth of The "House in the Cerulean Sea" by TJ Klune, and a dash of "The Spellshop" by Sarah Beth Durst, this book captures that perfect balance of magic, melancholy, and renewal.

✨ "Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel" is a gentle reminder that home isn’t just a place - it’s the people (and in this case, the portals) who make us believe in wonder again.

🙏 Thank you to Elizabeth Everett, Berkley / Ace, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[M Soh]

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Ace for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel is a great pick for those who want fantasy that’s slightly closer to our world. When Number Five Wayside starts running out of fuel (the magic that keeps it moving across worlds), same as all the other World Travel Hubs, proprietor Pax finds himself dealing with a problem rivalling his past life on the battlefield. Enter Josie, a human Pax rents an apartment to in the hopes she’ll help reinvigorate the magic of the Wayside. Of course Josie and her son can’t know the nature of the hotel and its residents (which leads to a lot of funny scenarios), even as the plan seems to work resulting in a lot of quick explaining.

This charming story has some darker and emotional moments and Pax and Josie have a growing attraction and as the hotel reveals some of her secrets to Josie. A very cute story and one that has enough edge to appeal for the turn many fantasy tales take, all while appealing to those who want to dabble in the genre without needing to take quite such a leap into a world radically different from their own.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a book with a sentient building -- delightful, and I appreciate how that was so center to the storyline. I also really appreciated the slow unfolding of the romance, and how it hinged on both Pax and Josie doing some work to forgive themselves and allow themselves to feel like they deserve to be loved. That was really powerful. The hijinks of the other residents add a lot to the story, and I'm interested to see where it goes from here. I don't usually read romance that features a single mom who is so focused on her child, so that was interesting in it's own right. Amos is wonderful. I have no idea where this is going to go from here, but I'm intrigued.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this ARC from NetGalley.

I very much hope this was the start of a series. It’s a cute and fun story that mixes magic and fairy tales into our “real world” on Earth.

How do you heal a magical hotel that travels between worlds and universes taking magical beings where they need to go? That’s the task that Pax, the former soldier for the Light turned hotel manager, has to figure out. And he needs to do it quickly before the guests of the hotel create mischief or make themselves known. Pax decides to take on a new guest, posting an ad for an apartment, as a reboot for the building. Enter Josie and her 4-year-old son Amos.

What ensues is magic, a bit of mischief, and a heart-warming tale of what is most needed in ANY world.

[Bella Toric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an amazing romantasy book! I fell head over heels for how much fun this story was, the characters, & the world that Elizabeth throws the reader into!

It was cozy, cute, and had this perfect whimsical feel to it! Definitely a read by a cozy fire kind of book!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

[Sam Andriese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel was a cute story. Throughout the novel, a story of fear and anxiety turned into a story of love conquering all. The epilogue was a little underwhelming, but it did set the stage for another potential book to come. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very cute and clever and I’m glad I read it. Did it wow me? No, but I adore the author and will read everything she writes. Thanks to Ace for the ARC.

[CynnieRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am here for all of the interdimensional cozy magical inn stories. This was especially charming.