Another wonderfully warm and compassionate novel from author Eleanor Ray. I fell in love with her writing when I met her debut, Everything is Beautiful and adored her second novel The Art of Belonging. I think the reason I enjoy her books so much is while they are undoubtedly feel-good reads, they have an edge of darkness and reality to such an extent that it makes the story feel grounded, even as they envelop you in a lovely hug. In See the Stars, Alice returns home to Yorkshire after being forced to take some time off work, and finds her life opening up in unexpected directions. When I first met Alice I felt intrigued but also a little prickly, who was this woman, why was she so driven and closed off? The back story fills in the empty spaces as the main tale moves on, and Alice began to nudge her way into my thoughts, I somewhat unexpectedly started to really care about her. There are a number of different forms of relationships within the pages, and the story successfully crosses the generations. I could picture each character, could feel their emotions, and had a sense of their inner selves. Berti is truly wonderful, but I will let you meet him in your own time. The magic of the night sky creates a lovely centre point that the story revolves around and so this just had to join our LoveReading Star Books. Highly recommended, See the Stars is an emotionally astute and beautifully uplifting read.
When Alice Thorington collapses in the street after a particularly hellish day at work, she must finally admit to herself that her outwardly happy life - steady relationship, well-paid job, beautiful flat in the city - isn't everything she'd hoped it would be. Burnt out by long hours and living a life that doesn't fulfil her dreams, Alice returns home to Yorkshire.
Her childhood home brings complicated family dynamics, a rediscovery of her passion for stargazing and two new friends: Berti, a boy who finds it easier to count the stars than interact with people, and Matt, her brother's best friend and Alice's teenage crush. With each of them facing their own struggles, can the stars that meant so much to Alice in her past help them to find their way in the present?
Filled with heart and warmth, this uplifting novel reminds us all that we need the darkness if we want to see the stars.
PRAISE FOR ELEANOR RAY'S DEBUT NOVEL, Everything Is Beautiful:
'This book took hold of me and wouldn't let me go until I turned the final page' BETH O'LEARY
'Funny, tender and uplifting' BBC RADIO 4
'Beautifully written and thought-provoking' KATIE FFORDE
'This is one of those books you just want to gulp down in one' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
'Like the objects Amy collects, this novel is a treasure all of its own' Woman
'A joy to read, and very beautiful indeed' Lisa Dickenson
'A total treat of a read - warm, enchanting and intriguing, with an unforgettable protagonist at its heart' Holly Miller
'There's an intriguing mystery at the heart of this emotional but uplifting debut novel' Sunday Express
'Beautifully written and full of compassion, kindness and hope' Irish Independent
'A gorgeous, warm hug of a novel' Sinead Moriarty
'A tonic for the soul' Lesley Kara
'Charming and thrilling, romantic and gripping' Claire Kendal
'Eleanor Ray has perfectly captured how it feels to not quite fit in' M W Craven
Author
About Eleanor Ray
Eleanor Ray lives in London with her husband and three young children.
Eleanor was inspired to write Everything is Beautiful by the objects her toddler collects and treasures - twigs, empty water bottles and wilting daisies. She is currently working on her next novel.
