The Beautiful Strangers by Camille Di Maio was such a wonderful story for fans of historical fiction and love stories. Set in the 1950s at the Hotel del Coronado, this book follows Kate Morgan as she sets out on her own from San Francisco in an attempt to find her passion in life and make a difference for her family. She also is trying to respect her ailing grandfather's wishes to "find the beautiful stranger". During her time at the Coronado, she meets a colorful cast of characters (including Marilyn Monroe), as well as uncovers family secrets.

This story was so touching and well-written, I couldn't stop reading it! Di Maio paints a beautiful pictures of life at the Hotel del Coronado in the 1950s and what it was like for a young, single woman to try to forge her own path in those times. The story had elements to appeal to fans of many genres and was just a complete joy to read.

What a beautiful story! The story of Kate Farmer Morgan will break your heart and also make your heart smile. Kate Morgan, granddaughter of George, is such a strong willed woman. I was extremely happy with the ending of this novel and had a smile on my face. This story had mystery, love, sadness and overall joy! Five stars all around. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read for an honest review.

An amazing and engaging story, one of those book you cannot put down.
It's well written, with a wonderful heroine - very human and relatable- , and a great plot.
The two timelines are well described and I loved the historical backgrounds and the description.
I look forward to reading other books by this writer.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

I received The Beautiful Strangers by Camille Di Maio as an ARC from NetGalley. I loved this book! It is historical fiction that goes back & forth between Kate Morgan in the 1950's and another Kate Morgan in the 1890"s. Kate Morgan from the 1950's lives in San Francisco but her dream is to work in the movie industry. Her grandfather, who has dementia, encourages her to apply for a movie job at the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado. While on Coronado she uncovers some of her family secrets. I love how the book went back & forth between the two eras and I really enjoyed the characters. I'm definitely going to read Camille Di Maio's other books.

Kate Morgan has always dreamed of a life in Hollywood. Her grandfather, who has dementia, wants her to follow her dream along with finding the secrets to his past. Quite an intriguing story with lots of surprises. You’ll keep turning the pages until to get to the last one to figure it out.

A ghost story. Set mostly in 1958. Kate Morgan travels from San Francisco to Southern California to get a job at Hotel del Coronado on the small Island of Coronado.
Kate’s grandfather has dementia and often starts telling Kate about his early days at Coronado but all he can remember is the beautiful stranger and that Kate should go to Hotel del Coronado and find the beautiful stranger. He is insistent about finding the beautiful stranger but can’t remember why.
At the hotel Kate meets famous people and discovers that the hotel has a ghost. This novel is about families, romance and relationships. I loved the ending and the interaction between Kate and her family and the people she met.at Coronado.

One might think a character with 2 main characters with the same name in different times and told from both viewpoints would be cumbersome and scream AVOID. Please do NOT think that with "The Beautiful Strangers'.

Both Kate Morgans are well developed women. 1 is firmly set in 1958 and 1 her story spans many years.

1958 Kate Morgan is a devoted to her family San Franciscan whose devotion is put to the test when her Grandpa asks her to find the beautiful stranger and encourages her to follow her dreams. Sadly. Grandpa has dementia so she must wonder what is truly coming from him. She finds her self at the Hotel del Coronado (close to San Diego) as she tries to help her grandfather AND figure out what she is meant to do. So many characters cross her path including the director Billy Wilder, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and MARILYN MONROE. Di Maio's descriptions of Monroe were heartbreaking as we see what celebrity can do...and it makes you wonder how much we take from humans when they become celebrities.

Kate Morgan starting 1892 to .... (no spoilers) is a woman whose name has changed multiple times as she tries to run from her abusive husband who seems to find her. She ends up at the Hotel del Coronado and the chapters devoted to her tell a heartbreaking story that drives home how far women have come in being able to escape horrible situations (yes there is still work to be done).

As the reader starts to realize how the two Kate's are connected we also see Kate 1958 finding herself and maybe love but at what cost as her family is in San Francisco and the Hotel del Coronado is not.

I truly enjoyed this book and thank Netgalley for the read!!

I have been a fan of Camille DiMaio's books ever since I picked up The Memory of Us. With The Beautiful Strangers, she shows once again what a skilled writer she truly is. While this novel has a lighter feel than her previous three (with a sprinkling of sad scenes), it's still compelling and there's even a mystery involved.

I really enjoyed the visualizations, as well as the relationships between the characters. I even learned some new things about film making. I had no idea where the story was going to end up and was pleasantly surprised. I was hoping that Kate would have an interaction with the ghost, but maybe that wouldn't have been realistic in the grand scheme of things.

Overall, I couldn't put this book down and wanted to know what was going to happen next. It also made me want to watch Some Like it Hot. This novel is perfect for fans of Susan Meissner's books.

Since this book is all about making a movie, it wouldn't be complete without a movie cast of its own! Hollywood, in case you're looking for ideas, please take these into consideration:
Kate (1958): Samantha Isler
Kate (1892): Haley Ramm
Sean: Rarmian Newton
Janie: Katherine Langford
Marilyn: Jessica Amlee

Expertly capturing the postwar world of the mid-1950’s, THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS, is a delightful story of one young woman’s determined flight from home to find the answer to a riddle posed by her ailing grandfather. The setting, featuring California’s famous old Hotel Del Coronado, is lush and as beautifully depicted as the roster of its guests in those days, involving any number of famous movie stars, plus one ghost, who may hold the key to what is a generation’s old family mystery. But time is of the essence, and balancing what could be a wild goose chase against the demands of your family can bring on a near unbearable pressure. Possibly as it is in the case of this story you may have taken on more than you bargained for and in addition to unlocking a family secret you could very well find the courage to follow the dreams of your heart as well. Intriguing and uplifting, THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS is not to be missed.

Camille Di Maio has done it again. I know when I pick up one of her books that I will be instantly sucked into the lives and world of the characters and this one delivers in such a wonderful way. I loved both Kate Morgans, the ghost and the living woman, and I so enjoyed figuring out how they were connected and why they shared the same name. What a clever plot structure!

I have been to the beautiful hotel del Coronado and I completely understand why the author found the place so fascinating. She clearly did extensive research about the history of both the hotel and the island and I loved learning about it through this fictional world. Di Maio's writing is equally beautiful and accessible, my favorite kind of writing. A dedicated fan, I will wait with baited breath for her next release.

I love this era of time and this book was magical for me. It has elements of love, mystery, family ties, and finding one’s self. This was very beautifully done. Thanks to Little Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Beautiful Strangers is a stunning novel that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page. It is a mystery, a romance and tale of family ties, touched with a twist of magical realism that is absolutely enchanting. A beautifully written tale. Highly recommended.

Ms. DiMaio has been added to my list of favorite authors. This story, along with her depiction of the time, and the much loved characters, will have you speed reading this book.

Two women, with the same name and born years apart, have a connection. The story brings this connection to light little by little, allowing the reader to connect all the dots. A mixture of ghost story and a young girl’s love for her beloved grandfather to search out the meaning of what some may think are an old man’s dementia rantings.

Enjoy this book with a cup of tea, or lemonade, and revisit the golden age of Hollywood, a simplier life where there were still many secrets, heartbreaking and sad, but secrets can lead to a happy ending and love.

I received an ARC of this book. Opinion of this book is mine alone.

Reminiscent of Betriz Williams Cocoa Beach, The Beautiful Strangers is such a fun read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. All opinions are my own.

I received this book "The Beautiful Strangers" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. This is a beautiful love story that I enjoyed reading. You will be transported in time and will quickly be pulled into the story. I'm not even a fan of movies and stars in Hollywood. An easy read from a wonderful author. Loved her other books too.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for ARC. This is the second book I have read by this author and she does not disappoint. Fans of old Hollywood will love this one. I'm not even a fan of old Hollywood movies and stars and I thoroughly enjoyed this. I especially enjoyed the perspective from the deceased Kate Morgan.

I love historical fiction, and this didn’t disappoint. This is story that draws you in and keeps you there, until the final page.
Wonderful, likable characters, as you follow Kate Morgan in her journey into the past, and her contact with movie stars, ghosts and a handsome stranger.
Go back further and learn the story of the Hotel Del Coronado’s famous ghost, who needs a conclusion to her own story.
Camille Di Maio always has interesting and complex characters, and she does provide them here. My thanks to Lake Union, and Net Galley for the ARC. I loved the book and bet you will too.

A beautiful story of following your dreams and finding your roots. I've been to the Del and could feel myself along those hallways in this book. Some truths and some fiction weave a mystery of the ghost of the Del and the main character's journey from San Francisco to Coronado to fulfill a dream and search for someone her grandfather refers to as the beautiful stranger. Great characters and story development. Even a glimpse at Hollywood and movie making in the 50s. A great read! Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC

I love historical fiction because it's a chance to learn something through the art of story. And by that definition, Girls on the Line excelled. On its surface, it was about friendship, romance, and family with the backdrop of World War I. But subtly, it demonstrated how women of the era had their feet in both the Victorian times and the new world. It was quite a life to straddle. Equally compelling was learning about the women who operated telephone lines even quite close to the front lines and didn't get proper recognition from the government until the 1970s. I don't say this often about a book, but put this one at the TOP of your TBR list.

This book will interest fans of historical fiction. It has a complex group of characters, told by 2 people 60 years apart. The book weaves together pieces of a puzzle involving the 2 people from 60 years apart. A ghost and a young woman honoring her grandfather's wish to find the beautiful stranger, before he is totally lost in his dementia. A good blend of romance, history, and mystery. I highly recommend it. Thanks to the publisher, the author and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.