Magic & Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett

Josie LaChiusa is a single mom who works in the financial aid department at a college. Her boss likes to have lots of meetings, and even pre-meetings. Josie’s son Amos is 4 and has had significant health issues in the past. Spoiler: no health issues for Amos in this story! His grandmother Gloria is critical of Josie’s parenting while Grandpa Al is quiet. They both love Amos and miss their son Dan. Josie doesn’t have any other family since her grandmother died.

An apartment opens up near her job, and it’s partly furnished. Building superintendent Pax Nomen interviews Josie after rejecting another prospective resident. The other building employee is Maddy, who loves to make rules for the residents. She always wears a turban, because she’s secretly a Medusan. There are gargoyles, fairy cheerleaders, a grumpy gnome, a handsome vampire and other interesting residents, but they must all pretend to be human for Josie and Amos. The building is Wayside Hotel #5 and it’s been stuck on Earth with an empty fuel tank. The lack of magic on Earth seems to be part of the problem, and the Hotel seems to like Josie and Amos.

The apartment is great, and the other residents study up at the public library to learn about children’s books and Spider-Man, while the fairies love Taylor Swift’s music. Pax and Josie have awkward yet charming encounters, and the residents are peaceful, at least for a while. Maddy over organizes a garden committee after it’s decided that Amos needs somewhere to play. A snowball fight is cute, a magical accident nearby is colorful, and Josie and even Pax become a little worried for Amos’s safety, and also begin a sweet romance. Amos is always happy at the Wayside Hotel and feels safe, even though this cozy fantasy can be a little bit scary. The cozy vibe, cute kid, outspoken residents and found family theme remind me of The House in the Cerulean Sea, even though the residents and plot are not that similar.

Brenda