The Pink Hotel tells the story of newlyweds Kit and Keith who, during their honeymoon/Keith-trying-to-get-a-job-at-said-hotel, get stuck there with the rest of the incredibly rich guests during a raging wildfire.

Unfortunately, this novel did not work for me. Perhaps my expectations were too high given the premise - social satire? Biting commentary about the rich and famous and the nature of greed? This had everything to be an incredible character study, yet it did not live up to my expectations.

I found the characters incredibly one-dimensional and stereotypical. There was no tension between them, no chemistry (so much so that I was convinced that Kit and Keith had married for convenience). I don't mind annoying or despicable characters, as long as they're well-rounded, but this was not the case with this novel. Furthermore, the point of view kept changing abruptly and way too frequently, jumping from character to character as they went on with their days. This was unnecessary - it would have been interesting if it allowed us to get to know the characters and their motivations more deeply, but it just served to move the story along.

Overall, I did not like this book. I was expecting a sharp and witty social satire, and I was let down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like I need to apologist to this book for not reading it sooner! What a ride. I think what I enjoyed the most is the pace, it has a nice rhythm and once you get into, it's hard to want to pause.

I was initially drawn to this book because the premise sounded interesting: a newlywed couple honeymooning in an extravagant hotel while wildfires (literally and metaphorically) rage on outside). But unfortunately this one was a total miss for me. Although the novel does delve into weighty topics like classism, greed, ambition, and love, I found the writing style to be very difficult to get into. It has a very distinct literary tone, and while that is fine, the pacing is very slow and the plot just meanders along without getting into any real substance. I didn’t care about any of the characters and the climax was just meh at best. Overall, it was just a disappointing read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the e-ARC.

I thought I would love this book, given that I lived in this world, near the Beverly Hills Hotel-- which, I assume is the inspiration for the titular Pink Hotel-- for well over a decade. It also seemed like it was going to be somewhat in the vein of The White Lotus, which piqued my interest. However, it was a <i>slowwww</i> burn. I wish I had read other reviews, as I wouldn't have requested this book if I had known that. But, if you are the type of patient reader who enjoys an atmospheric novel, this may well be for you. It is written well and there is a solid cultural commentary running through beneath the glitz and glamour of the famed hotel that elevates the book overall.
I should also say that I think this would make a better movie than book-- the visuals of the fire approaching, juxtaposed with the hotel and the tension brewing between the staff members and the honeymooners at the center of the story, would be amazing.

I always want to honor the fact that someone writing and PUBLISHING a book is a great feat. The style of this writing was very creative, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I did not finish reading this book.

I do want to say thank you for letting me have an ARC on this book but unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. I did get 30% in this book, and usually, I will typically finish a book regardless of how long it'll take me. But the characters just bothered me too much. I'll give it another go possibly by audiobook.

Book Description: Newlyweds Keith and Kit Collins can hardly believe their luck when the general manager of the iconic, opulent Pink Hotel invites them to come for a luxurious stay as a bid to hire Keith. Kit loves their small-town life, but Keith has always wanted more, and the glittering, lily-scented lobby makes him feel right at home.

Soon after their arrival, wildfires sweep through the surrounding mountains and Los Angeles becomes a pressure cooker, with riots breaking out across the city amid rolling blackouts. The Pink Hotel closes its doors to "outsiders," and Keith and Kit find themselves confined with an anxious, disgruntled staff and a growing roster of eccentric, ultra-wealthy, dangerously idle guests who flock to the hotel for sanctuary, company, and entertainment.

The Pink Hotel exposes a tenuous class system within its walls, full of insurmountable expectations and unspoken resentments, which deteriorate as the city burns. In her barbed, provocative new novel, Liska Jacobs explores the corrosive nature of greed and interrogates the notion of true love, while hurtling readers toward certain disaster.

Huge thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Pink Hotel. I enjoyed this book so much. The characters were complicated and layered. The mess that came with them was so delicious to read. The present tense narration took some adjusting but served well in drawing me into the building tension as the story progressed, despite the bumpiness along the way. The events that occurred at the hotel were completely ridiculous in the most entertaining way and paralleled the current state of America so bravo to that. I'm not a huge fan of an open ended ending, but I believe I'm in the minority there. I find myself wishing for more, craving closure rather than happily finishing the narrative myself. Overall, quite entertaining!

I enjoyed this book. The prose was well-written, and the characters were dynamic and jumped off the page. I thought the story was interesting and the plot kept me guessing. I enjoyed the twists and turns.

Kit & Keith Collins are newly married and invited to honeymoon at The Pink Hotel, an opulent hotel in Beverly Hills with the possibility of working there eventually. Keith wants this much more than Kit & is soon smitten by the opulence all around him. Kit, on the other hand, is not. She wishes for the simplicity of their simple hotel that they work in back home.

To make matters worse, the fires around the areas are quickly spreading, causing evacuations everywhere. Tensions are high, riots are breaking out and the rich are feeling a little stir crazy.

I am not really sure what happened in this book. I was confused from beginning to end, and then the ending was just as confusing! Overall, mediocre read. Moral of the story is that money does not buy happiness and is not the answer to everything.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The pace was quite slow in moments although the plot was intriguing, I wish it didn’t take so long to get to the conclusion of things. It definitely hits the nail on the head with being Satire so if that’s what you’re in the mood for, the pink hotel will deliver.

The Pink Hotel has a meaningful message that it goes into significant detail to portray. I can see the appeal of the book and I’m sure that some will race through it much faster than I was able. For me, it was a slow burner with little in the way of actual plot/action until the last 20% or so and - as a result - I wasn’t interested. The central characters have little in the way of redeeming or likeable features, which I do appreciate is part of the message, and I struggled to resonate with any of them. It also flits between narrative voices towards the end which had little impact on the plot and ended on a character with whom we’d had little interaction which didn’t quite make sense as they hadn’t acted as a character who had been in the background much so the observations fell flat. Perhaps it’s because I’m not part of the world within The Pink Hotel (and also because I don’t strive to be unlike the main characters, Kit and Keith Collins) that it didn’t interest me as the social comment it was making felt quite obvious. Many would do well to read it and take note though.

It felt a bit surreal reading The Pink Hotel where the rich are living a life far beyond everyday norms. It was almost like a celebrity tell all with the extravagance. The story is told mostly from Kit and Keith but there are many other characters that keep the story moving along, some adding stability and some adding chaos. Once I became accustomed to the style of writing, the story moved at a good pace for me. The story takes place over six day and the drama progresses in intensity each day, while newlyweds a Keith and Kit seem to disconnect more each day. The ending was open and leaves the reader to make there own conclusions for some things.

Thank you NetGalley and Farrah, Straus, and Giroux for the arc for review.

There’s nothing like watching the downfall of society through the eyes of the ultra-wealthy. As an ordinary student from Texas, it’s deeply ironic–and horrifying–to view this downfall as the rich and famous pillage and glamorize the end of the world. Liska Jakobs' upcoming release “The Pink Hotel” does just that with spectacular accuracy that seems almost prophetic.

Newlyweds Kit and Keith are thrust into the glittering world of the ultra-rich when the Pink Hotel’s general manager invites them for a stay as a subtle bid to hire Keith. Moments into their visit, wildfires sweep across California, power outages roll through Los Angeles, and riots begin to break out. To preserve their slice of paradise, the hotel closes its doors to new guests, with Kit, Keith, the hotel staff, and other eccentric guests finding themselves trapped inside.

Our newlyweds are unprepared for the explosive events that follow in “The Pink Hotel.” Lavish parties, orgies, and shenanigans that can only be described as outrageous–this novel doesn’t feel like a work of fiction but rather an excerpt from a celebrity’s memoir.

The characters of “The Pink Hotel” jump off the page–often toeing the line between relatable and utterly unlikeable. Each colorful and eccentric guest leaves a lasting impression. There’s minimal character growth, but isn’t that the point? Watching the ultra-rich and arrogant fall into the endless spiral of greed is like watching a guilty pleasure reality show.

The narrative bounces from character to character–mostly following Kit and Keith's thoughts as they navigate their tumultuous stay at the Pink Hotel. Supporting characters weave their own thoughts on Kit and Keith's relationship and the state of their crumbling society–no holds barred. Jakobs creates a wondrous illusion of the outrageously wealthy and their ivory towers against the backdrop of societal collapse and revolution with lush details, immersive imagery, and a cinematic writing style.

Although a bit slow in the beginning and occasionally confusing narration, the novel shines with sarcastic storytelling and unlikeable–but relatable characters.

Jakobs lures readers into the lush garden of the rich and famous without giving any warning to the horrors stalking our wide-eyed couple–and readers. Immersive, darkly satirical, and eerily accurate of the state of our world, “The Pink Hotel” is a modern-day Icarus retelling–a subtle warning to the masses of the ultra-rich, the class system from which they profit off, and the poison of greed.

Newlyweds Keith and Kit Collins are thrilled when the general manager of the iconic opulent Pink Hotel invites them to come for a luxurious stay as a bid to hire Keith. Kit loves the small town that they live in but Keith wants more. He feels right at home at the Pink Hotel. Soon after their arrival, wildfires sweep through the surrounding mountains and Los Angeles becomes a pressure crooker with riots breaking out all over the city. Confined to the hotel, the young couple is caught in the escalating tension between the ultra-wealthy guests and the staff. As the wildfires grow, more of the eccentric ultra-wealthy guest's flock to the hotel for sanctuary, company and entertainment, This book exposes a tenuous class system within its walls and explores the corrosive nature of greed. This is an interesting book that I recommend.

Down the rabbit hole we go in the pink hotel. This book is a dizzying and intoxicating look into the whirlpool of a five star hotel during an uncontained fire surrounding LA. Kit and Keith Collins are newlyweds on honeymoon at the hotel. They both work in hospitality in their middle of nowhere hometown but this is another level. Kit doesn’t know her new husband is actually interviewing for a job and is doing everything possible to impress the hotels GM. I enjoyed this book over all. Reading it felt unreal like a dream with the lush descriptions and bacchanalian attitudes of the 1% guests.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc!

I won't lie but the cover is what attracted my attention. However, reading this was a bit difficult for me as I couldn't get into it at first because it was slow but I kept on reading and was not disappointed. It eventually picked up and I gotta say it was interesting. If you want something that's slow burn then this for you.

Thank you for this ARC. This wasn’t the easiest read but it was a quick one for me. The character are all so unlikable (in a good way?) and the premise was a slow build, but the ending definitely made up for it. Very dark social satire.

Liz Jacobsen does a solid job of setting the atmosphere for this dark, social satire! An inkling of something not quite right, a slow burn that is starting to go out of control, the events taking place at the Pink Hotel are a parallel to the fires are were burning all around Los Angeles. I felt a distinct sense of foreboding throughout the book.

I loved the way she described things. Simple descriptions that set the scenes were so satisfying. “The lemons are yellow, the lavender purple” “The linens were light, the pillows were puffy”

“The path meanders through a small garden, past a sitting area, rattan sofas with plush pink pillows shaded by palms and giant wild banana. Hummingbirds darting from flowering shrub to creeping vine, dragonflies droning in the tea roses.”

And I felt like I could see the characters:

“Kit quiet and polite, her bobbed hair framing her face in such a way that the men gazed at her openly and unabashed. One even offered her a coffee candy from his pocket, which she accepted. The hoteliers watching her unwrap the candy, it’s foil crinkling in her soft palms, and then placing it in her mouth to be sucked on and then swallowed.”

“A petite woman with silver hair blow-dried into an extraordinarily curly coif appears from within the darkened foyer. Her face so pale it’s almost translucent, her skin so tight that Kit can trace the skull beneath. She has on large sunglasses, which make her nose look even more fragile and delicate, much too small for the rest of her face. And the caftan—Kit has never seen anything so luxurious. Like delicate porcelain at high tea, or villa fountains in foreign countries. She watches it sweep around the woman’s bare feet.”

“Marguerite’s friends, who were an exaggeration of contrasting angles, wild-eyed and slim; or Mrs. Lacey and her ilk, their skin buffed and shining, lips as exquisite as tulips. Even Mimi Calvert’s clan of blue hairs and spectacles had a certain elegance, reminiscent of intricate ironworks with their impeccable craftsmanship.“

Some reviewers have said there is no plot but I disagree, it’s not a “whodunnit” with plot turns and twists. It’s a slice of life story, taking place in a small corner of the city, amongst a group of eccentric “elites” seeking refuge during a catastrophic event. There are many different plot lines that merge into one. I think it was well done.

A very enjoyable, yet disturbing read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Farrah, Straus and Giroux and Lisa Jacobs for the ARC.

i’m a bit disappointed in this because the premise was so good and it had so much potential to be so juicy and fun and just such a good summer read, but unfortunately it fell flat. it felt like there was so much description of all these boring mundane things and then something truly wild would happen but it would get brushed over or not even fully explained in the first place, and none of the fallout of these events was ever really explored. i think too much time was spent on the wrong aspects of the book, which made it a very frustrating read, and i was tempted to dnf multiple times. the end definitely served some ~drama~ (although it still felt super rushed and like it only scratched the surface in terms of really going into what was happening) but not sure that it was really worth my time.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Pink Hotel by Liska Jacobs is a fun social satire that will appeal to fans of Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians series. The story revolves around newly-married couple, Keith and Kit, who are staying at the luxurious Pink Hotel in Los Angeles. The couple are surrounded by eccentric, wealthy guests as wildfires in the surrounding area prevent anyone else from coming in. Trapped in an enclosed environment, what will the guests do? Will order be maintained, or will chaos break out?

Here is a luxurious excerpt from Chapter 1, when Keith first enters the hotel:

"The hotel’s perfume struck him first. Made his blood hum. Everywhere massive flower arrangements loomed—birds of paradise, fuchsia anthuriums, monstera, and elephant ears the size of an artist’s canvas. Every type of lily. It was exquisite, the mixing of tropical and floral. The sweeping carpet softening their footsteps, the curved walls unfurling them into the grand foyer like a petal on a breeze, depositing them beneath an elaborate Venetian glass chandelier. That humming heightened. He had to press his hands together to keep them from shaking.
Luxury with a capital L. A bit naughty. Like the glossy photos of the Condé Nast Traveler or Town & Country magazines he kept under his bed, hidden from his elderly parents, who had expected him to follow them into academia. Into denim and tweed, perhaps cotton twill for the new generation, but certainly not hospitality. How could he explain his visceral reaction to velvet and silk? To them transformation was about science. The sun turning nuclear energy into heat and light, human bodies converting food into energy. Metamorphosis was reserved for caterpillars and tadpoles. Not for boys with polyester sheets who pine for Egyptian cotton."

Overall, The Pink Hotel is a delightful book that would make the perfect beach read! One highlight of this book is the detailed look into the habits and fashion brands that the hotel guests enjoy. Many people, including me, are fascinated by celebrities, so I enjoyed reading a book about them. I did take off 1 star, because I felt that the plot of this book was rather slow for a long time. I think that the description of this book promised a bit more tension than doesn't really show up until the end. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of books about the lives of the rich and glamorous, I recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in July!