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laurabeach123 's review for:
Under the Stars
by Beatriz Williams
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beatriz Williams has outdone herself, Under the Stars is my new favorite of hers. The story is set in a Long Island-island town just a ferry ride from Connecticut. It has all the elements of a perfect summer read: mystery, romance, layered timelines, and of course flawed characters,
The story unfolds across three timelines:
⏳1846, where a woman aboard the tragic Atlantic escaping a possibly scandalous connection to a fictional but legendary artist who died of a mysterious fall;
⏰1993, full of teen angst, drinking, sex and secrets;
⌚️2024, in which an emotionally charged chef returns to the island where her life began and confronts the truth about her origins while caring for her recovering alcoholic “Mommy Dearest”-ish actress mother, and the “townie” father she never knew.
The characters are perfect. Audrey is sharp, wounded, and brave, thrown into a mess of memories, and new beginnings. Her alcoholic, larger-than-life mother is both tragic and infuriating—a fading screen star with a flair for emotional sabotage. Her ex-husband: Deliciously evil. Her stranger dad: A townie curmudgeon bartender and owner of a dive bar/inn. The new love interest: A Labrador-retriever type of man—loyal, strong, and refreshingly uncomplicated taking care of his grandmother.
One of the most satisfying parts of the book is the way the timelines weave together so seamlessly at the end eventually revealing secrets that have been buried beneath the rocky shore centuries apart. Williams’ prose sparkles with sharp wit, she has a gift for unexpected, vivid descriptions—like when she introduces a character with a “nose like a wedge of cheese” or describes a hangover as, “when the sunshine truck crashes into my head the next morning.”
And then there are the quiet, profound reflections that sneak up on you, like this gem from an older character:
“But it is. We’re so damned lucky to be alive, Meredith. Just to be conceived, to be born. Each day is given to us against astronomical odds. You’ve won the lottery.”
This book is not just beautifully written, it’s beautifully built, layering generations of longing, resilience, and rediscovery. If you’re looking for a transporting read with a bit of history, heart, and a hint of mystery, Under the Stars is the perfect summer beach read!
The story unfolds across three timelines:
⏳1846, where a woman aboard the tragic Atlantic escaping a possibly scandalous connection to a fictional but legendary artist who died of a mysterious fall;
⏰1993, full of teen angst, drinking, sex and secrets;
⌚️2024, in which an emotionally charged chef returns to the island where her life began and confronts the truth about her origins while caring for her recovering alcoholic “Mommy Dearest”-ish actress mother, and the “townie” father she never knew.
The characters are perfect. Audrey is sharp, wounded, and brave, thrown into a mess of memories, and new beginnings. Her alcoholic, larger-than-life mother is both tragic and infuriating—a fading screen star with a flair for emotional sabotage. Her ex-husband: Deliciously evil. Her stranger dad: A townie curmudgeon bartender and owner of a dive bar/inn. The new love interest: A Labrador-retriever type of man—loyal, strong, and refreshingly uncomplicated taking care of his grandmother.
One of the most satisfying parts of the book is the way the timelines weave together so seamlessly at the end eventually revealing secrets that have been buried beneath the rocky shore centuries apart. Williams’ prose sparkles with sharp wit, she has a gift for unexpected, vivid descriptions—like when she introduces a character with a “nose like a wedge of cheese” or describes a hangover as, “when the sunshine truck crashes into my head the next morning.”
And then there are the quiet, profound reflections that sneak up on you, like this gem from an older character:
“But it is. We’re so damned lucky to be alive, Meredith. Just to be conceived, to be born. Each day is given to us against astronomical odds. You’ve won the lottery.”
This book is not just beautifully written, it’s beautifully built, layering generations of longing, resilience, and rediscovery. If you’re looking for a transporting read with a bit of history, heart, and a hint of mystery, Under the Stars is the perfect summer beach read!