Assessment:
Plot: Running a Bed & Breakfast is a romanticized dream for many, so hearing the challenges that soured that dream for the author is an intriguing hook.
Prose/Style: The writing style is casual, likened to an approachable gossip session with a friend. Even if the gossip grows a little mean at times, the reader is invited along to obtain all the dirt.
Originality: So many writers are encouraging and try to guide their readers on how to enjoy similar experiences to their own. Marko is definitely not doing that here! Readers will laugh and cringe along with the author as she makes it plain that running a B&B comes with a lot of unexpected downsides.
Character Development/Execution: There is quite the cast of characters in this story. The author herself is in the leading role, and the reader gets to know her well. The other characters are a series of first impressions. While it is left certain that Marko dealt with some very difficult people, most readers will also be thankful to not have been put in her crosshairs.
Date Submitted: October 19, 2021
Goodreads Review from Kread, 5/5 STARS
If you are ever considering a B&B in your own home, this book by Sue Marko is a must read. It was well written and very easy to read. Sue has a wonderful way of really telling it like it is. I laughed the whole way through this book of the stories Sue told of guests in her beautiful home. I also found myself so angry at some of the people she had to deal with - I don't know how she did it. I'm not sure I'd be willing to open a B&B anytime soon. Thank you Sue for sharing your experience in the B&B world.
Goodreads: Caroline L, 5/5 STARS
This book was great fun, and is such a good resource if you, or anyone you know is seriously considering opening/operating a B&B. It really opens your eyes to the unique challenges this kind of business has and the outside forces that can challenge an operator and affect a business. Very well written, with so much humor, and it is a good thing as many of the true stories really are shocking!
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I recommend it. It would make a great TV series!
Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' FavoriteMany people have a romanticized perspective of owning a bed and breakfast property. Sue and her boyfriend TR bought a house in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. At first, the transfer seemed normal until the previous owners did some odd things, like not moving out on the designated date. The many trials of operating a B&B are detailed in a short-story format in the non-fiction work, To BnB or Not to BnB: Deromanticizing the Dream penned by Sue Marko. The stories include funny, revealing, and sometimes almost unbelievable scenarios as guests can be clueless, rude, and sometimes frightening. The hard work involved, including maintaining the building, yard, rooms, cooking, etc., will provide new insights. Along the way, Sue includes helpful information such as needed certifications and safety concerns.This book is an entertaining read and would be helpful to anyone who is considering buying a B&B or is already operating one. One of the interesting aspects is Sue’s ownership of her mistakes, stating she learned never to do that again. Her writing is realistic and honest; however, the text is sprinkled with a fair number of swear words, so readers should be aware. The process of selling the business also had its difficulties, but she was able to sell it after fourteen years of ownership. The best feature of this book is that it is eye-opening and will most likely affect readers as it promised – deromanticizing the dream. Author Sue Marko's To BnB or Not to BnB is a must-read for those interested in this business. 5/5 STARS.
