802 reviews for:

Winterhouse

Ben Guterson

3.84 AVERAGE

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

"Winterhouse" is a charming and whimsical middle-grade novel that's perfect for readers who love a touch of magic and a good mystery. ✨🕵️‍♂️  Set in the enchanting Winterhouse Hotel, the story follows Elizabeth, an orphan with a knack for puzzles and a love of books. 👧📚🗝️  From the moment she arrives, Winterhouse feels like a dream come true, filled with secret passages, intriguing guests, and a sense of wonder. The author weaves a compelling mystery throughout the narrative, keeping readers guessing alongside Elizabeth as she uncovers the secrets hidden within the hotel's walls. Beyond the mystery, "Winterhouse" explores themes of friendship, family, and self-discovery, making it a heartwarming and engaging read. With its cozy atmosphere, memorable characters, and a touch of magic, "Winterhouse" is a delightful escape for readers of all ages.❄️
adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I really enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to continuing on with this series!

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

A fun, slightly spooky mystery. It was pretty predictable, but has enough going to make it worth reading.

3.5 rounded up to 4
It wasn't earth shattering. Honestly, I liked Freddy way more than Elizabeth which surprised me. I kinda wished the magic part of the plot wasn't there, but overall, this is a great middle grade mystery/fantasy pretty on par with "Matilda" - but with more mystery and very nice illustrations. A nice book to pick up during December as it's set during Christmas.
adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Read my review at Bookish Adventures.

As a middle school teacher, I’m finding fewer and fewer books that my students will be interested enough to read and that are appropriate for them. So many books that they want to read have offensive language, sex, and/or violence. Although most are well-written, I’m not comfortable pressing those books into the hands of students.

Winterhouse hits so many marks. It has a strong female character, a mystery, supernatural elements, and word puzzles. Readers of all ages will root for Elizabeth, because she’s likeable and a little awkward. She learns how to navigate a friendship after she breaks someone’s trust. She solves a mystery and uncovers truths about her family that she never could have imagined. Atmospheric and intriguing, Winterhouse will keep your attention until the final pages.

4.5 stars. 5 stars for the cover...which is gorgeous. Thoroughly enjoyable middle grade puzzle-filled mystery with a fantastic wintery setting. Perfect read for Christmas time. I look forward to reading it aloud to my kids next year. I would stick with the physical copy for this one. The audio was just okay.
adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated