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2.5 stars.

I think some people will really, really enjoy this (especially kids!) but it wasn't quite for me.

First off, I want a stay at that hotel. I really enjoyed the setting and all the themed floors - especially the train inside a library with a skylight, which is just, like, a fantasy of mine. This middle grade definitely tended towards the younger side in its narration, which isn't generally my preference, although we got some good themes of loss sprinkled throughout which was nicely done. I generally enjoy middle grade when the kids are acting way more mature for their age than they should be. Leo and Remy acted pretty mature for their age, but still, well, like kids. Nothing wrong with it, just not as much my jam.

Something that just rubbed me the wrong way was the running gag that Remy, a Hispanic boy, smelled like enchiladas. When he was hiding in a room the villain knew he was there because "she smelled enchiladas". At one point he was just straight up called "enchiladas". I get that at one point he had an enchilada in his pocket, so that would maybe smell (??), but it just didn't need to be there at all and felt kinda gross. I'm done saying enchilada now.

Anyway, I listened to this on audiobook, a format I've criminally underutilized lately, which was a lot of fun. The voice of our villian, Ms. Sparks, was so effectively grating and irritating I wanted to reach through my phone and kick her out of the hotel myself.

Overall, a lot of fun with Willy Wonka vibes, but with the younger vibes from this middle grade I'm happy to move onto something else.