Relative Strangers (Original)
A. H. Kim
(Author)
Description
From the acclaimed author of A Good Family comes a timely spin on Sense and Sensibility, a twenty-first-century family drama featuring two half-Korean sisters, their ex-hippie mother, multiple messy love affairs and one explosive secret that could ruin everything. Amelia Bae-Wood's life is falling apart. Unemployed, newly single and completely broke--for reasons she hasn't told anyone yet--she finds herself hitchhiking across California to deal with the fallout of her mother's eviction from the family estate. Amelia needs somewhere to live and time to figure out what to do with the rest of her life, so moving with her mother and sister to Arcadia, the cancer retreat center where her sister volunteers, seems like as good an idea as any.
Amelia's sister, Eleanor, has too much on her plate, including being caught up in a court battle with a man who claims to be their half brother from Seoul and their late father's only son--a secret love child from his Korean youth--who's fighting for a piece of everything that belongs to the Bae-Wood women. And when Amelia adds herself to Eleanor's list of problems, Eleanor must figure out what to hold on to--and when to let go--before things starts to unravel.
A witty, wry and enormously entertaining retelling, the sisters' journey of self-discovery as they reshape their lives gives this classic tale a modern, feminist twist, as it touches on themes of blended families, race, class and wealth.
Product Details
Price
$18.99
$17.66
Publisher
Graydon House
Publish Date
April 02, 2024
Pages
352
Dimensions
5.28 X 7.95 X 0.94 inches | 0.55 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781525819551
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About the Author
A.H. Kim (Ann) was born in South Korea and immigrated to the U.S. as a young child. Ann was educated at Harvard College and Berkeley Law. Prior to becoming a novelist, Ann practiced corporate law for many years and served as chief of staff to the CEO and as head of investor relations at a Fortune 200 company.Ann is the proud mother of two sons, a longtime cancer survivor, and community volunteer. After many years living in the Bay Area, Ann and her husband now call Ann Arbor home.
Reviews
"A zippy homage to Austen's Sense and Sensibility, Kim's second novel is full of pop culture shout-outs, zeitgeist fun and so much heart. Heroine Amelia will steal yours with her self-deprecating, honest and oh-so-raw manner, while the romantic leads will keep you guessing, no matter how many rom-coms you've read or watched. Author Kim skillfully depicts three generations of women who, while moving forward in the shadow of widowhood and disappointment, find strength in family ties that may fray but never break. A true delight."
- Natalie Jenner, Internationally Bestselling Author, The Jane Austen Society "Prepare to stay up half the night, like I did, to finish this twisty romantic page-turner! Relative Strangers is the best kind of story, one of finding hope and happiness in the hot mess that is life."
- Julia Claiborne Johnson, Author, Be Frank with Me and Better Luck Next Time "You don't have to be a Jane Austen fan to enjoy this sparklingly witty retelling of Sense and Sensibility. With great empathy for her characters and a story that illuminates why we can't help but love the very people who drive us nuts, A.H. Kim's Relative Strangers will appeal to any reader who loves stories about sisters--and yes, surprise pairings. I absolutely loved it."
- Camille Pagán, Bestselling Author, Life and Other Near-Death Experiences "AH Kim draws on the heart and humor you'd expect from a Jane Austen novel and sets it to a faster, more contemporary beat. I had a blast reading this literary power remix."
- Christina Clancy, Author, The Second Home and Shoulder Season "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admired and loved this fresh Austen homage, which captures the spirit of Sense and Sensibility while still managing to surprise and delight."
- K.J. Dell'Antonia, NYT Bestselling Author, The Chicken Sisters
"A fun and lively retelling of Sense and Sensibility, Relative Strangers has it all - a gorgeous setting, delightful characters, and juicy drama. Warm and modern, this novel deftly explores Austen's themes of family bonds, rigid social customs, and the bumpy path toward true love. Prepare to be swept away by the Bae-Woods."
- Lauren Edmondson, Author, Ladies of the House and Wedding of the Season "Think Sense and Sensibility mixed with Modern Family. Relative Strangers is layered with the good, bad, love, heartbreak and true meaning of family. A beautiful book about love, hope and becoming the people we were meant to be."
- Viola Shipman, USA Today Bestselling Author, Famous in a Small Town "Calling all Austen fans! In Relative Strangers, A.H. Kim puts a modern spin on Jane Austen's beloved novel about sisterhood and romance, Sense & Sensibility. Welcome to a world of family secrets, inheritance disputes, and rescues in the rain, as sisters Amelia and Eleanor Bae-Wood meet an array of eligible bachelors. But expect some surprises too... Even Austenites will be guessing right up until the final pages of this stellar retelling."
- Finola Austin, Author of Bronte's Mistress "With spicy humor, a confit of empathy, and a soupçon of California cool, A.H. Kim cleverly reinvents Sense and Sensibility on the Pacific Coast with a charming cast of Korean-Americans, Indian-Americans and cancer survivors. A delicious romp!"
-Alka Joshi, NYT Bestselling Author of The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur "Austen enthusiasts will be charmed by this fresh retelling of Austen's Sense and Sensibility. The story unfolds like a well-plotted K-Drama, with family secrets and thoughtfully incorporated tropes that lovers of relationship comedies will thoroughly enjoy. Like in Kim's debut, the revealing of twists and turns at the end will leave the reader delighted."
- Suzanne Park, Author of So We Meet Again and The Do-Over "A lighthearted retelling of Sense and Sensibility... While there is plenty of sadness in the story, Amelia's buoyant voice carries the cheer that makes this book so cozy. Austen fans will find Easter eggs in the clever nods to the source material" -- Booklist
- Natalie Jenner, Internationally Bestselling Author, The Jane Austen Society "Prepare to stay up half the night, like I did, to finish this twisty romantic page-turner! Relative Strangers is the best kind of story, one of finding hope and happiness in the hot mess that is life."
- Julia Claiborne Johnson, Author, Be Frank with Me and Better Luck Next Time "You don't have to be a Jane Austen fan to enjoy this sparklingly witty retelling of Sense and Sensibility. With great empathy for her characters and a story that illuminates why we can't help but love the very people who drive us nuts, A.H. Kim's Relative Strangers will appeal to any reader who loves stories about sisters--and yes, surprise pairings. I absolutely loved it."
- Camille Pagán, Bestselling Author, Life and Other Near-Death Experiences "AH Kim draws on the heart and humor you'd expect from a Jane Austen novel and sets it to a faster, more contemporary beat. I had a blast reading this literary power remix."
- Christina Clancy, Author, The Second Home and Shoulder Season "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admired and loved this fresh Austen homage, which captures the spirit of Sense and Sensibility while still managing to surprise and delight."
- K.J. Dell'Antonia, NYT Bestselling Author, The Chicken Sisters
"A fun and lively retelling of Sense and Sensibility, Relative Strangers has it all - a gorgeous setting, delightful characters, and juicy drama. Warm and modern, this novel deftly explores Austen's themes of family bonds, rigid social customs, and the bumpy path toward true love. Prepare to be swept away by the Bae-Woods."
- Lauren Edmondson, Author, Ladies of the House and Wedding of the Season "Think Sense and Sensibility mixed with Modern Family. Relative Strangers is layered with the good, bad, love, heartbreak and true meaning of family. A beautiful book about love, hope and becoming the people we were meant to be."
- Viola Shipman, USA Today Bestselling Author, Famous in a Small Town "Calling all Austen fans! In Relative Strangers, A.H. Kim puts a modern spin on Jane Austen's beloved novel about sisterhood and romance, Sense & Sensibility. Welcome to a world of family secrets, inheritance disputes, and rescues in the rain, as sisters Amelia and Eleanor Bae-Wood meet an array of eligible bachelors. But expect some surprises too... Even Austenites will be guessing right up until the final pages of this stellar retelling."
- Finola Austin, Author of Bronte's Mistress "With spicy humor, a confit of empathy, and a soupçon of California cool, A.H. Kim cleverly reinvents Sense and Sensibility on the Pacific Coast with a charming cast of Korean-Americans, Indian-Americans and cancer survivors. A delicious romp!"
-Alka Joshi, NYT Bestselling Author of The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur "Austen enthusiasts will be charmed by this fresh retelling of Austen's Sense and Sensibility. The story unfolds like a well-plotted K-Drama, with family secrets and thoughtfully incorporated tropes that lovers of relationship comedies will thoroughly enjoy. Like in Kim's debut, the revealing of twists and turns at the end will leave the reader delighted."
- Suzanne Park, Author of So We Meet Again and The Do-Over "A lighthearted retelling of Sense and Sensibility... While there is plenty of sadness in the story, Amelia's buoyant voice carries the cheer that makes this book so cozy. Austen fans will find Easter eggs in the clever nods to the source material" -- Booklist
