I finished Suite Scarlett early this morning (at about 2 or 3 am). Knowing that there is a sequel made it a lot easier to finish; I would be very, very sad if there was no sequel.

Initially, I thought Marlene was a brat and that Mrs. Amberson was a crazy bitch. I like how Marlene has come around. I still think Mrs. Amberson is nuts, and I think Scarlett is crazy for agreeing to work with her again, but I’m sure it will provide for an interesting premise of the next book.

I love that this book is divided up like a play, while the characters are actually putting on a play. In Act I, we get a description of the hotel before diving in. It’s Scarlett’s fifteenth birthday, which is the age when all of the Martin children get a room to maintain in the hotel they live in and run. In Act II, we learn about the Empire Suite, which is the room that the conniving and dramatic Mrs. Amberson stays in. The description before Act III tells us about hotel ghosts and the possibility of one in the Hopewell Hotel (the hotel Scarlett’s family runs). I’m not exactly sure how this is relevant, since there were never any ghosts mentioned in Act III, but it was still cool to read more about the hotel’s history.

Before the final act — Act IV — we learn about the hotel’s Depression booze brewing days. This is appropriate because the characters are throwing a play in the hotel behind the owner’s backs, and also because Mrs. Amberson orders a whole lot of champagne for the play.

I like that Maureen Johnson left the book open ended; we don’t know if Eric and Scarlett work things out (although I think he’s a douchebag and she should move on), we don’t know what happens with the casting call Spencer got invited to, and we don’t know if Lola and Chip get back together.

There were a lot of one-liners and situations that made me laugh out loud in this book, which I like in a book. I’m definitely excited for the sequel, and definitely looking forward to reading more of Maureen Johnson’s work.