The Beautiful Strangers

By: Camille Di Maio

Narrated by: Jess Nahikian, Sarah Naughton

Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

A legendary hotel on the Pacific becomes a haven where dreams, love, and a beguiling mystery come alive.

1958. Kate Morgan, tethered to her family’s failing San Francisco restaurant, is looking for an escape. She gets her chance by honoring a cryptic plea from her grandfather: find the beautiful stranger. The search takes her to Hotel del Coronado, the beachfront landmark on the Southern California coast where filming is underway on the movie Some Like It Hot.

For a movie lover like Kate, it’s a fantasy come true. So is the offer of a position at the glamorous hotel. And a new romance is making her heart beat just as fast. But as sure as she is that Coronado is her future, Kate discovers it’s also where the ghosts of the past have come to stay. Sixty years ago a guest died tragically, and she still haunts the hotel’s halls.

As the lives of two women - generations apart - intertwine, Kate’s courageous journey could change more than she ever imagined. And with Coronado wending its way through her soul, she must follow her dreams...wherever they may lead.

©2019 Camille Di Maio (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic Reviews

“Fans of classic Hollywood, historical fiction, and light romance will enjoy this tale of California sunshine, ghosts, and love.” (Booklist)

Narrator Nearly Ruined It

I think I would have enjoyed this book so much more with a different narrator! She made the main character seem so morose, sullen, and sad, and the text just didn't support that. She imbued the story with way too much melancholy and a real mournful quality. I hated the over-performance, and truly think the narrator affected my overall reaction to the book itself. Find a physical copy of this one—DON'T LISTEN.

Performance

I struggled to get through this book because of voice performance. Speaking parts were at a good speed but slowed down too much for descriptives. There is no way to adjust one without the other.

good story hampered by narrator

this was a good story overall. interesting twists. the narrator of the main character, however tended to have too high a voice that sounded odd, choked and flat affect when speaking for the males in the story. the narrator of the ghost was excellent which made the lack of affect in the main narrator's voice stand out that much more. if you can get past that flaw then it is worth the listen.

‘The Beautiful Strangers’ needed something else

I’m writing this review halfway through the audio and I’m not happy. Every time around Chapter 15 I would have to start over & over & over...the narration was terrible. The author Camille Di Maio could have had any narrator she wanted and I’ve listened to many of her books..but she blew it on the audio version. It’s hard to explain but the main character just didn’t understand where pauses were..like commas, and overall phrases. I actually waited 2 months for this to come out, and I was extremely disappointed. Let’s say it reminded me of an actor doing a reading, without acting it out, because that’s what audible is ‘acting out a book’‼️

Putting narration aside..it’s an interesting story so I’m not giving up, I’m planning on starting over (again) and READING instead of listening. The story ‘seems’ interesting, when I can finish it, I am still a bit confused but it could be I’m just not into it.

As far as recommendation..I can’t ..don’t LISTEN..you will be disappointed. Sorry, these are my opinions and I am addicted to audible, but right now the book is calling for me to open...

Love the story. Do not enjoy the narrator!

I was beginning a long drive when I started listening to this book. I was really into the story line but the narration was horrible! Over pronunciation of words, terrible switching voices of characters and the narrator’s words were not flowing. While reading, she did not take the normal pauses as she read. It sure if I am explaining it very well but it became so unbearable I had to stop and move on to another book. I am going to read this book but I won’t be listening to it!

Great fictional story

This was such a lovely book. I truly enjoyed from the beginning to the end.

Charming read--from the first page to the last!

Di Maio is at the top of her game in The Beautiful Strangers. With a clever plot and a large cast of engaging characters, the author elevates this book into a page-turning delight with her thoughtful and compelling details. I've been fortunate enough to stay at the Hotel del Coronado dozens of times and her descriptions took me right there--I could visualize everything. I wish I could give this more than 5 stars!

Enjoyable listen

This book captivated me with the story of George Morgan and his granddaughter, Kate Morgan learning about his life. This included George's mother's point of view.

You will not regret listening to this story. I received a copy for an honest review.

Fun, engaging story

I loved the many themes I found in this book about finding our past as well as journeying forward and following dreams. The story line made you think a lot about how important both of those things are and also asked some very meaningful questions about glamour and fame are sometimes very different than they appear from a distance. Very interesting mixture of fact and fiction.

Beautiful

The mystery of the past is revealed through two timelines as the character of the book slowly learns of her connection to her family, their past, and the Coronado Hotel. It was beautiful. It is definitely a must read.

The Beautiful Strangers

This book really stirs the senses and whisks you away to another era. I thought it was wonderful how fact and fiction were woven together so skillfully by the writer, kept my interest all the way through and didn't want it to end.