The Beautiful Strangers

Kate loves her family very much, especially her grandfather George. Although she enjoys working alongside the rest of her family in the kitchen at her uncle’s restaurant, she can’t help but long for more. Although Grandpa George is suffering from dementia, he still has moments of clarity to connect with Kate. He urgently tells her to take a job at the Hotel del Coronado and to find “the beautiful stranger.” Then he slips out of lucidity, leaving Kate with a thrilling challenge that seems impossible, but enticing.

This story is a full and twisting tale of Kate not only finding her own path, but also figuring out her history. The book is set in San Diego at the Hotel de Coronado during the filming of Some Like It Hot. The sparkling scenery and the dazzling characters make for an introspective and unique tale. There are plenty of family mysteries to figure out, and the author delivers them in a slow revelation over the course of the book. It was a joy to be part of these unique characters’ story. I highly recommended it.