I picked up A Castle in the Clouds by Kerstin Gier without reading the synopsis, just going by the title, I assumed it would be a magical story about a castle or an old mansion. I didn’t expect it to be set during a snowy, wintery, and cozy season. And the funny thing is, I ended up reading it in the middle of Indonesia’s dry, sunny weather. It took me almost a month to finish this one. I was torn between saving it for colder days or just pushing through. In the end, I kept reading, and I’m glad I did.
This is that perfect book for you, if you're craving a book that feels like a snowy getaway with a side of mischief. This cozy mystery set in a charming Swiss hotel serves up winter magic, quirky characters, and just enough intrigue to keep you flipping pages. Follow Sophie Spark, a hilariously relatable teen intern, as she tries to solve the mystery of missing jewels, secretive guests, and maybe even a ghost (or two) while trying to save her beloved temporary home.
(Awalnya aku baca buku ini karena judulnya keren, A Castle in the Clouds. Aku kira ini bakal cerita mistis tentang kastil tua atau mansion angker. Ternyata salah total! Ini malah cerita cozy mystery winter yang settingnya di hotel Swiss yang aesthetic banget. Yang lucunya, aku baca ini pas lagi musim panas terik di Indonesia. Butuh waktu hampir sebulan buat aku menyelesaikan buku ini, soalnya aku galau, mau disimpen dulu buat dibaca pas musim yang lebih dingin, atau langsung gaskeun aja? Akhirnya aku pilih lanjut baca, dan ternyata worth it banget!
Buku ini tuh perfect banget buat kamu yang pengen feel liburan bersalju tapi dompet lagi kering, suka cerita misteri tapi yang cozy, bukan yang horor, mau baca tentang karakter utama yang sarkas dan relatable, atau pengen escape sebentar dari cuaca panas Indonesia. Bayangin aja: ada Sophie Spark, si intern kocak yang harus menghadapi:
🔎 Permata hilang
👻 Hantu (katanya)
🕵️ Tamu-tamu misterius
🏨 Dan usaha nyelametin hotel tempat dia kerja
Vibes-nya bikin betah baca sambil minum es teh atau kopi!)
BOOK INFORMATION
Title : A Castle in the Clouds
Author : Kerstin Gier
Translator : Romy Fursland
Language : English
Length : 464 pages
Released : October 5, 2017
Read : June 23 - July 20, 2023
GR Rating : 3.95
My rating : 4.25
TL;DR: Snowy Swiss hotel + sarcastic teen intern + missing jewels + chaotic found family = the coziest mystery ever. Like The Grand Budapest Hotel if it was YA and had a ghost or two. Low-stakes but high-charm.
⚠️ WARNINGS
• May cause: Extreme wanderlust, sudden urge to drink hot cocoa, and irrational desire to adopt a possibly-immortal cat.
• Plot spoiler: The mystery isn’t that mysterious (you’ll guess some twists), but the vibes carry.
• Minor ick: The love triangle is cute but basic.
✅ PERFECT FOR YOU IF:
• You live for autumn/winter aesthetic (snow, sweaters, grand hotels).
• You want humor + light mystery without stress.
• You love chaotic-but-lovable MCs (Sophie = relatable mess).
• You’re obsessed with found-family tropes.
❌ AVOID IF:
• You need high-stakes thrills (this is more "sip tea while solving crimes").
• You hate slow starts (first few chapters are a bit info-dumpy).
• You demand steamy romance (it’s PG flirting at best).
BOOK REVIEW
Winter turns the Swiss Alps into a snow globe dream, and the historic Castle in the Clouds hotel is the perfect holiday escape, at least for Sophie Spark. The 17-year-old intern ditched repeating high school to work there, but her fresh start gets messy fast. First, she overhears the owners might sell the place to some modernizing mega-rich dude. Then a guest’s fancy engagement ring vanishes. Sure, the mystery isn’t groundbreaking, but Sophie’s sarcastic narration and big heart make you root for her anyway.
Sophie’s internship goes from "charming winter gig" to "chaos central" when the hotel floods with guests. There’s Ben, the cute owner’s son (who she almost sleds into), a grumpy housekeeper, a chef who speaks in puns, and (oh yeah) a ghost. (Also a cat that might be immortal? Details.) It’s a lot of personalities, but Sophie’s hilarious inner monologue keeps everyone straight. You’ll wish you could join the staff for gossip in the laundry room.
The real star? The hotel itself. Hidden staircases, old rooms, and those snowy mountain views out every window, it’s basically a fairy tale. Sophie’s stuck babysitting bratty kids and juggling crushes on Ben and Tristan (a smooth-talking jeweler’s grandson), but the place feels so magical, you’ll forget it’s crumbling behind the scenes. Even when things get wild, this book never loses its cozy, mischievous vibe.
Then things get really interesting. That sweet old lady guest? Might be a Russian billionaire in disguise. The "bodyguard" lurking around? Super shady. And don’t even get Sophie started on the local legend about hotel kidnappers. This story takes a minute to warm up, but once the secrets start unraveling, you’ll race to see if Sophie can save her beloved castle, or if she’ll end up jobless (and maybe heartbroken) by New Year’s.
Honestly for me, the first few chapters drag a bit. There's a ton of names to remember and backstory to wade through before things get juicy. But stick with it! Once Sophie's settled in, the story finds its rhythm, bouncing between her hilarious mishaps (babysitting gone wrong, anyone?) and the real drama of whether the hotel can be saved. Even the slower scenes are saved by Sophie's razor-sharp wit, this girl could make reading a phone book entertaining.
What really makes this book special is watching Sophie grow up without even realizing she's doing it. Sure, there's some cute-boy drama (team Ben or team Tristan? You decide!), but the real romance is between Sophie and this quirky hotel family she's found. Whether she's getting roasted by the grumpy housekeeper or feeding her pet birds (yes, really), these relationships feel so genuine you'll want to book a stay at the Castle yourself.
The mystery won't give Sherlock Holmes a run for his money, you'll probably guess some twists early, but who cares? Between secret rich people, maybe-ghosts, and that epic New Year's Eve showdown, it's about the ride, not the destination. Gier knows exactly what she's doing: delivering a cozy, satisfying story that feels like slipping into your favorite sweater.
Bottom line? This book is pure winter magic. Yeah, it takes a minute to warm up, but once it does, you're in for a treat like sipping hot cocoa by a fire while snow falls outside. Perfect for when you want mystery without stress, romance without drama, and characters who feel like friends. When you turn the last page, you'll have that happy-book glow for days.
(Alpen Swiss berubah jadi dunia salju, dan Castle in the Clouds, hotel tua yang megah, jadi tempat pelarian Sophie Spark. Cewek 17 tahun ini kabur karena harus mengulang SMA buat jadi intern di sini, tapi hidupnya langsung kacau: dengar kabar hotel mau dijual ke orang kaya yang mau renovasi total, terus cincin tunangan tamu hilang secara misterius. Misterinya sih gak terlalu mind-blowing, tapi Sophie yang sarkas bikin kita auto dukung dia!
Kegiatan magang Sophie berubah dari "kerja santai musim dingin" jadi pusat kekacauan pas hotel penuh tamu. Ada Ben, anak ganteng pemilik hotel (yang nyaris ditabrak Sophie waktu sleding), kepala housekeeping yang galak, koki yang cuma ngomong pakai pun, dan eh iya, ada hantunya juga. (Dan kucing yang kayaknya immortal? Nanti dulu.) Karakternya seabrek, tapi monolog dalam hati Sophie yang kocak bikin gampang inget. Pengen banget nimbrung gosip sama kru laundry mereka!
Bintang utamanya? Hotelnya sendiri! Tangga rahasia, kamar-kamar antik, pemandangan gunung salju dari jendela, kayak di dongeng. Sophie sibuk jagain anak yang bandel dan bingung antara naksir Ben atau Tristan (cucu si tukang perhiasan yang pinter ngomong), tapi aura ajaib hotel ini bikin lupa kalau bangunannya sebenernya tua dan reyot. Even pas chaos, buku ini tetep cozy dan seru kayak selimut hangat.
Semuanya jadi makin seru ketika ada: nenek-nenek manis? Jangan salah, dia bisa jadi oligarki Rusia yang nyamar. Bodyguard seliweran? Jelas-jelas mencurigakan. Belum lagi legenda lokal soal penculik di hotel, Sophie aja sampai eye-roll. Ceritanya emang agak slow di awal, tapi pas rahasia mulai terbongkar, buku ini bakal jadi page-turner buat lihat: bisakah Sophie menyelamatkan tempat kerja kesayangannya, atau malah jadi pengangguran (dan patah hati) pas tahun baru?
Jujur aja, beberapa bab awal agak slow burn. Nama-nama karakter seabrek, backstory-nya juga banyak banget. Tapi sabar dulu! Begitu Sophie mulai settle in, ceritanya langsung lancar, antara ulah kocaknya (bayangin aja dia gagal total jadi babysitter) sama drama "bisakah hotel ini diselamatkan?". Meski pas adegannya agak lambat, sarkasme Sophie bikin tetep seru. Karakter utama kita ini bahkan baca buku telepon aja bakal bisa bikin ketawa!
Yang bikin buku ini worth it? Melihat Sophie tumbuh tanpa sadar. Iya, ada dikit-dikit love triangle (Tim Ben atau Tim Tristan? Pilih sendiri!), tapi yang bikin meleleh tuh hubungan Sophie sama found family di hotel ini. Pas dia di-roast sama si kepala housekeeping galak, atau ngasih makan burung-burung piaraannya, rasanya tulus banget. Sampai pengen check-in di Castle in the Clouds beneran!
Misterinya sih gak bakal bikin Sherlock Holmes kelabakan, beberapa twist bisa ditebak dari awal. Tapi emang itu poinnya! Yang penting tuh jalan ceritanya: ada orang kaya nyamar, hantu maybe-maybe not, dan pesta tahun baru yang epik. Kerstin Gier pinter banget bikin cerita yang cozy kayak pakai sweater favorit, simple tapi bikin nyaman.
Intinya? Buku ini pure winter magic. Emang perlu waktu buat warming up, tapi setelah itu? Enak banget kayak minum coklat panas di depan perapian pas salju turun. Cocok banget buat yang pengen: Misteri tanpa deg-degan, romance tanpa drama lebay, dan karakter yang rasanya kayak temen sendiri. Habis baca, kita bakal betah nongkrong di afterglow-nya berhari-hari!)
WHAT I LOVE
■ The ultimate cozy vibes. This book is like teleporting to a snowy Swiss hotel without leaving your couch. Think crackling fires, secret staircases, and that magical winter quiet where everything feels peaceful. The Castle itself is basically this book's quirky side character that you'll wish was real.
■ Sophie = your new book BFF. Our girl Sophie is that hilarious friend who always has the best sarcastic comebacks. She's messy, relatable, and grows on you like that one sweater you never want to take off. Her inner monologue had me actually LOL-ing, no fake "book laughter" here.
■ The perfect humor balance. The funny moments hit just right, no cringe, no trying too hard. Whether it's Sophie's snark or the hotel's resident "immortal" cat causing chaos, the humor feels natural and keeps things light.
■ You can TASTE the atmosphere. Gier writes descriptions so vivid you'll feel snowflakes on your face and smell the hot chocolate. It's detailed enough to be immersive but never bogs down the story. Major "I-want-to-live-there" energy.
■ All the warm fuzzies. That ending? Pure comfort food in book form. It's sweet without being saccharine, leaving you with that happy-sigh feeling like after a great holiday movie.
■ Found family feels. Sophie's journey from lonely dropout to part of the hotel's weird little family hits right in the heart. Bonus points for: the opera-singing laundry guy, the maybe-ghost/maybe-just-eccentric guests, and that one cat who might actually be supernatural.
■Just the right mix. It's got: 🔎 Light mystery (no stress, just fun) + 💕 A dash of romance (but no insta-love nonsense) + 🎭 Coming-of-age vibes. All blended together like the perfect winter cocktail.
(■ Vibes cozy level maksimal. Buku ini kayak bikin kita teleport ke hotel Swiss bersalju tanpa perlu keluar dari sofa. Bayangin aja: suara api di perapian, tangga rahasia, dan suasana winter yang adem ayem bikin hati tenang. Castle in the Clouds-nya sendiri tuh kayak karakter sampingan yang bikin pengen ketemu beneran!
■ Sophie = BFF favorit kita semua. Sophie tuh temen yang selalu punya comeback sarkas, berantakan tapi relate banget, dan bikin kita jatuh hati kayak baju favorit yang udah bolong tapi tetep kita pakai. Monolog dalam hatinya beneran bikin ketawa ngakak, bukan ketawa palsu ala sinetron!
■ Lucunya pas banget. Humornya nggak maksa dan nggak cringe. Entah itu sarkasme Sophie atau ulah si kucing "immortal" yang bikin onar, semua keluar natural dan bikin cerita tetap ringan.
■ Atmosfernya hidup banget. Deskripsinya tajam banget sampai kita bisa ngerasain dinginnya salju dan mencium aroma coklat panas. Detilnya pas, cukup buat kebawa suasana tapi nggak bertele-tele. Bikin pengen pindah ke sana!
■ Endingnya bikin hati adem. Penutupnya tuh kayak comfort food versi buku, manisnya pas, nggak lebay, dan ninggalin perasaan seneng kayak habis nonton film Natal favorit.
■ Found family yang mengharukan. Perjalanan Sophie dari anak kesepian jadi bagian dari keluarga aneh hotel ini bikin hati meleleh. Bonus gemesin: Si tukang laundry yang suka nyanyi opera, tamu-tamu unik (hantu beneran atau cuma tamu eksentrik?), dan si kucing yang kayaknya bukan kucing biasa.
■ Punya perpaduan yang pas. Ada: 🔎 Misteri ringan (seru tapi nggak bikin stres) + 💕 Sedikit romance (tapi tanpa instalove) + 🎭 Vibes coming-of-age. Dicampur sempurna kayak minuman winter favorit!)
📊 VIBE CHECK:
Cozy: 10/10
Funny: 8/10
Romance: 5/10
Suspense: 3/10
Want to live in this setting: 1000/10
FINAL VERDICT: Ideal for when you want to feel like you’re on a winter vacation without leaving bed. #BookTokApproved ❄️
CONCLUSION
A Castle in the Clouds is the literary equivalent of wrapping yourself in a warm blanket with a cup of hot cocoa, comforting, fun, and sprinkled with just the right amount of adventure. While the mystery won’t keep you up at night guessing, Sophie’s wit, the hotel’s enchanting atmosphere, and the lovable cast make it impossible to put down. By the end, you’ll be searching for your own snowy retreat (or at least another book just like this one). Perfect for fans of lighthearted, character-driven stories that leave you smiling. Now, who’s booking a ticket to Switzerland? ✨🏔️
P.S. If you’ve read it, team Ben or team Tristan? Let’s argue in the comments! 😉
(Buku ini tuh kayak selimut hangat + coklat panas versi novel, nyaman, seru, dan ada sedikit petualangan. Misterinya sih gak bikin deg-degan, tapi Sophie yang ceplas-ceplos, suasana hotelnya yang aesthetic, dan para karakternya yang lovable bikin gak bisa berhenti baca. Habis baca, siap-siap kepengen liburan ke Swiss atau nyari buku serupa! Cocok banget buat yang suka cerita ringan tapi bikin senyum-senyum sendiri. Nah, siapa nih yang udah siapin tiket ke Swiss? ✨🏔️
P.S. Yang udah baca: tim Ben atau tim Tristan? Adu argumen di komen yuk! 😉)
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