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A review by harleyglynn
Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
I love Beatriz Williams, and I especially love returning to her world on Winthrop Island. The way this story overlapped with the characters from Husbands & Lovers, but was still a completely unique and new story, was so entertaining. The myriad ways that these seemingly unrelated stories intertwined – both within this book but also with the previous – had me feeling like I needed a family tree! I was continually drawing connections between the storylines that I didn't see before.
I loved the mystery of this one. The historical shipwreck and unraveling how that would ultimately be tied into the current storyline. The suspicious deaths, both past and present. Questions of paternity and family lineage. There were so many layers to peel back.
I am a huge fan of historical fiction that captures real lived experiences and closely follows true accounts, and this certainly delivered on that! I was even more drawn to the story when I saw the author share that the setting for this book was a real place which could be viewed from the shores of Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT. The grounds overlook both Fishers Island (the inspiration for Winthrop Island) and the actual location of the steamship Atlantic tragedy that sets the scene for the historical piece of this story. In fact, not only did I learn it was a real place, but it was unbelievably a place I had visited. Just two years prior, while wedding venue hunting, we toured the Eolia Mansion on the grounds of the state park, and I stood on that shore and looked out at that spot, having no idea what I was truly seeing. It was extra special to be able to fully immerse myself in this story and picture exactly what the author was writing about, but more than that, it made me really think about all the places I've been (especially throughout my home region of New England) that have so much unseen history; untold stories, just waiting to be brought back to life.
Under the Stars is out July 29th! Thank you to Netgalley, Beatriz Williams, and Ballantine Books for this gifted ARC!
I loved the mystery of this one. The historical shipwreck and unraveling how that would ultimately be tied into the current storyline. The suspicious deaths, both past and present. Questions of paternity and family lineage. There were so many layers to peel back.
I am a huge fan of historical fiction that captures real lived experiences and closely follows true accounts, and this certainly delivered on that! I was even more drawn to the story when I saw the author share that the setting for this book was a real place which could be viewed from the shores of Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT. The grounds overlook both Fishers Island (the inspiration for Winthrop Island) and the actual location of the steamship Atlantic tragedy that sets the scene for the historical piece of this story. In fact, not only did I learn it was a real place, but it was unbelievably a place I had visited. Just two years prior, while wedding venue hunting, we toured the Eolia Mansion on the grounds of the state park, and I stood on that shore and looked out at that spot, having no idea what I was truly seeing. It was extra special to be able to fully immerse myself in this story and picture exactly what the author was writing about, but more than that, it made me really think about all the places I've been (especially throughout my home region of New England) that have so much unseen history; untold stories, just waiting to be brought back to life.
Under the Stars is out July 29th! Thank you to Netgalley, Beatriz Williams, and Ballantine Books for this gifted ARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol