The Listeners

#1 New York Times bestselling novelist Maggie Stiefvater dazzles in this mesmerizing portrait of an irresistible heroine, an unlikely romance, and a hotel—and a world—in peril.January 1942. The Avallon Hotel and Spa offers elegance and sophistication in an increasingly ugly world. Run with precision by June Hudson, the hotel’s West Virginia born-and-bred general manager, the Avallon is where high society goes to see and be seen, and where the mountain sweetwater in the fountains and spas can wash away all your troubles.June was trained by the Gilfoyles, the hotel’s aristocratic owners, and she has guided the Avallon skillfully through the first pangs of war. Now, though, the Gilfoyle family heir has made a secret deal with the State Department to fill the hotel with captured Axis diplomats. June must convince her staff—many of whom have sons and husbands heading to the frontlines—to offer luxury to Nazis. With a smile.

Mesmeric, original, and stunning. Maggie Stiefvater is an exceptional talent, and The Listeners is by turns a beautiful love story, a fascinating glimpse into the horrors of history, and a haunting tale of loyalty and courage. A marvel of storytelling. I really couldn t have loved it more. Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All The Colors of the Dark

The Listeners is cinematic and so very satisfying. This is a rich, multilayered ride of a novel not unlike the hotel at its heart grand, patient, leaving no particulars unnoticed. A phenomenally immersive read. Claire Lombardo, bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had

A wonderfully observed actually, flat-out wonderful historical novel. The Wall Street Journal

If there s nothing you d like more this summer than to run away to a luxury hotel in the mountains, Maggie Stiefvater has your sumptuous pampering covered. . . . A brilliant historical enemies-to-lovers tale with a magical sweetwater spring running through it. Dive in. Oprah Daily

The true story of Axis diplomats detained in the U.S. at the start of World War II is transformed into a dazzling historical novel set at a sumptuous West Virginia hotel. . . . A novel that will remind readers of why they fell in love with reading in the first place. . . . This luxurious novel is set to take the world by storm. Kirkus Reviews, starred review

The Listeners lived up to the literary finesse Stiefvater has established in her previous work, this unique take on World War II delivering a beautifully developed setting, riveting plot twists and vivid characters. Associated Press

Fleet-footed writing, juicy characters, wartime tensions, and a bit of mystery make this a sensational summertime read. Christian Science Monitor

Maggie Stiefvater s adult debut follows a WWII-era hotel manager as her elegant resort in West Virginia turns into a depository for captured Axis diplomats, forcing her to navigate FBI investigations while attending to the whims of those in her charge and, perhaps most chillingly, serve Nazis with a smile. Bustle

With romantic entanglements, lies and secrets, the tension is high and the stakes are consequential. Amid all this, Stiefvater creates a complex and subtle story of how politics, jobs and social class hinder and complicate people s paths to becoming who they would like to be. The Listeners asks the reader to see a famil­iar time period from a new angle and notice the variety of ways lives can be upended by the war. It s dramatic, swift-paced and com­pelling, with a delightful mix of realism and enchanting what-if. BookPage