Fairest Inn All - Amy R. Anguish

Book Stats:

Genre: YA Fairy Tale Telling Publication Date: 24 March 2026

Series: Real Life Fairy Tales Book 2 Pages: 312

Format: E-book Source: ARC

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book, but I think I liked the first one a little better. I loved being able to follow the brother/sister duo from the first book and see their own stories play out. The way Kari was working on the inn and how her creativity comes out in decorating was so fun to read about because that is definitely not where my strengths are, yet I find it so fascinating. The remaking of the inn and sprucing it up was really fun to watch. The nods to the original fairy tale were also so much fun to catch and then when a nod to Red Riding Hood was thrown it, I laughed out loud because it was so clever.

In this book much like the first I love how Royal quietly, consistently continued showing up to let Kari know he was serious and had feelings for her. I love too that he helps her to have some fun and explore the world around her, not just get lost in the to do list and worries that can be all consuming. I feel as though the faith was a bit lighter in this book, but it was still present. The uncles were fun and I wish we had a little more interaction with them to get to know them a bit better, but I am glad they were included.

Overall another four star read.

You can find more information about the book from the author's website here: Fairest Inn All

Quote Time:

"She'll never believe in a happy ending until she experiences one. Or realizes that happily ever after doesn't always look the same for everyone. I often wonder if the books end where they do because we love to be left with that sense of euphoria of everything working out like we wanted. But if it went further, we'd see that life isn't always easy and comes with its fair share of bumps and bruises. Doesn't mean it's not worth it. And often, it's easier when you're taking the road hand-in-hand with someone instead of trying to do it all alone."

I have been marinating on this quote because it is so interesting to me. I definitely agree, but it wasn't a thought I ever considered before. In fact, as I am growing and maturing in my faith, I wish more books were written about married couples and the ups and downs. I think it could give encouragement and strength to see more of the after the "I dos" and what marriage looks like walking with your spouse to glorify God.

I want to thank the author and publisher for a copy of this book to read, with no expectations of a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Meet the Author:

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

More from Amy:

Fairest Inn All was never supposed to exist. Honestly, I never expected to write a fairy-tale retelling, even though it’s one of my favorite tropes to read. But then God gave me the idea to write Rendersella a few years ago. I was inspired by a trip to West Virginia and the story would not leave me alone until I got it all typed up. And I had an absolute blast weaving in characters and plot points that reminded the reader enough of the classic fairy tale, but still told a new story.

Thing is, by the end of writing Rendersella, I discovered something. One, Ella’s best friend Kari was supposed to be Snow White. And two, that her stepsister Bellamy needed to have her own story told in Beauty School and the Beast (releasing March 2027). This put a crimp in my plans. After all, I’d barely reconciled myself to telling one fairy-tale retelling, to say nothing of three. But the characters wouldn’t hush.

So, with Kari’s story itching to be told, I had some decisions to make. I knew it was going to be in Brunswick, Georgia with her seven uncles and her ornery brother Jake. But how to weave in all the elements that make a story sing fairy tale without it sounding like every other version?

Well, one of the changes I made was to name the uncles after apples. After all, their last name is Apple, and so is the name of their old inn. That was fun, picking from the thousands of apple names to find ones that matched the personalities of the gentlemen. Then, I brought in an evil character named Queenie to be the nemesis of Kari, aka Snow. Queenie wants the inn and will stoop to all sorts of levels to try and get it. And, of course, I needed a princely character. Enter Royal Barrett, son of a man on the Chamber of Commerce. He is helping organize a contest called the Fairest Inn All, meant to encourage the owners of old inns to revamp and preserve the history of the area. Add in some fun scenes, a hurricane, and a bit of “poison,” and voila!

If you think that sounds too easy, you’re right. I agonized over several of the parts of this book. But it turned out so much fun, in my opinion. And you might even discover a few extra characters along the way.

Retelling stories that are already much-loved, I’ve discovered, is a delicate balance. It’s hard to make sure everything comes out familiar enough while still new. But when it works, it leaves the reader wanting even more. And maybe even the author too. Hence, another fairy-tale retelling from me with another on the way next year.

Do you love fairy-tale retellings? What are some of your favorites? How do you feel about stories you’ve loved forever being rewoven in a different way?