Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

The novel follows Henry Lee, a Chinese-American man living in Seattle. In 1986, he discovers that the long-closed Panama Hotel is being renovated—and inside are belongings left behind by Japanese-American families interned during WWII. This discovery rekindles memories of his childhood during the 1940s.

As a boy, Henry had a deep friendship—and budding romance—with Keiko Okabe, a Japanese-American classmate. Their relationship was tested by racism, war, and family expectations. When Keiko’s family was sent to an internment camp, Henry tried to stay connected, but the circumstances eventually tore them apart.

In the present, the older Henry reflects on the choices he made and seeks closure, hoping to reconnect with the past and possibly with Keiko.