Amelia has one of the strangest lives--from muse to top chef to working off community service in a a Buddhist (?) monastery to volunteering at a cancer retreat center--it is a whirlwind. Her backstory is fascinating, as I was reading I kept thinking, "you just can't make this stuff up", but then It occurred to me- it is made up. Through reading the book she became so real to me, that I went through her trials and travails with her--from one outlandish episode to the next. The biggest surprise came at the end--I must admit I did not see it coming (although I kept trying to figure it out). If you want some escapism with heart this is the book for you.

Relative Strangers by A.H. Kim promises an intriguing exploration of family dynamics, secrets, and identity, but unfortunately, the execution left much to be desired. While the book touches on some interesting themes, its pacing, character development, and overall plot structure prevented me from truly connecting with the story.

The novel follows a multigenerational family, each member grappling with their own issues and long-buried secrets. The premise is engaging—family secrets are always a compelling subject—but the execution of this premise felt lacking. The alternating perspectives of different family members should have added depth, but instead, it often created confusion and prevented me from fully becoming invested in any one character. There were so many points of view that I felt disconnected from the emotional core of the story, unable to develop any strong feelings about the characters or their plights.

The pacing was another issue. The plot dragged in places, with long passages of reflection and exposition that didn’t contribute to advancing the story. I found myself skimming through parts of the book, wishing for more action or engagement with the central mysteries that were teased in the early chapters. The slow pace made it difficult to stay focused, and by the time any revelations did come, they felt anticlimactic and predictable.

Character development, too, was a weak point. While the author clearly made an effort to give each character their own unique voice and perspective, many of them felt flat. There was little depth to the relationships, and the motivations behind their actions weren’t always clear or believable. The family dynamics, which should have been the heart of the novel, felt forced at times, and I struggled to connect with the characters on a deeper level.

In terms of writing style, A.H. Kim's prose was competent, but it didn’t leave a lasting impact. The story lacked the emotional intensity or complexity that could have elevated it into something truly memorable. The central mysteries, which should have been a driving force, were not engaging enough to keep me hooked.

Ultimately, Relative Strangers left me feeling underwhelmed. It had a lot of potential with its premise of family secrets and generational trauma, but it failed to deliver on that promise. The story felt disjointed, and the lack of emotional depth made it hard to care about the outcome. I can see how some readers might appreciate the character-driven elements, but for me, it didn’t hit the mark.

**Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I tried to get into this book but I just think this author isn’t for me. The writing was pretty, but the characters fell a little bit flat.

A bit of a strange book, but stick with it and you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this review copy and the opportunity !

At first I was a little uncertain about this book. The Narrator, Amelia has really lost her way and has been crashing at a Buddhist Retreat, Shaved her Head, has Thread Bare Clothes, and is Broke. She broke up with her boyfriend and the restaurant they worked on has disbanded.

Amelia gets a message from her sister, Eleanor that their Mother is being forced out of her house. They can all meet at Arcadia, which turns out to be a Cancer Retreat Center. No one in the family has cancer, just Mom Eleanor knows a friend there, and being an old hippie, decides this is an ideal place to stay a while. I was wondering if this was going to be too strange a book for me.

However, it doesn’t take long to be pulled into the love and drama that the Bae-Wood women have for each other. The story really touched my heart. It was about grief and how to let go of the past. How can one actually do that and move on to a better life? Amelia and her family learn much by being around the Staff and Patients at the Wellness Center. Life often really is about living in the moment and seizing opportunity that can come from the strangest places. All 3 Women are romantics and seek true love, and refuse to settle for less.

So, this is a family I grew to love as well. They come to love and understand each other better, and also expand their family with new members that are Found Family. It all comes together beautifully and was a truly lovely story.

Thank you Net Galley, A.H. Kim, and Harlequin Trade Publishers for a copy of this book. I leave reviews for all books I read.

Listen, I know this is a retelling of Sense and Sensibility, so I have to deal with the disappointment that Amelia did not end up with Hari! That is my only true gripe about the book. I feel the author wrote Amelia a nd Hari's relationship really well, and her relationship at the end felt rushed and not what this reader wanted. Aside from that I really enjoyed the family dynamic, and as someone who lives on the Central Coast, it was cool that the story took place in so many familiar places . I also enjoyed Kim's writing style, aside from feeling the story was rushed at the end. I would definitely read another book of hers. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this ARC.

Though I loved A.H. Kim's first novel, this one fell a bit short for me. I liked the exploration of family, particularly the relationship between Amelia and Eleanor, but at times it felt overly sacchrine and didn't hold my attention. I very much look forward to whatever she puts out next, though! I have not read Sense & Sensibility for many years, so didn't compare this story to that one much in my head while reading.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

Relative Strangers is an excellent novel about a woman trying to create home away from home with her family and friends. I made the mistake of starting this novel, pausing for awhile, then trying to pick it up again and while the story was not easy to come back to, this book has a shocking number of characters (and plot entanglements) for its length and sometimes I had a hard time tracking everyone and their purpose in the book.

But it is still a lovely novel about family, found or otherwise, and the ways we screw things up and are welcomed with open arms. I look forward to Kim's future novels.

A modern retelling of Jane Austin's "Sense and Sensibility". A great read with well developed characters, and an entertaining an engaging storyline. Reading this book has inspired me to want to re-read "Sense and Sensibility". Two thumbs up! NOTE: I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I enjoy a good Jane Austen adaptation and this was a great one. Definitely one of the more interesting adaptations I’ve read. If you are unfamiliar with Sense and Sensibility, this novel will hold many interesting twists and turns for you. Even knowing the premise of the story, I was pleasantly surprised by many of the characters backstories, Leo in particular.
A very heartwarming tale which tackled more than a few issues and threw them out in the open. It was a very quick and refreshing read. I’m definitely checking out other books by this author.

While I never got to completely finish this book before I lost all of my books on kindle due to account closure,

What I loved about the book
The story line
The family secrets which lead me to wonder what else was going to surface

I really enjoyed this modern take on Sense and Sensibility! Messy family drama and believable romance add a new flair to the reimagined classic.

Amelia and Eleanor are two half-Korean sisters living in a cancer retreat center after their family falls on hard times. A free spirit who isn't used to settling down, Amelia starts a romance with a local, while Eleanor deals with a lawsuit where a man from Seoul claims to be the family's long-lost half brother. While the legal and romantic dramas play out, the two sisters realize that leaning on each other is the key to handling their challenges and finding happiness.

I'm a sucker for an Austen retelling and this one didn't disappoint. Kim does a great job adding fun changes to modernize the classic story, while still adding an emotional depth and humor that makes it her own. If you love women's fiction--especially Austen retellings--give this one a try.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Family drama and secrets! I loved the characters and their dilemmas in this delightful story. This novel is worth adding to your reading list.
Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Amelia is struggling with her job, boyfriend, and family when she returns to her mother and sister Eleanor in California. They are temporarily living at the cancer treatment center where Eleanor volunteers, since they are awaiting the result of a previously unknown half brother who contested their dad's will. The book's momentum is centered on Amelia reconnecting with her family as she tries to reestablish herself. Overall, a decent read about a family who has drifted apart and are trying to work together. The plot's momentum is moved forward by miscommunication, so for those who do not like that plot device, they may want to skip this one.

I loved A Good Family, Ms. Kim’s first novel, and especially her take on family dynamics. In her new novel, Relative Strangers, she tackles family relationships from a different perspective, along the lines of Sense and Sensibility with a Northern California Korean-American twist. Amelia, her sister, Eleanor, and their mother, Tabitha, are the main characters. Amelia’s in her 30’s and really can’t seem to get her life together, while Eleanor is the responsible sister, raising her daughter as a single mother. Amelia’s story didn’t always make sense to me and I especially didn’t understand why she didn’t work for most of the book.
The setting of the book for most of the novel is an interesting one - a cancer retreat in Northern California. As you might expect, there’s a lot of loss in Relative Strangers, but the focus is more about recovering and moving on from loss. And there are lots of excellent food descriptions!
If you haven’t read Ms. Kim’s first book, definitely add to your TBR list. It came out in early Covid days and definitely didn’t get enough attention, Both novels are family dramas but very different and shows her diversity as a writer. I look forward to book #3!
Thanks to Netgalley and Graydon House for the opportunity to read Relative Strangers in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. This book was a very unique tale of found family, grief, love and finding yourself. I enjoyed this because of the wonderful characters who all were growing and dealing with their own challenges.I think the thing that was a little bit of a miss for me was that the main character had a really big realization about how she often used men as a way to guide her life, and yet in the end she still ends up with a man. I understand that she doesn’t let him dictate her life choices in the same way, but I personally would’ve liked to see her figuring out her own path before she coupled up.

I love a good sister story, and at the heart, that’s what Relative Strangers is. The movie-reference language that Amelia and Eleanor share reminds me of the secret way you can communicate with only those closest to you.

Introducing warm and approachable, yet flawed, characters made it an easier read, though there is an excessive amount of miscommunication. As a modern spin on Sense and Sensibility, the drama of the events takes center stage and can be tracked into different “acts” and inconvenient love interests.

But the story has a little bit of everything: family secrets, class and race relations, humor, and tenderness, all set among the oceanic landscape of Big Sur.

While some story lines seemed rushed to come to a neat resolution at the end, it was a very heart warming novel overall. Plus it had a happy ending to which I’m always a fan of.

I really wanted to love this book, but it does start off slowly. It gets better as you understand the characters more. I loved the themes of family problems, and the setting (having previously lived in Korea). If any of that appeals to you then give it a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book. #sponsored