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The Faraway Inn
Get cosy at The Faraway Inn, the YA fantasy from bestselling author of The Spellshop, Sarah Beth Durst.
When sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives at her great-aunt’s bed and breakfast for the summer, she’s shocked to find it run down rather than cosy. Grumpy and eccentric, Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn . . . even though she clearly needs the help.
To convince her great-aunt to keep her around, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundkeeper’s (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the surer she is that there’s something strange about the B&B – and its residents. Something almost . . . otherworldly.
The inn is hiding a magical secret – but secrets are like doors. Once Calisa opens this one, she won’t be able to go back . . .
'Filled with magical mysteries, whimsical surprises, and a dash of sweet romance, The Faraway Inn is the perfect cozy read' – Axie Oh, author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
When sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives at her great-aunt’s bed and breakfast for the summer, she’s shocked to find it run down rather than cosy. Grumpy and eccentric, Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn . . . even though she clearly needs the help.
To convince her great-aunt to keep her around, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundkeeper’s (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the surer she is that there’s something strange about the B&B – and its residents. Something almost . . . otherworldly.
The inn is hiding a magical secret – but secrets are like doors. Once Calisa opens this one, she won’t be able to go back . . .
'Filled with magical mysteries, whimsical surprises, and a dash of sweet romance, The Faraway Inn is the perfect cozy read' – Axie Oh, author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 31, 2026
About the author
Sarah Beth Durst
43 books8,147 followersSarah Beth Durst is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty-five books for adults, teens, and kids, including cozy fantasy The Spellshop. She's been awarded an American Library Association Alex Award, as well as a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. Several of her books have been optioned for film/television, including Drink Slay Love, which was made into a TV movie and was a question on Jeopardy! She lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. Visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.
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April 17, 2026
So far, I’ve read every single book this brilliant author has released, and once again, she’s swept me off my feet. I’m sticking with my decision to crown her latest masterpiece with another magical, enchanting five stars. This novel transported me through shimmering portals into magnificent worlds, bursting with incredible creatures and dreamlike universes described in such vivid, lyrical detail that I felt like I was walking through them myself. At the heart of this adventure are two utterly adorable main characters: Calisa, a good-hearted, selfless, curious, and wonderfully adaptable young heroine; and Jack, a sweet, caring, and capable boy whose kindness and knack for fixing anything make him the perfect companion. Together, they stumble upon the strangest bed-and-breakfast inn imaginable, a place brimming with eccentric guests who come seeking healing, seclusion, and the safety of secrets.
The story opens in Brooklyn, where sixteen-year-old Calisa believes her whole future is planned around her boyfriend Ethan—until she catches him cheating and promptly dumps him. Heartbroken but determined to heal, she follows her two moms’ advice and heads to rural Vermont to spend the summer with her great-aunt Zee. Calisa hasn’t seen Zee or her beloved inn since childhood, but instead of warm memories, she finds a dilapidated shell of the place she once adored. Worse, her aunt greets her with hostility, telling her to return to the city, insisting she’s not a good fit for the inn or its secretive guests. Zee lays down strict rules: don’t pry into anyone’s life, don’t ask questions, and absolutely don’t open any closed doors. Yet curiosity—and a certain handsome boy—make following those rules impossible.
Enter Jack, the groundskeeper’s charming son, whose easy smile and hidden worries make him instantly captivating. Jack encourages Calisa to stay, even when Zee’s frosty demeanor suggests otherwise. As Calisa helps with chores—scrubbing dusty floors, rescuing gardens from invading weeds, baking cakes to serve with tea—she begins to uncover the inn’s mysteries. Its guests are unlike anyone she’s ever met: Mulligan, a night-dwelling gentleman who speaks like he’s stepped out of a Shakespearean tragedy (and may or may not be a vampire); Melidor, a green-haired girl with the unnerving ability to communicate with beavers and unleash ear-splitting screams; and Kendra, a commanding yet elegant woman who seems deeply tied to the sea. Each guest’s room, Calisa discovers, is more than it seems—each door opens to another world, a shimmering threshold between reality and dream.
As she digs deeper, Calisa realizes the inn is more magical—and more endangered—than she ever imagined. The thin veil between universes is fraying, her aunt is hiding family secrets about their ancestors, and the inn itself is on the brink of ruin. Determined to restore the inn to its former glory, Calisa throws herself into the project, even as Zee prepares to give up. Jack, of course, stands loyally by her side, and their friendship—perhaps even something more—blooms amid crumbling walls and enchanted doors.
Overall: I adored every page of this story. The tone is sweet yet mysterious, tinged with fairy-tale wonder, and the setting feels like a character in its own right. The cast is marvelously drawn—eccentric, layered, and endlessly fascinating. This is a book that made me smile, ache, and dream all at once. I highly recommend it to fantasy lovers craving a story filled with magic, heart, and discovery. I cannot wait to dive into Sarah Beth Durst’s next creation and see what wonders she shares with us next.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books / Delacorte Press for providing this enchanting fantasy’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The story opens in Brooklyn, where sixteen-year-old Calisa believes her whole future is planned around her boyfriend Ethan—until she catches him cheating and promptly dumps him. Heartbroken but determined to heal, she follows her two moms’ advice and heads to rural Vermont to spend the summer with her great-aunt Zee. Calisa hasn’t seen Zee or her beloved inn since childhood, but instead of warm memories, she finds a dilapidated shell of the place she once adored. Worse, her aunt greets her with hostility, telling her to return to the city, insisting she’s not a good fit for the inn or its secretive guests. Zee lays down strict rules: don’t pry into anyone’s life, don’t ask questions, and absolutely don’t open any closed doors. Yet curiosity—and a certain handsome boy—make following those rules impossible.
Enter Jack, the groundskeeper’s charming son, whose easy smile and hidden worries make him instantly captivating. Jack encourages Calisa to stay, even when Zee’s frosty demeanor suggests otherwise. As Calisa helps with chores—scrubbing dusty floors, rescuing gardens from invading weeds, baking cakes to serve with tea—she begins to uncover the inn’s mysteries. Its guests are unlike anyone she’s ever met: Mulligan, a night-dwelling gentleman who speaks like he’s stepped out of a Shakespearean tragedy (and may or may not be a vampire); Melidor, a green-haired girl with the unnerving ability to communicate with beavers and unleash ear-splitting screams; and Kendra, a commanding yet elegant woman who seems deeply tied to the sea. Each guest’s room, Calisa discovers, is more than it seems—each door opens to another world, a shimmering threshold between reality and dream.
As she digs deeper, Calisa realizes the inn is more magical—and more endangered—than she ever imagined. The thin veil between universes is fraying, her aunt is hiding family secrets about their ancestors, and the inn itself is on the brink of ruin. Determined to restore the inn to its former glory, Calisa throws herself into the project, even as Zee prepares to give up. Jack, of course, stands loyally by her side, and their friendship—perhaps even something more—blooms amid crumbling walls and enchanted doors.
Overall: I adored every page of this story. The tone is sweet yet mysterious, tinged with fairy-tale wonder, and the setting feels like a character in its own right. The cast is marvelously drawn—eccentric, layered, and endlessly fascinating. This is a book that made me smile, ache, and dream all at once. I highly recommend it to fantasy lovers craving a story filled with magic, heart, and discovery. I cannot wait to dive into Sarah Beth Durst’s next creation and see what wonders she shares with us next.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books / Delacorte Press for providing this enchanting fantasy’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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April 16, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives in Vermont at her great-aunt’s B&B, hoping for a change of scenery and to stay away from her cheating ex-boyfriend. But what she wasn’t expecting was to find the inn rundown and falling apart, and to make matters worse, Auntie Zee doesn’t want her there. But Calisa doesn’t give up that easily, so she tries to convince Auntie Zee to keep her for the summer by fixing the inn, with the help of the groundskeeper’s handsome son, Jack. But the more time she spends at the inn, the more she realizes that there is something different about the place and the guests. It’s almost as if everything is magical, and to protect the place she’s grown to love, Calisa must find out the truth of the magic, with or without her great-aunt’s help.
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: lettres d’amour by Helder Boutens
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ This reminded me of the magical aspect of Beauty and the Beast, and I am all here for it. At first, I was a little wary when I started this book because I’m not the biggest fan of reading fantasy. I can watch it–some of my favorite movies are fantasy–but reading it, I had a hard time with. Not only that, I’ve been struggling with reading lately because my mental health still isn’t 100% yet, but I am so happy that I was able to finish this book because I loved it.
I was literally so excited when Calisa started to realize that Faraway Inn was a magical place because that’s what I was here for: magic. I wanted to read a book that would be Anne Shirley approved, and I got it. I don’t want to go into too much detail about the mysteries Faraway Inn was harboring, but let’s just say that Steve the lizard is not a lizard and Auntie Zee is more than just an innkeeper. Ugh, it was just so freaking good!
I loved how reasonable Calisa was, and that right there deserves a whole star. I am so tired of main characters being selfish people with no common sense or emotional IQ, so this was a breath of fresh air. She was super understanding yet didn’t take anyone’s BS, she communicated with others to the best of her ability, and tried to look at all aspects of a situation or circumstance, without jumping to conclusions and causing conflict that didn’t need to be there. I was literally over the moon about this while I was reading because I am not in the mood to deal with stupidity right now. I’m not. 😅
And all the other characters were amazing as well. Jack (lol, I had to check if I got his name right because I forgot 😂) was really sweet and super helpful when he chose to be (😏), and I rooted for the little romance between him and Calisa. Auntie Zee took some getting used to, but I understand her sentiments and feelings. Calisa’s moms were super supportive and genuinely cared for their daughter, which was so nice to read. The guests at the inn were also great, and I loved it every time they appeared in a scene. And Steve, the maybe-maybe-not lizard, was the absolute best. ☺
All in all, this was such a fun and enchanting read, and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a sweet, cozy fantasy story that will make you smile and wish you were a magical creature from another world. ✨
✶ Thank you to Random House Children’s Books | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ✶
❗Content Warnings❗
Missing parent.
Swearing: Some.
Spice: No–only kissing. (🌶/5)
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives in Vermont at her great-aunt’s B&B, hoping for a change of scenery and to stay away from her cheating ex-boyfriend. But what she wasn’t expecting was to find the inn rundown and falling apart, and to make matters worse, Auntie Zee doesn’t want her there. But Calisa doesn’t give up that easily, so she tries to convince Auntie Zee to keep her for the summer by fixing the inn, with the help of the groundskeeper’s handsome son, Jack. But the more time she spends at the inn, the more she realizes that there is something different about the place and the guests. It’s almost as if everything is magical, and to protect the place she’s grown to love, Calisa must find out the truth of the magic, with or without her great-aunt’s help.
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: lettres d’amour by Helder Boutens
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ This reminded me of the magical aspect of Beauty and the Beast, and I am all here for it. At first, I was a little wary when I started this book because I’m not the biggest fan of reading fantasy. I can watch it–some of my favorite movies are fantasy–but reading it, I had a hard time with. Not only that, I’ve been struggling with reading lately because my mental health still isn’t 100% yet, but I am so happy that I was able to finish this book because I loved it.
I was literally so excited when Calisa started to realize that Faraway Inn was a magical place because that’s what I was here for: magic. I wanted to read a book that would be Anne Shirley approved, and I got it. I don’t want to go into too much detail about the mysteries Faraway Inn was harboring, but let’s just say that Steve the lizard is not a lizard and Auntie Zee is more than just an innkeeper. Ugh, it was just so freaking good!
I loved how reasonable Calisa was, and that right there deserves a whole star. I am so tired of main characters being selfish people with no common sense or emotional IQ, so this was a breath of fresh air. She was super understanding yet didn’t take anyone’s BS, she communicated with others to the best of her ability, and tried to look at all aspects of a situation or circumstance, without jumping to conclusions and causing conflict that didn’t need to be there. I was literally over the moon about this while I was reading because I am not in the mood to deal with stupidity right now. I’m not. 😅
And all the other characters were amazing as well. Jack (lol, I had to check if I got his name right because I forgot 😂) was really sweet and super helpful when he chose to be (😏), and I rooted for the little romance between him and Calisa. Auntie Zee took some getting used to, but I understand her sentiments and feelings. Calisa’s moms were super supportive and genuinely cared for their daughter, which was so nice to read. The guests at the inn were also great, and I loved it every time they appeared in a scene. And Steve, the maybe-maybe-not lizard, was the absolute best. ☺
All in all, this was such a fun and enchanting read, and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a sweet, cozy fantasy story that will make you smile and wish you were a magical creature from another world. ✨
✶ Thank you to Random House Children’s Books | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ✶
❗Content Warnings❗
Missing parent.
Swearing: Some.
Spice: No–only kissing. (🌶/5)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sarah Beth Durst really is in her cozy fantasy era and I can only approve of that. This year she even provides cozy goodness for multiple audiences by publishing two books - another Spellshop companion novel and this young adult standalone. As the title suggests this book is all about a magical inn, but the main character Calisa has to be introduced to its otherworldly qualities at first. After a dramatic break-up she travels from Brooklyn to Vermont to stay with her estranged aunt for the summer. Her plan is to busy herself with working around the inn to keep her thoughts as far away from her heartbreak as possible. But upon arrival the inn is less charming than she remembered, not to say shabby, with only a few quests who barely make an appearance and her aunt is also not exactly welcoming. But the groundkeeper's son Jack is nice enough and Calisa is determined to stay and so she just starts cleaning and baking and talking to the guests. She only slowly realizes strange things, like the tea making itself or guests coming out of the broom closet or a huge lizard that's totally not a dragon. I personally think that the introduction to the magic takes a bit too long. It really only starts a third of the way through and while I really enjoyed the inn as a magical place, it is only fully utilized late in the book. That's also why I prefer both The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse to this new cozy novel by the same author. They both take place in a fantastical world and while the characters still have to learn about magic, they are not oblivious to it like Calisa is. It still was a cute and lighthearted read. Nothing outstanding to me, but a nice palate cleanser with charming characters and cozy magic. I especially liked that the inn was a calm place of recovery for people who just need a break. Sure, the characters stayed kind of shallow under their quirky surface, and I really don't understand why there had to be a romance when Calisa literally just had the worst breakup ever apparently, but I had a very pleasant time with this book anyway. I would totally read more stories about the inn, because there are basically endless possibilities and now that Calisa is familiar with everything, another book would have the potential to be truly great. I will keep my eyes and ears open for some news about that.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2026
4.6 stars!!
This book was such sweet and cozy fantasy about friendship, family, love, second chances, and discovering your purpose in life. The Faraway Inn follows 16 year old Calisa comes to Vermont to help her great Aunt at her Bed and Breakfast, but discovers that the B&B is run down. Auntie Zee won't accept help from Calisa, but Calisa is determined to fix the inn and has the groundskeeper son, Jack assist her. Calisa realizes that there is something magical about the inn and stops at nothing to find out what it is.
Thoughts
I was completely swept away by this cozy fantasy from the very first page. I appreciated that this book focused on family and building a home instead of battles. I loved the inclusion of fantasy creatures including dragons, firebirds, witches, fae, plant people, a sea witch and more. This book felt like reading a book by a warm fire. This book was so wholesome, I couldn't stop smiling. The writing was witty and descriptive. The descriptions of the food made me hungry. The plot was intriguing and kept me engaged. I loved the splash of magic throughout the book which was the perfect amount for this cozy fantasy. The ending was so heartwarming and beautiful. I'm so happy the conflict was resolved and it ended on a happy note.
Characters
I loved Calisa, she was hardworking, brave, resilient, helpful, caring and determined. I'm glad that Calisa spoke her mind when she didn't agree with something. I was inspired by her bravery and determination, she didn't give up on the inn or her friends. Calisa's character development was excellent, she found purpose in life and opened herself up to other people she cared about. I adored Jack, he was charming, sweet, helpful, hardworking and brave. I loved that over time he opened up to Calisa about himself and was honest with her. Jack was such a cinnamon roll with a heart of gold. The side characters were also great especially Steve (mini dragon), Mulligan, Melidor and Calisa's moms. I didn't like Aunt Zee at first but other time she grew on me and showed a kinder side of herself. I loved the interactions between Calisa and Steve and Mulligan.
Romance
The romance between Calisa and Jack was perfection. I loved that the romance was slow-burn, it took a while for their feelings to develop. The romance was also realistic and relatable. I could feel the deep connection between the characters. I loved that Calisa and Jack listened to each other and understood each other. They let each others personality shine without trying to change one another. The romantic scenes made me giggle and smile. Calisa and Jack deserve each other.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy fantasy, awesome characters and a sweet romance.
This book was such sweet and cozy fantasy about friendship, family, love, second chances, and discovering your purpose in life. The Faraway Inn follows 16 year old Calisa comes to Vermont to help her great Aunt at her Bed and Breakfast, but discovers that the B&B is run down. Auntie Zee won't accept help from Calisa, but Calisa is determined to fix the inn and has the groundskeeper son, Jack assist her. Calisa realizes that there is something magical about the inn and stops at nothing to find out what it is.
Thoughts
I was completely swept away by this cozy fantasy from the very first page. I appreciated that this book focused on family and building a home instead of battles. I loved the inclusion of fantasy creatures including dragons, firebirds, witches, fae, plant people, a sea witch and more. This book felt like reading a book by a warm fire. This book was so wholesome, I couldn't stop smiling. The writing was witty and descriptive. The descriptions of the food made me hungry. The plot was intriguing and kept me engaged. I loved the splash of magic throughout the book which was the perfect amount for this cozy fantasy. The ending was so heartwarming and beautiful. I'm so happy the conflict was resolved and it ended on a happy note.
Characters
I loved Calisa, she was hardworking, brave, resilient, helpful, caring and determined. I'm glad that Calisa spoke her mind when she didn't agree with something. I was inspired by her bravery and determination, she didn't give up on the inn or her friends. Calisa's character development was excellent, she found purpose in life and opened herself up to other people she cared about. I adored Jack, he was charming, sweet, helpful, hardworking and brave. I loved that over time he opened up to Calisa about himself and was honest with her. Jack was such a cinnamon roll with a heart of gold. The side characters were also great especially Steve (mini dragon), Mulligan, Melidor and Calisa's moms. I didn't like Aunt Zee at first but other time she grew on me and showed a kinder side of herself. I loved the interactions between Calisa and Steve and Mulligan.
Romance
The romance between Calisa and Jack was perfection. I loved that the romance was slow-burn, it took a while for their feelings to develop. The romance was also realistic and relatable. I could feel the deep connection between the characters. I loved that Calisa and Jack listened to each other and understood each other. They let each others personality shine without trying to change one another. The romantic scenes made me giggle and smile. Calisa and Jack deserve each other.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy fantasy, awesome characters and a sweet romance.
April 6, 2026
4.25 ★— I think every person that gets cheated on should get to spend a summer in a magical inn surrounded by mythical creatures, while making cakes.
So... this was cute, which is absolutely no surprise to me! Durst managed to enchant me with the coziness of this book just as much as she has with her Spellshop series, only this time through a YA story featuring a teenage heroine, Calisa, who’s lived her life growing up in a non-magical world.
Looking to heal her broken heart, she goes to Vermont to her aunt’s inn that… surprise, surprise, isn’t just a normal inn as is slowly revealed.
This story features a lot of Durst’s staples: interesting and quirky plants, magical animals, otherworldly beings and a very kind male love interest that helps the heroine in her efforts at the inn.
A major part of the story is the aforementioned ex-boyfriend’s infidelity that Calisa is reeling from in the beginning, which I found was thoughtfully explored as Calisa processes the feelings of her breakup and works through those emotions that come with it. I came away really liking the portrayal of teenage heartbreak and the confusion that is common at her age!
The book's other major character, Auntie Zee, was delightfully grumpy! I liked that she actually was someone that didn’t immediately warm to Calisa and that it truly felt like Calisa had to earn her aunt’s trust and respect, and the book did a good job weaving that in with a lot of the familial issues that are present in the story.
Overall, The Faraway Inn was filled with the cozy goodness you'd expect, while still having aspects of a fun mystery, a lot of really cool and different fantastical moments and some well-explored emotional healing that made this all a great read!
__________
Thank you to Delacorte Press for the ARC.
So... this was cute, which is absolutely no surprise to me! Durst managed to enchant me with the coziness of this book just as much as she has with her Spellshop series, only this time through a YA story featuring a teenage heroine, Calisa, who’s lived her life growing up in a non-magical world.
Looking to heal her broken heart, she goes to Vermont to her aunt’s inn that… surprise, surprise, isn’t just a normal inn as is slowly revealed.
This story features a lot of Durst’s staples: interesting and quirky plants, magical animals, otherworldly beings and a very kind male love interest that helps the heroine in her efforts at the inn.
A major part of the story is the aforementioned ex-boyfriend’s infidelity that Calisa is reeling from in the beginning, which I found was thoughtfully explored as Calisa processes the feelings of her breakup and works through those emotions that come with it. I came away really liking the portrayal of teenage heartbreak and the confusion that is common at her age!
The book's other major character, Auntie Zee, was delightfully grumpy! I liked that she actually was someone that didn’t immediately warm to Calisa and that it truly felt like Calisa had to earn her aunt’s trust and respect, and the book did a good job weaving that in with a lot of the familial issues that are present in the story.
Overall, The Faraway Inn was filled with the cozy goodness you'd expect, while still having aspects of a fun mystery, a lot of really cool and different fantastical moments and some well-explored emotional healing that made this all a great read!
__________
Thank you to Delacorte Press for the ARC.
April 16, 2026
For everyone who needs an escape,
a refuge,
a moment to breathe
😌 💖 ✨
This was exactly the heartwarming fantasy novel I needed 🥰 Sarah Durst does cosy fantasy like no other, combining mystery and romance with her gentle whimsical style of writing.
The Faraway Inn sees sixteen-year-old Calisa arriving in Vermont to help her cantankerous Great-aunt at her bed-and-breakfast for the summer. She soon finds it shockingly run down and her eccentric Auntie Zee refuses to take any help. Calisa is determined to fix up the inn and convince her aunt to keep her around for the summer, but the longer she stays, the more curious she becomes…there is something unusual about this B&B…something mysteriously mystical ✨ There is a secret and Calisa won’t stop until she finds out what is behind the closed doors…
I was utterly charmed by this uber cosy fantasy. Sarah captured by attention from page one with her smooth, flowing narrative that was clear and easy to follow. Fantasy novels can often employ heavy world-building but Sarah keeps us rooted in the modern world, allowing her to explore other themes whilst still giving the book a mystical charm. I particularly enjoyed the mystery element to the plot; prior to reading, I hadn’t expected there to be such an in-depth puzzle to be solved. It held my full attention and made it almost impossible to put down. Furthermore, I loved the wholesome family focus. It brought a real sense of grounding to the story.
As for the fantasy side of things, I absolutely loved how Sarah blended the mystical with real world. I hadn’t expected there a permanent smile on my face whilst reading of the array of imaginative creatures including flying lizards, plant people, dragons, firebirds, a sea witch, and more! They were all such unique characters that held strong personalities. The vivid descriptions along side the witty vocabulary was perfect.
Sarah Durst has a great skill at writing memorable characters and that was clearly demonstrated throughout this novel. Our MFC, Calisa, is a hardworking, courageous, caring, and determined young woman. Her motivation and determination to help safe the inn was very admirable and she would stop at nothing. I also appreciated her characters development over the course of the story. In the beginning, she was looking to move on from her ex, but she grew into a new, confident person who had found a purpose and cared deeply for the people (and creatures) around her.
Meanwhile, Jack is a total golden retriever of a boy. I loved his sweet, caring soul and the vulnerability he showed was so genuine and heartfelt. But I also admired him for his incredible work ethic and bravery. There isn’t a bad bone in this guy’s body.
There were also some very strong side characters/creatures including Calisa’s mums, Mulligan, Melidor, Steve, and of course, Auntie Zee. Zee was a tough cookie to crack but she definitely grew on me overtime as her kinder, less guarded side came out. The interactions and sense of found family between them ALL was so heartfelt and uplifting 😌💖
Aside from the major plot, there was definitely romance in the air between Calisa and Jack. This book is actually targeted at YA which was a pleasant change. Their romance was so sweet and youthful. And although Calisa most definitely had feelings for him from the start, it was definitely a slow-burning romance. Personally, I felt this was more genuine and realistic given both their age and the circumstances. It was an understated but meaningful relationship in which they allowed each other to shine.
Overall, this book was a magical feast for the senses. It was everything I wanted and more - cosy, gentle, and mysterious story, unique and memorable characters, and a sweet, loving romance 💕
💖 Finally, I would like to conclude by sharing something special that the author, Sarah Durst, shared with us: ‘Everyone should have a great-aunt with a magical inn. Also, a pet dragon. And enchanted tea. That's why I wrote this book: I believe that everyone deserves a magical escape…Escape is a beautiful and essential tool that enables us to cope with the world more effectively. It's a deep breath before the plunge. It isn't a display of weakness; it's a gathering of strength. It's taking a moment to remind yourself that there's good in the world-that there's wonder and magic and friendship and love and kindness and cake. Please know that there is good out there—and also cake. Please know that there is light after the darkness, and there will always be another door to open.’ 💖
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
a refuge,
a moment to breathe
😌 💖 ✨
This was exactly the heartwarming fantasy novel I needed 🥰 Sarah Durst does cosy fantasy like no other, combining mystery and romance with her gentle whimsical style of writing.
The Faraway Inn sees sixteen-year-old Calisa arriving in Vermont to help her cantankerous Great-aunt at her bed-and-breakfast for the summer. She soon finds it shockingly run down and her eccentric Auntie Zee refuses to take any help. Calisa is determined to fix up the inn and convince her aunt to keep her around for the summer, but the longer she stays, the more curious she becomes…there is something unusual about this B&B…something mysteriously mystical ✨ There is a secret and Calisa won’t stop until she finds out what is behind the closed doors…
I was utterly charmed by this uber cosy fantasy. Sarah captured by attention from page one with her smooth, flowing narrative that was clear and easy to follow. Fantasy novels can often employ heavy world-building but Sarah keeps us rooted in the modern world, allowing her to explore other themes whilst still giving the book a mystical charm. I particularly enjoyed the mystery element to the plot; prior to reading, I hadn’t expected there to be such an in-depth puzzle to be solved. It held my full attention and made it almost impossible to put down. Furthermore, I loved the wholesome family focus. It brought a real sense of grounding to the story.
As for the fantasy side of things, I absolutely loved how Sarah blended the mystical with real world. I hadn’t expected there a permanent smile on my face whilst reading of the array of imaginative creatures including flying lizards, plant people, dragons, firebirds, a sea witch, and more! They were all such unique characters that held strong personalities. The vivid descriptions along side the witty vocabulary was perfect.
Sarah Durst has a great skill at writing memorable characters and that was clearly demonstrated throughout this novel. Our MFC, Calisa, is a hardworking, courageous, caring, and determined young woman. Her motivation and determination to help safe the inn was very admirable and she would stop at nothing. I also appreciated her characters development over the course of the story. In the beginning, she was looking to move on from her ex, but she grew into a new, confident person who had found a purpose and cared deeply for the people (and creatures) around her.
Meanwhile, Jack is a total golden retriever of a boy. I loved his sweet, caring soul and the vulnerability he showed was so genuine and heartfelt. But I also admired him for his incredible work ethic and bravery. There isn’t a bad bone in this guy’s body.
There were also some very strong side characters/creatures including Calisa’s mums, Mulligan, Melidor, Steve, and of course, Auntie Zee. Zee was a tough cookie to crack but she definitely grew on me overtime as her kinder, less guarded side came out. The interactions and sense of found family between them ALL was so heartfelt and uplifting 😌💖
Aside from the major plot, there was definitely romance in the air between Calisa and Jack. This book is actually targeted at YA which was a pleasant change. Their romance was so sweet and youthful. And although Calisa most definitely had feelings for him from the start, it was definitely a slow-burning romance. Personally, I felt this was more genuine and realistic given both their age and the circumstances. It was an understated but meaningful relationship in which they allowed each other to shine.
Overall, this book was a magical feast for the senses. It was everything I wanted and more - cosy, gentle, and mysterious story, unique and memorable characters, and a sweet, loving romance 💕
💖 Finally, I would like to conclude by sharing something special that the author, Sarah Durst, shared with us: ‘Everyone should have a great-aunt with a magical inn. Also, a pet dragon. And enchanted tea. That's why I wrote this book: I believe that everyone deserves a magical escape…Escape is a beautiful and essential tool that enables us to cope with the world more effectively. It's a deep breath before the plunge. It isn't a display of weakness; it's a gathering of strength. It's taking a moment to remind yourself that there's good in the world-that there's wonder and magic and friendship and love and kindness and cake. Please know that there is good out there—and also cake. Please know that there is light after the darkness, and there will always be another door to open.’ 💖
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
March 26, 2026
initially I was like damn this girl is really taking all these new magical elements of her life in stride for a 16 year old and then I remembered she’s an nyc kid raised by two moms so she’s actually a well adjusted 25 year old in a 16 year old’s body so ofc she doesn’t react to her lizard being a dragon when she’s survived subway rats popping out of nowhere.
this book is genius and I would go to war for this inn
this book is genius and I would go to war for this inn
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
My favorite go-to cozy fantasy author. Her stories are so whimsy and sprinkled with smiles and joy, how can you say no to a feel good story? Sarah Beth Durst is truly the queen of comfort, soft hugs and a coziness that you can't say no to. Honestly, her books are for all ages & it's the peace I come to when I need a soft and soothing read!
(This is a YA fantasy story that focuses on healing from a breakup)
Full RTF!!
Many thanks to the publisher, Delacorte Press and the author, Sarah Beth Durst for sending an early copy!
Publication date: March 31, 2026
(This is a YA fantasy story that focuses on healing from a breakup)
Full RTF!!
Many thanks to the publisher, Delacorte Press and the author, Sarah Beth Durst for sending an early copy!
Publication date: March 31, 2026
January 22, 2026
༄˖°..ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°..ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°..ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°..ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°
Edit: The realese date changed
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Buddy read with my sweet friend Mildly Mad Hatter
The cover is so beautiful, I love it! I want to stay at 'The Faraway Inn' even though it's in the middle of nowhere and is kinda falling apart, lol. This is a great summer read (Even though I read it in the fall) I liked the writing style snd the characters were pretty good as well.
Calisa and Jack were so awkward around each other and had a few slightly cringe-worthy moments, but other than that I liked them both. The humor in this book was great! in my opinion anyway, I was laughing every few pages. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future. You should consider reading this when it comes out March of 2026.
I loved how quirky all the guests were. I also really liked the magic system. When I was reading this with Mildly Mad Hatter we were just messaging back and forth about everything and it was so fun! I love buddy reading with her, she's the sweetest!
TL;DR this has a great magic system and tons of humor it's really a great summer read.
The characters
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Calisa ~ she did annoy me at times with how she refused to follow the simple rules given to her, but other than that I did really like her.
Jack ~ I really liked him he was so awkward and funny, but at the same time he was really sweet and protective towards Calisa.
Auntie Zee ~ she was grump. But she did eventually warm up to Calisa and become slightly less grumpy.
Mulligan ~ He was hilarious! I loved how he took simple normal things and made them sound so magical. But i didn't like his relationship with Zef.
Kendra ~ she was kinda stuck up and posh so I didn't like her as much as the other characters.
Melidor ~ I loved seeing how she grew and decided what she wanted to do with her life.
What to expect
🪻Cozy Fantasy x contemporary
🪻 Magical Portals
🪻 Summer vibes
🪻 Friends to lovers
🪻 A hilarious magic mirror
🪻 Awkward Cinnamon Roll MMC
Quotes
~~~~~~~
(All quotes may be subject to change because this is an arc)
☕ She glanced at him, and he was smiling at her, his warm brown eyes like a mug of hot chocolate.
💖 "Is it helping?" Melidor asked. Given that she hadn't so much as thought the name Ethan in days... He didn't fit into a place with portals and cake and magic and a friendly winged lizard and an infuriatingly hot groundskeeper who may or may not have the answer to every question she wanted to ask. "Definitely yes."
🍰"Can we stop talking about murder and talk about cake instead?"
Content
~~~~~~~
❤️🔥Romance| several semi detailed kisses, Calisa wonders if Jack would be "a gentle kisser or one of those kissers who want to swallow you whole" and she can't decide which one she wants him to be,
🤬Language| Hell, -sshole, -ssholery, bullsh!t, God used as a curse word,
🗡️Violence| None this was really cozy!
🏳️🌈LGBTQ| Calisa has two moms, she wonderers if Jack likes girls or boys, a character is upset because he is separated from his partner who is also a guy (They talk about how much they love each other and they hug) A realm has two queens I think they are like a couple but it doesn't actually say
✝️ Religion/spirituality | Calisa keeps saying that Jack is Angelicly beautiful,
⚠️Other| Calisa's ex boyfriend cheated on her (she walked in on him with his hand up some girl's shirt, which is referenced multiple times), gaslighting (past), Calisa says if her ex boyfriend wants to fix things between them he should go to the local veterinarian to "fix" himself so he won't be tempted to cheat anymore,
Edit: The realese date changed
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Buddy read with my sweet friend Mildly Mad Hatter
The cover is so beautiful, I love it! I want to stay at 'The Faraway Inn' even though it's in the middle of nowhere and is kinda falling apart, lol. This is a great summer read (Even though I read it in the fall) I liked the writing style snd the characters were pretty good as well.
Calisa and Jack were so awkward around each other and had a few slightly cringe-worthy moments, but other than that I liked them both. The humor in this book was great! in my opinion anyway, I was laughing every few pages. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future. You should consider reading this when it comes out March of 2026.
I loved how quirky all the guests were. I also really liked the magic system. When I was reading this with Mildly Mad Hatter we were just messaging back and forth about everything and it was so fun! I love buddy reading with her, she's the sweetest!
TL;DR this has a great magic system and tons of humor it's really a great summer read.
The characters
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Calisa ~ she did annoy me at times with how she refused to follow the simple rules given to her, but other than that I did really like her.
Jack ~ I really liked him he was so awkward and funny, but at the same time he was really sweet and protective towards Calisa.
Auntie Zee ~ she was grump. But she did eventually warm up to Calisa and become slightly less grumpy.
Mulligan ~ He was hilarious! I loved how he took simple normal things and made them sound so magical. But i didn't like his relationship with Zef.
Kendra ~ she was kinda stuck up and posh so I didn't like her as much as the other characters.
Melidor ~ I loved seeing how she grew and decided what she wanted to do with her life.
What to expect
🪻Cozy Fantasy x contemporary
🪻 Magical Portals
🪻 Summer vibes
🪻 Friends to lovers
🪻 A hilarious magic mirror
🪻 Awkward Cinnamon Roll MMC
Quotes
~~~~~~~
(All quotes may be subject to change because this is an arc)
☕ She glanced at him, and he was smiling at her, his warm brown eyes like a mug of hot chocolate.
💖 "Is it helping?" Melidor asked. Given that she hadn't so much as thought the name Ethan in days... He didn't fit into a place with portals and cake and magic and a friendly winged lizard and an infuriatingly hot groundskeeper who may or may not have the answer to every question she wanted to ask. "Definitely yes."
🍰"Can we stop talking about murder and talk about cake instead?"
Content
~~~~~~~
❤️🔥Romance| several semi detailed kisses, Calisa wonders if Jack would be "a gentle kisser or one of those kissers who want to swallow you whole" and she can't decide which one she wants him to be,
🤬Language| Hell, -sshole, -ssholery, bullsh!t, God used as a curse word,
🗡️Violence| None this was really cozy!
🏳️🌈LGBTQ| Calisa has two moms, she wonderers if Jack likes girls or boys, a character is upset because he is separated from his partner who is also a guy (They talk about how much they love each other and they hug) A realm has two queens I think they are like a couple but it doesn't actually say
✝️ Religion/spirituality | Calisa keeps saying that Jack is Angelicly beautiful,
⚠️Other| Calisa's ex boyfriend cheated on her (she walked in on him with his hand up some girl's shirt, which is referenced multiple times), gaslighting (past), Calisa says if her ex boyfriend wants to fix things between them he should go to the local veterinarian to "fix" himself so he won't be tempted to cheat anymore,
April 13, 2026
Oh this one was absolutely lovely and delightfully magical.
Review to come
Review to come
February 15, 2026
I really wanted to love The Faraway Inn, and in a lot of ways I did. Sarah Beth Durst writes cozy fantasy in a way that always makes her books feel like cozy video games to me, very Stardew Valley vibes, and this one fits right in. The inn itself was hands down my favorite part of the book. I loved all the scenes of Calisa cleaning, fixing things up, and slowly bringing the inn back to life. Those moments were genuinely comforting, and the inn felt like its own character.
The magical guests and creatures were fun and creative, and I liked a lot of the side characters we meet along the way. I also noticed what felt like little nods to some of her other cozy books, which was a nice touch. The romance with the groundskeeper’s son was sweet and low key, and it worked well with the overall healing, summer in Vermont vibe.
That said, the book moved pretty slowly for me, and I had a hard time figuring out what the main plot was supposed to be. I kept waiting for things to really kick into gear. I enjoyed the cozy atmosphere, but at times it felt more like a collection of nice moments than a story that was actually going somewhere.
I also did not love the sociopolitical commentary that was woven into the story. When I pick up cozy fantasy, I am looking for an escape, and those moments pulled me out of the book rather than adding anything meaningful for me.
Overall, The Faraway Inn was a cozy, comforting read with a great setting and some really charming ideas, but the slow pacing and unfocused plot kept it from being a favorite. I think fans of cozy fantasy and Sarah Beth Durst will still enjoy it, especially if you love magical inns and quiet, restorative stories. Just do not go into it expecting a fast paced or plot heavy read.
AHHHH I am so glad I got sent an ARC of this. I really cannot wait! Thank you for Netgalley for sending me a copy.
The magical guests and creatures were fun and creative, and I liked a lot of the side characters we meet along the way. I also noticed what felt like little nods to some of her other cozy books, which was a nice touch. The romance with the groundskeeper’s son was sweet and low key, and it worked well with the overall healing, summer in Vermont vibe.
That said, the book moved pretty slowly for me, and I had a hard time figuring out what the main plot was supposed to be. I kept waiting for things to really kick into gear. I enjoyed the cozy atmosphere, but at times it felt more like a collection of nice moments than a story that was actually going somewhere.
I also did not love the sociopolitical commentary that was woven into the story. When I pick up cozy fantasy, I am looking for an escape, and those moments pulled me out of the book rather than adding anything meaningful for me.
Overall, The Faraway Inn was a cozy, comforting read with a great setting and some really charming ideas, but the slow pacing and unfocused plot kept it from being a favorite. I think fans of cozy fantasy and Sarah Beth Durst will still enjoy it, especially if you love magical inns and quiet, restorative stories. Just do not go into it expecting a fast paced or plot heavy read.
AHHHH I am so glad I got sent an ARC of this. I really cannot wait! Thank you for Netgalley for sending me a copy.
April 4, 2026
Calisa's looking for an escape this summer—she's recovering from a broken heart, and her great-aunt's inn, deep in Vermont without even a whisper of mobile data, seems like the place to be. Only: Aunt Zee doesn't want her there. And the inn has fallen into disrepair. And the closer Calisa looks, the more she understands that the inn is a little more...complicated...than Calisa first thought.
I read this largely on the strength of The Lake House, which gripped me by the throat for much of the book. The Faraway Inn is something else entirely—still a delight to speed through, but much more on the "charming" end of the scale than the "throat-gripping" end. I'm reminded of the phone game Matchington Mansion (which I did not reinstall when I had to get a new phone, because it is too much of a time suck), in which rooms gradually open up to the player...new place after new place to discover and restore. The inn isn't quite like that (we don't get enough details of, e.g., the library), but...at the same time, it kind of is. Every time a door opens, Calisa discovers something entirely new to her.
I was prepared for, I don't know, dark forces trying to bring the inn down, but the reality of the book is a lot calmer. There are problems, and Calisa ends up having to do quite a lot of problem-solving (and quite a lot of work), but not so much a Big Bad. I could have used a little more by way of details about what went wrong and how they're sure there's a long-term fix, but the general vibe is just very cozy in a way that turned out to be just what I was looking for in a book at the time.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I read this largely on the strength of The Lake House, which gripped me by the throat for much of the book. The Faraway Inn is something else entirely—still a delight to speed through, but much more on the "charming" end of the scale than the "throat-gripping" end. I'm reminded of the phone game Matchington Mansion (which I did not reinstall when I had to get a new phone, because it is too much of a time suck), in which rooms gradually open up to the player...new place after new place to discover and restore. The inn isn't quite like that (we don't get enough details of, e.g., the library), but...at the same time, it kind of is. Every time a door opens, Calisa discovers something entirely new to her.
I was prepared for, I don't know, dark forces trying to bring the inn down, but the reality of the book is a lot calmer. There are problems, and Calisa ends up having to do quite a lot of problem-solving (and quite a lot of work), but not so much a Big Bad. I could have used a little more by way of details about what went wrong and how they're sure there's a long-term fix, but the general vibe is just very cozy in a way that turned out to be just what I was looking for in a book at the time.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
November 6, 2025
huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own honest thoughts
3.5🌱
‧₊˚ 🍮thoughts
⋅ ☆
while this book was cute and cozy, it was lacking in a few things that made it not as enjoyable to me, mainly in the way some of the relationships were handled (such as our fmc and her love interest and our fmc and her ex-boyfriend, etc) i wasn't a fan of the way the romance was set up but that was completely a me thing! all in all it was a cute cozy read but not one i'd be re-reading again. it also felt very textbook set up in the way that i could practically feel the air of 'heres the stuff i explained it for you' and it felt very childish.
i wasn't a fan of the romance between jack and calisa but i'm not the hugest fan of a friends to lovers set up that way so if you like friends to lovers this will probably slay for you !! it's just not my personal fav and i didn't like how much camisa focused on jack's outward appearance. like we get it, he's hot. understood. but he had no personality or interests!
like babes we need a man with a personality.
all in all this was a cozy read but not cozy enough for me to give it higher than 3 stars.
✩°｡🧸𓏲⋆.🧺𖦹 ₊˚
pre~reviewfull review to come tomorrow morning 🌱💮🍵
3.5🌱
‧₊˚ 🍮thoughts
⋅ ☆
while this book was cute and cozy, it was lacking in a few things that made it not as enjoyable to me, mainly in the way some of the relationships were handled (such as our fmc and her love interest and our fmc and her ex-boyfriend, etc) i wasn't a fan of the way the romance was set up but that was completely a me thing! all in all it was a cute cozy read but not one i'd be re-reading again. it also felt very textbook set up in the way that i could practically feel the air of 'heres the stuff i explained it for you' and it felt very childish.
i wasn't a fan of the romance between jack and calisa but i'm not the hugest fan of a friends to lovers set up that way so if you like friends to lovers this will probably slay for you !! it's just not my personal fav and i didn't like how much camisa focused on jack's outward appearance. like we get it, he's hot. understood. but he had no personality or interests!
like babes we need a man with a personality.
all in all this was a cozy read but not cozy enough for me to give it higher than 3 stars.
✩°｡🧸𓏲⋆.🧺𖦹 ₊˚
pre~reviewfull review to come tomorrow morning 🌱💮🍵
March 22, 2026
Across the very ordinary, very green guest room was an open closet door. And what was inside was not ordinary.
This was the perfect definition of Cozy Fantasy. I absolutely adored every second of this book. From the main characters, Calisa, Jack, and Auntie Zee, to Steve the lizard dragon, the Wheeping Angel, the teapot, the Inn's guests, the magical ladder, and asshole mirror. It was light-hearted but deeply emotional down to its core.
4.75 stars
“You’re allowed to grow up at your own pace.”
From the afternoon tea, cleaning the rooms, planting seedlings, and saving the ocean, this exceeded my expectations. It was about growth and moving on, aging and beginning, life and living. It was filled with romance, whimsy, raspberry jam, chocolate cake, tea, peace, coziness, and comfort.
Allow yourself to feel what your heart wishes to feel. Do not deny your pain.
I loved Calisa and Jack as characters. I thought they both brought things to the story. And I felt so bad for Jack! Auntie Zee was great, what a grumpy, determined woman who didn’t want to ask for help.
Thank you so much to Random House and the author for this ARC!
He smiled at her, and it was like the sun coming out after the rain.
____________________
I could not have asked for more 🥹
Rtc
This was the perfect definition of Cozy Fantasy. I absolutely adored every second of this book. From the main characters, Calisa, Jack, and Auntie Zee, to Steve the lizard dragon, the Wheeping Angel, the teapot, the Inn's guests, the magical ladder, and asshole mirror. It was light-hearted but deeply emotional down to its core.
4.75 stars
“You’re allowed to grow up at your own pace.”
From the afternoon tea, cleaning the rooms, planting seedlings, and saving the ocean, this exceeded my expectations. It was about growth and moving on, aging and beginning, life and living. It was filled with romance, whimsy, raspberry jam, chocolate cake, tea, peace, coziness, and comfort.
Allow yourself to feel what your heart wishes to feel. Do not deny your pain.
I loved Calisa and Jack as characters. I thought they both brought things to the story. And I felt so bad for Jack! Auntie Zee was great, what a grumpy, determined woman who didn’t want to ask for help.
Thank you so much to Random House and the author for this ARC!
He smiled at her, and it was like the sun coming out after the rain.
____________________
I could not have asked for more 🥹
Rtc
October 11, 2025
Buddy read with my amazing and wonderful friend Jaida!!🥰 I’m so glad that I got to read this with you! It was so much fun!
What I liked:
The magic mirror, I wish there was more of it! It had me cracking up whenever it appeared.
The romance was sweet and had some cute moments. Steve.
All the cake.
What I didn’t like:
All the language, h*ll 2, *sshole 4, b*llsh*t 3, taking the Lords name in vain 2. A girl wonders if a guy is from h*ll.
LGBTQ: the main character had two moms who were mentioned quite frequently throughout the book.
A guy is in a relationship with another guy and it was honestly just very weird.
Possibly a third couple, two queens who were probably together.
The main character had a boyfriend cheat on her, it was said that he had done it multiple times with multiple girls. He had his hand up another girls shirt.
It was kinda like the girl was obsessed with Jack’s outward appearance for most of the book, that’s all she would think about and it felt very shallow, until later on that it grew and became cute.
The main girl did one of the things that really really annoys me, she broke a very clear rule for no other reason than she wanted to.
So while I did like several parts of this book and it was cute and cozy, the content in it made it hard for me to enjoy it. I can’t personally recommend it because of the content.
Check out Jaida’s review of this book:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book!
What I liked:
The magic mirror, I wish there was more of it! It had me cracking up whenever it appeared.
The romance was sweet and had some cute moments. Steve.
All the cake.
What I didn’t like:
All the language, h*ll 2, *sshole 4, b*llsh*t 3, taking the Lords name in vain 2. A girl wonders if a guy is from h*ll.
LGBTQ: the main character had two moms who were mentioned quite frequently throughout the book.
A guy is in a relationship with another guy and it was honestly just very weird.
Possibly a third couple, two queens who were probably together.
The main character had a boyfriend cheat on her, it was said that he had done it multiple times with multiple girls. He had his hand up another girls shirt.
It was kinda like the girl was obsessed with Jack’s outward appearance for most of the book, that’s all she would think about and it felt very shallow, until later on that it grew and became cute.
The main girl did one of the things that really really annoys me, she broke a very clear rule for no other reason than she wanted to.
So while I did like several parts of this book and it was cute and cozy, the content in it made it hard for me to enjoy it. I can’t personally recommend it because of the content.
Check out Jaida’s review of this book:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book!
April 2, 2026
The Faraway Inn
by Sarah Beth Durst
Cozy YA Fantasy
Booktrovert eARC (NetGalley)
Pub Date: Mar 31, 2026
Random House Children's Books/Delacorte Press
Ages: 14+
After sixteen-year-old Calisa catches her boyfriend cheating on her, she goes to rural Vermont for the summer to spend time at her great-aunt's B&B, only to find out that Auntie Zee had never agreed for her to stay there, and the inn was rundown instead of the magical place in her memories.
Only allowed to stay a few nights, Calisa makes it her mission to show her aunt that she can help fix up the inn. Making pancakes and befriending the groundskeeper's son, Calisa starts to make herself known to the few guests staying there, but she starts to notice strange things about them, Auntie Zee, and the inn itself, something that seems magical.
While the main characters are teenagers, sadly, the adults also act like kids, thus making this a very cozy fantasy that both YA and adults would like. It moves along at a good and steady pace, and there's no violence, and the romance is clean and mostly filler.
The lead-up to the mystery was a slow build, though I felt 'Steve' should've had some more drama, but overall it keeps the reader curious.
The only character I didn't care for was the groundskeeper's son. He came across as flat and a lot younger than Calisa, even though he was supposed to be older.
With the wonderful world-building, I could see this becoming a series, one I would be interested in reading.
3 Stars
by Sarah Beth Durst
Cozy YA Fantasy
Booktrovert eARC (NetGalley)
Pub Date: Mar 31, 2026
Random House Children's Books/Delacorte Press
Ages: 14+
After sixteen-year-old Calisa catches her boyfriend cheating on her, she goes to rural Vermont for the summer to spend time at her great-aunt's B&B, only to find out that Auntie Zee had never agreed for her to stay there, and the inn was rundown instead of the magical place in her memories.
Only allowed to stay a few nights, Calisa makes it her mission to show her aunt that she can help fix up the inn. Making pancakes and befriending the groundskeeper's son, Calisa starts to make herself known to the few guests staying there, but she starts to notice strange things about them, Auntie Zee, and the inn itself, something that seems magical.
While the main characters are teenagers, sadly, the adults also act like kids, thus making this a very cozy fantasy that both YA and adults would like. It moves along at a good and steady pace, and there's no violence, and the romance is clean and mostly filler.
The lead-up to the mystery was a slow build, though I felt 'Steve' should've had some more drama, but overall it keeps the reader curious.
The only character I didn't care for was the groundskeeper's son. He came across as flat and a lot younger than Calisa, even though he was supposed to be older.
With the wonderful world-building, I could see this becoming a series, one I would be interested in reading.
3 Stars
Want to Read
March 27, 2026If this is even half as cozy as the Spellshop I WILL LOVE IT ✨💜
April 5, 2026
I'm in my cozy fantasy era i feel like. this was very cute, i loveeee
April 1, 2026
| rating: 4 ★
sarah beth durst you have done it again
--
Sarah Beth Durst is my holy grail for cozy fantasy that doesn’t compromise on interesting world-building.
The Faraway Inn is a far cry from the expansive world of The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse. It’s set in the modern world, but with a twist that keeps it fresh and not urban fantasy (not that there’s anything wrong with urban fantasy). Our main character, Calisa, is desperate for an escape from her home in Brooklyn after she finds her boyfriend cheating on her. Her moms suggests that she spends her summer working at her great-aunt’s inn in Vermont, which she readily agrees to, only to find that nothing is really as it seems. She meets an eclectic cast of characters including Jack, the son of the inn’s housekeeper, and the various guests of the inn. Calisa learns that the inn is near destitute and resolves to solve the problems plaguing the inn, starting with finding the root of it—the inn’s failing magic.
Although this was YA, it didn’t necessarily feel YA. The plot was straight-forward, but not simple. Calisa’s struggles felt very real and nuanced, especially for her age. The romance, also, had the same amount of care as it would have if it was in Durst’s adult books (no spice, of course, but still cute and something you want to root for).
I loved the concept of an inn with doors that lead to faraway realms and different worlds. I wished that Calisa’s magic was explored a little more and introduced earlier on. I did catch the subtle foreshadowing about her magic and I understand that it was a deliberate choice considering Calisa’s own lack of knowledge about her powers. Unlike in The Spellshop books, I didn’t find the build up to be slow or tedious, thanks partly to the different inhabitants of the inn that Calisa encounters and helps. The fact that all their problems coincided with Calisa’s own issues tied their plotlines nicely together.
I really devoured this book and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it. Sarah Beth Durst is an insta-read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House, for the ARC!
sarah beth durst you have done it again
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Sarah Beth Durst is my holy grail for cozy fantasy that doesn’t compromise on interesting world-building.
The Faraway Inn is a far cry from the expansive world of The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse. It’s set in the modern world, but with a twist that keeps it fresh and not urban fantasy (not that there’s anything wrong with urban fantasy). Our main character, Calisa, is desperate for an escape from her home in Brooklyn after she finds her boyfriend cheating on her. Her moms suggests that she spends her summer working at her great-aunt’s inn in Vermont, which she readily agrees to, only to find that nothing is really as it seems. She meets an eclectic cast of characters including Jack, the son of the inn’s housekeeper, and the various guests of the inn. Calisa learns that the inn is near destitute and resolves to solve the problems plaguing the inn, starting with finding the root of it—the inn’s failing magic.
Although this was YA, it didn’t necessarily feel YA. The plot was straight-forward, but not simple. Calisa’s struggles felt very real and nuanced, especially for her age. The romance, also, had the same amount of care as it would have if it was in Durst’s adult books (no spice, of course, but still cute and something you want to root for).
I loved the concept of an inn with doors that lead to faraway realms and different worlds. I wished that Calisa’s magic was explored a little more and introduced earlier on. I did catch the subtle foreshadowing about her magic and I understand that it was a deliberate choice considering Calisa’s own lack of knowledge about her powers. Unlike in The Spellshop books, I didn’t find the build up to be slow or tedious, thanks partly to the different inhabitants of the inn that Calisa encounters and helps. The fact that all their problems coincided with Calisa’s own issues tied their plotlines nicely together.
I really devoured this book and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it. Sarah Beth Durst is an insta-read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House, for the ARC!
July 20, 2025
[Advanced reader copy]
Cozy. Cute. My kind of easy comfy read.
I did keep getting confused around the protagonists age. I imagine this is intended to be YA. But I kept thinking she was 18+ but acting younger. However, for someone exploring the summer before their senior year, the character is feasible in a cozy comfy novel.
I was surprised this title and cover look so much like her “The Spellshop” series but are set in an entirely different world.
Unless… they are ultimately linked?
The first two in that series were obviously the same world/realm. This is more modern day, current universe.
Will continue to look forward to Sarah Beth Dursts releases and hope this one proves to be a success for her.
4.5? I’d come back to this world / characters again.
Cozy. Cute. My kind of easy comfy read.
I did keep getting confused around the protagonists age. I imagine this is intended to be YA. But I kept thinking she was 18+ but acting younger. However, for someone exploring the summer before their senior year, the character is feasible in a cozy comfy novel.
I was surprised this title and cover look so much like her “The Spellshop” series but are set in an entirely different world.
Unless… they are ultimately linked?
The first two in that series were obviously the same world/realm. This is more modern day, current universe.
Will continue to look forward to Sarah Beth Dursts releases and hope this one proves to be a success for her.
4.5? I’d come back to this world / characters again.
April 16, 2026
THE FARAWAY INN
BY SARAH BETH DURST
(audio version, 04/2026)
💔Bad breakup..
🤷🏼♀️Summer with her unknown great-aunt
🐾Her realizing she is a travel cat-witch...
💗New romance with Jack
💗Finding Jack's father
🚪The portals to realms.
🐉The wondrous sentient ppl/creatures that come to the inn! .
🧝♀️Venders at the "night market"
🌠The re-opening of "The FARAWAY Inn"
🥰Self growth & new life
✨️Great fantasy for all ages!! If you liked Spellbook or Enchanted Forest, you'll love it🥰
⭐️5/5 *
BY SARAH BETH DURST
(audio version, 04/2026)
💔Bad breakup..
🤷🏼♀️Summer with her unknown great-aunt
🐾Her realizing she is a travel cat-witch...
💗New romance with Jack
💗Finding Jack's father
🚪The portals to realms.
🐉The wondrous sentient ppl/creatures that come to the inn! .
🧝♀️Venders at the "night market"
🌠The re-opening of "The FARAWAY Inn"
🥰Self growth & new life
✨️Great fantasy for all ages!! If you liked Spellbook or Enchanted Forest, you'll love it🥰
⭐️5/5 *
April 1, 2026
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but Durst’s “The Queen of Blood” is one of my favorite books. So I’m always down to read some of her other work. “The Faraway Inn” is a magical tale of an inn that is not what it seems, and we see it through the eyes of 16-year-old Calisa as she arrives to help her great-aunt (Auntie Zee) run the B&B for the summer. When she gets there, Auntie Zee is super unwelcoming and wants her to leave the very next day. Calisa is shocked and dismayed, because she is recovering from a nasty breakup and very much does NOT want to go home and face her cheating ex. Therefore, she is determined to make herself useful so Auntie Zee will relent and let her stay. AZ is extremely tight-lipped, and so many things could have been avoided if she just *communicated* with Calisa.
I did enjoy the cozy fantasy vibes, but I wish the beginning hadn’t dragged–I wanted to get to the good stuff quicker. There’s also a twist that I guessed, but it was well-done. Overall, I don’t think this is one I’ll pick up again, but it’s a cute story that will appeal to those who like cozy fantasy, especially teens/young adults.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
I did enjoy the cozy fantasy vibes, but I wish the beginning hadn’t dragged–I wanted to get to the good stuff quicker. There’s also a twist that I guessed, but it was well-done. Overall, I don’t think this is one I’ll pick up again, but it’s a cute story that will appeal to those who like cozy fantasy, especially teens/young adults.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 17, 2026
A high schooler catches her gaslighting prick of a boyfriend fondling another girl, so she escapes Brooklyn to nurse the heartbreak at her aunt’s Vermont B&B for the summer. Unfortunately, the inn is in a bit of disrepair, evidenced by the collapsed front porch, overgrown grounds, and dust-laden, guestless rooms. Calisa’s curmudgeonly aunt keeps trying to get rid of her and weird stuff keeps happening, so it’s not exactly a peaceful getaway. In better news, the groundskeeper is a handsome young chap with golden retriever energy and a welcomed distraction from her cheating ex. There’s a giant lawn statue that keeps moving, a magic mirror that wants to throw hands, and a winged lizard who is more of an unemployed housecat in that he’s lazy, wants treats, and purrs a lot. After a couple of people go missing behind closet doors, it’s up to Calisa and fake-Samwise to rescue them. I am not normally drawn to YA fantasy, but I am into whimsy, magical teapots, and giant sea turtles, so I still ate this up. 4-stars for introducing me to my new favorite form of witch and the guy with the pet gargoyle who enjoys Dracula cosplay and speaks like he swallowed an archive of metaphors. You couldn’t pay me to be 16, date, or be 16 and date again unless that payment includes a lethargic mini dragon and eager blonde farmboy, in which case, I am open to discussion.
December 1, 2025
I want to start by giving huge thank you to Booktrovert for the ARC! 🥰
Almost every single book I’ve read by Sarah Beth Durst has swept me off my feet. The Farawy Inn is just another one that I can add to the list! The book is cozy and whimsical, leaving the reader wishing they could hop right into the pages. The imagery has stunning and I absolutely loved the characters, especially Steve and the statue! You. An help but fall in love with all the quirky guests visiting the inn and wanting to learn everything about them. I just wish I could read this for the first time again. I’ll be patiently waiting to see what Sarah has in store for us next!
Almost every single book I’ve read by Sarah Beth Durst has swept me off my feet. The Farawy Inn is just another one that I can add to the list! The book is cozy and whimsical, leaving the reader wishing they could hop right into the pages. The imagery has stunning and I absolutely loved the characters, especially Steve and the statue! You. An help but fall in love with all the quirky guests visiting the inn and wanting to learn everything about them. I just wish I could read this for the first time again. I’ll be patiently waiting to see what Sarah has in store for us next!
April 2, 2026
A cozy, YA fantasy adventure romance set in a magical Vermont Inn that's in disrepair and slowly dying as its keeper ages.
Calissa is a teen girl sent to stay with her great Auntie Zee for the summer and has no memory of staying at the inn in the past, nor is she expecting the magical place to be full of so many different creatures and guests or for her grumpy Aunt to be so secretive. When she eventually disappears it will be up to Calissa and the inn's groundskeeper's son to travel to other realms and find her before the inn really dies and all the portals close forever.
Full of heart, found family and a sweet romance, this was a fun, entertaining read perfect for fans of books like A witch's guide to magical innkeeping. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Calissa is a teen girl sent to stay with her great Auntie Zee for the summer and has no memory of staying at the inn in the past, nor is she expecting the magical place to be full of so many different creatures and guests or for her grumpy Aunt to be so secretive. When she eventually disappears it will be up to Calissa and the inn's groundskeeper's son to travel to other realms and find her before the inn really dies and all the portals close forever.
Full of heart, found family and a sweet romance, this was a fun, entertaining read perfect for fans of books like A witch's guide to magical innkeeping. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.
April 8, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute YA cozy fantasy with a little bit of self discovery and heart break thrown in. With magical creatures, magic portals, and likable characters. As with any cozy fantasy it can be a little slow going at times, but it definitely makes up for it with the interesting things the main character discovers throughout her Great Great Aunt's Inn. The romance was also cute and made you cheer for it when it finally came together. Definitely recommend for a relaxing weekend read.
This was a cute YA cozy fantasy with a little bit of self discovery and heart break thrown in. With magical creatures, magic portals, and likable characters. As with any cozy fantasy it can be a little slow going at times, but it definitely makes up for it with the interesting things the main character discovers throughout her Great Great Aunt's Inn. The romance was also cute and made you cheer for it when it finally came together. Definitely recommend for a relaxing weekend read.
April 11, 2026
I loved this one!
It had a lot of cozy elements like fixing up an inn.
Calisa cleans up the inside and outside of the inn and it feels so cozy. There was just enough going on that it didn't feel slow.
I would love to see more books exploring other places in this world 👀👀
Sarah Beth Durst is an auto read author for me!
It had a lot of cozy elements like fixing up an inn.
Calisa cleans up the inside and outside of the inn and it feels so cozy. There was just enough going on that it didn't feel slow.
I would love to see more books exploring other places in this world 👀👀
Sarah Beth Durst is an auto read author for me!
April 4, 2026
After a rough breakup, Calisa goes to Vermont for the summer to help her great-aunt with her bed and breakfast. When she arrives, she finds the place run-down with only a few guests staying at the inn. Auntie Zee isn’t thrilled to have her there but allows Calisa three days to stay at the inn before heading home. Hoping to prove herself and convince Auntie Zee to let her stay for the summer, Calisa teams up with the groundskeeper’s son, Jack, to fix the inn. As Calisa gets to know the bed and breakfast and its unusual guests, Calisa begins to think there might be something magical about the small inn.
This is another wonderful cozy fantasy from Sarah Durst. I didn’t know what her young adult books would be like, but The Faraway Inn has the same warmth I’ve come to love from this author. The story features many unique characters and magical creatures, including a “lizard” named Steve, whom I wish I had as a companion pet. I enjoyed following Calisa’s adventures as she discovered the inn’s magical secrets. The relationship between Calisa and Jack was the perfect touch of romance that didn’t distract from the fantasy. Overall, The Faraway Inn is a great read for both teens and adults, and it might just make you wish you could visit a magical inn in the Middle of Nowhere, Vermont.
The Faraway Inn is out now!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the opportunity to review The Faraway Inn. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is another wonderful cozy fantasy from Sarah Durst. I didn’t know what her young adult books would be like, but The Faraway Inn has the same warmth I’ve come to love from this author. The story features many unique characters and magical creatures, including a “lizard” named Steve, whom I wish I had as a companion pet. I enjoyed following Calisa’s adventures as she discovered the inn’s magical secrets. The relationship between Calisa and Jack was the perfect touch of romance that didn’t distract from the fantasy. Overall, The Faraway Inn is a great read for both teens and adults, and it might just make you wish you could visit a magical inn in the Middle of Nowhere, Vermont.
The Faraway Inn is out now!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the opportunity to review The Faraway Inn. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 3, 2026
Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the arc!
4.5 stars
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4.5 stars
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March 30, 2026Sarah Beth Durst creates a warm dose of custard (my favorite dessert) with this cozy story set over a summer in Vermont. The people of the inn were fun. The mission to save the inn through chocolate cake, magical tea sets, magic mirrors and portals was the sort of low-stakes conflict that I really welcome these days. Finally it's a story about family. And that's always a winner for me.
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