If The White Lotus and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel had a literary cousin, it would be Kimberly Sullivan’s Easter at The Three Coins Inn. This is the kind of book that belongs to that popular hotel-set genre. Think Four Seasons on Netflix or any of those comfort-watch films where strangers’ lives intersect in beautiful locations. And thankfully, I have an unapologetic soft spot for this genre. There’s something irresistible about watching disparate lives collide in a contained, picturesque setting, at least for me!
The novel opens by introducing us to four main characters, each dissatisfied with their current circumstances and desperately seeking refuge at a charming Umbrian inn. There’s Madison, an ambitious TV reporter fleeing a career-ending public scandal; Heike, a Viennese widow tentatively returning to a country she once visited with her late husband; Chris, reeling from discovering his wife in bed with his best friend; and Grace, a grandmother who brings her granddaughter to get away as her daughter and son-in-law are currently separating.
Unlike The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, these characters aren’t all elderly retirees starting their golden years, and neither ultrarich like in The White Lotus. The characters span generations, from young Kathryn experiencing her first crush to Grace who is fifty-eight. Either way, this is comfort reading in its finest form, the type of book you want to curl up with when the world feels like it’s in flames. You can be pretty certain no great tragedy will befall these characters. No one dies unexpectedly, no terminal illnesses emerge in the third act, no marriages collapse beyond repair (well, except the ones already collapsed before arrival).
Yes, at times it does feel like a cheesy Hallmark movie, but honestly? I love putting those on in the background while cooking or folding laundry. Not everything needs to be Infinite Jest (and I’ve read it). Sometimes you just want to know that everything will work out okay, and there’s real value in that kind of comfort read.
The book is impressively professional for an indie book. I mean, the editing, formatting, pacing—it’s all chef’s kiss. The prose flows smoothly, never calling attention to itself but always landing the emotional beats exactly where they need to land. The book never feels rushed or clumsy; it knows exactly what it wants to be and executes that with confidence. The chapters alternate between character perspectives, each voice distinct enough that you never lose track of whose story you’re following, and the pacing ensures no single storyline dominates at the expense of others. I liked the little details like the character names written in scribbly, handwritten font at the start of each chapter.
While this is technically a sequel (the inn was apparently established by characters from the first book), most of the guests are new (very White Lotus-style), so you don’t need to have read the previous book to enjoy this one. Emma and Mark appear to be returning characters, but their backstories are sketched in lightly enough that newcomers won’t feel lost. The focus remains squarely on the fresh arrivals and their intersecting journeys.
And though the book is light and cosy, it’s not complete fluff. I actually learned things about Italy that surprised me. I’ve been to Italy several times, but I’d never heard the word agriturismo before (farm-stay accommodations that are apparently common in rural Italy). Sullivan includes these little details naturally, never in a way that feels like a travelogue or Wikipedia dump. And my favorite character has to be Ugo, the inn’s charmingly gruff driver with limited English.
The inn itself becomes a character in the book, a place where healing seems possible. You feel the warmth of the stone walls, smell the scents from the cooking classes, hear the church bells marking the hours. Without spoilers (because the pleasure is watching these arcs unfold), I can hint at where the characters end up: some find unexpected romance that might reshape their futures, others discover new friendships, and a few reimagine their entire career paths.
My only minor criticism? I’m frankly used to more drama. If you’re expecting White Lotus-level twists or darkness, you won’t find them here. No one turns out to be a secret con artist and no shocking betrayals happen during the stay itself (the betrayals pretty much all occur before arrival). This is a tamer, warmer version of that hotel-anthology format. The conflicts are largely internal. But that’s also exactly what makes it perfect for certain moods. All the characters are genuinely likeable, which, depending on your taste, is either a feature or a bug. If you’re exhausted by the world’s chaos and need a book that promises escapism, this book delivers exactly that.
So, if you’re looking for a professionally written hotel novel that prioritises a happy ending, Easter at The Three Coins Inn is a delightful choice. Pour yourself a glass of wine, settle into a comfortable chair, and let Umbria work its magic. You’ll emerge feeling like you’ve taken a vacation without leaving home, and sometimes that’s the highest compliment you can pay a book.
Final verdict: For fans of Maeve Binchy, Rosamunde Pilcher, and Debbie Macomber, this is the perfect read for when you need a bit of comfort rather than gut-punching drama. A very pleasant, peaceful reading experience.
You can get your copy of “Easter at The Three Coins Inn” here!
