Audiobook review: The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst

Narrator: Soneela Nankani

Vibes: 🌀🪴🤷‍♀️

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC.

This was a cute, low stakes, cosy fantasy with a realistic 16 year old protagonist. It's definitely geared towards the younger end of the YA reading bracket which I think is important to keep in mind especially if you're an adult reader.

The setting is whimsical and magical and it's easy to fall into the wonder, confusion and delight Calisa feels on discovering the Faraway Inn's secrets. The highlight of the story for me was definitely the side characters she meets along the way!

Calisa herself had me thinking about my days as a 16 year old, once upon a time. The teenage angst over high school heartbreak and worrying about being judged by various adults felt all too realistic! The plot is perhaps a touch predictable at times and I often found Calisa repeating my thoughts almost word for word right after I'd had them, but that didn't detract from the story's charm.

I will say that all the adults in this story (with the exception of the Inn's guests) were extremely aggravating. The unnecessary withholding of information at every turn frankly beggared belief. What were all these supposedly grown people thinking?! Also, Auntie Zee can kick rocks.

Soneela Nankani's audiobook narration lends such a youthful lilt to Calisa's inner dialogue. She's ever so slightly whiny at exactly the right moments and I really enjoyed her delivery! Definitely recommend the audiobook if you enjoy them.

Pub date: 9 April 2026

Audiobook review: Violet Thistlewaite Is Not A Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz

Narrator: Emma Ladji

Vibes: 🌱🪻🫂

Sometimes you read the right book at exactly the right time and it has a disproportionate impact on your life. This was a book like that for me.

Violet Thistlewaite is a sweet, cosy romantasy about a witch who wants to be good. But more importantly, it's a story about finding the courage to share your whole truth with the people who love you and trusting they won't abandon you. A story about how the ugly things done to you do not turn you into an ugly person. A story about finding the kind of grace and kindness for yourself that you find for other people.

There's a grumpy alchemist (who took quite a while to win me over, I won't lie, I was not his biggest fan). There's a taciturn garden gnome busting out wisdoms. There's a murderous Pothos plant that likes to hide knives in his curling tendrils. 🌱

Emma Ladji does a wonderful job with the audiobook narration, she really captures the cosy atmosphere and it's such a fun listen.