It’s January 1942. The war in Europe rages on; Pearl Harbor lingers in the rearview. In the mountains of West Virginia, the Avallon Hotel & Spa has long promised luxury and escape — for those who can afford it. June Porter Hudson, a local girl turned unlikely general manager, has guided it through the first strains of war — until a secret deal with the State Department turns the hotel into temporary quarters for captured Axis diplomats. Suddenly, June must convince her staff to serve their enemies with the same care and grace as any guest, even as FBI agent Tucker Minnick listens from the shadows, hoping the diplomats’ idle chatter will yield secrets. But with the war now inside the Avallon’s walls, every decision carries hidden costs. Beneath its glittering veneer, the hotel holds a secret that could be its undoing.

Stiefvater’s first adult novel carries both ambition and intent. The research shows, both meticulous and layered, but The Listeners feels like more than just a shift in audience. I couldn’t help but wonder if the pull toward a straighter work of historical fiction came from Stiefvater herself, or from an editorial hand that reined in the magical realism that might have given these pages more weight.

The result is a novel that sometimes struggles to reconcile its parts. The Avallon is richly imagined, but the integration of magical realism never fully takes hold, leaving the book about 75 pages longer than it needs to be. By the end, a few characters simply vanish, while a few plot turns ask too much of a suspension of disbelief.

And yet, I loved these characters — from June Hudson down to the switchboard girls who barely touch the page. The world of the Avallon is so vivid, so lived-in, that it kept me hooked even when the central conceit of the gurgling sweetwater, the hotel’s hidden secret, felt strangely underdeveloped. It promises so much to come but never delivers more than we glean at the start.

I’ll gladly read whatever Stiefvater writes next — certainly more adult work, maybe even a return to YA. I only wish I had loved this one more. Still, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the time I spent inside the Avallon — definitely the good outweighing the underdeveloped.

What a unique and engrossing reading experience! This is actually the first book I’ve read by this author though I have heard many great things about her YA series. I would never have guessed she wrote a different genre previously because this was FANTASTIC.

This was the perfect blend of magical realism, romance, and historical fiction. I was so hooked and could not put it down. The characters come alive on the page and the plot is riveting.

I thought the setting was a character in and of itself. I learned so many interesting things about West Virginia and its history and lore.

I will highly recommend this to all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting historical fiction with a splash of magical realism. I enjoyed the setting of the story and thought it was an interesting perspective of the WWII period. I do wish the magic would have been more prevalent and explained a little more because I felt it could have been a larger part of the story.

I think this was a really interesting debut adult book. It definitely felt more along the lines of a cozy historical novel, which definitely isn't my vibe, but I appreciated what the book did. I think the atmosphere was wonderful and how the hotel and staff were described. I think the world had a lot of color and vibrancy, which was my favorite part of the book. The plot was a little bit a disappointment just because it never really felt like anything was actually happening. I just wanted more from the characters, but that's on me since I'm more of a fan of character study books than vibey books that focus on that environment more.

I'm really excited to see what else she comes out with for adult releases and hope it's more along a fantasy story.

I really did not expect to like this book as much as I did. But the way that Stiefvater writes her characters and creates a vivid world, I couldn't help but love it. June was the perfect person to lead the cast of characters. She leaves the reader wondering how she will carry on, how the hotel will carry on. And she always knows what to do. But then the sweetwater is a character of its own, and it's stronger than June. The struggle between professional business as usual and emotional baggage was what made this story work.

Maggie Stiefvater is such a a unique writer and a hilarious person! Her book tours are phenomenal and surprising and I am thoroughly enjoyed this branch out into Adult fiction. The Raven Cycle has my heart but I can't wait to see what comes next!

Maggie Stiefvater's The Listeners is a beautifully layered, atmospheric novel that left me completely captivated. The duality of the June/Hoss character and the Tucker/GMan character was one of my favorite aspects. The way their perspectives, along with those of the other characters, wove together into a single narrative was seamless. Each voice added dimension, and all of it was held together by the immersive setting of the beautiful and grand Avalon.

The pacing was spot on—steady and engaging, allowing the story to breathe while still delivering tension at just the right moments. There was one twist that genuinely caught me off guard (in the best way!), and although I saw a few others coming, they didn’t lessen my enjoyment. If anything, they added to the sense of inevitability that makes this book so impactful.

I also have to mention the author’s note at the end—it offered such meaningful context and deepened my appreciation for the story and its themes.

Overall, The Listeners is a masterfully crafted tale of identity, memory, and belonging. I loved every minute of it and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories with a touch of the uncanny. 5/5 from me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Maggie Stiefvater taught me about some piece of history I never knew about with "The Listeners." While I love my escapism into space or a fantasy setting this had me looking up facts to compare. Which would have been easier if I consulted the texts listed in the back of the book...

1942, the Avallon hotel is the peak of luxury located in West Virginia. Besides it's exemplary staff it has Sweet Water, something that can wash away all worries. June Porter is the GM and has the respect of the staff, the visitors, and the water. But the US government doesn't care about any of that when they need to house Axis diplomats. The staff has family headed to war, the diplomats have their own goals, and an FBI agent might know too much about the Water.

Reasons to read:
-I was captivated by the setting and the hotel itself
-Learned some historical facts, why was this not taught?
-Oh dang that's how it works
-Boundaries!

Cons:
-I know I haven't stayed at a nice hotel now

I will follow Maggie Stiefvater to the ends of the earth, and she's just reinforced that with the Listeners. She's given us another lush world with wonderfully complex characters.

A tinge of magic flows through fantasy author Maggie Stiefvater's initial foray into historical fiction. Set in January 1942 at the ne plus ultra luxury Avallon Hotel & Spa in West Virginia, the story follows June Hudson, its devoted general manager, as the U.S. government detains Axis diplomats and their families under its opulent roof. June must maintain an illusion of refined hospitality while steeling herself against moral conflicts. An emotionally guarded FBI agent, Tucker Rye Minnick, arrives and their tense, slow-building alliance challenges June’s self-imposed isolation. Beneath the hotel flows a mysterious “sweetwater”—the quietly magical presence that mirrors looming danger, amplifying the novel’s blend of atmospheric realism and subtle magic. I most liked how it delved into a pocket of World War II history, particularly this little-known element occuring on domestic soil. Yet it wasn't a very dynamic read. I expected more fantasy, or if not more fantasy, more tension.

[Thanks to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

The Listeners, Maggie Stiefvater’s first adult novel, trades her signature YA fantasy style for something more rooted in history. Set during World War II, it imagines a luxury hotel in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia transformed into a holding facility for captured Axis diplomats under the watchful eyes of the FBI. At the center is June Hudson, a working-class mountain girl “trained up” by the hotel’s aristocratic owners to run the place, yet never fully allowed into their world. She must navigate wartime politics, keep the diplomats comfortable, and manage the quiet tensions between loyalty, ambition, and survival.

The premise is irresistible: diplomats in an opulent resort, a vaguely magical spring with healing and dangerous properties flowing beneath it, and the layered contradictions of Appalachia itself. Stiefvater writes the mountains and their people with deep familiarity, capturing both the beauty of the land and the social nuances of small communities. The Avallon hotel feels like a hybrid of the Grove Park Inn and the Biltmore Estate, and the hospitality details—from guest allowances to the unspoken rules of catering to the wealthy—ring true.

While there is magic in the sweetwater spring, this is firmly historical fiction rather than fantasy. The magical realism is understated, almost secondary to the atmospheric setting, the wartime tension, and the complex social dynamics. The novel is full of vivid side characters and even a low-key romance, and though the prose can be dense, the payoff at the end is worth it. The best parts shine in the depiction of Appalachian life, the wartime atmosphere, and a heroine determined to hold her ground in a world that alternately welcomes and excludes her.

Such a glorious read - history, magical realism, romance - there is so much going on here!

June runs the Avallon, a luxury hotel in West Virginia during WWII, trying to provide luxury and an escape from the events in the world. However, when the State Department arrives to prepare the Avallon to be a “detainment center” for foreign diplomats, June as well as the rest of the staff are thrown into an unexpected and unwanted situation.

What follows is a thrilling look at the months after those foreign diplomats arrive - from the staff, the agents corralling the diplomats and the diplomats themselves as well as the Avallon and it’s grounds. A stunning, beautiful read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this title!

All setting, no substance. The book is beautifully written, with vivid descriptions and a strong sense of place, but ultimately, it feels like style over substance. There are too many shallow characters that you never really get to know, let alone form any attachment. The somewhat magical elements of the spring waters are never explained, including why the protagonist is uniquely affected by them. It feels like the story hints at deeper meaning but never quite gets there. A beautifully crafted shell with not much inside.

***ARC REVIEW***

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

About “The Listeners”

Maggie Stiefvater's "The Listeners" is a breathtaking exploration of morality and transformation, set against the backdrop of the Avallon—a luxury sanctuary nestled in the misty, untamed hills of West Virginia during World War II's most precarious moment.

June "Hoss" Hudson transcends the role of hotel manager; she is an atmospheric alchemist. Under Mr. Francis Gilfoyle's careful mentorship, she has transformed the Avallon from a cold architectural structure into a living, breathing entity. Here, corridors pulse with intentionality, and rooms whisper unwritten narratives. The hotel's mystical sweetwater acts as both guardian and provocateur—granting guests' most intimate desires while simultaneously threatening to dissolve the meticulously constructed walls of reality.

When government diplomats breach her carefully curated world, June finds an unexpected ally in Tucker Rye Minnick—a man banished to surveillance, carrying the weight of a complicated past. Together, they must dance along the razor's edge between duty and desire, navigating the hotel's mercurial, almost sentient magic.

Tropes in *The Listeners*
🩵 Historical Romance
🩵 WWII
🩵 Magical Realism
🩵 Class Divide
🩵 Outsiders
🩵 Underdogs
🩵 Forced Proximity
🩵 Shifting Alliances
🩵 Disability Rep

My Review
When I first began Maggie Stiefvater's "The Listeners", I was tempted to add it to my DNF pile. The writing was intricate in a way that overwhelmed me—narrative threads more tangled than elegant, weaving a complexity that initially resisted easy comprehension. Yet something ineffable kept pulling me back.

My perseverance was a quiet rebellion, and it paid off magnificently.

The relationship between June Hudson and Tucker Rye emerged as the novel's beating heart—a dynamic that transformed what could have been a disorienting reading experience into a captivating journey. Their progression from adversaries to lovers unfolded with a delicate precision that Stiefvater masterfully constructs. Each page revealed layers of tension, each interaction a careful negotiation of boundaries, desires, and hidden depths.

To fellow readers who might struggle with the initial pages: hold steady. This novel rewards those willing to surrender to its unique rhythm. What begins as a potentially challenging read blossoms into something remarkable—a narrative that whispers its secrets to those patient enough to listen.

Final Thoughts
"The Listeners" is more than a historical romance or a wartime narrative. It's a meditation on transformation—of spaces, of characters, of unexpected connections. The Avallon hotel becomes a character itself, breathing with secrets and possibilities.

June and Tucker's relationship mirrors the novel's core philosophy: beauty often lies in the spaces between—between duty and desire, between what is seen and unseen. Their journey challenges traditional narrative expectations, offering a nuanced exploration of connection in a world teetering on the edge of massive change.

For readers who appreciate atmospheric storytelling that demands your full attention, "The Listeners" offers a rich, immersive experience. It's a reminder that some narratives must be slowly savored, not quickly consumed—that true understanding comes to those willing to listen deeply.

Recommendation: Surrender to the story's unique rhythm. Let the sweetwater guide you.

June Hudson is the general manager of the Avallon, a luxury hotel located deep in the West Virginia mountains, known for its healing mineral waters. Surprised by an onslaught of international diplomats detained by the US government after Pearl Harbor, June has to figure out a way to balance the feels of herself and her staff while catering to Nazis and Japanese citizens, the enemy. But more is afoot, because the mysterious waters of the Avallon are sensing the discord, and they are turning...

There was a lot to like in this book. From the intensive historical research on hotel management of the late 1930s and early 1940s, to life in West Virginia during the Great Depression, to the WWII draft to FBI operations to the strange story of the detained foreign diplomats after December 7th to so much more. The highlight of the book was definitely the research that went into it.

Unfortunately, much research does not a cohesive book make.

There was just so much and also, so little. The characters all felt very flat.

I like June Hudson. I liked her a lot, and I have no issues with her character. It's hard to portray a manager doing managerial things, because leadership and paperwork and bureaucracy is very boring, but she felt real for the most part.

It was Tucker I disliked. He just had such a boring backstory for someone who had a really interesting backstory. And his relationship with June just did not work for me. It went from zero to sixty in a heartbeat.

Anywho, everyone else was pretty flat and basic. There were several twists, and thankfully, not a single Nazi was redeemed.

The fantasy aspect felt both eery and also halfway done. I kinda...wanted more?

Okay, I lied. The only character who really shined in this was the Avallon.

But the rest of the book was just beautifully written and researched. It was packed with a lot of ideas but nothing really cohesive. There were a ton of loose threads at the end (I'm not talking about the obvious ones), and a framing device that just did not work.

I'm not sorry I read it. It had a lot of cool elements. But it just didn't click.

It reminded me a lot of Jane, Unlimited (up to the 40% mark, before it got weird and fun) by way of A Study in Drowning, but for adults set in WWII.

I received an ARC from the publisher

I am a big fan of Stiefvater's previous works, specifically The Raven Cycle. I was excited to see that she was writing an adult novel. Her writing in great and as with any of her books, the writing is very atmospheric. I think this was case of too high expectations on my part. I liked the world building and the premise was interesting at first, but the story dragged a bit for me. I also missed the wit and banter that is normally present in her character work but felt lacking here. The magical realism was interesting and overall the book was fine, but I just wanted more.

There were things I loved about this, including the premise and setting. The thought of a hotel with magical water and the entire idea of hotels becoming holding areas for enemies of the state was so fascinating - I had never heard of this before and always appreciate reading new kinds of WW2 stories (esp. those on American soil). Unfortunately the book was just meh f0r me. There was so much promise, but so much vagueness as well. Hannelore's story deserved so much more. I didn't understand the tie on the story about the father from the beginning of the book to the end (the letter) - it just didn't click. Overall, I don't regret reading but wouldn't jump to recommend.

I really enjoyed this book. Stiefvater's writing is so immersive and lyrical that I felt sucked into the narration.

Maggie Stiefvater has crafted an incredible story--the plot, the characters, the setting, just wow! I have many upperclassmen who enjoy reading historical fiction, and I think this will be a great addition to our collection.