Sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives at her great-aunt's Vermont B&B expecting a cozy summer escape — and finds a rundown inn and a grumpy Auntie Zee who doesn't want her there. Determined to stay, Calisa throws herself into fixing the place up, with some help from the groundskeeper's (very handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the clearer it becomes that the inn's quirky guests are hiding something. Something almost otherworldly. The inn has a magical secret — and once Calisa opens that door, there's no going back.
My Review
After a rough breakup, sixteen-year-old Calisa flees Brooklyn for a summer in rural Vermont, expecting a cozy escape with her estranged great-aunt at the family bed-and-breakfast. What she finds instead is a rundown inn, a frosty aunt determined to keep her away, and only a handful of strange, reclusive guests. Undeterred, Calisa throws herself into helping around the inn by cleaning, baking, tending the gardens, while slowly uncovering the subtle hints of magic hidden in the walls and corridors. The inn’s secrets are tantalizing but unfold gradually, which made the story feel a little slow at first, though it only deepened the sense of discovery once the magic truly revealed itself.
The heart of the story is Calisa’s growth and the quirky, captivating cast she meets along the way. Jack, the groundskeeper’s kind and capable son, is a constant presence, offering support and warmth as Calisa navigates the inn’s mysteries. The guests are memorable in their eccentricities, from a night-dwelling gentleman who may be a vampire to a green-haired girl with uncanny abilities, each adding layers of whimsy and intrigue. Durst’s descriptions of the inn’s magical doors and shimmering worlds are vivid and dreamlike, making the inn feel like a character in its own right and giving the story a gentle, fairy-tale charm.
While the story didn’t hit the same immediate magical impact as some of Durst’s other works, it was still a delightful, lighthearted read. The romance felt unnecessary given Calisa’s recent heartbreak, and a few characters stayed a little shallow beneath their quirks, yet the cozy atmosphere, imaginative magic, and potential for future adventures at the inn made it an enjoyable escape. I’d happily return to this inn in a sequel, as the foundation for more magic and discovery is wide open. It’s a sweet, comforting story that balances mystery, charm, and heart without trying to be more than it is.