Reviews - Under the Same Stars

604 reviews for:

Under the Same Stars

Libba Bray

4.33 AVERAGE

cm00's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

samrinsaleem's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I am usually a big fan of multiple seemingly unrelated stories that eventually connect together so this was a big hit with me. I especially loved that the stories were spaced in time, 40 years apart from each other.

Honestly, I loved the mystery style set-up of this, and the parallel unveiling of stories (diabolical set-up btw, everytime we're close to a reveal they switch chapters and I ended up staying all night chasing the story 😭). It is definitely beautifully told with equally beautiful characters and I loved it for that but I really want to talk about the messaging.

In today's age of neonazism and seeing fascism come back, in a time where we're seeing the people in power push agendas that hurt people and those same people turn away for their own comfort, this is a sorely needed reminder. I remember this portion in the book that talks about how tyranny takes over bit by bit, and you don't realize it's affecting you until it's too late already and I need this plastered across all forms of media as a reminder. It is a bittersweet tale of tyranny and resistance, horrors and hope all coexisting, and how young people can be the change. I definitely cried at the end (or like a good few chapters at the end), and I think this should be required reading in schools, especially especially now. 5 stars.

readingpenguin04's review against another edition

5.0

emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

booksmellz's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous informative medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

The Bridegroom Oak is a magical tree where if you leave a note for the love of your life in its knot, your love will answer back.

In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message in the Bridegroom Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is also sending messages, but not to leave in the Oak’s knot. As WWII rolls into their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may very well be a key to resistance against the Nazis.

In 1980s West Germany, American teen Jenny feels out of place until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl who hates the government. She also befriends Frau Hermann, an old lady downstairs who most people call her a witch, but Jenny finds her to be kind.

In Spring 2020 New York City, Miles and Chloe are struggling with virtual senior year when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom Oak over eighty years ago.

I love how connected everything was in this book with how Libba Bray was able to highlight both current and past forms of fascism in history and oppressive governments while also showing characters trying to do the right thing, even under dangerous circumstances.

I wasn’t as into the Covid storyline as the others, but I honestly think it’s because that’s probably still, “too soon” for me - maybe in another ten (or twenty) years I would be more invested. The historical narratives were a lot stronger for me, and I cared about the characters a lot more. All three of the narratives were connected of course, but I really really enjoyed the WWII storyline the most.

Overall, though this is marketed as being Young Adult, I can see adults enjoying it as well (even with the teenage angst a bit). Bray has amazingly strong prose that she showcases in all three narratives.

*Thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

arcookson's review against another edition

4.5

hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This started a little slow for me, particularly the WWII timeline, but soon I was equally invested in all three timelines. I love the themes of resistance and hope and the reminder that love is resistance and resistance is love.

Content Warnings