Hotel Stuff Paperback – April 7, 2022

Jade Brown has a charming and witty approach to her writing style that will just leave you in awe or paint a million and one pictures in your head.While the main character had me yelling at her while I was reading, it was a fun and very introspective read because it made me think to my days when I was in high school and how I would have handled certain situations the main character Basil comes across.

Very good book. Sincerely recommend for reading. Would love to have audiobook also. Can't wait to read more from this author.

Hotel Stuff was surprisingly a great read. I really didn’t know what to expect but I’ve just started reading coming of age/teen/YA books and I couldn’t put this one down. The story follows Basil Francis. She is an outcast and is very comfortable being that until one night in which she meets Elly Hayes. Elly is Declan Hayes (the it girl) older brother. He is also known as bad boy, psychotic,slightly suicidal, etc based on the several stories told about him over the years. He shows interest in Basil and ends up asking her to be in his movie. Basil ever the people pleaser accepts.Basil stands out amongst her peers because of her race. As one of few African American students at her school she struggles with insecurities, sexuality and much more. All she wants is to be accepted and at times she makes not so good decisions because of it. From the first night at the bonfire you see Basil is unsure of herself and goes with the flow to be accepted.

A solid 4.5 stars for me. I was immediately drawn in to Hotel Stuff by the lyrical prose that gives the story a mystical quality not often seen. This coming of age story is both simple and innocent, and terrifyingly complex. Basil is a teen girl who believes in the idea of love so much that she risks losing herself for it. To steal a line from the novel, “it feeds on insecurities”; particularly the insecurities of teen girls and the pressures they face to become women, to be seen as sexual beings, to find who they are. This novel reminded me of my teen years and how utterly important everything was, to be cool and accepted, and how myself and other girls did things we knew we shouldn’t to get that acceptance from our peers.

This book really reminded of my own youth, of being the only black face in a homogeneous realm, and allll the conflicting desires that accompany it.All of Jade's characters have a burning desire to be seen. However, none of them get to be seen for who they actually are, and desperation creates some stickyyy situations. This story about such lengths is told in a sweet prose that pulls at your heart, with a rising suspense that grips you until the very end. Loved it!

The first sentence in the synopsis captured my attention, because I am also a loner. Then the last sentence had me asking, "Why is that?" The reading began.Whew Chile, this story had me in some sort of choke hold. Some of the situations that happened had me on the edge. That's the experience we go through with understanding and finding ourselves. Trial and error will be a part of that process, which you will experience in this novel. There were times I had to sit this book down, as I take a deep breath.This book kept my attention from beginning to end.

I made it my mission to read Hotel Stuff this summer and I’m so glad I did! I could barely put it down once I got into the story and familiar with the characters; I quickly found myself rooting for some while laughing at or depising others. Jade Brown did such an exceptional job at making this novel relatable but suspenseful. It was nice to feel excited about reading again and wanting to see how the story was going to play out, part two is such a page turner!! So glad I kept this gem in my bag throughout my travels this summer and hope you all take the time to get to know Basil and her story.

Exceptional!