I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In The Faraway Inn, Calisa is looking to reset. She’s just dumped her cheating boyfriend, and now has to face the summer before senior year grappling with his betrayal. To get her mind off things, her parents send her to her great-aunt in Vermont to help run the bed-and-breakfast. Calisa is a little skeptical but willing to give it a try. Upon arrival, however, she discovers that Auntie Zee is not thrilled to have her there, seeming downright antagonistic sometimes. But Calisa is quickly determined to prove to her aunt that she’s capable, especially when she sees the run-down state of the inn and how few residents there are. So Calisa resolves to fix it up, and enlists the help of the groundkeeper’s son Jack. The longer she’s here, though, the more she starts to notice things that should be impossible. Soon, it becomes clear that there might be something magical about this place, and that that magic is in peril.

I think, despite it being at least a decade and a half since I read that series, part of me never left the world of the Fablehaven books. Luckily, this story absolutely appeals to that same part of me.

This author does a wonderful job with cozy fantasy, and this young adult novel follows in a similar vein as her books The Spellshop and The Enchanted Greenhouse. This book’s titular setting is a lovely place, full of whimsy and charming atmosphere. I would willingly live in this B&B with its quirky doors and tiny dragons and bewitched teapots. It’s basically tailor-made for me!

And as for Calisa, I was initially wary of her upon starting this book. Sometimes, YA protagonists can be a little annoying, since they’re moody teens and I’m apparently an adult. However, Calisa proved herself quickly to be a sweet girl, a little out of her depth but full of plucky determination and a good attitude. She’s easy to care about, and I liked following her on her journey. And her romance with Jack was really endearing from the jump, full of good dialogue and a solid emotional foundation. No hyperbolic statements of love after a single date, just cute banter and delightful teamwork. And Jack himself is a great character, with the energy of a teenage Samwise Gamgee or a human golden retriever, but with a serious side. I really like him.

The side characters, Auntie Zee and those staying at the inn, are also delightful. They’re all a little weird (mostly due to their magical natures) but make for a really fun cast. Especially Mulligan, whose goofily formal way of speaking, his love for chocolate, and his devotion to righting the wrongs he’s accidentally done, made him by far my favorite character. I’d read an entire book about him right now, no question. I adore him to bits!

I also thought that Auntie Zee was a fun character. She’s a curmudgeon, but clearly with a soft side. I do wish that she’d let up earlier in terms of her secrets, as it is clear to the reader and all the other characters that Calisa is both intelligent and trustworthy enough to know about the magical elements of the inn. Yet Zee’s stubbornness prevents her from acknowledging this, which was a little frustrating. However, I liked how things resolved between Zee and Calisa, and that Zee’s storyline in particular tackled concepts like being vulnerable and being willing to ask for help from your family and friends. These are important topics for everyone, especially teens, who so often want to assert their independence above all else, much like Zee.

Finally, the magical elements of this story are excellent. This setting is mostly grounded in the real world, but with a window—well, in this case a door—to other realms. (Again, this is similar to Fablehaven, which also involves young people going to an older relative’s home and discovering a magical world within.) I liked learning about the other places, such as the Night Market, and understanding that there’s clearly so much more to discover. The universe of this book feels expansive and lived-in, evoking wonder and curiosity. The mystery tied in with the magical portals to other places also lended a sense of urgency and stakes, which was great. And the resolution was satisfying and sweet in equal measure.

In the end, both my current self and my inner tween/teen are charmed by The Faraway Inn. Its fantastic setting, lovable characters, and engaging plot meant that I flew through reading this. I might even like it more than The Spellshop! I just keep coming back to the word “lovely” to describe this book, because that’s the feeling I was left with. It’s a lovely read, a lovely world, a lovely story.

The Faraway Inn will be published on March 31st, 2026!