The Night We Became Strangers

An immersive, historical novel based on true events: In 1938, Orson Welles's legendary radio dramatization of H.G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds terrified Americans into believing Martians were invading. Eleven years later, an Ecuadorian radio station adapted the show--with catastrophic consequences. Now, two young journalists are determined to uncover what really happened to their families that night--even as secrets endanger their future.

1957: Aspiring photojournalist Valeria Anzures returns to her hometown of Quito with a secret purpose: to discover the truth about how her parents really died. The disastrous 1949 War of the Worlds show caused a mob to torch her family's radio station--and the newspaper run by their closest friends, the Monteros. The tragedy shattered the families' relationship--and left the station on precarious financial ground. Now, expected to save her family's legacy through an arranged marriage, Valeria will risk everything to find out the truth. Even if it means allying with the man she's always loved--but who now treats her like a stranger.

For Matías Montero, the scars of that night run deep. He saved his mother but blames himself for not rescuing his father. As a journalist, he views Valeria as a rival. Still, they're both on the same mission. Perhaps, together, they can unearth the past their families and friends would rather remain buried.

Valeria and Matías soon find trusting each other is as dangerous as the attraction they can't resist. Between their families' mutual hatred, duplicitous witnesses, and insidious lies, and ruthless manipulations, exposing the real story will put their future on the line--and ignite revelations no one saw coming.

Author: Lorena Hughes
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Published: 09/30/2025
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.60w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781496752451

About the Author
Lorena Hughes is an award-winning author of historical fiction, including The Queen of the Valley, The Spanish Daughter and The Sisters of Alameda Street. Born and raised in Ecuador, she moved to the United States when she was eighteen. Her novels have earned acclaim from outlets including The Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and PopSugar, and The Spanish Daughter was an Amazon Editors' Pick, a Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books selection, and a Reading Group Choices Most Popular Books of the Year. Lorena lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico and can be found online at Lorena-Hughes.com.