The idea of this book was pretty cool. People use an app to hire people for different roles they need filled in their lives. Only sometimes you don’t want that role to end and sometimes you lose sight of yourself when you only focus on what others need. This book isn’t dark, rather it’s thought provoking. Absolutely worth a read.

Our main character, referred to only as Stranger, is a rental stranger companion in NYC. All is well until a nosy client threatens to upend a long standing gig.

I found the career of a rental person fascinating. Is this a real thing? If so, that’s awesome. I liked how this was first person narration and you were privy to the main character’s inner thoughts, despite how secretive and neutral he was with everyone. It talked some of his past but I wish it got more into that. I did enjoy his development in the end but it seemed to add a little abruptly for my taste.

“No matter the riches, the city was still the city. The beauty of that means that out here everyone treads the same vermin - infected streets.”

Five Star Stranger comes out 8/6.

If you enjoy books that are/have:
🤷🏻‍♂️ Character Driven
🤥 Full of Lies
😭 Sad Boys
🤰🏼 Momma Trauma
🥹 Emotionally Stunted Characters

… then I would definitely recommend this one!

I really enjoyed the character driven novel following our unnamed MMC who we know as Five Star Stranger/Stranger and loved that he never got a name, because that fit the story telling and the messaging so well about him being anyone and no one all at once with the way he lives his life as a rental person and molds and shapes himself to the particular job.

I also really enjoyed that as we dug in more and spent more time with our MMC how his “I’m fine” came out to be, ohhhh no, buddy you are actually not even close to fine and have a lot of unresolved trauma and issues from his upbringing that shape his ability to mold himself and leave others behind with no feelings of loss, until he can’t anymore.

Also, TW for suicide with this book as a topic within the story.

Thank you to Scribner for my ARC & Libro.fm & Simon & Schuster Audio for my gifted audiobook!

The protagonist and first person narrator of “Five Star Stranger,” known only as “the Stranger,” has three simple rules: (1) form no emotional attachments; (2) participate in no illegal activities; and (3) allow for no touching beyond a hug or holding hands. The Stranger works in the gig economy for “Rental Strangers” where the Stranger is hired to meet the needs of his clients. “Five Star Stranger” recounts some of the Stranger’s various assignments, including proposing to a middle-aged “other woman” in a restaurant where her married lover is dining with his wife so that the lover would feel a sense of urgency; serving as a wingman for an aging Lothario with a penchant for young women; inhabiting the character of a recovering alcoholic for a blocked writer; and attending various funerals, wakes, weddings, and the opera.

The Stranger leads a monastic life, using his dreary apartment for costume changes and makeup applications because the job required anonymity. He perceives his role as a “nonjudgmental emotion receptacle: part therapist, part priest, part garbage bin.” But, he loses perspective with precocious 9 year old Lily, the “perfect daughter,” whose single mother, Mari, had hired the Stranger to play the “father” when Lily was a toddler because Mari wanted to have a stable paternal figure in her daughter’s life. As Lily begins to probe the Stranger during their weekly visits, he realizes that he cannot imagine a future where he did not remain Lily’s “father,” but Mari is growing conflicted over the arrangement, suggesting to the Stranger that this was a “good point for the relationship to end, before the situation became truly intractable.”

The Stranger’s dedication to others — a form of atonement — allows him to avoid having to look at himself, because he knows how devastating it would be. We know little about the Stranger or his internal life because we only see him in relation to the people who pay for his services. We learn that despite playing a father for Lily, he had no blueprint for this role. His late single mother, a failed actress, was his whole life until she wasn’t. He sleeps with the lights on. Thank you Scribner and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this melancholy novel that raises questions about boundaries and the commodification of relationships.

The plot of this book sounded quite fun! Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this one at 20%. "The Stranger" felt very unlikable to me. I may give it another shot in the future, but it doesn't seem like it is for me right now.

Thank you, Scriber and NetGalley for the ARC.

Kat Tang's 'Five-Star Stranger' is a character-driven novel that follows an unnamed male narrator whose job is a Rental Stranger, where clients can hire him to play any role they need. It could be an uncle, a father, a plus one to a wedding, or a son, the Stranger will make it happen. The story follows the Stranger in his longest and most committed role: a father to a 10-year-old girl, Lily. Her mother is single and instead of telling the truth about her biological father, she hires the Stranger to act as her 'father.'

It's a deep exploration of human loneliness and the desperate need to find a connection and a home-a place to feel accepted amongst people. The Stranger believes that he finds that 'home' with Lily and her mother but there are other factors that threaten his life and job. With many past secrets, the Stranger tries to make amends and sort them out before things get out of hand.

It's an intriguing story with interesting, complex characters. I really enjoyed this book because of its deeper ideas that connect with the human condition. A very exciting debut novel!

This was an easy and quick read, and I thought the concept was interesting. However, I felt like the characters all fell very flat and I felt like the first-person narration was difficult to emphasize with. The prose and writing was clear, and the plot moved along at a decent pace but the ending felt very abrupt. The most compelling character in the book was Lily's mother, but even she felt like a caricature. The main character is unable to really bond with anyone except for Lily, which may be the point of the book, but even so it felt very surface level. The book also features a little bit of sex but it was written and dealt with in such an odd way that it felt like it was included just to check a box to make the character more "complicated." I felt that way about the way the book handles race as well. So, the main character is half-Asian and his late mother was a single Chinese-American woman who was a struggling actress, but beyond a few comments here or there about how people thought he was "actually" handsome, that was pretty much it (and maybe it's meant to just be that much; but this book shouldn't be marketed as "Asian American literature"). I enjoyed the quick read, but ultimately it fell flat to me I cam away from the book with not much thought or emotion. Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy for review.

Our narrator "Stranger" is a person-for-hire on the Rental Stranger app, in a fictional world where renting other people is a known practice. Stranger is a young man raised by a single mother but currently with no family of his own, living a rigidly controlled personal life. He seems content to skillfully and efficiently spend his days pretending to be someone else for other people, staying emotionally detached, in order to fulfill some cosmic emotional balance that only he knows about. But is he really detached, or is he just fooling himself? This was not a light read and was even grim at times. There's a lot of tension amongst the twists and turns as the story unfolds, and you can't help but feel for Stranger as more and more is revealed about how his past has shaped his present, especially in his relationship with Mari and her daughter Lily. This book pulled me in and made me care for Stranger even as his most unlikable qualities were carefully revealed. This was a well-written story, thought-provoking and even heart-breaking at times. I wasn't 100% satisfied with the ending, but I think plenty of other readers will be. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an Ebook ARC of this book. Publishes 8-6-24.

In a world increasingly defined by online personas, profiles, and ratings, Five-Star Stranger delves deep into the complexities of human connection. Stranger, a man who makes his living through fabricated identities, finds himself on a journey of self-discovery when his carefully constructed world begins to unravel. Hired as a "Rental Stranger," he crafts different personas for each of his clients, with the ultimate goal of bringing them happiness. But beneath the carefully curated facades lies an isolated man grappling with a complex relationship with his mother. When his long-term gig as a stand-in father is threatened by a well-meaning but intrusive client, he's forced to confront the blurred lines between his authentic and fabricated existence.

Five-Star Stranger is a compelling exploration of identity, relationships, and the difficulty of truly connecting with others. Tang's skillful storytelling weaves together humor and heartbreak as the nameless protagonist navigates a world where human interaction is often reduced to a transaction and a rating. Stranger's internal struggle is both relatable and poignant, making him a character readers will empathize with as he seeks to piece together his fractured self. At the heart of the novel is a deep exploration of familial bonds and the enduring impact of childhood trauma. The novel delves into themes of family, loss, and the yearning for belonging. While the world of online interactions often feels superficial, Tang manages to portray genuine human moments amidst the noise.

Five-Star Stranger is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant novel that offers a fresh perspective on the human condition during the app era. Tang's writing is sharp and witty, and the characters feel real, even the ones who aren't. Despite not having a name, Stranger is definitely a fully-formed character and not just a blank intended for self-projection. If you're looking to round out your summer reading with a book that'll make you laugh, maybe cry, and definitely reflect, I highly recommend this touching novel. A five-star rating for Five-Star Stranger!

This review will be posted to Goodreads and Instagram (@goodquietkitty) on August 4, 2024.

I was really intrigued by the description of this book, and the cover made it seem like a light read but it wasn't. As I was reading, I understood how hard it would be for the main character to pull away from this connection to Lily but how awful this whole situation is for Lily and the trauma she will have if she knew her dad was a fake. However, home boy needs therapy like madly. I did not like the main character and I think that really made a difference in this book. He has this small revelation and I thought the book was over but no there were a few more revelations he needed to have but only has them after he sleeps with a woman who kind of looks liek his mom?!?

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was a fun premise for a story. Our main character sees himself as the perfect rental person because it’s definitely not for everyone. We don’t even know our MMCs name because he is only referred to as fake names or Stranger. I definitely felt Stranger was a bit dry but as he grew I found myself liking him more. Darlene made me laugh, Lily is such a sweet girl, and I wanted so much better for Mari. This is a character-driven novel where not much happens throughout other than character development and growth but it was an entertaining audiobook.

A man who has worked as a rent-a-stranger for many years contemplates his life. It was an interesting concept for a book but I thought I was going to read something fairly light due to the description and cover. I think I would have liked this book more if I was expecting it to be deeper and more introspective.

Found the narrator unreliable and annoyingly simpleminded most of the time. So frustrating to read about his lack of conscience or inner thoughts. The ending was especially frustrating and not at all satisfying. Good idea but bad execution.

Ok, publishers. I thought we had a deal that if there is a cartoon cover with vibrant colors and a cheeky title we are in for a light, swoony read! FIVE STAR STRANGER was not light, nor swoony, but thought-provoking in its own melancholic way.

This debut follows the career of a man who spends his days being hired out by others. He has been a pretend fiance, a wingman, and even attended funerals. His most time-intensive client has hired him to be the long-term father for her daughter.

I liked my experience reading the book, but it also made me unexpectedly deeply sad. It explores the loneliness epidemic and the risks of being in true community with others. I’d certainly read Kat Tang again and will try not to be deceived by another chipper cover!

RATING: 3.5/.5 (rounded up to 5 stars)
PUB DATE: August 6, 2024

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for an ARC of Five-Star Stranger in exchange for my honest opinion. From the cover this looks like a light read, but it was deeper and has a darker commentary on our society than I expected. However, I enjoyed reading it, and it made me think - which is impressive for such a short book!
Five-Star Stranger centers around our nameless main character who provides an app-based service of being whatever type of person one needs - a date or best man at a wedding, a conversation partner, a companion or “friend”… and he always strives to earn five stars from his clients. His entire life centers around the roles he plays for strangers, including his standing Thursday afternoon role as a father, picking up his now ten year old “daughter” from school and helping her with her homework while making dinner and cleaning the kitchen until her mom comes home, a job he has been doing for eight years. It's obvious to the reader that there will come a time when this arrangement no longer satisfies all involved, and the book follows that plotline, as the main character also deals with some of his own relationship trauma.
While it definitely seems over the top, the hiring of strangers isn't all that crazy when you think about it. The main character mentions how he learned that all friendships are transactional, so being a hireable stranger seems like a way to fulfill obligations to another and get paid in money instead of owing a favor, etc. to the other person. The book makes the main character appear as a stranger even to himself.
As a person who thinks a lot about friendship and relationships but also really enjoys being alone, my brain was in overdrive while reading this book. I put my thoughts together while on a solo trip to Portland, ME, while trying an amber ale from a new-to-me brewery, as seen here, and I'm sure my takeaways from this book would be different from many others. If you're looking to think deeply in a relatively short book, this book is a great choice. I'm impressed it is a debut novel!
Have you ever been to Maine? I feel lucky that I can come here for a day trip by train and experience some of the delicious food and drink in this foodie town with many breweries. And after being cooped up at home for most of the month, it feels especially freeing to be here - even though I'm not walking as much as I usually would be!

This is a quiet, character-driven novel where not a lot happens, but you’re still given a lot to think about. While a few moments felt repetitive (especially with the book being short), I found myself absorbed by the never named man who’s the focal point and narrator. Known only to us as Stranger, he seamlessly changes faces and personalities based on what his clients need. This feels like an exposé into the human plight of loneliness, desperation for connection and acceptance, and the longing to be happy. How many of us would rent a stranger for a day or even repeatedly just to fill a void (a parent, a friend, a partner) that would make us appear to the world as whole or complete?

Stranger believes he is meeting this need while staying wholly unattached until his carefully plotted out world begins to crumble when one renter threatens to expose him to another (a child). He must reconcile his past with this present and come to terms with the reality of why he chose to take on the role of Stranger.

Five-Star Stranger was not the happy-go-lucky book I was expecting, but I enjoyed it even more because of the strong emotional reactions it pulled from me.

In this book, "Rental Strangers" are all the rage. Through an app, you can hire strangers to do just about anything - be a bridesmaid, a funeral mourner, and a stand-in dad/friend/etc. Our main character has cruised with his perfect 5-star rating streak and for good reason. He's prompt, puts on a believable performance, and he's professional. One day, however, one of his newer, chummier, clients butts into a conversation with one of his long-term clients, and fake feelings suddenly don't feel fake anymore.

The book handled a lot of big topics very well - family, identity, and what a strong (or weak) relationship looks like. Despite it being a relatively short book, it packs a punch. The ending was bittersweet, but it was encouraging to see the main character's development throughout the story.

The internet has allowed us to get anything. A car to take us to the airport. All of your groceries delivered without having to leave your house. Buy yourself a new outfit and a pair of tires all without moving from the couch. Kat Tang has taken this, and an already in business industry of "renting a stranger."

Our narrator lives in New York and is available for anything. A funeral mourner, a night out wingman, and his long-running role of 'dad' to a young girl. When a nosy patron starts to dig into our narrators past, everything is up for discussion and reveal.

This is a lonely story. The whole idea of renting a person is sad overall and Kat Tang has represented this in full. Our narrator is in this role for a reason and the end has been on my mind for the last few days.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

I was intrigued by this story’s unique premise: a man who works for a Rental Stranger app finds out who he is by acting as anyone but himself. “Stranger” poses as a brother, best man, funeral mourner, and even a weekly father (to a precocious young girl named Lily). He tells himself that he’s trying to make others happy in order to make up for letting his single mother down, but he’s actually leaving himself closed to any actual relationships. He’s so detached that it reads like an AI bot that is gaining emotional intelligence over the course of the story. I was hoping for a happy ending between Stranger and his fake daughter. Although the ending left me feeling heavy hearted and without a real sense of closure, I thought the overall concept was fascinating and worth reading. 3.5/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner Publishing for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
8/6/2024

This book is an engrossing journey into the complexities of human emotions and relationships. The author has crafted a narrative that seamlessly blends poignant storytelling with thought-provoking themes, capturing the reader’s attention from start to finish.

The characters are well-developed, each with distinct personalities and depth. Their interactions and growth throughout the story feel authentic, allowing readers to connect with them on a personal level. The dialogue is natural and contributes significantly to the development of these characters.