National Bestseller
Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction of 2025 · LibraryJournal Best Historical Fiction of 2025
“Around every corner of this richly imagined world, we discover some new wonder. . . . Stiefvater’s prose is as pungent as the sweetwater, with a snap that suggests the whimsy of a veteran storyteller.” —The New York Times
“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
“The Listeners has all the glorious backdrops and sinister undertones of The Remains of the Day or Rules of the Game (there’s even a lovelorn flying ace) . . . Stiefvater bases her novel in real history, featuring plenty of anecdotes that are far too strange to be fictional, and glorying in the wild beauty of her mountain setting.” —CrimeReads
“For her debut adult novel, best-selling author Maggie Stiefvater takes readers into the awe-inspiring world of the Avallon Hotel & Spa. . . . The Listeners is an atmospheric tale with magical realism undertones, set in West Virginia during the midst of World War II.” —Harper’s Bazaar
“Set in a luxury hotel in West Virginia during World War II, [The Listeners] follows June Hudson, a hotel manager struggling to maintain fragile inner and outer peace while hosting Nazi diplomats under government orders. Throw in some spy drama, romantic intrigue and Appalachian folklore, and you’ve got a character-driven read perfect for fans of complex emotional narratives like works by Kate Morton and Amor Towles.” —Reader’s Digest
“[The Listeners] is centered around a supremely competent woman at the mercy of the waters and the tides of history. Though events rarely leave the hotel grounds, the book feels epic, and the characters and storylines bob and weave until the stunning conclusion. Highly recommended for fans of engrossing WWII-set fiction. . . . A rousing success.” —Booklist, starred review
“Well-drawn characters and excellent worldbuilding bring a little-known element of World War II to life in this must-read for all historical fiction fans.” —Library Journal, starred review
“With a light touch, Stiefvater populates the story with a rich and varied cast of characters, including a mysterious woman who hasn’t left the hotel’s fourth floor for decades, and she seamlessly threads sparkling magic into her well-researched historical narrative. This accomplished work should earn Stiefvater plenty of new fans.” —Publishers Weekly
“The Listeners will linger with readers for years to come. It is a visceral, impressionistic novel that showcases a writer at the height of her powers.” —The Bookseller
“[Stiefvater] explodes onto the adult fiction scene with this genre-changing novel that will leave you in a state of wonder.” —Bookstorm
“The plot that intertwines these three characters is suspenseful, dense and fascinating, written with Stiefvater’s characteristic witty dialogue and lush description. She makes sure the reader loves the Avallon as much as June does, and fills the hotel with appealing characters, many of whom are based on her extensive historical research.” —Historical Novel Society
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