Inn Mates: An Innkeeper’s Memoir
I was provided with a copy of Inn Mates: An Innkeeper’s Memoir to review. These are my honest thoughts on the book.
TL; DR: Honest, humorous, and a reminder that most things don’t come easy, Inn Mates is an entertaining read through the ups and downs of buying, renovating, running, and moving on from a coastal Maine inn…and dealing with plenty of other life events along the way.
I love puns, so Inn Mates’ title immediately had a hold on me. If you’re looking for a book that will make you chuckle, grimace, and shake your head in wonder and worry, Inn Mates is the memoir for you. Easy to read, but not short on eventful moments, the book shares Teri and Jeff Anderholm’s story, centered around their experience buying, owning, and selling a luxury inn in Bar Harbor. They were coming from the corporate world, but both had background lending itself to running the inn. However, this does not mean everything went smoothly - from construction to guest interactions to other life (and weather) events, the Anderholms had many hurdles to clear before and while running the inn. It’s a mix of crazy anecdotes and real-talk about the valleys and mountains of life, but it never strays into ‘woe is me’ territory. However, you won’t walk away from the book with the misperception that running a coastal inn is a perpetual vacation, either.
Teri shares the stories with humor, highlighting anecdotes about quirky guests and their requests and letting the reader peek behind the curtain at how things like meals and housekeeping are handled. You can sense the joy she experienced at the arrival of many guests - and at the departure of others. Wow, are there some crazy demanding people in this world!
The use of ‘Front Desk Notes’ throughout the book added a nice flair to the stories, filling in background easily for readers while reminding us of the sheer number of things an innkeeper and their staff has to keep track of.
I have some minor quibbles with the book - parts of it seemed repetitive - but overall it was an enjoyable, entertaining read that made me want to know the outcome of each and every anecdote shared.
If you need a laugh, or just want an occasion to dive into someone else’s story and shake your head, pick up a copy of Inn Mates. And if you’re thinking of pulling up stakes, moving to Maine, and running an inn - definitely read this before you take another step.