The discovery of a handwritten diary in a hostel kicks off this singular collaboration between Kei and Adams, a biographical fiction journeying through the latter’s unexpected trip and stay at Hague. The text reproduced here is handwritten, too, as Adams details his journey in that notebook. Reading Adams’s emotive, arresting account gives readers a window into his past and how it still affects his present. On his four-day trip, Casey finds a friend in his roommate and engages with her in conversations about life, literature, and philosophy. However, he soon starts to feel a deeper connection with this woman—perhaps even an obsession..

Though much of this strikingly unusual book revolves around Casey’s experiences in Hague, the The Hague Hostel also explores the complicated relationships that travelers form in hostels while sharing their most intimate spaces. Casey grows attached to his roommate, even unsettlingly so, avoiding her one night and then watching her sleep when he gets in late, as the narrative tackles one of those questions that always arise in the minds of solo travelers: to stay in touch or not? A receptionist says, “Sometimes it's good to talk to someone who you know you will never meet again,” a poignant precis. Casey is truly at ease while talking to his roommate because of the realization that, despite their burgeoning intimacy, this is a stranger and not a part of his life.

The Hague Hostel doesn’t end with the end of Adam’s occasionally self-lacerating notebook. It extends to a website that directs users to a song—music is a key point of connection in the narrative—and additional information about the characters. The overall experience is immersive, slightly surreal, and deeply personal, from the tactile resonance of reading hand-penned words to hearing the song as a finishing touch. This unique title will engage readers interested in unconventional storytelling.

Takeaway: The unique, hand-written account of a traveler making an unexpected connection in a hostel.

Great for fans of: Clara Bensen’s No Baggage, Geraldine DeRuiter’s All Over the Place.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A