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danubooks 's review for:
Under the Stars
by Beatriz Williams
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An island connects three women across more than a hundred years
In 1846 Providence Dare snuck on to the steamship Atlantis, fleeing the police who accused her of murdering her employer, a well known painter. When the ship foundered off the coast of Winthrop Island she fought to survive the accident and evade the detective who pursued her. Many decades later Winthrop Island beauty Meredith Fisher grabbed Audrey, her daughter with local bartender Mike Kennedy, and left a tragic accident and her past behind her to forge a career in film. Now, in 2024, Meredith's career is fading and she is battling both past traumas and addiction, and she and Audrey return to the island so that she can (they both hope) sober up and salvage her last shot at maintaining her career. Audrey is a talented chef who has long struggled to escape the shadow of her glamorous (but, unbeknownst to her public, deeply troubled) mother., yet here she is yet again at her mother's beck and call. While on the island, known as a discreet haven for the well-to-do, a man connected with the tragedy that caused Meredith to flee years earlier turns up dead, a chest full of valuable paintings by the man Providence Dare was thought to have killed turns up, and Audrey's n'er do well husband arrives to cause trouble. What happened back in the 19th century with Providence and her employer? Where did the paintings come from, and to whom do they rightfully belong? What is the connection between the three women? And what does the future hold for both Meredith and Audrey?
Combining historical fiction, romance, family drama and mystery, Under the Stars is an intriguing tale set in the moneyed world of the fictional Winthrop Island. Told primarily from the alternating points of view of the three female characters (in the case of Providence via a manuscript she left behind detailing the sinking of the Atlantic), the storyline is an intriguing look at these complex women and their compelling stories. Those who prefer a chronological storyline may find the bouncing back and forth between time periods a distraction, though while I found that the transitions could have been smoother I was able to navigate the plot without much difficulty. The Providence part of the story went a little more heavily on the romance angle and less on the historical side of things in my opinion, but the more contemporary narratives I found engaging. In all, a solid 3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4) novel, a great choice to toss into your beach/pool/lake bag and escape into a world of loves lost and found, overcoming trauma and uncovering the secrets of the island that connects them all. Readers of Audrey Niffenegger, Liv Constantine and Lisa Wingate, as well as fans of author Beatriz Williams' previous novels, will likely enjoy this latest offering. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books for allowing me access to this novel in exchange for my honest review.
In 1846 Providence Dare snuck on to the steamship Atlantis, fleeing the police who accused her of murdering her employer, a well known painter. When the ship foundered off the coast of Winthrop Island she fought to survive the accident and evade the detective who pursued her. Many decades later Winthrop Island beauty Meredith Fisher grabbed Audrey, her daughter with local bartender Mike Kennedy, and left a tragic accident and her past behind her to forge a career in film. Now, in 2024, Meredith's career is fading and she is battling both past traumas and addiction, and she and Audrey return to the island so that she can (they both hope) sober up and salvage her last shot at maintaining her career. Audrey is a talented chef who has long struggled to escape the shadow of her glamorous (but, unbeknownst to her public, deeply troubled) mother., yet here she is yet again at her mother's beck and call. While on the island, known as a discreet haven for the well-to-do, a man connected with the tragedy that caused Meredith to flee years earlier turns up dead, a chest full of valuable paintings by the man Providence Dare was thought to have killed turns up, and Audrey's n'er do well husband arrives to cause trouble. What happened back in the 19th century with Providence and her employer? Where did the paintings come from, and to whom do they rightfully belong? What is the connection between the three women? And what does the future hold for both Meredith and Audrey?
Combining historical fiction, romance, family drama and mystery, Under the Stars is an intriguing tale set in the moneyed world of the fictional Winthrop Island. Told primarily from the alternating points of view of the three female characters (in the case of Providence via a manuscript she left behind detailing the sinking of the Atlantic), the storyline is an intriguing look at these complex women and their compelling stories. Those who prefer a chronological storyline may find the bouncing back and forth between time periods a distraction, though while I found that the transitions could have been smoother I was able to navigate the plot without much difficulty. The Providence part of the story went a little more heavily on the romance angle and less on the historical side of things in my opinion, but the more contemporary narratives I found engaging. In all, a solid 3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4) novel, a great choice to toss into your beach/pool/lake bag and escape into a world of loves lost and found, overcoming trauma and uncovering the secrets of the island that connects them all. Readers of Audrey Niffenegger, Liv Constantine and Lisa Wingate, as well as fans of author Beatriz Williams' previous novels, will likely enjoy this latest offering. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books for allowing me access to this novel in exchange for my honest review.