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trippyotter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Violence
potatoes4xmas's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lisaluvsliterature's review against another edition
5.0
Stayed up too late last night to finish this. While I kind of had an inkling about what was happening based on them being put on separate floors in the hotel among other things, I still liked the way this story went. Review to come on my blog, probably next week!
biblioghost's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 for the first half, 3 for the last. This book took a while to get going, but I am surprisingly glad I stuck it out. I guessed the big twist from the very beginning, but that didn't deter me. I originally wanted to read this book for the hotel itself, I am a huge fan of haunted, creepy hotels and the Hotel Ruby certainly lived up to that. What didn't work for me was the main character. I never really liked her or felt much sympathy for her. While she is grieving the loss of her mother, she constantly brings up her mistakes with relationships and how she treats people she cares about, and her self-deprecation doesn't make her endearing, only more unlikable. Her father wasn't much better, the reason they end up at the hotel is because it is a stop on the way to dropping his kids off at his mother's house for her to take care of them so he won't have to. And the insta-love between the main character and a boy she meets on the very first night she arrives was so pointless it isn't really worth mentioning. But I loved the setting, the description of the beautiful art deco building with old, elegant decadence and creepy, ominous feelings. Adding to my thriller rather than my horror shelf.
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
3.0
Finished reading: August 20th 2016
“It's funny how seeing another person hurt can break you down faster than your own emotions.”
Spoiler
When Hotel Ruby was first published last year, I saw quite a few mixed reviews and ended up taking this book off my priority list. But somehow I never completely forgot about the story... So as soon as I saw it was one of the Riveted reads in August, I knew I had to grab the chance to read it for free. Thanks again Riveted! Now I've finally read this story by Suzanne Young myself, I can see why there are so many mixed reviews out there. I mean, the idea behind this book is essencially great, but I felt like something was missing. I loved the mystery and creepiness of the hotel and those descriptions were excellent. That said, I figured out quite early on what was exactly going on in the hotel, which was a minor disappointment. To make things even worse, the dreaded insta-love romance made its appearance and basically almost ruined the story for me. It distracted from the plot and didn't really add anything substantial to the story either. I suppose romance fans will most likely not be bothered that much by it though and enjoy Hotel Ruby a lot better than I did. Just don't expect a story filled with plot twists and high dose of creepiness, since romance seems to be the main focus in this novel.
When Audrey has to make an unplanned stop at the grand Hotel Ruby, she seems almost happy with the detour. Especially since her father is about to send Audrey and her brother Daniel to live with their grandmother who is practically a stranger. Why? Their mother died a few months ago and he seems to be drowning in his grief. Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be both unpredictable and addicting. The family ends up extending their stay over and over again. But while her father and brother seem to be completely happy with their new life in the Ruby, Audrey is starting to suspect something is a bit off about the beautiful hotel. Especially since she seems to be the only guest on the thirteenth floor and the only one without an invite to the ballroom party... Will she find out enough about the hotel's dark past before it's too late?
Hotel Ruby is one of those stories that has a lot of potential and an intriguing setting, but ends up being ruined by the appearance of cheesy/insta-love romance scenes. I know I'm not a romance fan in the first place, but I was really disappointed by the way the whole creepiness and intrigue around the hotel was pushed back into the background. I mean, I know a lot of people probably love the romance and all, but it just wasn't what I was expecting after reading the blurb. Such a shame!
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
blondeeishere's review against another edition
4.0
This was pretty good! Took a while to get into it but had to know what happened
kaitlyns_bookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up on a whim after seeing the author on a panel at a local convention where she told the story of her inspiration when writing it. Overall I really did enjoy it. I’ve seen some of the negative reviews and I have to disagree with them. The mystery was engaging and it kept me going trying to uncover the secrets of the Ruby
thechaoshour's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a little disappointed that this book was so predictable but I enjoyed reading about the characters at the hotel. I hated the frustration of not knowing details of what was going on because I knew what the end game was from the very beginning. (Nobody else thought it was obvious?)
tearsofphoenix's review against another edition
2.0
I had already guessed that everyone she was talking is dead at the very beginning, the characters are stereotyped and forgettable. I knew about the accident and the song way before it was revealed cause hello, everything basically told us it's going to be an overused cliche.
It fails to the promised chill and the feeling that horror novels are suppose to deliver.
heisereads's review against another edition
4.0
A fantastic, creepy, swoony, mysterious, delightful book that deals with grief in an unexpected way leading to choices made in standing up for oneself and for others. A haunting story that twists and turns not wanting to let you get to the end and discover the secrets of Hotel Ruby. Suzanne Young writes books my students like, and I believe this one will be enjoyed by many of them.