As I loved the first book so much I was excited to get to read the sequel.

I was a little disappointed this time that there were some outdated references to mental health issues in reference to someone who was acting a little different. (“Loony bin” and “freak show.”) As a mother to two children with diagnosed Autism and having lost someone I love to suicide, I feel outdated references like this in fiction can be inherently harmful to people with disabilities and mental health issues, and teach kids it’s okay to talk about others this way, when it isn’t. I feel we’ve come so far on making mental health less taboo it seems such a pity to take one step forward and two steps back.

I was quite surprised with this behaviour/dialogue of Leo’s, and felt like this attitude - even in teenage angst - didn’t resonate with his character in the prequel of being incredibly kind and empathetic, and anti-bullying. On one occasion he talked back to his boss and was somewhat condescending, and I felt his mother would have raised him better. Even if he was joking/frustrated/is neurodivergent/is bitter about current life circumstances, he made no effort to apologize for his attitude - which seemed so unlike him when he was younger in the first book, when he was incredibly respectful of adults. However, I will say his actions did more than make amends later.

Also told again in dual languages for English and Spanish, so was nice to pick up some new Spanish words.

Otherwise, as a book dragon, I loved that this story’s magical theme was books. I thought the twist in the book was very cleverly done.

I also love that the book has a diverse range of characters and is inclusive. Overall a lovely story.

For the first chapters of this story I was really immersed in the story. Leo has moved from his hometown to another town because his mother's new job, he finds a summer job and discovers that the hotel he is not working at is a bit magical. He meets new people and begins to love spending time at that place.
I still loved the inclusion of spanish in the character's dialogue and the love they had for books.
But then as things progressed I kept having some issues with certain aspects of the story:
- some characters had moments where their behaviour was exaggerated or were acting out of characters.
- the way Leo's best friend was handled in this book
- the romance involving Leo's mother left me feeling like I was missing a huge part of the story.
- the repetition of certain elements across the same chapter. I am aware that this is a middle grade, but it was too much.
- the consequences of time travel were too convenient.
I have enjoyed the first book in this series so much more and how it dealt with relationships.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for eARC in exchange for a review.

There are things I loved about this book. After reading the first book, I liked the development of Leo into being more confident about himself. Book 1 had Leo more likely to stay introverted and to dwell on what other people thought about him to the point where he almost kept himself from trying new things. In this book, Leo takes chances and goes to work at a hotel, rolling with the problems that come up with guests and his coworkers without losing his stride too much.

The plot was interesting, the idea that the hotel that Leo works at for the summer sometimes plays refuge for book characters that are fleeing the bad endings of their stories. However, not enough was given of this interesting idea. The book, as in Leo's story, had two book characters as guests at the Magnolia Hotel, and that was it. There was not enough explanation for how they managed to get out of their books to enter Leo's world. There was no information about how book characters knew to go to the Magnolia hotel to begin with.

The other half of the story was Leo trying to save the Magnolia Hotel from being torn down. Again, a plot that could have been a great way to show how Leo has matured, to show how he uses his interest in books to connect with people and draw more attention to the hotel but the main part of this storyline involved some methods that had me scratching my head. I don't want to spoil the story for future readers but I will say that the twist almost seems to come out of nowhere. It didn't meld enough for me to feel satisfied with the ending.

In terms of characters, I feel like readers weren't given enough time with some to have their connections with Leo feel genuine. Leo's best friend Shane, from book 1, is mentioned a couple of times but is never seen on the page, even in a text message, which makes no sense to me in an age where teens have the whole world at their fingertips with just a phone at their disposal. Missy Carter, who is in charge of the book club mentioned in the synopsis, is seen hanging around but is largely missing until Leo really needs her to help him save the hotel. Mr. Jenkins returns from book 1 but after helping Leo figure out a breakfast problem for the hotel, he whisks Leo's Mom, María, off to a vacation in New Orleans. It kind of felt like the characters needed to be written out for Leo to have to fix everything on his own. Also, it honestly, it did not sit well with me that an almost 14-year-old was left alone for a week while his parent went on a vacation, a deserved break or not, as Leo claimed it was for his mom.

Pacing was a little weird at times. Leo would talk about Missy as if he knew quirks about her, predicting how she'd react to something happening on the page, and I was left thinking how does Leo know this? Did I miss it somewhere because Missy was literally missing for a large part of the story. Things like this left a disjointed feeling between points of the story.

In the end, I feel like this book had too many ideas trying to take center stage. I wanted more downtime with Leo learning the ins and outs of the Magnolia Hotel and its inhabitants. I wanted more time with runaway book characters and Leo helping them to take charge of their fates and forcing their authors to make their stories change for the better. If there is another book for Leo, I hope it takes the time to sit with Leo like book 1 did, so readers have a chance to see his growth, rather than being kept at an arm's distance while he runs around trying to save the world.

I'm so glad I got to read this wonderful middle-grade book; Leo and the Crazy Genre Hotel which is book two in Tsvi Jolles’s Leo’s Magical Journeys series.

If you pick this up and haven’t read book one, Leo and the Magic Guitar of the Ozarks, the author gives you a glimpse into what you have missed but I would recommend it for any young reader who loves the idea of music and magic being all around you. Book two takes both Leo and the reader on a journey as he and his Mom begin a new life away from all they have both known.

The Magnolia Hotel itself sounds like it’s stepped out of a movie and I for one would love a summer job there if it existed because all isn’t quite as it seems, the love of literature runs through its foundations and has done for nearly a century and the author breathes so much life into this wondrous hotel that the reader will easily see it in their mind’s eye. I couldn’t help but envision places from Wes Anderson movies - because it sounds both ornate and run down but still beautiful if you know what I mean.

I loved once again the relationship between Leo and his Mom, although we see a lot less of her this time because there are a lot of new faces that come Leo’s way. Once again I liked how Leo’s Mom tended to slip into her native Spanish when she spoke, often mixing it up with English as she went and it had a realism to it that I think adds so much not just to the character but to their relationship as a whole. There’s also the former teacher from book one who has continued his romance with Leo’s Mom and it was lovely to see her blossom etc and yet be so aware of her son’s needs - again these little nuances give so much to the book.

This is a story of magic, and the magic of the written word and I loved how some fictitious faces many readers both young and old will know, come to life for those who know. It seems as natural as anything for them to be a part of The Magnolia. Jolles writes them with the respect they deserve and takes little from the character we know from their original text. I loved this book, and read it over several hours because I just wanted to see where the story would take Leo and myself - I certainly didn’t expect some of the adventures he found himself on. I hope he gets to go on more, and perhaps we will see his best friend in them because I missed the camaraderie of the first one between Leo and Shane - he may be growing up but it seemed strange that we didn’t even get texts or calls from his friend since childhood.

I enjoyed this book so much. I loved how the author had Spanish speaking characters added into her book, and also made it clear or gave a story to what they were saying. It didn't make me annoyed to read stuff I didn't understand because I was involved in a way and kept waiting for another conversation. This book was a fantastic experience for me, it was a great read.

Leo and the Crazy Genre Hotel, Leo's Magical Journeys, Book 2 by Tsvi Jolles is not exactly what I thought it would be. It is a teen story with many storybook characters who have been treated with carelessness or neglect in the books. The hotel that Leo works at for the summer is in danger so the characters who live there are too. Leo has his own problems along with the hotel takeover, but those things are not in his control so he works with what he can do.

On a deeper level, wouldn’t many of us want to rewrite our stories or at least have an opportunity for a redo. Mostly we can must work with what we have too. It is a story to make you think.

The vibes of this book? 5 stars
The concept? Outstanding
The writing? Beautiful
The story? Hmm...

In concept, this book sounds brilliant - 14 year old Leo gets a summer job working the front desk of an old hotel, run by book-lover Missy. However, turns out that the old hotel is a magical refuge for book characters who have fled the bad endings in their own stories. (I'll admit, some suspension of belief is needed, but it's a younger YA, so I'll overlook that).
However, this is when the story takes a wild left turn, and not in a good way. We end up quickly abandoning the 'refugee story characters', in favour of *checks notes* time travelling and focusing on Gabriel García Márquez... Yeah, I've read the entire book, and I don't know why either.

If this book had stuck to its original concept, it could have been so good. But instead, it felt like too many vastly different ideas were crammed into one book, simply smashing together rather than blending into a cohesive story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eArc for this book!

This book was so much fun! Leo is a great protagonist to follow and the story was so creative and unique. I really enjoyed it!

I had so much fun with this MG book!

I did not realize it was book 2, but Tsvi Jolles does a good job of explaining the plot from the previous book so it was easy to follow along in this one. Leo is such a great character and all the other book characters mixed throughout made this such an entertaining read.

Highly recommend this one to book lovers of all ages!

Leo and the Crazy Genre Hotel is possibly one of the best children's books in the fantasy genre currently on the market! The characters are genuine, and the author traces the deeply connected relationships between each of the characters with masterful precision! This is a novel intended for literature lovers, history appreciators, and lovers of delving into multiple world cultures!

Young Leo embarks upon a grand adventure the summer of his 14th year, when he accepts a position working at Magnolia House, a local inn which has been in operation since 1926. Along his journey, he meets several characters straight out of favorite books, turns the destiny of a famed author around, and celebrates the marriage of his own mother to his former history teacher.

Leo and the Crazy Genre Hotel is a novel for readers who adore adventures and delving into world of fictional whimsy. While I prefer books that avoid contractions and untraditional sentence structure, the plot and elements of this book make it worthy of attention and appreciation.

Nearly, but not quite. The main character is delightful, and there is some lovely writing. There are also some wonderful story concepts - too many, in fact. It's like two plots crammed into one, and the whole 'crazy genre' concept, which is highlighted in the blurb, gets lost. Altogether, I think this is a book with a lot of potential, but it hasn't quite been realised.

I was initially interrested in this book from the gorgeous cover, and it did not dissapoint.

The story follows fourteen-year-old Leo, who anticipates a typical summer job at the Magnolia House Hotel. However, he soon discovers that the hotel is a sanctuary for characters who've fled their broken narratives. From a noir detective seeking a new storyline to a starlit wanderer challenging her predestined ending, each guest is on a quest to rewrite their fate. Leo's journey becomes even more compelling when he uncovers a hidden book club beneath the lobby and realizes he might hold the key to saving the hotel from a looming corporate threat. ​

Jolles' writing is both imaginative and accessible, making it perfect for readers aged 9 to 15. The narrative is rich with creativity, introducing a cast of characters that are as diverse as they are endearing. The hotel's concept—a refuge for characters escaping their stories—is both whimsical and thought-provoking, prompting readers to consider themes of destiny, choice, and self-determination.​

The pacing is well-balanced, with enough suspense to keep readers engaged while allowing moments of introspection and character development. The book's humor adds levity without undermining its more profound messages, making it a multifaceted read that entertains and enlightens.​

Overall, Leo and the Crazy Genre Hotel is a charming and insightful read that will resonate with young readers and adults alike. Tsvi Jolles has crafted a narrative that celebrates the power of stories and the courage it takes to change one's narrative.

This one's got a lot of heart and potential, but it didn't end up for me. On a line level, there was plenty of beautiful writing to be read. Maybe too much name-dropping than I would've liked, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. This was quick and easy to read. Perfect for a slow afternoon. The plot however... I understand that the target audience skews younger, but the plot required me to suspend my disbelief too much for my taste. The concept of a hotel as a refuge for story characters should've been right up my alley. Alas, it ended up falling flat for me. The characters were fun and quirky—maybe too quirky. Honestly, I couldn't help but think how incompetent the adults were while reading. Graciela ended up being annoying, Missy MIA for a large chunk of the story despite being the hotel manager—you get it. Because why does it fall to Leo to fix things? A lot of the development felt rushed as if I was just skimming the surface of the events instead of delving deep into the thick of things. I would've preferred more character work, too. It ended up difficult for me to immerse myself into the story. In fact, I found the foundations of the plot to be too wobbly for everything stand firm and make sense. Still, I can see other people enjoying this, especially those of a younger age. For me, however, this is a 2.5/5. Plenty of potential but lackluster execution.

I love that this story has Spanish speaking people representation. Specially in a realistic way for those who left their native land and have adopted English language and now have some Spanglish 😅🤣 I love the magical vibe throughout the story, the MC character development was very satisfying. It's a charming quick read that will leave you wanting more ✨️