The Sylvan Hotel, A Seattle Story by Frannie James

Welcome to The Sylvan, a small Seattle luxury hotel where polished mahogany walls keep secrets, rock stars slip by in low-lit spaces, and the switchboard crackles with drama. Joann's working at reception but not planning to stay long; she's "just paying bills" while figuring out a career. Soon, however, the 23-year-old is swept away into a world aglow with love affairs, late-night confessions, and friendships forged in quiet spaces between phone calls and cigarette breaks. Then there's him. One of Joann's favorite teammates is always looking out for her amid the ever-looming uncertainty. Something's happening between them-but do they really have a chance? Everyone's trying to get somewhere else. Hilarity, joy, and angst ensue as the '90s continue to roll forward, sweeping all the Sylvans away as they navigate the swing shift ... and the bittersweet adventure that is growing up. Witty, nostalgic, and filled with the electric hum of youth, The Sylvan Hotel is a love letter to Seattle's most storied chapter and honors the tender truth that some places-and some people-never really let us go.

Adult • Women's Fiction/Romance • Romance/Historical • Historical Fiction • Diversity Representation/BIPOC • Women's Fiction

Content Warning: Per Book Nerdection: "The Sylvan Hotel includes light profanity, depictions of workplace harassment, grief, and mild violence. None of it is gratuitous; all of it feels truthful to the setting and time."