Have you ever wanted to experience magic? Have you ever wanted to get away from everyone and everything? Do you enjoy baked goods?
Then come and stay at the Between-Worlds B&B!
‘Utterly delightful … Everything I want in a cosy fantasy!’ A. T. Qureshi, author of The Baby Dragon Cafe
‘Endlessly charming and heartfelt, I wish I could read it for the first time again!’ Axie Oh, author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
Margo is bored. It’s the summer before she graduates and she has no idea where her life is going. When she gets locked out, and checks into a lovely B&B, Margo is greeted by surprisingly handsome receptionist, Finn. The rooms are cosy, there’s a grand library and a huge swimming pool, and the breakfast smells amazing.
But Margo soon suspects that it’s all too perfect, and that magic is in the air. She’s fairly sure that one of the other guests is a fairy princess, for one thing. Is this a B&B for magical beings? But Margo doesn’t have a magical bone in her body, so what is she doing there?
Thank you to the team at Harper Fire for approving me for this earc through NetGalley.
I had a really hard time getting into this book and I’m not 100% sure why. This is a very cute book and if you like cozy YA fantasy you should definitely try it out. I just think I’m a little bit too old to relate to the main character and then her way of doing things made me cringe a little bit too much.
Margo does struggle with anxiety and I loved to see that rep in books like this especially when teenagers that are coming of age might see themselves in her story. I just could not handle her instant-love with Finn or the way she meddled in everyone’s business at first.
The side characters were really nice but it feels like they could’ve been developed a little bit more just to get more feelings when the end came. But I still enjoyed them all.
I had the most fun reading from 75% and to the end, I feel like the story really started progressing more and I did really enjoy the ending.
Overall, cute book but it lacked in the story department for my liking and I was not a fan of the insta-love that happened over the course of like… 5 days?
I’m really sad to say this wasn’t the right fit for me, because The Between-Worlds B&B has such a fun, creative premise. A magical B&B acting as a gateway between worlds?? I was so ready to love this.
Unfortunately, I ended up DNF’ing fairly early on. The writing style and tone leaned much more YA than I’d expected, and I think that just made it harder for me to fully connect with the story and characters. Nothing was bad at all - it just didn’t quite click for me personally, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged.
That said, I can absolutely see this working really well for readers who enjoy lighter, more whimsical fantasy with a younger voice and cosy vibes. The concept is genuinely charming, and I did like the idea of the setting and the magical elements.
This just feels like a case of “right book, wrong reader.” Nevertheless, a big thank you to Amy Mae Baxter, Harper Fire, and NetGalley for the eARC 💛
I really love this cosy fantasy book! 💛 It reminds me of my own book, Magis Perpustakaan: Sarkas Merrily. I had so much fun reading it because the author made all the magic feel so real. I could imagine every magical scene in my mind.
Just imagine… you stay in a cheap hotel, but when you arrive, everything is much better than what you paid for. It feels like staying in a 5-star hotel! ⭐ That is what Margo is going through.
I recommend this book for teenagers who want to start reading fantasy. The language is easy to understand, the story is fast-paced, there is only a little romance, and the friendship is the best part.
I never felt bored while reading. Maybe it’s because fantasy is my favorite genre, but I also think the author did a great job. The story idea is so fun and magical. I really enjoyed it!
This was such a magical cosy fantasy exactly as it said, unfortunately I don’t think cosy fantasy’s are for me.
The first half of this book I was addicted, loved the whole story magical characters, moving doors/ walls everything was so intricate and filled my imagination to the brim.
Our FMC finishes work and gets locked out at home, she decides to rent a small room at a local b&b for the night until her mum gets home. Then she comes across a sign saying this way to a b&b, little does she know this is a magical b&b that also comes with a shock that magic does exist.
It had such a humerus element to it that had me hooked, unfortunately it didn’t capture my attention for the second half and felt a bit repetitive and not really going anywhere within the plot.
The characters from the b&b were so interesting, and I would recommend this to readers who love a cosy fantasy and an easy read.
This was cute. The premise of a magical B&B that appears to magical beings in need of guidance sitting between magical worlds and time was lovely. I liked the characters and their journey, but I did think the beginning was rather slow and it took me a while to get into the story. Once Margo figured out who she was and what she wanted, I really enjoyed the story, but the beginning was a bit too slow for my tastes. Would recommend to younger readers who just want a cozy read.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
A whimsical YA and coming of age novel. I really loved the characters (especially the guests at the B&B), the overall message was very sweet, but the romance element fell a little flat & was cringey at times. I almost feel it would’ve been better as a friendship. Overall, a fantastic debut from Amy Mae Baxter. I look forward to seeing what she writes next & how her writing develops over time ☺️
Not going to lie, I pre-ordered this purely because of the cover because LOOK AT IT.
The Between Worlds B&B was such a cute and cosy read, but I definitely think I’m just a bit too old for the target audience now. I knew going in that it was YA, but this felt very young YA - more aimed at teens or even pre-teens in my opinion.
Because of that, I struggled to really connect with the characters and their emotions, which made it harder for me to fully invest in the story. That being said, I can absolutely see younger me loving this book.
What I did really enjoy was the setting and the whole concept of the inn itself. The world felt warm, magical, and cosy, and honestly, I found that side of the story much more engaging than the characters themselves.
Overall, while this one didn’t fully work for me personally, I do think it completely succeeds at what it’s trying to do for its intended audience. Maybe this is just my sign that I’m firmly in my 30s now.
This was a really cute, cosy YA fantasy that I enjoyed overall even if it didn’t fully hit for me.
The strongest part by far was the setting. A magical bed & breakfast between worlds where guests stay until they’ve learned something important about themselves? Such a fun concept. The inn itself felt whimsical, comforting and full of charm and I honestly could’ve spent way longer exploring all the magical rooms, hidden corridors, and strange guests.
The story follows Margo, who stumbles into the inn at a point where she feels a bit lost in life and it becomes a coming-of-age story about figuring out who you are, where you belong, and what comes next. I really liked that focus on self discovery and found family more than the romance.
That said, this definitely read younger than I expected. I had a harder time connecting with Margo in the beginning, and some of her inner monologue felt repetitive enough that it pulled me out of the story a few times. The romance also didn’t fully work for me personally as it felt very instant and I wasn’t fully convinced by the chemistry.
The pacing took a while to settle, but once the story found its rhythm I enjoyed it much more, especially towards the end. The final stretch was definitely my favourite part and left me feeling much more positive overall.
I do think younger YA readers would absolutely adore this. Younger me probably would’ve loved it. For me it didn’t land perfectly but it was still a sweet, comforting read with a magical atmosphere I really enjoyed spending time in.
In this story we follow Margo, who accidentally ends up in a magical B&B. While trying to find her way out, will she discover her true self?
I was a bit unsure how this story was going to go from the premise, but this story was so fun and magical and I loved every second. The setting was whimsical and the characters were great to follow along. I loved the little friends’ group. The personal growth of Margo was also amazing to follow and I loved how it ended for everyone involved. This is exactly what I am looking for in a cozy fantasy.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
5 star world soooooo whimsical but unfortunately the fmc was like a 2 star character at best. Like when the magical inforcer comes to the inn after SHE presses the button after being told not to then they’re in the clear of her not finding out she’s human than Margo is like ..bUt I’m HuMaN🤪 I just wanted to jump in the book and smack her like why would u say that????? U were good?? But the whole book shes just so self centered and it was so hard to read I couldn’t. Also I feel like usually if I don’t like the main gal maybe I could f w the romance but it wasn’t a romantasy so it was just Margo’s journey n I didn’t like her much so that was hard for me. I’m glad they all left and moved on at the end but stayed in touch that was super cute and also I liked the side characters but idk the plot felt incomplete kinda. I don’t know what it was but maybe an epilogue to tie it together in the future like where is everyone? What happened to Mr. Wexley? What’s up w Lorelei her new friend and siren powers?? Finn in general bc they just end up going on a date basically. But yeah the inn and the cat (who I guess was the inn) was perfectly written.
This is such a cosy fantasy book and exactly what I needed to refresh! This cute little BnB has you following characters on their quests to find out something about themselves in which they never knew before while also making friendships they didn’t see coming. It did drag a little bit however still amazing and I read in 1 sitting
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperFire for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
DNF @ 21%
I was drawn by that absolute gorgeous cover that screamed a good cozy fantasy. Unfortunately I was just bored. I found no compelling characters in this. Finn has some potential but because the rest was so uncompelling, he fizzled out pretty quickly.
4.5 stars - this was the perfect escapist book to sink into when I needed comfort, literal cinnamon rolls and a B&B filled with magical characters including a blue cat with fins.
After being locked out by her Mom, Margo stumbles across a B&B and checks in for the night. Whilst getting breakfast she notices a ghosts and promptly faints. When she wakes she is told the B&B is magical and when checking in she signed the t&cs stating she must stay for a minimum of 5 nights before she can talk to the wizard about what she has learned from her time. Whilst at the B&B time doesn't move in the "human" world". During her stay she meets a ghost, a wizard, a fairy princess and a demon - why is Margo here, does she have magic of her own?
First off the cover is absolutely gorgeous!
This was a cute and short, cosy fantasy read. There is little romance and the story focuses on friendship and feeling lost in life. The B&B had a fun vibe with magical rooms and disappearing corridors.
I think I struggled to connect to the story due to the younger nature / themes of the story but I think it would make a great teen / pre-teen read. Younger me would have loved it but as a older YA reader it was a bit basic for me too rate any higher.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a chance to review a copy of the eBook.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I had a lot of fun and I’m rating it 4.0 stars.
This is a little different to my usual reads lately, but I really enjoyed it. This story brings magic and whimsy to the forefront as we follow Margo on a journey of discovery and friendship.
The world building inside this inn is FUN, it’s creative and you can feel how vibrant and exciting it must have been for our FMC as she experiences it all for the first time. The plot expands with figuring out why margo is at the B&B and why the other characters don’t seem to want to leave.
I really recommend this for a light fantasy read that’s creative and wholesome at its core.
The Between Worlds B&B was such a heartwarming read. The author completely immerses you in the story, creating a cast of characters that feel so real and making their individual growth throughout the book incredibly rewarding to follow.
It was an easy, comforting read and a refreshing break from high-action plots and intense romance. Even though the story has a slower, gentler pace, it never felt boring. It keeps moving just enough to stay engaging, and I found myself unable to put it down.
I’ll admit I was a little worried because I had been waiting so long for this book to come out and was scared my expectations might be too high—but it absolutely did not disappoint. It was everything I hoped for and more.
The story follows Margo as she decides to not go to her aunties when her mum is working late but instead stumbles upon a magical B&B 🥹
The Inn helps her not only discover if she has any and if so what type of magic she may have but also helps to discover herself in ways that she will only understand after her stay
The concept of a B&B in between worlds was truly so interesting and whimsical and I loved how much of a sentient being the Inn was (it definitely had its character!)
Mr Wesley was the most adorable character (and Frank) and I nearly cried reading his letter!
This book was so cute! It’s like a coming of age story set at a magical B&B. I love how it is initially set in London as well, seemed refreshing after reading a lot of American media. Margo and her new friends are absolutely brilliant and I really hope we get a sequel where we get to see more of them!
I’m not the target market for this and read it only because I wanted to see if it was suitable for a 14 year old - it is! I found the story sweet but lacking depth.
Overall an enjoyable story. Would have liked a bit more background about the B&B and the other characters. Took a while for the main character to get past her initial reactions, which became a bit annoying. The author could've moved things on a bit quicker on that regard.
The scenery was absolutely stunning, and I loved how whimsical everything felt. However the romance just wasn't giving. It felt forced but sometimes it's cute thoo LAHHH MANA SATU KAU NAK KATA🌝🙈