Review: How Not to Run a B&b

How Not to Run a B&b by Bobby Hutchinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For those interested in the financial aspects of how to run a B&B, this is not the book you are looking for. There is little here on finances, beyond noticing how expensive things are. There’s actually more financial info here on income of romance authors. And this doesn’t contain how-to’s on running a B&B. It’s not that kind of book. Oddly, it is more like “A Year in Provence”, albeit on a different scale and a tight budget. Instead of swimming pools and vineyards, this is more about electric toilets, stained sheets, and vermin infestations. The author describes many of her guests and renters, as well as the local folks that help her maintain her home and that provide the flavor of a neighborhood. She comes at innkeeping without having actually stayed at a B&B, and without apparently having lived in a large older house that required plentiful maintenance. She shares many mistakes and learnings, as many make for good anecdotes. I found this a quite interesting slice-of-life story, and I’m not surprised at where the story, and the author, goes in the end. The author includes some of her recipes, including some “tricks” she’s learned along the way. Most surprising to me were the number of foreign guests she attracts, many who stay for extended periods. If you have thought about opening a B&B, this will give you enough stories to either give pause or light your fuse. Entertaining.

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