I read this book prior to its publishing via NetGalley. Thanks, NetGalley!

This was a fast, cozy read about a gal whose aunt passes away and leaves her an inn...for ghosts.

Because it was cozy, I'm not upset we didn't delve too much into the loss factor, but I also think we could have added a little more to give this book more depth.

Several things happened in this book (scant details to not ruin anything!), and I think some more details would have made the pacing for this title easier for me.

There were a few, mostly minor, details that came in this title that will hopefully be fixed prior to it releasing.

Overall, I enjoyed this fantastical book. It was a lighter, fluffier read and I enjoyed the premise, but would have liked a little deeper dive into the sadder feelings, as I think itnwould have made the cozy/fun/bouyant feelings even bigger.

Pippi has been able to see ghosts her entire life, and upon her Aunt Hazel's death, she is bequeathed her aunt's inn. It's an inn that caters to spirits who are between life and the afterlife, making it reminiscent at times of Under the Whispering Door, though this book never starts to feel like a copy cat, and it stands on its own merits. The inn itself is sentient and takes care of most of Pippi's and the guests' needs. Pippi's main job is to take care of the guests emotionally and make sure that she answers the phone when loved ones who are still living call to talk to the guests. 

This a cozy, cute fantasy, and I loved the other fantastical creatures that Erin Ritch incorporates. The inn's attic contains giant spiders that help take care of the inn, there's a ghost kraken living in the nearby ocean, there's a small gnome who does security for the inn, and there are a couple of witches who make an appearance. I also enjoyed the developing relationship between Pippi and the inn as Pippi learns its abilities and quirks and it learns to trust Pippi.

The very beginning of the novel is a bit disjointed, but it settles into a groove once Pippi is at the inn. Rather than coming back as a ghost, Pippi's aunt unexpectedly returns as a talking fox and helps Pippi adjust to being an innkeeper for the dead. I didn't care for the romance at first because instalove is a turn-off for me, and that's pretty much what happens here. While the romance is secondary to the plot of Pippi learning to run the inn, it is still a significant element of the book and at times a driving force behind various plot developments, so I wish it had started off on a stronger foundation. Fortunately, I did at least like the love interest. The book will also hopefully go through another round of edits before its official release date.

This is the delightful story of Pippi Jennings, who has always been a little unusual in that she can see ghosts. Mind you, this makes her the perfect family member to inherit her late aunt's inn, which is also a vacation spot for spirits.

But when a notorious ghost hunter makes his move, Pippi must juggle the conflicting imperatives of needing to keep her guests safe, and giving in to the dictates of her emotions. Because Cecil Graham is not only a threat to wandering spirits, he also poses a danger to Pippi's romantic soul...

This charming read, packed with magical elements of various kinds, is not to be missed by any romantic spirit out there looking for a good book! It gets 3.5 stars.

Pippi's Inn for Wandering Spirits is an extremely cozy story about a girl learning to operate a sentient inn for the dead and aid in the spirits crossing between the living world and the afterlife. It gives major Spiritfarer vibes with the story (I mean this as the highest of compliments), as Pippi works to make the spirits comfortable in the inn, as well as help them and their loved ones be at peace and able to move on. For something so cozy and low stakes, it was so heartwarming and did a phenomenal job of tackling grief in a lighthearted way. There were some very strange and funny aspects of this book as well, including but not limited to giant, sweater-wearing spiders (these were my personal favorites), Pippi's aunt reincarnated as a talking fox helping her run the inn, and Pippi literally dreaming up whatever meals she wants to serve the guests the following day.

Unfortunately, the writing in this didn't quite gel with me--specifically the banter felt a bit unnatural at some points and it took me out of the story somewhat.

I also was a tad bored by the plot at times, although this is likely my own fault for reading a very cozy, low-stakes fantasy when I know I have the tendency to be bored of them easily and need something that keeps me more at the edge of my seat. I LOVE ghost stories though in any capacity and had to give it a try.

Overall, I enjoyed this, and would recommend it for lovers of the cozy fantasy genre, especially if you want something that tackles more meaningful topics such as grief in a way that will tug at your heartstrings, but also provide some laughs along with your tears. Thank you very much to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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.

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.