Book Review: The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Delacorte (March 31, 2026)

Length: 384 pages

At this point, is it honestly a surprise that a new book by Sarah Beth Durst would turn out this cute and cozy? Even though this hasn’t always been her genre (I remember starting out reading her Queens of Renthia series and then loving Race the Sands and The Bone Maker), cottagecore fantasy is clearly the lane she’s settled into recently and is absolutely rocking it. That The Faraway Inn is a Young Adult novel doesn’t change its warm, comforting appeal either. If anything, it embraces everything that makes it an inviting romantasy without being too cloying or overdone.

The story follows a Brooklyn teenager named Calisa, who arrives at her great-aunt’s bed-and-breakfast in rural Vermont after a messy breakup derails her summer plans. Her parents figured that a few months away, working for an estranged relative, might give her the change of scenery she needs to find some peace and move on. Instead, she walks into a situation that’s anything but peaceful, and one where she clearly isn’t wanted. Auntie Zee has no interest in anyone meddling in her business, even if her beloved Faraway Inn has seen better days and could obviously use the help.

But Calisa has no desire to return home to face the fallout of her failed relationship. Determined not to be turned away, she digs in her heels and throws herself into being useful, hoping to prove she deserves to stay. But as she settles in, it quickly becomes clear that this isn’t an ordinary inn. The guests are a little too eccentric, the doors around the place don’t seem to lead where they should, and strange details begin to pile up, from winged lizards to a teapot that pours itself. Calisa senses that she’s not supposed to know any of this, especially with Auntie Zee guarding her secrets so closely. But with the help of Jack, the groundskeeper’s sweet and quietly charming son, she begins to uncover more of what the inn is hiding.

Durst has always had a talent for creating immersive settings, whether it’s a sweeping fantasy world or something more intimate and slice-of-life, the way it is here. The Faraway Inn itself easily steals the show. Even in its rundown state, there’s something deeply comforting about it, like a well-loved sweater or a chipped favorite mug. It feels like a place built for what it’s meant for, which is rest and restoration. Its guests come here to retreat from the stresses of wherever they came from, and the inn meets them where they are, offering a sanctuary to heal, reflect, or simply disappear for a while.

I also really liked how the magic is handled. It’s introduced gradually, in small, almost throwaway moments at first, before becoming something more central to the story. It’s an approach that perfectly fits the book’s gentle tone, even if it means the plot takes a little while to fully get off the ground. Still, once everything starts to come together, it’s easy to get pulled in.

The characters are also just as easy to spend time with. Admittedly, Calisa is a familiar kind of YA protagonist, dealing with young people problems like trying to figure out what to do with her post-high school life after putting so much of her heart into a relationship that didn’t work out. But her personality is grounded enough that she never comes across as overly dramatic or whiny, and I found her to be very likeable. Next comes Jack, who steps in as the obvious love interest, but they take their time developing their relationship. He’s sweet and supportive, if a little awkward, but the resulting chemistry between him and Calisa is adorable and genuinely endearing despite it being completely predictable. Auntie Zee, meanwhile, fills the role of the grumpy and stubborn innkeeper, and while her character development also follows a fairly predictable path, the tensions between her and Calisa add some needed friction early on.

Of course, the whole story doesn’t stray far from what you’d expect either, staying largely within its comfort zone. The plot also unfolds in a straightforward way, and some of the reveals are easy to anticipate. Furthermore, there’s the slower start I mentioned earlier, as everything is getting established before the magical elements take center stage. But for this kind of book, that’s not necessarily a drawback. The appeal is just as much about the atmosphere as it is the story itself, and on that front, it’s everything I wanted.

All in all, The Faraway Inn is a sweet, cozy fantasy that does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s not doing anything groundbreaking, but it’s charming, heartfelt, and filled with just enough magic to keep things engaging. An easy pick and a superb book if you’re in the mood for a light read that’s also quietly whimsical.