Pippi's Inn for Wandering Spirits

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Pippi’s Inn for Wandering Spirits was a charming story that fulfilled its unique premise so well! Pippi inherits an inn for spirits transitioning to the other side when her Aunt, Hazel, passes away - this is all despite an estrangement between her mother and Aunt leading to her barely having spent time with her. Luckily her Aunt is back to guide her as a fox. The spirit characters in this book, though generally changing and true supporting characters were friendly and entertaining. But they aren’t the most unique characters in this book as we also meet a guard gnome and giant spiders (who seem to love sweaters) who help guard the inn. When Pippi runs into a ‘ghost explorer’ Cecil, her new inn life gets a lot more complicated but culminates in some heart string tugging events. This was exactly as it was written to be, fun and whimsical, and I enjoyed it a lot as I think other readers who like their cozy novels to be a little different also will.

This is a cozier, softer version of Under The Whispering Door, and I really enjoyed it! There is an element to these "cozy fantasy" books that can at time feel so simple and easy that you almost feel like there is something wrong with it, but whats wrong with a little love and comfort!?

Not that this book is all sweet and light - there is one plot in particular that surprised me and was incredibly sad, and I think in some ways, my main issue with this book in particular is that it "went there" with some of the plot, and introduced some heavy stuff, but then ended up shying away from the depth of emotion that would have made those plot points feel a little more serious.

Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone looking for cozy fantasy vibes as long as they don't mind a little bit of sorrow and conflict mixed in.

This book is an absolute DELIGHT. Every page was like a warm hug- Pippi is a friend we all wish we had. The magical elements of this fit naturally with the scene that Ritch expertly sets, a sleepy coastal town that contains much more than meets the eye.

This had Legends and Lattes vibes- a cozy story that follows a strong female main character’s journey to a new place, where she creates a meaningful place for others to gather.

I laughed, I cried, I had a great time. This is a feel-good and heartfelt story that will make you want to hug the people that you care about.

Many, Many, Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read Pippi's Inn for Wandering Spirits by Erin Ritch. A Beezilion Gold Stars. I love this wonderful book.

Readers…….


First of all, let me thank #netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

Now to the important stuff. This is everything a “cozy (fill in the blank)” book should be. There are ghosts, so I’m not sure if that is cozy horror? There is a witch (briefly) and spiders the size minivans so probably? But there are also portals and talking space heaters, and a house that is alive. Dreams become breakfasts, ghosts get to talk to loved ones on the phone (sort of) and the main character has a wide array of patterned overalls that show up miraculously every morning. When I say there is A LOT going on in this book, there is A LOT going on in this book. I haven’t even scratched the surface. And, I LOVED it all. Best, this book knows what it is and it stays in its lane and that’s why it was such a hit for me. We didn’t get lost in asides that are preachy or teachy about life for the sake of philosophizing. There wasn’t a noticeable amount of platitudes, cliches, or cringe. The book does not assume that the reader doesn’t want to do a little work just because we picked up a “cozy” book. It gave me some room to interpret character actions without being told exactly how they’re feeling directly after like so many books in this genre do. It’s silly, it’s comforting, it’s sweet, and funny. If you like confetti in the shape of a book, this is it.

This book is not perfect for all, but for those it is for, it’s perfect.

Loved this book so much! It made me laugh and it made me cry. I'd recommend it to anyone who's into cosy fantasy vibes!

This book is such a wonderful book! It's cozy and very creative, with a unique premise.
Like her Aunt Hazel, Pippi has been able to see spirits her entire life. This gift is seemingly passed down from aunt to niece, so when Aunt Hazel passes away, Pippi inherits her inn. The inn is a temporary residence for spirits in between life and afterlife. The inn takes care of itself- cooking, cleaning, etc, leaving Pippi to tend to the hosts. Her primary task is to be there for the hosts emotionally, answering calls from their loved ones.
This was such a delightful read. I enjoyed the take on life, the afterlife, and what is in between. Pippi is a strong character and it is shown through the difficult decisions she makes. I also enjoyed the fantasy world as a whole- the inn specifically for spirits (no humans allowed), the giant spiders who protect the inn, the talking fox. It is very creative and unique. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the romance between Pippi and Cecil. It felt a bit rushed and lacking foundation. It wouldn't bother so much if Cecil wasn't such a vital part of Pippi's life in the inn and the decisions she chose to make. Overall, I did enjoy this read and can't wait to have a physical copy when it's published!

Thank you NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Erin Ritch for this wonderful ARC!