Scan barcode
rochelleweinstein's review
5.0
"Great love stories make your heart pound, your dreams soar, and your sense of daring heighten as you risk all for the person who put fire into your life.”
Camille Di Maio’s The Beautiful Strangers will captivate fans of historical fiction and anyone wishing to lose themselves in a beautiful love story. Set in the elegant 1950s Hotel del Coronado, the novel follows Kate Morgan on a courageous journey to find the beautiful stranger, a woman whose spirit is inexplicably tied to her own, all while tending to a blossoming romance. Cameos by Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon make for a delightful glimpse beneath the glamourous facade of the film world and set the stage for a story that both touches and transports. There are beautiful strangers among each of us—depending on how closely we choose to look.
Camille Di Maio’s The Beautiful Strangers will captivate fans of historical fiction and anyone wishing to lose themselves in a beautiful love story. Set in the elegant 1950s Hotel del Coronado, the novel follows Kate Morgan on a courageous journey to find the beautiful stranger, a woman whose spirit is inexplicably tied to her own, all while tending to a blossoming romance. Cameos by Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon make for a delightful glimpse beneath the glamourous facade of the film world and set the stage for a story that both touches and transports. There are beautiful strangers among each of us—depending on how closely we choose to look.
chelsbethbaute's review
3.0
This book was...fine, I guess. I was obsessed with The Memory of Us and was hoping this would be another hit. Some of the plots were just so random and it felt forced. In points I felt like the author thought, “oh right, I haven’t talked about Some Like It Hot in a while.” Like I said, it was fine?
arounds's review
4.0
I love when authors take real life circumstances and add their twist to them. Kate Morgan, the ghost narrating many parts of the novel, actually did die at the steps of this hotel. “Some Like it Hot” was filmed at this hotel. While the stars in real life were minor characters in the story, I adored the way Di Maio wove human longing to connect with the real by playing with supernatural forces to do so. It was a one day read for me. It had so many things I adore in books: mystery, love, and the pains and beauty that layer over one another in a lace-like pattern that is being human. We can’t have one without the other. It left me smiling...
kittietta's review
5.0
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Camille DeMaio weaves a wonderful tale. If you hadn't read one of her books you must!
The book has beautifully captured the description of Hotel Del Coronado in California and weaved in this story a supposed ghost that resides there.. Part mystery, part historical fiction, part romance and all mixed together to become a touching, well written, engaging story with very likeable characters.
Camille DeMaio weaves a wonderful tale. If you hadn't read one of her books you must!
The book has beautifully captured the description of Hotel Del Coronado in California and weaved in this story a supposed ghost that resides there.. Part mystery, part historical fiction, part romance and all mixed together to become a touching, well written, engaging story with very likeable characters.
fozzybear's review
5.0
This was my first dive back into reading last year. It was a perfect start. I didnt know I liked historical fiction until after reading this one. This book has some of everything...history...romance...paranormal.
bookapotamus's review
5.0
When cosmic forces bring together everything you love in a story ... a seaside hotel, a legendary ghost, a love triangle, a curious mystery, old hollywood glamour and Marilyn Monroe. This book is an ethereal mix of all of those things scented with ocean air and the warm hug of family, I adored every minute and may have a had a mini panic attack when I saw I was almost finished...
It's the late 50's and movie lover Kate Morgan is stuck. Working at her family's restaurant in San Francisco is not what she had in mind for her life, and craves working in the pictures, on movies sets, or in a Hollywood environment. Her biggest supporter of her dream is her ailing grandfather who urges her to follow her dreams. Dreams which may just be found by answering an ad he finds in the paper.
She soon courageously escapes the everyday doldrums in SF and makes her way to the Hotel del Coronado in SoCal where the filming of the movie Some Like it Hot is in progress. She's told no one but her sister, and her grandfather - who urges her to go with a request... to find the "beautiful stranger." The Hotel is more than she could have imagined - the glitz and glamour a bit overwhelming, the rumors of a ghost who wanders the halls is chilling - but she jumps right into the hustle and bustle of hotel life, tending to celebrities, and working alongside a man who welcomes her to the Coronado and helps her follow her dreams.
We follow both Kate and another interesting hotel guest from years ago, and their lives slowly begin to intertwine in the most deliciously pleasing way. The characters are dreamy and delightful, the writing is elegant and charming and although I ached over some heartbreaking moments, I became transported to a time equally haunting and glamourous, and could feel the sand between my toes and salt air in my soul. I'm enamored with this book, and I think you will be too.
It's the late 50's and movie lover Kate Morgan is stuck. Working at her family's restaurant in San Francisco is not what she had in mind for her life, and craves working in the pictures, on movies sets, or in a Hollywood environment. Her biggest supporter of her dream is her ailing grandfather who urges her to follow her dreams. Dreams which may just be found by answering an ad he finds in the paper.
She soon courageously escapes the everyday doldrums in SF and makes her way to the Hotel del Coronado in SoCal where the filming of the movie Some Like it Hot is in progress. She's told no one but her sister, and her grandfather - who urges her to go with a request... to find the "beautiful stranger." The Hotel is more than she could have imagined - the glitz and glamour a bit overwhelming, the rumors of a ghost who wanders the halls is chilling - but she jumps right into the hustle and bustle of hotel life, tending to celebrities, and working alongside a man who welcomes her to the Coronado and helps her follow her dreams.
We follow both Kate and another interesting hotel guest from years ago, and their lives slowly begin to intertwine in the most deliciously pleasing way. The characters are dreamy and delightful, the writing is elegant and charming and although I ached over some heartbreaking moments, I became transported to a time equally haunting and glamourous, and could feel the sand between my toes and salt air in my soul. I'm enamored with this book, and I think you will be too.
bibliopage's review
4.0
A perfect read that brings me right to the beach and back in time! This dual-historical fiction novel gave a different backstory to Hotel Coronado most famous resident--Kate Morgan by making her one of the main characters. The mystery element kept me intrigued until the last page!
jaded618's review
5.0
This book was so wonderful! I could not put it down. I enjoyed the writers ability to tie together some history with her imagination.
Kate is a young woman with dreams of doing more in her life than working at her uncle's restaurant, and because of the insistence of her grandfather she takes that chance and it changes her life completely. I feel like the book could have been even longer to have more in depth about her changing and more about her return home and moving forward.
Cannot wait to recommend!
Kate is a young woman with dreams of doing more in her life than working at her uncle's restaurant, and because of the insistence of her grandfather she takes that chance and it changes her life completely. I feel like the book could have been even longer to have more in depth about her changing and more about her return home and moving forward.
Cannot wait to recommend!
illidia316's review
5.0
Another amazing book by Camille Di Maio! The characters she writes are so realistic that I’m always able to watch them experience their stories - I’m just along for the ride. I particularly loved The Beautiful Strangers for its amazing story and side characters - characters such as Marilyn Monroe and other stars of the time! As usual, I can’t wait to read the author’s next book.
cebaute's review
3.0
This book was...fine, I guess. I was obsessed with The Memory of Us and was hoping this would be another hit. Some of the plots were just so random and it felt forced. In points I felt like the author thought, “oh right, I haven’t talked about Some Like It Hot in a while.” Like I said, it was fine?