The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst | Audiobook Review

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A teen girl decides to spend her summer helping her eccentric great aunt manage her quaint Vermont inn—only to discover that the fixer-upper is hiding a magical secret—in this cozy and irresistible new young adult fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop.

“Frosted with whimsy and sprinkled with joy, The Faraway Inn is a testament to why Sarah Beth Durst is the queen of cozy fantasy!”—Tricia Levenseller, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Darkness Within Us

When sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives at her great-aunt’s B&B in rural Vermont for the summer, she’s shocked to find a rundown inn rather than the cozy bed-and-breakfast she was expecting. Grumpy and eccentric, Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn . . . even though she clearly needs the help.

To convince her great-aunt to keep her around, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundskeeper’s (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the surer she is that there’s something strange about the B&B—and its guests. Something almost . . . otherworldly.

The inn is keeping a magical secret—but to protect the place she’s come to love, Calisa must unravel the truth before it’s too late.

Why Did I Listen To The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst?

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst as a physical product is so aesthetically pleasing. The cover is gorgeous and the sprayed edges, OMG, I love them. Normally, I’d be one to pick this up and physically read it. However, I just HAD to engage with the audiobook instead because Soneela Nankani is the narrator and she is superb. This cozy young adult fantasy hit the spot as I had been in the mood for something cozy while longing for the weather to warm up — how is it – by the way – that it is still snowing in April in upstate NY? So, The Faraway Inn fit the bill for what I wanted. 

What’s The Story Here?

16 year old Calisa simply cannot stay in Brooklyn with her moms for the summer. She’s had her heartbroken in spectacular fashion, feels like a laughingstock due to her cheater ex and needs to get away. So, she has the brilliant idea of helping her great aunt with her B&B in rural Vermont for the summer. Only, Calisa gets to the inn and it is looking a little run down. Also, her aunt doesn’t really want her there and is kind of mean. It is definitely different from the last time Calisa is there as a small child. Calisa is determined to stay and determined to help out, she wants to bring the Inn back to its former glory. 

So, Calisa enlists the help of the Faraway Inn’s groundskeeper’s son, Jack. By the way, Jack is not so bad to look at per Calisa. Anyways, she realizes perhaps there’s something up with the inn and the guests of the inn. That’s right, turns out there are different fantastical beings who are staying at the inn. And the doors just might lead to other worlds. When Auntie Zee disappears, it is up to Calisa and Jack to find her and continue to uncover the secrets of the Faraway Inn. 

How Did I Like The Faraway Inn?

As someone who experienced heartbreak when I was young, I really liked Calisa’s journey. She has been through it and is now finding a new purpose – getting the Inn back on track. I liked that there wasn’t an immediate romance between Calisa and Jack. The story within The Faraway Inn is really more about healing and self discover. Also, I felt like the setting of the Faraway Inn was well written and compelling. I could picture it so well as I listened to this story. The characters are interesting. Calisa is easy to root for. There is even a little bit of comedy with the narcissistic magical mirror. Sarah Beth Durst’s The Faraway Inn met all my cozy fantasy expectations.

How’s The Narration?

The audiobook of The Faraway Inn is narrated by Soneela Nankani. It is 11 hours and 3 minutes unabridged. I listened at 1.5x speed. Nankani is SUCH a good narrator. She has a perfect voice for fantasy. Her voice is melodic and easy to listen to. The audiobook pacing is ideal for the story. It is well produced with no sound issues at all. I found this audiobook to be transporting as I drove and spent time doing data analytics. I would certainly recommend this to cozy fantasy fans.

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Latest posts by April (Books&Wine) (see all)

• The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst | Audiobook Review - April 12, 2026
• Heiress Of Nowhere by Stacey Lee | Book Review - April 11, 2026
• Yes, No, Maybe | Audiobook Reviews - April 5, 2026