A Small Hotel

A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur is an absolute masterpiece.

And I do not say this lightly.

Suanne has created a world that is real. She immersed you into her storyline so seamlessly that you feel like you are a part of it.

I have not read an author in years that can capture so many emotions with such emphasis and make it seem so effortless.

This is one book filled with so many emotions and teachings and truths, that you will not want to set it down.

5 Fish Stars

Of all the historical romance novels I've read, this is the first that has me holding my breath and happy crying over a lit cigarette and a Zippo lighter.

You are fully immersed in the character's development when reading this novel; you can see and feel what's occurring during the war, both internally and externally. I am truly baffled at how swept into this novel I found myself. If you have any interest in historical fiction and romance during this era, you must read this book.

Another great installment in Ms. Laqueur’s books about the Fiskare family. While the Fish Tales focuses on Erik and Daisy, Will and Lucky, A Small Hotel brings the reader to Clayton, NY, on the precipice of WWII. Kennet Fiskare, Erik’s grandfather, takes center stage.

As always, Suanne’s writing ties past to future. Her skill lies in telling magnificent stories about all the different ways people can love each other. She handles trauma and healing with incredible deftness and respect.

Newcomers to the world of the Fiskares can dive in without having to read Laqueur’s other books, but be warned: there’s a rabbit hole waiting, and you’ll be a sobbing pile on the floor when you come out the other side. Thank me later.

Suanne Laqueur has created a darling family whose world is alive with rich cultural and historical details! Parts 1 and 3 of the book are engaging to read but part 2 takes a different turn both stylistically and in content. Thankfully, the wrap up is worth it! My rating is 3.5, stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and Canoe Tree Press for the opportunity to read and review.

A few Christmases ago I dug into my first Suanne Laqueur novel and from there went through everything on her backlist as quickly as I could. I've enjoyed every single thing she's written and A Small Hotel is another absorbing read that I now want to give to all of my reader friends.



I'll be honest, I am usually pretty strategic when I read her novels because I know these two things to be true:

1. It's going to be an emotional reading experience so I need to have the mental space for that kind of journey.

2. I'm going to be useless to do anything else while I'm reading her novel.

A Small Hotel continued with those two truths--it was emotional and I was absolutely worthless when it came to doing life things. Within the first pages I was completely taken with the entire Fiskare family. Their familial bonds, their kindness, how they were each other's friends and confidantes and while also their siblings/uncle/father. Their bond reminded me a lot of my own family and extended family and it just felt like home to me; being in this world she created was warm and loving and familiar. I recognized so much of our family in theirs, which only made my investment in the narrative of Kennet and his observations about life, his family, his love, the war, and the world that much more. I fell in love with everyone he did, I laughed for him, at him and with him, and was devastated when he was.



Suanne Laqueur's attention to detail, the obvious investment of time to research, and basically the entire construction and craftmanship of the novel from characters to dialogue to plot were all done exceedingly well. Because of all of this, reading A Small Hotel was just such a treat and it was really hard to get to the end and know there wasn't another page to read.



It looks like this may be the first of several novels with this family and to say that I'm eager and excited to read whatever comes next, is a huge understatement. If you are new to Suanne Laqeuer's writing, start now and start here; I think you'll love A Small Hotel.

Ahhhh… The Small Hotel…the cover drew me in, the description snagged me and the story itself completely entangled me and didn’t let me go until I finished it. The tight-knit Fiskare family runs a small hotel in Clayton, New York, by a river that serves both pleasure and work. As the family grows they hire a young Marta to help out with the house keeping. Young Kennet is fascinated by a picture of Marta’s young niece, Astrid, who’s eyes seem to follow him everywhere. Twelve years later Astrid comes for a month long visit and Kennet discovers this fascination was not just one sided. As all of the women of the hotel are known for their kindness, Astrid too is a kind and endearing woman. When war comes marching into their lives, the brothers join the fight to battle not only the evil that is happening but the battles of their own headaches of lost love and family. The war was hard to read but the pain and friendship kept me from skimming. The characters deserved my complete attention. I reviewed this book for free from NetGalley. I devoured this book and it’s wonderful characters who won’t leave me for a long time. This was a five star read for me!!

I have been waiting so very patiently to write this review until closer to its release date, but I simply cannot wait any longer.

Each and every time I crack open the pages of a Suanne Laqueur book, it's as if she takes hold of my hand and whispers "Come with me. I have something to tell you. Come. You will be safe with me." I willingly hand her my heart and hold on tight with eyes wide open and let it all wash over me.

Kennet Fiskare's story is remarkable, breathtaking, and heartbreaking. Sure, there is romance in these pages, but that is just a small part of it. This is a story of family, brothers, and those you choose to bleed for. War is hell, and the entire Fiskare family carries the scars of war both literally and figuratively.

As always, Suanne Laqueuer transports you. It's as if you are there, watching safely from a distance, but living her characters' realities right along with them. I shed so many tears. I cringed at the things seen and choices that had to be made. I railed at the unfairness of it all. I cheered for my newfound Fiskare family to have some good come into their lives. Every small happiness that came to them made my heart truly soar as if it were my own happiness.

So do yourself a favor, come take Suanne Laqueur's hand. She has a story to tell you that you need to hear.

So here’s the thing. When I write book reviews I write them for me. Usually to remind me of what the book meant to me and so that I can check back to see what rating I gave it when friends ask for recommendations. I don’t write reviews thinking people will see them and want to read the book.

But, then I read books like this and I want to write a review that makes people want to read it. I want to do the beauty of this book some justice.

I’ve done my usual thing of doing an immediate re-read to take in the things I missed and I still don’t know how to convey everything this book means.

It’s about family, not just blood but those who become family because you would bleed for them. I felt like I was part of that family. I’m part fish, I know about wishes on fishes and cafune. But I was also part of Kennet’s squad; rolling down the train track through the US thundering towards a war. Freezing my toes off and squeezing into fox holes.

It’s a book about war in all of its shocking factors and yet in our world we do it again and again and again. Stop that shit.

It’s a bit of a shit review but this is an outstanding book. It’s so much more than 5 stars because it moves every bit of your heart and takes you from the highest high to the lowest low and back up again.

Would most certainly buy this book if I was looking for a good read.
This author is new to me and I did not really know if I would like this one, but I am so glad I gave it a try.
I will be looking for more books by this author in the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend.

As usual, I’m awestruck by Suanne Laqueur’s blend of well articulated prose, exploration and character development through this emotional gauntlet. Like any story about love, this one begins with open hearts and endless possibilities. Kennet Fiskare, oldest son of Emil Fiskare, has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Astrid Virtanen to their family business and hotel, Fisher Hotel, in Clayton, NY. Their eyes are already talking to one another secretly when they meet. The Fiskare family is the backbone of Kennet’s life, providing his source of support, kinship and purpose. They are everything to him and as much as Kennet is the focal character, so are his parents, uncle and siblings and the history between all of them. They come with nicknames, tall tales and warmth. Astrid seems to fit right in with everyone and jumps into idyllic love as easily as Kennet does.

While their relationship comes to an early end, Astrid remains a fixture in Kennet’s heart even after he goes to the frontline of war. This portion of the book is the majority of the story, filled with big and small moments that are defining to Kennet. War is never pretty, straight forward or triumphant. It comes with heavy losses, bloodshed and atrocious things that can never be unseen or undone. The portrayal is disturbingly accurate with how Kennet can only simply focus on doing from one minute to the next, how he leans on his fellow soldiers for brotherhood and what matters in life is now, because there might not be a later. It’s heartbreaking, stomach turning and soul depleting. Kennet had been brought up to be a true gentleman, where he had never traveled previously, his worst memory was a reckless decision that disappointed his father and had thought his despair from letting Astrid go was the very definition of unbearable loss. War obliterates his usual barometer and threshold for those sentiments. Granted, it’s apples to oranges, but the intensity cannot be ignored or forgotten. There’s no rhyme or reason anymore as the rules of humanity no longer apply on the battlefield and the casualties pile up at an alarming rate. There should be a strategy for survival, but it can be a toss of the dice down to luck and timing. During Kennet’s experience in combat, I actually felt closest and most empathetic towards his father, Emil, who was a war veteran himself and knew how his son’s innocence and compassion would be stripped away.

There’s so much to unpack in this book, how countries go to war for freedom, but social injustices still remain afterwards, the weight of consequences on the conscience and finding a new normal. The interconnected details are seamlessly brilliant, they are orchestrated with so much careful thought and research. The contrast in Kennet before and after the war reminds us that liberty comes at a price, the lives lost have voices that should not remain unheard and to not waste time on what cannot be changed in the past, but to move forward and to do better. This love story is not just between Kennet and Astrid, but also Kennet and his family and his fellow soldiers. All those times he was referred to endearingly as “Fish” by his unit or when his buddy O’ Hara would say, “You’re way too easy to like, Fish,” the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up in recognition because of the absolute uncanny resemblance to a different Fiskare, also lovingly regarded as Fish, and I would think to myself, Erik, if only you knew that you shared so much more in common than just exquisite fish jewelry with your family. I am always so impressed by this author’s work and this was no exception. Between the tears, smiles, saudade and cafune, A Small Hotel delivers big on opening its doors in welcome to adopt its next visitor into the fold of the Fiskare family.

Suanne Laqueur is in a league of her own and A Small Hotel is a home run. An epic story which spans years. The main character is Kennet and the reader gets to follow him, his amazing family, the brotherhood he forms while fighting WW2 and him falling in love.

The storytelling is simply outstanding. The amount of research Laqueur has done shows and feels. From the Swedish folk and fairy tales to all the history. The war and all its horror was depicted with an haunting authenticity that I couldn’t help being affected.
How is it possible to form a connection with every character cause I sure did. It wasn’t just the entire Fiskare family but also Kennet’s army brothers.
Every character had a story to tell and Laqueur gave each their time to slowly grow and flourish. No one and nothing is safe when reading a Laqueur story and it’s the same with A Small Hotel. The reward in the end was so worth the heartache and the pain.

I knew about the Fiskare family background from reading Here to Stay, but this can definitely be read as a stand-alone. For me it was like being back with old friends. For new readers this will be the beginning of a new friendship.
A Small Hotel is historical fiction when it’s best and at its finest. Suanne Laqueur has once again left me speechless and in awe.

5 Gullgosse Stars

In the summer of 1941, Kennet Fiskare is having the summer of his life as he has fallen in love with Astrid Virtanen a Swedish Brazilian that is staying at his family's hotel. The affair is cut short when her mother comes to take her back home to marry the person that she has chosen for her daughter. Then Kennet and two of his brothers head to the war. The rest of the family are left to take care of the hotel as the brothers head out to war. Kennet keeps a journal of all activity he sees during the war. He documents the war atrocities that he sees as well as the close relationships that the men form in the horrible environment of war. The author has a style of writing that is emotional complex so you can understand the characters and their feelings. This novel shows the courage and resiliency and endurance of individuals. I highly recommend this novel.

I was instantly seduced by Laqueur's unique prose and tempted to whip through the pages. But her storytelling is as such that every passage demanded my full attention. Swept away by the Fiskare’s emotional bonds amid an era of conflict, time lost all meaning. Now my quandary is if I'll be able to give this stand-alone novel the merit it deserves.

“For a while, I even believed my father was made of gold...”

Firstly, the author has put a premium on the character and plot development. I found the opening scene so exhilarating that the beat of new hope and promise of things to come hooked me therein.

‘The story either begins today or ends today, he thought.’

However, it took me a couple of chapters to sort out who was who as Emil's children not only inherit family given names but also monikers. I could have kicked myself when I realised a little too late that there was a family tree at the beginning of the book! That said, Kennet is the driving force behind the story. And as he’s the first-born, he doesn’t just feel responsible for his siblings but has their admiration and that of his father. So, once I had the names under control, it was plain sailing. Or was it because I can’t even begin to tell you how this story affected me or how many times I cried my eyes out.

“It’s said we Fisares repeat our names and repeat our tragedies.”

The dialogue between the Fiskare’s and the people they cared for bowled me over. The leg-pulling, colloquialisms and enlightening advice helped me connect to every one of them, and learning about their shortcomings, their worries and the way they supported each other filled my heart.

“You are my eldest and finest. And I’d fight another war for you.”

Since the last thing I want to do is spoil the story for you, I’ll keep my feeling about Kennet and Astrid’s relationship short. Their love speaks louder than words, my affection growing in leaps and bounds while observing them become more than friends. When Laqueur’s snippets of what could happen eventually did, hearts broke—mine included.

“Can’t believe that people fall in love on purpose,”

But those loved so fiercely aren’t forgotten. Kennet relates his feelings and wartime experiences on the front line, and along with his squad, the reader discovers that their ordeal has, as in war, its consequences. I could feel the tension in the air, the strong camaraderie and gratitude for small blessings.

‘These are our weapons. Our stories are all we have. And you. We have you. Our greatest weapon. The storyteller.’

Laqueur turned my tears into laughter, my pain into relief, and then left me holding my breath. In all my reading experience, never have I read a WW11 novel quite like this one. The historical account is incredibly accurate, the settings vividly descriptive. Days after finishing the book, all I could think about were the uncompromising situations these soldiers had to face.

‘Family isn’t blood. It’s who you bleed for.’

Emil was too familiar with war, and he well knew his sons wouldn’t be boys if and when they came back. Do pick this novel up, do find out what happens because I can guarantee that you won’t regret it.

‘If the world is going to rely on ordinary men to right the wrongs, then those men have to rely on each other.’

A journey crossing two continents, the paths of love, loss, friendship and endurance left me in awe of Laqueur’s well-crafted writing, and to recapitulate, I cannot recommend The Small Hotel enough. If it were possible to give this heartfelt novel overflowing with emotion six stars, I would have. So, 5+++ stars it is! Bravo, Laqueur!

ARC kindly received from Cathedral Rock Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

Loved this book for so many reasons. I will say that if someone has a problem with cursing, this might not be your book. Also, there is a lot of Swedish, German, and some French in the book, in addition to English, so if this bothers you, stop now. In some cases, or in many cases, you have to rely on your good old context clues.

Told basically from the viewpoint of Kennet Fiskare, living in NY in the Thousand Islands area, this story tells of the Firkare family through stories of the past as they live through WWII. The family brings many superstitions from Sweden to their lives and the family love is so very evident. There is no sparing of affection among family members.

Since I mentioned that part of the story is in WWII, readers share in a soldier's true experience and his way of sharing these experiences. I often take my iPad with me to go out for lunch. I found myself sitting in a restaurant this week crying while people around me must have wondered what I was reading. Raw emotions, raw language expose war for what it really is. For me, it was an eye-opening experience because I often think war is glorified yet there was no glory here.

As mentioned, there is love between family members but there are otehr love stories within the larger story. We have a strong first love, a forbidden love, which last forever. We have another type of forbidden love seen in different people. As described in the book, it was a love not discussed but known throughout the town yet no one seemed to really care. Within this book, strong homosexual love is seen and again, if this bothers you, do not read this because it is written so well and reminds me that so much was known for so many years that we never discussed or we kept hidden.

There was also the type of love that is slow-growing; a love that once it is recognized, is not a surprise. And a slow-growing rebirth to love which is beautiful. But, maybe ost impotantly, was the realization by soldiers of the love they feel for each other and the pain they feel losing someone they barely know yet love deeply.

Because I do review books from an educator's POV, I would say that I could not recommend this book due to language and romantic scenes. However, if an upper level teacher wanted to share excerpts to show the way war really is, it would be appropirate. I have done that with many books in order to show real life or excellent writing.

A well-written book which I truly enjoyed. I am so thankful to have received this book as an ARC from #NetGalley and #CathedralRockPress.

I have never read this author before, and that is a mistake I am going to remedy right away. What a beautiful, beautiful novel brimming with passion and history. The writing is beyond superb. This novel was just incredible. I can't describe how much I enjoyed reading this. The romance is breathtaking. If you read one historical romance this year, make it this one.

A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur is an amazing book. It documents the journey of two young people who fall in love just as World War II in Europe is heating up. Her family is poor and circumstances cause a separation. Fish, the hero, and teller of the story is the oldest of several brothers. He and his 2 elder brothers are drafted. Fish keeps a diary and uses it to tell his lost love the amazing stark and the very real story of being an infantry soldier in World War II. From losing friends and war brothers, to the liberation of a concentration camp his diary contains heartfelt and emotionally disturbing accounts of his company during the liberation of the European theater of the war.
Fish's brothers, one in the Navy, the other in the Alps are also fighting. Fish's long-lost love is always close to his heart even while they are apart and only communicating thru letters on occasion. He holds dear the memories of their short but strong love connection. After a slow start that introduces Fish's family, this book which follows Fish's World War II journey is one of the most realistic that I have read of historical fiction from the era. While the diaries he keeps are raw and explicit the author manages to use her narrative skills to open the reader up to the trauma, death, and danger that soldiers were exposed to and how that changed many of them. War is Hell and her realistic prose gives the reader an honest but uncomfortable insight into that era. This is also one of the few accounts in historical fiction or otherwise, that documents the very real love between male soldiers occasionally romantic and always brotherly, who were daily exposed to trauma and life and death. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to #ASmallHotel#NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What an absolutely wonderful book.

This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last.

My usual book style is like my movies - Pulp Fiction is my favorite movie. I like action, I like the author to get to the point. A friend pointed out that I like dead bodies..lol

This book was more like Under the Tuscan Sun - it might be beautiful, but not my normal style. But I didn't care - I truly loved this story. It was beautifully written, and full of thought, and you could just feel the heart of the people in the story.

When the story started out, it felt like an episode of The Waltons (for you fellow old people...lol) There was a big confusing family and they were all close and supported each other. It was truly well written, but not my cup of tea. But I kept reading. Then war came, and it wasn't such a sweet, easy read. It was still beautifully written, but it was also heartbreaking. I may have teared up a time or two....or more... Then I realized I could NOT stop reading this - I ha to know what happened next. I also fell in love with this family and wanted to just stay immersed in this story. I wanted it to go on and on and on..

Another thing that I loved about this book was that I learned something new. I really appreciate when historical fiction gives me something new to learn. This time I discovered how our country treated gay men who served in the war and it was honestly shocking to me. (I'm not sure why - it's not like we are all accepting now - but these men were willing to sacrifice their LIVES for our country).

This book was beautiful, it was engrossing, it was sad, it was sweet, it was everything you could want in a book.

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review at all. I had true tears in my eyes while reading this.

A Small Hotel is simply a fabulous read. It's more than fabulous. It's beautifully written and everything we expect from this extremely talented Author. We find ourselves in a time when life seemed easier, more simple but as we meet the various members of the Fiskare family it is anything but. It's a journey of love for Kennet and his Astrid and in so many ways a coming of age story for him in particular. With WWII looming and Astrid having to honor her father's wishes, the path of true love is anything but smooth but we get there in the end. If you have read Suanne Laqueur before you know that she evokes every emotion you have and if you haven't read her before you should know that she writes characters that will wake you up at 2.10am because they know you need to know a little bit more about what they are going through before you can finally hush them up. There's a lot going on with this family. Each of them has a backstory which would be a joy to read in more detail but A Small Hotel is Kennet's journey and it's quite the journey. Love wins the day in every shape and form just as it should.