by Jess Walter
First published 2012
In 1962, a young Italian innkeeper witnesses the arrival of a famous American actress. Their chance encounter sets off a chain of events that ripples through the decades, connecting a diverse cast of characters across the globe. From the crumbling seaside villages of Italy to the bright lights of Hollywood, "Beautiful Ruins" weaves a captivating tale of love, ambition, and the enduring power of the past.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, lyrical
Tropes: chance-encounter, epic-scope, interconnected-stories
Setting: Italy, Hollywood
Period: 1962
399 pages · Paperback · Harper Perennial